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ActivityWatch

A free, open-source automatic time tracker that keeps all your activity data on your own device.

Open sourceTime tracking apps
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About ActivityWatch

ActivityWatch is an open-source alternative to RescueTime and similar automatic trackers. It runs in the background, records which application and window is active, how long you are away from the keyboard, and, with browser extensions, which websites you visit. A local web dashboard shows timelines, top apps and sites, and categories you define with rules, and you can query the raw data or build extra watchers for things like editors. The main difference from commercial tools is privacy: data is stored locally on your device and never uploaded to anyone's cloud. It is free, licensed under the MPL-2.0, and runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android; development is funded by donations and optional supporter subscriptions. Syncing between devices is still limited, there are no team features or invoicing, and the interface is more utilitarian than its paid counterparts, so it fits individuals curious about their own habits.

Best for: Privacy-minded individuals who want automatic tracking without sending data to a cloud.

Pros and cons

What works

  • Free and open source
  • All data stays on your device
  • Extensible with custom watchers and queries

Why people leave

  • No team, billing or invoicing features
  • Limited multi-device sync
  • Utilitarian dashboard

Top ActivityWatch alternatives

See all 5
  1. 1RescueTime logo
    RescueTime

    Polished commercial automatic tracker with focus sessions and goals.

    66.5
  2. 2ManicTime logo
    ManicTime

    Automatic tracking with timesheets and an on-premises server option for teams.

    62.6
  3. 3Memtime logo
    Memtime

    Commercial automatic tracker that also keeps activity data offline.

    59.6
  4. 4Timing logo
    Timing

    Detailed automatic tracking for Mac with project rules and billing.

    57.2
  5. 5WakaTime logo
    WakaTime

    Automatic tracking specifically for coding time inside your editors.

    55.3

Why people left ActivityWatch

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

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Reviews

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ActivityWatch: common questions

Is ActivityWatch free?

Yes. ActivityWatch is free, open-source software.

Is ActivityWatch open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at ActivityWatch/activitywatch.

What platforms does ActivityWatch run on?

ActivityWatch is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and Browser extension.

What are the best alternatives to ActivityWatch?

The highest-ranked ActivityWatch alternatives right now are RescueTime, ManicTime and Memtime. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 5 ActivityWatch alternatives