RankingRight
8.3 Tested Aug 25, 2026 by Team RankingRight

Hubstaff (Starter) review 2026

Time tracking with optional screenshots and GPS that runs payroll at the end of it — built for contractors and field teams who are paid by the hour

PriceFrom $7 · checked Sep 11, 2026
Per user7 $/mo
Worker sees own dataYes

Is the Hubstaff Worth It?

Best for paying hourly and remote workers. Hubstaff is the honest version of this category: the worker starts the timer, sees everything collected, and gets paid from it. For agencies billing hours it does the whole job.

Hubstaff Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Only product here that covered all three of our platforms including Linux
  • Workers see and can delete their own screenshots before submission
  • Automatic payroll and invoicing from tracked hours
  • GPS and geofencing for field teams
Cons
  • Screenshots and app tracking need the $12 Team tier
  • Two-seat minimum
  • The timer is worker-started — not a covert tool, which is the point

Hubstaff at a Glance

8.3 Editor Score
Visibility & accuracyWhether the activity, app and idle data matched what our five testers actually did over two weeks, and how much it missed on Mac and Linux.
21/25
Proportionality & worker rightsWhether the worker can see their own data, whether notice is built in, how granular the consent and privacy controls are, and whether a covert mode is offered as the default.
20/25
Productivity insightReports a manager can act on: focus time, workload balance, burnout signals — rather than raw surveillance.
15/20
Deployment & adminSilent or visible install, platform coverage, directory integration, data retention controls, export.
13/15
ValueMonthly price per user for a 20-person team on the plan our test needed.
14/15
Reader ratingNo reader ratings yet — not part of the score
Own one? Rate it:

Rubric v1: Visibility & accuracy 25 · Proportionality & worker rights 25 · Productivity insight 20 · Deployment & admin 15 · Value 15. Score = Σ ÷ 10, locked Sep 11, 2026. How we rank.

Where to buy — prices checked Sep 11, 2026

Hubstaff — $7

Best priceVisit Site

Hubstaff specifications

Per user7 USD/mo
Free planYes, 1 user
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome
macOSYes
ScreenshotsOptional, worker can see and delete
Keystroke loggingActivity level only, no logging
Worker sees own dataYes, full timesheet and screenshots
Time tracking & payrollYes, with automated payroll
Best forAgencies, contractors, field teams

Why it scored 8.3

Hubstaff is the honest version of this category: the worker starts the timer, sees everything collected, and gets paid from it. For agencies billing hours it does the whole job.

Where it loses

Features gated by tier.

Still the right pick for

Anyone paying by the tracked hour.

Changelog: Sep 11 — rank 2 → 3 · all changes

Hubstaff8.3 · $7
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