ActivityWatch or Solidtime?

ActivityWatch if you want the published RescueTime automatic watcher. Solidtime if the job is a timer you start — /compare/solidtime-vs-kimai.

Is this Everhour or Toggl?

A timesheet stays on /replace/everhour and /replace/toggl. This page is automatic tracking.

Screenshot surveillance is not the OSS tracker. Hubstaff stays on /replace/hubstaff.

ActivityWatch is MPL-2.0. Solidtime and Kimai are AGPL-3.0. You pay hosting (or the laptop). Template users never pay c17.

Stacks / CRM

Easy

ActivityWatch

Automatic time you keep. ActivityWatch is MPL-2.0 — RescueTime without the productivity-score seat.

The problem

RescueTime sells automatic computer-usage tracking as a seat: app categories, focus sessions, and a productivity score. You wanted a local watcher that stores the events on a box you run. ActivityWatch is MPL-2.0 (ActivityWatch/activitywatch; last push 26 Oct 2026; 19,376 stars in the catalog) — a cross-platform automatic tracker with a local server and watchers. Solidtime and Kimai are AGPL-3.0 timesheets you fill in — /replace/toggl and /compare/solidtime-vs-kimai. This is not RescueTime's every Focus Session, Team Pulse, or productivity-score SKU, or Hubstaff's screenshot monitor — /replace/hubstaff. A timer you start stays on /replace/everhour.

Replaces

RescueTime

Replace RescueTime See all best open-source time trackers

Estimated SaaS saved

$1,200

per year, small team, before lock-in

Start on Railway

Solidtime or Kimai if this is a timer you start, not an automatic watcher

Sponsor this stack Tip jar

ActivityWatch is a local watcher plus a small server, not a one-click Railway timesheet. Run it on the laptop (or a box the team shares). Persist the ActivityWatch data directory. A Toggl-shaped timer stays on /stacks/solidtime-time. No one-click template in this repo yet — Start on Railway.

The stack

ActivityWatch
MPL-2.0 automatic time tracker — the published RescueTime path
Catalog entry →
Solidtime
AGPL-3.0 timesheet if the job is a timer you start
Catalog entry →
Kimai
AGPL-3.0 timesheets plus invoicing if Solidtime is not the shape
Catalog entry →

Cost table

You stop paying	Typical / year	Self-host instead
RescueTime (small team)	$1,200	ActivityWatch on the laptop

Agent setup prompt

Replace RescueTime with ActivityWatch.

- Official docs. Persist the data directory. Confirm one day's categories land. Do not claim RescueTime Focus Sessions, Team Pulse, or a productivity score.
- Solidtime or Kimai if the job is a timer you start — /compare/solidtime-vs-kimai and /replace/everhour.
- Write AGENT_PROMPT.md.

Also as markdown: /stacks/activitywatch-focus.md

FAQ

ActivityWatch or Solidtime?: ActivityWatch if you want the published RescueTime automatic watcher. Solidtime if the job is a timer you start — /compare/solidtime-vs-kimai.
Is this Everhour or Toggl?: A timesheet stays on /replace/everhour and /replace/toggl. This page is automatic tracking.
Is this Hubstaff?: Screenshot surveillance is not the OSS tracker. Hubstaff stays on /replace/hubstaff.
Are these free?: ActivityWatch is MPL-2.0. Solidtime and Kimai are AGPL-3.0. You pay hosting (or the laptop). Template users never pay c17.