Export and Import Toggl Hours
Exporting Toggl hours lets you move your tracked time data out of Toggl Track and into accounting systems like Moneybird, Simplicate, or e-Boekhouden for invoicing and administration. Toggl offers built-in CSV exports, a comprehensive API, and third-party integrations to make this process as smooth as possible.
Why Export Toggl Hours?
Toggl Track is one of the most popular time tracking tools worldwide, and for good reason. It has an intuitive interface, a fast timer, solid reporting, and apps for every platform. Many Dutch freelancers (zzp'ers) use it daily.
But Toggl is a tracking tool, not an accounting tool. At some point, your hours need to flow into your Dutch administration - whether that's Moneybird, e-Boekhouden, or Simplicate. That's where exporting comes in.
Method 1: CSV Export from Toggl
The most straightforward way to get your hours out of Toggl.
How to Export
- Go to Reports in Toggl Track
- Choose Detailed report (this gives you individual time entries)
- Set your date range and apply any filters (client, project, tags)
- Click the Export button (download icon) in the top right
- Select CSV
What You Get
The CSV file contains columns like:
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| User | Who tracked the time |
| User's email address | |
| Client | Client name in Toggl |
| Project | Project name |
| Description | What was done |
| Start date | When the entry started |
| Start time | Time of day |
| End date | When it ended |
| End time | Time of day |
| Duration | Total time (HH:MM:SS) |
| Billable | Yes/No |
| Amount (EUR) | Calculated from rate × duration |
Limitations of CSV Export
- Manual process: You have to do this every time
- No direct import path: Most Dutch accounting tools don't accept Toggl's CSV format directly
- Mapping required: Column names and formats don't match what Moneybird or Simplicate expect
- Error-prone: Copy-pasting or reformatting data invites mistakes
Method 2: Toggl API
Toggl has a well-documented REST API (currently v9) that lets you programmatically fetch time entries.
Basic API Example
curl -u {api_token}:api_token \
"https://api.track.toggl.com/api/v9/me/time_entries?start_date=2026-03-01&end_date=2026-03-31"
This returns JSON with all your time entries for the specified period. Each entry includes:
id,description,start,stop,durationproject_id,workspace_id,tagsbillableflag
When the API Makes Sense
The API is powerful but requires technical skills. It's a good fit if you:
- Are comfortable writing scripts (Python, Node.js, etc.)
- Need to automate a recurring export
- Want to transform data before sending it to another system
For most freelancers, building and maintaining a custom integration is more time spent on admin than it saves.
Method 3: Automated Sync
Instead of exporting and importing manually, you can connect Toggl directly to your accounting system using a sync tool.
How It Works with Synkr
- Connect Toggl as a source - enter your Toggl API token
- Connect your accounting system as a destination (Moneybird, Simplicate, or e-Boekhouden)
- Pull your Toggl time entries into Synkr
- Review the entries - check descriptions, rates, and client mapping
- Push the reviewed entries to your accounting system
The key difference from fully automatic sync: you stay in control. Every sync is triggered manually, and you review what gets sent before it's pushed. No surprises in your accounting.
Importing Toggl Hours into Dutch Accounting Systems
Into Moneybird
Moneybird doesn't have a native Toggl integration or CSV import for time entries. Your options:
- Re-enter hours manually (time-consuming)
- Use the Moneybird API to create time entries programmatically
- Use Synkr to sync directly from Toggl to Moneybird
When syncing to Moneybird, each Toggl entry becomes a time entry linked to the correct contact and project. You can then create invoices from those hours using Moneybird's built-in workflow.
Into Simplicate
Simplicate has its own time tracking, but many freelancers prefer Toggl's interface. Importing Toggl hours into Simplicate requires mapping:
- Toggl Client → Simplicate Organization
- Toggl Project → Simplicate Project + Service
- Toggl Description → Simplicate Note
This mapping can be configured in tools like Synkr so it happens automatically on each sync.
Into e-Boekhouden
e-Boekhouden focuses on bookkeeping rather than project management, so the import path typically goes through invoice creation rather than time entry creation. See our guide on e-Boekhouden invoices from time tracking.
Tips for Clean Toggl Exports
1. Use Consistent Naming
Your Toggl client and project names should match (or be easily mappable to) your accounting system's contacts and projects. Decide on a convention early - changing names later means updating mappings everywhere.
2. Always Mark Billable/Non-Billable
Toggl lets you flag entries as billable or non-billable. Use this consistently. When exporting, you typically only want to invoice billable hours, but knowing your non-billable ratio is valuable for understanding your effective hourly rate.
3. Add Descriptions
Empty descriptions are common but problematic. When hours arrive in your accounting system, your client (and the Belastingdienst) expects to see what was done. Get in the habit of writing brief but clear descriptions in Toggl.
4. Set Rates in Toggl
You can configure hourly rates per project or per client in Toggl. This ensures your exports include the correct monetary amounts, which makes invoicing more accurate.
5. Export Regularly
Don't let months of entries pile up. A weekly or bi-weekly export rhythm keeps your accounting current and makes it easier to catch errors while the work is still fresh in your mind.
Toggl Free vs. Paid: Export Differences
| Feature | Toggl Free | Toggl Starter (€9/mo) | Toggl Premium (€18/mo) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSV export | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| API access | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Billable rates | No | Yes | Yes |
| Saved reports | No | Yes | Yes |
| Project estimates | No | Yes | Yes |
For freelancers who need billable rates in their exports, the Starter plan is the minimum. Without it, you'll need to add rates manually after export.
Comparing Export Approaches
| Approach | Effort | Accuracy | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual CSV + re-entry | High | Low (human error) | Ad-hoc |
| API script | Medium (initial setup) | High | Automated |
| Sync tool (Synkr) | Low | High | On-demand |
For a deeper comparison of manual vs. automatic syncing, see our guide on syncing time entries: manual vs. automatic.
Common Questions
Can I export only specific projects from Toggl?
Yes. In the Reports section, filter by project before exporting. The CSV will only contain entries matching your filters.
Does Toggl export include rounding?
Toggl records exact durations. If you use Toggl's rounding feature (available on paid plans), the rounded values appear in reports but the raw data via API still shows exact times. Be aware of which value your export uses.
How often should I sync Toggl to my accounting system?
Most freelancers sync weekly or at the end of each project milestone. The important thing is to sync before you need to invoice, so your accounting system has all the hours ready.
Can I undo a Toggl export/sync?
Exports are read-only - they don't change your Toggl data. If you sync to an accounting system and need to undo it, you'll need to delete the created entries in the destination system. Synkr marks synced entries to prevent duplicates on the next sync.
Conclusion
Getting hours out of Toggl is easy - the challenge is getting them into your Dutch accounting system in the right format. Whether you go the CSV route, build an API integration, or use a sync tool, the goal is the same: spend less time on administration and more time on billable work. For a broader look at tracking tools, check out our Toggl vs. Clockify vs. Google Sheets comparison.