10 Best Linux Time Tracking Software in 2026 (Free and Paid)

Linux time tracking used to mean picking between a basic open source timer and a commercial tool with no Linux client at all. That has changed. Several team time trackers now ship native apps for Ubuntu, Debian, and Fedora, and the open source side has matured into tools that log your activity automatically and keep the data on your own machine.

Below are the 10 best options for time tracking on Linux, grouped by how they work: web and self hosted tools, team apps with a native Linux client, and open source desktop and command line tools. For each one we checked Linux support and pricing on the vendor’s or project’s own site in 2026.

What to look for in a Linux time tracker

• Native app or browser. A web based tool works on any distro with a modern browser. A native app is only worth it if you need something the browser cannot do, such as tracking which desktop applications you use.
• Packages for your distro. Check whether the vendor offers a .deb, an .rpm, or a Flatpak, and which versions it supports. Several tools on this list only publish Debian and Ubuntu packages.
• Wayland support. Automatic trackers read the active window, which works differently on Wayland than on X11. ActivityWatch, for example, lists separate Wayland window watchers in its documentation. If your desktop runs on Wayland, test automatic tracking before you commit.
• Where the data lives. Cloud tools are easiest for teams. Local only tools like ActivityWatch keep everything on your computer. Self hosted software runs on your own Linux server.
• What managers see. Some apps with Linux clients take screenshots or measure activity levels. That suits proof of work for clients, but it is a different job from tracking hours on projects. If you are really after Linux employee monitoring software, our list of employee monitoring software covers those tools in more depth.

Linux time tracking software compared

Web and self hosted time tracking

1. actiTIME

Key features:

• Works in any Linux browser
• Self hosted on your server
• Timesheets and approvals
• Cost and profit reports

actiTIME does not need a Linux client because it runs in the browser, so it works the same on Ubuntu, Fedora, or Arch as anywhere else. You log hours on a weekly timesheet or in a calendar view, managers approve and lock timesheets, and the reports show time, costs, and profit by project, client, and person. The Time Management Assistant extension for Chrome adds automatic tracking of the websites and web apps you use, and you decide which activity goes into your timesheet.

For teams that want the data on their own hardware, actiTIME Self-Hosted installs with Docker containers and stores data in MySQL, either in a container or on an external MySQL server. That makes it a practical choice for companies that already run Linux servers.

Limitation: there is no native desktop app, so it cannot track which desktop applications you use outside the browser.

Pricing: free version for up to 3 users; from $5 per user per month; self hosted $120 per user, one time; 30 day free trial.

We reduced payroll processing to 45 minutes per week

actiTIME is very robust, integrated well into your business process, and most important, helps you focus on your business instead of monkeying around with technology. actiTIME has reduced our payroll processing from 4-6 hours per week to 45 minutes per week.

Try actiTIME

Team time trackers with a Linux app

Each Linux time tracking app in this group installs a client on every machine, which lets them run timers from the desktop and, in most cases, track applications automatically.

2. Clockify

Key features:

• .deb and .rpm packages
• Auto tracker
• Free for up to 5 users
• Approvals from Standard

Clockify has one of the easiest Linux setups on this list, with downloads for Debian and Ubuntu and for Red Hat based distros such as CentOS and Fedora. The desktop app runs a timer and includes an auto tracker that records which apps and websites you used, so you can turn that log into time entries later.

The free plan covers up to 5 users. Paid plans start at $3.99 per seat per month billed annually, with approvals from the Standard plan and SSO on Enterprise. For more detail, see our Clockify review.

Limitation: project cost and profit reporting is basic compared with tools built for billing.

Pricing: free for up to 5 users; from $3.99 per seat per month, billed annually.

3. TimeCamp

Key features:

• Linux desktop app
• Automatic computer activity tracking
• Free plan for unlimited users
• Timesheets and invoicing

TimeCamp offers a desktop app for Linux alongside its Windows and Mac versions; the current download is a .deb package built for Ubuntu 22.04. The app tracks computer activity automatically, so you can review what you worked on instead of starting a timer for every task.

Its free plan allows unlimited users, which is unusual. Starter ($3.99, or $5.49 month to month) adds invoicing, and timesheet approvals and billing rates come with the higher plans. We compare it with a close rival in TimeCamp vs. Clockify.

Limitation: the published Linux package targets Ubuntu, so users of other distros may need to convert or test it first.

Pricing: free for unlimited users; from $3.99 per user per month, billed annually.

4. Hubstaff

Key features:

• Broad distro support
• Activity levels
• Optional screenshots
• Payroll on Team plan

Hubstaff lists the widest distro support of the commercial tools here: Ubuntu 10.04 or newer, Debian 6+, Fedora 16 or newer, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, and Arch Linux. Its Linux app runs in the background and records time, activity levels, apps, and URLs, with optional screenshots.

That suits remote teams and agencies that need proof of work for clients. Plans run from Starter ($4 per seat) to Enterprise ($25), all with a 2 seat minimum, and unlimited screenshots and payroll start on the $10 Team plan. Our Hubstaff pricing guide covers the plans.

Limitation: activity percentages and screenshots can feel like surveillance to developers and other knowledge workers.

Pricing: from $4 per seat per month; 2 seat minimum; 14 day free trial.

5. Memtime

Key features:

• Automatic, private tracking
• Data stored on your device
• No screenshots or keystrokes
• 100+ integrations on Connect

Memtime runs in the background on Linux and records the applications, files, and browser tabs you use, which fits the way a Linux workday jumps between a terminal, an IDE, and the browser. At the end of the day you open the timeline and turn blocks of activity into time entries.

Privacy is the main selling point. Memtime does not take screenshots or record keystrokes, the raw activity stays on your device, and connected tools only receive the time entries you choose to create. The Basic plan is €10 per user per month, Connect (€15) adds sync with more than 100 project tools, and Premium (€20) adds SSO and call system integrations.

Limitation: it is a personal tracker first, so managers only see what each person exports, and syncing with project software needs Connect.

Pricing: from €10 per user per month; free trial.

6. WebWork

Key features:

• Debian, Ubuntu, Mint, Pop!_OS
• App and web tracking
• Attendance and breaks
• Install from the terminal

WebWork supports Linux distros based on Debian, including Ubuntu, Pop!_OS, and Linux Mint, and can be installed from a downloaded package or from the terminal. IT teams can also use an MDM ready link to keep Linux devices updated.

The app combines time tracking with app and website tracking, activity tracking, attendance, breaks, and shift scheduling. Payroll ($1.50 per user) and an AI monitoring add on ($2.50) cost extra. It is one of the cheaper team options, starting at $3.99 per user per month billed annually, with a 14 day trial of all features.

Limitation: only Debian based distros are supported, and there is no free plan.

Pricing: from $3.99 per user per month billed annually, or $4.99 monthly; 14 day free trial.

Open source Linux time trackers

If you track time for yourself, or your team prefers free software, these tools cost nothing and keep your data under your control. For a wider list, including self hosted web apps for teams, see our roundup of open source time tracking software.

7. ActivityWatch

Key features:

• Automatic app and website tracking
• Data stays on your device
• Browser based dashboard
• Extensible watchers

ActivityWatch is a free, open source tracker that records which applications and websites you use and stores everything locally. Once it is running in the system tray, you open the dashboard at localhost:5600 in your browser to see where the day went. It also runs on Windows, macOS, and Android, and its developers pitch it as an alternative to RescueTime, ManicTime, and WakaTime.

Tracking works through small programs called watchers, and the community maintains extras, including window watchers for Wayland desktops. That flexibility is great for tinkerers, but it means setup on Wayland can take more effort than on X11.

Limitation: it is built for personal insight, with no projects, billing, or team features.

Pricing: free and open source.

8. Super Productivity

Key features:

• Tasks, estimates, and timers
• GitHub, GitLab, Jira issues
• Works offline
• Optional sync

Super Productivity is a free, open source task manager with time tracking built in. You add tasks with estimates, schedule them, and track the time you spend, with a focus mode, a Pomodoro timer, and break reminders to keep long sessions in check.

Developers will like that it pulls issues from GitHub, GitLab, and Jira into the same list, so you can track time against tickets without switching tabs. The app works offline, and you can sync between devices with its own Super Sync, WebDAV, or Dropbox. Apps are available for Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and the web.

Limitation: it is a personal tool, so there are no team reports, approvals, or billing.

Pricing: free and open source.

9. KTimeTracker

Key features:

• Native KDE app
• Unlimited nested subtasks
• Reports by task and day
• Available on Flathub

KTimeTracker is the KDE project’s time tracker and fits naturally on a Plasma desktop. You build a tree of projects with unlimited levels of subtasks, start and stop timers with familiar keyboard and mouse shortcuts, and create reports that break hours down by task and by day, which is handy for counting billable time.

It installs through Discover or another AppStream software center, from your distro’s package manager, or from Flathub. Version 6.0.0 was released in 2025 after a long gap since the 5.x releases, so it is actively maintained again.

Limitation: it is a single user desktop app with no automatic tracking, sync, or team features.

Pricing: free and open source.

10. Timewarrior

Key features:

• Command line time tracking
• Tags instead of projects
• Pairs with Taskwarrior
• Free and open source

Timewarrior is a free, open source tool that tracks time from the command line. You start and stop tracking with short commands, label intervals with tags, and print summaries for a day, week, or custom range, all without leaving the terminal.

It comes from the same developers as Taskwarrior, the command line task manager, and the two are often used together so that starting a task also starts the clock. The project is actively maintained: version 1.10.0 came out in 2026, and binary packages are listed in the documentation.

Limitation: there is no graphical interface, sync, or team reporting, so it only suits people comfortable in a terminal.

Pricing: free and open source.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time tracker for Linux?

It depends on who the time is for. For teams that bill clients or track project costs, a web tool such as actiTIME works on every distro, with a self hosted option for Linux servers. If you want a native app with automatic tracking, Clockify, TimeCamp, and Hubstaff all ship Linux clients. For personal use, ActivityWatch tracks activity automatically and Super Productivity combines tasks with timers, both for free.

What is the best free Linux time tracker?

For automatic tracking, ActivityWatch. For manual timers with tasks, Super Productivity or KTimeTracker on KDE. For the terminal, Timewarrior. If you need a free option for a team, Clockify is free for up to 5 users, TimeCamp’s free plan has no user limit, and actiTIME is free for up to 3 users.

Can I host time tracking software on my own Linux server?

Yes. actiTIME Self-Hosted installs with Docker and stores data in MySQL, for a one time fee of $120 per user. Several open source web apps can also be self hosted; our open source roundup lists them.

What if my team uses Linux, Windows, and Mac?

Pick a web tool or one with apps for all three. Clockify, TimeCamp, Hubstaff, and ActivityWatch run on all of them, and browser based tools like actiTIME work everywhere. For platform specific picks, see our lists of desktop time trackers, time tracking software for Windows, and timesheet apps for Mac.

Conclusion

When choosing time tracking software for Linux, the first decision is whether you need a native client at all. If you are tracking hours for billing, payroll, or project costs, a browser based or self hosted tool avoids packaging headaches and works on every distro. If you want automatic activity tracking, choose a native app and test it on your desktop environment first, especially on Wayland. And for personal tracking, the open source options are good enough that you may not need to pay for anything.

To track time, costs, and profit for your team from any Linux browser, start a free trial of actiTIME.

Track time in any Linux browser or on your own server, and see what every project costs

Try Free