ActivTrak vs DeskTime (2026): which should you pick?

Pick ActivTrak if

• Fits if you manage a remote team and want to see where their time goes
• Works for a manager who wants reports sent into Power BI or Tableau

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you want to bill clients by project hours, as it tracks activity, not projects
• Tight if you stay free: 3 workers and 30 days of data
• Watch out: screenshots, live view and website blocking need the Screen Details add-on
• Watch out: the $7 rate needs a 3-year term, and more than 50 licences need a paid support plan

Pick DeskTime if

• Fits if you run a team and want hours recorded without anyone filling in a timesheet
• Works for hybrid teams that want to see who's working from the office and who's remote

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want a free plan, because there isn't one once the 14-day trial ends
• Not for you if your team would object to being watched, since managers see sites, apps and document titles
• Pricey if you need screenshots, integrations, the API or shift scheduling, which start on Premium at $9.17 a user
• Too light for tracking away from a desk, as the phone app is a companion to the desktop app, not a full tracker
• Watch out: there's no invoicing, and Enterprise for 200 or more users is priced on request

ActivTrak

• It monitors worker activity rather than logging project hours, so it suits oversight more than client billing.
• Screenshots, live view and website blocking need the paid Screen Details add-on.
• The $7 rate for Work Activity Tracking applies only on a 3-year subscription; the standard annual rate is $10.
• The free plan is limited to 3 workers and 30 days of data, and more than 50 licenses require a paid support plan.

DeskTime

• No free plan is listed; a subscription is needed after the 14-day trial.
• Screenshots, integrations and API access, and shift scheduling are listed under Premium rather than Pro.
• The mobile app is described as a companion to the desktop app rather than a full tracker.
• Enterprise is aimed at teams of 200 or more users and priced on request.

ActivTrak

Automatic time tracking

Records activity in the background and summarizes it by user and team, with daily work metrics and real-time visibility.

Schedule and location adherence

Compare actual work against schedules, spot exceptions and trends, identify breaks and validate work location policy on higher plans.

Productivity and capacity reports

Utilization, workload balance, benchmarks, headcount planning and coaching opportunities, plus an on-demand Work Advisor.

AI usage measurement

An AI Insights add-on at $4 per worker per month covers AI usage, governance and compliance, adoption and productivity impact.

Screen Details add-on

Screenshots, live screen view, title bars, full URLs, alarms and website blocking are an optional add-on, not part of the base plans.

DeskTime

Automatic time tracking

The desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux tracks working time without timers or manual timesheets. A web timer and offline time entries cover work away from the computer.

URL, app and document tracking

Managers see which sites and apps were used, along with document names, email subjects and app titles, and the data feeds a productivity calculation for each person.

Screenshots

Screenshots of employees' screens can be captured as proof of work. The pricing page lists them as a Premium feature.

Project tracking

Tracked time can be assigned to projects and tasks to follow the hours and progress of specific pieces of work.

Shift scheduling and absences

Plan and manage employee shifts in one place, and use the absence calendar to see who is sick, on vacation or out of office.

Private time and AI summaries

Employees can turn on private time for off-the-clock computer use. An AI summary describes each day's work activity in text.

ActivTrak

• Free$0

  for up to 3 workers

  Basic activity visibility, 30 days of data history, limited functionality. A trial downgrades to this plan.

• Work Activity Tracking$10

  per worker / month, billed annually ($7 on a 3-year term)

  Adherence to working hours and tech policy: automatic time tracking, real-time visibility, attendance, app and website usage. 6 months of data.

• Workforce Management$15

  per worker / month, billed annually

  Adds utilization and financial loss, productivity against goals, schedule exception reports and offline meeting tracking. 6 months of data.

• Productivity Optimization$17

  per worker / month, billed annually

  Adds organization productivity trends, workload balance, benchmarks and goals, capacity planning and coaching. 1 year of data.

• Workflow$21

  per worker / month, billed annually

  Finds repetitive work and AI or automation opportunities; sold through sales for AI and operations teams.

DeskTime

• Pro$6.42

  per user / month, billed annually ($7 billed monthly)

  For small teams and startups. Highlights include document title tracking, productivity calculations and calendar integrations.

• Premium$9.17

  per user / month, billed annually ($10 billed monthly)

  For hybrid and growing teams. Highlights include screenshots, integrations and API access, and shift scheduling.

• EnterpriseCustom

  For organizations of 200 or more users. Everything in Premium plus custom API work on request, an account manager and employee training.

ActivTrak

• Other savings

  Save 30% on a two-plan bundle

  ActivTrak's pricing page offers a 30% saving when Workforce Management and Productivity Optimization are bought together.

DeskTime

• Annual discount

  Lower rate with annual billing

  DeskTime lists Pro at $6.42 per user a month with annual payment against $7 monthly, and Premium at $9.17 against $10, which is about 8% less.

• By country

  Lower price shown to buyers in India

  On 9 October 2026 the pricing page showed Pro at ₹366.67 per user a month, billed annually, to a reader in India, or $4.58 in dollars. A copy of the page from 8 September lists Pro at $6.42.