Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to DeskTime · 📊 analytics
DeskTime vs SolidTime
Seamlessly track time across multiple projects, generate insightful reports, and optimize your open source contributions. Here is how SolidTime ($0/mo open source) stacks up against DeskTime ($35/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
SolidTime is a verified AGPL-3.0-licensed open-source replacement for DeskTime. Switching from DeskTime ($35/mo) saves $420/yr per solo seat, or $2,100/yr for a 5-person team. Deployment: Runs on Self-host.
The catch: solidtime’s desktop clients remain less mature and its approvals, scheduling, payroll, and management reporting are much thinner than Hubstaff’s.
SolidTime
$0.00/mo · AGPL-3.0
DeskTime vs SolidTime Specifications
facts verified 2026-11-07
| Dimension | DeskTime (Paid) | SolidTime (Replacement) |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $35 / mo | $0 / mo |
| 1-Year Cost (1 seat) | $420 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $420) |
| 1-Year Cost (5 seats) | $2,100 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $2,100) |
| 1-Year Cost (10 seats) | $4,200 / yr | $0 / yr (Save $4,200) |
| Source & License | Proprietary SaaS | open source AGPL-3.0 |
| Where It Runs | Vendor Cloud | Self-host (your server) |
| Platforms | Web / Cloud | desktopwebself-hosteddocker to self-host |
| GitHub Stars | — | ★ 9.1k (active nov 2026) |
Deep Dive: Switching from DeskTime to SolidTime
Trade-offs, installation & data architecture
What you trade away
solidtime’s desktop clients remain less mature and its approvals, scheduling, payroll, and management reporting are much thinner than Hubstaff’s.
How to deploy SolidTime
Create a managed account or deploy the official Docker Compose self-hosting stack
What it takes to run
Self-hosting needs Docker Compose, PostgreSQL, environment and application keys, mail configuration, persistent storage, migrations, and a reverse proxy with TLS
Where your data lives
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
Why fork SolidTime instead of vibe-coding a DeskTime clone?
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.
DeskTime vs SolidTime FAQ
Is SolidTime a good free alternative to DeskTime?+
Yes. SolidTime is a verified open-source (AGPL-3.0) replacement for DeskTime. Seamlessly track time across multiple projects, generate insightful reports, and optimize your open source contributions.
What is the catch when switching from DeskTime to SolidTime?+
solidtime’s desktop clients remain less mature and its approvals, scheduling, payroll, and management reporting are much thinner than Hubstaff’s.
How much do you save switching from DeskTime to SolidTime?+
DeskTime costs $35/mo ($420/yr) per seat, whereas SolidTime is $0/mo. Switching saves $420/yr for a solo user, $2,100/yr for a 5-person team, and $4,200/yr for a 10-person team.
How do I install or self-host SolidTime instead of DeskTime?+
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
