RescueTime
Time tracking software
Time clock software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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$7/month per user
Free TrialFree version
Small
Medium
Large
- Information technology and software
- Media and communications
- Arts, entertainment, and recreation
What is RescueTime
RescueTime is an automatic time tracking and productivity analytics tool that records activity on computers and mobile devices to show how time is spent across apps and websites. It is used by individuals and teams that want passive time capture, focus reporting, and visibility into work patterns without manual timers. The product emphasizes background tracking, categorization of activities, and reporting rather than project planning or full professional services automation.
Automatic background time capture
RescueTime tracks time spent in applications and on websites automatically, reducing reliance on manual timers and user compliance. This can improve completeness of time data for knowledge work compared with tools that require starting and stopping timers. It supports activity categorization so reports can separate productive and distracting time. The approach fits users who want behavioral insights rather than only billable-hour entry.
Productivity and focus reporting
The product provides dashboards and reports that summarize time by category, application, and day/week trends. It supports identifying interruptions and context switching patterns that are hard to see in project-centric tools. These analytics can help individuals and managers understand workload distribution and focus time. Reporting is oriented to personal productivity rather than task status tracking.
Lightweight for individual use
RescueTime is designed to be installed and run with minimal ongoing interaction, which suits freelancers and employees who do not want heavy workflow overhead. It can be adopted without migrating projects, tasks, or client records. This makes it a practical complement in environments where work management happens elsewhere. Setup primarily involves installing the app and tuning activity categories.
Limited time clock functionality
RescueTime is not a traditional time clock system for shift-based attendance, punch-in/out workflows, or job-site verification. Organizations needing scheduling, labor compliance features, or kiosk-style clocking may find gaps. It is better aligned to knowledge-worker activity tracking than hourly workforce management. As a result, it may not meet requirements for regulated timekeeping.
Not a full work management suite
Compared with platforms that combine projects, tasks, resource planning, and client operations, RescueTime focuses narrowly on activity tracking and analytics. It does not function as a central system for project delivery, approvals, or end-to-end professional services workflows. Teams may need separate tools for task management, project accounting, and client collaboration. This can increase integration and reporting effort across systems.
Privacy and data sensitivity concerns
Because it records application and website usage, some organizations may view deployment as sensitive from a privacy and employee monitoring perspective. Policies, consent, and configuration are often required to align with internal governance and local regulations. Users may also need to exclude private activities or devices to avoid over-collection. These considerations can slow adoption in larger or more regulated environments.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Solo (Focus) | $7/month (billed annually — $84/year) or $9/month (billed monthly) | Focus features for individuals: automatic activity tracking, Focus Sessions (website/app blocking), Goals & Alerts, The Assistant, basic reporting. |
| Solo+ (Timesheets + Focus) | $12/month (billed annually — $144/year) or $15/month (billed monthly) | All Solo Focus features plus RescueTime Timesheets: project/client/task tracking, timeline, billing rates, detailed timesheet reports. |
| Team (Focus) | $10/month/user (billed annually — $120/user/year) or $12/month/user (billed monthly) | Team Focus features: per-user productivity & team reports, admin controls, role-based access; team accounts have a 2-seat minimum. |
| Team+ (Timesheets + Focus) | $16/month/user (billed annually — $192/user/year) or $18/month/user (billed monthly) | Combines Team Focus and Timesheets: shared clients/projects/tasks, team weekly calendar view, billing & profitability reports, admin & security controls. |
Seller details
RescueTime, Inc.
Seattle, WA, USA
2008
Private
https://www.rescuetime.com/
https://x.com/rescuetime
https://www.linkedin.com/company/rescuetime/
