Now that you’re transitioning to remote work, you should go beyond simple time logging. The best time-tracking software for virtual assistants will give you a strategic advantage.
These tools are exactly what they sound like: record and analyze how time is used. However, they’re not only meant to track every second effectively. More than anything, they provide insight into how those 480 minutes are spent on tasks and projects.
Whether you’re a team leader or a founder, adopting time-tracking tools effectively can increase visibility and help you make smarter business decisions. From Clockify to Toggly, there are great options to choose from to better manage your team’s productivity.
Learn the best time-tracking software for remote teams in Singapore, plus Hubstaff vs Clockify for managing virtual assistants and more.
Why Singaporean Entrepreneurs Need Time Tracking Software for Virtual Assistants
Often, virtual assistants lack a rock-solid structure. Why? Remote professionals operate from the comforts of their homes in a different time zone, which can disrupt the work tempo.
This is where time-tracking software makes all the difference in forging control, predictability and purpose at work. It can create a system that brings better visibility and supports a healthier remote team.
Here are the important reasons why you need an online tick tracker for your remote assistants:
- Boost Time Management and Productivity. Effective management of your virtual squad is crucial to ensure peak performance. When they know when they do their best work, they can build their work framework around it. This not only keeps them aligned but also improves their level of productivity.
-
Foster Accountability. Another big benefit of time-tracking software is increasing accountability within the company.
Knowing how their time is being measured and evaluated, VAs take more ownership of their duties and deadlines. Beyond giving you peace of mind, this strengthens individual performance and collaboration.
- Streamline Business Operations. Remote or not, every business venture demands efficiency. Implementing an hour-tracking system removes unnecessary activities. It optimizes operations, keeping VAs organized with deeper insight into activities and progress.
-
Eliminate Inefficiencies. Time-tracking software lets you take a strategic view of what’s causing the delay.
For example, when remote professionals are always exchanging Slack/Microsoft Teams messages, tools like Clockify reveal how they prioritize their time. In this scenario, you can motivate them to be productive by protecting their focus and resetting expectations for responses.
Top Features to Look for in a VA Time Tracker
When assessing the best time compass for your virtual assistant, these are the key features to consider:
-
Automatic vs. Manual Tracking: Do you prefer an old-school timesheet or an automatic stop-and-start monitoring?
Traditional time trackers may be straightforward, but they’re also prone to human mistakes. Time tracking tools like Hubstaff can offer automated solutions without constant human intervention.
This automated system is less intrusive and gives a breakdown of how exactly your VAs use their hours. It can even capture time passively with productivity insights a click away.
-
Task & Project Management. A good time-tracking tool can assign time to specific tasks or projects.
For instance, when you delegate tasks to your remote workers in Clockify, you get a view of the team schedule, projects and milestones. With a clear picture, it’s easier to adjust schedules to ensure milestones are realized.
-
Reporting & Analytics. Tracking hours for remote staff in Southeast Asia is critical to productivity. As such, one essential time tracking feature to watch is productivity reports and analytics. The best time-tracking device reveals detailed insights into time usage and performance.
These stats can be helpful when evaluating your virtual assistants and improving overall remote team management in Singapore.
-
Integrations. Can your chosen timesheet software connect with other tools?
Seamless integration with cost-effective productivity tools for Singapore SMEs, such as Trello, facilitates the free flow of information. This is critical for stronger operational workflows, as adequate integrations provide real-time visibility into resource allocation and workforce activities.
-
Billing & Invoicing. The capability to calculate billable hours and generate invoices is a super useful feature.
Toggl, for example, supports integration with QuickBooks and other payroll services. It can send track-specific invoices with all the periods and filters, helping you accurately capture working hours and billable time.
-
Screenshot/Activity Monitoring: Screenshot monitoring allows you to track your VAs time effectively. Not only will it spot time-wasting activities, but it also provides visual proof of your activity and progress.
A time-tracking app with screenshots is like having your own surveillance camera. You can keep an eye on your remote workers at regular intervals, even when you’re not there.
The Best Time Tracking Software for Virtual Assistants in 2026
Virtual assistants are circus jugglers. One moment, they’re booking your hotel reservations, the next, they’re conversing with an irate client over the phone.
Sure, VAs live a flexible life, but it can also get really stressful and chaotic in the remote world. Their bigger pain point? Bad time management.
This is where the time-tracking magic tames the whirlwind of tasks and distractions. These user-activity monitoring tools bring order to keep your virtual superstars productive without being overwhelmed.
Check out these top time-tracking apps for managing offshore virtual assistants from your Singapore office:
Toggl Track (Best for Effortless Use)
Toggl Track is a mainstream time-tracking platform for virtual assistants. It’s pretty popular for its simplicity and, of course, rich features.
Key Features for VAs
- Ease of Use: Simple start/stop timers, intuitive interface and quick setup make tracking effortless.
- Cross-Platform: Works on web, desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux), and mobile (iOS, Android), syncing data across devices.
- Project & Client Management: Organize time by specific clients, projects and tasks for clear oversight and billing.
- Detailed Reporting: Generate reports to show clients where time is spent, ideal for hourly or per-minute billing.
- Integrations: Connects with tools like Asana, AirTable and Google/Outlook Calendars.
- Productivity Tools: Includes a Pomodoro timer and inactivity detection to keep focus and accuracy.
- Generous Free Plan: Offers full access to apps and basic features, sufficient for solo VAs.
Why VAs Love It
- Transparency. Easily provide an overview of all projects and clients with detailed proof of work, including hours worked and timeline.
- Efficiency. Quickly switch between tasks and clients without workflow disruption.
- Budget-Friendly. Offer a “free forever” plan that new VAs can take advantage of. But if you want to unlock advanced features, it provides multiple pricing plans too.
Clockify (Best for Budget-Conscious Startups)
Clockify is a well-recognized application for managing offshore teams from Singapore. It’s perfect for managing multiple clients and projects without breaking the bank. Also, it’s a versatile tool with a complete suite of time-tracking features.
Key Features for VAs
- Free for Unlimited Users: The core time-tracking features are free for unlimited users and clients.
- Multiple Tracking Methods: Use a simple timer, manual time entry or timesheets across web, desktop, and mobile apps.
- Project & Task Management: Create projects, assign tasks and track time against specific client work.
- Billable Rates: Set hourly rates for users and projects and automatically calculate costs.
- Automated Tracking (Desktop): The desktop app can automatically log activity (apps/websites used) and create time entries, visible only to you, for easy logging.
- Productivity Timeline: Map out a visual breakdown of your day, including app usage.
- Reporting: Generate detailed reports, mark entries as billable/non-billable, and share live report links with clients.
- Integrations & Shortcuts: Browser extensions add timers to apps like Trello and Asana and save favorite entries for quick restarts.
- Break Tracking: Easily log breaks with dedicated modes and features.
Why VAs Love It
- Productivity. Provide robust reporting features and client-shareable links to monitor projects and share insights efficiently.
- Clear Visibility. Track all assigned work and future projects with live activity view and detailed timelines, leaving no guesswork.
-
Cost-Effective. Is Clockify really free? Yes, this app has an extensive free plan with unlimited users and all the basic time-monitoring features.
Paid plans adding advanced features like invoicing, scheduling and budgeting start at $3.99, which is fairly cheap.
Other free options include Jibble, with a 100% free tracker with advanced features for freelancers. My Hours also has a free plan for tracking projects and tasks.
Hubstaff (Best for Activity Monitoring)
Hubstaff is a cloud-based software with a user-friendly interface and some serious time-tracking powers. This platform has impressive capabilities beyond basic monitoring, empowering remote teams to meet their full potential.
Key Features for VAs
- Always-On Time Tracking. Run seamlessly across desktop and mobile applications. It can support offline tracking, even when the connection is lost.
- Online Timesheet. Log hours automatically and tracks time in various devices, boosting work transparency.
- Time Activity. Give full visibility of each VA's activity levels and align their work on what needs more attention.
- Customized Screenshots. Provide dynamic screenshots that adapt to workflows and views work as it happens.
- Productivity Tracking. Measure productivity rates from mouse and keyboard usage, showing the level of effort put into each assignment.
- Achievement Badges. Highlight top performers with rewards, encouraging positive behavior and productivity streaks.
Why VAs Love It
- Ease of Use. A breeze to use, even for first-time users with little technological knowledge.
- Mobile Integration. Keep remote assistants in the loop of their projects and schedules straight from their smartphones.
- Efficiency. Allow remote professionals to view their productivity patterns and send inactivity warnings to minimize idle times.
Learn how to cut admin costs in APAC.
How it Works for VAs & Clients
New to time-tracking programs? Don’t worry, we’re here to help you get the most out of your tool.
Set Up
Create projects, tasks, and clients, and assign time trackers to them. This enables you to see exactly where your online helpers are spending their time and how much work is completed.
Track Time
Start the timer to begin monitoring. Whenever someone is working on a task or logging time manually, don’t forget to hit the “start” button and “stop” when done.
Review
Monitor activity with the detailed timeline and reports. It helps you see where your VAs’ hours go and get an accurate productivity overview without error-prone manual entries.
Share
Send a shareable link to view tracked hours and project progress in real time. This way, you and your remote sidekick can refine processes and stay on schedule.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know how to monitor virtual assistant productivity in Singapore, the next step is to find a VA company that fits your rhythm.
With VAV, you can turn chaos into reactive moments. We provide quality virtual professionals who are trained and experienced in various time-tracking tools. They adapt to your workflow and support efficient operations without micromanagement. This way, you can step toward smarter scaling.
Talk to one of our experts and say goodbye to bad time management.