# ActivityWatch

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

**Replaces:** RescueTime

**Tier:** Easy

## 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.

## Stack

- [ActivityWatch](https://activitywatch.net) — MPL-2.0 automatic time tracker — the published RescueTime path
- [Solidtime](https://www.solidtime.io) — AGPL-3.0 timesheet if the job is a timer you start
- [Kimai](https://www.kimai.org) — AGPL-3.0 timesheets plus invoicing if Solidtime is not the shape

## Estimated SaaS cost saved

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

**About $1,200 / year** on a small team, before you count lock-in.

## Deploy on Railway

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.

[Start on Railway](https://c17.io/go/railway/activitywatch-focus?from=%2Fstacks%2Factivitywatch-focus.md)

[Solidtime or Kimai if this is a timer you start, not an automatic watcher](https://c17.io/stacks/solidtime-time)

## AGENT_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.
```

## 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.

Source: https://c17.io/stacks/activitywatch-focus