ActivityWatch

Name: ActivityWatch
Price: 20 USD
Author: ActivityWatch

Free plan AndroidAPIExtensionLinuxMacSelf-hosted+1

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What ActivityWatch is

ActivityWatch is free software that automatically records how people spend time on applications and websites. Its window watcher tracks the active application or window, while the AFK watcher detects mouse and keyboard inactivity. Browser extensions track active tabs, with extensions listed for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. Users can organize activity into categories and review an overview of usage. Modular watchers and a REST API support custom tracking; community watchers include VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, and Spotify. Tracking data stays in a local SQLite database instead of being sent to a cloud service. Users can export, delete, or back up their data. ActivityWatch runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android, with desktop and mobile apps. The project says there are no premium tiers, usage limits, or ads, and the software is licensed under MPL-2.0. Its statistics are estimates, accuracy varies by use case, and the API is still under development.

Who it suits

It suits individuals who want local time tracking across desktop, mobile, and browser activity. Developers and advanced users can extend tracking through watchers and the REST API.

What it does well

Free with no usage limits
Tracks applications and websites
Stores data locally
Export, delete, and backup controls
Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android

What to know first

Wayland active-window watcher is disabled
Statistics are estimates
API may change
Volunteer development may slow

Limits

The active-window watcher is completely disabled in Wayland compositors such as GNOME Mutter; an experimental Tauri distribution beginning with version 0.14 bundles awatcher for Linux Wayland support. The API is under development and may change.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Business	Per user / month · For teams and companies · minimum one seat · VAT invoice with reverse-charge for EU VAT numbers	$20 a month
Believer	One-time contribution · described as a ten-year vote of confidence	$450, paid once
Personal	For individuals · all features remain free; subscription funds development	$5 a month
Personal yearly	For individuals · two months free · all features remain free	$50 a year

As activitywatch.net lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Open the ActivityWatch website
Choose a supported Windows, macOS, Linux, or Android option
Install the desktop or mobile app, or use the browser extension
Enable tracking watchers and browser extensions as needed
Review activity by categories or connect custom watchers through the REST API

Verdict

ActivityWatch offers local, extensible time tracking without premium tiers, ads, or usage limits. Wayland support, estimated accuracy, and an evolving API are important limitations to consider.

Questions

Is ActivityWatch free?

Yes. The project says all features remain free, with no premium tiers, usage limits, or ads. Optional plans include Personal at $5 a month, Personal yearly at $50 a year, Business at $20 per user per month, and Believer at 450.00 USD once.

Which platforms does it support?

ActivityWatch runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. Platform listings also include an API, browser extension, and self-hosted deployment; macOS availability varies by release and architecture.

Where is tracking data stored?

Tracking data is stored in a local SQLite database and is not sent to a cloud service.

Can I export or delete my data?

Yes. Users can export, delete, or back up their data at any time.

Can ActivityWatch track browser tabs?

Yes. Browser extensions track the active tab, with extensions listed for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.

Is ActivityWatch open source?

The project is licensed under MPL-2.0.

Facts from ActivityWatch's own pages

Accuracy: The project describes its collected data and statistics as estimates whose accuracy varies by use case and data type. · docs.activitywatch.net, 9 Oct 2026
API: ActivityWatch uses a REST API for communication between its server and clients, and its documentation says the API is under development and subject to change. · docs.activitywatch.net, 9 Oct 2026
Browser extensions: Browser extensions track the active tab, and the FAQ lists Chrome, Firefox, and Edge extensions for web activity tracking. · docs.activitywatch.net, 9 Oct 2026
Categories: Users can break down usage into categories to get an overview of their activity. · activitywatch.net, 9 Oct 2026
Core tracking: The included window watcher tracks the active application or window, and the AFK watcher detects mouse and keyboard inactivity. · activitywatch.net, 9 Oct 2026
Data export: Yes · activitywatch.net, 20 Sept 2026
Desktop app: Yes · activitywatch.net, 20 Sept 2026
Extensibility: ActivityWatch uses modular watchers, and users can create custom watchers through its REST API; community watchers include VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, and Spotify. · docs.activitywatch.net, 9 Oct 2026
Founded: 2014 · activitywatch.net, 28 Sept 2026
Free access: The project states that its software has no premium tiers, usage limits, or ads and is licensed under MPL-2.0. · docs.activitywatch.net, 9 Oct 2026
Free plan: Yes · activitywatch.net, 20 Sept 2026
Local data: The FAQ says tracking data is stored in a local SQLite database and is not sent to a cloud service. · docs.activitywatch.net, 9 Oct 2026
Mobile apps: both · activitywatch.net, 20 Sept 2026
Notable limitation: The FAQ says the active window watcher is completely disabled in Wayland compositors such as GNOME Mutter, while an experimental Tauri distribution starting with v0.14 bundles awatcher for Linux Wayland support. · docs.activitywatch.net, 9 Oct 2026
Platform support: ActivityWatch runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android; macOS version and architecture availability varies by release. · docs.activitywatch.net, 9 Oct 2026
Project tracking: Yes · activitywatch.net, 20 Sept 2026
Purpose: ActivityWatch automatically tracks how users spend time on their devices, including applications and websites. · activitywatch.net, 9 Oct 2026
Support: The project offers community discussion through its forum and Discord server, and says development is volunteer-built and may slow at times. · activitywatch.net, 9 Oct 2026
User control: Users can export, delete, or back up their data at any time. · docs.activitywatch.net, 9 Oct 2026