Quantified self & productivity · ActivityWatch (open source project)
ActivityWatch
Free, open-source, self-hosted automatic time tracker that keeps all activity data on the user's own device.
ActivityWatch is a free and open-source automatic time-tracking tool that runs entirely on the user's own machine, logging active windows, browser tabs (via extension), and idle time without sending data to any third-party server by default. It presents activity timelines, category breakdowns, and reports through a local web-based dashboard, and supports plugins and a community ecosystem of watchers for editors, media players, and other apps. Because it is volunteer-maintained software with no company behind it, there are no subscription tiers, premium features, or usage limits — the entire feature set is free, and anyone can inspect or modify the source. It is self-hosted in the sense that the tracking and storage happen locally; users can optionally sync or self-host a server for cross-device aggregation. It targets privacy-conscious users who want RescueTime-style automatic tracking without sending activity data to a vendor's cloud.
At a glance
| Vendor | ActivityWatch (open source project) |
|---|---|
| Pricing model | Open source + paid options |
| Free tier | Yes |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Open source | Yes (MPL-2.0) |
| Best for | Privacy-conscious users who want automatic time tracking with data that never leaves their own device. |
Pricing
Completely free and open source, with no premium tiers, usage limits, or advertising.
Pricing has not been verified yet — see the vendor's site.
Features
- Automatic local tracking of active windows and idle time
- Browser extension for tab/website tracking
- Local web dashboard with timelines and category reports
- Plugin ecosystem (editor, media player, and other watchers)
- No data sent to third-party servers by default
- Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- Data export for custom analysis
Integrations
Profile last reviewed September 21, 2026