African agencies, BPO firms and startups increasingly run remote teams that bill clients abroad by the hour. Clients want proof of hours, and founders want to know where time goes without micromanaging. A time tracker gives both sides the same data.
Short answer: Hubstaff is a time tracking and workforce tool with timesheets, optional activity monitoring, scheduling and payroll. It suits remote teams and agencies that bill by the hour or need clear records of work time.
What is Hubstaff?
Team members track time against projects through desktop or mobile apps. Managers see timesheets, reports and, if enabled, activity levels and screenshots, then pay staff from approved hours. See Hubstaff.
Problems it solves for African founders
- Clients asking for proof of hours: detailed timesheets and reports.
- Unclear project profitability: time per project and client.
- Paying remote contractors accurately: pay from approved hours.
- Shift and attendance gaps: scheduling on the Team plan.
Pricing and plans
There is no free plan but a 14-day trial. Starter is about $7 a user monthly, or about $5 billed annually. Grow is about $9 monthly, or about $7.50 annually. Team is about $12 monthly, or about $10 annually, adding scheduling and attendance. Enterprise is about $25. Check current pricing.
How to get started
- Agree a clear tracking policy with your team first.
- Start the trial with one project and one client.
- Decide which monitoring features to turn on, and tell staff.
- Use reports in your next client invoice.
- Review time per project monthly to adjust pricing.
Who it is for, and who it is not for
It fits agencies, BPOs, outsourcing firms and remote startups. Teams that value high autonomy should use the lightest settings and be transparent about any monitoring.
FAQ
Does Hubstaff take screenshots?
It can, if the feature is enabled. You decide which monitoring to use.
Is there a free plan?
No, but there is a 14-day free trial.
Can Hubstaff pay contractors in Africa?
It supports payouts through integrations. Check which payment methods work in your team’s countries.
Disclosure: Africapreneurs may earn a commission if you sign up or buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It does not affect which tools we cover or what we write about them.
