Replacement Guide

How to Build Your Own Harvest

Replace Harvest with a custom build. Time tracking and project management for professional services

Weekend Project
44 features30 integrationsOne weekend

Estimated Timeline

Based on 44 features at Weekend Project difficulty, expect about One weekend with AI-assisted development.

1
Setup & scaffolding
2 hours
2
Core features
4-6 hours
3
Polish & deploy
2 hours

Recommended Tech Stack

Next.js 14

Full-stack React framework with API routes and server components

Supabase

PostgreSQL database, auth, and real-time subscriptions

Tailwind CSS

Utility-first styling for rapid UI development

Prisma

Type-safe ORM for complex relational data models

Key Features to Replicate

Top features across 8 categories. See all 44 features

Billing(10 features)

Batch InvoicingPremium

Create and send multiple invoices to different clients simultaneously.

Billable Rates

Set different billable rates per user, project, and role with automatic invoice calculations.

Email Invoicing

Send invoices and payment reminders directly via email with tracking.

Invoice CustomizationPremium

Customize invoice templates with branding, custom fields, and payment terms.

Invoice Payment Tracking

Track invoice payments and mark invoices as paid with payment method recording.

+5 more in this category

Project Management(8 features)

Approval WorkflowsPremium

Set up approval processes for timesheets and expenses before billing.

Budget Management

Set project budgets and monitor spending against allocated amounts in real-time.

Project Archive

Archive completed projects to keep workspace organized while maintaining access.

Project Management

Create and manage projects with task lists, milestones, and team assignments.

Project TemplatesPremium

Create reusable project templates with predefined tasks and team assignments.

+3 more in this category

Analytics(6 features)

Data Export

Export time, expense, and financial data in CSV and PDF formats.

Profitability Tracking

Analyze project profitability by comparing revenue against costs.

Project Tracking Dashboard

View all project metrics, budgets, and profitability on a single dashboard.

Reports & Analytics

Generate detailed reports on time, profitability, team utilization, and project performance.

Scheduled ReportsPremium

Automatically generate and email reports on a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule.

+1 more in this category

Time Tracking(6 features)

Idle DetectionAI

Automatically pause timers when computer is idle to ensure accurate tracking.

Mobile Time Tracking

Track time on iOS and Android devices with offline support and GPS location tracking.

Time Tracking

Track billable and non-billable time with start/stop timer, manual entry, and mobile apps.

Time Tracking RulesAIPremium

Set automatic rules for categorizing and assigning tracked time to projects.

Timesheet RemindersPremium

Send automatic reminders to team members to complete their timesheets.

+1 more in this category

Team Management(4 features)

Roles & Permissions

Create custom roles with granular permission controls for different team functions.

Team Capacity PlanningPremium

Visualize team workload and identify available capacity for new projects.

Time Off TrackingPremium

Track vacation, sick leave, and other time-off for accurate project staffing.

User Activity LogsPremium

Monitor user activities and time tracking changes for compliance and auditing.

Expense Management(3 features)

Expense ApprovalPremium

Require approval for expenses before reimbursement or client billing.

Expense Categories

Create custom expense categories to organize and track different expense types.

Expense Tracking

Log and categorize project expenses with receipt uploads and reimbursement tracking.

Client Management(2 features)

Client PortalPremium

Share projects and invoices with clients through a secure, branded portal.

Client Tracking

Organize and track all projects and invoices by individual clients.

Integrations(2 features)

API AccessPremium

Build custom integrations using Harvest's comprehensive REST API.

Browser Extensions

Track time directly from popular web applications using Harvest browser extensions.

Cost Calculator

Keep Paying Harvest

Monthly$12/mo
Yearly$144/yr
5-Year Total$720

Build It Yourself

Est. Build Time~3 hrs
Hosting$20/mo
DifficultyVery Easy

Total Cost Comparison

1 Year
SaaS
$144
DIY
$240
3 Years
SaaS
$432
DIY
$720
5 Years
SaaS
$720
DIY
$1.2k

DIY hosting estimate based on Vercel + Supabase free/pro tiers (~$20/mo). Build time estimated from 44 features at very easy complexity.

Ready to Build?