HARVEST ALTERNATIVE
LockMargin vs Harvest — Invoicing vs Time Tracking
Harvest asks "How much time did you spend?" LockMargin asks "What are you billing for?" Different philosophies. Same $49 once for everything.
Ready to switch? Check our step-by-step migration guide.
The Rental Reality — "Harvest rents you access. You pay every month, your data lives on their servers, and the price can change whenever they decide. Stop paying — and you lose access to your own business history. That is the rental model."
The Ownership Alternative — "LockMargin is once. Your data lives on your machine, encrypted with AES-256-GCM, derived with Argon2id, stored in SQLite you can read with any tool. No account, no telemetry, no subscription. Export to JSON, CSV, PDF whenever you want — today or in ten years."
The Landlord Test
- Can you open your files without their software, their servers, or their permission?
- If you stopped paying tomorrow, how much of your business could you still run?
- Do you know exactly where your data is right now, physically?
- Can they change the terms — or the price — after you've built your business on it?
- If they shut down on Friday, what do you have on Monday?
With Harvest, the answers are theirs. With LockMargin, they are yours.
Migration path
"Moving off Harvest is honest work: export your clients and invoices (CSV or PDF), import what matters, run both for a month. Expect an afternoon of CSV cleanup, not a magic button."
Ready to switch? Check our step-by-step migration guide.
Stop Renting Invoicing Software
Join freelancers who are switching from Harvest to LockMargin. Invoicing + time tracking + expenses in one app for once.
Ready to switch? Check our step-by-step migration guide.
LockMargin vs Harvest: The Real Difference
- $12-28/month subscription
- Time-tracking-first — invoicing is secondary
- No built-in invoicing — need FreshBooks/QuickBooks
- Cloud-only — requires internet
- Your data on their servers
- Account suspension risk
- $49 one-time — own forever
- Invoicing-first with built-in time tracking
- One app for time, invoices, expenses, clients
- Local-first by default — works anywhere
- Your data on your machine
- Zero suspension risk
Ready to switch? Check our step-by-step migration guide.
The Real Cost Over 3 Years
Harvest is $12-28/month. Most freelancers also need a separate invoicing tool ($10-20/month). Combined: $22-48/month for two tools.
| Harvest Pro + Invoicing | LockMargin | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $336-576 | $49 (one-time) |
| Year 2 | $336-576 | $0 |
| Year 3 | $336-576 | $0 |
| Total over 3 years | $1,008-1,728 | $49 |
| LockMargin cost | Harvest is $12-28/month. LockMargin is $49 once. | |
For a solo freelancer using Harvest Solo ($12/mo) with Wave for invoicing (free + fees). Harvest is $12-28/month. LockMargin is $49 once. The more tools you replace, the more you save.
Ready to switch? Check our step-by-step migration guide.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Harvest | LockMargin |
|---|---|---|
| Time Tracking | Native | Per-project |
| Invoicing | Basic | Full featured |
| Expense Tracking | ||
| Client Management | ||
| Recurring Invoices | (reactive engine) | |
| Time-to-Invoice Conversion | Manual | One click |
| Proposals & Quotes | PDF export | |
| Snapshot Billing | Immutable invoices | |
| Health Score | Project health | |
| Works Local-first by default | Cloud-only | Full offline |
| AES-256-GCM Encryption | Server-side only | Client-side |
| Data Location | Harvest servers | Your machine only |
| One-Time Payment | $12-28/month | $49 forever |
| Account Required | Yes | No |
| Account Suspension Risk | Possible | None |
Ready to switch? Check our step-by-step migration guide.
The Two-Tool Problem: Time Tracking + Invoicing
Harvest does time tracking well — but invoicing is an afterthought. Most freelancers end up paying for Harvest AND a separate invoicing tool like FreshBooks or QuickBooks. That's $22-48/month for what LockMargin does in one $49 purchase.
Time Tracking ($12-28/mo)
Harvest's core competency. Track hours per project, generate reports. But those hours don't automatically become invoices — you manually transfer them.
Separate Invoicing ($10-20/mo)
Most freelancers use FreshBooks, QuickBooks, or Wave for invoicing. That's another subscription. Another login. Another set of fees.
LockMargin: One App
Track time, convert to invoice line items with one click, send invoice. All in one app. All for offline invoicing at `$49 once`. No subscriptions. No juggling tools.
Ready to switch? Check our step-by-step migration guide.
The Account Risk No One Talks About
Harvest: Cloud Dependency
- Terms of Service violations can lock you out of time data
- Data hosted on Harvest servers — no offline access
- Export required before cancellation
- If Harvest raises prices, you pay or leave
LockMargin: Data Ownership
- No ToS can suspend your access
- Local-first by default — work from anywhere
- No export needed — SQLite file you control
- No price changes — $49 once, done
Ready to switch? Check our step-by-step migration guide.
When Each Tool Makes Sense
Choose Harvest If You...
- Need deep time tracking with integrations (Slack, Asana, etc.)
- Work in a team needing collaborative time tracking
- Don't mind paying monthly for time tracking alone
- Already have a separate invoicing tool you're happy with
Choose LockMargin If You...
- Want one tool for time tracking AND invoicing
- Need zero subscription costs — $49 once
- Work offline — from home office, client sites, or travel
- Value offline invoicing and data ownership — AES-256-GCM on your machine
- Want time entries to automatically become invoice items
Ready to switch? Check our step-by-step migration guide.
Switching from Harvest? It Takes 15 Minutes
Your time entries, clients, and projects — all transferred. No data left behind.
Export from Harvest
Go to Settings → Export Data and download your time entries, clients, and projects as CSV.
Download LockMargin
No account, no email, no verification. Your data stays local from the first second.
Import Your Data
In LockMargin: Settings → Import → CSV. Map the fields and import. Done.
Time-to-Invoice in One Click
Select time entries, click "Create Invoice." LockMargin converts hours to line items automatically. No manual transfer.
Ready to switch? Check our step-by-step migration guide.
Honest note - No invented testimonials. I would rather show nothing than fake quotes. Real stories arrive with Early Access (September 2026). How We Calculate the Real Cost
- Harvest subscription: Plan price Г— 36 months. Solo $12/mo, Pro $28/mo.
- Invoicing tool: Estimated $10-20/month for separate invoicing software.
- LockMargin: $49 one-time license. $0 subscription. $0 transaction fees. Free minor updates forever.
- Not included: Time spent manually transferring hours between tools (estimated 30 min/week).
Disclaimer: Harvest pricing accurate as of July 2026. Always verify current pricing on getharvest.com. LockMargin pricing: $49 Standard license, free tier available.
Ready to switch? Check our step-by-step migration guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Harvest really cost per year?
Harvest Solo is $12/month ($144/year), Harvest Pro is $28/month ($336/year). But Harvest doesn't include invoicing — most freelancers add FreshBooks ($19/mo) or similar, making the combined cost $22-48/month. LockMargin is $49 once for everything.
Does Harvest include invoicing?
Harvest has basic invoicing capabilities, but it is fundamentally a time tracking tool. Most freelancers use Harvest for time tracking and a separate tool (FreshBooks, QuickBooks, Wave) for invoicing — effectively paying for two tools. LockMargin combines both.
Can I import my Harvest data into LockMargin?
Yes. Export your time entries, clients, and projects from Harvest as CSV files (Settings → Export Data). In LockMargin, go to Settings → Import → CSV. Map the fields and import. The entire migration takes 10-15 minutes.
What happens to my data if I stop paying Harvest?
Your account is suspended and you lose access to your time reports and client data. You must export everything before cancelling. With LockMargin, your data is in a SQLite file on your computer. No subscription, no suspension.
Is LockMargin really Local-first by default?
Yes. LockMargin is a desktop application that runs entirely on your computer. Your data is stored locally in an encrypted SQLite database. No cloud servers, no internet required, no data leaves your machine unless you explicitly export a PDF or backup file.
Does LockMargin work for teams?
LockMargin is designed for solo freelancers and small studios (1-5 people). It does not have real-time collaboration features. If yI needs simultaneous time tracking, Harvest or another tool is a better fit.
Is LockMargin really secure?
LockMargin uses Argon2id for key derivation and AES-256-GCM for data encryption. Your database is encrypted at rest and never leaves your machine. You hold the keys.
Does LockMargin offer a free Start plan?
Yes. The Start Free tier gives you 5 clients, 5 projects/month, and 5 invoices per month — completely free. Upgrade to Standard for $49 one-time if you need more.
Ready to switch? Check our step-by-step migration guide.
Stop Paying for Two Tools
Ready to switch? Check our step-by-step migration guide.