Head-to-Head Comparison · Alternative to WakaTime · 📊 analytics
WakaTime 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 WakaTime ($35/mo) across cost, hosting, data privacy, and real-world trade-offs.
SolidTime is a verified AGPL-3.0-licensed open-source replacement for WakaTime. Switching from WakaTime ($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
WakaTime vs SolidTime Specifications
facts verified 2026-11-07
| Dimension | WakaTime (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 WakaTime 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 WakaTime clone?
Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for WakaTime or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 6 battle-tested open-source alternatives like ActivityWatch.
WakaTime vs SolidTime FAQ
Is SolidTime a good free alternative to WakaTime?+
Yes. SolidTime is a verified open-source (AGPL-3.0) replacement for WakaTime. Seamlessly track time across multiple projects, generate insightful reports, and optimize your open source contributions.
What is the catch when switching from WakaTime 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 WakaTime to SolidTime?+
WakaTime 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 WakaTime?+
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
