Are Time Tracking Cubes Worth It? Think Before You Buy

So, you’ve decided to get serious about tracking your time. Yay for you, but also, buckle up. Because there are so many time tracking tools available, it’s going to be hard to choose. Unless—hear me out—you are a tabletop nerd, and you get irrationally excited about dice; in that case, time tracking cubes could be your jam.

Imagine the following situation: a client asks for a “quick tweak”, and suddenly you spend 3 hours on Photoshop, Jira, or Google Docs. And you know almost exactly where those 3 hours went because you have a time tracking cube. It’s your tiny gadget, sitting on a desk and neatly categorizing billable hours with just a flick of the wrist. Sounds like fun, right?

You flip it to Design, then you flip it to Client emails, and voilà; you know exactly on which activities you spent time.

But is it really that easy? Do time tracking cubes truly work, or are they just another overpriced office jewelry that makes you feel like you’re working harder than you actually are?

‍If you are a skeptic like me, let’s answer this question together.

No more chit-chat, let’s roll with it (literally).

What are time tracking cubes?

In short, time tracking cubes are tactile devices that promise to bring structure to your workday with just a flip.

They are physical objects, often shaped as dice or polyhedra, that help you track your time by flipping it to different sides, each representing a specific task or project. Flipping cubes allows you to log hours without any software or timer.

Here are some of the most common features of time tracking cubes so you get the idea of what they are all about:

1. Time tracking cubes have multiple sides, each representing a different task or project. When using it, you flip the cube to the side corresponding to the task you’re working on. This tactile interaction is designed to help you stay focused and organized, so there’s no cognitive load associated with task switching. It also provides a physical reminder to track time, which can improve time tracking accuracy to some extent.
2. Most time tracking cubes come with apps available on mobile and desktop. These apps allow you to configure the cube, view time logs, and generate reports. Thanks to additional software, you get detailed analytics, so you can monitor your time usage over periods and across different tasks or projects.
3. Most cubes sync data across multiple devices. That’s how time tracking cubes ensure time entries are updated in real-time and accessible from anywhere. This feature can come in handy if you work on different devices, as it makes all your time tracking information always available.
4. Many time tracking cubes offer reporting features, so that you can generate detailed reports on time spent per task, project, or client. These reports provide insights into how your time is allocated and can highlight areas for improvement.
5. Some cubes include reminder features that nudge you to start or stop tracking time at appropriate intervals. These reminders are there to ensure that no time is left untracked. That’s how you can achieve accurate billing and a more realistic productivity analysis.
6. Many cubes integrate with other productivity tools, like project management software, calendar applications, and invoicing platforms. Integrations are designed to help you reduce manual data entry.
7. You can customize the labels on each side of the cube to match your specific tasks or projects. Cubes are designed to integrate with your workflow. Most of them feel intuitive and cater to your needs.
8. By design, they are ergonomic and durable, often have non-slip bases, and come in compact sizes (so you can put them on your desk). Almost all cubes are easy to use and won’t slip during use, no matter how much you “play” with them.

A list of popular time tracking cubes

If you are interested in checking out some of the most popular cubes, here’s a list you can go through:

1. TimeFlip2. This is a 12-sided cube that connects via Bluetooth to an app, allowing you to assign tasks to each of the 12 sides and track time.
2. EARLY (also known as Timeular). This tool is an 8-sided cube that pairs with an app to track time spent on various tasks. The tool is known for its simplicity.
3. Ticktime Pomodoro Timer Cube. This hexagonal timer offers preset countdowns (1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 25, 45, and 60 minutes) and a custom countdown feature. It’s a solid choice for you if you prefer the Pomodoro technique for managing work and break intervals.‍
4. Mfigree Study Timer Cube. This is a budget-friendly option with a simple (yellow) design. You just flip the timer to your desired countdown setting and get to work.

Should you use a time tracking cube?

Ugh, that’s a tough question.

But before I answer it, let’s first consult the general public, a.k.a. the good people of Reddit.

A freelancer popped into r/freelance, sharing their struggle: keeping track of billable hours while constantly jumping between tasks like copywriting, translation, and content creation. They’d heard about time tracking cubes and wanted the community’s take on whether they were worth it.

Timeular and TimeFlip came up, and they were curious in comparing subscriptions versus one-time purchases.

Here’s what the community had to say:

• One user talked about using a hexagonal Pomodoro-style timer. It was great for focus bursts, but eventually, they stopped using it.
• Another person mentioned that they’d checked these cubes out in r/productivity. At first, the concept of time tracking cubes felt cute and novel, but Timeular and TimeFlip sometimes felt clunky or inconsistent, so the advice is to keep your expectations realistic.
• Several folks recommended digital alternatives like Toggl. It’s a good option for people who want flexibility without carrying an extra gadget around.
• One commenter swore by Timely, which automatically tracks time in apps and browsers.
• A freelancer also shared a billing hack from past experience: instead of logging every single minute, they now charge a minimum hourly rate to cover setup, admin, and all those little invisible tasks.

The general consensus was that time tracking cubes can be charming because they make logging work feel more like a game, BUT they’re not for everyone.

Ultimately, it’s all about finding what actually helps you stay focused and productive.

And, to an extent, I agree with this statement, but it also got me thinking about two things:

1. How is a time tracking cube supposed to handle client calls?
2. How can it account for all those tiny 2-3 minute task switches that sneak into every workday?

Most time tracking cubes can’t do it. These cubes are great for tracking larger blocks of focused work, like coding sessions, design sprints, or copywriting time. You flip the cube, start the timer, and you get a clear record of that chunk of work.

But client calls, quick emails, or other small interruptions are way trickier. Technically, you can flip the cube for each task, but realistically, it becomes annoying (even painful for your wrist?) to log every tiny action.

So, if your work is full of quick task changes or frequent client calls (like most work is), a cube can only give you an approximate view of your day. That’s why I always root for digital time trackers. Specifically, automatic ones.

Memtime > Time tracking cubes

As you probably understand by now, time tracking cubes come with limitations in capturing your entire workday. That’s why I recommend opting for a more well-rounded solution that’s not necessarily a cube.

Speaking of comprehensive solutions, allow me to present to you Memtime:

Memtime is our fully automated time tracking tool. It’s built for anyone who wants hands-off tracking of their computer activities.

The tool works oh-so-quietly in the background (no nudges, no annoying reminders), capturing every minute of your workday without any input from you.

It uses mouse movements and keyboard inputs to detect which apps, browser tabs, documents, or files you’re actively working on. It then records this activity in real-time, creating a detailed timeline of your day.

Here’s how it works:

• No matter if you’re drafting an email, editing a document, or attending a Zoom meeting, Memtime captures every minute of your workday. As soon as you turn on your computer, Memtime starts tracking. It’s compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux.
• The app logs time with minute-level accuracy, so you can account for every billable minute. Plus, it offers flexibility to match your billing requirements (think 6-minute increments).
• You get a Memory Aid timeline, which is a chronological display of your day’s activities. This timeline allows you to review your work in minute-level detail, and later assign time entries to specific projects or tasks.

• It integrates with over 100 project management and billing platforms via a 2-way sync. Such a sync allows you to import projects and tasks into Memtime and export time entries back to these platforms.
• Memtime can also track calls. For macOS users, it can record the duration of iPhone and Mac calls, logging them as billable time entries. Additionally, if you use VoIP systems like Pascom, Sipgate, or FRITZ!Box, Memtime can detect your phone calls (incoming and outgoing) and log them in your Memory Aid.
• Memtime works completely offline, so you never lose tracked data due to connectivity issues.
• With Memtime, all activity data is stored locally on YOUR device, giving you full control over your information. No cloud uploads. No data breaches or unauthorized access. You decide what you want to export to a project management software, and that’s the only way your data can become visible to managers and clients.

So, let me cut it to the chase.
Time tracking cubes are unique. And cute.
But they don’t understand the complexity of your workday.

Memtime is our fully automated, privacy-first tool that gets you.

If you don't believe me, try Memtime free for 2 weeks—no credit card, no commitment. 

Just click the button below and thank me later. 💅

Stop rolling the cube

I get it. Time tracking cubes are cute, and they’re fun to use (at first). There’s something nerdy about flipping a die every time you switch from client emails to Jira tickets. It’s all charming.

But then the reality hits.

And that reality is that you get distracted (thanks, Slack pings) and you probably switch tasks quicker than Usain Bolt, jumping from emails to Zoom calls to design tweaks in a blink. All those switches are invisible to cubes. And sure, you could flip the cube 150 times a day, but time tracking shouldn’t feel like a workout. 🙂

My advice is to opt for Memtime. It quietly captures every minute of your computer activity, logs calls, integrates with your favorite tools, and keeps your data private.

Here’s to not flipping the cube but actually seeing your day unfold; knowing every billable minute is tracked without lifting a finger (or a dice). 🥂

What are time tracking cubes, and how do they work?

Time tracking cubes are small devices shaped like dice or polyhedra, with each side representing a task or project. You flip the cube to start tracking time for that activity, and many models sync with apps to log and report your hours. They make tracking more tactile and fun, though they work best for larger, focused tasks.

Are time tracking cubes accurate enough for billing clients?

Time tracking cubes can be decently accurate for longer tasks, such as a coding session. However, they’re less reliable for frequent interruptions or tiny tasks; flipping the cube every few minutes can become impractical. If you need precise records for billing down to the minute, an automatic tracker like Memtime gives you that detail without any extra effort.

What are the main pros and cons of using time tracking cubes?

The biggest pros are simplicity, fun, and a physical reminder to log time, which can reduce the mental load of tracking. On the downside, cubes don’t really support quick task switching, lack advanced reporting, and may not integrate with all your workflow tools. For teams or freelancers who need ease and accuracy, cubes can be charming.

Do time tracking cubes integrate with project management software?

Most modern time tracking cubes come with apps that sync to project management or invoicing tools, but integrations can be limited depending on the device. For example, you may not get two-way sync or detailed reporting across multiple platforms.

Should I use a time tracking cube or a digital tracker?

It depends on your workflow. A time tracking cube can be great if you want something tactile and lightweight for focused, longer work sessions. But if your workday is full of short tasks, calls, or context switching, an automatic digital tracker like Memtime is often more practical and reliable.