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