TimeTrack Pro
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Built for Freelance Writers

Time Tracking for Freelance Writers

Research, drafting, editing — writing involves far more than the final word count suggests. TimeTrack Pro helps freelance writers capture every phase of the writing process so you're paid for all the work, not just the typing.

Start tracking for freeNo credit card required

Why freelance writers struggle with time tracking

  • 1Per-word rates hide the real cost of research-heavy articles that take three times longer than listicles
  • 2Edits requested after 'final' approval often go unbilled because they feel too small to invoice
  • 3Switching between six different client voices in a day makes it hard to remember where time went
  • 4Pitching and admin time is invisible work that never makes it onto an invoice

How TimeTrack Pro helps freelance writers

Track research, outlining, drafting, and editing as separate phases to see your true per-word rate

Quick-start timers for each client project make context-switching painless to log

Automatic time reports reveal which clients and content types are most profitable

Turn tracked hours into invoices in minutes — no more end-of-month scrambling to reconstruct your week

Common projects freelance writers track

Blog posts and long-form articlesWebsite copy and landing pagesEmail newsletter sequencesWhite papers and case studiesProduct descriptions and catalog copyGhostwritten thought-leadership pieces

Average hourly rate for freelance writers

$40–$120/hr

US market range — rates vary by experience, specialization, and location.

Frequently asked questions

Should freelance writers charge per word or per hour?
It depends on the content type. Per-word works for straightforward blog posts, but research-heavy or technical writing is better billed hourly. TimeTrack Pro helps you track time regardless of billing model so you always know your effective hourly rate.
How do I track time spent on writing research?
Start the TimeTrack Pro timer when you open your first source. Tag the entry as 'research' under the relevant project. This gives you data on how research-heavy different topics are, helping you price future work accurately.
How many revisions should I include in my writing fee?
Industry standard is 1–2 rounds of revisions included in the base fee. Track revision time separately in TimeTrack Pro so you have documentation if a client requests excessive changes beyond the agreed scope.
What's a good invoicing schedule for freelance writers?
Monthly invoicing works for retainer clients. For one-off projects, invoice 50% upfront and 50% on delivery. TimeTrack Pro lets you generate invoices at any cadence and pull time entries for any date range.

Time tracking for other freelancers

CopywritersContent CreatorsSocial Media Managers

Ready to track your time smarter?

Join freelance writers who use TimeTrack Pro to track hours and send invoices in minutes.

Get started for freeSee invoice template

Free plan includes unlimited time tracking