ManicTime vs WiseTime (2026): which should you pick?

Pick ManicTime if

• Fits if you want a record of your day without running a timer
• Works for companies that must keep tracking data on their own servers

Look elsewhere if

• Tight if you stay free, because the free version is Windows only with no timesheets, auto-tagging or server sync
• Not for you if you expect a license to cover every future version, as it comes with one year of upgrades
• Pricey if you want screenshots stored in the cloud, which takes Ultimate at $9 a month, or $13 a user for teams
• Watch out: cloud plans cap devices at 3 a user on Standard and 5 on Ultimate, and stop working when they lapse
• Skip it if you want a web app, or the Azure DevOps and Basecamp links outside Windows, as neither is offered

Pick WiseTime if

• Fits if you bill by the matter and use Clio or a similar practice system
• Works for firms that don't want staff starting and stopping timers

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you aren't in legal or professional services, as the product is aimed at law firms
• Pricey if you can't tell: no price is published and Professional starts at 5 users
• Not for you if you use Android, since the phone app is iOS only
• Watch out: API access, single sign-on and custom connections are Enterprise, aimed at firms with over 50 users

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.

WiseTime

• No prices are published; pricing is quoted through a demo request.
• The Professional plan has a 5-user minimum, keeps data for up to 12 months and uses cloud connections only.
• The mobile app is iOS only, and the vendor's focus is legal timekeeping rather than general projects.
• API access, single sign-on and bespoke connections are Enterprise features, aimed at firms with over 50 users.

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.

WiseTime

Automatic time capture

Records activity across desktop apps on Windows, Mac and Linux while the user works, with no timer to start or stop.

Matter detection

Matter IDs sync from the connected practice management system, and recorded activity is tagged against the matching matter.

AI-written narratives

Summarizes recorded activity into a description for the invoice, with preferences to adjust the style or translate it.

Private timeline

Recorded time stays private to the user until they review, edit or delete entries and post them. Rules can leave private tasks out.

Billing system connections

Cloud connections to systems such as Clio send posted time to the right client or case. Other systems need an Enterprise connection.

Team dashboard and reports

Managers see how well their team records time and can export PDF or CSV reports by person, period or tag.

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.

WiseTime

Pricing could not be confirmed. See wisetime.com.

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.

WiseTime

No public discounts listed.