ManicTime vs WakaTime: 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 ManicTime and WakaTime side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, WakaTime 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:
ManicTime
Automatic time tracking software for individuals and teams to accurately monitor computer usage.
Best for you if:
- • You want automates time tracking, reducing manual effort
WakaTime
Automatic code stats and dashboards for developers, straight from your IDE.
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
| At a Glance | ManicTime | WakaTime |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $7/user/mo, billed monthly Standard plan plan | Free plan, paid from $8.25/mo, billed yearly Basic plan |
Category | Time Tracking Productivity | Time Tracking Productivity |
Rating | 4.4/5 G2 4.4 14 reviews | 4.0/5 G2 4.0 11 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Watch out for | Self-hosted server costs not included. | n/a |
Choose ManicTime or WakaTime?
Choose ManicTime if
- You want automates time tracking, reducing manual effort
- You want provides detailed insights into work activities and potential time waste
Choose WakaTime if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want fully automatic, requiring no manual time entry
- You want provides deep insights into coding habits and productivity
In-Depth Analysis
ManicTime
Automatic time tracking software for individuals and teams to accurately monitor computer usage.
The Standard plan at $7/month offers fair value for individual users needing cross-platform time tracking and cloud backup.
Watch out
Self-hosted server costs not included.
Strengths
- Pro: Automates time tracking, reducing manual effort
- Pro: Provides detailed insights into work activities and potential time waste
- Pro: Helps accurately bill clients and manage project costs
- Pro: Offers flexible deployment options (Cloud and On-premise)
- Pro: Intuitive interface and easy tagging system
Weaknesses
- Con: No free tier, only a 30-day free trial
- Con: Screenshots in the cloud are only available in the Ultimate plan
- Con: Direct database integration is only available for the on-premise version
Key features
WakaTime
Automatic code stats and dashboards for developers, straight from your IDE.
WakaTime's pricing is fair, offering a generous Free tier and well-differentiated paid plans.
Strengths
- Pro: Fully automatic, requiring no manual time entry
- Pro: Provides deep insights into coding habits and productivity
- Pro: Supports a vast array of IDEs and text editors
- Pro: Offers team collaboration features and leaderboards
- Pro: Open-source plugins for transparency and community contributions
Weaknesses
- Con: Limited dashboard history on the free plan
- Con: Advanced features and integrations are locked behind paid tiers
- Con: May not track non-coding development activities (e.g., design, research) as accurately
Key features
Plans and prices: ManicTime vs WakaTime
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ManicTime |
| manictime.com/pricing read Nov 2, 2026 |
| WakaTime |
| wakatime.com/pricing read Oct 26, 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 ManicTime pricing and WakaTime pricing.
Key Takeaways
ManicTime
- Choose if you want automatic time tracking software for individuals and teams to accurately monitor computer usage
WakaTime
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, WakaTime leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.4/5 from 14 reviews for ManicTime, 4.0/5 from 11 reviews for WakaTime; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides).
- Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: ManicTime $7/user/mo, billed monthly; WakaTime $8.25/mo, billed yearly.
- Only WakaTime 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 ManicTime and WakaTime compare in 2026?
On the data below, WakaTime leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.4/5 from 14 reviews for ManicTime, 4.0/5 from 11 reviews for WakaTime; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides). Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: ManicTime $7/user/mo, billed monthly; WakaTime $8.25/mo, billed yearly. Only WakaTime has a free plan.
What are ManicTime and WakaTime used for?
ManicTime: Automatic time tracking software for individuals and teams to accurately monitor computer usage. WakaTime: Automatic code stats and dashboards for developers, straight from your IDE.
What does ManicTime cost vs WakaTime?
ManicTime's cheapest paid plan is Standard plan at $7/user/mo, billed monthly. WakaTime's cheapest paid plan is Basic at $8.25/mo, billed yearly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 2, 2026.
What's the main difference between ManicTime and WakaTime?
ManicTime's main strength: automates time tracking, reducing manual effort. WakaTime's main strength: fully automatic, requiring no manual time entry.