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.
