DeskTime costs $35/mo.
These cost $0.
6 free alternatives to DeskTime, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
The top-rated free, open-source replacement for DeskTime is Midday (Open Source Open Source). Across this category, 4 self-hostable tools are available (including SolidTime and Kimai). Switching a 5-person team saves up to $2,100/year compared to DeskTime's $35/mo subscription.
The catch: Community-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
DeskTime vs Free Alternatives
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $35/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midday | open source | Open Source | Local | ★ 15.1k | DeskTime vs Midday → |
| SolidTime | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Self-host | ★ 9.1k | DeskTime vs SolidTime → |
| Kimai | open source | AGPL-3.0+ | Self-host | ★ 5.1k | DeskTime vs Kimai → |
| Wakapi | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 4.5k | DeskTime vs Wakapi → |
| TimeScribe | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 933 | DeskTime vs TimeScribe → |
| Ever Teams | open source | Open Source | Local | ★ 603 | DeskTime vs Ever Teams → |
The picks
6 open source · ranked by fit
- 01
Midday
open sourceOpen SourceLocal15.1knov 2026All-in-one tool for freelancers and small businesses to manage finances, track time, store files, and send invoices efficiently.
The catch vs DeskTimeCommunity-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopcross-platformone-click install
- install
- Clone https://github.com/midday-ai/midday or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Download the native package or installer for your operating system.
- your data
- All application data lives locally on your own machine.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 02
SolidTime
open sourceAGPL-3.0Self-host9.1knov 2026Seamlessly track time across multiple projects, generate insightful reports, and optimize your open source contributions.
The catch vs DeskTimesolidtime’s desktop clients remain less mature and its approvals, scheduling, payroll, and management reporting are much thinner than Hubstaff’s.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopwebself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Create a managed account or deploy the official Docker Compose self-hosting stack
- setup
- Self-hosting needs Docker Compose, PostgreSQL, environment and application keys, mail configuration, persistent storage, migrations, and a reverse proxy with TLS
- your data
- Users, organizations, projects, clients, and time entries live in PostgreSQL, with application state in persistent Docker volumes, on solidtime's service or the user's host
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 03
Kimai
open sourceAGPL-3.0+Self-host5.1knov 2026Open-source time tracking solution for businesses of all sizes. Manage projects, track billable hours, and generate insightful reports.
The catch vs DeskTimeKimai matches timesheets and billing well, but its native-client, offline-mobile, approval, integration, and zero-administration experience is less polished than Harvest's.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- install
- Official Docker Compose stack
- setup
- A non-expert needs Docker, a domain and TLS, database and application secrets, email configuration, backups, upgrades, and optional plugins for some workflows.
- your data
- Users, projects, activities, rates, and timesheets live in MySQL or MariaDB; plugins, configuration, and generated files live in persistent server volumes.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 04
Wakapi
open sourceOpen SourceSelf-host4.5knov 2026Open-source, self-hosted time tracking solution for developers. Analyze coding habits, improve productivity, and visualize progress.
The catch vs DeskTimeRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed DeskTime.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/muety/wakapi or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 05
TimeScribe
open sourceOpen SourceSelf-host933nov 2026Advanced time tracking and productivity analytics tool that captures detailed work patterns, generates comprehensive reports, and helps optimize workflow efficiency.
The catch vs DeskTimeRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed DeskTime.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/winbigfox/timescribe or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 06
Ever Teams
open sourceOpen SourceLocal603nov 2026Ever Teams offers an all-in-one solution for work management, time tracking, and team collaboration with integrations for popular tools.
The catch vs DeskTimeCommunity-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopcross-platformone-click install
- install
- Clone https://github.com/ever-co/ever-teams or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Download the native package or installer for your operating system.
- your data
- All application data lives locally on your own machine.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
DeskTime Head-to-Head Comparisons (2027)
Side-by-side trade-off breakdowns · 6 free alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · DeskTime open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to DeskTime?+
The top free alternative to DeskTime is Midday (open source, Open Source). All-in-one tool for freelancers and small businesses to manage finances, track time, store files, and send invoices efficiently. Other popular DeskTime replacements include SolidTime, Kimai, Wakapi.
Can I self-host a free replacement for DeskTime?+
Yes. Of the 6 free alternatives to DeskTime, 4 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: SolidTime (AGPL-3.0), Kimai (AGPL-3.0+), Wakapi (Open Source), TimeScribe (Open Source).
How much does switching from DeskTime to a free alternative save?+
DeskTime starts at $35/month per seat ($420/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Midday saves $2,100 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own DeskTime clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for DeskTime is NO (use a free alternative, save the tokens). Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for DeskTime or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 6 battle-tested open-source alternatives like Midday.
What is the catch when switching from DeskTime to Midday?+
Community-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
