If you’re a freelance developer using Notion to manage tasks, projects, or clients - you probably already appreciate how flexible and lightweight it is.
In this article, we explore five of the best tools to track time from inside Notion (or alongside it) - optimized for solo devs or small freelance workflows.
What Makes a Good “Notion + Time-Tracker” for Freelancers
Before we dive in — here are criteria we used to pick tools:
- Easy integration with Notion (preferably with a browser extension or simple setup)
- Minimal overhead - you shouldn’t spend more time managing tools than coding ☕
- Free or affordable plans - freelancers often work client-by-client, not full teams
- Useful reporting / invoicing features - helpful when billing clients or estimating projects
- Portability and flexibility - works on web, desktop, maybe even mobile; integrates with workflows devs already use
With those in mind, here are the top picks.
The 5 Best Tools
1. TMetric
Why it works: TMetric offers one-click timers for Notion time tracking directly inside the app. After installing their browser extension, you get a “Start timer” button on Notion tasks/pages - start and stop tracking without leaving your workspace.
Freelancer benefits: It automatically pulls the task name from Notion into TMetric, and every time entry links back to the original Notion page - nice for billing, invoicing, or reporting to clients.
When to pick it: If you want tight integration, clear time-to-project mapping, and clean billing-ready reports.
2. Clockify
Why it works: Clockify’s browser extension injects a timer button into Notion pages - you can start/stop time with a click, just like with TMetric.
Freelancer benefits: Clockify offers a generous free tier (no user cap) - perfect for freelancers. Great if you don’t need advanced features but just want to track hours per project/task.
When to pick it: If you prefer a completely free or very low-cost solution, or if you just need straightforward time logs without complex invoicing or billing layers.
3. Toggl Track
Why it works: While Toggl doesn’t always offer a “first-party” deep integration with Notion, you can connect them via automation platforms (like Zapier or Albato) — enabling workflows such as: when you start a timer in Toggl, it logs an entry in Notion; or when you create a task in Notion it creates a corresponding project or task in Toggl.
Freelancer benefits: Automations help if you prefer to keep Notion as your single source of truth (projects, clients, tasks) and let Toggl handle the time-tracking & reporting logic behind the scenes.
When to pick it: If you like automating workflows, are comfortable with third-party automators, and want a flexible, decoupled time tracking system.
4. Everhour
Why it works: Everhour appears among the recommended tools for combining project/time tracking + Notion. According to a Notion time-tracking roundup, it can integrate via a browser extension and sync with Notion pages.
Freelancer benefits: In addition to tracking time, Everhour leans into project- and team-management features, budgeting, and in some plans invoicing/expense features. That can help especially when working with multiple clients or projects.
When to pick it: If your freelance work starts scaling - multiple clients, overlapping projects, maybe collaborators - and you want more than just a stopwatch.
5. Notion-native templates
Many freelancers prefer to stay “all in Notion.” There are community approaches where you build a simple “time logging database” - a table with properties like project, task, start time, end time - and manually (or semi-automatically) fill these in. Some even use custom buttons/embeds or formulas to emulate a “start/stop” timer.
Why this works: Zero dependency on external tools; everything stays inside Notion; full control over data and structure.
When to pick it: If you dislike switching tools, or if your projects are simple and don’t need advanced reports - maybe a side-project or a small freelance job.
Conclusion
For freelance developers using Notion, time tracking doesn’t need to be a chore. It can be seamless, almost invisible. Among the tools we covered:
TMetric stands out for seamless, one-click Notion integration and billing-ready reports.
Clockify is great if you just want free, no-frills tracking.
Toggl Track (with automation) offers flexibility and a decoupled “project vs time” setup.
Everhour becomes powerful when you start juggling many clients/projects or need budgeting/invoicing features.
And if you prefer minimalism, staying purely inside Notion remains a viable (and sometimes the simplest) path.
Pick based on your needs and workflow style. As a freelance dev, the right tool can save you time and ensure you get paid accurately.
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