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RescueTime

RescueTime tracks time spent in apps and websites automatically and blocks distractions, with a free Lite plan and paid plans from $7 a month.

Our take: RescueTime does one thing well: it shows you, without timers, how your day actually went.

Best forAutomatic time tracking
ReviewedPricing: Freemium
7.0 out of 105 criteria · see breakdown
Try RescueTimeFree Lite; Solo Focus $9/mo or $84/yr

RescueTime is an automatic time tracker for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android that shows where your screen time goes and blocks distractions. A free Lite plan keeps 2 weeks of basic reports; paid plans start at $9 a month, or $84 a year, with a 14-day free trial.

The bottom line

Worth paying for if you want automatic tracking plus distraction blocking; Lite is only a sampler.

Our score

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

Community ratings

Shown for context only. Our score is independent.

Capterra
4.6 out of 5
140+ reviews
Trustpilot
2.3 out of 5
10+ reviews

4.4 / 5 aggregate · across 2 sources

Third-party ratings shown verbatim; aggregate weighted by review volume.

What it is, and why we rate it

One line each. Open a row for detail.

What it really isA background tracker that reports where your screen time goes and blocks distractions on demand.
Our takeRescueTime does one thing well: it shows you, without timers, how your day actually went.
The paid plans earn their price through Focus Sessions and alerts, which turn the reports into changed habits. Lite is a sampler, with two weeks of history and no blocking. Categories are assigned automatically, so expect to correct some of them.
Why we rate itZero-effort tracking, useful focus tools and clear privacy limits at a modest price.
The catchLite is limited, iOS needs a paid plan, there is no Linux client, and automatic categories need tuning.

Best / not good for

Best for
  • Remote workers auditing their focus time
  • Freelancers who bill by the hour
  • People who want distraction blocking
Not good for
  • Linux or ChromeOS users
  • Employers wanting detailed staff monitoring
  • Anyone wanting long free history
Trade-offs

Friction report

Trade-offs to know before signing up.

  1. Time to value
    Minutes to install; reports become useful after a few days of data.
  2. Scale breakpoint
    Billing clients from tracked time requires Solo+ or Team+.
  3. Walled garden
    Low: data is reachable through RescueTime's APIs.
Still a fit?
If none of these block you, start on the free plan.
Try RescueTime

RescueTime plans and pricing

PlanMonthlyAnnualKey inclusions
Lite$0$0Automatic tracking, reports, weekly summary, 1 goal, 2 weeks of history
Solo Focus$9/mo$84/yr ($7/mo)Focus Sessions, goals and alerts, full report history
Solo+$15/mo$144/yr ($12/mo)Solo Focus plus Timesheets, projects and billing reports
Team Focus$12/user/mo$120/user/yr ($10/mo)Team and individual reports, role-based access
Team+$18/user/mo$192/user/yr ($16/mo)Team Focus plus shared projects, team calendar, billable rates

From RescueTime's pricing page and help center, checked 4 October 2026. Lite does not include the iOS app. No prorated refunds on cancellation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a free version of RescueTime?

Yes. RescueTime Lite is free and includes automatic app and website tracking, activity reports, weekly summaries and 1 goal, with 2 weeks of report history. It has no Focus Sessions or alerts, and the iOS app needs a paid plan (checked 4 October 2026).

How much does RescueTime cost?

Solo Focus is $9 a month or $84 a year. Solo+ with Timesheets is $15 a month or $144 a year. Team Focus is $12 per user a month or $120 per user a year, and Team+ is $18 or $192 (checked 4 October 2026). There is a 14-day free trial.

Is RescueTime worth the money?

It is worth paying for if you want distraction blocking, alerts and full history, which Lite lacks. If you only want a rough weekly picture of your screen time, Lite may be enough.

What is RescueTime used for?

Tracking how you spend time on your computer and phone, blocking distractions during focus sessions and, on Solo+ or Team+, building timesheets for client work.

Does RescueTime record what I type?

No. RescueTime says it never records keystrokes, text entered into fields or website content. It uses window titles to identify apps and sites.

How can I download RescueTime?

RescueTime supports Windows 10 and 11, macOS 11 or later, iOS 17 or later and Android 8.0 or later. Desktop apps are on rescuetime.com and mobile apps are in the App Store and Google Play.

RescueTime alternatives

Other time and focus tools to compare:

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Sources checked October 4, 2026: RescueTime pricing, RescueTime plan comparison (help), RescueTime FAQ, RescueTime Solo Focus features, RescueTime API docs.

Conversion Gems independently reviews every tool.

Tags

#TimeTracking#Focus#Productivity

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