Timing alternatives: 2 open-source picks
Timing costs $11/mo — $132 a year. These 2 alternatives replace it for $0, led by ActivityWatch and Kimai. All 2 are open source. License, stars and last commit checked by hand on 2026-08-29. No trials, no crippled tiers.
Automatic, privacy-first time tracker that logs app and browser usage locally.
licenseMPL-2.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
Professional time tracking with invoicing, teams, and exports.
licenseAGPL-3.0
runsyour server
setupnot verified by us yet — check the repo README
facts verified 2026-08-29
What each one is, in full: ActivityWatch · Kimai
last updated 2026-08-29 · no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
the usual suspects · recommended everywhere, rejected here
ActivityWatchIt records the local history, but does not turn selected blocks into project time entries.
how to choose a Timing alternative
Easiest to get running
ActivityWatch — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
Most proven
ActivityWatch, with 18,883 GitHub stars — the largest community of the 2, which usually means more answers when something breaks.
what you give up by leaving Timing
- deep macOS automation, rules, sync, calendar integration, and reporting polish
- cross-device history
- team timesheets and payroll
- behavioral datasets
- blocking across every platform
None of the picks above covers all of it. The full verdict says which gaps matter.
Timing alternatives at a glance
| tool | license | running it | platforms | stars | active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ActivityWatch | MPL-2.0 | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 18,883 | 2026-09 |
| Kimai | AGPL-3.0 | one-click install | self-hosted, web | 4,987 | 2026-09 |
why people still pay for Timing
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. If none of that applies to you, any pick above saves $132 a year.
questions about switching from Timing
Is there an open-source alternative to Timing?
Yes: ActivityWatch, Kimai. Every tool on this page is open source: no trials, no crippled tiers.
Can open source really replace Timing?
Our verdict is YES. ActivityWatch (19k stars), Kimai (5k stars) are mature open-source replacements for Timing — self-host in one command and stop paying $11/mo. The full verdict, and what you give up by switching, is at caniopensourceit.online/timing.
What is the easiest open-source Timing alternative to set up?
ActivityWatch — a one-click install, no server to maintain.
What is the most popular open-source Timing alternative?
By GitHub stars, ActivityWatch (18,883). Kimai is next with 4,987.
