Agencies live and die by billable time, project margins, and clean client invoicing. We weighted project and time tracking alongside billing, then ranked the five tools that fit a studio or agency best.
Reviewed by M. HALLORAN·Updated MAY 2026·How we vet
Tools compared5
Criteria weighted5
Last reviewedJune 2026
Paid placements0
How we ranked the field
For agencies we weight project tracking, time, and client billing most, since profit hides in the gap between hours worked and hours invoiced. See the full rubric →
Project and time tracking25%
Client billing25%
Ease of use20%
Value for money15%
Integrations15%
01
RANK
★ Editor’s Choice
FreshBooks
Best for agencies
Time tracking, projects, and client invoicing are the core of FreshBooks, not bolt ons, which is exactly what an agency needs. Logging hours and turning them into a branded invoice is the smoothest here. Client caps and per user fees are the things to size before you commit.
Unlimited users suit an agency where account managers, finance, and freelancers all touch the books. The Projects add on tracks time and job profitability, and the reporting is strong. Projects costs extra per user, so factor that into the plan.
Projects in the Plus tier track profitability by client, and the reporting answers an owner's margin questions cleanly. The app ecosystem covers almost any agency tool you already run. Time tracking and projects sit higher up the price ladder.
Projects, timesheets, and retainer invoicing come built in at a low price, and the wider Zoho suite covers CRM and proposals for an agency. Value is the headline. The interface is busier, and the best fit is teams already leaning on Zoho.
For a small studio watching costs, free invoicing and accounting cover the essentials, and Pro adds bank imports cheaply. There is no real project or time tracking, so you will pair it with a separate tool as the agency grows.