ActivityWatch vs DeskTime vs Jibble

ActivityWatch

Free (open source) · From Free

Best for: Privacy-conscious individuals who want completely free, automatic personal time tracking with data that stays on their own device

DeskTime

Freemium · From Free

Best for: Remote and hybrid teams that want automatic productivity scoring and optional screenshot verification without manual timers

Jibble

Freemium · From Free

Best for: Hourly and field-based workforces that need a free, unlimited-user attendance clock with GPS and facial recognition

ActivityWatch

No individual plan breakdown documented yet.

DeskTime

Jibble

ActivityWatch

Pros

• Completely free with no premium tiers, usage limits, or ads
• Strong privacy model — data never leaves the user's device
• Open source (MPL-2.0) and extensible
• Cross-platform: Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android

Cons

• No official iOS app
• Cross-device data synchronization is still in development
• As a volunteer-maintained project, support and integrations depend on community contribution rather than a commercial team

DeskTime

Pros

• Fully automatic tracking removes the need for employees to manually start and stop timers.
• Built-in productivity scoring works out of the box with minimal configuration.
• Free plan available for single users, making it accessible for freelancers.
• Combines time tracking, scheduling, and invoicing in a single product.

Cons

• Screenshot capture and scheduling tools are gated behind the higher Premium tier.
• Employee monitoring features like screenshots can raise privacy concerns among tracked staff.
• Free tier is limited to a single user, so teams must move to a paid plan almost immediately.
• Enterprise pricing is not publicly listed and requires contacting sales.

Jibble

Pros

• Unlimited users on a genuinely free-forever plan with no credit card required
• Biometric facial recognition and geofencing help prevent buddy punching even on the free tier
• Works across web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows and shared kiosk devices
• Fast setup and simple interface suited to non-technical hourly workforces
• Strong offline support for field, construction and remote teams

Cons

• Advanced reporting, screenshots and priority support require paid Premium or Ultimate tiers
• Premium and Ultimate prices rose sharply in March 2026, roughly 60 to 80 percent higher than before
• Less scheduling and shift-planning depth than dedicated workforce platforms like Deputy or When I Work
• Some users report occasional GPS or facial recognition accuracy issues on older mobile devices
• Support responsiveness can be slower for customers on the free plan

ActivityWatch

• Personal productivity tracking — Understand where your time actually goes across apps and websites.
• Developer time tracking — Track time spent coding directly from your editor via plugins.
• Digital wellbeing awareness — Build awareness of screen time and app usage habits.
• Privacy-conscious time tracking — Track time without sending any data to a third-party server.

DeskTime

• Remote team productivity monitoring — Distributed teams use DeskTime to automatically track work hours and understand productivity patterns without manual timesheets.
• Freelance client billing — Freelancers use DeskTime's automatic tracking and invoicing to accurately bill clients for hours worked on specific projects.
• Outsourced team verification — Companies working with outsourced or contractor teams use DeskTime's screenshot capture and productivity reports to verify billed work.

Jibble

• Field service and construction attendance — GPS-verified clock-ins and geofencing confirm crews are on the correct job site before hours are logged, reducing payroll disputes.
• Shift-based retail and hospitality teams — Kiosk mode lets multiple hourly staff clock in on one shared device with facial recognition to prevent buddy punching.
• Remote and distributed agency billing — Project-level time tracking and automated timesheets let agencies convert tracked hours directly into client invoices.