How much does it really cost to use Hubstaff?
Hubstaff is a time tracking and employee monitoring software for in-office and remote teams. It offers three versions: Hubstaff Time, Hubstaff Desk, and Hubstaff Field, each with different pricing tiers based on the number of users and features required. The software is available on web, desktop, and mobile devices, and integrates with third-party tools.
Given the 3 different versions of the software, figuring out pricing can be a bit of a hassle for businesses. In this article, I’ll be going deep into Hubstaff’s pricing models, giving insights into hidden fees, flexibility, and the software’s cancellation policies.
Pricing models
Hubstaff offers 3 product versions:
- Hubstaff Time, for time tracking and reporting
- Hubstaff Desk, for proof of work, time tracking, and team management
- Hubstaff Field, for GPS location tracking and team management
Hubstaff Time and Hubstaff Desk have the same 4 pricing tiers: Time/Desk Free, Time/Desk Starter, Time/Desk Pro, and Enterprise. Hubstaff Field’s pricing is slighly different. The pricing for all 3 versions is as follows (if billed annually):
Hubstaff Time:
Time Free: With it being the free version of the product, Time Free offers time tracking, timesheets, limited payments, and limited reports.
Time Starter: At US$5.83/user/month, Time Starter offers more extensive features like management roles, export reports, 24 hours support, and 1 integration.
Time Pro: At US$8.33/user/month, Time Pro offers features like expense tracking, payments & payroll, invoices, and unlimited integrations.
Enterprise: Enterprise offers additional features like VIP Support, higher limits on public API, SSO, and pay by bank debit (ACH). Its price can be reached through the Hubstaff support team.
Hubstaff Desk:
Desk Free: Like the Time Free plan, Desk Free offers the same time tracking and reporting options with additional activity levels and limited screenshots features.
Desk Starter: At US$5.83/user/month, Desk Starter offers per-user settings, unlimited screenshots, 24-hour support, and full reporting features.
Desk Pro: At US$8.33/user/month, this plan has the same price as the Time Pro plan, with additional features such as app & URL tracking, time off, unlimited integrations, and invoices.
Enterprise: Offering the same additional features as the Hubstaff Time Enterprise version, its price can also be reached through the Hubstaff support team.
Hubstaff Field:
Field Pro: At US$10.00/user/month, Field Pro includes time tracking, mobile GPS, invoices, and unlimited integrations.
Desk Field: At US$12.50/user/month, Desk Field contains additional features such as auto discard idle time, app & URL tracking, unlimited screenshots, and activity levels.
Enterprise: Enterprise adds the same additional features as in the other versions, and its pricing can be reached through Hubstaff customer support.
Hubstaff also has additional add-ons like tasks (US$3.00/user/month), data retention (US$2.00/user/month), and insights (US$2.00/user/month). More info about these add-ons can be found on their website.
For users who are billing annually, Hubstaff offers an additional 2 months free of charge.
What are the 5 things you’ve gotta watch out for with Hubstaff’s paid plans?
1. Hidden fees
Hubstaff offers complete transparency. The company’s pricing plans are based on the specific number of users and features required, and there are no hidden fees to worry about.
2. Limited features on lower pricing tiers
Well, the specific limited features on lower pricing tiers for Hubstaff depends on the product version and plan selected. For Hubstaff Time and Hubstaff Desk, both versions offer a free version that includes features like time tracking and timesheets, but very limited payment options and reporting features. And since Hubstaff does offer 4 pricing tiers for each version, I’m sure the free plans and lower tiered plans are relatively limited.
One limitation that did stand out greatly to me is how the second tiered plan, Time Starter and Desk Starter only offer 1 integration with another software, which means you’re only getting 1 integration option at a price of US$5.83/user/month. This doesn’t stand true for Hubstaff Field however, that offers unlimited integrations in its very first tier, but the first tier itself is priced at US$10.00/user/month, which is a bit high if you ask me.
There are also limitations on number of projects in the lower tiered plans so thats something to consider.
3. Contracts and commitments
Hubstaff does not require any long-term commitments or contracts from its users.
4. Inflexibility in pricing
I must say Hubstaff’s pricing is flexible and transparent, based on the specific number of users and features required. Users can choose from a range of plans that vary in price and features, allowing them to select a plan that fits their needs and budget. Additionally, what I like is Hubstaff offers discounts for annual billing, and users can add or remove features at any time to adjust their pricing. This flexibility ensures that users can tailor their plan to fit their evolving needs and budget, without being locked into inflexible pricing.
5. Difficulty in canceling or changing plans
Users can cancel or change their plan at any time without incurring any additional fees or penalties. Further, Hubstaff also offers a 14-day free trial for all plans, allowing users to test out the product before committing to a paid plan.
Is Hubstaff worth it?
In conclusion, Hubstaff’s pricing plans are flexible and transparent, and the software offers a range of features that can help businesses manage their remote teams and track employee productivity. While the software does offer limited features on its lower tiered plans, I like that it allows for the addition/removal of features at any time without any hidden fees.
I would suggest businesses to carefully evaluate their needs and compare Hubstaff’s pricing and features with other similar software options to determine if it is the best fit for their organization and definitely try out the 14-day trial and free plans before purchasing any paid version.
Overall, Hubstaff is a solid time tracking software that offers a range of great features. However, I have to be honest and my best suggestion to businesses is to also take a look at Hubstaff’s downsides that might be a dealbreaker depending on the nature of your company. Also, to look into more Hubstaff alternatives, check out our best time tracking software of 2023.
Alternatively, why not read my Honest Review: Hubstaff where I give my final verdict on Hubstaff.
