LockMargin vs Toggl Track: Invoicing That Actually Pays You
Toggl Track is time tracking only. LockMargin is invoicing-first — with time tracking, expenses, and payments in one $49 purchase.
Toggl Track is one of the most popular time tracking tools on the market — over 4 million users trust it for tracking hours. But here's what Toggl doesn't do: invoicing, billing, or payments. It's a time tracker, not a business invoicing tool.
LockMargin combines time tracking and invoicing in a single desktop app. Track your hours, then convert them directly to invoices — without paying for a second tool or subscription. One purchase, one app, everything you need to get paid.
The Cost Difference
| Toggl Track | LockMargin | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $108–$240 (time only) | $49 (invoicing + time + expenses) |
| Year 2 | $108–$240 | $0 |
| Year 3 | $108–$240 | $0 |
| Total | $324–$720 | $49 |
| You save | $275–$671 with LockMargin | |
Toggl Track pricing: Free (limited), Premium $9/mo, Enterprise $20/mo. LockMargin is $49 once with no limits, no tiers, no overage fees. Plus, LockMargin includes invoicing — which Toggl doesn't offer at all.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Toggl Track | LockMargin |
|---|---|---|
| Time Tracking | ✓ Core focus | ✓ Built-in |
| Invoicing | ❌ Not available | ✓ Core focus |
| Expense Tracking | ❌ | ✓ |
| Quotes & Estimates | ❌ | ✓ |
| Recurring Invoices | ❌ | ✓ (reactive engine) |
| Client Management | ❌ | ✓ |
| Multi-Currency | ❌ | ✓ |
| Payment Collection | ❌ | ✓ (via invoice links) |
| Works Offline | ❌ | ✓ 100% |
| AES-256-GCM Encryption | ❌ | ✓ Client-side |
| One-Time Payment | ❌ | ✓ $49 forever |
| Immutability Guard | ❌ | ✓ Invoice integrity |
| Health Score | ❌ | ✓ Business health |
| Tools Needed | + invoicing app | Just LockMargin |
| Pomodoro Timer | ✓ | ❌ (no pomodoro) |
| Team Dashboard | ✓ (team plans) | ❌ (solo focus) |
When Toggl Track Makes Sense
- You only need a time tracker — you use separate invoicing software (or your clients don't need invoices)
- You want advanced time tracking features like Pomodoro, idle detection, and project dashboards
- Your team needs shared time tracking across departments
- You're already paying for an invoicing tool and are happy with it
When LockMargin Makes Sense
- You want one tool that handles time tracking AND invoicing
- You need to send professional invoices with your tracked time attached
- You want to eliminate the subscription — both Toggl and your invoicing tool
- You value data privacy — your time entries and invoices never leave your machine
- You want AES-256-GCM encrypted client data with offline access
- You're tired of paying for two separate tools to run your freelance business
The "Two Tools" Problem
Here's a common freelance workflow: track time in Toggl ($9-20/mo), then manually enter that time into FreshBooks/QuickBooks ($15-30/mo) to create invoices. That's $24-50/month for two tools that should be one.
LockMargin eliminates this. Track time with the built-in timer, then convert tracked hours directly to invoices with one click. No manual re-entry, no second subscription, no sync issues.
LockMargin replaces Toggl Track + your invoicing tool.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I import Toggl Track data into LockMargin?
Yes. Export your time entries from Toggl Track as CSV and import them into LockMargin. Each time entry becomes billable hours you can attach to an invoice.
Does LockMargin have the same time tracking features as Toggl?
LockMargin includes start/stop timer, manual time entry, and time-to-invoice conversion. It doesn't have Pomodoro mode, idle detection, or deep project analytics — but for freelancers who need to track time and bill clients, LockMargin covers the essentials and eliminates the need for a second invoicing tool.
Does Toggl Track have invoicing?
No. Toggl Track is purely a time tracking tool. It does not include invoicing, estimates, expense tracking, or payment collection. You need a separate tool (like LockMargin) to create invoices from your tracked time.
What if I need both Toggl and LockMargin?
You can use Toggl for detailed time tracking and export to LockMargin for invoicing. But most freelancers find that LockMargin's built-in time tracking is sufficient, eliminating the need for a separate Toggl subscription and saving $9-20/month.
Ready to try LockMargin?
Download free. No account required. No credit card. See if it works for you — and if not, we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on paid licenses.