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BigTime vs RescueTime

BigTime logo

BigTime

Software

The all-in-one solution for growing, single-entity firms

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
RescueTime logo

RescueTime

Software

Take back control of your time

From
$12/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: BigTime essentials plan starts at $20 per user per month and the Enterprise tier requires contacting sales for pricing; RescueTime no free tier since 2023, making it costly for individual experimentation

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which BigTime and RescueTime actually diverge.

Attributes where BigTime and RescueTime differ
AttributeBigTimeRescueTime
Starting priceOn request$12/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsWebWindows, macOS, Android, Web
FoundedUnknown2006

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in BigTime

Nothing recorded that RescueTime does not also cover.

Only in RescueTime

  • Automatic time tracking
  • Productivity scoring
  • Detailed categorization
  • FocusTime blocking
  • Goal setting
  • Alerts & notifications
  • Offline time entry
  • API access

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

BigTime

No use cases recorded yet. See the BigTime review.

RescueTime

  • Personal productivity trackingnot BigTime
  • Time auditnot BigTime
  • Focus improvementnot BigTime
  • Work-life balancenot BigTime
  • Team productivity analysisnot BigTime

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

BigTime

  • Essentials plan starts at $20 per user per month and the Enterprise tier requires contacting sales for pricing
  • AI features Time Agent, Expense Agent and Flexible Reporting are listed as coming soon rather than shipped

RescueTime

  • No free tier since 2023, making it costly for individual experimentation
  • Limited iOS support compared to competitors that offer full mobile app access
  • Requires integration via categories and rules rather than direct app detection on some platforms

Pricing, plan by plan

BigTime

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the BigTime review.

RescueTime

$12/month
  • Standard$12/month
    • Automatic time tracking
    • Focus Time
    • Idle time monitoring
  • Team$6/month
    • All Standard features
    • Team analytics
    • Cross-device tracking

Which should you pick?

Choose BigTime if

Nothing in the data separates BigTime from RescueTime on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

BigTime review

Choose RescueTime if

  • You need automatic time tracking.
  • You work on Windows, macOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want productivity scoring.
RescueTime review

Questions people ask

Is BigTime or RescueTime better?
Neither clearly leads. BigTime starts at On request and RescueTime at $12/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, BigTime or RescueTime?
BigTime starts at On request and RescueTime at $12/month.
Does BigTime or RescueTime run on more platforms?
BigTime runs on Web. RescueTime runs on Windows, macOS, Android, Web.
What can BigTime do that RescueTime cannot?
RescueTime covers Automatic time tracking, Productivity scoring, Detailed categorization, FocusTime blocking.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

RescueTime: Does RescueTime still have a free tier?

No. RescueTime discontinued its free tier in 2023. The service now requires a paid subscription starting at $12 per month or $78 per year.

Source
RescueTime: What platforms does RescueTime support?

RescueTime supports Windows, macOS, Android, and web. iOS support is limited to passive features like calendar sync and mobile summary emails.

Source
RescueTime: What are the key productivity features in RescueTime?

RescueTime offers automatic time tracking, Focus Time for blocking distractions, idle time monitoring, goal-setting with reminders, and in 2026 adds AI-Based Focus Sessions with real-time alerts to detect poor focus patterns.

Source
RescueTime: Is there a team plan for RescueTime?

Yes. The team plan costs $6 per user per month when billed annually, with a minimum of 3 users required.

Source
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Related pages

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