Timely 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 Timely 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:
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
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 | Timely | WakaTime |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | From $11/mo, billed monthly Starter plan | Free plan, paid from $8.25/mo, billed yearly Basic plan |
Category | Time Tracking Productivity | Time Tracking Productivity |
Rating | 4.6/5 G2 4.8 · Capterra 4.7 · SourceForge 4.3 779 reviews | 4.0/5 G2 4.0 11 reviews |
Free plan | No | Yes |
Choose Timely or WakaTime?
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
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
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
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: Timely vs WakaTime
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Timely |
| timelyapp.com/pricing read Oct 31, 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 Timely pricing and WakaTime pricing.
Key Takeaways
Timely
- Choose if you want AI-powered automatic time tracking to maximize margins, optimize utilization, and drive profitability
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 (4.6/5 from 779 reviews for Timely, 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: Timely $11/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 Timely 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 (4.6/5 from 779 reviews for Timely, 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: Timely $11/mo, billed monthly; WakaTime $8.25/mo, billed yearly. Only WakaTime has a free plan.
What are Timely and WakaTime used for?
Timely: AI-powered automatic time tracking to maximize margins, optimize utilization, and drive profitability. WakaTime: Automatic code stats and dashboards for developers, straight from your IDE.
What does Timely cost vs WakaTime?
Timely's cheapest paid plan is Starter at $11/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 Oct 31, 2026.
What's the main difference between Timely and WakaTime?
Timely's main strength: eliminates manual time entry, saving time and improving accuracy. WakaTime's main strength: fully automatic, requiring no manual time entry.