ActivityWatch

ActivityWatch is a free, open-source, privacy-focused time tracker that logs application usage automatically and stores data locally on your device — no cloud, no subscription, no data sent anywhere.

What Makes ActivityWatch Stand Out

Completely free and open-source with no data uploaded to any server. Data stored locally — full privacy guaranteed

Works offline without internet connection

Pricing and Plans

ActivityWatch is free and open-source — you can use it without any licensing cost, audit the code, and self-host it for complete data control.

Who Should Use ActivityWatch

ActivityWatch is best for teams and individuals who need activity tracking capabilities and where completely free and open-source with no data uploaded to any server. It may not be the right fit when no mobile tracking without additional setup.

Verdict

ActivityWatch delivers on its core promise as a activity tracking tool. ActivityWatch is a free, open-source, privacy-focused time tracker that logs application usage autom... For teams evaluating activity tracking options, ActivityWatch is worth considering based on its specific strengths and how they align with your requirements.

Integrations and Extensions

ActivityWatch's extension ecosystem includes: web browser extensions (Chrome, Firefox) for URL-level tracking, editor integrations (VS Code, JetBrains) for project and file-level coding time, and the AFK (Away From Keyboard) detector that records idle periods. Community-developed watchers extend coverage to additional use cases.

ActivityWatch vs. RescueTime

RescueTime sends data to RescueTime servers for analysis and provides richer insights in return. ActivityWatch keeps all data local and requires more self-service analysis. The tradeoff is privacy vs. convenience: ActivityWatch for users who prioritize data sovereignty; RescueTime for users who want automatic insights without analysis effort.

Privacy Implications of Time Tracking

ActivityWatch's local-only model also addresses workplace privacy concerns: employee time tracking through cloud platforms raises questions about employer access, data portability when changing jobs, and behavioral surveillance. ActivityWatch data is explicitly the employee's own — they choose what to analyze, retain, and share.

Overall rating: 4.1 / 5

ActivityWatch is the free, open-source, privacy-focused time and activity tracker that runs locally on your machine — recording application usage, browser activity, and active time without sending any data to external servers.

Radical Privacy Through Local Processing

ActivityWatch processes all data locally: no account creation, no data uploaded to any server, no third-party analytics. Activity data stays on the user's machine, stored in a local database that the user owns and controls completely.

This local-only approach distinguishes ActivityWatch from cloud-based alternatives (Toggl Track, Clockify, RescueTime): tools that send activity data to servers create implicit agreements about how that behavioral data is stored, used, and potentially shared. ActivityWatch eliminates this concern entirely.

Watchers and Data Collection

ActivityWatch uses modular "watchers" that collect different types of data: the window watcher records active application and window title, the browser watcher records visited URLs through browser extensions, the AFK watcher records idle periods. Each watcher runs independently and can be disabled — providing granular control over what activity is tracked.

Dashboard and Analysis

ActivityWatch's web dashboard provides activity timeline views, application usage breakdowns, and productivity summaries — the analytics layer that transforms raw activity logs into actionable time awareness. The API enables exporting data for custom analysis in Python notebooks, spreadsheets, or other tools.

Overall rating: 4.1 / 5