ActivityWatch

ActivityWatch

ActivityWatch is an open-source automated time tracker that monitors what you do on your computer. It helps analyze and visualize how you spend your time so you can become more productive.
ActivityWatch image
time-tracking productivity open-source

ActivityWatch: Open-Source Time Tracker

Automated time tracking software to monitor computer activity, analyze productivity, and gain insights into daily tasks.

What is ActivityWatch?

ActivityWatch is an open-source application that automatically tracks how you spend your time on your computer. It runs quietly in the background and builds up a history of what applications and websites you use.

Some key features of ActivityWatch:

  • Tracks application and website usage, generating a timeline showing how you spend your days
  • Open source and cross-platform (Linux, Windows, MacOS)
  • Extensible plugin architecture allows logging additional types of activities
  • Built-in visualization tools help analyze your computer usage patterns and productivity
  • Stores usage history locally on your device to protect privacy
  • Developed by a community of privacy-focused volunteers

ActivityWatch gives visibility into how you're spending your time. This insight can help motivate changes to reduce distractions and become more focused and productive. The open-source nature provides transparency and trust in the software.

ActivityWatch Features

Features

  1. Tracks time spent in applications and websites
  2. Provides timeline visualization of computer usage
  3. Open source and cross-platform (Windows, Mac, Linux)
  4. Stores data locally by default to protect privacy
  5. Web extension and desktop app available
  6. Customizable using Python scripts and REST API
  7. Can ignore/exclude apps and websites

Pricing

  • Open Source
  • Free

Pros

Free and open source

Simple graphical timeline

Lightweight resource usage

Protects privacy by default

Cross-platform support

Cons

Limited analytics and data visualization

Requires technical knowledge to customize

No mobile app

Not as full-featured as commercial competitors


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