# Kimai — Self-Hosted Open Source Time Tracking

> A professional time-tracking application for teams and freelancers with project management, invoicing, and detailed reporting, all self-hosted and privacy-respecting.

## Install

Save in your project root:

# Kimai — Self-Hosted Open Source Time Tracking

## Quick Use
```bash
docker run -d -p 8001:8001 
  -e DATABASE_URL=sqlite:///opt/kimai/var/data/kimai.sqlite 
  kimai/kimai2:latest
# Open http://localhost:8001 — create admin via console
```

## Introduction
Kimai is a free, open-source time-tracking application designed for freelancers, agencies, and teams. It lets you track working hours against projects and activities, generate invoices, and produce detailed reports. Being self-hosted, all time and billing data stays under your control.

## What Kimai Does
- Tracks time entries with start/stop timers or manual duration entry
- Organizes work by customers, projects, and activities in a hierarchical structure
- Generates invoices from tracked time using customizable templates
- Produces reports and exports in PDF, CSV, and Excel formats
- Supports multi-user teams with role-based permissions and approval workflows

## Architecture Overview
Kimai is built on Symfony (PHP) with a MySQL or MariaDB backend. The frontend uses server-rendered templates with some JavaScript enhancements for the timer and calendar views. A REST API provides full access to all entities for integrations. The plugin system extends functionality through Symfony bundles.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Deploy with Docker using the official `kimai/kimai2` image with a database volume
- Alternatively install on any PHP 8.1+ host with Composer and a MySQL/MariaDB database
- Configure database connection, mailer DSN, and app secret in the `.env` file
- Create the first admin user via `bin/console kimai:user:create admin admin@example.com ROLE_SUPER_ADMIN`
- Use a reverse proxy for HTTPS and optionally configure LDAP or SAML for enterprise SSO

## Key Features
- One-click timer with running stopwatch and support for multiple simultaneous timers
- Invoice generation with customizable templates in DOCX, ODS, and HTML formats
- Detailed reporting with filters by date range, customer, project, user, and activity
- Plugin marketplace with extensions for vacation tracking, task management, and expenses
- REST API for integrating with project management tools, calendars, and billing systems

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **Toggl Track** — polished SaaS with team features; Kimai is self-hosted and free for unlimited users
- **Clockify** — free tier with cloud hosting; Kimai gives full data ownership and invoicing built in
- **Harvest** — invoicing and time tracking SaaS; Kimai offers similar features without recurring costs
- **Traggo** — simpler Go-based time tracker; Kimai provides richer reporting and invoicing

## FAQ
**Q: Is Kimai free for teams?**
A: Yes. The open-source edition supports unlimited users and projects at no cost. You only pay if you want commercial plugins or support.

**Q: Can I generate invoices from tracked time?**
A: Yes. Kimai includes a built-in invoice engine with customizable templates. Select time entries, choose a template, and export as PDF, DOCX, or other formats.

**Q: Does Kimai integrate with project management tools?**
A: The REST API allows integration with tools like Jira, Trello, and custom dashboards. Community plugins provide additional connectors.

**Q: What authentication methods are supported?**
A: Local accounts, LDAP, SAML, and custom authentication via Symfony security bundles.

## Sources
- https://github.com/kimai/kimai
- https://www.kimai.org/documentation/

---
Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/5891e48c-3e03-11f1-9bc6-00163e2b0d79
Author: AI Open Source