Two activity-tracking products require a close look at capture controls and seat administration.
Both products describe detailed activity records, with settings that affect what participants and managers can see. Hubstaff offers a limited solo free plan; DeskTime’s documented starting point is a timed trial. Choose the necessary records and access policy first, then obtain a complete team quote. [2] [7] [4] [6]
| THE DETAILSFind your fit. | HubstaffRead research review | DeskTimeRead research review |
|---|---|---|
| Main workflow | Project time tracking with configurable activity records and reporting. [1] [2] | Automatic work-time and activity tracking, with project time and reporting features. [3] |
| Free starting point | One-person free plan with limited features; a separate 14-day trial is available without a credit card. [4] [5] | 14-day trial; continuing time tracking afterward requires a subscription. An ongoing free Lite plan was not verified. [6] |
| Entry paid plan | Small Business Essentials: $144 annually for exactly three paid seats plus a free owner, according to support. Confirm currency and availability; no monthly term or add-ons. [4] | Pro and Premium are priced per user. A reliable current amount tied to a specific billing term and currency was not established. [3] [6] |
| Projects and tasks | Assign projects and to-dos/tasks to members; client links and further controls depend on the selected plan. [1] | Project and task tracking is listed; verify selected-tier reporting and administration features. [3] |
| Activity recording | Optional screenshots and app/URL tracking depend on plan and organization settings. Provider says it does not record typed content. [2] | Can record apps, websites, document/window titles and screenshots. Its policy distinguishes counts of key/mouse activity from the actual content typed. [3] [7] |
| Paid billing unit | Ordinary per-seat plans have a two-seat minimum and count owners, managers and inactive members; Project Viewers are exempt. Essentials has separate flat-plan rules. [4] | Deleting or archiving a member does not reduce paid seats automatically. Adjust seats manually before the next invoice; removed seats are not refunded for the current period. [8] |
| What to confirm | Screenshots are not automatically blocked when sensitive material appears. Blurring, disabling and role visibility need deliberate configuration. [2] | Private time pauses tracking, but an employer can disable the feature. Check the actual team setting. [9] |
| Affiliate status | 20% on ordinary plans or 30% on Enterprise for 12 months, with an initial three-month hold and qualifying-payment rules. ATN approval and publisher eligibility are unverified. [10] | 30% for nine months under qualifying terms. Advertising sites cannot be associated with sexual or other disallowed content; customer-use eligibility is a separate question. [11] |
| Consider it forATN assessment | A team needing documented activity controls and role-based visibility, with a clear agreement about what is recorded. [2] [4] | A paid activity-tracking evaluation where participants know the enabled capture settings and whether Private time is available. [9] [7] [6] |
Plan comparison, not a timer-accuracy or privacy audit. Features and billing units differ. The Toggl entry covers Toggl Track, which remains supported for existing users, not the newer Toggl app. Prices are dated snapshots; confirm currency, taxes, seats and your account’s terms. Adult-business eligibility has not been verified.
Hubstaff says it does not automatically identify sensitive content and prevent its capture in screenshots. DeskTime describes titles and screenshots among possible records, while Private time depends on employer settings. Review capture before confidential client or personal information appears on screen. [2] [7] [9]
Hubstaff’s standard per-seat rules keep an open seat available through the current term and remove it at the next term; its flat Essentials package is an exception. DeskTime requires manually changing the subscribed seats. Removing a login and reducing the bill are separate actions. [4] [8]
Hubstaff advertises qualifying commissions for 12 months with an initial three-month hold. DeskTime uses a nine-month affiliate period and restricts advertising on sites associated with sexual content. Neither establishes ATN participation, and commissions do not influence this comparison. [10] [11]
Research based · No hands-on testing or numeric scores · Direct links, no affiliate tracking. Our editorial standards
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