See where your work hours actually go, step by step —
and estimate the next job right
Break each project into 4 levels and track it. See exactly which step took the hours, and use the reports to sharpen your estimates, rates, and margins.
Estimate accuracy
73%
↑ +12pt vs last period
Your estimates start hitting the mark
Sound familiar?
Even with a time-tracking tool, some problems often go unsolved
Estimates and actuals are always far apart
You estimate "about 10 hours," then it ends up taking more than double. Put an end to that cycle.
You can't say which step took the time, in numbers
You may feel "design dragged on," but most of the time you can't back it up with accurate figures.
You forget to start the timer, leaving gaps in your records
Manual operation is a hassle, so you forget to stop and fix it the next day. We remove that recording stress.
What only LayerClock lets you see
Differences in structure and mechanics change how deep your insights go
Typical tools (2 levels)
What you can tell
- ✕Which task took the time (all tasks on the same level)
- ✕Which step — design, implementation, or testing — is behind
- ✕Whether you can improve estimate accuracy per phase
4-level structure
What you can tell
- ✓What % of the budget the design phase alone consumed
- ✓Which deliverable's estimate was too optimistic
- ✓Which step to fix in your next project
Selecting a task = the timer starts automatically
No "start tracking" button needed. Recording begins the moment you pick a task
Click a task
Pick a task from the WBS tree
Timer starts automatically
Tracking begins instantly. No action needed
Switching stops the previous one
Picking the next task automatically stops the previous measurement
No more forgotten starts or stops — accurate records flow straight into sharper estimates.
See it in action
From setup to reports, everything stays simple
Running timer, today's status, project health, and deadline/stalled tasks
Everything you need for effort tracking, in one place
4-level WBS management
Unlike the typical "project → task" 2-level model, LayerClock structures work in 4 levels (project, phase, deliverable, task). Reorder freely with drag and drop.
One-click timer
Just pick a task and start. The timer begins automatically, and stopping or resuming is one click. Switching tasks auto-stops the previous timer, preventing double counting and building accurate records.
Automatic totals & chart reports
Task time rolls up automatically to the deliverable, phase, and project. On the Business plan, line charts and burndown (EAC forecast) show where your hours skew and when you'll land — turning the delay signals that raw Free numbers hide into sharper next estimates.
Estimate vs. actual analysis
Register an estimate per task and the gap from actuals is computed automatically. It's also aggregated by phase and project, so you can see which step took the time, in numbers.
Learns your estimating habits and suggests your next number
From your completed tasks, LayerClock aggregates the actual-to-estimate ratio per phase — your own "habit." Then, when you create a new task, it suggests a realistic figure based on past actuals in the same phase, deliverable, and tags. Pin down "design always takes 1.8×" in numbers and fold it into your next estimate (Business plan).
Log management & filtering
Filter logs by date, project, tag, and status. Quickly search and edit past records, with custom-period totals and year-over-year comparison (Business plan).
CSV export
Export WBS structure and work logs as CSV. Use them directly for invoicing, Excel analysis, or integration with external tools. The Business plan covers logs from all periods.
What makes LayerClock different
Toggl Track, Clockify, and TimeCrowd are all excellent general-purpose tools. LayerClock is built around one thing, whatever your role: stacking up WBS actuals so your next estimate hits the mark.
| Comparison | LayerClockRecommended | Toggl Track | Clockify | TimeCrowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work breakdown (WBS levels) | 4 levels (phase = design / implementation / testing, aggregated by step) | 2 levels (project → task) | 2 levels (project → task) | Shallow, task-centric |
| Estimate vs. actual + next-estimate suggestion | Actual gaps plus an on-the-spot suggested figure from past actuals | Estimate vs. actual yes (paid) / no suggestion | Budget & estimates yes (paid) / no suggestion | Weak estimating features |
| Free to start as an individual | Free (up to 3 projects, unlimited tracking) | Tracking free / estimates & analytics paid | Tracking free / budget & estimates paid | No individual free plan (business-only, from ¥25,000/mo) |
| Japanese-native | Designed Japanese-first | English-first | English-first | Japanese |
| Intended user | Individuals to small teams (any role) | General (teams to individuals) | General (teams to individuals) | Companies / teams |
Comparison is a summary based on each vendor's public information as of June 2026. Check each tool's provider for the latest specs and pricing.
Simple pricing
Try the Free plan at no cost, and upgrade when you need to
Free
Try it free and start banking actuals. Recording features stay fully usable.
- ✓Up to 3 projects
- ✓Timer & log recording (no limit)
- ✓4-level WBS management
- ✓Dashboard & log list
- ✓6 months data retention
Business
Unlock every analysis Free can't show. ¥980/mo to make your estimates hit the mark.
- ✓Unlimited projects
- ✓Chart reports that surface time-allocation skew
- ✓EAC forecast to see your finish time early
- ✓Estimate-vs-actual profitability analysis
- ✓Per-tag effort analysis
- ✓Advanced filters (any period, year-over-year)
- ✓CSV export (all periods)
- ✓API access (PAT)
- ✓36 months data retention
Team
Share actuals across the team and see effort end to end.
- ✓Everything in Business
- ✓Up to 5 team members
- ✓Member permission management
- ✓Cross-team log viewing
Cancel anytime, on your own, from the Stripe Customer Portal.
Have questions? Check the FAQ.
Get started in 3 steps
Register your WBS
Break a project into 4 levels (phase → deliverable → task) and register it.
Reorder by drag and drop, reflecting your existing project structure as-is.
Start a task
Just pick a task and start the timer — or launch instantly with the Shift+S shortcut.
Switching tasks auto-stops the previous timer, so nothing slips through.
Analyze actuals
Review work time by day and project on the logs page. Chart reports reveal time-allocation gaps.
Export to CSV for external analysis or backup. Accumulated actuals improve your next estimate.
Frequently asked questions
If this doesn't help, feel free to reach out
Does the timer keep running if I close the browser?▼
Can I use the timer and basic recording on the free plan?▼
Can I migrate data from an existing tool?▼
Can I add team members later?▼
Where is my data stored?▼
Is canceling easy?▼
Can data be deleted on the Free plan?▼
Can sole proprietors use it?▼
Make effort tracking simpler
Accurate actuals change the precision of your next estimate. Start with the free plan and give LayerClock a try.
Learn effort management
We share tips that help improve estimate accuracy
5 things to check before choosing a time-tracking tool
Sorting out your project count, team size, and needed aggregation axes before choosing prevents post-adoption regret. We organized the selection criteria into 5 points.
Read article →The WBS Breakdown That Doubled My Estimate Accuracy
Breaking work into three stages — phase → deliverable → task — makes it obvious which step tends to balloon. We explain a breakdown approach that improves estimate accuracy.
Read article →A Time-Tracking System That Ends Month-End Gaps
A practical flow combining a timer that auto-stops on task switch with CSV export. An approach to prevent the "I thought I recorded it, but it doesn't add up" problem.
Read article →
What users say
Voices from the people who use it