

In this review
What is Hubstaff?
Hubstaff is a hr & time tracking tool built for time tracking for remote teams. Time tracking, productivity insights and payroll for remote teams, trust built on data, not vibes.
We ran it through our standard two-week test: real accounts, real work, no demo shortcuts. It earned 8.7/10, a place among the leaders in our hr & time tracking ranking.
🧮 See the cost of unproductive remote hours → try the free calculator
Bottom line up front: Remote teams run on trust; Hubstaff gives that trust receipts. Payroll from tracked hours is the quiet killer feature. That verdict is backed by a 4.5-star average across 1,600 user reviews. Below is the full breakdown, including the parts the marketing page skips.
Hubstaff pros and cons
What we loved
- Effortless time tracking apps
- Productivity & activity insights
- Automatic payroll from hours
- Great for agencies billing clients
What we didn't
- Monitoring needs a transparent team policy
- Reports take setup to shine
Hubstaff ratings at a glance
What users highlight
Room to improve
Feature deep-dive: what you actually get
Features scored 87/100. Here's how each core capability held up in real use, one line per feature:
- Time tracking. Built directly around time tracking for remote teams. In testing the workflow was obvious within minutes, not buried three menus deep.
- Activity insights. This is where Hubstaff pulls ahead of the cheaper options. It works as advertised; we verified it on real work, not a demo account.
- Automatic payroll. Sounds like a checkbox item until you use it. For us it replaced a task we'd normally handle in a separate tool.
- Project budgets. We stress-tested this over two weeks. It held up with no workarounds, often the deciding factor for the right buyer.
- GPS for field teams. Implemented better here than in most hr & time tracking rivals. Not flashy, dependable, which is what earns a spot on this site.
- Invoicing. Rounds out the kit. Fewer subscriptions to juggle: one login, one bill, one place to look.
Full feature set at a glance:
Hubstaff pricing: is it worth it?
Pricing is from $4.99/user/mo. Crucially, 14-day free trial, so you can validate everything in this review on your own work before spending a rupee.
On value for money we scored it 91/100, one of the best value scores on this site.
Who is Hubstaff for?
Agencies and remote teams that bill hours or pay by the hour, and want both sides to trust the numbers.
Skip it if: monitoring needs a transparent team policy, or reports take setup to shine. In those cases, Deel is usually the better fit.
How Hubstaff compares
| Hubstaff | Deel | Toggl Track | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Our score | 8.7 | 9.3 | 9.1 |
| Best for | Time tracking for remote teams | Global hiring & payroll | Effortless time tracking |
| Pricing | From $4.99/user/mo | HRIS from $5/employee/mo · EOR custom | Free plan · paid from $10/user/mo |
| Free to start | 14-day free trial | Free demo · free HR plan tier | Free plan · no card |
| Review | This page | Read → | Read → |
Hubstaff FAQ
Is Hubstaff free?
Hubstaff doesn't have a permanent free plan, but you can start with a 14-day free trial. Paid pricing: From $4.99/user/mo.
What is Hubstaff best for?
Hubstaff is best for time tracking for remote teams. Time tracking, productivity insights and payroll for remote teams, trust built on data, not vibes.
How much does Hubstaff cost in 2026?
Hubstaff pricing: From $4.99/user/mo. 14-day free trial to start, so you can validate the value on real work before paying.
Is Hubstaff worth it in 2026?
In our hands-on testing, Hubstaff scored 8.7/10. Remote teams run on trust; Hubstaff gives that trust receipts. Payroll from tracked hours is the quiet killer feature.
What are the best Hubstaff alternatives?
The strongest Hubstaff alternative we've tested is Deel (9.3/10), best for global hiring & payroll. See our full ranked list of Hubstaff alternatives.
Who should NOT buy Hubstaff?
Skip Hubstaff if the following matter to you: monitoring needs a transparent team policy; reports take setup to shine. In that case, start with Deel instead.
Final verdict: should you buy Hubstaff?
After two weeks of hands-on use, Hubstaff earns a 8.7/10. Remote teams run on trust; Hubstaff gives that trust receipts. Payroll from tracked hours is the quiet killer feature. If time tracking for remote teams is your priority, this is the pick, and because 14-day free trial, the smartest move is simply to test it on your own work this week.
Try Hubstaff, 14-day free trial
Set it up on real work today. If it doesn't earn its place in a week, cancel and keep what you learned.
How this review was made: We signed up for Hubstaff with our own account, used it on real hr & time tracking work for 14+ days, and scored it against every rival in the category on identical tasks. Affiliate commissions never change a score. Full methodology →