ActivityWatch is a free and open-source automated time tracker that runs on your computer and monitors which applications and websites you use, so you can see exactly how you spend your time. Privacy-first and cross-platform, it works on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android, and is a popular alternative to services like RescueTime, ManicTime and WakaTime. Unlike closed-source trackers, your data stays on your device — it is never uploaded to the cloud.

Key Features

• Automatic tracking — Tracks the active application and window title out of the box, with more detail available via additional watchers.
• Local & private — Data is stored locally on your device and never leaves it unless you choose to sync it.
• Cross-platform — Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.
• Browser extensions — Track the active browser tab using extensions for Chrome and Firefox.
• Editor plugins — See how you spend your time writing code with editor watchers.
• Categories — Get a clearer overview of your usage by breaking activity down into categories.
• Productivity & screen-time — Monitor time spent on specific projects, manage screen-time habits or track work hours.

Why Use ActivityWatch?

ActivityWatch is built for anyone who wants to understand their digital habits without giving up their data. Because everything is stored locally and open source, it is ideal for privacy-conscious users who object to cloud-based trackers. It is free to use, maintained by volunteers, and transparent about exactly what it collects and where it stores it.

Use Cases

• Understanding and improving personal productivity
• Tracking work hours and screen time across projects
• Measuring time spent on specific applications and websites
• Developers analysing how much time they spend coding in each tool

Platform

Windows · macOS · Linux · Android

Licence

Mozilla Public License 2.0

Website

activitywatch.net