Asana Time Tracking Features

Overview

Asana provides basic time estimation fields natively, but relies on third-party integrations for comprehensive time tracking functionality. The platform's open API and integration marketplace enable seamless connections with popular time tracking tools.

Native Time Tracking Features

Time Estimate Field - Asana includes:

• Estimated time custom field for tasks
• Display in hours, days, or custom units
• Rollup to project level (sum of task estimates)
• Reporting on estimated time across portfolios

Time-Related Capabilities:

• Task duration for timeline/Gantt view
• Start and due dates for scheduling
• Dependencies and date calculations
• Workload view showing team capacity

Limitations of Native Features:

• No actual time tracking or timers
• No time logging or timesheets
• No billable vs non-billable categorization
• No comparison of estimated vs actual time
• No invoicing or billing features

Popular Time Tracking Integrations

Everhour - Most seamless Asana integration:

• Embedded directly in Asana UI via browser extension
• Start/stop timers on Asana tasks
• Manual time entry for completed work
• Time estimates sync with Asana
• Budget tracking against projects
• Timesheet generation
• Billable hours and invoicing
• No need to leave Asana interface

Harvest - Popular for invoicing:

• Track time on Asana tasks and projects
• Browser extension for one-click tracking
• Automatic sync of Asana project structure
• Invoice generation from tracked time
• Expense tracking integration
• Detailed reporting and analytics
• QuickBooks integration

Toggl Track - Simple and free-friendly:

• Free tier available
• Track time on Asana tasks
• Browser extension with Asana button
• Simple reporting
• Project and tag organization
• Works with Toggl's desktop and mobile apps

TrackingTime - Comprehensive features:

• Deep Asana integration with task sync
• Time tracking embedded in Asana
• Team scheduling and planning
• Detailed productivity analytics
• Client portal access
• Invoicing capabilities

Hubstaff - Adds activity monitoring:

• Time tracking with optional screenshots
• Activity level monitoring
• Track time on Asana tasks
• GPS tracking for field teams
• Payroll integration
• Productivity monitoring

Integration Workflow

1. Connect Tool to Asana - Authorize access to Asana workspace
2. Project Sync - Import Asana projects and tasks
3. Track Time - Use browser extension, timer, or manual entry on Asana tasks
4. View in Asana - Some integrations show time data within Asana
5. Report Externally - Access detailed reports in time tracking tool
6. Sync Updates - Changes to Asana tasks reflect in tracking tool

Best Practices

Choose Based on Needs:

• Everhour - For teams wanting embedded Asana experience
• Harvest - For client billing and invoicing requirements
• Toggl Track - For simple tracking with free tier
• TrackingTime - For teams using multiple tools beyond Asana
• Hubstaff - For activity monitoring and detailed productivity data

Implementation Tips:

• Start with free tier to test workflow
• Train team on browser extension usage
• Set up projects in time tracking tool to match Asana
• Establish time tracking expectations and policies
• Review reports regularly to improve estimates

Workload Management (Native)

Asana's Workload feature provides capacity planning:

• Set effort estimates on tasks (points or hours)
• View team member capacity by week
• Identify over-allocated team members
• Balance workload across team
• Available in Asana Business tier and above

Note: Workload uses estimates, not actual tracked time, for capacity planning.

API for Custom Integration

Asana's API enables custom time tracking solutions:

• Read task data for time entry systems
• Write custom fields for time data
• Build internal time tracking tools
• Connect with proprietary systems
• Create automated workflows

When Asana Time Tracking Works Well

• Teams already using Asana for project management
• Organizations willing to add integration subscription
• Projects requiring both task management and time tracking
• Teams comfortable with browser extensions
• Workflows benefiting from unified task and time data

Alternative Platforms with Native Tracking

Teams requiring built-in time tracking often consider:

• ClickUp - Native time tracking included
• Monday.com - Time tracking columns available
• Wrike - Built-in time logging
• Teamwork - Native time tracking features

Pricing Considerations

• Asana: Starting at $10.99/user/month (Starter tier)
• Plus time tracking tool:
  • Everhour: $8.50/user/month
  • Harvest: $10.80/user/month
  • Toggl Track: Free to $20/user/month
  • TrackingTime: $8/user/month

Total cost typically $19-31/user/month for combined Asana + time tracking.