eM Client
Timely
| Feature | eM Client | Timely |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $49.95/mo | From $11/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Best For | professionals, windows-users, outlook-alternatives, small-businesses | consultants, agencies, freelancers, remote-teams |
| Founded | 2007 | 2014 |
| ✓ | ✗ | |
| Calendar | ✓ | ✗ |
| Contacts | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tasks | ✓ | ✗ |
| Chat | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pgp Encryption | ✓ | ✗ |
| Automatic Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Memory Timeline | ✗ | ✓ |
| Project Budgets | ✗ | ✓ |
| Team Dashboard | ✗ | ✓ |
| Integrations | ✗ | ✓ |
| Billable Hours | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ eM Client Pros
- One-time purchase
- Feature-rich
- Good Exchange support
- Modern UI
✗ eM Client Cons
- Desktop only
- Free limited to 2 accounts
- Occasional sync issues
✓ Timely Pros
- Fully automatic time capture
- Beautiful interface
- Memory timeline feature
- Privacy-focused
✗ Timely Cons
- No free plan
- AI capture needs training period
- Mobile tracking less reliable
The Verdict
eM Client is built for professionals and windows users, with a focus on email and calendar. Timely targets consultants and agencies and leads with automatic-tracking and memory-timeline.
On pricing, Timely is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $11/mo compared to $49.95/mo for eM Client. That $38.95/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
eM Client has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Timely requires a paid subscription from day one.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.