Toggl vs. Clockify vs. Google Sheets: Which to Choose?
Toggl is best for freelancers who want a polished tracking experience with great apps and UX. Clockify is best for those who want similar features without paying. Google Sheets is best for freelancers who prefer full control and zero cost, and don't need a built-in timer. Each tool works, but the right choice depends on your priorities and budget.
Overview
These three tools represent different approaches to the same problem: tracking how you spend your working hours.
- Toggl Track: Purpose-built time tracking SaaS (founded 2006, Estonia)
- Clockify: Feature-rich free time tracker (founded 2017, Serbia)
- Google Sheets: General-purpose spreadsheet adapted for time tracking
All three are used by Dutch freelancers (zzp'ers) to track billable and non-billable hours, feed into invoicing, and meet time tracking requirements.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Toggl Track | Clockify | Google Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timer (start/stop) | Yes | Yes | No |
| Manual entry | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | iOS + Android | iOS + Android | Sheets app |
| Desktop app | Mac, Windows, Linux | Mac, Windows, Linux | No |
| Browser extension | Chrome, Firefox, Edge | Chrome, Firefox, Edge | No |
| Offline mode | Yes | Yes | Yes (with setup) |
| Billable/non-billable | Yes (paid plan) | Yes (free plan) | Manual column |
| Projects & clients | Yes | Yes | Manual |
| Tags | Yes | Yes | Manual |
| Reports | Visual dashboards | Basic reports | Pivot tables (manual) |
| CSV export | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| API | REST API v9 | REST API | Google Sheets API |
| Custom fields | Limited (paid) | Yes (paid) | Unlimited |
| Idle detection | Yes | Yes | No |
| Reminders | Yes | Yes (paid) | No |
| Team features | Yes | Yes | Sharing |
Pricing Comparison (2026)
| Plan | Toggl Track | Clockify |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Yes (limited) | Yes (generous) |
| Basic/Starter | €9/user/mo | €4/user/mo |
| Standard/Premium | €18/user/mo | €6/user/mo |
| Enterprise/Pro | Custom | €10/user/mo |
Google Sheets is free if you have a Google account. No tiers, no limits, no upselling.
What's Free?
| Free Feature | Toggl | Clockify | Google Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Billable rates | No | Yes | Manual |
| Reports | Basic | Basic | Manual |
| Users | Up to 5 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Export | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Saved reports | No | No | N/A |
Clockify's free plan is notably more generous than Toggl's - billable rates are included for free, which is a significant feature for freelancers who need to track revenue.
In-Depth: Toggl Track
Strengths
UX excellence: Toggl's interface is clean, fast, and intuitive. Starting a timer takes one click. Switching between projects is seamless. The overall experience feels polished in a way that makes daily use pleasant.
Cross-platform consistency: The experience is remarkably similar across web, desktop, mobile, and browser extension. You can start a timer on your phone and stop it on your laptop.
Reporting: Toggl's visual reports (Summary, Detailed, Weekly) are informative and exportable. You can quickly see your hours breakdown by client, project, or time period.
Integrations: Over 100 integrations with tools like Asana, Jira, GitHub, and Trello. The browser extension adds timer buttons directly into these tools.
Weaknesses
Billable rates on free plan: Not available. If you need to track revenue (and most freelancers do), you need at least the Starter plan at €9/month.
Limited customization: You work within Toggl's structure. Custom fields are limited even on paid plans. If your workflow doesn't fit Toggl's model, there's not much room to adapt.
No invoicing: Toggl tracks time but doesn't create invoices. You need a separate tool for that - Moneybird, Simplicate, or similar.
For exporting Toggl data to your accounting system, see our Toggl export guide.
In-Depth: Clockify
Strengths
Generous free plan: Unlimited tracking, unlimited users, billable rates, and basic reporting - all free. For a solo freelancer, this covers most needs without spending a cent.
Feature depth: Even on free, Clockify offers more functionality than Toggl free. Tags, billable/non-billable, project budgets (basic), and CSV export are all included.
Invoicing (paid): On the Standard plan (€6/mo), Clockify includes invoicing. You can create invoices directly from tracked time. This reduces the need for a separate invoicing tool, though it's not as feature-rich as dedicated accounting software.
Kiosk mode: Useful if you sometimes work on-site and need to clock in/out. Less relevant for typical freelancers but nice to have.
Weaknesses
UX polish: Clockify works well but feels less refined than Toggl. The interface has more visual clutter, and some interactions require more clicks.
Ads on free plan: The free version shows ads for Clockify's paid plans. Not intrusive, but noticeable.
Reliability: Some users report occasional sync delays between devices. This has improved over time but isn't as consistently rock-solid as Toggl.
In-Depth: Google Sheets
Strengths
Zero cost forever: No subscriptions, no feature gates, no upgrade prompts. If you have a Google account, you have Google Sheets.
Unlimited customization: Design any layout, formula, or view you want. Track data points that no time tracking app supports. Create custom reporting dashboards with charts and pivot tables.
Data ownership: Your data is in a spreadsheet you fully control. Export anytime in any format. No vendor lock-in, no migration concerns.
Sharing: Share your sheet with your accountant, client, or collaborator with granular permissions (view, comment, edit).
Weaknesses
No timer: The biggest gap. You can't click "start" and "stop" - you estimate or calculate duration manually. This reduces accuracy, especially for tasks under an hour.
Discipline dependent: There's no idle detection, no reminder to log time, no nudges. If you forget, the sheet doesn't care. Studies suggest that manual time logging leads to 20-40% of hours being lost or inaccurately recorded.
Scales poorly: Beyond a few hundred entries per sheet, performance and usability decline. Filtering, sorting, and formula recalculation slow down.
Manual setup: You build everything yourself - column structure, formulas, validation, views. This initial investment takes time and may need iteration.
For setup tips, see our Google Sheets time tracking guide.
Decision Matrix
| Priority | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| Best overall UX | Toggl |
| Best free plan | Clockify |
| No cost ever | Google Sheets |
| Built-in timer | Toggl or Clockify |
| Custom data fields | Google Sheets |
| Built-in invoicing | Clockify (paid) |
| Offline reliability | Google Sheets or Toggl |
| Mobile tracking | Toggl |
| Data portability | Google Sheets |
| Accuracy (auto-tracking) | Toggl |
For Dutch Freelancers Specifically
A few considerations specific to the Dutch freelancer context:
Urencriterium
If you claim the zelfstandigenaftrek, you need to demonstrate 1,225+ hours per year. All three tools can produce records for this - but dedicated tools with automatic logging make it easier to prove.
Dutch Accounting Integration
None of these tools have native integrations with Moneybird, e-Boekhouden, or Simplicate. You'll need to either:
- Re-enter hours manually (time-consuming)
- Build a custom API integration (technical)
- Use a sync tool like Synkr (designed for this)
Synkr supports all three as source systems, so your choice of tracker doesn't lock you out of syncing.
Currency and Locale
All three tools support EUR. Toggl and Clockify handle currency settings in preferences. Google Sheets uses locale settings (set to Netherlands for proper € and date formatting).
Our Recommendation
If you're starting fresh: Try Toggl's free plan for a month. If you miss billable rates, switch to Clockify free or Toggl Starter.
If budget is the priority: Clockify free gives you the most for nothing. It's genuinely good enough for most solo freelancers.
If you love spreadsheets: Google Sheets is fine. Don't let anyone tell you it's "not professional." What matters is that you track consistently and your records are accurate.
If you use Notion: Consider Notion for time tracking as an alternative - keep everything in one workspace.
Whichever tool you choose, the most important thing is using it consistently. A simple tool used daily beats a sophisticated tool used sporadically. And when it's time to invoice, connect your tracker to your accounting system via Synkr so your hours flow automatically into your administration.