Software Alternatives & Startups

ActivityWatch VS Timing

Compare ActivityWatch VS Timing and see what are their differences

ActivityWatch

Log what you do on your computer. Simple (yet powerful), extensible, no third parties.

ActivityWatch Landing page
Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Timing

Timing is the best way to keep track of the time you spend with your Mac.

Timing Landing page
Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, ActivityWatch should be more popular than Timing. It has been mentioned 60 times since March 2021.

social mentions
60 vs 23
Time Tracking popularity
39% vs 61%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

ActivityWatch
Timing
Website activitywatch.net timingapp.com
Pricing
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

ActivityWatch 5 features
Timing 5 features
  • Open Source
    ActivityWatch is an open-source project, which means its code is publicly available for review and contributions. This promotes transparency and security.
  • Cross-Platform
    ActivityWatch works on multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux, making it versatile and accessible for users on different platforms.
  • Privacy-Focused
    Being an open-source project, ActivityWatch places a strong emphasis on user privacy, ensuring data is stored locally rather than in the cloud unless the user chooses otherwise.
  • Customizable
    The tool provides various frameworks and APIs for customization, allowing users to create custom trackers and reports to better fit their needs.
  • Detailed Analytics
    ActivityWatch provides comprehensive data and visualizations on how users spend their time on their devices, aiding in productivity analysis and improvement.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complex Setup
    For non-technical users, the initial setup and configuration may be complex and challenging compared to more polished, commercial solutions.
  • Resource Usage
    ActivityWatch can consume a notable amount of system resources, particularly on lower-end hardware, which might impact device performance.
  • Feature Limitations
    Compared to some commercial alternatives, ActivityWatch may lack certain advanced features like automated focus time recommendations or built-in integrations with other productivity tools.
  • UI/UX
    The user interface and user experience may not be as polished or intuitive as some of its proprietary competitors, potentially affecting user friendliness.
  • Maintenance
    Since it’s an open-source project, ongoing maintenance and updates depend on community contributions, which might result in slower development cycles for new features and bug fixes.
  • Comprehensive Time Tracking
    Timing automatically tracks how you spend time on your Mac, providing detailed insights into your productivity and time management.
  • Automatic Categorization
    The app intelligently categorizes activities, reducing the need for manual input, and making it easier to understand where your time goes.
  • Detailed Reports
    Timing offers robust reporting features, allowing users to generate detailed reports that can be customized to show specific time usage and productivity metrics.
  • Privacy Focused
    Timing ensures that all data is kept private and stored locally on your device, addressing concerns about data privacy and security.
  • Integrations
    The app offers integrations with popular productivity tools such as calendar applications and task managers, streamlining workflow management.

Possible disadvantages

  • Mac-Only
    Timing is only available for macOS, limiting its use to users within the Apple ecosystem and excluding Windows and Linux users.
  • Subscription Model
    The app operates on a subscription basis, which may be less appealing to users who prefer one-time purchases over recurring costs.
  • Learning Curve
    New users might find the comprehensive features and settings overwhelming initially, requiring time to fully understand and utilize all functionalities.
  • No Mobile App
    There is no mobile app available, limiting time tracking capabilities to desktop use only and missing out on mobile-centric workflows.
  • Price
    Timing is relatively expensive compared to some other time tracking solutions, which may be a consideration for budget-conscious individuals or small businesses.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

ActivityWatch
Timing

Overall verdict

  • ActivityWatch is a good choice if you are looking for a privacy-respecting, customizable, and open-source solution for tracking your digital activities. Its detailed reports and ability to track various aspects of productivity make it a valuable tool for individuals interested in optimizing their time management.

Why this product is good

  • ActivityWatch is an open-source time-tracking tool that helps you understand how you spend your time across different activities and applications. It is designed to provide detailed insights and reports on your computer usage patterns, making it a good choice for productivity analysis. The tool is privacy-focused, as it stores data locally by default, ensuring that personal information is not shared without permission. Additionally, its extensible nature allows for customization and integration with other tools.

Recommended for

    ActivityWatch is recommended for remote workers, freelancers, productivity enthusiasts, and anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of their computer usage patterns without compromising on privacy. It is also suitable for developers and tech-savvy users who want to customize or extend its functionality.

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Timing is a highly regarded productivity app, especially for macOS users.

Why this product is good

  • Timing is praised for its automatic time tracking capabilities, allowing users to understand how they spend their time without the manual start-stop process. It offers insightful reports and analytics, which can help users improve their productivity and time management. The app's ability to categorize activities automatically and the provision of manual adjustments offer flexibility and precision in tracking time.

Recommended for

  • Freelancers who need detailed tracking for client billing.
  • Professionals seeking to optimize their productivity.
  • Anyone interested in understanding their digital habits.
  • macOS users, as the app is primarily designed for this platform.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

ActivityWatch 0 videos + Add
Timing 3 videos + Add

No ActivityWatch videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Review of Nature and Timing of the Resurrection Debate Part 3

More videos

  • Review - Timing 2.0 review | features, pricing and thoughts
  • Review - Nav & Metro Boomin - PERFECT TIMING MIXTAPE Review

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
ActivityWatch
Timing
39% 39%
61% 61%
35% 35%
65% 65%
100% 100%
0% 0%
31% 31%
69% 69%

User comments

Share your experience with using ActivityWatch and Timing. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

ActivityWatch no reviews yet
Timing no reviews yet

We have no reviews of Timing yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

ActivityWatch 60 mentions
Timing 23 mentions
  • Show HN: Screen memory without screenshots, just text to Markdown
    I've liked the focused window tracker in https://activitywatch.net. - Source: Hacker News / 18 days ago
  • RewindOS – Searchable screen history for Linux local
    Hi HN. RewindOS captures your screen every few seconds, OCRs it, and makes everything you've ever seen instantly searchable — all 100% local. No cloud, no account, no telemetry. MIT-licensed, and built specifically for Linux/Wayland. I... - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • EFF Launches Age Verification Hub as Resource Against Misguided Laws
    Ah okay. I think this would probably be pretty tricky, security-wise, no? One of my first thoughts that might help would be writing a simple tool that parses history from your browsers to categorize it. Other than that, there are things... - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago

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  • Launch HN: PointOne (YC W24) – Automated time tracking for lawyers
    Timing.app is really good for this purpose. I use it every day, but I am not affiliated with the company in any way. Essentially it uses the accessibility features on MacOS to see what you are doing and generate time entries for you.... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • A collection of useful Mac Apps
    Timing - Price: $42/year or $7/month Automatic time tracking app for Mac that helps you track and analyze your time spent on different tasks and projects. Source: about 3 years ago
  • A Windows based alternative to the Timing App on Mac?
    I've been religiously utilising Timing for at least a year now. However I'm trying to find the closest Windows equivalent now that I'm using Windows on a semi-frequent basis. The features I most benefit from are its:. Source: over 3 years ago

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Alternatives to ActivityWatch and Timing

When comparing ActivityWatch and Timing, you can also consider the following products.