ActivityWatch

Automatically track how you spend time on your devices, privately and free.

About ActivityWatch

ActivityWatch is a free and open-source time tracker that automatically records which applications and websites you use on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. Data stays on your own device, and categories, browser extensions and editor watchers turn raw activity into insight about projects, screen-time habits and work-life balance. It is a privacy-first alternative to cloud trackers like RescueTime for individuals and researchers practising quantified self.

ActivityWatch website preview

Live preview of activitywatch.net via the WordPress mShots service — it can take a few seconds to generate on a first visit.

ActivityWatch: strengths & things to check

Strengths

Completely free to use — this directory lists no paid plan for it.
Covers time tracking, privacy, quantified self, open source — see the focus areas listed in its key facts.
Has 6 close alternatives in the same category on this page, so switching or comparing is easy.

Things to check

Free tools can change their model or shut down — avoid locking critical work into it without an export path.
Current plan prices are not listed here (they change too often to print reliably) — confirm the exact price on the official site.
It is one of 2092 tools in the Productivity & Notes category here — compare it against the alternatives below before you commit.

Derived from this listing's own data (pricing model, focus areas and category) — not a hands-on review score.

ActivityWatch pricing

Pricing model	Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.
Free access	Yes — fully free
Current plan prices	Listed on the official site — prices change, so this directory links out instead of printing a number that may already be stale.
Official site	activitywatch.net

ActivityWatch key facts

Category: Productivity & Notes
Pricing: Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.
Focus areas: time tracking, privacy, quantified self, open source
Official site: activitywatch.net

ActivityWatch FAQ

How much does ActivityWatch cost?

Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it. Current plans and prices are listed on the official site (activitywatch.net).

What is ActivityWatch used for?

Automatically track how you spend time on your devices, privately and free. Its focus areas in the Productivity & Notes category: time tracking, privacy, quantified self, open source.

Where can I try ActivityWatch?

On its official site, activitywatch.net — the Visit Official Site button above goes straight there.

ActivityWatch vs alternatives

	ActivityWatch	Alian Hub	Cattr	Ever Gauzy
Pricing	Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.	Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.	Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.	Free — listed in this directory as a free tool, with no paid plan required to use it.
Focus areas	time tracking, privacy, quantified self, open source	project management, open source, self hosted, time tracking	time tracking, open source, self hosted, screenshots	erp, crm, time tracking, open source
Official site	activitywatch.net	alianhub.com	cattr.app	gauzy.co
Directory status	Listed	Listed	Listed	Listed

Side-by-side from each listing's own directory data. Full alternative cards are below.

About the Productivity & Notes category

Notes, tasks, and project tools that keep you organized and focused. The Productivity & Notes category on Tools Hub currently lists 2092 tools. Alongside ActivityWatch, it includes TimeTagger, AmuseWiki, Feather Wiki, Raneto.

FreeProductivity & Notestime-trackingprivacyquantified-selfopen-source

Alternatives to ActivityWatch

Tools in the same Productivity & Notes category that share focus areas with ActivityWatch — worth comparing before you commit:

Productivity & Notes

Alian Hub

Open-source project management - free forever, on your server, run by AI agents

Freeproject-managementopen-sourceself-hostedtime-tracking

Productivity & Notes

Cattr

Open-source self-hosted time tracker with screenshots and activity detection

Freetime-trackingopen-sourceself-hostedscreenshots

Productivity & Notes

Ever Gauzy

Open-source ERP, CRM, HRM and project management platform

Freeerpcrmtime-trackingopen-source

Productivity & Notes

Joplin

Open-source notes with end-to-end encryption

Freenotesopen-sourcemarkdownprivacy

Productivity & Notes

Kimai

Time-tracking application for agencies and freelancers with invoicing and reporting built

Freemiumtime-trackinginvoicingopen-source

Productivity & Notes

Memtime

Automatic private time tracking for professionals

Paidtime-trackingautomaticbillingprivacy

More in Productivity & Notes

Comparing tools in the Productivity & Notes category? These related listings are worth a look: TimeTagger — Tag your time, get the insight — an open source time tracker; AmuseWiki — A library-oriented wiki engine and publishing platform, 100% free software; Feather Wiki — A tiny tool for simple, self-contained wikis in a single file.