Productivity & Business · Project Management

ActivityWatch

ActivityWatch is a free, open-source automatic time tracker that logs app, window and website use locally on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.

Our take: ActivityWatch does the main job of automatic time tracking without asking you to trust a cloud service, and it gives every feature away.

Best forPrivate automatic tracking

ReviewedOct 2026Free

6.95 criteria · see breakdown

Try ActivityWatchFree; optional Pro patronage $5/mo

ActivityWatch is a free, open-source app that automatically tracks which programs, windows and websites you use, and keeps that data on your own device. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. Every feature is free; ActivityWatch Pro from $5 a month is optional patronage that adds no features.

The bottom line

The best free choice for private, personal screen-time tracking.

Our score

Reviewed by the Conversion Gems editorial team. Hover a facet to focus it; click to pin.Tap a facet to focus it.

What it is, and why we rate it

One line each. Open a row for detail.

What it really isA free, open-source desktop and Android app that records your app, window and website use and keeps the data on your device.

Our takeActivityWatch does the main job of automatic time tracking without asking you to trust a cloud service, and it gives every feature away.

The browser and editor watchers make it useful for developers and anyone auditing their screen time. It is a personal tool: there is no finished device sync and no team layer, and setup on some Linux desktops takes extra steps.

Why we rate itFull automatic tracking at no cost, with your data kept on your own device.

The catchNo finished device sync, no team features and community-only support.

Best / not good for

Best for

Personal screen-time audits
Developers tracking coding time
Privacy-conscious users

Not good for

Managers monitoring a team
Client timesheets and invoicing
Users who need cross-device sync today

Trade-offs

Friction report

Trade-offs to know before signing up.

Time to value
Minutes on Windows and macOS: install, start, open localhost:5600.
Scale breakpoint
Using several computers, since data stays separate per device until sync ships.
Walled garden
None: open source, local data and a REST API.

Still a fit?

If none of these block you, start on the free plan.

Try ActivityWatch

ActivityWatch pricing

Option	Price	What you get
ActivityWatch	$0	The full app, all watchers, no usage limits, no ads
Pro Personal	$5/mo or $50/yr	Supports development; no extra features
Pro Business	$20 per user/mo	Per-seat patronage with VAT invoices; no extra features
Believer	$250 or $450 one-time	Five or ten years of support for the project

From ActivityWatch's homepage and subscribe page, checked 4 October 2026. The project states that every feature ships to everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ActivityWatch free?

Yes. ActivityWatch is free and open source under MPL-2.0, with no feature gates, usage limits or ads. ActivityWatch Pro ($5 a month personal, $20 per user a month for business) is optional patronage and adds no extra features (checked 4 October 2026).

Is ActivityWatch safe?

The project is local-first: tracking data is stored on your device and, per the official site, never sent to a server. The source code is public on GitHub. Because it records window titles and browsing, treat the data folder as private and download only from activitywatch.net or the official GitHub releases.

How do I use ActivityWatch?

Download the installer from the official releases page (Windows .exe, macOS .dmg, Linux archive, or Google Play on Android) and start it. The dashboard then runs at localhost:5600 and shows data within a few minutes. Add the browser extension to track websites.

Does ActivityWatch sync between devices?

Not yet as a finished feature. The official site lists sync as 'We're working on it', and the GitHub repo marks it as work in progress and decentralized.

What does ActivityWatch track?

By default it tracks the active application and window title and whether you are away from the keyboard. Browser extensions add the active tab, and editor watchers add coding activity in tools like VS Code and vim.

What is the best free app for tracking daily computer activity?

For private, unlimited tracking on your own devices, ActivityWatch is a strong free option. If you want cloud reports and focus tools, RescueTime has a free Lite plan with two weeks of history (checked October 2026).

ActivityWatch alternatives

Other ways to track where your time goes:

Showing 1–3 of 4

Sources checked October 4, 2026: ActivityWatch homepage, ActivityWatch Pro (subscribe), ActivityWatch on GitHub, Getting started docs.

Conversion Gems independently reviews every tool.

ActivityWatch

ActivityWatch pricing

Frequently Asked Questions

ActivityWatch alternatives

Tags

Explore related categories