What time tracking software integrates with payroll and project management tools?

Finding time tracking software that seamlessly integrates with both payroll and project management tools is crucial for efficient operations, accurate billing, and streamlined HR. The "best" option often depends on your existing tech stack and specific needs.

Here are some top contenders, categorized by their primary strength, that offer robust integrations:

---

### 1. Dedicated Time Tracking Tools with Strong Integrations

These tools excel at time tracking and are built to connect with a wide array of other platforms.

* **Harvest:**

* **Time Tracking:** Excellent for tracking time against projects and tasks, budgeting, and invoicing.

* **Project Management Integration:** Integrates directly with popular PM tools like **Asana, Trello, Jira, ClickUp, Basecamp, Monday.com, Wrike**, and many more. You can often start timers directly from tasks in these tools.

* **Payroll Integration:** Integrates with accounting software like **QuickBooks Online, Xero**, and can export detailed timesheets for payroll processing in systems like **Gusto, ADP, Paychex** (sometimes via Zapier or direct export/import). It also has its own invoicing features.

* **Best For:** Agencies, consultancies, and teams that need detailed project time tracking, budgeting, and client invoicing, with flexible payroll integration.

* **QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets):**

* **Time Tracking:** Very robust for employee time tracking, including GPS tracking, clock-in/out, and detailed timesheets.

* **Project Management Integration:** Integrates with some PM tools like **Jira, Asana, Smartsheet**, and offers an open API for custom connections.

* **Payroll Integration:** **Deeply integrated with QuickBooks Payroll** (as it's a QuickBooks product), making payroll processing incredibly smooth for QuickBooks users. It also integrates with **ADP, Gusto, Paychex**, and others.

* **Best For:** Businesses already using QuickBooks for accounting and payroll, especially those with field teams or hourly employees.

* **Toggl Track:**

* **Time Tracking:** Known for its simplicity and ease of use, with powerful reporting.

* **Project Management Integration:** Integrates with over 100 PM tools via browser extensions (e.g., **Asana, Trello, Jira, ClickUp, Monday.com, Todoist**), allowing you to start timers directly from tasks.

* **Payroll Integration:** While it doesn't have direct payroll processing, it offers excellent reporting and export features (CSV, PDF) that can be easily imported into most payroll systems like **Gusto, ADP, Paychex**, or used with integration platforms like **Zapier**.

* **Best For:** Individuals and teams looking for a straightforward, powerful time tracker that connects broadly with PM tools and offers flexible payroll data export.

* **Clockify:**

* **Time Tracking:** A popular free option with paid tiers for advanced features, offering detailed time tracking, timesheets, and reporting.

* **Project Management Integration:** Integrates with many PM tools via browser extensions (e.g., **Asana, Trello, Jira, ClickUp, Monday.com, Todoist**).

* **Payroll Integration:** Similar to Toggl Track, it provides robust reporting and export options (CSV, Excel) that can be used for payroll processing in various systems or via Zapier.

* **Best For:** Budget-conscious teams or those starting out, needing a flexible time tracker with good PM integrations and exportable data for payroll.

* **Replicon:**

* **Time Tracking:** An enterprise-grade solution offering comprehensive time tracking, expense management, and project costing.

* **Project Management Integration:** Integrates with major ERP and PM systems like **SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Project, Jira, Salesforce**.

* **Payroll Integration:** Offers robust integration capabilities with various payroll systems, including **ADP, Workday, SAP SuccessFactors**, and custom integrations via API.

* **Best For:** Larger organizations, professional services firms, and those with complex time and expense tracking needs across multiple departments.

---

### 2. All-in-One HR/Payroll Suites with Time Tracking

These platforms prioritize HR and payroll but include robust time tracking and often integrate with PM tools.

* **Rippling:**

* **Time Tracking:** Offers native time tracking, including geofencing, PTO tracking, and compliance features.

* **Project Management Integration:** While not its primary focus, Rippling integrates with many business apps, including some PM tools, and can export data for project costing. Its strength is in connecting all employee data.

* **Payroll Integration:** **Built-in, seamless payroll processing** directly from tracked time, benefits, and HR data.

* **Best For:** Companies looking for a unified platform for HR, IT, payroll, and benefits, where time tracking feeds directly into payroll.

* **Gusto:**

* **Time Tracking:** Offers native time tracking features, including clock-in/out, project tracking, and PTO management.

* **Project Management Integration:** Integrates with popular PM tools like **Asana, Trello, ClickUp** (often via Zapier or direct integrations for data export).

* **Payroll Integration:** **Excellent, user-friendly payroll processing** that directly uses tracked time for accurate paychecks, tax filings, and compliance.

* **Best For:** Small to medium-sized businesses prioritizing easy-to-use payroll and HR, with integrated time tracking.

* **ADP Workforce Now / Run:**

* **Time Tracking:** Comprehensive time and attendance modules with various clocking options, scheduling, and compliance features.

* **Project Management Integration:** Integrates with a range of business applications, including some PM tools, often through their marketplace or custom APIs.

* **Payroll Integration:** **Industry-leading, fully integrated payroll processing** that directly uses time and attendance data.

* **Best For:** Businesses of all sizes (depending on the ADP product) that need robust, compliant payroll and HR, with integrated time tracking.

---

### 3. Project Management Tools with Built-in Time Tracking

These tools are primarily for project management but have integrated time tracking and can export data for payroll.

* **ClickUp:**

* **Time Tracking:** Native time tracking features, including manual entry, timers, and reporting, directly within tasks and projects.

* **Project Management:** A comprehensive PM platform with tasks, docs, goals, and more.

* **Payroll Integration:** While it doesn't do payroll itself, it offers robust reporting and export options (CSV) that can be used to feed data into payroll systems like **Gusto, ADP, QuickBooks Payroll** (often via Zapier or manual import).

* **Best For:** Teams already heavily invested in ClickUp for project management who want to keep time tracking within the same ecosystem.

* **Jira (with Tempo Timesheets or other plugins):**

* **Time Tracking:** Jira itself has basic time logging, but plugins like **Tempo Timesheets** transform it into a powerful time tracking, resource planning, and invoicing solution.

* **Project Management:** The industry standard for agile project management, especially for software development.

* **Payroll Integration:** Tempo Timesheets offers advanced reporting and export capabilities that can be used to integrate with various payroll systems, often via custom integrations or data export.

* **Best For:** Software development teams and IT departments already using Jira, who need detailed time tracking for project costing, billing, and payroll.

---

### How to Choose:

1. **Identify Your Primary Need:**

* **Payroll-first?** Look at Rippling, Gusto, ADP, or QuickBooks Time (if you use QuickBooks).

* **Project Management-first?** Consider Harvest, ClickUp, or Jira with Tempo.

* **Dedicated Time Tracking?** Harvest, Toggl Track, Clockify are strong choices.

2. **Check Existing Tools:** What payroll software and project management tools are you *already* using? Prioritize solutions that offer direct, robust integrations with those.

3. **Integration Type:**

* **Direct API Integration:** Most seamless, often real-time data sync.

* **Zapier/Make (formerly Integromat):** Great for connecting tools that don't have direct integrations, but adds another layer.

* **Export/Import:** Manual, but effective for many scenarios.

4. **Features:** Do you need GPS tracking, PTO management, expense tracking, client invoicing, specific reporting, or compliance features?

5. **Scalability & Pricing:** Consider your team size, growth plans, and budget.

6. **Trial Periods:** Most of these tools offer free trials. Test them out with your actual workflows to see which fits best.

By carefully evaluating your current setup and future needs, you can find the time tracking software that perfectly bridges the gap between your payroll and project management processes.