Timewarrior
Focus: timesheets, command line and github. Shares time tracking and open source with ActivityWatch. Adds Offline. Same 4.5 rating.
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux
4.5Visit
Desktop App
ActivityWatch
An open-source, automatic time tracker that keeps all your data on your device.
Rating
4.5 / 5
Pricing
Free
Difficulty
Intermediate
Works on
Windows, macOS, Linux
Built with love by Shushant Lakhyani. Building bestproductivityresources.com
What is ActivityWatch?
ActivityWatch is a free, open-source time tracker that records which apps, window titles and websites you use, without you starting a timer. Data stays on your own device, and you can group activity into categories and review it in a local dashboard on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.
Pros: what ActivityWatch does well
- Tracks time automatically in the background
- Data never leaves your device
- Browser and editor watchers available
Cons: where it falls short
- Sync between devices is still in development
- Categories take some setup to be useful
Who ActivityWatch is for
Anyone curious about where their screen time really goes, without sending data to the cloud.
Who can skip it
Freelancers who need client invoicing and shared team timesheets.
ActivityWatch alternatives
Not sold on ActivityWatch? These do a similar job, and each card says what it has in common.
Dayflow
Focus: work journal, daily standup and local ai. Shares time tracking and open source with ActivityWatch. A Mac app, not a desktop app. Same 4.5 rating.
Mac AppFreemacOS
4.5Visit
Wakapi
Focus: coding stats, wakatime and github. Shares time tracking and open source with ActivityWatch. A web app, not a desktop app. Adds Web. Same 4.5 rating.
Web AppFreeWeb, Cross-Platform
4.5Visit
Taskwarrior
Focus: to-do list, task manager and command line. Shares open source with ActivityWatch. Rated 4.6 (ActivityWatch: 4.5).
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Linux
4.6Visit
Rize
Focus: focus metrics, automatic and reports. Shares time tracking with ActivityWatch. Paid but Affordable (ActivityWatch: Free). Same 4.5 rating.
Desktop AppPaid but AffordablemacOS, Windows
4.5Visit
Workrave
Focus: break reminder, rsi prevention and healthy work. Shares open source with ActivityWatch. Adds Offline. Rated 4.4 (ActivityWatch: 4.5).
Desktop AppFreeWindows, Linux
4.4Visit
Free alternatives to ActivityWatch
Want to spend nothing? These free picks cover similar ground.
Upscayl
Focus: image upscaling, ai and electron. Shares privacy and open source with ActivityWatch. Rated 4.8 (ActivityWatch: 4.5).
Desktop AppFreeLinux, macOS
4.8Visit
Sniffnet
Focus: network monitor, traffic and troubleshooting. Shares privacy and open source with ActivityWatch. Rated 4.6 (ActivityWatch: 4.5).
Desktop AppFreeCross-Platform
4.6Visit
VSCodium
Focus: code editor, vs code and github. Shares privacy and open source with ActivityWatch. Adds Offline. Rated 4.6 (ActivityWatch: 4.5).
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.6Visit
BleachBit
Focus: disk cleaner, free space and cleanup. Shares privacy and open source with ActivityWatch. Same 4.5 rating.
Desktop AppFreeWindows, Linux
4.5Visit
hop
Focus: macos, menu bar and utilities. Shares open source with ActivityWatch. A Mac app, not a desktop app. Same 4.5 rating.
Mac AppFreemacOS
4.5Visit
OnionShare
Focus: file sharing, tor and security. Shares privacy and open source with ActivityWatch. Same 4.5 rating.
Desktop AppFreemacOS, Windows
4.5Visit
Are you the maker of ActivityWatch?Get a free Featured badge for your site, a share image and ready-to-paste posts. No sign-up.
Free Notion database
1,100+ ways people are making money online
Real online businesses, creators and projects, broken down by how they make money: apps, online stores, AI tools and more. Free on Gumroad.
Get the free databaseFree Notion database
399+ ways to make money online
Hundreds of online income methods in one place, so you can compare options and pick one to try. Free on Gumroad.
Get the free listFor research and ideas only. Results vary and nothing here is a promise of income. See our Disclaimer.
Weekly newsletter
Everything new, every Monday.
One short email every Monday with everything shipped that week: new free tools and websites, new guides, new free browser tools and what's new in my free Gumroad libraries, plus how the site is growing. Free, and you can unsubscribe anytime.
Join the newsletterYou sign up on Gumroad, which stores your email to send the newsletter. See our Privacy Policy.