Chronoid vs ActivityWatch
Both keep every byte of your data on your own machine. The real question is not privacy, it is this: do you want something free that you assemble yourself, or something native and finished the moment you open it?
Pick ActivityWatch if...
You want $0 and open source above all, you also use Windows or Linux, and you do not mind installing a browser extension, adding watchers, and reading fairly raw data yourself. It is a genuinely good, honest project and free is free.
Pick Chronoid if...
You are on a Mac, you want it to work the minute you install it, and you want the extras a bare tracker leaves out: auto categorization, a website blocker, a Pomodoro timer, billing, and the ability to ask questions about your own week. You pay once for that.
Side by side
Green marks the honest winner on each row. Nobody wins them all.
| Feature | Chronoid | ActivityWatch |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49-99 one-time | Free forever |
| Open source | No (source-available parts) | Yes (MPL-2.0) |
| Data storage | 100% local | 100% local (self-hosted) |
| Setup | Install and it just runs | Install app + browser extension + watchers |
| Native macOS app | Yes, built for Mac | Cross-platform, less native feel |
| Auto categorization | Rules + AI + offline fallback | Manual category rules |
| Website / app blocker | Built-in | Not included |
| Pomodoro / focus timer | Built-in | Not included |
| Billing & PDF invoices | Built-in | Not included |
| AI chat with your data | Yes, plus local MCP server | Not included |
| Other platforms | macOS only | Windows, Linux, Android too |
| Support | Solo dev, direct email | Community forum / GitHub |
Prices and features verified July 2026. ActivityWatch is a trademark of its maintainers; this page is not affiliated with them.
What both get right
Neither app makes you press start and stop. You just work, and your day fills in on its own. That is the whole point of automatic tracking, and both do it locally.
The real difference: a kit vs a product
ActivityWatch: a great kit
You install the core, add the browser extension for web tracking, add watchers for the apps you care about, and set up your own categories. The data is all there and it is yours. But turning it into "how much did I bill this client" or "stop me opening Twitter" is on you.
Chronoid: a finished product
Install it and it already tracks apps, websites, and window titles, categorizes them with rules plus AI, blocks distractions, runs a Pomodoro timer, and can turn tracked hours into a PDF invoice. The same local data, but the last mile is done for you.
When ActivityWatch is the better choice
- •Your budget is exactly zero. ActivityWatch is free forever, and that matters.
- •You need it on Windows, Linux, or Android as well as, or instead of, a Mac.
- •Open source is a hard requirement. You want to read and audit the code, or self-host.
- •You enjoy configuring your own watchers and querying raw data, and you do not need a blocker, timer, or invoices.
About the price
Let us be straight: ActivityWatch costs nothing and Chronoid costs $49 to $99, paid once. If money is the only axis, ActivityWatch wins. Chronoid is worth paying for when the hours you save on setup, the built-in blocker and timer, and the billing tools are worth more to you than the price. For a freelancer, recovering one forgotten billable hour usually covers it.
One-time purchase. No subscription. All features in the trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ActivityWatch really free?
Yes, completely. It is open source under the MPL-2.0 license with no paid tiers, no ads, and no limits. We are not going to pretend otherwise.
Does Chronoid keep data local like ActivityWatch?
Yes. Both store your activity on your own machine. Neither uploads your window titles or URLs to a server. This is not a point of difference between them.
Can I move from ActivityWatch to Chronoid?
Chronoid starts tracking the moment you install it, so you build a fresh history automatically. There is no import from ActivityWatch today, but you are not starting from a blank slate for long.
Why pay for Chronoid when ActivityWatch exists?
For the things ActivityWatch leaves to you: zero setup, native Mac feel, automatic categorization, a built-in website blocker and Pomodoro timer, billing and PDF invoices, and AI you can ask about your own data. If you do not need those, ActivityWatch is a fine choice.
More honest comparisons
Try the finished version
7-day free trial with every feature. No credit card. Local data, native Mac app, one-time purchase.