Time tracking software for designers

ManicTime tracks which design files you have open and for how long — automatically. So when a client asks how long their project took, you have an accurate answer backed by real activity, not a rough estimate from memory.

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Time tracking problems designers run into

Switching between projects makes time hard to reconstruct

Designers often work on several client files in a single day, switching between Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator, and other tools. Without automatic tracking, hours spent on each project get blurry by Friday.

Revision rounds eat time that never gets billed

A logo that went through six rounds of feedback took three times as long as the original estimate. Without a record, that extra time disappears — and gets absorbed rather than discussed with the client.

Manual timers interrupt creative flow

Starting and stopping timers every time you switch tasks is disruptive. Designers who forget to hit stop — or stop tracking entirely — end up with incomplete records at billing time.

'Figma' is not a billable description

Standard time trackers record which application is open. That is not enough for designers who run the same tool for three different clients on the same day.

Putting together invoices takes too long

Without clean project-level time records, contractors spend time at the end of each month manually estimating, adjusting, and questioning whether numbers are fair to themselves and the client.

How ManicTime helps designers

ManicTime captures document names and file paths automatically alongside application data. That means time spent on a specific Figma file, Photoshop document, or InDesign layout is recorded without any timers — and can be attributed to the right project and client.

Track time at the design file level, not just the app

ManicTime records the name and path of the document you have open, so each design file gets its own time record automatically. You can see how long you spent on each client's files across the day.

Attribute file time to client projects

Once tracked, time can be reviewed and tagged to the appropriate project or client. Auto-tagging rules can do this automatically if your files follow a consistent naming or folder structure.

Bill clients accurately, including revision rounds

Because every hour of file activity is recorded, invoices reflect actual work — including the revision rounds and feedback iterations that manual timers tend to miss.

Generate invoices directly from timesheet data

Once time is reviewed and attributed to projects, ManicTime can generate a client-ready invoice from that data — no re-entry, no spreadsheet, no guessing.

No timer discipline required

ManicTime runs in the background and captures activity automatically. Designers can stay in the flow of their work without stopping to manage a clock.

What design work ManicTime tracks automatically

ManicTime captures the full range of design activity across tools:

Figma — file name and project context
Adobe Photoshop — document name and path
Adobe Illustrator — document name and path
Adobe InDesign — document name and path
Adobe XD — file context
Sketch — file name and path
Browser-based design and reference work
Client communication and feedback review
Asset export and file delivery
Internal meetings and briefing calls

Document-level tracking means time is captured at the file, not just the application — making it far easier to split hours across clients and projects accurately.

Why designers use ManicTime

Automatic time tracking at the file level

ManicTime records document names and paths alongside app activity — so time on a specific client file is captured without timers, notes, or interrupting your work.

Invoices that reflect real work, not estimates

For contractors and freelancers, accurate time records mean invoices that hold up to scrutiny — and capture revision rounds, late changes, and feedback cycles that often go unbilled.

Auto-tag time to projects based on file names

If your files follow a naming convention or folder structure, auto-tagging rules can automatically attribute time to the right client or project — reducing manual review time at the end of the week.

Faster invoicing at the end of each month

Going from tracked and reviewed time to a client-ready invoice takes one step in ManicTime. No re-entry, no spreadsheet, no arithmetic from memory.

Clear split across multiple clients

Designers working on several clients in a day can see exactly how time was distributed across projects — which is especially useful for fixed-price projects where scope creep is hard to see in real time.

Related features

Document and file tracking

ManicTime captures document names and file paths automatically so time is recorded at the file level, not just the application.

Learn more ->

Project and client time attribution

Review tracked activity and assign time to the right project or client — or use auto-tagging rules to do it automatically.

Learn more ->

Invoice from timesheet

Generate client-ready invoices directly from approved timesheet data — no re-entry, fewer errors, faster billing cycles.

Learn more ->

Built for designers who bill by the hour and work across multiple clients

ManicTime has been tracking creative and professional work since 2008. Over 1 million downloads, 13,000+ customers, and 200,000+ licenses — including designers, illustrators, and creative studios who need invoices that reflect real project time.

Most time trackers tell you which app was open. ManicTime goes deeper — capturing the actual file name and path so time on a Photoshop document for Client A is separate from time on a document for Client B, even if both were open in the same application on the same day.

For designers working as contractors or freelancers, this level of detail makes a real difference at billing time. Revision rounds get recorded. Late-stage changes get captured. The invoice reflects what actually happened, not what you remember happened.

FAQ

Track design time accurately — without timers or manual logs
ManicTime records which files you work on and for how long, so your invoices reflect actual project time rather than end-of-week estimates.
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Our customer
opinions
Katie
This software automatically tracks the time you spend on your computer. When you step away from your computer for a certain length of time (set by user), it will prompt you to tag that time. For example, if I'm getting coffee and have a 20 minute chat about the weekend, I tag it as personal. But if I have a chat about an upcoming or existing project, I tag it about that project. For the tasks you do on the computer, it can save screenshots every X seconds (again, set by user), so that you can have a reminder when you go to do your billing what each task was for.
Richard
There is a lot to love about Manic Time. It was easy to use and did way more than I was expecting from it. The reporting was informative. The editing was awesome. Tagging and managing the time tracked is robust, yet simple. It is great at taking the tracking out of time tracking. It just does 90% for you. The last 10% is tagging and validating. It really does an amazing job at showing how much time is wasted on mundane tasks or mindless browsing. I handed in my time to a project manager. He asked how I knew I worked 3.28 hours on a specific task. "Manic Time" was my answer.
Dr Steve Day (podcast)
Time tracking and its importance in business operations are discussed in this episode. Dr. Steve Day shares update on their time tracking policies, including the use of new apps and tools such as ManicTime, particularly focusing on the implementation of screenshot tracking.
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Brenda
I do contract work and manage multiple projects where I bounce between projects on an almost by the minute basis. Once tagging is setup I can easily tag all my activities as I do them and my time accumulates in each project bucket. At the end of the day my timesheet is a breeze. This is the best tool I have found so far for a work style that involves heavy duty multi-tasking. I don't know what I would do without ManicTime. Well designed and thought out product.
Mary
I like this application because with manic time we can verify who does their right job. And we also have better control because we can choose the best workers to increase production works very well and without errors.
Gary
Just renewed my licence for another year Just thought I'd let you know that this is one of the best pieces of software I've ever installed on my computer, free or paid for. I run my own business which principally relies on writing technical reports. ManicTime has made it so much easier to track my time over the various projects and therefore manage my fees and costs. (And your support has been excellent when I have had the odd problem).
Oliver
Just wanted to let you know that I think your software has helped me capture $1000's of dollars in revenue that I just wasn't billing before, as I wasn't doing a very good job of tracking my time. With ManicTime I get it all, and if I were ever to be audited by a client, I could give them every detail. Thanks so much!
Judy
The interface is very intuitive and easy to use. The ability to tag and color-code my work allows me to see at a glance how my day has been going. I can organize and structure things as much or as little as I like. What a great product!
Joshua
ManicTime’s ease of use is unmatched, thanks to its intuitive interface and flexible granularity in time-tracking. The power to dive as deep as you need into data with comprehensive tagging and reporting systems is a significant upside. Its vast number of features like document, application, and activity trackers streamline the process of managing and analyzing time efficiently. Moreover, ManicTime’s advanced search capabilities, coupled with the functionality to annotate tagged time, make it a vital tool for enhancing productivity and recalling information during discussions.
Adam
I like that it tracks inactive time on the computer so that you can remember when you started working and when you stopped, and when you took breaks. Very easy to use, I don't have to remember to log in and the app does everything for me without me even doing anything except installing the program. It shows exactly what page and project you were working on and for how long and when.
Amanda
It provides with useful reports which track and monitor the computer usage of employees, as well as the time spent on each computer program or application. Also the presence of an automatic screenshot feature resulted in an increase in my employees’ productivity. It runs automatically on my computer, great.
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