Can I open-source Timing?

KINDA · partial or early alternatives
price $11/moyou'd save $132/yrcategory ⏳ time trackingreplaced by 0 people

Kinda. Kimai and ActivityWatch cover the core of Timing, but they're early or partial — expect gaps like deep macOS automation, rules, sync, calendar integration, and reporting polish and cross-device history.

why people still pay

People still pay for Timing because the timer is simple, but people pay for frictionless capture and a history they trust enough to invoice or change habits from. The recurring cost buys idle detection, permissions, app metadata, privacy, notifications, sync, reports, integrations, and backups, not just the visible interface.

what you lose

xdeep macOS automation, rules, sync, calendar integration, and reporting polish

xcross-device history

xteam timesheets and payroll

xbehavioral datasets

xblocking across every platform

the open-source alternatives

These projects already replace it, free.

AActivityWatchAutomatic, privacy-first time tracker that logs app and browser usage locally.14kaug 2026open source↗KKimaiProfessional time tracking with invoicing, teams, and exports.4.0kaug 2026open source↗

What each one is, in full: ActivityWatch · Kimai

no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real

share on X ↗"I just replaced Timing ($11/mo) with open source"
the numbers

Timing pricing

planmonthlyannual (per mo)what you get
professional$11/user$9/user1 Mac; automatic time tracking and reports.
expert$14/user$11/userUp to 2 Macs; expanded reporting and invoicing integrations.
connect$20/user$16/userUp to 3 Macs/user; team collaboration and shared projects.

free tierno free tier

billingmonthly + annual (20%+ discount); 30-day trial without card

hidden costsDevice limits rise by tier: 1 Mac on Professional, 2 on Expert, and 3 per user on Connect.

verified 2026-08-14 · source ↗

questions
Can I open-source Timing?

Kinda. ActivityWatch covers the core of Timing, but there are real gaps: deep macOS automation, rules, sync, calendar integration, and reporting polish, cross-device history. Read the honest list above before committing.

How much does Timing cost?

Timing costs about $11/month (Professional, checked 2026-07-31), which is $132 per year.

What do I lose by replacing Timing?

Honestly: deep macOS automation, rules, sync, calendar integration, and reporting polish; cross-device history; team timesheets and payroll; behavioral datasets; blocking across every platform. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.

Is there an open-source alternative to Timing?

Yes: ActivityWatch (Automatic, privacy-first time tracker that logs app and browser usage locally.) Kimai (Professional time tracking with invoicing, teams, and exports.)