Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

ActivityWatch VS TrackingTime

Compare ActivityWatch VS TrackingTime and see what are their differences

ActivityWatch logo ActivityWatch

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

TrackingTime logo TrackingTime

Time Tracking Software
  • ActivityWatch Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-03
  • TrackingTime Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-10

ActivityWatch features and specs

  • 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 of ActivityWatch

  • 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 itโ€™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.

TrackingTime features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    TrackingTime offers a clean and intuitive interface, making it easy for users to navigate and use without a steep learning curve.
  • Team Collaboration
    The platform supports team collaboration with features like project assignments, shared timelines, and activity tracking which facilitate seamless team interaction.
  • Detailed Reporting
    TrackingTime provides robust reporting capabilities, allowing users to generate detailed reports on time usage, project progress, and productivity metrics.
  • Integrations
    The tool integrates with popular platforms such as Trello, Slack, Asana, and more, enhancing its utility through seamless workflow integration.
  • Cross-Platform Availability
    TrackingTime is available as a web application, as well as mobile apps for iOS and Android, ensuring users can track time from any device.

Possible disadvantages of TrackingTime

  • Limited Free Plan
    The free plan has limited features and may not suffice for larger teams or more complex project tracking needs.
  • Initial Setup Complexity
    Some users may find the initial setup and configuration process to be somewhat cumbersome, especially when integrating with other tools.
  • Customization Constraints
    While TrackingTime offers various features, there are some constraints on customization, limiting how users can tailor the tool to specific workflows.
  • Dependency on Internet Connection
    As a cloud-based service, TrackingTime requires a stable internet connection to function, which can be challenging in areas with poor connectivity.
  • Limited Offline Capabilities
    The platform has limited offline capabilities, making it difficult for users to track time and manage tasks without internet access.

Analysis of ActivityWatch

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.

Analysis of TrackingTime

Overall verdict

  • Overall, TrackingTime is considered a good option for teams and individuals looking for an effective and efficient way to manage and track their working hours, improve productivity, and streamline project management tasks. Its integration capabilities and user-friendly design make it a strong contender in the time tracking market.

Why this product is good

  • TrackingTime is a time tracking tool that offers features like project management, reporting, time tracking, and collaboration tools. It integrates with various popular services such as Asana, Trello, and Slack, making it versatile for teams using diverse applications. The user interface is generally noted for being intuitive and straightforward, which helps team members track their time efficiently without getting bogged down by complex software.

Recommended for

  • Small to medium-sized businesses and startups that need a reliable time tracking solution.
  • Freelancers seeking to accurately track billable hours and manage invoicing.
  • Teams looking for a tool that easily integrates with popular project management and communication platforms.
  • Organizations aiming to improve productivity and gain insights through detailed reports and analytics.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ActivityWatch and TrackingTime)
Time Tracking
71 71%
29% 29
Invoicing
78 78%
22% 22
Project Management
73 73%
27% 27
Time Management
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare ActivityWatch and TrackingTime

ActivityWatch Reviews

49 Best Timesheet Alternatives - Features, pros & cons, pricing | Remote Tools
ActivityWatch tracks how you spend time on your devices. It can help you keep track of time spent on different projects, kick bad screen habits, or just understand how you spend your time.

TrackingTime Reviews

The 5 best time tracking apps of 2022
TrackingTime is a collaborative time tracking tool that looks different from many other time tracking apps. It represents time in blocks or windows, just as if that working time were an event on your calendar. It's not the only app that lays out your time in this fashion (Timeneye and Toggl Track do it, too), but it does offer the most opportunities for customization. For...
Source: zapier.com
112 Best Chrome Extensions You Should Try (2021 List)
Tracking Time is a productivity Chrome extension to track the duration of time you spent on more than 35 productivity tools such as Trello, RTM, and Google Docs. For example, you could use it to track the period spent on client projects to charge clients accurately.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, ActivityWatch seems to be a lot more popular than TrackingTime. While we know about 59 links to ActivityWatch, we've tracked only 3 mentions of TrackingTime. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

ActivityWatch mentions (59)

  • RewindOS โ€“ 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 โ€” all 100% local. No cloud, no account, no telemetry. MIT-licensed, and built specifically for Linux/Wayland. I started out using [ActivityWatch](https://activitywatch.net/), which is great at what it does โ€” but it tracks how much time you spend in each app, not what you actually... - Source: Hacker News / 2 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 like https://activitywatch.net/ (which seems to have a desktop and Android version). - Source: Hacker News / 9 months ago
  • Recall for Linux
    It's an actual useful feature, it's just the tracking by microsoft that makes it meh. I also track my activities with ActivityWatch (Open Source, https://activitywatch.net/) to remember missing time entries for billing clients. It's all local, so perfectly fine. - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • Show HN: Timelinize โ€“ Privately organize your own data from everywhere, locally
    Https://activitywatch.net/ gets you part of the way there. - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Everyone knows all the apps on your phone
    > How hard would it be for an app to monitor all of your web traffic based on the title alone? Although not terribly accurate (because of the high variability of page titles), tools like ManicTime and ActivityWatch use windows titles to track your browser history if you don't install the browser plugin. https://www.manictime.com/ https://activitywatch.net/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
View more

TrackingTime mentions (3)

  • New to freelance work โ€” I am seeking recommendations for apps that help organize and log working hours for different projects
    I use the https://trackingtime.co/ app to help me manage my time and to get a better grasp on how long client work will realistically take me, which helps me charge what I'm actually worth. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • "How long will it take you to do this?" is the worst question you could ask me
    I use this one https://trackingtime.co. I think there are others out there - but the free version works well enough for me. It's a tab on my computer that gives me alerts to remind me it's running. Or just open doing nothing. In other words, exactly what I need:). Source: over 5 years ago
  • SharePoint Form writing to SQL database?
    Why go through the time and effort to build and maintain something when there are products and services that already do this. For example, Toggl or Clockify or Quickbooks Time or Trackingtime. Source: over 5 years ago

What are some alternatives?

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

RescueTime - Time management software that shows you how you spend your time & provides tools to help you be more productive.

Toggl - Toggl is an online time tracking tool. It features 1-click time tracking and helps you see where your time goes. Free and paid versions are available.

ManicTime - Track your computer usage and use collected data to accurately tag time.

Time Doctor - Time Tracking and Time Management Software that is accurate and helps you to get a lot more done each day.

Rize - Rize is a time tracker that makes you more productive.

TopTracker - Beautiful, free time tracking