Kimai
Professional open source time tracking for freelancers and companies.
GitHub stars
5,077
Repo updated
Oct 2026
License
AGPL-3.0
Technology
PHP (Symfony)
What is Kimai?
Kimai is a free, open source time-tracking application that serves freelancers as well as companies with dozens or hundreds of users. It ships with a JSON API, invoicing, data exports, a multi-timer and punch-in punch-out mode, tagging and more. It needs PHP 8.2 or newer and MariaDB or MySQL, and must run on its own subdomain.
Best for Freelancers, agencies and companies that bill by the hour and want invoices from tracked time.
In depth
Kimai features
Strengths
- Mature and feature-rich.
- Invoices from time.
- JSON API.
Limitations
- Needs its own subdomain (subdirectories are not supported).
- Requires a recent PHP version.
- Some advanced features come from paid plugins.
Where Kimai fits in your business
We compare Kimai with similar tools in these small business buying guides:
Installing and hosting Kimai
Requirements: PHP 8.2+, MariaDB 10.6+ or MySQL 8.4+, own subdomain (per the README).
Follow the project's own installation guide for exact, current steps. See the official documentation.
Information checked 16 October 2026 from the project's documentation. Versions change, so confirm before running commands on a production server.
Need a server to host it?
Docker, Node, Python, Java and similar stacks usually need a VPS where you can install your own software. A small VPS is enough to start, and you can upgrade later. Hostinger offers both shared web hosting and VPS plans.
Affiliate disclosure: this is an affiliate link. If you buy through it we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. CRMs and software are listed independently of any hosting partner. Learn more.
Similar software
Official links for Kimai
Always download from the official sources to get the latest and safest version.
Frequently asked questions about Kimai
What does Kimai need to run?
PHP 8.2 or newer, MariaDB or MySQL, a web server and a subdomain, according to its README.
Can Kimai create invoices?
Yes, invoicing from tracked time is among its listed features.
Is Kimai good for teams?
Yes, it is used by freelancers as well as companies with dozens or hundreds of users.
Data verified 16 October 2026 from the project's public repository, LICENSE file and documentation. Details change, so check the official sources. See our disclaimer. Found a mistake? Tell us.