Do We Really Need Timetrackers?

I personally don’t like time trackers.

And there are a lot of reasons why which I’ll reveal later. But first, let’s talk about why clients use them (and why I totally understand it).

Clients care about their costs. Every single hour they pay for needs to go somewhere that’s actually productive. Time trackers give them a sense of control. They help them monitor work progress, see screenshots, and make sure they’re paying for real output, not idle time.

Other valid reasons?

They help identify bottlenecks, improve project timelines, and set clearer expectations on deliverables. For teams, they can even help allocate resources better.

So yes, I get it.

But that doesn’t mean they’re always effective.

Exhibit A: Me.

I don’t thrive under constant surveillance.

I work best when there’s trust, not micromanagement. When I’m given freedom, I’m more creative, more strategic, and I produce far better results than when I feel like every move is being watched.

That said, not every freelancer operates the same way. There are freelancers who abuse that trust, and yes, time trackers can help minimize that risk. I know a few tricks others use to “game” the system (no, I won’t reveal them), but let’s just say: even time trackers can be fooled.

Personally, I prefer tools like Clockify. It simply logs hours without screenshots, or Screenio, which takes screenshots but doesn’t measure mouse or keyboard activity. Because let’s be real : the number of clicks doesn’t define productivity.

At the end of the day, every freelancer-client relationship is unique.

Some partnerships work best with structured tracking; others thrive on pure trust and accountability. The key is finding a balance that builds a fruitful working relationship, not one that kills motivation.