Toggl costs $35/mo.
These cost $0.
7 free alternatives to Toggl, 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 Toggl is Super Productivity (MIT Open Source). Across this category, 5 self-hostable tools are available (including SolidTime and Kimai). Switching a 5-person team saves up to $2,100/year compared to Toggl's $35/mo subscription.
The catch: Super Productivity timeboxes local tasks well but does not pull a broad set of external task systems into one inbox or automatically place them on the calendar like Akiflow.
Toggl vs Free Alternatives
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $35/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Productivity | open source | MIT | Local | ★ 23.5k | Toggl vs Super Productivity → |
| Midday | open source | Open Source | Local | ★ 15.1k | Toggl vs Midday → |
| SolidTime | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Self-host | ★ 9.1k | Toggl vs SolidTime → |
| Kimai | open source | AGPL-3.0+ | Self-host | ★ 5.1k | Toggl vs Kimai → |
| Wakapi | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 4.5k | Toggl vs Wakapi → |
| TimeScribe | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 933 | Toggl vs TimeScribe → |
| TimeTracker | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 640 | Toggl vs TimeTracker → |
The picks
7 open source · ranked by fit
- 01
Super Productivity
open sourceMITLocal23.5knov 2026Privacy-first task manager combining task lists, Kanban, Pomodoro timers, time tracking, and integrations with GitHub, GitLab, and Jira. No account required, works offline.
The catch vs TogglSuper Productivity timeboxes local tasks well but does not pull a broad set of external task systems into one inbox or automatically place them on the calendar like Akiflow.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- desktopmobilewebone-click install
- install
- Use the browser/PWA or install a packaged desktop or mobile build
- setup
- Download the native package or installer for your operating system.
- your data
- Tasks, projects, time records, and settings are local-first in browser or app storage; optional synchronization and backups use the user's chosen WebDAV or Dropbox account
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 02
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 TogglCommunity-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
- 03
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 Togglsolidtime’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
- 04
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 TogglKimai 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
- 05
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 TogglRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Toggl.
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
- 06
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 TogglRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Toggl.
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
- 07
TimeTracker
open sourceOpen SourceSelf-host640nov 2026Free open-source time tracking software with 120+ features. Track time, manage projects, generate invoices. Complete data control with Docker deployment.
The catch vs TogglRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Toggl.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/drytrix/timetracker 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
Toggl Head-to-Head Comparisons (2027)
Side-by-side trade-off breakdowns · 7 free alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · Toggl open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to Toggl?+
The top free alternative to Toggl is Super Productivity (open source, MIT). Privacy-first task manager combining task lists, Kanban, Pomodoro timers, time tracking, and integrations with GitHub, GitLab, and Jira. No account required, works offline. Other popular Toggl replacements include Midday, SolidTime, Kimai.
Can I self-host a free replacement for Toggl?+
Yes. Of the 7 free alternatives to Toggl, 5 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), TimeTracker (Open Source).
How much does switching from Toggl to a free alternative save?+
Toggl starts at $35/month per seat ($420/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Super Productivity saves $2,100 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own Toggl clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for Toggl is NO (use a free alternative, save the tokens). Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for Toggl or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 7 battle-tested open-source alternatives like Super Productivity.
What is the catch when switching from Toggl to Super Productivity?+
Super Productivity timeboxes local tasks well but does not pull a broad set of external task systems into one inbox or automatically place them on the calendar like Akiflow.
