Trackpilots vs DeskTime: Which Employee Monitoring Software Is Right for You?
DeskTime is a solid time tracking tool — but its free plan covers only one user, screenshots are locked behind the Premium tier at $10+/user/month, and stealth monitoring is not available at any price. Trackpilots gives you a permanently free plan for unlimited users, screenshots included from day one, and built-in stealth mode on the Starter Pack. For growing teams and cost-conscious businesses, the comparison is clear. This page breaks down every difference so you can decide with confidence.
Trackpilots vs DeskTime 2026 — Full Comparison
A direct feature-by-feature comparison across the criteria that matter most for remote, hybrid, and desk-based teams.
| Feature | Trackpilots | DeskTime |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | ✓ Unlimited users — free forever | 1 user only (Lite plan) |
| Price per user/month | ✓ Free / $3.99 (Starter Pack) | $7.00 – $14.00 |
| Screenshot tracking | ✓ Free — every 20 min; 1 min on paid | Premium plan only ($10+/user) |
| Stealth monitoring | ✓ Built-in (Starter Pack) | ✗ Not available |
| App & website tracking | ✓ Included on free plan | ✓ Included on paid plans |
| Automatic attendance | ✓ Included on free plan | ✓ Included on paid plans |
| Inactivity alerts | ✓ Starter Pack | ✓ Available (Pro+) |
| Shift scheduling | ✗ Not available | ✓ Available (Premium) |
| Linux support | ✓ Windows, macOS, Linux | ✓ Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Customer support | Email + onboarding support | Email (all plans); chat (paid) |
Pricing accurate as of May 2026. Verify current terms on each vendor's website.
Why Teams Switch from DeskTime to Trackpilots
The most immediate friction with DeskTime is its free plan limitation. DeskTime's Lite plan supports only a single user — meaning any team with two or more employees is immediately pushed to a paid subscription. DeskTime Pro starts at $7/user/month, and screenshots — one of the most-requested monitoring features — are only available on the Premium plan at $10+/user/month. A 10-person team needing screenshots pays at least $100/month before accessing that capability. Trackpilots includes screenshots on the free plan for every user, with no cap and no expiry.
The second gap is stealth monitoring. DeskTime does not offer invisible or background-only monitoring at any pricing tier. The agent always presents a visible indicator on the employee's device. Trackpilots' Starter Pack includes true stealth mode — the desktop agent runs with no system tray icon and no employee-facing notifications — making it the stronger choice for businesses that need authentic productivity data without influencing employee behaviour through visible surveillance.
The third reason is total cost. At $3.99/user/month, the Trackpilots Starter Pack delivers stealth mode, 1-minute screenshot intervals, inactivity alerts, and extended data retention — features that would require DeskTime's Premium plan at $10/user/month. For a 20-person team, that is a saving of over $1,440 per year for equivalent or superior functionality.
Where DeskTime retains an advantage is shift scheduling. If your organisation needs to manage employee rosters and assign shifts directly within the monitoring platform, DeskTime's Premium plan includes scheduling features that Trackpilots does not currently offer. For teams without scheduling requirements, Trackpilots covers every DeskTime use case at a significantly lower cost.
Switch to Trackpilots — Free for Your Entire Team
Set up takes under 10 minutes. Unlimited users, screenshot monitoring, stealth mode, attendance tracking, and productivity dashboards — all on the free plan. No credit card, no time limit.
Still Need Help?
Drop us a line at team@trackpilots.com or hit us up in the chat at the bottom right corner, and we'll help you out.