Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Hubstaff VS FocusStack

Compare Hubstaff VS FocusStack and see what are their differences

Hubstaff logo Hubstaff

Integrated time tracking, productivity metrics, and payroll for your distributed team.

FocusStack logo FocusStack

Know where your focus goes and take it back. FocusStack helps you stay on task with focus sessions, distraction blocking, smart nudges, and automatic time tracking.
  • Hubstaff Time tracking software for the global workforce
    Time tracking software for the global workforce //
    2025-06-27
  • Hubstaff Employee time tracking software
    Employee time tracking software //
    2025-06-27
  • Hubstaff Employee scheduling
    Employee scheduling //
    2025-06-27
  • Hubstaff Automated payroll
    Automated payroll //
    2025-06-27
  • Hubstaff Productivity Insights
    Productivity Insights //
    2025-06-27

Hubstaff is a cutting-edge time tracking platform that turns work hours into insights with productivity monitoring and automated payments for distributed teams. Designed to enhance productivity across remote, hybrid, and in-house teams while ensuring a positive employee experience.

Hubstaff integrates with over 35 apps so your business can run more efficiently. You can see how work happens with features like time tracking, screenshots, activity tracking, URL and app tracking, workforce analytics metrics, automatic payroll and invoicing, scheduling, GPS and location monitoring, and timesheets. It is available for Mac, Windows, Linux, Chrome, iOS, and Android.

Our mission is to help everyone have their most productive day at work. This commitment means prioritizing peak performance without compromising a fulfilling work environment.

  • FocusStack One click. You whole workspace
    One click. You whole workspace //
    2026-06-29
  • FocusStack See where your day went. Share it.
    See where your day went. Share it. //
    2026-06-29
  • FocusStack Tracked hours become invoice
    Tracked hours become invoice //
    2026-06-29

FocusStack

Most productivity tools tell you where your time went after you get distracted.

FocusStack helps you stay focused while the work is happening.

Start a focus session, name the task you’re working on, and pick a project. FocusStack automatically tracks the apps and websites you use, blocks distractions you’ve chosen to avoid, and nudges you when your attention starts drifting.

At the end of the day, you get a complete picture of where your focus actually went, how much time each project received, and whether your actions matched your intentions.

Features

  • Focus sessions
  • Automatic app and website tracking
  • Distraction blocking
  • Smart focus nudges
  • Project-based productivity reports
  • Timeline and calendar views
  • One-click Workspace Stacks
  • Privacy-first local storage
  • Lifetime access

Built for

  • Founders
  • Developers
  • Freelancers
  • Students
  • Remote workers
  • Anyone who spends their day on a computer

The goal isn’t to help you work more.

It’s to help you spend more time on the things that matter.

Hubstaff

$ Details
paid Free Trial $7 / Monthly
Platforms
Mac OSX Windows Google Chrome iOS Android
Release Date
2013 January
Startup details
Country
United States
Employees
100 - 249

FocusStack

$ Details
paid Free Trial $29 / One-off
Platforms
MacOS Windows
Release Date
2026 May
Startup details
Country
India
State
Karnataka
City
Bengaluru
Founder(s)
Nishlesh Goel, Vivek Wadate
Employees
1 - 9

Hubstaff features and specs

  • Time Tracking
  • Activity Monitoring
  • Screenshots
  • Timesheet Approvals
  • Project Budgeting
  • Payments
  • Invoicing
  • Time Off Requests
  • Reporting
  • Expense Tracking
  • GPS Tracking
  • Geofencing
  • Integrations
  • User-Friendly Interface
  • Agile Project Management
  • Integration with Hubstaff
  • Customization Options
    Users can customize project layouts and workflows to suit their needs, providing flexibility in how projects and tasks are organized and managed.
  • Collaboration Features
    The platform offers strong collaboration tools, including task comments and file attachments, making it easier for teams to communicate and share resources.
  • Workforce Analytics
    AI-powered real time workforce analytics to surface tends and anomalies

FocusStack features and specs

  • Focus Sessions
    Stay locked in on one task with distraction-free focus sessions.
  • Smart Nudges
    Get gentle reminders when your attention starts drifting.
  • Automatic Time Tracking
    Track apps and websites automatically without manual timers.
  • Project Tracking
    See exactly how much time each project actually receives.
  • Privacy First
    Your activity stays on your machine, not someone else’s server.

Analysis of Hubstaff

Overall verdict

  • Hubstaff is considered a good tool for both small businesses and large enterprises seeking effective time management and employee monitoring solutions. Its robust feature set and ease of use make it a valuable asset for improving productivity and accountability.

Why this product is good

  • Hubstaff is known for its comprehensive time-tracking features, employee monitoring, and project management tools. It offers productivity tracking, GPS location tracking, and detailed reporting, making it suitable for remote teams and freelancers who need to monitor time and task efficiency. The integration capabilities with various project management and accounting tools enhance its utility in diverse workflows.

Recommended for

    Hubstaff is recommended for remote teams, freelancers, and businesses that require detailed time-tracking, team activity monitoring, and integration with other productivity tools. It is particularly beneficial for companies with field teams, as it offers GPS tracking and mobile support.

Analysis of FocusStack

Overall verdict

  • I don't have verified information about FocusStack (usefocusstack.com) in my knowledge base, so I can't confirm whether it's a legitimate or high-quality product. I'd recommend researching independent reviews, checking the company's reputation, and verifying its claims before use.

Why this product is good

  • I don't have specific, verified data on this product's features or performance.
  • No independent reviews or established track record are available to me for this service.
  • Its legitimacy, pricing transparency, and customer support quality cannot be confirmed from available information.

Recommended for

  • Users should conduct independent research including checking reviews on sites like Trustpilot or Reddit before proceeding.
  • Consider reaching out to the company directly for a trial or demo to assess fit.
  • Best suited for those willing to do due diligence given limited public information on this specific product.

Hubstaff videos

Boost Productivity With Insights From Hubstaff

More videos:

  • Demo - Hubstaff Time tracking Software for Productive Teams
  • Review - Hubstaff Review: Pros and Cons of Hubstaff
  • Review - Hubstaff Review - Best Time Tracking Software & App (2024)
  • Review - Hubstaff Review: Pretty simple payroll and time tracking solution for a small business

FocusStack videos

How I Track My Deep Work Automatically

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Hubstaff and FocusStack)
Time Tracking
99 99%
1% 1
Project Management
98 98%
2% 2
Productivity
0 0%
100% 100
Employee Monitoring
100 100%
0% 0

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Hubstaff and FocusStack.

What makes your product unique?

Hubstaff's answer

Hubstaff combines time tracking, productivity monitoring, and team management into one streamlined platform—built for remote and hybrid workforces. It offers real-time visibility, automation, and actionable insights without micromanaging.

FocusStack's answer:

Most productivity tools are passive. They tell you where your time went after the day is over.

FocusStack is designed to help while the work is happening.

  • Focus sessions keep you locked on a specific task
  • Distraction blocking prevents attention leaks
  • Smart nudges help you catch yourself when you drift
  • Automatic tracking shows where your focus actually went
  • Workspace Stacks launch your entire work setup with one click

FocusStack combines focus, time tracking, and productivity insights into a single workflow.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Hubstaff's answer

Hubstaff stands out with its robust features like GPS tracking, customizable productivity metrics, and seamless integrations—designed to help teams stay efficient and transparent, no matter where they work.

FocusStack's answer:

Most competitors focus on measuring productivity.

FocusStack focuses on improving it.

Tools like Toggl, Clockify, and many time trackers are great at recording hours. FocusStack goes a step further by helping users stay attentive while they’re working through focus sessions, distraction blocking, and real-time nudges.

Users don’t just learn where their time went. They actively protect where it goes next.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

Hubstaff's answer

Hubstaff is designed for business owners, managers, and team leaders—especially those in remote-first industries like staffing, software development, marketing, and e-commerce—who need clarity on how time is spent and how performance connects to outcomes.

FocusStack's answer:

FocusStack is built for people who spend most of their day on a computer creating, building, studying, or solving problems.

Typical users include:

  • Founders
  • Developers
  • Freelancers
  • Designers
  • Students
  • Researchers
  • Remote workers
  • Knowledge workers

Anyone who wants to reduce distractions and spend more time doing meaningful work can benefit from FocusStack.

What's the story behind your product?

Hubstaff's answer

Founded in 2012 by two remote-work enthusiasts, Hubstaff was built out of a need for better visibility into remote team productivity. Today, it's trusted by thousands of businesses across the globe to manage time, projects, and performance.

FocusStack's answer:

FocusStack started with a simple frustration.

I would sit at my computer for hours, feel busy all day, and still wonder where my time had gone.

I tried existing productivity and time-tracking tools. They were useful for understanding what happened after the fact, but they didn’t help me stay focused in the moment.

So I started building a tool for myself.

The idea was simple: create something that could help me stay attentive while working, automatically track my activity, block distractions, and show me how I actually spent my day.

What started as a personal tool quickly became FocusStack.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

Hubstaff's answer

Hubstaff is built using modern web technologies such as React, Node.js, and PostgreSQL, with native apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS to ensure consistent cross-platform performance.

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

Hubstaff's answer

Some of our notable customers include Groupon, Ring, Instacart, Hard Rock Cafe, and OpenAI.

User comments

Share your experience with using Hubstaff and FocusStack. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Hubstaff and FocusStack

Hubstaff Reviews

10 Best Employee Tracking Software in 2026 [Compared]
If your main requirement is field workforce tracking, payroll, billing, or location-based work, Hubstaff may be a better fit. If your priority is security, insider risk, or data loss prevention, Teramind is more specialized.
Source: mera.work
10 Best RescueTime Alternatives for Time Tracking in 2024
Hubstaff is a workforce management platform that helps organizations automate their workday. With the built-in employee time-tracking app, executive teams can keep tabs on payroll hours for remote, hybrid, or in-office workers. Plus, logged hours are added directly to invoices, cutting down on the time spent on employee payroll or client invoicing.
Source: clickup.com
10 Top RescueTime Alternatives for 2024 [Detailed Overview]
With Hubstaff, you can manage time off, track attendance and overtime, and schedule employee work. These workforce management features and Hubstaff’s payment capabilities simplify and speed up payroll.
Source: toggl.com
20 Employee Monitoring Software [2022 Updated List]
Hubstaff – This app monitors productivity while managing timesheets, billing, and payroll.
Source: traqq.com
Best Freelancer.com Alternatives For Hiring Developers
However, you conduct the vetting and hiring process outside the platform. After finding a suitable developer, you get in touch with them and discuss the necessary terms before working with them. However, Hubstaff has pre-vetted the freelancers on its platform. Thus, you can rest assured that they are of good quality.

FocusStack Reviews

We have no reviews of FocusStack yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Hubstaff seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 7 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Hubstaff mentions (7)

  • Ask HN: Who still works async and has a 'no meetings' work policy in 2026?
    I am not working for them, but I heard about https://hubstaff.com that they have almost no meetings. Maybe someone who is working for them can confirm or add more details about it. - Source: Hacker News / 6 months ago
  • How do I keep good records of the work performed by me when working for my own business as either the business owner or an employee of the business? And some other related questions
    3.The only way I've come across to document the amount of time spent is to use timesheets or time tracking softwares. Some examples of time tracking softwares are Toggl, Hubstaff, and Time Doctor. Would time tracking softwares be more believable given that some independent tool is being used to track my tasks? Source: about 3 years ago
  • Dear Project Managers, Stop Micromanagement Now!
    I remember one particular instance where I was working on a project, and my project manager started to take screenshots of my laptop's screen to check on my progress, using apps like Hubstaff. Every few minutes, like 10 minutes or so, she took screenshots to monitor what I was doing and how I was doing it. - Source: dev.to / almost 4 years ago
  • Top 10 productivity tools for freelancers
    Hubstaff Hubstaff is a valuable time tracking system and it's an especially useful tool for freelancers and remote employees. Hubstaff provides proof of work in the form of activity levels, app and URL tracking, and the option to take screenshots taken periodically. - Source: dev.to / over 4 years ago
  • 5 Best Recruitment Softwares for Small Businesses in 2022
    Staffing solutions that integrate with apps like Recruitzi, Hubstaff, or TimeDoctor allow you to seamlessly track employee performance so you can schedule them more effectively while keeping costs low by cutting down on mistakes. Source: over 4 years ago
View more

FocusStack mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of FocusStack yet. Tracking of FocusStack recommendations started around Jun 2026.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Hubstaff and FocusStack, you can also consider the following products

Time Doctor - Time Tracking and Time Management Software that is accurate and helps you to get a lot more done each day.

Toggl - Toggl is an online time tracking tool. It features 1-click time tracking and helps you see where your time goes. Free and paid versions are available.

Rize - Rize is a time tracker that makes you more productive.

Harvest - Simple time tracking, fast online invoicing, and powerful reporting software. Simplify employee timesheets and billing. Get started for free.

Clockify - Simple and free time tracker. Perfect for small and mid-sized businesses as well as freelancers. Unlimited projects and users, unlimited productivity. Get all the premium functionalities, completely free.

Everhour - Everhour is one of the best time tracking tools for teams. See who’s tracking time, who’s overworked and who can handle more. Keep track of all your project budgets, schedule threshold alerts, use forward resource planning.