Best Harvest Alternative for Consultancies in 2026

Harvest is a solid time tracker, but it was not designed for how consultancies actually operate. If you need a proper Harvest alternative for consultancies — one that handles timesheet approvals, client sign-off, and invoice generation in a single workflow — the options below are worth evaluating. The right tool should replace the patchwork of spreadsheets, email approvals, and separate invoicing software that most Harvest-using consultancies still rely on.

This roundup compares seven alternatives, ranked by how well each one fits the consultancy use case: structured timesheets, approval workflows, external client approvers, and billing from approved time.

Quick Summary: Harvest Alternatives Compared

Tool	Best For	Starting Price	Invoicing	Approval Workflows	External Client Approvers
TimeSubmit	Consultancies (end-to-end)	Free / $47 mo	Yes — from approved timesheets	Yes — all plans	Yes — free, no paid seat
Toggl Track	Simple time logging	Free / $9 seat/mo	No	No	No
Clockify	Budget-conscious teams	Free / $4.99 seat/mo	Add-on	Limited (Kiosk)	No
Scoro	Large consultancies	~$26 user/mo	Yes	Yes	Partial
FreshBooks	Freelancers + invoicing	$10.50/mo	Yes — full accounting	No	No
Accelo	Professional services	Custom pricing	Yes	Yes	Partial
QuickBooks Time	Employee tracking	$6/user/mo + $20 base	Via QuickBooks	Manager approvals	No

1. TimeSubmit — Best Harvest Alternative for Consultancies

TimeSubmit is the top Harvest alternative for consultancies because it was built specifically for this use case. Where Harvest is a general-purpose time tracker that serves freelancers, agencies, and internal teams, TimeSubmit focuses entirely on the consultancy billing cycle: submit timesheets, get client approval, generate invoices.

The platform uses structured weekly or monthly timesheets rather than running timers. Consultants log hours across multiple projects in a single submission, which mirrors how consultancies actually report time to clients. Every entry captures the project, date, hours, billable or non-billable status, and a description.

Why consultancies switch from Harvest to TimeSubmit

The core reason is approval workflows. On Harvest, structured approvals are locked behind the Enterprise plan and still lack an external client approver role. TimeSubmit includes approval workflows on every plan — including the free tier. Consultancy admins configure approvers per project, and timesheets follow a clear submit → review → approve or reject flow.

The external approver role is the feature Harvest cannot replicate. Clients approve timesheets without a paid seat and without seeing billing rates or financial data. For any consultancy where the end client must sign off on hours before invoicing, this eliminates an entire manual process.

Invoicing is tightly coupled to the approval workflow. Once timesheets are approved, consultants generate PDF invoices with one click — or batch multiple approved timesheets into a single invoice. Templates support your logo, payment terms, VAT, bank details (sort code, IBAN, SWIFT), and seven currencies including GBP, USD, and EUR.

Key features:

• Weekly/monthly multi-project timesheets
• Single and sequential multi-level approval workflows
• External client approvers (free — no paid seat, no financial visibility)
• One-click invoice generation from approved timesheets
• Multi-currency support (GBP, USD, EUR, AUD, CAD, NZD, ZAR)
• Real-time dashboards with utilisation metrics
• Audit log (Professional+)
• GDPR compliant with TLS 1.3 and AES-256 encryption

Pricing: Free (2 consultants, 1 client) / Starter $47/mo (5 consultants) / Professional $97/mo (25 consultants) / Enterprise custom. Annual billing gives 20% discount. No credit card required for the free tier.

Best for: Small to mid-size consultancies that need timesheet approval and invoicing in one platform, especially those with clients who must approve hours before billing.

2. Toggl Track — Best for Simple Time Logging

Toggl Track is one of the most popular time tracking tools available, and many consultancies try it before realising they need more. The interface is clean, the one-click timer is satisfying to use, and the reporting is strong for understanding where time goes.

The problem for consultancies is what Toggl Track does not include. There are no approval workflows — managers cannot formally approve or reject timesheets within the platform. There is no invoicing module at all. And there is no concept of external client approvers. If your workflow requires a client to sign off on hours before you invoice, Toggl Track cannot support that without additional tools.

Toggl Track is a genuine Harvest alternative in the sense that it does the same thing — tracks time — arguably better than Harvest for some use cases. But it is not a Harvest alternative for consultancies who need the steps that come after time tracking.

Pricing: Free (5 users) / Starter $9/seat/mo / Premium $18/seat/mo / Enterprise custom.

Best for: Teams that only need time tracking and reporting without approval workflows or invoicing.

3. Clockify — Best for Budget-Conscious Teams

Clockify offers a generous free tier that supports unlimited users with time tracking, reporting, and basic project management. For consultancies watching costs, this is appealing. The platform includes timesheets, a shared calendar, scheduling, and kiosk mode for on-site time entry.

As a Harvest alternative for consultancies, Clockify falls short in two areas. Approval workflows are minimal — the "Approval" feature is available on the Pro plan ($7.99/user/mo) but lacks the structured submit-review-approve flow consultancies need. There is no external client approver concept. Invoicing exists as an add-on in higher plans, but it is not integrated into an approval-first workflow.

Clockify works well as a time tracker with more generous free limits than Harvest. For consultancies, it remains a tracking tool rather than a billing workflow platform.

Pricing: Free (unlimited users) / Basic $4.99/user/mo / Standard $6.99/user/mo / Pro $9.99/user/mo / Enterprise $14.99/user/mo.

Best for: Large teams that need free or low-cost time tracking with basic reporting.

4. Scoro — Best for Large Consultancies Needing Full PSA

Scoro is a professional services automation (PSA) platform that covers project management, CRM, quoting, time tracking, and billing. For large consultancies with complex operations, it can replace multiple tools in one platform.

The trade-off is complexity and cost. Scoro starts at roughly $26/user/month and requires a minimum of five users. The learning curve is steep, and smaller consultancies often find they are paying for CRM and project management features they do not need. Approval workflows exist but sit within the broader project management module rather than as a dedicated consultancy billing flow.

As a Harvest alternative, Scoro is a significant step up in scope. For consultancies with 25+ staff who need project management alongside timesheets, it can make sense. For smaller firms that primarily need timesheet → approval → invoice, it is overpowered and overpriced.

Pricing: ~$26/user/mo (Essential) / Higher tiers for advanced features / 5-user minimum.

Best for: Large consultancies (25+ staff) that need a full PSA suite covering CRM, projects, and billing.

5. FreshBooks — Best for Freelancers Who Need Accounting

FreshBooks is an accounting-first platform with time tracking bolted on. The invoicing is excellent — customisable templates, automated payment reminders, online payment acceptance, and integration with major payment gateways. For freelancers and independent consultants who prioritise getting paid over workflow management, FreshBooks delivers.

Where FreshBooks falls short as a Harvest alternative for consultancies is governance. There are no formal approval workflows. There is no external client approver role. The time tracking is basic — a simple timer or manual entry linked to projects. There is no concept of structured weekly timesheets submitted for review.

If your consultancy has one or two people and you primarily need to send professional invoices quickly, FreshBooks is a strong option. If you manage a team of consultants and need clients to approve hours before billing, FreshBooks does not support that workflow.

Pricing: Lite $10.50/mo (5 clients) / Plus $19.50/mo (50 clients) / Premium $33/mo (unlimited clients).

Best for: Solo consultants and freelancers who need accounting software with basic time tracking.

6. Accelo — Best for Established Professional Services Firms

Accelo (now part of the Accelo by ConnectWise family) targets professional services firms with modules for sales, projects, tickets, retainers, and billing. The platform offers approval workflows within its project management module and can generate invoices from approved time.

For larger, established consultancies that need retainer management, project profitability tracking, and CRM integration, Accelo is a comprehensive option. The downside is pricing opacity — plans are custom-quoted with no public pricing, and the platform's breadth means a longer onboarding process. External client approvers are partially supported through client portal features, but not as a free, dedicated role like TimeSubmit offers.

Pricing: Custom (no public pricing). Typically targeted at firms with 10+ staff.

Best for: Established professional services firms that need retainer management and project-level profitability alongside timesheets.

7. QuickBooks Time — Best for Employee Time Tracking

QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets) is designed for employee time tracking with a focus on field teams, shift workers, and hourly employees. It integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks for payroll and accounting, making it a natural choice for businesses already in the Intuit ecosystem.

For consultancies, QuickBooks Time offers GPS tracking, scheduling, and manager approvals. However, the approval model is employee-manager, not consultant-client. There is no external approver role, no concept of client sign-off, and invoicing happens through QuickBooks rather than from approved timesheets directly. The platform assumes an employer-employee relationship, not a consultancy-client relationship.

Pricing: $6/user/mo + $20/mo base fee (Premium) / $12/user/mo + $40/mo base fee (Elite).

Best for: Businesses with hourly employees who need QuickBooks integration for payroll, not consultancies billing clients.

How Did We Evaluate These Harvest Alternatives?

Each tool was assessed against the specific needs of consultancies: structured timesheet submission (not just timers), approval workflows before invoicing, external client approver roles, integrated invoice generation from approved timesheets, multi-project support, and pricing transparency. General-purpose time trackers were included because consultancies frequently evaluate them, but the ranking reflects how well each tool supports the full consultancy billing cycle.

For a detailed head-to-head comparison between TimeSubmit and Harvest specifically, see our TimeSubmit vs Harvest breakdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Harvest alternative for UK consultancies?

TimeSubmit is the strongest Harvest alternative for UK consultancies. It supports GBP natively, includes sort code and IBAN fields on invoices, uses British English throughout the interface, and is GDPR compliant. The free tier requires no credit card, so you can evaluate the full workflow before committing.

Why do consultancies look for Harvest alternatives?

The most common reasons are the lack of built-in approval workflows on lower Harvest plans, no external client approver role, and the need to use separate tools for invoicing governance. Consultancies need clients to sign off on hours before invoices are generated — a workflow Harvest does not natively support without Enterprise pricing and third-party integrations.

Can I use a free Harvest alternative for my consultancy?

Yes. TimeSubmit offers a free tier for up to 2 consultants, 1 client, and 1 project — including approval workflows and invoicing. Clockify and Toggl Track also offer free tiers, though neither includes approval workflows or external client approvers. The right choice depends on whether you need just time tracking or the full timesheet-to-invoice workflow.

Does TimeSubmit integrate with accounting software like Harvest does?

TimeSubmit generates PDF invoices with full tax and bank details, which can be imported into any accounting package. Direct accounting integrations are on the product roadmap. For consultancies that need the approval-first billing workflow, the invoicing module replaces the need to sync unapproved time into an accounting tool — a common source of billing errors with Harvest.

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