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ManicTime

Automatic time tracker, in the cloud or on your own server

Free plan · from $7/moTime TrackingChecked Oct 6, 2026
Visit manictime.com

ManicTime report card

3.4GPA

Very good · out of 4.0 · graded Oct 9, 2026

Best for automatic tracking kept on your own hardware

ManicTime quietly records the apps, websites and documents you use and lays them on a timeline, so you tag the day afterwards. You can keep all of it on your own hardware, and you can buy it once for $87 if you don't fancy a subscription. There is a free version, but it's Windows only and it's missing the good parts.

Who ManicTime is for

  • Great if you want a record of your day without running a single timer
  • Good for companies that must keep tracking data on their own servers
  • Handy when you'd rather pay $87 once than subscribe

Who ManicTime is not for

  • Tight if you stay free, because the free version is Windows only with no timesheets or auto-tagging
  • 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

Why ManicTime gets a 3.4

Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.

  • BValue for moneyCloud Standard is $7 a month billed yearly for one person, or $9 monthly, which is about the going rate. Teams pay $10 a user. Or buy a license once for $87. It comes with a year of upgrades, and that version keeps working after.
  • BFree plan and trialThere's a free version, but it's for Windows only and it's stripped down: no auto-tagging, no timesheets, no stopwatch, no advanced search. Every paid version has a 30-day free trial.
  • AFeaturesIt records apps, websites and documents in the background, even with no internet, and rules tag the repeat stuff for you. Then there are optional screenshots, timesheets, reports and PDF invoices from approved timesheets. Cloud or your own server. That's the whole job.
  • BEase of useWe have no App Store rating on record, so a B is as high as we go. Tracking is automatic once it's installed. The work comes after, when you tag the timeline to clients and projects, at least until your rules are set up.
  • APlatforms and integrationsWindows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android, with a REST API and links to Jira, GitHub, Asana, Harvest, FreshBooks and QuickBooks Online. Do note the device caps on cloud plans: 3 a user on Standard and 5 on Ultimate.

What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from ManicTime's own pages on 6 October 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.

Make ManicTime? Put this grade on your site
ManicTime: 3.4 GPA on ToolGPA

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What is ManicTime?

ManicTime records the apps, websites and documents used on a computer and lays them out on a timeline, so time can be tagged to clients and projects after the fact. The tagged time feeds timesheets, reports and invoices. It is sold as a cloud subscription or as a one-time license that keeps data on your own hardware, with an optional self-hosted server, and a free version exists for Windows.

ManicTime has a free plan. Paid plans start at $7 per month, billed yearly ($9 billed monthly). See every plan

Good for

  • 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

Worth knowing

  • 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.

Key features

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.

ManicTime pricing

Starts at
$7 per month, billed yearly ($9 billed monthly)
Free plan
Free version of ManicTime for Windows, usable in any setting. It lacks auto-tagging, timesheets, away-time tagging, the stopwatch and pomodoro timer, advanced search, tag plugins and ManicTime Server.
Free trial
30-day free trial on all paid versions
Free version (Windows)$0ManicTime for Windows without the licensed features such as auto-tagging, timesheets, advanced search, tag plugins and ManicTime Server.
Cloud Standard, individuals$7per 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$9per 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$10per 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$13per 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)$87one-time per user, with a year of upgradesLocal install or your own ManicTime Server. Team licenses cost $80 each from 2 users, falling in steps to $20 each at 1,000.

Read from manictime.com on Oct 6, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with ManicTime before you buy.

Pricing in detail

Ways to pay less

  • Annual discountLower 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.

    Stated on manictime.com
  • Lifetime licenseOne-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.

    Stated on manictime.com
  • Education80% 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.

    Stated on docs.manictime.com
  • Other savings50% off early license renewal

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

    Stated on docs.manictime.com

Works with

ManicTime alternatives

All ManicTime alternatives comparedAll time tracking apps

Common questions

Is ManicTime free?

ManicTime has a free plan. Free version of ManicTime for Windows, usable in any setting. It lacks auto-tagging, timesheets, away-time tagging, the stopwatch and pomodoro timer, advanced search, tag plugins and ManicTime Server. Paid plans start at $7 per month, billed yearly ($9 billed monthly).

How much does ManicTime cost?

ManicTime lists 6 plans. Free version (Windows): $0. Cloud Standard, individuals: $7 per month, billed yearly ($9 billed monthly). Cloud Ultimate, individuals: $9 per month, billed yearly ($11 billed monthly). Cloud Standard, teams: $10 per user / month, billed yearly ($12 billed monthly). Cloud Ultimate, teams: $13 per user / month, billed yearly ($15 billed monthly). License (ManicTime Pro): $87 one-time per user, with a year of upgrades. Prices were read from manictime.com on Oct 6, 2026.

What platforms does ManicTime work on?

ManicTime is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.

Does ManicTime offer any discounts?

ManicTime publicly lists the following: Lower cloud price with yearly billing; One-time license from $87 per user; 80% off the license for students and retirees; 50% off early license renewal.

Is ManicTime open source?

ManicTime is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.

Can ManicTime be self-hosted?

Yes. ManicTime's own site says it can be run on a server of your own.

Does ManicTime work offline?

Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.

Does ManicTime have an API?

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

What does ManicTime integrate with?

ManicTime's listing names Jira, GitHub, Asana, Azure DevOps, Basecamp, Harvest, FreshBooks and QuickBooks Online. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.

Does ManicTime have a student discount?

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.

Does ManicTime have a free trial?

Yes. 30-day free trial on all paid versions.

Who makes ManicTime?

ManicTime is made by ManicTime. It dates from 2007.

What are the alternatives to ManicTime?

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

Sources for this page

The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 6, 2026.