How to choose a time tracker

Most time trackers handle the basics well. The right one depends on what you need the numbers for. Start with the questions below, then read short notes on six tools.

We make FocusNow, so read this with that in mind. We've described each tool as fairly as we can, checked the details against official pages on September 26, 2026, and said where another tool is the better choice. Nobody paid to be listed.

Five questions to ask first

Is it for your focus or your invoices?
Focus tools show patterns and sessions. Client tools turn time into entries, rates and statements. Some do both.
Timer or automatic record?
Timers are precise when you remember them. Automatic tracking catches everything and asks you to sort it later.
Just you, or a team?
Team plans add shared projects, roles and reports. Tools for one person stay simpler.
Where should the data live?
Some tools keep everything on your device. Others sync to the cloud so you can reach it elsewhere.
Which devices?
Check macOS, Windows, Linux and mobile support before you commit.

Six tools, briefly

FocusNow

Good fit: Solo professionals who want automatic tracking, focus sessions and timecards in one desktop app.
Keep in mind: No distraction blocking, no mobile or Linux app, no team features. You assign time to clients yourself.
Price: Core tracking free; timecards and billing free during early access.

Get FocusNow Free

Rize

Good fit: People who want AI to assign sessions to projects, plus blocking, integrations and team dashboards.
Keep in mind: Subscription after a 7-day trial.
Price: From $9.99 a month billed annually.

Full comparison Official site

RescueTime

Good fit: People who want focus sessions with blocking, goals and alerts, and mobile apps. Timesheets for client work come with Solo+.
Keep in mind: Paid plans after a 14-day trial.
Price: From $7 a month billed annually; Solo+ $12.

Full comparison Official site

Toggl Track

Good fit: Timer lovers and teams who need projects, billable rates, invoicing and reports on web, desktop and mobile.
Keep in mind: The timer is the main habit. The automatic Timeline is a helper in the desktop apps.
Price: Free plan; paid from $9 per user a month billed annually.

Full comparison Official site

Timely

Good fit: Agencies and consultancies that want AI-drafted timesheets built from an automatic record.
Keep in mind: Priced per user, with a 14-day trial.
Price: From $9 per user a month billed annually.

Official site

ActivityWatch

Good fit: Privacy-minded users who want free, open-source tracking with data kept on their own device, including on Linux.
Keep in mind: No focus timer or client billing, and syncing between devices is still in progress.
Price: Free and open source (MPL-2.0).

Official site

Whichever you pick, try it for one full week of real work before you decide.

Competitor details checked on September 26, 2026 against their official pages. Prices are list prices in USD before tax and can change.