Harvest costs $11/mo.
These cost $0.
3 free alternatives to Harvest, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
Harvest vs Free Alternatives Matrix
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $11/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ERPNext | open source | GPL-3.0 | Local or hosted | ★ 36k | Harvest vs ERPNext → |
| Dolibarr | open source | GPL-3.0+ | Self-host | ★ 7.5k | Harvest vs Dolibarr → |
| Kimai | open source | AGPL-3.0+ | Self-host | ★ 4.9k | Harvest vs Kimai → |
The picks
3 open source · ranked by fit
- 01
ERPNext
open sourceGPL-3.0Local or hosted36kaug 2026Timesheets become invoices cleanly; unfortunately the replacement arrives attached to an entire ERP and its operations manual.
The catch vs HarvestERPNext can turn timesheets into invoices, but its ERP-sized setup and interface are much heavier than Harvest's fast timers, approvals, native apps, and project reporting.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Managed Frappe Cloud signup, or the supported Frappe Docker/Bench deployment
- setup
- Self-hosting is an ERP deployment rather than a desktop install: Docker or Bench, MariaDB, Redis, workers, a reverse proxy, backups, upgrades, and country-specific accounting setup.
- your data
- Self-hosted companies live in MariaDB site databases with site files and attachments on the server; managed-hosting data lives in the selected Frappe Cloud site.
- checked
- 2026-08-11
- 02
Dolibarr
open sourceGPL-3.0+Self-host7.5kjul 2026Harvest is in there somewhere, behind an entire ERP; the price is zero and the setup vocabulary is not.
The catch vs HarvestDolibarr buries a simple timer-to-invoice job inside an ERP and lacks Harvest's focused timer experience, polished native apps, reminders, approvals, and integration breadth.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopwebself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- DoliWamp, DoliDeb, DoliRPM, Docker, or a conventional PHP web-server installation
- setup
- A packaged desktop-style installer exists on some platforms, but a durable deployment still needs a web server or Docker, database, HTTPS, backups, updates, and localization.
- your data
- Business records live in MySQL, MariaDB, or PostgreSQL, while uploaded and generated documents live in Dolibarr's documents directory or mounted volume.
- checked
- 2026-08-11
- 03
Kimai
open sourceAGPL-3.0+Self-host4.9kaug 2026Timesheets, rates, reports and invoices are all there; approvals need its free plugin and the server still needs an adult.
The catch vs HarvestKimai matches timesheets and billing well, but its native-client, offline-mobile, approval, integration, and zero-administration experience is less polished than Harvest's.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Official Docker Compose stack
- setup
- A non-expert needs Docker, a domain and TLS, database and application secrets, email configuration, backups, upgrades, and optional plugins for some workflows.
- your data
- Users, projects, activities, rates, and timesheets live in MySQL or MariaDB; plugins, configuration, and generated files live in persistent server volumes.
- checked
- 2026-08-11
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Harvest open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Harvest?+
The top free alternative to Harvest is ERPNext (open source, GPL-3.0). Timesheets become invoices cleanly; unfortunately the replacement arrives attached to an entire ERP and its operations manual. Other popular Harvest replacements include Dolibarr, Kimai.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Harvest?+
Yes. Of the 3 free alternatives to Harvest, 3 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: ERPNext (GPL-3.0), Dolibarr (GPL-3.0+), Kimai (AGPL-3.0+).
How much does switching from Harvest to a free alternative save?+
Harvest starts at $11/month per seat ($132/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like ERPNext saves $660 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Harvest clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Harvest is KINDA (the core, yes. the polish, no). The core loop is buildable, but a dependable replacement becomes a real weekend or multi-day project. For Harvest, track project time, turn approved entries into simple invoices, and export reports. The hard boundary is team timesheets, integrations, invoicing, reminders, support, and reliability, plus ubiquitous capture, coaching, and team workflow.
What is the catch when switching from Harvest to ERPNext?+
ERPNext can turn timesheets into invoices, but its ERP-sized setup and interface are much heavier than Harvest's fast timers, approvals, native apps, and project reporting.
