4 Best Open Source RescueTime Alternatives
A curated collection of the 4 best open source and self-hosted alternatives to RescueTime in 2026.
Looking for a free, privacy-friendly, or self-hosted replacement for RescueTime in 2026? The top open-source alternative is ActivityWatch — Open-source, privacy-first automated time tracker for all platforms.
Other highly rated open-source RescueTime alternatives include TimeScribe, Ziit and Code Time.
Open-source, privacy-first automated time tracker for all platforms
ActivityWatch is a free and open-source automated time tracker that runs locally on your device. It tracks application and website usage across Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android without sending data to the cloud, ensuring complete privacy. - Cross-platform support: Works on Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android. - Privacy-first: All data stays on your device; no cloud uploads or tracking. - Automatic tracking: Monitors active applications and window titles out of the box. - Browser extensions: Track active tabs with Chrome and Firefox extensions. - Editor plugins: Monitor coding time with editor watchers for popular IDEs. - Categories & insights: Break down usage into custom categories for better analysis. - Local data storage: Uses local databases to store all activity data securely. - Extensible: Supports custom watchers and integrations for advanced tracking. ActivityWatch is fully open-source and can be self-hosted. It runs locally on your device with no external dependencies. The project is built with Rust and Python, and the source code is available on GitHub. Installation is straightforward via pre-built binaries or source code compilation.
Private offline time tracker for macOS and Windows
TimeScribe is a private, offline time tracking application designed to help you monitor working hours, breaks, projects, and overtime without relying on cloud services or requiring an account. Available for both macOS and Windows, it ensures your data stays on your device. - Local-Only Tracking: All data is stored locally on your device, ensuring privacy and no cloud dependency. - No Account Required: Start tracking immediately without signing up. - Project & Task Management: Organize time entries by projects and tasks for better invoicing and reporting. - Break & Overtime Tracking: Monitor breaks, scheduled hours, and overtime to maintain work-life balance. - App Usage Insights: Track which applications you use during work hours for better productivity analysis. - Menu Bar Integration: Quickly start, stop, or switch timers directly from the menu bar. - Open Source: Fully open source under the MIT license, allowing for transparency and community contributions. - Cross-Platform: Available for both macOS and Windows. TimeScribe is a desktop application and does not require self-hosting. It runs entirely offline on your local machine, ensuring maximum privacy and data control. The application is built with Vue.js and Laravel, and the source code is available on GitHub.
Track coding time and productivity metrics
Ziit is a developer-focused productivity tool designed to track coding time and analyze activity patterns. It provides insights into your coding habits, helping you optimize workflows and improve efficiency. - Time Tracking: Monitor coding sessions with detailed time logs - Productivity Analytics: Analyze activity patterns and coding trends - Leaderboards: Compare performance with other developers - GitHub Integration: Sync with GitHub for seamless tracking - Cross-Platform: Works on desktop and mobile devices - Privacy-Focused: No AI models or data mining involved - Real-time Stats: View live coding statistics and metrics - Customizable Dashboard: Personalize your productivity overview Ziit is an open-source project that can be self-hosted. The repository is available on GitHub with deployment instructions for various platforms. The application is built with modern web technologies and requires a database backend for storing activity data.
Privacy-respecting coding time analytics
Code Time is a privacy-respecting analytics tool for developers to track coding time across popular editors and AI agents. The application records per-minute activity, visualizes habits, and allows data export while ensuring source code never leaves your machine. - Editor Integration: First-class plugins for VS Code, JetBrains IDEs (IntelliJ, PyCharm, WebStorm, etc.), and VS Code-derived editors like Cursor and Windsurf - AI Agent Tracking: Monitor sessions from Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, Pi, Amp, Gemini CLI, and Kimi Code with token usage and cost estimates - Privacy-First: Only file paths, languages, and timestamps are recorded—source code remains local. Data is exportable via JSON, CSV, or REST API - Unlimited History: Free tier includes forever retention with per-minute resolution - Cross-Platform: Native companion app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac (not available in EU/China due to regulations) - Data Visualization: Modern dashboard with daily distribution, language breakdown, project totals, and calendar heatmaps - Widgets & Badges: Embeddable SVG widgets for READMEs, blogs, or personal sites - Open Data: Full data export capability to connect with other platforms or self-hosted services Code Time is a cloud-based service with official plugins for major editors. While the core service is hosted, all raw data can be exported and self-hosted. The application is built with a focus on privacy and data ownership, making it suitable for developers who want to maintain control over their coding metrics.
About RescueTime
Track your digital habits automatically and gain insights into how you spend time on devices to boost productivity and focus.