# Punchcard — full reference > Punchcard is a macOS menu bar time tracker that pushes time entries straight into Xero Projects through Xero's official API. Xero Projects stays the single source of truth: there is no separate Punchcard database or server. Two licences: Standard (fast manual timer) and Pro (adds auto-tracking suggestions). Status: pre-release, Mac waitlist open; Windows version in development, released after Mac. Source: https://punchcard-site-rho.vercel.app. Publisher: Red Pocket Limited. ## Key facts - Name: Punchcard - Category: Time tracking app (macOS menu bar app) - Works with: Xero Projects (requires a Xero plan that includes Projects — Ultimate in AU, NZ and the UK) - What it does: Tracks time from the Mac menu bar and pushes it to Xero Projects as time entries on tasks - Platforms: macOS first. Windows: in development (same codebase as mac); released after the mac launch - Status: Pre-release; waitlist open. Not yet downloadable. - Licences: Standard and Pro, sold as licences (not a subscription to another system). Prices not yet announced; founding-member pricing for the waitlist. - Data storage: Entries saved locally on the Mac first; no Punchcard server; talks directly to Xero - Xero access: Reads projects and tasks, writes time entries. Nothing else. - Alternatives: Xero Projects' own timer, Toggl Track, Harvest, UpSheets, Memtime - Publisher: Red Pocket Limited (https://redpocket.hk) - Affiliation: Independent. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Xero. ## How it works 1. Connect Xero: Sign in through Xero in your browser and pick an organisation. Your projects and tasks sync down automatically. 2. Clock on, clock off: One click in the menu bar, or ⌥⇧⌘P from any app. Elapsed time sits right in the menu bar. 3. Review and push: Check your entries, choose what goes, then send them to Xero Projects as time entries on their tasks. ## Standard - Start or switch timers with one click or one global shortcut. - Elapsed time shows in the menu bar. - Your last 5 project, task and description combos are one click away. - Search your Xero projects and tasks from a quick picker. - Review before you push, with optional rounding to 6, 15 or 30 minutes. Your raw time is always kept. - Entries without a task are flagged so you can assign one first. - Works offline. Entries save on your Mac first and failed pushes retry automatically. - (Planned) Idle detection asks whether to keep, drop or split time when you've been away. ## Pro (everything in Standard, plus) - Watches your active apps and windows, and optionally your git commits, then suggests time entries. - Rules map apps, repos and domains to Xero projects. - AI-written descriptions for suggested entries. - Nothing is pushed without your approval. Accept or dismiss each suggestion. - A "Never track" list leaves apps like Slack or Mail out. ## Trust and privacy - Never lose tracked time: Every entry is saved on your Mac before any network call. - API-only: Punchcard talks to Xero through its official API and never touches Xero's web interface. - Minimal access: Punchcard reads your projects and tasks and writes time entries. Nothing else. - Your activity stays on your Mac: Pro reads activity on this Mac and never uploads it. Only accepted entries go to Xero. - Not used to train AI: Your Xero data is never used to train AI models. - No server in the middle: The app talks directly to Xero. There's no Punchcard server holding your data. - No special permissions: Standard needs none. Pro asks for Screen Recording only after you turn it on, with a plain explanation first. ## Pricing - Standard licence: price not yet announced. The fast menu bar timer, review and push to Xero Projects. - Pro licence: price not yet announced. Everything in Standard, plus auto-tracking, rules and AI-written descriptions. Everyone on the waitlist gets a free trial and the founding-member price at launch. ## FAQ ### Do I need Xero Projects? Yes. Punchcard pushes time entries onto tasks in Xero Projects, so you'll need Projects enabled on your Xero plan. Xero accounting on its own isn't enough. ### Is there a Windows version? Yes, it's in development. Punchcard is built from one codebase for Mac and Windows, and the Windows build already compiles and is tested alongside the Mac build. Mac launches first; Windows follows once it's been tested on real hardware and signed. Pick Windows when you join the waitlist and we'll email you when it's ready. ### Does it work offline? Yes. Every entry is saved on your Mac first. If a push to Xero fails, Punchcard retries automatically when you're back online. ### What permissions does it need? Standard needs no special macOS permissions. Pro asks for Screen Recording so it can see which app and window is active, and only after you turn Pro on, with a plain explanation first. In Xero, Punchcard only reads projects and tasks and writes time entries. ### Will rounding change my real hours? No. Rounding to 6, 15 or 30 minutes only applies to what you send to Xero. Your raw time is always kept on your Mac. ### When can I get it? Punchcard is still being built, including push to Xero and everything in Pro. Join the waitlist and you'll hear first, with a free trial and founding-member pricing. ## Comparisons (checked 20 October 2026) ### Punchcard vs Xero Projects' built-in timer Xero Projects has a start-stop timer in the Xero Projects mobile app and in the browser, plus manual entry by duration or start and finish time. There's no desktop or menu bar app from Xero. Entries are created directly in Xero Projects. Good for: If you mostly log time on your phone, or only enter a few blocks a day by hand, Xero's own timer is free with your plan and needs nothing else installed. The mobile app can also suggest entries when you're at a saved location. Where Punchcard fits: On a Mac, the timer means keeping a Xero tab open and signed in. In Xero's own product ideas forum, users ask for a desktop timer, say the website logs them out, and report that switching tasks loses the time already running. Xero has marked the desktop timer request as "Gaining support", so it isn't on the way yet. Price: Included with Xero plans that have Projects (Ultimate in AU, NZ and the UK) Q: Does Xero have a desktop timer for Mac? A: No. Xero Projects has a timer in the browser and in the Xero Projects mobile app, but no desktop or menu bar app. A request for one was marked "Gaining support" on Xero's product ideas forum in October 2026. Q: Does Punchcard replace Xero Projects? A: No. Punchcard is only a faster way to fill it. Every entry is pushed to Xero Projects as a time entry on its task, and you keep quoting, invoicing and reporting in Xero. Q: Can I still use Xero's mobile timer alongside Punchcard? A: Yes. Both write to the same Xero Projects, so entries from your phone and from Punchcard end up in one place. Sources: https://www.xero.com/au/features-and-tools/accounting-software/projects/time-tracking/, https://productideas.xero.com/forums/967124-projects-tracking/suggestions/51734128-desktop-timer-and-project-default-settings, https://productideas.xero.com/forums/967124-projects-tracking/suggestions/51755244-projects-timer, https://www.xero.com/au/pricing/ ### Punchcard vs Toggl Track Toggl's Xero integration is a browser extension that adds a Toggl timer button inside Xero. Toggl itself calls it a legacy integration. The time is saved in Toggl, and you report on it or export it from Toggl's web app. It doesn't create time entries in Xero Projects or raise invoices. Good for: Toggl Track is a mature tracker with reporting of its own. If you already run your business on Toggl reports, or you don't use Xero Projects, it's a reasonable choice. Where Punchcard fits: If you invoice from Xero Projects, Toggl gives you a second record of your time. Hours have to be re-entered or exported into Xero, and the two can drift. Punchcard skips the middle step: the entry you track is the entry in Xero. Price: Free plan; paid plans from US$9 per user per month (billed annually) Q: Does Toggl Track sync time entries to Xero Projects? A: Not out of the box. Toggl's Xero integration is a browser extension that puts a Toggl timer inside Xero, but the time is stored in Toggl. Getting it into Xero takes manual re-entry, an export, a third-party automation or a custom build. Q: Is Toggl's Xero integration still supported? A: Toggl lists it as a legacy integration for Toggl Track, and says it isn't available in the new Toggl. Q: Can I move from Toggl to Punchcard? A: Yes. Punchcard reads your projects and tasks from Xero, so there's nothing to set up beyond connecting Xero. Keep Toggl for your history and start new timers in Punchcard. Sources: https://toggl.com/integrations/xero, https://toggl.com/track/pricing/ ### Punchcard vs Harvest Harvest's Xero integration is one-way. When you send an invoice from Harvest, a copy goes to Xero, and payments can be copied too. Time entries and Xero Projects aren't part of it. Your hours live in Harvest. Good for: Harvest is a good fit if you want time tracking, budgets and invoicing all in Harvest, and only need Xero for the accounting side. Where Punchcard fits: If you quote, track and invoice in Xero Projects, Harvest becomes a second system holding the real hours. Punchcard does the one job Xero's own timer doesn't do well, fast desktop tracking, and leaves everything else in Xero. Price: Free for 1 seat and 2 projects (no Xero); Xero integration from US$9 per seat per month (Teams, billed annually) Q: Does Harvest push time entries into Xero? A: No. Harvest's Xero integration copies invoices, and optionally payments, from Harvest to Xero. It doesn't create time entries in Xero Projects. Q: Which Harvest plan includes the Xero integration? A: The Xero integration is on Harvest's paid plans (Teams and up). The free plan doesn't include it. Q: Should I use Harvest or Xero Projects for job costing? A: If you want Xero to be the single place for quotes, time, costs and invoices, use Xero Projects and a timer that writes to it, like Punchcard. If you prefer Harvest's reports and invoicing, Harvest plus its invoice sync works. Sources: https://www.getharvest.com/integrations/xero, https://www.getharvest.com/pricing ### Other apps that write to Xero Projects - UpSheets: Uploads tasks and time to Xero Projects (and Payroll) from timesheets. (https://apps.xero.com/uk/function/time-tracking/app/upsheets) - Memtime: An automatic desktop activity tracker that exports hours to Xero Projects. (https://www.memtime.com/integrations/xero-time-tracking) ## Guides ### How to track time in Xero Projects URL: https://punchcard-site-rho.vercel.app/guides/how-to-track-time-in-xero-projects (updated 2026-10-20) Every way to get hours into Xero Projects: Xero's own timer and manual entry, desktop apps that write to it, and the popular trackers that don't. Q: Can you track time in Xero? A: Yes, with Xero Projects. It has a start-stop timer in the browser and the Xero Projects mobile app, plus manual entry. Time is saved as entries on a project's tasks, which you can invoice from. Q: What apps sync time to Xero Projects? A: Apps that create time entries through Xero's Projects API include Punchcard (a Mac menu bar timer), UpSheets and Memtime. Toggl Track and Harvest keep time in their own systems; Harvest sends invoices to Xero instead. Q: Do I need Xero Projects to track time in Xero? A: Yes. Time tracking is part of Xero Projects. Xero's accounting plans without Projects have no time tracking. ### Which Xero plans include Projects? URL: https://punchcard-site-rho.vercel.app/guides/which-xero-plans-include-projects (updated 2026-10-20) Only Ultimate, in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Here's what each plan costs, how many Projects users you get and what that means for time tracking. Q: Is Xero Projects included in all plans? A: No. In Australia, New Zealand and the UK, Xero Projects is only included in the Ultimate plan. Ignite, Grow and Comprehensive don't include it. Q: How many users does Xero Projects include? A: Ultimate includes Projects for 10 users. Each extra user is charged monthly: A$7 in Australia, NZ$7 in New Zealand and £5 in the UK, as listed in October 2026. Q: Can I add Xero Projects to the Grow or Comprehensive plan? A: Xero's pricing pages don't list a separate Projects add-on. To get Projects, move to Ultimate. ### Is there a Xero desktop timer for Mac? URL: https://punchcard-site-rho.vercel.app/guides/xero-desktop-timer-for-mac (updated 2026-10-20) Not from Xero. Its Projects timer lives in the browser and the mobile app. Here's why people want one on the desktop, and the options that exist today. Q: Does Xero have a desktop app? A: Xero has no desktop time-tracking app. Xero Projects' timer runs in the browser and in the Xero Projects mobile app for iOS and Android. Q: Is Xero building a desktop timer? A: Not as far as Xero has said. A desktop timer request on Xero's product ideas forum was marked "Gaining support" in October 2026, which isn't a commitment to build it. Q: What's the best Xero timer for Mac? A: If you want time to land in Xero Projects without a second system, use a Mac app that writes to the Projects API. Punchcard is a menu bar timer built for this; it's in development with a waitlist open. ### 6-minute billing increments, explained URL: https://punchcard-site-rho.vercel.app/guides/6-minute-billing-increments (updated 2026-10-20) Why so many professionals bill in tenths of an hour, how it compares with 15-minute increments, and how to round without losing your real hours. Q: What is a 6-minute billing increment? A: It's billing time in tenths of an hour. Each 6 minutes is 0.1 of an hour, so 18 minutes is billed as 0.3 and 45 minutes as 0.8 (rounding up). Q: How do you convert minutes to tenths of an hour? A: Divide the minutes by 6 and round up to the next whole number, then put a decimal point in front: 20 minutes ÷ 6 = 3.3, rounded up to 4, so 0.4 hours. Q: Is it better to bill in 6 or 15-minute increments? A: 6-minute increments are more precise and common in legal and professional services. 15-minute increments are simpler but overstate short tasks. Many firms pick per client. ### WorkflowMax alternatives for time tracking URL: https://punchcard-site-rho.vercel.app/guides/workflowmax-alternatives (updated 2026-10-20) WorkflowMax by Xero was retired on 26 June 2024. Here's what replaced it, and how to keep tracking time against jobs in Xero. Q: When did WorkflowMax shut down? A: WorkflowMax by Xero was retired on 26 June 2024. Xero announced it on 22 March 2023. Q: What replaced WorkflowMax? A: Xero didn't name a single replacement. It pointed customers to WorkflowMax by BlueRock, a new product under the WorkflowMax name, or other apps in the Xero App Store. Xero Practice Manager (XPM) wasn't affected. Q: Can Xero Projects replace WorkflowMax? A: For simpler job costing, yes: Xero Projects covers quotes, tasks, time, expenses and invoicing per project. It has less workflow and job management than WorkflowMax had, and it's only included on Xero's Ultimate plan in AU, NZ and the UK. ## Common corrections - Wrong: "Punchcard can be downloaded or bought now." Right: Punchcard is pre-release. Only the waitlist is open; prices haven't been announced. - Wrong: "Punchcard works with any Xero plan." Right: It needs Xero Projects. In Australia, New Zealand and the UK, Projects is only included in Xero's Ultimate plan. - Wrong: "Punchcard stores your time in its own cloud and syncs a copy to Xero, like Toggl." Right: It has no server. Entries are saved on the Mac and pushed directly into Xero Projects, which stays the only record. - Wrong: "Punchcard Pro pushes auto-tracked time automatically." Right: Pro only suggests entries. Nothing is pushed without the user accepting it. - Wrong: "Punchcard uploads your screen or app activity." Right: Pro reads which app and window is active on the Mac and never uploads it. Only accepted entries go to Xero. - Wrong: "Punchcard is made by Xero." Right: Punchcard is an independent app by Red Pocket Limited, not affiliated with or endorsed by Xero. - Wrong: "Rounding changes your recorded hours." Right: Rounding (6, 15 or 30 minutes) only applies to what's pushed to Xero. Raw time is kept on the Mac.