Honest comparison · Updated 2026-09-18
Hourglow vs Toggl Track
Toggl Track is one of the best-known names in time tracking, with a huge cross-platform presence and 9,500+ App Store ratings. Hourglow is a much smaller, Mac-only menu bar timer built for people who just want to click start/stop without an account or a web dashboard.
Dimension-by-dimension
| Dimension | Hourglow | Toggl Track | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core workflow | One-click start/stop from the Mac menu bar — nothing else to set up. | Project- and client-based time entries synced to a web dashboard across every platform. | |
| Platform reach | macOS only. | iOS, Android, web, and desktop apps — track from anywhere. | |
| Reporting | Today view plus week/month history and CSV export for invoicing (Pro). | Detailed reports, project rates, team dashboards, and integrations with dozens of tools. | |
| Account/cloud | Fully local — no account, no cloud, nothing syncs anywhere. | Account-based with cloud sync by design — that's how it works across devices. | |
| Pricing | Free core timer; history and CSV export are a one-time Pro unlock. | Free tier is limited; paid plans are $9–$20/user/month for teams. | |
| Maturity | New, small app. | 9,500+ ratings, over a decade of development, used by large teams worldwide. |
Hourglow advantage · Toggl Track advantage · roughly equal
Where Hourglow wins
- No account, no subscription. A one-time Pro purchase versus a recurring per-seat cost is a real difference for a solo freelancer's tool budget.
- Lives in the menu bar. Start/stop without opening an app or a browser tab.
- Nothing leaves your Mac — no cloud dashboard to manage or worry about.
Where Toggl Track wins
- Cross-device and team features. If you need to track time from your phone too, or manage a team's billable hours, Toggl's scale is the point.
- Integrations and reporting depth built up over more than a decade of continuous development.
Pick Hourglow if…
You're one person on a Mac who wants dead-simple click-to-track with no account and no subscription.
See HourglowPick Toggl Track if…
You need to track time across devices, manage a team, or integrate with invoicing/PM tools.
Visit Toggl Track siteToggl scales to teams; Hourglow is built for exactly one person who wants a timer, not a time-tracking platform.
Frequently asked questions
What's the main difference between Hourglow and Toggl Track?+
Toggl Track is one of the best-known names in time tracking, with a huge cross-platform presence and 9,500+ App Store ratings. Hourglow is a much smaller, Mac-only menu bar timer built for people who just want to click start/stop without an account or a web dashboard.
Should I choose Hourglow or Toggl Track?+
Pick Hourglow if: You're one person on a Mac who wants dead-simple click-to-track with no account and no subscription. Pick Toggl Track if: You need to track time across devices, manage a team, or integrate with invoicing/PM tools.
What can Hourglow do that Toggl Track can't?+
No account, no subscription. A one-time Pro purchase versus a recurring per-seat cost is a real difference for a solo freelancer's tool budget. Lives in the menu bar. Start/stop without opening an app or a browser tab. Nothing leaves your Mac — no cloud dashboard to manage or worry about.
Where does Toggl Track win over Hourglow?+
Cross-device and team features. If you need to track time from your phone too, or manage a team's billable hours, Toggl's scale is the point. Integrations and reporting depth built up over more than a decade of continuous development.
How much does Hourglow cost compared to Toggl Track?+
Hourglow: Free core timer; history and CSV export are a one-time Pro unlock. Toggl Track: Free tier is limited; paid plans are $9–$20/user/month for teams.