ActivityWatch Review, Pricing & Features

ActivityWatch automatically tracks app and website usage, storing data locally. Free, open-source, no premium tiers or ads.

Category
Time Tracking
Pricing
Free (open source), from Free
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 18, 2026
Free PlanWindowsWeb AppAndroidAPIOpen SourceSelf-HostedMac

Overview

ActivityWatch is a free, open-source app that automatically tracks how you spend time on your devices — which applications you use, which windows are active, and (with browser extensions) which websites you visit — without requiring any manual logging.

It was built by brothers Erik Bjäreholt and Johan Bjäreholt, who created it because a tool like it 'should exist' but didn't, and it continues to be developed by volunteers and community contributors.

How It Works

The core app automatically tracks active applications and window titles in the background, and lets users define category rules so raw activity data can be grouped into meaningful buckets for review.

Browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox extend tracking to website visits, and editor plugins are available for logging coding time directly, with all results viewable in an activity timeline and dashboard.

Privacy and Local-First Data

ActivityWatch's central design principle is that data stays local: all tracked time data is stored on the user's own device and is never sent to any server, according to the project. This distinguishes it from cloud-based time trackers and gives users full control over their own activity data.

Cross-device synchronization is listed as a feature still in development, meaning users running ActivityWatch on multiple machines don't yet get a fully mature way to merge that data automatically.

Key Features

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Completely free with no premium tiers, usage limits, or ads
  • Strong privacy model — data never leaves the user's device
  • Open source (MPL-2.0) and extensible
  • Cross-platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android

Cons

  • No official iOS app
  • Cross-device data synchronization is still in development
  • As a volunteer-maintained project, support and integrations depend on community contribution rather than a commercial team

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ActivityWatch really free?

Yes. It's fully free and open source, with no premium tiers, usage limits, or ads.

Where is my tracked data stored?

Locally on your own device. According to the project, it is never sent to any server.

Does ActivityWatch track website visits?

Yes, via its Chrome and Firefox browser extensions.

What platforms does it support?

Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android; no official iOS app is available.

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