Happy Valley

Beam vs Clockify

Beam and Clockify are both personal productivity tools. Beam is aimed at developers and creators, while Clockify is aimed at freelancers and agencies. Clockify costs less, from $4.99/mo versus $12/mo for Beam. Both have a free plan.

Beam

Open individual windows from one Mac as native windows on another

Clockify

Time tracker with a free plan for small teams

PricingFreemium · $12Freemium · $5
Starting price$12/mo$4.99/mo
Free planYesYes
Free trial—7 days
Built forDevelopers, Creators, Freelancers, Small businessesFreelancers, Agencies
Platformsmacosweb, macos, windows, ios, android
Country—RS · 2017
Rating——

Choose Beam if

Developers and creators with two Apple silicon Macs who want a remote app to behave like a local window instead of a full screen share.

  • Uses one remote app without taking over the whole desktop
  • Window traffic goes directly between your Macs, not through Beam's servers
  • Free plan has no card requirement and no limit on host Macs

Look elsewhere if: People who need to reach Windows or Intel machines or control a whole remote desktop across platforms (Jump Desktop, Parsec).

Choose Clockify if

Small teams wanting free time tracking.

  • Free for small teams
  • Feature-rich paid tiers
  • Affordable

Look elsewhere if: Users prioritizing design (Toggl).

Beam vs Clockify pricing

Beam

  • Free$0Host unlimited Macs, join share links, 20 minutes a day of use
  • Monthly$12/moUnlimited use on every Mac you own, send share links
  • Yearly$84/yrSame as Monthly; works out to $7/mo billed annually
  • Lifetime$199One-time payment, all future updates, direct connections
  • Team$12/seat/moOr $84/seat/yr; 20% off from 10 seats, one invoice

Clockify

  • Free$0Up to 5 users; unlimited time tracking
  • Basic$4.99/seat/mo$3.99 billed annually; admin features
  • Standard$6.99/seat/mo$5.49 billed annually; timesheets, invoicing, time off
  • Pro$9.99/seat/mo$7.99 billed annually; scheduling, expenses
  • Enterprise$14.99/seat/mo$11.99 billed annually; SSO, control and security

Beam · Key features

  • Single windows from another Mac open as native windows with Dock and Command-Tab entries
  • Beam several windows at once or share an entire display
  • Direct typing, shortcuts, two-way resizing, app audio and clipboard sync
  • Works with headless Mac minis and Mac Studios that have no display
  • Encrypted Mac-to-Mac connection on local Wi-Fi or over Tailscale
  • Guest share links open one window in any browser, view-only by default

Cons

  • macOS only, with Apple silicon and Sonoma or later required on both Macs
  • Free use is capped at 20 minutes a day
  • Devices without the Mac app, such as phones, only get browser links

Clockify · Key features

  • Free plan for up to 5 users
  • Timer and timesheet modes
  • Kiosk for shared devices
  • Invoicing and expenses
  • Scheduling
  • Reports

Cons

  • UI less polished than Toggl
  • Advanced features paid
  • Data privacy considerations

Beam vs Clockify: FAQ

Which is cheaper, Beam or Clockify?

Clockify starts at $4.99/mo and Beam at $12/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.

Do Beam and Clockify have a free plan?

Yes, both Beam and Clockify have a free plan; paid plans add more usage and features.

Which is better for small businesses, Beam or Clockify?

Beam lists small businesses as a core audience, while Clockify is aimed more at freelancers and agencies.

Not sure yet?