If you're searching for a RescueTime alternative, you probably already know what automatic time tracking is — you just want it cheaper, more private, or simpler. Fair. We build one of the tools below, so read this knowing that; we'll be upfront about what the others do better. All prices checked on the official pricing pages in July 2026.
RescueTime — the veteran
RescueTime has been around the longest, and it shows in the feature list: automatic tracking, distraction-blocking focus sessions, goals and alerts, and mobile apps alongside desktop.
Price: Solo plan $7/month billed annually ($9 monthly). A limited free "Lite" plan exists.Where it shines: the most mature ecosystem — mobile apps, integrations, and a timesheets bundle for billable work.Where it falls short: the free plan is a teaser; the useful features live behind the subscription. And your data lives on their servers, which some people are fine with and some aren't.Rize — the polished AI one
Rize is a well-designed macOS/Windows tracker with strong AI features: auto-categorization, AI productivity insights, session planning, even built-in focus music.
Price: no free tier. Basic is $9.99/month billed annually ($12.99 monthly); Pro with AI insights is $28.99/month. 7-day trial.Where it shines: depth of AI insights and reporting, plus integrations (API, Zapier) on paid plans. To their credit, they're clear that they're not employee-monitoring software.Where it falls short: price. If you just want to know where your day goes, $120–350/year is a lot of certainty tax.ActivityWatch — the open-source purist
ActivityWatch is free, open-source, and local-first: your data never leaves your device. It even runs on Linux and Android — the widest platform support here.
Price: completely free, forever. Volunteer-maintained, funded by donations.Where it shines: maximum privacy (nothing is uploaded anywhere), extensibility (editor and browser watchers), and the open-source community.Where it falls short: it's a toolkit more than a product. Categories are largely do-it-yourself, there's no AI, no focus score, and no sync between devices yet. If you enjoy tinkering, that's a feature; if you don't, it's homework.FocusNow — free, with the modern parts included
FocusNow is our tool, so judge this section accordingly. The pitch is simple: the things you'd normally pay for — AI categorization, an AI Daily Report, focus scores, Pomodoro and Deep Work sessions, encrypted cloud sync — are in the free plan.
Price: free forever, no credit card. A paid Pro tier (team features, advanced insights) is planned but doesn't gate today's features.Where it shines: the free tier is the product, not a teaser. Automatic Focus/Neutral/Distracting categorization, a daily timeline, focus-scored sessions, hourly patterns, and an AI report that sums up your day. No screenshots, no keylogging; data encrypted in transit and at rest, stored in the EU, with export and deletion built in.Where it falls short (honestly): it's the youngest tool here. macOS (Apple Silicon) and Windows only — no mobile apps, no Linux. Distraction blocking isn't built yet (it's on the roadmap). If you need timesheets and invoicing, RescueTime's bundle or Rize's client reports fit better.Which one should you pick?
You bill clients by the hour → RescueTime Solo+ or Rize Pro. Timesheets and client reports are their home turf.You want everything local and love to tinker → ActivityWatch. Unbeatable privacy, some assembly required.You want mobile tracking too → RescueTime is the only one here with real mobile apps.You want the insight features free, with sync and zero setup → FocusNow. That's exactly the gap we built it for.The honest summary: there's no single best tracker, only the best one for how you work. Whichever you choose, the habit that matters is the same — look at your numbers once a week and change one thing. If you want to start free, FocusNow installs in under a minute.