Billable

What is Billable?

Billable is a lightweight task and time tracker for Mac that sits in your menu bar for quick access. Its core purpose is to help you start timers, track time against tasks and projects, and keep daily priorities in view without switching away from what you’re doing.

The product is designed around keeping your work organized (clients → projects → tasks), capturing details with notes and Markdown, and running timers from a tray/overlay or keyboard shortcut. The website also states that your data stays on your device.

Key Features

• Menu bar access with tray/overlay: Open the tracker quickly without digging through windows, including support for keyboard shortcuts.
• Floats above other apps (including full-screen): Use the tracker while working in other applications without losing visibility.
• One-click timer controls: Start, pause, and switch timers quickly from the overlay/tray.
• Clients → Projects → Tasks hierarchy: Organize work using a built-in hierarchy to keep tracking connected to the task level.
• Tasks with rich details and Markdown: Add notes, todos, and task details using a Markdown editor.
• Search and smart filters: Find tasks quickly across your existing clients, projects, and tasks.
• Today view: Create a daily focus list by prioritizing items into “Today,” with a visual progress bar for momentum.
• Privacy-focused storage claim: The site states that your data remains 100% on your device.

How to Use Billable

1. Download and set up Billable for Mac using the “Download for Mac” option.
2. Open Billable from the menu bar/tray or via a keyboard shortcut to avoid switching contexts.
3. Create or organize work using the built-in Clients → Projects → Tasks structure.
4. Add tasks to Today to establish what you want to focus on right now.
5. Start one-click timers for the tasks you’re working on; update status by dragging tasks between boards.
6. Capture quick notes and todos with Markdown in the task view while you work.
7. Use search and smart filters to return to any task when you need to pick up where you left off.

Use Cases

• Freelancer tracking billable time by task: Organize client work into projects and tasks, then use one-click timers tied to the task level to understand how time is spent.
• Deep-focus work during full-screen sessions: Keep Billable floating above full-screen apps so you can start/pause/switch timers without leaving your workspace.
• Daily planning with a focus queue: Add items to the Today view to see what matters now, then track progress with the Today visual indicator.
• Maintaining task context with Markdown notes: Use the Markdown editor to capture quick todo lists and notes alongside each task, reducing the need for separate documents.
• Reviewing and finding work fast: Use built-in search and smart filters to locate prior tasks and resume relevant timers.

FAQ

• Is Billable available on Windows?
  The website indicates an option to sign up for early access for Windows, but it does not confirm a current Windows release.

• Does Billable require a subscription?
  The pricing section states “Pay once, use forever,” and also describes Pro and Lifetime options as one-time purchases (with included update periods).

• How does Billable handle privacy and data storage?
  The site states that your data stays 100% on your device.

• Can I back up or move my data?
  The FAQ heading includes “Can I back up or move my data?” but the provided page content does not include the actual answer.

• How is the license limited?
  The pricing details mention one device per license and that it is transferable anytime, but additional license terms are not shown in the provided content.

Alternatives

• Menu-bar or desktop time trackers: If you want lightweight timing controls (start/pause/switch) and quick access, look for other menu-bar-first time tracking apps. These typically differ in how strongly they tie timers to tasks and projects.
• Task managers with built-in timers: Alternatives in the task-management category may combine lists, projects, and time tracking, but may not offer the same overlay/menu-bar workflow described for Billable.
• Project management tools with time tracking: Tools that track time at the task level can be suitable for billable work, though they may be heavier and require more context switching than a menu-bar overlay.
• Markdown-capable note and todo apps with timers: If your main need is writing notes/todos with Markdown alongside work tracking, consider Markdown-first apps that support timers—at the cost of less structured time/task mapping (unless they include it explicitly).