Comparison
DeskTrust vs Clockify
Clockify is a free, self-service time tracker. DeskTrust is an AI-powered monitoring platform. Both have their place — this guide helps you decide which fits your team.
DeskTrust
- AI daily reports — Clockify has none
- Live screens + playback — proof of work, not just hours
- Automatic app tracking — included in base plan, not Pro-locked
- Productivity scoring — know who's deep-working
- Cheaper for monitoring — $4.99 vs Clockify's $7.99 Pro
Clockify
- Genuinely free — unlimited users, basic timer
- Strong invoicing — billable rates, client budgets
- Great self-service UX — employees track their own time
- ~No AI reports or monitoring without Pro
- ~No live screens or recording at any tier
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | DeskTrust | Clockify |
|---|---|---|
| AI Daily Work Reports Plain-English summary of what each person did | ||
| Productivity Scoring Clockify logs time, not productivity | ||
| App & URL Usage Tracking Clockify requires the Pro plan ($7.99/user) for auto tracking | Pro+ only | |
| Screenshot Capture | Pro+ only | |
| Live Screen Monitoring | ||
| Screen Recording & Playback | ||
| Employee Self-Service Portal Clockify is self-service by design | ||
| Manual Timer | ||
| Auto Timesheets | ||
| Idle Detection | ||
| Project Budgets & Invoicing Clockify is strong on billing workflows | ||
| Free Tier Clockify is genuinely free for self-reported time tracking | 30-day trial | Yes (unlimited users) |
| Starting Paid Plan Monitoring features require $7.99 Pro | $4.99/seat/mo | $3.99/user/mo (Basic) |
| Monitoring Price Point DeskTrust is cheaper for the monitoring stack | $4.99 | $7.99 (Pro) |
| API Access |
When to Choose DeskTrust Over Clockify
You can't rely on self-reported hours. Clockify is a timer — employees start it, stop it, log it. If your team includes contractors, remote staff you've never met, or client-billable work where accuracy matters, you need automatic tracking and verifiable proof of work. DeskTrust captures app usage, screens, and productivity automatically.
You want to know what work got done, not just that hours were logged. Clockify shows you 8 hours on "Project X." DeskTrust's AI tells you the person spent 3 hours in Figma, 2 hours in Slack and Gmail, 1 hour in a Zoom call, and completed three Jira tickets.
You want the monitoring stack cheaper. Clockify's Pro plan (where auto tracking and screenshots live) is $7.99/user. DeskTrust's full feature set — AI reports, screens, recording, productivity scoring — starts at $4.99/seat.
When Clockify Might Be Better
You just need free self-service time tracking. If you're a small team, agency, or solo operator who trusts self-reported hours and just needs a shared timer with timesheets, Clockify's free tier is excellent.
You need project budgeting and client invoicing. Clockify's billing-and-budgets workflow is more mature than DeskTrust's. Many agencies run Clockify alongside their monitoring tool.
You don't want any screens or activity tracking at all. Clockify's culture is self-reporting. If your team would push back on any form of monitoring, Clockify is a lighter fit.
Need more than Clockify can show you?
AI work reports, live screens, and full video playback — at a lower price than Clockify Pro. 30-day free trial.