ActivityWatch vs Timely: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for ActivityWatch and Timely side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, ActivityWatch leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
ActivityWatch
Automatically track your time on devices with this open-source, privacy-first application.
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Timely requires payment)
Timely
AI-powered automatic time tracking to maximize margins, optimize utilization, and drive profitability.
Best for you if:
- • You want eliminates manual time entry, saving time and improving accuracy
| At a Glance | ActivityWatch | Timely |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | From $11/mo, billed monthly Starter plan |
Category | Time Tracking Productivity | Time Tracking Productivity |
Rating | n/a | 4.6/5 G2 4.8 · Capterra 4.7 · SourceForge 4.3 779 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Choose ActivityWatch or Timely?
Choose ActivityWatch if
- You want a fully free tool (Timely requires payment)
- You want automatically tracks time without manual input
- You want open-source, allowing for transparency and community contributions
Choose Timely if
- You want eliminates manual time entry, saving time and improving accuracy
- You want provides real-time, accurate data for better business insights and decision-making
In-Depth Analysis
ActivityWatch
Automatically track your time on devices with this open-source, privacy-first application.
Strengths
- Pro: Automatically tracks time without manual input
- Pro: Open-source, allowing for transparency and community contributions
- Pro: Privacy-focused, keeping data local to your device
- Pro: Cross-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- Pro: Helps identify and improve screen habits
Key features
Timely
AI-powered automatic time tracking to maximize margins, optimize utilization, and drive profitability.
Timely's pricing is fair, offering a clear progression of features.
Strengths
- Pro: Eliminates manual time entry, saving time and improving accuracy.
- Pro: Provides real-time, accurate data for better business insights and decision-making.
- Pro: Increases team efficiency by removing the burden of time logging.
- Pro: Offers clear visibility into project health, team performance, and resource allocation.
- Pro: User-friendly interface and experience.
Weaknesses
- Con: No explicit free tier mentioned, only a free trial.
- Con: Requires background activity tracking, which some users might find intrusive (though it aims to be non-interruptive).
Key features
Plans and prices: ActivityWatch vs Timely
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ActivityWatch | No plan prices on file | activitywatch.net |
| Timely |
| timelyapp.com/pricing read Oct 31, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on ActivityWatch pricing and Timely pricing.
Key Takeaways
ActivityWatch
- Has a free plan
Timely
- Choose if you want AI-powered automatic time tracking to maximize margins, optimize utilization, and drive profitability
What the data shows
On the data below, ActivityWatch leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Only Timely has a published user rating (4.6/5 from 779 reviews); ActivityWatch has none we can show.
- Timely starts at $11/mo, billed monthly; ActivityWatch has no public paid plan price on file.
- Only ActivityWatch has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do ActivityWatch and Timely compare in 2026?
On the data below, ActivityWatch leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Only Timely has a published user rating (4.6/5 from 779 reviews); ActivityWatch has none we can show. Timely starts at $11/mo, billed monthly; ActivityWatch has no public paid plan price on file. Only ActivityWatch has a free plan.
What are ActivityWatch and Timely used for?
ActivityWatch: Automatically track your time on devices with this open-source, privacy-first application. Timely: AI-powered automatic time tracking to maximize margins, optimize utilization, and drive profitability.
What does ActivityWatch cost vs Timely?
ActivityWatch is free. Timely's cheapest paid plan is Starter at $11/mo, billed monthly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 31, 2026.
What's the main difference between ActivityWatch and Timely?
ActivityWatch's main strength: automatically tracks time without manual input. Timely's main strength: eliminates manual time entry, saving time and improving accuracy.