Head to head
Hubstaff vs Time Doctor: prices, screenshots and a third option
Two per-user subscriptions compared on published prices and features, with AirStaff alongside for anyone who would rather pay once.
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The short answer
On published annual prices, Hubstaff is cheaper: Hubstaff Starter is $4.99 and Time Doctor Basic is $6.67 per user per month. For 15 staff over three years that is $2,695 against $3,602. AirStaff covers 15 staff for $198, once, with a 60-day money-back guarantee.
- $2,695
- Hubstaff Starter, 15 staff, three years
- $3,602
- Time Doctor Basic, 15 staff, three years
- $198
- AirStaff Tier 2, 15 staff, once
At a glance
| Hubstaff | Time Doctor | AirStaff | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per user, per month | Per user, per month | One payment (lifetime licence) |
| Cheapest paid plan | $4.99 per user per month | $6.67 per user per month | $99 once for 5 staff seats |
| Plan in our cost tables | Starter, $4.99 | Basic, $6.67 | Smallest tier that covers the team |
| Screenshots | Yes. Capped at 500 per user per month on Starter and 1,500 on Grow; unlimited on Team and Enterprise | Yes, from the Basic plan | Included on every tier: detailed low-res by default, blurred at capture, or off; deleted after 60 days by default |
| Free plan | None listed | None listed | No free plan; live demo with no signup, and a 60-day money-back guarantee |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial, no card required | 14 days of Premium features | Live demo, no signup or card |
| Billing | Monthly or annual | Monthly or annual (annual is two months free) | One payment, nothing to renew |
| Lifetime option | None published | None published | Yes — the whole product is a lifetime licence |
Cost for 5, 15 and 50 staff
| Team | Hubstaff | Time Doctor | AirStaff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 staff | $299 | $400 | $99 |
| 15 staff | $898 | $1,201 | $198 |
| 50 staff | $2,994 | $4,002 | $396 |
| Team | Hubstaff | Time Doctor | AirStaff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 staff | $898 | $1,201 | $99 |
| 15 staff | $2,695 | $3,602 | $198 |
| 50 staff | $8,982 | $12,006 | $396 |
| Team | Hubstaff | Time Doctor | AirStaff |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 staff | $1,497 | $2,001 | $99 |
| 15 staff | $4,491 | $6,003 | $198 |
| 50 staff | $14,970 | $20,010 | $396 |
Which one to pick
Choose Hubstaff if
- GPS, geofences and job sites through its Locations add-on, for field and mobile staff
- Client invoicing from Starter, and payroll on the Team plan
- Project budgets from the Grow plan
- Unlimited integrations on Team and Enterprise
Choose Time Doctor if
- Desktop apps for Windows, Mac and Linux, plus Chrome and mobile apps
- Payroll and client login from the Standard plan
- More than 60 integrations on Standard and above
- Video screen recording as a paid add-on
Choose AirStaff if
- You want desktop time tracking, screenshots, activity and timesheets on Windows and macOS
- You would rather pay once than per user, every month
- You want staff to see their own data and accept a notice before anything is recorded
- You do not need GPS, mobile tracking or payroll in the same tool
Every plan, side by side
Hubstaff
| Plan | Annual billing | Monthly billing | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $4.99 | $7 | Screenshots capped at 500 per user per month; client invoicing |
| Grow | $7.50 | $9 | 1,500 screenshots per user per month; project budgets; one integration |
| Team | $10 | $12 | Unlimited screenshots; payroll; unlimited integrations |
| Enterprise | Custom quote | $25 | Custom quote on annual billing; $25 per user per month billed monthly |
Time Doctor
| Plan | Annual billing | Monthly billing | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $6.67 | $8 | Time tracking with screenshots |
| Standard | $11.67 | $14 | Adds payroll, client login and 60+ integrations |
| Premium | $16.70 | $20 | The full feature set |
| Enterprise | Custom quote | Not published | Custom plan and contract terms |
What your staff experience
Staff did not choose the tracker, so what they see matters as much as the price. On AirStaff:
- Nothing is recorded until they accept a monitoring notice, and notice periods such as the 14 days required in New South Wales run first.
- Keyboard and mouse activity is counted, never captured. There is no keystroke log.
- They can see which screenshot mode is on, and screenshots are deleted after 60 days by default.
- Their own “My data” view shows the same hours, screenshots and activity their manager sees, with a one-click download.
- Nothing is recorded while they are clocked out, and idle time is never counted as paid time.
The detail is on the privacy-first monitoring page.
Related comparisons
Sources and how we checked
Prices checked on each vendor’s own pricing page, in US dollars per user per month on annual billing unless stated. Plans and prices change — check the vendor’s page before you decide.
- Hubstaff pricing guide (plans, screenshot caps, add-ons)
- Hubstaff pricing page (trial)
- Time Doctor pricing plans and features (support article)
- Time Doctor pricing page (plan features, platforms)
Hubstaff, Time Doctor are trademarks of their owners. AirStaff is not affiliated with or endorsed by any company named on this page. No competitor logos or screenshots are used.
Questions people actually ask
Which is cheaper for a small team, Hubstaff or Time Doctor?
For 5 staff on annual billing, Hubstaff Starter costs $299 a year and Time Doctor Basic costs $400, at published prices with no add-ons. AirStaff Tier 1 covers 5 staff for $99, once.
Do Hubstaff and Time Doctor both take screenshots of staff screens?
Hubstaff: Yes. Capped at 500 per user per month on Starter and 1,500 on Grow; unlimited on Team and Enterprise. Time Doctor: Yes, from the Basic plan. AirStaff includes screenshots on every tier, detailed but low-resolution by default or blurred at capture, and staff can see which mode is on.
Which has a free plan or a free trial, Hubstaff or Time Doctor?
Hubstaff: no free plan listed; 14-day free trial, no card required. Time Doctor: no free plan listed; 14 days of Premium features.
What do 15 staff cost on Hubstaff versus Time Doctor over three years?
$2,695 on Hubstaff Starter and $3,602 on Time Doctor Basic, at published annual-billing prices before add-ons and tax. AirStaff Tier 2 is $198, once.
Is there a cheaper option than both Hubstaff and Time Doctor?
Over more than a few months, yes: AirStaff is a lifetime licence from $99 for 5 staff seats, with screenshots, activity, timesheets and reports on every tier. It leaves out GPS, mobile tracking and payroll, so it is cheaper for desktop teams rather than for everyone.
Which should I pick if I need GPS or mobile tracking for field staff?
Hubstaff offers it: Locations add-on, from $3.33 per user per month. We did not find GPS listed on Time Doctor’s pricing page. AirStaff does not offer GPS or mobile tracking in version 1.
Or pay once and stop comparing subscriptions.
One payment, no renewals, and a 60-day money-back guarantee on every direct purchase.