ActivTrak vs. Toggl Track: Features, Pros, Cons & Pricing

ActivTrak and Toggl Track (formerly Toggl) are two leading employee monitoring and time tracking tools.

This guide breaks down the core differences between them. You’ll learn how ActivTrak’s automated activity monitoring helps optimize team workflows, how Toggl Track’s intuitive interface streamlines client billing, and how they compare in terms of features and pricing.

By the end, you’ll have a clear view of which software fits your team’s culture — and why a comprehensive solution like Teramind might be the better choice.

Here’s what to expect:

• Feature Face-off: A direct comparison of the tools’ key features.
• Pros and Cons: Real-world user feedback on ease of use, privacy, and reporting.
• Pricing Breakdown: Which tool offers the best ROI for your budget.
• Potential Alternative: Why businesses looking for an advanced security and workforce analytics platform choose Teramind.

How Do ActivTrak and Toggl Track Compare?

Which employee monitoring solution is best for your needs?

Here’s a summary of the key differences (we’ve thrown in Teramind for good measure):

• ActivTrak is designed for organizations that want to boost productivity without using invasive features like keystroke logging.
• Toggl Track is ideal for agencies and teams that need accurate billing and project management features, as it relies on user-driven timers and visual profitability reports.
• Teramind provides the most robust security and oversight toolkit, combining productivity analytics with high-level security features like OCR, real-time blocking, and AI interaction auditing.

See a detailed feature comparison table below. Then, keep scrolling for a deeper dive into each tool.

Feature	ActivTrak	Toggl Track	Teramind
Primary Focus	Workforce analytics and productivity optimization	Team time tracking, project management, and billing	Comprehensive user behavior analytics, security, and productivity
Time Tracking Method	Automated activity tracking	Manual time tracking	Automated tracking of active vs. idle time and work hours
Screen Monitoring	Real-time team activity details	Not available (Focuses on Timeline of app/browser use)	Live screen view and historical session playback
AI Governance & Monitoring	AI usage measurement, adoption benchmarking, and impact analysis	Not available	AI prompt/response monitoring, autonomous agent governance, and unauthorized AI detection
Keystroke Logging	Not available (Privacy-focused)	Not available	Full keystroke logging and searchable indexed content
Security & DLP	Compliance alarms and website usage risks	GDPR-compliant	Advanced Data Loss Prevention (DLP), file transfer blocking, and insider threat detection
Reporting & Dashboards	Pre-built BI templates and customizable dashboards	Profitability summary, and scheduled email reports	Custom dashboards with behavior analytics and automated workplace reports
Integrations	30+ integrations including Workday, Slack, and Salesforce	100+ integrations via browser extensions; native Jira/Salesforce	Leading PM solutions (Jira, Asana) and security platforms (Splunk, McAfee)
Remote/Hybrid Support	Tracks work across hybrid environments	Mobile and desktop apps for on-the-go tracking	Geolocation tracking and remote desktop control (RDP)
Employee Privacy Tools	No camera access, email, or personal device monitoring	Private timeline data; users choose what to include in entries	Customizable monitoring; choice between revealed or hidden agents

What is ActivTrak?

ActivTrak is a cloud-based productivity analytics platform that provides visibility into how work happens across people, tools, and AI. It functions as a work intelligence solution that captures behavioral activity — such as billable hours worked, app usage, and website habits — to help leaders understand team workflows without compromising trust.

The core mission of this workforce management software is productivity optimization. ActivTrak provides managers with detailed reports that highlight workload balance, helping to spot employees who are over-capacity and at risk of burnout or under-utilized and ready for more responsibility.

What Are ActivTrak’s Key Features?

See how Teramind compares to ActivTrak →

• Real-time Visibility: View detailed team activity as it happens, including app usage tracking and employee productivity levels.
• Workload Balance: Identify team productivity trends to spot employees who are a burnout risk or ready for extra task assignment.
• AI Insights: Gain a clear view of how teams use AI tools, measuring their real impact on productivity and capacity.
• Productivity Optimization: Break down time spent on productive, unproductive, and offline work to uncover team performance gaps and improvement opportunities.
• Benchmarks and Goals: Set clear productivity scoring targets and compare performance across different teams or locations.
• Executive Insights: Transform workforce data into boardroom-ready productivity reports that highlight potential cost savings and workforce utilization.
• Tech Usage and Compliance: Track application and website usage to optimize your tech stack, reduce costs on unused tools, and enforce risk-mitigation policies.
• Privacy-First Monitoring: Measure performance with a foundation of trust that includes no keystroke logging, no email monitoring, and no video recording.
• Customizable Dashboards: Accelerate your productivity analysis with pre-built templates or tailor dashboards to meet your needs.

Who is ActivTrak Best For?

The following organizations benefit most from this productivity analytics platform:

Managers and HR Leaders

For those focused on workforce management, ActivTrak identifies trends and provides AI-powered coaching to help teams maximize time spent on high-value work.

Its productivity analysis features allow leaders to model top performers’ workflows, using them to guide team performance across the organization.

Resource and Capacity Planners

One of the platform’s most valuable functions is helping leaders make data-informed decisions regarding employee productivity versus actual capacity. By identifying individuals who are over-utilized and at risk of burnout — or under-utilized and ready for new projects — organizations can effectively optimize resource allocation.

These productivity reports are useful for strategic headcount planning and ensuring work is distributed fairly across in-office and remote teams.

IT and Operations Teams

ActivTrak is a leading productivity tool for teams looking to streamline their tech stacks and improve operational efficiency. By tracking website and app usage, companies can pinpoint redundant software and recapture costs in wasted labor or licensing fees.

Additionally, the platform provides productivity scoring for AI tools; this allows companies to measure the impact and adoption of generative AI.

What Do Users Like About ActivTrak?

• Visibility Without Micromanaging: The platform makes it easy to understand and visualize workflows without the need for constant manual check-ins, helping maintain a comfortable environment for employees. See G2 Review →
• Intuitive Interface: ActivTrak’s UI is easy for users to navigate, find specific features, and access the data they need quickly. See G2 Review →
• Real-time Screen Monitoring: Administrators can utilize the screenshot feature to view exactly what’s on a user’s screen, with options based on specific alerts, keywords, or set intervals. See G2 Review →

What Do Users Dislike About ActivTrak?

• High Cost at Scale: The service is expensive for the features provided, particularly for small teams; offering an on-premise option could help justify or reduce the overall price point. See G2 Review →
• Unstable Agent Performance: Platform stability is a recurring issue, as ActivTrak’s agent frequently stops logging data. This creates gaps in productivity reports. See G2 Review →
• Data Overload: The volume of information collected can feel overwhelming or excessively detailed, often requiring users to sift through reports to find actionable productivity insights. See G2 Review →

How Much Does ActivTrak Cost?

ActivTrak offers a variety of free and paid plans:

• Free – Basic time tracking for up to 3 users.
• Essentials – $10 per user per month. Best for small teams.
• Essentials Plus – $15 per user per month. Best for mid-market teams.
• Professional – $19 per user per month. Best for enterprises.

Multi-year and custom pricing is available on request. You can try the Professional plan for free for 14 days.

What is Toggl Track?

Toggl Track (formerly Toggl) is a user-friendly time tracking software that brings clarity to how teams spend their time. Built with an anti-surveillance philosophy, it avoids invasive monitoring like camera tracking or screenshots in favor of transparent data collection.

The platform is versatile enough to support various devices, allowing users to track time via web, desktop apps, mobile apps, or browser extensions. With Toggl Track, organizations can pinpoint profitability gaps, manage team capacity, and bill clients accurately.

What Are Toggl Track’s Key Features?

• Versatile Time Tracking: Users can track time with one-click timers or a manual mode for adding entries later.
• Calendar View: Integrates with Google and Outlook calendars to view and copy time entries directly into your workspace.
• Automated Timeline: Auto-track app and website usage to create an accurate, private record of your workday.
• Comprehensive Reporting: Generate detailed reports and profitability insights by project, client, or team member.
• Project Management Tools: Forecast timelines and budgets, track progress, and set alerts as projects approach their estimated end.
• Team Management and Audits: Use filters to identify team members who have tracked too much or too little time and send automated reminders.
• Billable Rates and Invoicing: Assign billable hours at multiple levels and generate invoices directly from your time tracking data.
• Extensive Integrations: Connect with over 100+ tools — including Jira, Salesforce, and Slack — via browser extensions or an API.
• Cross-Platform Sync: Data instantly syncs across web, mobile (iOS and Android), and desktop apps (Windows and macOS) for seamless productivity management.

Who is Toggl Track Best For?

Toggl Track is primarily used by the following businesses:

Agencies and Professional Services

For agencies, law firms, and accountants, Toggl Track is an essential employee monitoring solution for accurate time billing and invoicing. It allows these teams to track billable hours at every level — from the workspace down to specific tasks — ensuring they never miss a minute.

The platform’s ability to generate custom financial reports helps agencies track client and project profitability at a glance.

Software and Creative Teams

Software and design teams use Toggl Track to build better internal processes and manage projects profitably. By providing clear productivity insights into task and project duration, it helps managers better allocate resources and understand team capacity.

The software’s 100+ integrations allow developers to track time directly within the tools they already use, such as Jira, Salesforce, and Asana, minimizing workflow disruptions.

Large and Enterprise Organizations

For enterprise-level teams, Toggl Track provides the scale and security needed for workforce analytics. It solves the challenge of maintaining 100% time tracking adoption across teams of 500+ by offering a smooth user experience that feels like a breeze rather than a chore.

These larger organizations rely on Toggl Track for detailed reports, timesheet approvals, and enterprise-grade security certifications like ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II.

What Do Users Like About Toggl Track?

• User-friendly Interface: The platform is intuitive, allowing users to start time tracking in seconds without a steep learning curve. See G2 Review →
• Seamless Time Tracking: The ability to start and stop the timer with a single click allows for effortless tracking of small work blocks without disrupting workflows. See G2 Review →
• Insightful Time Allocation Reports: The reporting features are convenient for users who want to gain a clear understanding of where their time is actually spent throughout the day. See G2 Review →

What Do Users Dislike About Toggl Track?

• Cross-Device Syncing Delays: The timer occasionally fails to start or stop as expected when switching between different devices, making the synchronization process feel sluggish. See G2 Review →
• Rigid Activity Monitoring: The tool can be difficult to manage for short-term tasks, requiring a level of precision that feels more demanding than when tracking extended work periods. See G2 Review →
• Cumbersome Manual Entry: The platform lacks a feature to input bulk information for a specific day at once; instead, users must manually select and edit each date individually, which is particularly tedious when managing multiple clients and projects. See G2 Review →

How Much Does Toggl Track Cost?

Toggl Track offers pricing packages for businesses of all sizes, plus a free plan for individuals and small teams.

• Free – for a limited number of users. Includes basic time tracking features.
• Starter – $9 per user per month. Best for small teams.
• Premium – $18 per user per month. Best for mid-sized teams with more complex requirements.
• Enterprise – custom pricing for large organizations.

You can also sign up for a 30-day free trial of the paid plans.

Why is Teramind an Ideal Employee Monitoring Software?

See Teramind’s monitoring tool in action → Explore a live interactive product demo

While ActivTrak and Toggl Track offer specialized tools for productivity monitoring and time tracking, Teramind provides a more comprehensive solution. It combines workforce analytics with data security, making it ideal for organizations that require total visibility into workplace activity alongside robust protection against insider threats.

Here is why Teramind stands out as the ideal solution for modern enterprises:

Total Visibility with Advanced Monitoring

Beyond simple active/idle time logs, Teramind offers real-time user activity monitoring.

The platform tracks all employee computer activity, including emails, chats, and file operations. It also offers live screen views and historical session playback to ensure absolute clarity on how work is performed.

Next-Gen AI Governance

Teramind bridges the gap in the modern AI-driven workplace by monitoring interactions with tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot.

It can detect unauthorized AI apps and block the transfer of sensitive data into LLMs.

Robust Security and Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

Unlike ActivTrak and its alternatives, Teramind features comprehensive security and compliance tools.

With built-in Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and keystroke logging, it extracts text from images and logs every typed action to identify anomalous behavior and prevent data theft.

Privacy-Friendly Deployment

Teramind offers customizable settings that balance high-level oversight with employee trust.

Organizations can choose between revealed or hidden agents and utilize data encryption to protect collected information while remaining GDPR and HIPAA compliant.

In-Depth Productivity Analysis

Teramind transforms employee productivity data into actionable insights.

Leaders can identify top performers to model their patterns, spot bottlenecks in business processes, and generate automated workplace reports that demonstrate clear ROI on team efficiency.

Enterprise-Grade Control

For organizations with complex infrastructures, Teramind supports Citrix and Linux monitoring and RDP session recording.

It also integrates seamlessly with major project management solutions like Jira and Asana to centralize security and performance monitoring.

Flexible Pricing

Teramind provides a tiered pricing structure that scales from basic employee monitoring features at $14 per user per month (Starter) to comprehensive productivity analytics and UEBA at $28 per user per month (UAM).

For organizations requiring forensic-grade security, the DLP plan ($32 per user per month) adds data loss prevention and malicious activity blocking, while a custom Enterprise tier is available for the most demanding environments.

FAQs

What is the Main Difference Between ActivTrak and Toggl Track?

The primary difference lies in how they collect data.

ActivTrak is a workforce management tool that automatically analyzes user activity to deliver insights.

Toggl Track is a user-driven productivity tool where employees manually start and stop timers to track time for projects and client billing.

Can ActivTrak and Toggl Track Monitor Employee Screens?

ActivTrak includes a screenshot feature that allows administrators to view a user’s screen in response to specific alerts, keywords, or at set intervals.

Toggl Track doesn’t offer screen monitoring, as it follows an anti-surveillance policy focused on transparent, manual time tracking.

For organizations needing total visibility, Teramind provides live screen views and historical session playback.

Do These Productivity Tools Track Keystrokes?

Neither ActivTrak nor Toggl Track offers keystroke logging, as both prioritize employee privacy over detailed user activity monitoring.

If your business requires deeper productivity analysis or security auditing through keystroke logging, Teramind includes this as a core feature to help identify risky behaviors and prevent insider threats.

Is There a Free Version of ActivTrak or Toggl Track?

Yes, both platforms offer free tiers.

ActivTrak has a free plan for up to three users that covers simple project tracking.

Toggl Track offers a forever-free plan for individuals and small teams that includes basic time tracking features.

Which Software is Best for Hybrid and Remote Team Management?

While all three tools support remote work, the best choice depends on your goals:

• Toggl Track is best for remote freelancers or agencies needing simple productivity reports for billing.
• ActivTrak is ideal for managers who want to boost productivity and track location adherence across hybrid teams.
• Teramind is the most comprehensive for remote teams, offering geolocation tracking, RDP session recording, and robust insider threat protection.

How Do These Tools Handle AI Governance?

ActivTrak provides AI insights by measuring how teams use AI tools and how that usage impacts overall capacity. Toggl Track does not currently offer AI monitoring features.

Teramind offers the most advanced AI governance, allowing leaders to monitor prompts and responses in tools like ChatGPT and block the transfer of sensitive data into LLMs.