Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to Hubstaff · ⏳ time tracking
Hubstaff vs Kimai
Timesheets, rates, reports and invoices are all there; approvals need its free plugin and the server still needs an adult. Here is how Kimai ($0/mo open source) stacks up against Hubstaff ($7/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
Hubstaff vs Kimai Specification Matrix
facts verified 2026-08-10
| Dimension | Hubstaff (Paid) | Kimai (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $7 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $84 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $84) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $420 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $420) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $840 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $840) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source AGPL-3.0 |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Local or hosted (your machine or their cloud) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | webself-hostedself-host, real ops |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 4.9k (active aug 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from Hubstaff to Kimai
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
Kimai is strong for timesheets and invoices but lacks Hubstaff’s polished native automatic tracker, mobile and GPS workflow, and integrated payroll operations.
How to deploy Kimai
Use Kimai Cloud or deploy the free edition on a server with Docker or the manual PHP/Composer installer
What it takes to run
Free use requires a maintained server, database, Docker or a supported PHP stack, plus backups and reverse-proxy/TLS configuration
Where your data lives
Timesheets, users, customers, projects, rates, and invoice data live in the Kimai database on Kimai Cloud or the user's server, with generated files and uploads on that host
Why fork Kimai instead of vibe-coding a Hubstaff clone?
A consolation build is possible, but the paid product's decisive value sits outside a solo rebuild. For Hubstaff, track opt-in work time without screenshots, keystrokes, or hidden monitoring. The hard boundary is workforce tracking, payroll, gps, scheduling, reports, and compliance operations, plus ubiquitous capture, coaching, and team workflow.
Hubstaff vs Kimai FAQ
Is Kimai a good free alternative to Hubstaff?+
Yes. Kimai is a verified open-source (AGPL-3.0) replacement for Hubstaff. Timesheets, rates, reports and invoices are all there; approvals need its free plugin and the server still needs an adult.
What is the catch when switching from Hubstaff to Kimai?+
Kimai is strong for timesheets and invoices but lacks Hubstaff’s polished native automatic tracker, mobile and GPS workflow, and integrated payroll operations.
How much do you save switching from Hubstaff to Kimai?+
Hubstaff costs $7/mo ($84/yr) per seat, whereas Kimai is $0/mo. Switching saves $84/yr for a solo user, $420/yr for a 5-person team, and $840/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host Kimai instead of Hubstaff?+
Install: Use Kimai Cloud or deploy the free edition on a server with Docker or the manual PHP/Composer installer. Setup: Free use requires a maintained server, database, Docker or a supported PHP stack, plus backups and reverse-proxy/TLS configuration
