ManicTime vs Timing

ManicTime

• People who want a record of the day without running timers
• Organizations that must keep tracking data on their own servers
• Buyers who prefer a one-time license to a subscription

Timing

• Mac users who want time recorded without starting timers
• Freelancers who bill clients from a record of apps and documents used
• People who want tracked data kept on their own Mac by default

ManicTime

• The free version is for Windows only and leaves out auto-tagging, timesheets, advanced search and server sync.
• Cloud plans cap devices at 3 per user on Standard and 5 on Ultimate; cloud screenshots need Ultimate.
• A license covers one year of upgrades; newer versions need a renewal, and a cloud subscription stops working when it lapses.
• The Azure DevOps and Basecamp integrations are listed for the Windows client only.

Timing

• The tracker runs only on macOS; phones and other computers are limited to the web app.
• There is no free plan: a subscription is needed after the 30-day trial.
• Each seat covers a set number of personal Macs: 1 on Professional, 2 on Expert and 3 on Connect.
• Team features, the Web API, Zapier and MCP integration are limited to the Connect plan.

ManicTime

Automatic tracking

Runs in the background and records apps, websites and documents on parallel timelines. Tracking needs no internet connection and syncs to the cloud or a server later.

Tags and auto-tagging rules

Recorded activity is assigned to clients, projects or tasks with tags. With a license or subscription, rules tag recurring activity automatically.

Screenshots and away time

Optional screenshots are anchored to the timeline as proof of work. When you return to the computer, ManicTime asks how to classify the time away.

Timesheets, reports and invoices

The same data produces timesheets, billable summaries, attendance, overtime and productivity reports. Invoices are generated from approved timesheets as PDFs.

Cloud or self-hosted server

ManicTime Cloud needs no server setup. ManicTime Server runs on your own infrastructure, including Docker and Azure, with direct SQL access to the database.

Integrations, REST API and MCP

Tasks come in from tools such as Jira, GitHub and Asana, and time can sync back. A REST API covers custom integrations, and an MCP server runs locally for AI tools.

Timing

Automatic tracking

Records the apps, documents and websites used on the Mac without timers. Private and incognito browser tabs are discarded, and an exclusion list keeps chosen items out.

Timeline and rules

An interactive timeline shows the day's activity and lets you add offline time. Option-dragging an activity onto a project creates a rule that assigns similar work from then on.

Calls, meetings and Screen Time

Tracks time spent on phone calls, meetings and calendar events, prompts you when a video or voice call ends, and can import mobile app usage from Screen Time.

AI summaries and MCP

AI summaries group related activities and highlight the main topics of a day. The Connect plan adds MCP integration so an AI agent can work with your time data.

Reports for billing

Timesheets export as PDF, XLSX, CSV or HTML, with rounding and billing status tracking. A GrandTotal integration passes tracked time to that invoicing app.

Web app and teams

A web app syncs with the Mac app and can be installed on a phone to start and stop timers. On Connect, teams share projects and admins review members' times.

ManicTime

• Free version (Windows)$0

  ManicTime for Windows without the licensed features such as auto-tagging, timesheets, advanced search, tag plugins and ManicTime Server.

• Cloud Standard, individuals$7

  per month, billed yearly ($9 billed monthly)

  One person on 3 devices. All ManicTime Pro features on Windows, plus the Mac, Linux, iOS and Android apps, cloud backup and multi-device reports.

• Cloud Ultimate, individuals$9

  per month, billed yearly ($11 billed monthly)

  Everything in Standard, plus 2 more devices (5 in total) and screenshots stored in the cloud.

• Cloud Standard, teams$10

  per user / month, billed yearly ($12 billed monthly)

  The Standard plan for teams, with 3 devices per user and multi-device reports on the cloud server.

• Cloud Ultimate, teams$13

  per user / month, billed yearly ($15 billed monthly)

  The Ultimate plan for teams, with 5 devices per user and screenshots stored in the cloud.

• License (ManicTime Pro)$87

  one-time per user, with a year of upgrades

  Local install or your own ManicTime Server. Team licenses cost $80 each from 2 users, falling in steps to $20 each at 1,000.

Timing

• Professional$9

  per month, billed annually ($11 billed monthly)

  1 Mac for one person. Automatic tracking, timers, basic reports for clients and limited web app access.

• Expert$11

  per month, billed annually ($14 billed monthly)

  2 Macs for one person. Adds filters, customizable reports and full web app access.

• Connect$16

  per user / month, billed annually ($20 billed monthly)

  3 Macs per user. Adds teams with shared projects, AI integration via MCP, the Web API, Zapier and two-way ClickUp, Linear and Clio sync.

ManicTime

• Annual discount

  Lower cloud price with yearly billing

  Billed yearly, Cloud Standard is $7 a month for individuals against $9 monthly, and $10 per user for teams against $12. Ultimate is $9 against $11, and $13 against $15.

• Lifetime license

  One-time license from $87 per user

  A license is a one-time payment with a year of support and upgrades. After that year the last version released within it keeps working indefinitely.

• Education

  80% off the license for students and retirees

  Students aged 27 or under and retirees get 80% off a license for non-commercial use, and faculty get 50% off, by emailing support with proof. Cloud plans have no discounts.

• Other savings

  50% off early license renewal

  The documentation says a license renewed before its year of upgrades is up gets a 50% discount on the renewal.

Timing

• Annual discount

  Save 18% or more with annual billing

  The pricing page labels annual billing "Save 18%": Professional is $9 a month billed annually against $11 monthly, and Expert is $11 against $14.

• Other savings

  Referral program: a free month each

  Subscribers get a personal referral link. When a new customer signs up through it, both receive an extra free month, up to six months of credit per calendar year.