Hourglass vs Time59

Hourglass is web software for litigation and insurance-defense firms that captures attorneys’ work and drafts time entries with matter details, billing codes, and AI-written narratives. It checks entries against each client’s outside counsel guidelines before billing. Firms can upload guidelines as PDF, Word, or email files; the system extracts requirements into rules linked to source paragraphs. Every entry needs timekeeper approval, and Hourglass says it never submits entries on anyone’s behalf. If a deduction occurs, Hourglass links it to the relevant entry, attaches work evidence, and drafts an appeal for review. Capture integrations include Outlook, Word, Teams, Zoom, browsers, and legal research tools; billing destinations include Elite 3E, Aderant, ProLaw, Litify, and Clio, with custom integrations offered in two weeks if needed. Each firm receives a separate deployment and database. Data uses TLS in transit and AES-256 at rest, with a readable audit record. Pricing is available on request.

Time59 is online legal billing software for solo attorneys and small firms, focused on billing and accounting rather than full practice management. Billable time and expense records flow into invoices without retyping, while invoice creation and calculations are automated. It lists hourly, flat-fee, and contingency billing, as well as trust accounting and LEDES invoicing. Its LawPay integration can link invoices to online payments and update payment records automatically. Time59 runs in a browser on Mac, PC, iPad, iPhone, and Android devices, with no installation required and automatic updates. The company says it runs on Microsoft Azure, stores customer data in the Microsoft cloud, and encrypts browser-to-server data with 128-bit SSL. Users can download data to a local computer using export functions. The single listed plan costs $199 a year for an entire practice, with unlimited users and data, no per-user charges, and free phone and email support. There is no free plan, but a 30-day trial is available.