ActivityWatch
Privacy-first automated time tracker for desktop and mobile
18.4k stars 970 forks last commit first released MPL-2.0
Actively maintained
Last commit 23 Jul 2026.
ActivityWatch is an automated time tracking and lifelogging suite that records how you spend time on your devices. It stores data locally under your control and provides a web interface to explore and analyze your activity.
Key Features
- Automatic tracking via “watchers” (active app/window, AFK status, browser tab activity, and more)
- Local, user-controlled data storage with a REST API and query engine
- Web dashboard to visualize time usage and breakdowns
- Categorization to group and summarize activity for better overviews
- Cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android)
- Extensible ecosystem with browser extensions and editor plugins
Use Cases
- Personal productivity and work-life balance tracking
- Understanding time spent across apps, websites, and projects
- Quantified-self lifelogging and behavioral research datasets
Limitations and Considerations
- Activity synchronization across devices is still a work in progress
ActivityWatch is a strong fit for individuals and teams who want detailed, automatic time tracking without giving up data ownership. Its modular watchers and API make it adaptable to many workflows and research needs.
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