Last updated October 27, 2026
Short answer: BigTime is time, billing, and project management software for professional services firms. Its DCAA compliance features start on the Advanced plan at $35 per user per month, and multi-level approvals require the Premier plan at $45. eTimesheets.com is built for government contractors and includes DCAA controls and up to three levels of approval for $10 per user per month. BigTime adds invoicing, project budgeting, and resource planning that eTimesheets.com doesn't offer.
| Feature | eTimesheets.com | BigTime |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | DCAA-compliant timekeeping and approvals for government contractors | Time, billing, and project management for professional services firms |
| Price with DCAA features | $10 per active user per month, no contract | Advanced plan, $35 per user per month (listed price) |
| Multi-level approvals | Up to three managers, included | Premier plan, $45 per user per month (listed price) |
| DCAA timekeeping controls | Daily entry, employee signature, supervisor approval, full audit log | DCAA compliance features on Advanced and Premier plans |
| Charge codes | Up to 10 levels deep (client, contract, project, task, sub-task) | Projects and tasks, with project templates on Advanced |
| Invoicing | Approved hours sync to QuickBooks and payroll for invoicing | Built-in invoicing, online payments, and a client portal |
| Budgeting and resource planning | Not included | Project budgeting and resource planning on Premier |
| Free trial | Yes, no credit card required | Yes, no credit card required |
| Built for | Government contractors and federally funded nonprofits | Consulting and professional services firms |
Choose BigTime if you want invoicing, project budgeting, resource planning, and a client portal in the same tool as your timesheets, especially if much of your work is commercial rather than government.
Choose eTimesheets.com if you are a government contractor whose main need is DCAA-compliant timesheets and multi-level approvals, and you already invoice from QuickBooks or another accounting system.
Managers approve timesheets from any device in eTimesheets.com.
The price gap adds up. At listed prices, a 20-person team pays $200 per month with eTimesheets.com, compared with $700 per month on BigTime Advanced or $900 per month on Premier.
Both tools track time against projects, support approvals, and offer a free trial with no credit card required. DCAA does not certify or approve either one. It audits your timekeeping practices and controls.
The difference is focus. BigTime is a broad professional services platform with DCAA features in its higher tiers. eTimesheets.com is built around government contractor timekeeping and has been since 1999.
BigTime is time, billing, and project management software for professional services firms. eTimesheets.com is DCAA-compliant timekeeping built for government contractors, with approvals by up to three managers, for $10 per user per month.
Yes, at listed prices. eTimesheets.com is $10 per active user per month. BigTime's DCAA features start on its Advanced plan at $35 per user per month, and multi-level approvals are on Premier at $45.
BigTime lists DCAA compliance as a feature of its Advanced and Premier plans. As with any tool, DCAA audits your practices, not the software.
No. DCAA does not certify or approve any timekeeping software. It audits a contractor's timekeeping practices and internal controls. Both tools help enforce those practices.
eTimesheets.com has provided DCAA-compliant timekeeping for government contractors since 1999.
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