TimeChat vs Toggl
Log billable hours after the work, not by remembering to hit "start". For freelancers who hate timer apps.
The core difference
Every timer app on the market — Toggl, Clockify, Harvest, Hubstaff — has the same fatal flaw: you have to remember to start the timer. When you don't, you undercharge.
TimeChat fixes this with a different paradigm: log hours after the work, in Telegram, in 4 seconds.
Real HN comment: "I tried to use Freckle but I always forgot to start the timer or to stop it." — every freelancer ever.
How TimeChat works
- Add the Telegram bot, link it to your account
- After any work block, message
1.5 acme bug fix
- Bot stores: 1.5h, client = Acme, note = "bug fix"
- End of month, bot generates a PDF invoice per client and emails it
- You get paid. You did not open a timer.
Side-by-side
| Feature | TimeChat | Toggl Track Premium |
|---|
| Starting price | $7/mo | $18/user/mo |
| Free tier | 1 client, 30 entries/mo | 5 users, basic |
| Logging UX | Telegram (already on your phone) | Web app + browser ext + mobile app |
| Forgot-to-start problem | Doesn't exist — log after the work | Yes, frequent |
| Auto-generated invoices | PDF, emailed to client (Pro) | Manual export (Premium $18+) |
| Hourly rate per client | Yes | Yes (paid tiers) |
| Multi-user (agency) | Team $19/mo total | $18/user/mo |
| Setup time | 60 seconds | 10-30 min |
When Toggl is still right for you
- You bill in 1-minute increments and audit-grade time precision matters
- You're tracking 10+ team members with complex project hierarchies
- You need deep Jira/Asana/Trello integration
- You actually remember to start timers (some people do)
When TimeChat wins
- Solo freelancer or 2-3 person agency
- Bill in 15-min or 30-min blocks
- You use Telegram daily anyway
- You've forgotten to start a timer at least once this month
- Your monthly invoicing currently involves scrolling email or guessing
Migrating from Toggl
- Export your Toggl entries: Reports → Detailed → Export CSV
- Email us the CSV with your client list — we'll import it manually for the first 50 customers (free)
- Add the TimeChat Telegram bot, link your account
- Cancel Toggl. Save ~$11/month per seat.
Free tier, no card needed
1 client, 30 entries/month. Test on a real project this week before committing to anything.
Start free →
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