TOGGL TRACK ALTERNATIVE
LockMargin vs Toggl Track — The Two Tools Problem | $49 Once
Toggl Track is time tracking only — no invoicing, no billing, no payments. LockMargin is invoicing-first with time tracking, expenses, and payments in one $49 purchase.
Ready to switch? Check our step-by-step migration guide.
The Rental Reality — "Toggl 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 Toggl, the answers are theirs. With LockMargin, they are yours.
Migration path
"Moving off Toggl 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 Toggl to LockMargin. Invoicing + time tracking + expenses in one app for once.
Ready to switch? Check our step-by-step migration guide.
LockMargin vs Toggl Track: The Real Difference
- $9-20/month for time tracking
- $15-36/month for separate invoicing software
- Two tools = two logins, two subscriptions
- Cloud-only — requires internet
- No invoicing capabilities at all
- Account suspension risk on either service
- $49 one-time — own forever
- Time tracking AND invoicing in one app
- One purchase = no subscriptions
- Local-first by default — works anywhere
- Convert time entries to invoices in one click
- Zero suspension risk
Ready to switch? Check our step-by-step migration guide.
The Real Cost Over 3 Years
Most freelancers use Toggl Track ($9-20/mo) PLUS a separate invoicing tool like FreshBooks ($19/mo) or Wave (free + fees). That's two subscriptions for what LockMargin does in one.
| Toggl + FreshBooks | LockMargin | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $28-39/mo | $0 (one-time) |
| Year 1 | $336-468 | $49 (one-time) |
| Year 2 | $336-468 | $0 |
| Year 3 | $336-468 | $0 |
| Total over 3 years | $1,008-1,404 | $49 |
| LockMargin cost | Toggl is $9-20/month plus an invoicing tool. LockMargin is $49 once. | |
For a freelancer using Toggl Track ($9/mo) with Wave for invoicing (free + ~$10/mo in transaction fees). Toggl is $9-20/month plus an invoicing tool. LockMargin is $49 once. The more you invoice, the more you save.
Ready to switch? Check our step-by-step migration guide.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Toggl Track | LockMargin |
|---|---|---|
| Time Tracking | Native | Per-project |
| Invoicing | Not included | Full featured |
| Expense Tracking | ||
| Client Management | ||
| Recurring Invoices | (reactive engine) | |
| Time-to-Invoice Conversion | Manual export | One click |
| Proposals & Quotes | PDF export | |
| Snapshot Billing | Immutable invoices | |
| Payment Processing | Link your processor (Stripe, PayPal) | |
| Works Local-first by default | Cloud-only | Full offline |
| AES-256-GCM Encryption | Server-side only | Client-side |
| Data Location | Toggl servers | Your machine only |
| One-Time Payment | $9-20/month | $49 forever |
| Account Required | Yes | No |
| Account Suspension Risk | Possible | None |
Ready to switch? Check our step-by-step migration guide.
The Two Tools Problem: Toggl + Separate Invoicing
Toggl Track is excellent at one thing: time tracking. But it doesn't do invoicing at all. You need a second tool — FreshBooks, QuickBooks, Wave, or similar — to bill your clients. That means two subscriptions, two sets of logins, and manual data transfer between them. LockMargin combines both in one $49 purchase.
Toggl Track ($9-20/mo)
Time tracking only. Great for logging hours, but those hours can't become invoices without exporting to another tool. No expense tracking, no client billing.
Separate Invoicing ($15-36/mo)
FreshBooks, QuickBooks, Wave, or Xero. Another subscription. Another login. You manually transfer hours from Toggl to create invoices — wasting 30+ minutes per week.
LockMargin: One Solution
Track time, convert to invoice line items with one click, send invoice. All in one app. All for offline invoicing at `$49 once`. No manual transfers, no juggling tools.
Ready to switch? Check our step-by-step migration guide.
The Account Risk No One Talks About
Toggl Track: Cloud Dependency
- No offline access — internet required for all features
- Data hosted on Toggl servers
- Export before cancellation or lose time data
- If Toggl changes pricing, you must accept
LockMargin: Data Ownership
- Local-first by default — no internet needed
- Your machine only — AES-256-GCM encrypted
- No export needed — SQLite file you control
- $49 once — no price changes possible
Ready to switch? Check our step-by-step migration guide.
When Each Tool Makes Sense
Choose Toggl If You...
- Only need time tracking — no invoicing required
- Work in a team needing collaborative time tracking
- Need integrations (Asana, Trello, Jira, etc.)
- Already have an invoicing tool you're happy with
Choose LockMargin If You...
- Need time tracking + invoicing in one app
- Want no subscriptions — $49 once
- Work offline or with unreliable internet
- Value offline invoicing and data ownership and privacy
- Don't want to juggle two separate tools
Ready to switch? Check our step-by-step migration guide.
Switching from Toggl? It Takes 10 Minutes
Your time entries and projects — all transferred. No data left behind.
Export from Toggl
Go to Reports → Export and download your time entries as CSV.
Download LockMargin
No account, no email, no verification. Your data stays local from the first second.
Import & Create Invoice
In LockMargin: Settings → Import → CSV. Then select time entries, click "Create Invoice." Hours convert to line items automatically.
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
- Toggl Track subscription: Plan price Г— 36 months. Starter $9/mo, Premium $20/mo.
- Invoicing tool: Estimated $15-36/month for FreshBooks, Wave (fees), or QuickBooks.
- LockMargin: $49 one-time license. $0 subscription. Free minor updates forever.
- Not included: Time spent manually transferring hours between tools (estimated 30 min/week at $50/hr = $1,300/year).
Disclaimer: Toggl pricing accurate as of July 2026. Always verify on toggl.com. LockMargin: $49 Standard license, free tier available.
Ready to switch? Check our step-by-step migration guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Toggl Track include invoicing?
No. Toggl Track is time tracking only. It has no invoicing, billing, or payment features. You need a completely separate tool (FreshBooks, QuickBooks, Wave) for invoicing. LockMargin combines both in one purchase.
How much does Toggl really cost with invoicing?
Toggl Track: $9-20/month. Invoicing tool: $15-36/month. Combined: $24-81/month. LockMargin: $49 once. Toggl is $9-20/month plus an invoicing tool. LockMargin is $49 once.
Can I import my Toggl data into LockMargin?
Yes. Export your time entries from Toggl as CSV (Reports → Export). In LockMargin, go to Settings → Import → CSV. Map the fields and import. Takes about 5 minutes.
What happens to my data if I stop paying Toggl?
Your account is suspended and you lose access to your time data. You must export everything before cancelling. With LockMargin, your data is on your machine. No one can lock you out.
Is LockMargin really Local-first by default?
Yes. LockMargin runs entirely on your computer. Your data is stored locally in an encrypted SQLite database. No cloud servers, no internet required for any feature except sending invoices via email.
Does LockMargin have Toggl's integrations?
No. LockMargin is a standalone desktop application for freelancers. It does not integrate with project management tools like Asana or Jira. If integrations are critical, Toggl is the better choice.
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. No third-party access. 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.