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ActivityWatch

Free, open-source automatic time tracker that keeps data local

FreeTime TrackingChecked Oct 5, 2026
Visit activitywatch.net
ActivityWatch, as pictured on activitywatch.net
How ActivityWatch presents itself. Image from activitywatch.net.

Our verdict

Third of our top three time tracking apps

For: People who want their activity data on their own device

ActivityWatch automatically records the active application and window title on your computer and, with extensions, browser tabs and code editors. Everything is stored on your own device and is not sent to a server, and it can be exported, deleted or backed up at any time. It is free and open source with no feature gates, usage limits or ads, and runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. It is third because it asks more of you than the two above: no iOS app is listed, syncing between devices is described as still being worked on, the stable macOS download is listed for Intel with Apple Silicon builds in a pre-release, and the maintainers say they do not work on the project full-time.

See all three and how we rank

What is ActivityWatch?

ActivityWatch is an open-source app that automatically records how you spend time on your devices, tracking the active application and window title and, with extensions, browser tabs and code editors. All data is stored on the device and is not sent to a server. The software is free under the MPL-2.0 license, and development is funded by donations and optional support subscriptions that unlock no extra features.

ActivityWatch is free to use. See every plan

Good for

  • 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

Worth knowing

  • 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.

Key features

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.

ActivityWatch pricing

Starts at
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.
Free trial
None listed
Free$0Every feature on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android, including the browser extensions and editor watchers.

Read from activitywatch.net on Oct 5, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with ActivityWatch before you buy.

Pricing in detail

ActivityWatch alternatives

All ActivityWatch alternatives comparedAll time tracking apps

Common questions

Is ActivityWatch free?

Yes. ActivityWatch is free to use. 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.

How much does ActivityWatch cost?

ActivityWatch lists one plan. Free: $0. Prices were read from activitywatch.net on Oct 5, 2026.

What platforms does ActivityWatch work on?

ActivityWatch is available on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. It also has a browser extension.

Does ActivityWatch have an iPhone app?

No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. ActivityWatch is listed for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.

Is ActivityWatch open source?

Yes. ActivityWatch is open source, according to its own site.

Does ActivityWatch have an API?

Yes. ActivityWatch offers a public API, according to its own site.

Who makes ActivityWatch?

ActivityWatch is made by Superuser Labs. It dates from 2014.

What are the alternatives to ActivityWatch?

The closest alternatives to ActivityWatch in our directory are RescueTime, WakaTime, ManicTime, Timing and Rize. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with ActivityWatch.

Sources for this page

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 5, 2026.