ActivityWatch

Overview

ActivityWatch is a free, open-source automatic time tracker that runs entirely on your device, providing detailed insights into how you spend time on your computer while maintaining complete privacy through local-only data storage.

Features

• Fully Open Source: MIT licensed, community-developed
• 100% Private: All data stored locally, never sent to cloud
• Automatic Tracking: Monitors applications, windows, and websites
• Cross-Platform: Works on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
• Browser Extensions: Track web activity with Chrome, Firefox extensions
• Customizable Categories: Create custom productivity classifications
• Detailed Analytics: Visualize time usage with charts and graphs
• Query System: Powerful data queries for custom insights
• Extensible: Plugin system for custom functionality
• No Account Required: Works completely offline

Privacy & Security

• Zero telemetry or data collection
• All processing happens locally
• Data never leaves your device
• Complete user control over data
• No external dependencies
• Open source code for transparency

Data Collection

• Active application and window titles
• Website URLs (via browser extension)
• Active time vs. idle time
• Custom event tracking
• AFK (away from keyboard) detection

Analytics & Insights

• Time spent per application
• Website usage statistics
• Productivity categorization
• Custom time period analysis
• Export data for further analysis
• Programmable queries for insights

Technical Features

• REST API for data access
• JSON data export
• SQLite database
• Modular architecture
• Plugin development support
• Custom integrations possible

Use Cases

• Personal productivity tracking
• Understanding work patterns
• Identifying time-wasting activities
• Freelance time logging
• Academic research on computer usage
• Self-improvement and habit building

Community & Development

• Active GitHub community
• Regular updates and improvements
• User-contributed plugins
• Responsive issue tracking
• Transparent development process

Platform Availability

Windows, macOS, Linux, Android Browser extensions: Chrome, Firefox

Pricing

100% Free and Open Source No paid tiers or premium features Community-supported

Target Users

• Privacy-conscious individuals
• Open-source enthusiasts
• Developers and technical users
• Researchers studying digital behavior
• Anyone wanting local-only time tracking
• Users in regions with data privacy concerns

Comparison to Commercial Tools

Unlike RescueTime, Timing, or other commercial trackers, ActivityWatch is completely free, open-source, and privacy-first with no cloud dependency. Ideal for users who want full control over their data or need to avoid cloud storage for security/compliance reasons.

Self-Hosting

Since all data is local, ActivityWatch is inherently self-hosted. Advanced users can sync data between devices using their own infrastructure if desired.