StayFree costs $35/mo.
These cost $0.
1 free alternatives to StayFree, 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 StayFree is ActivityWatch (Open Source Open Source). Switching a 5-person team saves up to $2,100/year compared to StayFree's $35/mo subscription.
The catch: Community-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
StayFree vs Free Alternatives
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $35/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ActivityWatch | open source | Open Source | Local | ★ 19.5k | StayFree vs ActivityWatch → |
The picks
1 open source · ranked by fit
- 01
ActivityWatch
open sourceOpen SourceLocal19.5knov 2026Free open-source time tracker that automatically monitors your device usage. Cross-platform support with local data storage for complete privacy.
The catch vs StayFreeCommunity-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopcross-platformone-click install
- install
- Clone https://github.com/activitywatch/activitywatch 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
StayFree Head-to-Head Comparisons (2027)
Side-by-side trade-off breakdowns · 1 free alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · StayFree open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to StayFree?+
The top free alternative to StayFree is ActivityWatch (open source, Open Source). Free open-source time tracker that automatically monitors your device usage. Cross-platform support with local data storage for complete privacy.
How much does switching from StayFree to a free alternative save?+
StayFree starts at $35/month per seat ($420/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like ActivityWatch saves $2,100 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own StayFree clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for StayFree is NO (use a free alternative, save the tokens). Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for StayFree or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 1 battle-tested open-source alternatives like ActivityWatch.
What is the catch when switching from StayFree to ActivityWatch?+
Community-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
