WakaTime costs $35/mo.
These cost $0.
6 free alternatives to WakaTime, 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 WakaTime is ActivityWatch (Open Source Open Source). Across this category, 5 self-hostable tools are available (including SolidTime and Wakapi). Switching a 5-person team saves up to $2,100/year compared to WakaTime's $35/mo subscription.
The catch: Community-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
WakaTime 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 | WakaTime vs ActivityWatch → |
| SolidTime | open source | AGPL-3.0 | Self-host | ★ 9.1k | WakaTime vs SolidTime → |
| Wakapi | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 4.5k | WakaTime vs Wakapi → |
| TimeScribe | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 933 | WakaTime vs TimeScribe → |
| Hackatime | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 216 | WakaTime vs Hackatime → |
| Ziit | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 258 | WakaTime vs Ziit → |
The picks
6 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 WakaTimeCommunity-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
- 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 WakaTimesolidtime’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
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 WakaTimeRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed WakaTime.
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
- 04
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 WakaTimeRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed WakaTime.
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
- 05
Hackatime
open sourceOpen SourceSelf-host216nov 2026Free, open-source coding time tracker compatible with VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, vim, emacs and more. No limits, no paywalls - your data stays yours forever.
The catch vs WakaTimeRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed WakaTime.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/hackclub/hackatime 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
Ziit
open sourceOpen SourceSelf-host258nov 2026Monitor your coding sessions, analyze productivity patterns, and gain insights into your development workflow with comprehensive time tracking statistics.
The catch vs WakaTimeRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed WakaTime.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/0pandadev/ziit 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
WakaTime Head-to-Head Comparisons (2027)
Side-by-side trade-off breakdowns · 6 free alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · WakaTime open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to WakaTime?+
The top free alternative to WakaTime 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. Other popular WakaTime replacements include SolidTime, Wakapi, TimeScribe.
Can I self-host a free replacement for WakaTime?+
Yes. Of the 6 free alternatives to WakaTime, 5 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: SolidTime (AGPL-3.0), Wakapi (Open Source), TimeScribe (Open Source), Hackatime (Open Source), Ziit (Open Source).
How much does switching from WakaTime to a free alternative save?+
WakaTime 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 WakaTime clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for WakaTime is NO (use a free alternative, save the tokens). 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.
What is the catch when switching from WakaTime to ActivityWatch?+
Community-driven open source project without dedicated enterprise SLAs.
