ActivityWatch vs TimeScribe
We give ActivityWatch a 3.4 GPA and TimeScribe a 3.6, out of 4.0. TimeScribe grades higher on features. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
ActivityWatch
Free, open-source automatic time tracker that keeps data local
Free
How we grade them
| 3.4GPAActivityWatchVery good | 3.6GPATimeScribeExcellent | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | AIt costs nothing. ActivityWatch is free and open source under the MPL-2.0 license. There are optional support subscriptions from $5 a month, but they unlock nothing extra. They just fund the project. | AIt's free, and there's no paid tier at all. The vendor's FAQ says there are no hidden costs, no subscriptions and no restrictions. Most time trackers charge by the month. |
| Free plan and trial | AEvery feature is free on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android, browser extensions and editor watchers included. No feature gates, no usage limits and no ads. | AEvery feature on macOS and Windows is free, with no account, no premium plan and no paywall. It's open source under the GPL-3.0 license too, so you can read the code. |
| Features | BIt tracks the active app and window title by itself, notes when you're idle, and sorts it all into categories. Extensions add browser tabs and code editors. Solid. But syncing activity between devices is still being worked on, so each machine keeps its own record. | AIt's for one person's working hours, and it does that job fully. A one-click timer for work and breaks, a balance that shows overtime, projects with hourly rates, vacation and sick days, public holidays, and PDF, Excel or CSV export. App tracking is optional and off by default. |
| Ease of use | BNo rating is on record to go by, so a B. Install it and it tracks from the tray with nothing to start or stop. You read the results in your browser at localhost:5600. Mac users take note: the stable download is listed for Intel. | BWe have no App Store rating on record, so a B is as high as we go. It's an app you install and use, with no account to make. One click starts, pauses or stops the timer, and you can do it from the menu bar. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWindows, macOS, Linux and Android, with Chrome and Firefox extensions and a documented REST API. No iOS app is listed, and there are no ready-made integrations with other tools. | BMac and Windows, with custom keyboard shortcuts and deep links that Shortcuts, Alfred, Raycast or AutoHotkey can fire. No Linux, mobile or web version is listed. And your data lives on the one device, with no cloud. |
| Best for | automatic tracking that stays on your own machine | free, private tracking of your own hours |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: ActivityWatch and TimeScribe. How we grade
Where they differ
- ActivityWatch is free. TimeScribe is free.
- Only ActivityWatch lists Linux and Android apps.
- Only ActivityWatch lists a browser extension.
- TimeScribe also covers reports and menu bar app.
In commonFree planWindowsmacOSOpen sourceLocal-firstTime tracking
At a glance
| ActivityWatch | TimeScribe | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Entirely free and open source under the MPL-2.0 license, with no feature gates, usage limits or ads. Optional support subscriptions from $5 a month unlock nothing extra. | Completely free and open source under the GPL-3.0 license. The vendor's FAQ says there are no hidden costs, no subscriptions and no restrictions. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Superuser Labs | TimeScribe |
| Price read from | activitywatch.net | timescribe.app |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 |
Who each one suits
ActivityWatch
- People who want automatic tracking with all data kept on their own device
- Linux users, alongside Windows, macOS and Android
- Developers who want to query their own activity data through an API
- Personal screen-time and quantified-self tracking at no cost
TimeScribe
- Individuals who have to record working hours, breaks and overtime
- Freelancers who want free tracking with exports for invoices
- People who do not want an account or their time data in the cloud
Worth knowing
ActivityWatch
- No iOS app is listed; platforms are Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.
- The homepage describes syncing activity between devices as still being worked on.
- The stable macOS download (v0.13.2) is listed for Intel; Apple Silicon builds are in the v0.14 pre-release.
- Maintainers say they do not work on the project full-time, so development may slow at times.
TimeScribe
- It is built for individual users; the vendor's FAQ recommends other tools for teams.
- All data is stored locally on the device, without a cloud or an account.
- There are apps for macOS and Windows only; no Linux, mobile or web version is listed.
- Help and feature requests go through GitHub issues and discussions.
Key features
ActivityWatch
- Automatic window tracking
- Tracks the active application and window title out of the box. A separate watcher notes when the keyboard and mouse are idle, without storing what the input was.
- Categories
- Activity is broken down into categories, which gives an overview of usage by type of work instead of a raw list of apps and window titles.
- Browser extensions
- Extensions for Chrome and Firefox track the active tab, adding website-level detail to the time recorded on the computer.
- Editor watchers
- Optional watchers for code editors track how much time goes into writing code, and other watchers can be added to track more.
- Local data and API
- Data stays on your own device and can be exported, deleted or backed up at any time. A documented REST API and Python client give access to buckets, events and queries.
- Local web interface
- The app runs from the system tray and its interface opens in the browser at localhost:5600, with activity and timeline views of the tracked data.
TimeScribe
- Timer in the menu bar
- Work and break tracking starts, pauses and stops with one click, and the timer can be controlled from the menu bar, including switching between projects.
- Time balance and overtime
- Day and week views show work patterns and whether you are ahead of or behind your hours, so overtime and missed time are visible at a glance.
- Projects and hourly rates
- Time is tracked per project with descriptions, and an optional hourly rate produces billing calculations for client work.
- Absences and holidays
- Vacation and sick days are planned and recorded separately from work, and public holidays can be included in the overview.
- App activity and automatic start
- Optional app tracking, off by default, shows which apps were used and sorts work from distractions. The timer can start and pause by itself based on screen time and idle status.
- Exports, shortcuts and deep links
- Times export as PDF, Excel or CSV. Custom keyboard shortcuts and timescribe:// links let tools such as Shortcuts, Alfred, Raycast or AutoHotkey start and stop the timer.
Plans
ActivityWatch
Free$0
Every feature on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android, including the browser extensions and editor watchers.
TimeScribe
Free$0
Every feature on macOS and Windows, with no account, no premium plan and no paywall.
