Insightful alternative: TrustHours vs Insightful in 2026

Insightful is a workforce analytics platform with 50+ integrations, SSO and a choice of visible or stealth rollout. TrustHours is a smaller tool for remote desk teams that includes payroll, chat and an AI connector, and has no stealth mode.

The short answer

Choose TrustHours if you want payroll, chat and employee-visible tracking at a flat price per active user. Choose Insightful if analytics depth, 50+ integrations, SSO, private cloud or a stealth option matter more, and you can live without payroll, which Insightful still lists as coming soon.

Start free trialWork out your cost

14 days free, no card. Prices and features checked 27 October 2026. We make TrustHours, so read our method and check the sources. Spot a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.

TTrustHours
IInsightful
Starting priceFree for 3 users, then $8
Starting price$8 yearly (Workforce Analytics)
Free planFree for 3 users
Free planNone, 7-day trial
PayrollBuilt in from Team
PayrollListed as coming soon
Team chat and video callsBuilt in from Team
Team chat and video callsNot included
Stealth modeNone
Stealth modeSupported, visible recommended
AI connector (MCP)Read and act, asks first
AI connector (MCP)Read only, all plans
The honest version

Who should pick TrustHours, and who should stay on Insightful

Insightful starts at the same $8 as TrustHours Team, but the two sell different things. One is an analytics product, the other a team workspace with tracking.

Pick TrustHours if

A team that wants payroll and chat, with open tracking

  • You need payroll in 40 currencies now. Insightful lists payroll, invoicing and budgeting as coming soon.
  • You want chat, files and video calls in the same product.
  • You want no stealth mode: employees are asked for permission and can pause.
  • You want to start free for up to 3 people, not on a 7-day trial.
  • You want an AI connector that acts with approval, not only reads.
Pick Insightful if

Analytics, scale and security options

  • You want analytics depth: utilisation, capacity, workload, office detection, AI adoption and communication reports.
  • You need 50+ integrations including HRIS (Workday, ADP, SAP SuccessFactors) or warehouses (Snowflake, BigQuery).
  • You need SAML SSO, audit logs, private cloud or on-premise (250+ seats).
  • You want blurred screenshots by default, per-team capture rules and a documented public REST API.
  • You want US, EU or Saudi data regions.
Stay on Insightful if

You rely on Insightful's analytics and integrations

  • Your HR team uses its HRIS sync and PTO features.
  • Your Irregular Behavior Alerts and utilisation reports drive weekly management.
  • You run on Linux (beta) or need on-premise deployment.
  • Your procurement has already cleared its SOC 2, ISO 27001 and HIPAA statements.
Side by side

TrustHours vs Insightful at a glance

Sixteen things buyers ask about, side by side. Every Insightful figure comes from its own pricing page, help centre or listings.

TrustHoursInsightful
Free planYes Up to 3 usersNo 7-day trial, no card
Lowest paid price$8 per active user ($4.80 launch price)$8 per seat, billed yearly (Workforce Analytics)
Monthly billingYesSelect plans only Monthly price not published
Higher plansBusiness $12 ($10 yearly)Workflow Optimization $12 (beta), Combo $16
Paid add-onsNoneSeveral Screen recording $4, On-demand screenshots $4, Workspace Security $4, higher-frequency screenshots $3
ScreenshotsEvery 2, 5 or 10 min, random momentIncluded, random at your set frequency, blurred by default, kept 60 days
Screen videoScreen recording on BusinessAdd-on, $4 per seat
PayrollTeam plan, 40 currenciesComing soon Pricing page lists payroll, invoicing and budgeting as upcoming
Team chat and videoBuilt in from TeamNo Communication Report analyses meeting time
AI connector (MCP)Read and act, per-permission, asks firstRead only, all plans; no screenshots or recordings
PlatformsWindows now, macOS coming, no mobile appWindows 10+, macOS 11+, Linux beta, no mobile
IntegrationsDiscord and the MCP connector50+ (Jira, Asana, GitHub, Workday, ADP, Snowflake)
Public API and SSONeither todayREST API and SAML SSO SSO listed under Enterprise
Stealth modeNoneYes Visible mode recommended, stealth supported
CertificationsNo SOC 2 claim yetSOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR claimed
Data regionsSelectableUS, EU and Saudi Arabia

Insightful's pricing page shows annual prices. Month-to-month billing exists only on some plans and its monthly price is not published, so the calculator shows yearly figures. Older third-party listings still show previous tiers of $6.40, $8 and $12, which Insightful says are outdated.

Pricing

Insightful pricing vs TrustHours pricing

Insightful and TrustHours Team both start at $8. The difference shows up when you add screen video, on-demand screenshots, security add-ons and the features Insightful has not shipped yet.

$8 to $16Insightful per seat per month billed yearly, Workforce Analytics to Combo
$0.50 to $4Add-on prices per seat per month
7 daysInsightful trial length, against 14 days at TrustHours

Insightful plans (USD, per seat per month)

PlanYearlyWhat stands out
Workforce Analytics$8Real-time overview, capacity analysis, app and website usage, screenshots, attendance, shift scheduling, MCP server
Workflow Optimization$12Beta, select customers only
Combo (both)$16Analytics plus Optimization, saves 20% against buying separately
EnterpriseCustomSSO, audit logs, insider threat detection, private cloud or on-premise (250+ licences)

Prices are USD for US clients, billed per employee. Admin, Manager and Client users are not charged unless they are tracked. Payroll, invoicing and budgeting show as "Coming Soon" in the plan table.

TrustHours plans (USD, per active user per month)

PlanListLaunch*Includes
Free$0$0Up to 3 users, desktop app, live board, timesheets, screenshots every 10 min
Team$8$4.80Unlimited users, screenshots every 2, 5 or 10 min, projects, chat and video, payroll in 40 currencies, leave, reports, MCP connector
Business$12$7.20Team plus activity level, app and website usage, live view, screen recording, built-in AI assistant, priority support

*40% off until 31 December 2026. The first 20 teams keep the launch price for life. Pay yearly and get 2 months free (about 17% off). No add-ons, no seat minimum, billed only for active users. See the live TrustHours pricing page.

Insightful add-ons

Add-onPrice per seat per monthNotes
Workspace Security (insider threat, activity logs)$4Premium add-on
On-Demand Screenshots$4Take a screenshot on request
Screen Recording$4Short screen video, opt-in, never the default
Increased-frequency screenshots$3Up to 120 an hour
Data Warehouse integrations and API$0.50Snowflake, BigQuery, custom API access

Workforce Analytics with Screen Recording and On-Demand Screenshots would be $16 a seat on yearly billing, before any payroll tool you may add elsewhere. TrustHours Business, which includes live view and screen recording, is $10 a user on yearly billing.

What it costs per month

ScenarioTrustHours: monthly bill / yearly billTrustHours launch price (monthly bill)Insightful: monthly bill / yearly bill
Screenshots and team tools: 5 people$40 / $33$24n/a / $40
Screenshots and team tools: 10 people$80 / $67$48n/a / $80
Screenshots and team tools: 25 people$200 / $167$120n/a / $200
Screenshots and team tools: 50 people$400 / $334$240n/a / $400
Activity and app usage: 5 people$60 / $50$36n/a / $40
Activity and app usage: 10 people$120 / $100$72n/a / $80
Activity and app usage: 25 people$300 / $250$180n/a / $200
Activity and app usage: 50 people$600 / $500$360n/a / $400

Insightful publishes yearly prices only, so the bars and table compare yearly billing. TrustHours yearly is $8 or $12 with 2 months free, which is $6.67 or $10 a month. Insightful has no stated seat minimum for cloud plans.

Monthly cost for 10 people, billed yearly

Screenshots and team tools. USD, list prices checked October 2026.

TrustHours Team$67
Insightful Workforce Analytics$80
Insightful + Screen Recording$120

Cost calculator: TrustHours vs Insightful

Move the slider to your team size. Figures are list prices from the vendors' own pages, October 2026.

10people

Where TrustHours is cheaper

  • Team vs Workforce Analytics: $6.67 against $8 on yearly billing, with payroll and chat included.
  • With screen video: Insightful at $8 plus $4 recording is $12, against TrustHours Business at $10 yearly, which includes live view too.
  • Launch price: $4.80 on Team until 31 December 2026, kept for life by the first 20 teams.
  • Free plan for up to 3 users and a 14-day trial.

Where Insightful is cheaper or stronger

  • Activity analytics alone: $8 for Workforce Analytics against TrustHours Business at $10 yearly.
  • Integrations, SSO, API and warehouses are available now.
  • Deployment options: private cloud, on-premise and three data regions.
  • Scale proof: it reports 5,000+ organisations (self-reported).
What gets captured

What Insightful and TrustHours capture, and who sees it

Insightful states a clear position: no keystroke logging, no audio and no webcam, blurred screenshots by default, and a choice between visible and stealth rollout.

TrustHoursInsightful
Typed text (keylogging)Never Counts onlyNo No keystroke logging at any tier, per Insightful. Click and key counts are recorded
ScreenshotsAt a random moment in each interval (2, 5 or 10 min), passwords maskedRandom at your chosen frequency, blurred by default, all monitors, kept 60 days
Webcam and audioNo webcam or microphone capture. Screen recording is Business only, behind its own switchNo webcam, no audio, no video of the room. Screen recording is a paid opt-in add-on
Apps and websitesApp and website usage on BusinessApp and website usage with productivity labels on every plan
What the employee seesPermission asked before tracking starts. Employees see their own hours, screenshots and activityIn a visible rollout, a self-service view of their own data. Employees cannot turn capture off. In stealth, the employee view goes away
PausingPause or take a break from the tray. Manager sees the pause. Nothing is capturedBreaks are supported in visible mode. Stealth mode does not support breaks
Deleting a screenshotYour company controls retention: 2 weeks on Free, 2 months on Team and BusinessEmployees can be given the right to delete their own screenshots
Stealth or hidden modeNoneYes No tray icon, no employee control, processes restart if ended. Set per team or role. Personal devices stay in visible mode
Fake-activity detectionActivity counts on Business. No jiggler detector is marketedIrregular Behavior Alerts flag software jigglers and auto-clickers after the shift. Hardware jigglers are not detected
Blur and skipped appsOne switch to blur, or list apps to skipBlurred by default. Capture can be switched off per app, team or person
How long data is keptScreenshots: 2 weeks (Free), 2 months (Team, Business)Screenshots and recordings: 60 days
Who can see screenshotsOwner and the people they authorise; each employee sees their ownAdmins and managers with permission; employees only if permitted

Insightful recommends visible mode and says stealth is supported where the law allows. Its own blog cites written-notice laws in Connecticut, Delaware and New York. Detection statements are vendor claims. TrustHours has no stealth mode. See privacy and trust for notice rules.

Features

Features that decide the choice

Eight areas where the two tools differ in ways that change your day.

Payroll and invoicing

Insightful's pricing page shows payroll, invoicing and budgeting as "Coming Soon", and its own AI reference file says payroll auto-calculation, budgeting and invoicing integrations are roadmap items. Shifts carry pay rates in the API, but there is no generally available payroll run.

TrustHours runs payroll in 40 currencies with salary history on Team. It has no built-in client invoicing.

TrustHoursPayroll in 40 currencies from Team.
InsightfulPayroll and invoicing listed as coming soon.

Analytics

This is Insightful's home ground: utilisation, capacity, workload, office detection, an AI Adoption Report, a Communication Report and optional Insider Threat and Shadow AI add-ons. Irregular Behavior Alerts check a shift after it ends, not in real time.

TrustHours covers the basics on Team and adds activity level and app usage on Business, with an AI assistant for questions about your data.

TrustHoursReports and digest; AI assistant on Business.
InsightfulDeep analytics suite and AI reports.

Idle logic and non-computer work

Some G2 reviewers say keyboard and mouse based idle logic marks reading, calls and document work as idle, and manual time entry is the workaround. That applies to most trackers.

TrustHours counts idle after 5 quiet minutes and never bills idle time. Both support manual time requests.

TrustHoursIdle stops the timer after 5 quiet minutes.
InsightfulIdle logic reviewed as strict by some users.

AI connector

Insightful's MCP server is on every plan and read-only: it reads and analyses but cannot create, edit or delete, and it cannot reach screenshots or recordings. Regional endpoints exist for the US, EU and Saudi Arabia.

TrustHours reads and acts with your approval. See the AI connector page.

TrustHoursRead and act with approval.
InsightfulRead only.

Team chat and video

TrustHours has channels, files and video calls on Team and Business. Insightful has no chat; it analyses calls and meetings through a calendar integration.

TrustHoursBuilt in.
InsightfulNone; communication analytics only.

Platforms

Insightful supports Windows 10+, macOS 11+ and a Linux beta (reviewers mention no Wayland support). There is no mobile app. TrustHours is Windows today, with macOS coming for founding teams first.

TrustHoursWindows now, macOS coming.
InsightfulWindows, macOS, Linux beta.

Integrations, API and SSO

Insightful lists 50+ integrations (Jira, Asana, Trello, GitHub, Linear, Workday, ADP, BambooHR, Snowflake), a REST API with a 200 requests a minute limit, and SAML SSO with Okta, Entra ID and OneLogin.

TrustHours has Discord and MCP only, with no public API or SSO yet.

TrustHoursDiscord and MCP.
Insightful50+ integrations, API, SAML SSO.

Security and compliance

Insightful states SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR and CCPA, offers US, EU and Saudi regions and on-premise deployment. Screenshots and recordings are stored for up to two months.

TrustHours has a selectable data region and publishes what it captures, but no SOC 2 claim yet.

TrustHoursSelectable data region.
InsightfulSOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA; on-premise option.
Reputation

Insightful reviews and reputation

Insightful scores well on all three major platforms. Counts and scores were taken on 27 October 2026.

SourceTrustHoursInsightfulWhat to know
G2Too new to have a rating yet4.6 out of 5 from 476 reviewsMany reviews are seller-invited and incentivised
CapterraToo new to have a rating yet4.8 out of 5 from 253 reviewsListed under its earlier name Workpuls
TrustpilotToo new to have a rating yet4.1 out of 5 from 68 reviewsA small sample

TrustHours is new and has no review-site score yet. Insightful's scores are strong, so use a trial of each rather than a rating to decide.

What Insightful users praise

  • Ease of use and a clean interface.
  • Responsive support.
  • Easy rollout across large teams (for example via Intune).
  • Time saving and automatic tracking.
  • Employee self-dashboards that build trust.

What Insightful users criticise

  • Idle logic that misses calls, reading and non-computer work.
  • Missing or limited features and reporting flexibility.
  • Linux limitations (no Wayland).
  • Occasional outages and sync lag.
  • Initial setup and app categorisation take time.
Switching

How to switch from Insightful to TrustHours

Plan an afternoon, and start at the beginning of a pay period.

  1. Export from Insightful first. Export reports as PDF or PNG, attendance as CSV, and pull raw data through the REST API if you need history. Download screenshots first: they are kept only 60 days.
  2. Start a TrustHours trial. 14 days, no card. Create your workspace and invite the team. TrustHours cannot import time entries from other trackers today, so past hours stay in your export.
  3. Tell your team before you install. Send the message below and link what TrustHours sees. People accept tracking they were told about.
  4. Install the Windows app and set the rules. Choose the screenshot interval, blur and skipped apps, then add pay rates. macOS is coming; founding teams get early access.
  5. Run one pay period in TrustHours. Compare hours with your Insightful export for a week if you want a safety net.
  6. Cancel Insightful. Check your billing term. Month-to-month billing exists only on select plans, and cancellation terms were not stated on the pages we read, so confirm with Insightful before your renewal.

Insightful has no time-entry import from other trackers and exports people through CSV. Ask its support about refunds and cancellation terms before you commit to a date.

Message to send your team before you switch

Subject: We are moving to TrustHours for time tracking

Hi team,

From [date] we are moving from Insightful to TrustHours. Here is what that means for you.

- You will be asked for permission before tracking starts.
- It captures your tracked time, a screenshot at a random moment in each interval, which apps were active, and keyboard and mouse activity counts. It never records what you type.
- Nothing is captured while you are paused, on a break, or the app is closed. You can pause from the tray icon at any time.
- You can see your own hours, screenshots and activity in your app.

The full explanation is here: https://trusthours.com/what-trusthours-sees/

Please install the app by [date]. Reply to me with any questions.

[Your name]
How we compared

Method, disclosure and corrections

Who wrote this. TrustHours made this page, so we have an interest in you choosing us. We tried to make it useful even if you stay on Insightful, which is why it says where Insightful is the better fit.

How we checked. Every Insightful statement comes from a Insightful page, its help centre, or its listings on review sites, opened on 27 October 2026 (see Sources). When a figure comes from a pricing guide or a listing because the vendor page loads prices with JavaScript, we say so. Vendor claims are shown as claims.

What we did not do. We did not run a hands-on accuracy test, and we do not repeat unverified opinions from forums. Where we could not confirm something, we left it out or marked it as not stated.

Corrections. Prices and features change. If you find something out of date, tell us and we will fix it and update the date. Last full check: 27 October 2026.

Questions

TrustHours vs Insightful: questions people ask

What is the best Insightful alternative?

For a remote desk team that wants payroll, chat and visible tracking in one tool, TrustHours. For a free time tracker, Clockify or Jibble. For deeper security-grade monitoring, Teramind. For workforce analytics, ActivTrak. For no monitoring, Toggl. Each has a comparison page on this site.

How much does Insightful cost?

Workforce Analytics is $8 per seat per month billed yearly, Workflow Optimization is $12 (beta), and the Combo plan is $16. Add-ons run from $0.50 to $4 per seat. There is no free plan, only a 7-day trial. Month-to-month billing exists on select plans with no published price.

Is TrustHours cheaper than Insightful?

For the same $8 starting point it depends on what you need. TrustHours Team is $6.67 yearly against Insightful Workforce Analytics at $8 and includes payroll and chat. For activity and app analytics alone, Insightful at $8 is below TrustHours Business at $10 yearly.

Does Insightful have a free plan?

No. Insightful states there is no permanently free plan. It offers a 7-day free trial with no credit card and unlimited employees. TrustHours has a free plan for up to 3 users and a 14-day trial.

Does Insightful take screenshots?

Yes. Screenshots are included in Workforce Analytics, taken at randomised intervals at your chosen frequency, blurred by default, and kept for 60 days. Higher frequency, on-demand screenshots and screen video are paid add-ons. TrustHours takes screenshots at a random moment in each interval.

Is Insightful a keylogger?

Insightful says it has no keystroke logging at any tier and no message content. It records counts of key presses and clicks. TrustHours also counts keyboard and mouse activity and never records what is typed.

Does Insightful have a stealth mode?

Yes. Insightful offers Visible and Stealth modes, set per team or role. In stealth there is no tray icon, no employee control and no breaks. Insightful recommends visible mode and cites written-notice laws. TrustHours has no stealth mode.

Can Insightful detect mouse jigglers?

Insightful says its Irregular Behavior Alerts flag software mouse jigglers and auto-clickers, with a screenshot at the trigger, on Workforce Analytics, Combo and Enterprise. The check runs after a shift, not in real time, and hardware jiggler devices are not detected. This is a vendor claim.

Does Insightful run payroll?

Not yet. Its pricing page lists payroll, invoicing and budgeting as "Coming Soon", and the product exposes pay rates in its API. TrustHours runs payroll in 40 currencies with salary history on Team.

Does Insightful have an AI or MCP connector?

Yes. Its MCP server is on every plan, works with Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and others, and is read-only. It cannot create, edit or delete data and cannot reach screenshots. TrustHours' connector can also act, such as approving requests, with your approval each time.

Does Insightful work on Mac and Linux?

Yes. Insightful supports Windows 10+, macOS 11+ and a Linux beta, with no mobile app. TrustHours supports Windows now, with macOS coming and early access for the first 20 founding teams.

Can I import Insightful data into TrustHours?

Not today. Export attendance CSVs and reports from Insightful, and download screenshots before the 60-day retention ends. Then start fresh in TrustHours at the start of a pay period.

Is TrustHours as secure as Insightful?

Insightful states SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA and GDPR compliance, with US, EU and Saudi data regions and an on-premise option. TrustHours has a selectable data region but does not claim SOC 2 or ISO yet. If you need those documents, choose Insightful today.

Is it legal to use stealth monitoring?

It depends on where you are. Connecticut, Delaware and New York require written notice of electronic monitoring, and UK guidance expects openness. Insightful itself recommends visible mode. This is general information, not legal advice, so confirm with a lawyer before using any hidden mode.

Sources

Where every number comes from

Vendor pages, help centres and review sites, each opened on 27 October 2026. Where a vendor page loads its prices with JavaScript, the note beside the figure says which guide or listing it comes from.

  1. Insightful pricing. www.insightful.io/pricing
  2. Insightful: screen monitoring. www.insightful.io/screen-monitoring
  3. Insightful: workforce analytics. www.insightful.io/workforce-analytics
  4. Insightful: irregular behavior alerts. www.insightful.io/irregular-behavior-alerts
  5. Insightful: MCP server. www.insightful.io/mcp-server
  6. Insightful: security. www.insightful.io/security
  7. Insightful: AI reference file. www.insightful.io/llms.txt
  8. Insightful: stealth monitoring blog. www.insightful.io/blog/stealth-workplace-monitoring-done-right
  9. Insightful help: visibility settings. help.insightful.io/en/articles/3277722-workpuls-visibility-settings
  10. Insightful help: screenshots guide. help.insightful.io/en/articles/3741583-setting-up-screenshots-configuration-guide
  11. Insightful help: blurred screenshots. help.insightful.io/en/articles/16539701-introducing-blurred-screenshots
  12. Insightful developers: REST API. developers.insightful.io/
  13. G2: Insightful. www.g2.com/products/insightful/reviews
  14. Capterra: Insightful (Workpuls). www.capterra.com/p/142813/Workpuls/reviews/
  15. Trustpilot: Insightful. www.trustpilot.com/review/insightful.io
  16. TrustHours pricing. trusthours.com/pricing/

See it with your own team.

14 days free, no card needed. Start with the Free plan for up to 3 people, or try Team with everyone. If it does not fit, you have lost nothing.

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Related reading: what TrustHours sees, privacy and trust, the AI connector, free tools.