Where do your hours actually end up?
If you invoice from Xero Projects, the question that matters is whether your time tracker writes there, or keeps its own copy. Here's how the common options stack up.
Four ways to get time into Xero.
Rows marked are the point of difference. Checked 20 October 2026 against each product's own pages.
| FEATURE | PUNCHCARD | XERO TIMER | TOGGL TRACK | HARVEST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creates time entries in Xero ProjectsOn the project's tasks, ready to invoice. | Yes | Yes | NoTime stays in Toggl | NoSends invoices, not time |
| Xero stays the only record of your timeNo second system to reconcile. | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Timer in the Mac menu bar | YesPlus a global shortcut | NoBrowser and mobile app | ExtensionXero link is a legacy browser extension | YesHours stay in Harvest |
| Entries saved locally before any network callNothing lost to a dropped connection or a switched task. | Yes | NoUsers report lost time when switching | n/aStored in Toggl | n/aStored in Harvest |
| Uses only Xero's official API | Yes | Native | NoRuns inside Xero's web UI | Yes |
| Invoicing | In XeroFrom Xero Projects | Yes | No | In HarvestCopied to Xero |
| Cost | LicenceFounding price at launch | In planUltimate tier | From US$9Per user / month | From US$9Per seat / month |
Xero timer
Xero's timer lives in a browser tab or the mobile app. Punchcard puts it in your Mac menu bar and still writes every entry into Xero Projects.
Read the comparison →PUNCHCARD VSToggl Track
Toggl's Xero integration keeps your hours in Toggl. Punchcard pushes every entry into Xero Projects, so Xero stays your one record of time.
Read the comparison →PUNCHCARD VSHarvest
Harvest sends invoices to Xero, not time entries. If you bill from Xero Projects, Punchcard pushes your hours straight onto its tasks.
Read the comparison →Other apps that write to Xero Projects
Punchcard isn't the only tool that creates time entries in Xero Projects through Xero's API. Depending on how you work, these might suit:
- UpSheets: Uploads tasks and time to Xero Projects (and Payroll) from timesheets.
- Memtime: An automatic desktop activity tracker that exports hours to Xero Projects.
Punchcard's angle is speed on the Mac: a timer in the menu bar, a global shortcut, and entries saved locally before they're pushed, so nothing's lost. Every way to track time in Xero Projects →
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