Best / Time tracking
Best open-source Time tracking
The best self-hosted time-tracking split in the c17.io catalog is Solidtime for an AGPL-3.0 Toggl-shaped timesheet (the published Toggl / Harvest / Clockify / Everhour / Hubstaff timer — Toggl import), Kimai when you want that AGPL-3.0 timesheet plus invoicing — /compare/solidtime-vs-kimai, ActivityWatch when the job is MPL-2.0 automatic tracking rather than a timer you start — /replace/rescuetime, and Invoice Ninja when you already invoice from time (Elastic License 2.0, not OSI). This is not RescueTime's every productivity-score SKU, Hubstaff's screenshot monitor, or Harvest's full expense product. Screenshot surveillance is not the OSS timesheet.
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Ranked picks
1
SolidtimeAGPL-3.0 Toggl-shaped timesheet — the c17 Toggl / Harvest / Everhour path. /compare/solidtime-vs-kimai.
When to pick it: A project, a timer, and a CSV you host.
9,041 stars in the catalog
2
KimaiAGPL-3.0 timesheets plus invoicing. /compare/solidtime-vs-kimai.
When to pick it: Bill from time if Solidtime is not the shape.
5,100 stars in the catalog
3
ActivityWatchMPL-2.0 automatic watcher — the c17 RescueTime path.
When to pick it: What ran on the laptop, not a timer you start.
19,376 stars in the catalog
4
Invoice NinjaELv2 invoices and time already on /best/invoicing-accounting. Not OSI.
When to pick it: A timesheet next to the invoice if you accept ELv2.
10,287 stars in the catalog
How they compare
| Tool | License | Self-host | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solidtime | GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 | Easy | A project, a timer, and a CSV you host. |
| Kimai | GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 | Easy | Bill from time if Solidtime is not the shape. |
| ActivityWatch | Mozilla Public License 2.0 | Easy | What ran on the laptop, not a timer you start. |
| Invoice Ninja | Elastic License 2.0 | Easy | A timesheet next to the invoice if you accept ELv2. |
Related pages
- Solidtime / Kimai stack
- ActivityWatch stack
- Akaunting / Invoice Ninja stack
- Replace Toggl
- Replace Harvest
- Replace Hubstaff
- Replace Everhour
- Replace Time Doctor
- Replace Clockify
- Replace RescueTime
- Replace QuickBooks
- Replace FreshBooks
- Replace Xero
- Replace Zoho Books
- Replace Wave
- Solidtime vs Kimai
- All best open-source pages
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- Tools catalog
FAQ
- Solidtime or Kimai?
- Solidtime if you want the published Toggl / Everhour timer. Kimai if you also invoice from time — /compare/solidtime-vs-kimai.
- Everhour or RescueTime?
- Everhour is a timer — /replace/everhour. RescueTime is automatic — /replace/rescuetime.
- Is this Hubstaff?
- A timer, yes. Screenshot surveillance is not the OSS timesheet — /replace/hubstaff.
- Are these free?
- Solidtime and Kimai are AGPL-3.0. ActivityWatch is MPL-2.0. Invoice Ninja is ELv2, not OSI. You pay hosting. Template users never pay c17.
- How do I deploy it?
- Open /stacks/solidtime-time. Persist the database. Create one project and one timer.
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