How to Build Your Own Timely
Replace Timely with a custom build. Automatic time tracking for consultancies, agencies and SaaS businesses
Build Difficulty: 5/5
Build a working replacement in a weekend with AI tools
Estimated Timeline
Based on 56 features at Weekend Project difficulty, expect about One weekend with AI-assisted development.
Recommended Tech Stack
Full-stack React framework with API routes and server components
PostgreSQL database, auth, and real-time subscriptions
Utility-first styling for rapid UI development
Key Features to Replicate
Top features across 8 categories. See all 56 features
Reporting(9 features)
Customize client reports with logos and brand colors
With all tracked data seamlessly collected, Timely provides clear, actionable reports that are easy to generate and customize for billing, project management, or performance reviews
See all changes made to a time entry since it was created
Export reports at high level totals instead of individual entries
Share reports that update to show clients the latest data
+4 more in this category
Team Management(7 features)
See everyone's time sheets in one godlike view
Absence-proof your company timesheets
Review total hours, overtime and billable percentages across your team. Enhance your time management with insights on team performance
Assign work to others
Delegate team management without granting users account-wide data access
+2 more in this category
Project Management(6 features)
Assign user-specific hourly rates for project work. Flexible billable rates to tailor your team's time and optimize revenue
Set time or money budgets, whether one-off or recurring (recurring for Premium & Unlimited only)
Set costs rates for individual users to compare interal costs with billable rates
Prevent timesheet entries from being billed twice
Review team and budget activity across your projects in real time. Monitor project health and track all projects in one place with billable and cost rates
+1 more in this category
Core Time Tracking(5 features)
Captures work activity in the background, eliminating the need for manual input and ensuring accurate, real-time data without interrupting workflows
Ensure time spent away from your computer makes it to your timesheet
Track your GPS location via our Android or iOS apps
Set a manual timer from your phone, tablet or computer
Remember activity automatically, with the highest accuracy - all without timers. Automatic tracking of work activities
Alerts & Notifications(4 features)
Get a nudge to log hours, stop manual timers and review workspace stats
Receive alerts when you reach important project budget milestones
Remind an individual or group of users to complete their timesheet
Stay on top of project budget spend and missing hours across your team
Organization(4 features)
Ask users to provide specific information when logging hours
Ask users to provide specific information when logging hours
Simple and robust classification to streamline your workflow. Tailor how users categorize their hours across projects
Ask users to provide specific information when logging hours. Easily track, manage, and approve time entries
Support(4 features)
Receive tailored training to onboard your team and company
Access help 24/7 via help center
Help and support available within the application
Get up and running with a dedicated Timely contact
AI Features(3 features)
Accurately complete timesheets in seconds - just review and submit. Generate accurate timesheets based on previous logging patterns in minutes
Alert managers of unusual activity to proactively identify potential problems before they escalate
AI automatic timesheet that completes time tracking adoption with one click, done-for-you timesheets
Cost Calculator
Keep Paying Timely
Build It Yourself
Total Cost Comparison
DIY hosting estimate based on Vercel + Supabase free/pro tiers (~$20/mo). Build time estimated from 56 features at very easy complexity.