ActivityWatch is an automated time tracker that records your activity so you can understand how you spend your time, with all data stored locally under your control.
The tool solves the problem of manual time tracking by automatically monitoring what you do across your computer. It runs watchers that detect active applications, window titles, and keyboard and mouse activity, then stores this data in a local database. The system is designed around privacy: since data never leaves your machine by default, you maintain complete ownership. The tool includes built-in AFK (away from keyboard) detection to avoid logging idle time and provides a web-based dashboard for reviewing your activity patterns.
ActivityWatch suits anyone who wants detailed insights into their computer usage without relying on cloud services or sacrificing privacy. It works well for developers tracking project time, knowledge workers analyzing productivity patterns, or anyone curious about their digital habits. The tool is cross-platform and extensible, allowing users to write custom watchers or integrate with other applications through its API. If you need a self-hosted alternative to commercial time-tracking services that keeps sensitive data on your own machine, this is a strong fit.
The project maintains a substantial base of real-world users, as evidenced by the fact that almost all open issues are raised by outside users rather than the core team. Maintainers typically respond to new issues and pull requests within a few days. Work in the issue tracker is dominated by bug fixes, user experience improvements, and pinned items, reflecting a focus on stability and usability.
