Running in production · Independent · 24 Oct 2026

ActivityWatch/activitywatch

The best free and open-source automated time tracker. Cross-platform, extensible, privacy-focused.

← Running in production

In simple English

ActivityWatch runs quietly in the background on your computer. It records which apps you use, which websites you visit, and when you step away from the keyboard. All your data stays on your own hard drive instead of going to a company cloud server. You can view clear graphs of your day to see where your time actually goes. It costs nothing to download and use, and it works offline without a subscription.

What it is

This repository bundles the core time-tracking server, desktop user interface, and default tracking tools into a single package. It combines background monitors with a local database and a web dashboard.

What it is good for

Solo builders who want to understand their daily work habits without paying for a commercial time tracker or giving up their private data.

Stars19k
LicenceMPL-2.0
Latestv0.14.1 (2026-10-10)checked 24 Oct 2026
Last code change2026-10-22
Written inPython
Setup effort
2 / 5
Payoff
4 / 5
Good
  • Keeps all your personal work data entirely on your own device.
  • Tracks active windows, browser tabs, and keyboard inactivity automatically.
  • Offers a visual dashboard to inspect your daily habits and productivity.
Watch for
  • Consumes some memory in the background while running continuous monitors.
  • Mobile apps have fewer features than the desktop version.
  • Requires manual setup if you want to sync data across multiple computers.
Replaces

RescueTime

Works well with

Syncthing

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How to get it

Download the official installer for your operating system directly from the GitHub releases page.

Independent: reviewed for Repo Radar outside the daily editions. Every independent repository

On Stack Radar: Productivity & Collaboration › Personal Productivity & Focus › Focus Tools.

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