The Timemator Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Timemator in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Timemator
The Insider’s Guide
Automatic time tracking for Mac with a one-time license
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among time tracking apps, read from Timemator’s own pages.
Made by Catforce Studio · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Timemator’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Timemator’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 8 of the 42 other time tracking apps we grade
Timemator is a time tracker for freelancers on the Mac, with companion apps for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. On the Mac it records activity on a timeline and can start and pause timers by itself, based on rules about the apps and files in use. Tracked time is organized into tasks and folders, priced with hourly rates and exported as reports. Data stays on the user's devices and syncs through iCloud.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Timemator, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Install it and iCloud handles the syncing, but Auto-tracking runs on rules you write yourself, app by app and file by file.
- 1
Best for pay-once automatic tracking on a Mac
Timemator is a Mac time tracker for freelancers that can start and pause the timer by itself, going by which app or file you have open.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $39 one-time for the Mac app; the iOS app is $7.99 one-time, sold separately.
- 3
You can try it first
30-day free trial with all features, on both the Mac and iOS apps
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
macOS and iOS.
- 5
Activity Timeline
On the Mac, Timemator captures what you do during the day so you can go back, review it, and assign the time to projects in a few clicks.
- 6
Auto-tracking
Rules you define let the Mac app start and pause the timer by itself, for example when a given app or project file is open. You keep manual control.
- 7
Manual timer and sessions
A start and pause timer works alongside Auto-tracking, and sessions can be added or edited by hand on daily and weekly timelines.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 8 of 42
That is against the other time tracking apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Your call
A time tracker at its plainest is a start button, a stop button and a table of hours.
Timemator at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $39 one-time for the Mac app; the iOS app is $7.99 one-time, sold separately
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 30-day free trial with all features, on both the Mac and iOS apps
- Runs on
- macOS, iOS
- Made by
- Catforce Studio
- Category
- Time Tracking
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for pay-once automatic tracking on a Mac
Timemator is a Mac time tracker for freelancers that can start and pause the timer by itself, going by which app or file you have open. The Mac app is $39 once for 2 computers. But the iPhone app is another $7.99 and tracks by hand only, it's Apple devices only, there are no integrations or invoicing, and there are no team features, so teams and Windows users should look elsewhere.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | $39 once for the Mac app, to use forever on 2 computers. That's less than half a year of what time trackers in this category charge, and then you're done. The iOS app is another $7.99, sold separately. |
| Free plan and trial | C | No free plan. Both the Mac and iOS apps come with a 30-day trial of all the features, and it asks for nothing up front. After that you buy a license. |
| Features | C | A timeline of your Mac activity to assign to projects, rules that start and pause the timer for you, a manual timer, tasks in folders, hourly rates and reports with CSV export. The listing's own gaps: no invoicing, no team features, and the timeline and Auto-tracking are Mac only. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. Install it and iCloud handles the syncing, but Auto-tracking runs on rules you write yourself, app by app and file by file. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Apple only: Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, synced through iCloud. No Windows, Android or web version, and no integrations on record at all. Windows and Teams editions are on the roadmap. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Timemator is for
- Fits if you freelance on a Mac and forget to start timers
- Works for people who'd rather pay $39 once than subscribe, and keep data on their own devices
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you use Windows or Android, because it's Apple devices only for now
- Too light for teams, as it has no team features yet, and no invoicing either
- Not for you if you expect automatic tracking on your phone, since the iOS app tracks hours by hand
- Watch out: the iPhone and iPad app is a separate $7.99 purchase, and a Mac license covers 2 computers at a time
- Tight if you need it to talk to other tools, as no integrations are on record
Good to know
Good for
- Freelancers on a Mac who forget to start timers
- People who prefer a one-time purchase to a subscription
- Users who want tracked data kept on their own devices
Worth knowing
- The Mac and iOS apps are sold separately, at $39 and $7.99.
- The Activity Timeline and Auto-tracking are marked Mac only; the iOS listing describes manual tracking of hours and tasks.
- There is no Windows, Android or web version, and no team features; Windows and Teams editions appear on the roadmap.
- A Mac license can be active on 2 computers at the same time.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$39 one-time
To start
Timemator is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $39 one-time for the Mac app; the iOS app is $7.99 one-time, sold separately.
That's less than half a year of what time trackers in this category charge, and then you're done.
Timemator for iOS
$7.99
one-time in-app purchase (Full License)
The iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch app. A free download with a 30-day trial; the Full License unlocks it for good.
Timemator for Mac
$39
one-time payment
The Mac app with the Activity Timeline and Auto-tracking. Use forever, with activation on 2 computers.
Trying it first
30-day free trial with all features, on both the Mac and iOS apps
Read from timemator.com on Oct 6, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Lifetime license
One-time purchase instead of a subscription
Timemator for Mac is a one-time payment of $39 described as "use forever", and the iOS Full License is a one-time $7.99 in-app purchase.
Stated on timemator.comEducation
Student discount
The homepage links to a student discount on Timemator, offered through Student App Centre. The discount amount is not stated on the vendor's site.
Stated on timemator.com
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Full License”, against $7.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $9.99 | $7.02 | 12% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 499.00 | $7.94 | about the same |
| Turkey | ₺399,99 | $8.13 | about the same |
| India | ₹ 799 | $8.26 | about the same |
| Mexico | $179.00 | $9.84 | 23% more |
| Brazil | R$ 49,90 | $9.97 | 25% more |
| Germany | 8,99 € | $10.07 | 26% more |
| United Kingdom | £7.99 | $10.56 | 32% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and iOS
Automatic time tracking for Mac with a one-time license. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, local-first, one-time purchase, time tracking, reports.
The listing's own gaps: no invoicing, no team features, and the timeline and Auto-tracking are Mac only.
- Activity Timeline
- On the Mac, Timemator captures what you do during the day so you can go back, review it, and assign the time to projects in a few clicks.
- Auto-tracking
- Rules you define let the Mac app start and pause the timer by itself, for example when a given app or project file is open. You keep manual control.
- Manual timer and sessions
- A start and pause timer works alongside Auto-tracking, and sessions can be added or edited by hand on daily and weekly timelines.
- Tasks, folders and hourly rates
- Tasks are grouped in folders by project, client or both. Setting an hourly rate on a task makes Timemator calculate revenue for the tracked time.
- Reports and export
- Charts compare tracked time by day or month, and sessions can be filtered by date or task. Reports can be exported for clients, and data exports as CSV.
- iCloud Sync and backups
- Tasks, folders, sessions and Auto-tracking rules sync across devices through iCloud. Automatic backups can go to a custom location such as Dropbox.
Where it runs
- macOS
- iOS
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Timemator is made by Catforce Studio.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
8/42
Other time tracking apps it is graded above
Timemator's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 8 of the 42 other time tracking apps we grade, and level with 10.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 36 of 42) and worst on free plan and trial (C, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 43 time tracking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Timemator’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 36 of 42
- CFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 42
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 42
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 42
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 3 of 42
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Your call
A time tracker at its plainest is a start button, a stop button and a table of hours.
You could make the core of Timemator for yourself: time tracking and reports. What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call. At $39, paid once, it costs less than the weekend it would take to replace, which is the argument for keeping it.
What you could make
- Time tracking and reports: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- Hooks into the device itself: an Apple Watch app.
What this rests on. Timemator’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Timing, Chronoid, Tyme, Daily and Rize
The 5 tools Timemator is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
Timing
Free trial · from $9/mo
Automatic time tracking for Mac with no timers to start.
- Only Timemator lists an iOS app.
- Only Timing lists a web app.
- Timemator can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.0GPA
Chronoid
Free trial · from $8/mo
Automatic, local-first time tracking and invoicing for Mac.
- Only Timemator lists an iOS app.
- Timemator also covers reports.
- Chronoid also covers site & app blocker, Pomodoro timer and invoicing.
- 2.4GPA
Tyme
Free trial · from $59.99/yr
Time tracking for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.
- Timemator can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.4GPA
Daily
Free trial · from $39.99/yr
Mac time tracker that asks what you are working on.
- Timemator also covers reports.
- Daily also covers menu bar app.
- 2.2GPA
Rize
Free trial · from $9.99/mo
Automatic time tracker with focus tools and AI reports.
- Only Timemator lists an iOS app.
- Only Rize lists a Windows app.
- Only Rize lists a browser extension.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Timemator free?
No, Timemator is a paid product, but you can try it first. 30-day free trial with all features, on both the Mac and iOS apps.
How much does Timemator cost?
Timemator lists 2 plans. Timemator for iOS: $7.99 one-time in-app purchase (Full License).
What platforms does Timemator work on?
Timemator is available on macOS and iOS.
Does Timemator offer any discounts?
Timemator publicly lists the following: One-time purchase instead of a subscription; Student discount.
Does Timemator have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Timemator is listed for macOS and iOS.
Does Timemator have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Timemator is listed for macOS and iOS.
Is Timemator open source?
Timemator is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
Does Timemator 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 Timemator have a student discount?
Student discount. The homepage links to a student discount on Timemator, offered through Student App Centre.
Who makes Timemator?
Timemator is made by Catforce Studio.
What are the alternatives to Timemator?
The closest alternatives to Timemator in our directory are Timing, Chronoid, Tyme, Daily and Rize.
How does Timemator compare with other time tracking apps?
Timemator's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 8 of the 42 other time tracking apps we grade, and level with 10.
Could I make my own version of Timemator?
A time tracker at its plainest is a start button, a stop button and a table of hours.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Timemator’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Timemator's own pages on 6 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-05-20.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Catforce Studio. Prices change, so check timemator.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Timemator, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/timemator
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Timemator: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/timemator
Know someone choosing between time tracking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/timemator/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded time tracking apps after Timemator, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Time Tracking Insider's GuideEvery one of the 43 time tracking apps we grade, compared
- Jibble Insider's GuideFree time clock and attendance tracker with GPS and face recognition3.4 GPA
- Clockify Insider's GuideTeam time tracker and timesheets with a free plan for 5 users3.2 GPA
- TimeCamp Insider's GuideTime tracking with attendance, billing and a free plan for any team3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Timemator’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Timemator is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Catforce Studio. Prices and plans change: check timemator.com before you buy.