Comparison of Built-in Time Tracking in Jira and Timesheet Builder Features
Some teams need a simple time tracking system that allows them to record working hours and create personal timesheets. These teams don’t need advanced features and analytics.
Other teams need structure, workload and capacity analysis, and tracking personal working hours and absences. They may also need work log attributes to assign work logs to specific clients or to differentiate work types. This facilitates time tracking and invoicing.
In this article, I would like to compare the built-in options for simple time tracking with the Timesheet Builder features for a more advanced experience. This comparison highlights their functionalities, advantages, and limitations to help you choose the best option for your needs.
Overview
Let’s start with general overview of both concepts.
Jira Built-in Time Tracking
Jira, a widely used project management tool, includes native time tracking capabilities that allow users to log hours directly within issues.
To log time using Jira standard functionality, you should open a work item on which you are now working. You will see Time tracking on the right side. If you click on it, you will see modal dialog where you can put time spent. Another option is to click on three dots on the right and choose Log work function. You will get the same modal dialog.
You will see Work log tab, where all worklogs are displyed. If you would like to check all time bookings done to a specific issue, you can open this tab. Here you can also edi or delete a worklog, if needed.
Unfortunately, when it comes to reporting, Jira build-in options have a lot of limitations. It is impossible to create a Timesheet to see where and how many hours logged your team mate. If you would like to get overview of time spent you can use Time Tracking report. It shows original estimate, time remaining and sum of Time spent. This report works if only one member logs time to one issue. Anyway, it won’t show you who is author of all worklogs in this issue, so you have to do some manual work to compare list of tasks assigned to each team member with the issues with their time spent in the report.
Advanced Features
Timesheet Builder is a specialized tool or an app designed to create, manage, and analyze timesheets. We offer advanced features such as customizable time tables, workload and calendar management for perfect and precise capacity calculation, and integrations with advanced reporting.
Core Features Comparison
Let’s start with the most requested features for time tracking:
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Feature |
Jira standard |
Timesheet Builder |
|---|---|---|
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Book time in a work item |
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View, edit or delete time bookings in a work item |
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View total time spent, remaining and original estimation |
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Roles and permissions management |
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Use timer for auto calculation |
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Build customizable timesheet by user |
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Build customizable timesheet by team |
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Export timesheets |
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Manage and book time on timesheet view |
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View and manage all worklogs on a calendar view |
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Worklog labels (attributes) |
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Workload schemes |
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Capacity calculation |
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Holidays and personal days off |
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Multiple worklogs creation at ones |
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Track time booking anomalies |
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Hidden worklogs |
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Cross-project reports |
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Ability to limit scope of work items to prevent bookings on closed ones or on items out of team scope |
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Ability to prevent bookings to closed and approved periods |
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Track historical data about capacity and time spent by each team mate |
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Advantages and disadvantages of each approach
Jira Built-in Time Tracking
Advantages:
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Seamless integration with Jira issues and workflows.
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Already enabled and can be use for teams already using Jira.
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No additional cost if Jira is already licensed.
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Suitable for basic time tracking needs.
Limitations:
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Limited reporting and analytics capabilities.
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No built-in approval or validation workflows.
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Less flexible for complex timesheet requirements.
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Can be cumbersome for large teams or detailed billing.
Timesheet Builder Features
Advantages:
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Advanced customization options for worklog fields, timesheets, and capacity calcilations.
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Enhanced reporting and export.
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One-click worklog creation with auto calculation of time spent.
Limitations:
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Paid application that should be installed from the marketplace.