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Productivity · head to head

DeskTime vs Yap

DeskTime logo

DeskTime

Productivity

Automatic computer activity tracking and productivity analytics

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit DeskTimeFull review
Yap logo

Yap

Productivity

Fast dictation. Private by design.

From
$6.9/month
Free plan
No
Visit YapFull review

The short version

  • DeskTime is a productivity analytics tool.
  • DeskTime has a free plan, then $9/mo; Yap starts at $6.9/mo.
  • Only DeskTime lists application and website tracking; only Yap lists dictation at the cursor.
  • Where DeskTime falls short: screenshots are excluded from the Pro plan and start at Premium.
  • Where Yap falls short: intel Macs are not supported; the Mac app needs Apple Silicon (M1 or later), and the iPhone app needs an iPhone 12 Pro, 13 Pro, 14 or newer.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which DeskTime and Yap actually diverge.

Attributes where DeskTime and Yap differ
AttributeDeskTimeYap
Starting priceFree$6.9/month
Pricing modelFreemiumSubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, LinuxmacOS, Windows, iOS, Android

Identical on both: category (Productivity).

Not yet recorded: founded for Yap.

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 DeskTime

  • Automatic activity tracking
  • Application and website tracking
  • Daily reports
  • Weekly summaries
  • Privacy-first design
  • Detailed analytics
  • Goal setting
  • Mobile apps

Only in Yap

  • Dictation at the cursor
  • On-device recognition
  • Automatic language detection
  • Text cleanup
  • Hands-free recording
  • Local history
  • Voice input for coding tools
  • Phone keyboards

What people use each for

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

DeskTime

  • Automatic time tracking of desktop app and website usagenot Yap
  • Measuring team productivity and idle timenot Yap
  • Scheduling shifts and tracking absencesnot Yap

Yap

  • Dictating emails, messages and documents in any app on Mac or Windowsnot DeskTime
  • Speaking long prompts into ChatGPT, Claude or a coding agentnot DeskTime
  • Voice input for developers who cannot send code or screen contents to a cloud servicenot DeskTime
  • Reducing keyboard use for people with RSI or wrist painnot DeskTime
  • Drafting by voice where audio must not leave the device, such as legal or therapy notesnot DeskTime

Where each one falls short

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

DeskTime

  • Screenshots are excluded from the Pro plan and start at Premium
  • Integrations and API access require the Premium plan
  • Shift scheduling requires the Premium plan
  • Enterprise is aimed at 200+ users and is priced by quote with no published rate
  • The advertised $6.42 and $9.17 per user rates require annual billing; monthly billing costs more
  • The trial lasts 14 days

Yap

  • Intel Macs are not supported; the Mac app needs Apple Silicon (M1 or later), and the iPhone app needs an iPhone 12 Pro, 13 Pro, 14 or newer
  • Recognition is local but the app is not fully offline: it needs internet for first launch, activation and periodic access checks, and offline access lasts at most 24 hours
  • The Windows installer downloaded from the website is not code-signed, so Windows shows a SmartScreen warning; the Microsoft Store version is signed
  • 25 languages are supported, and the vendor notes accuracy varies by language, voice and recording conditions
  • The free period is only 3 days, after which continuing requires a card for the 10-day trial; there is no free tier

Pricing, plan by plan

DeskTime

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Activity tracking
    • Basic reports
    • Weekly emails
  • Pro$9/mo
    • Everything in Free
    • Advanced reports
    • Detailed analytics

Yap

$6.9/month
  • Monthly$6.9/mo
    • Unlimited on-device dictation
    • 25 languages, detected as you speak
    • Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android
  • Yearly$69/yr
    • Same app and features as monthly
    • Saves $13.80 a year against monthly billing
    • 10-day trial with a card

Which should you pick?

Choose DeskTime if

  • You need automatic activity tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux.
  • You also want application and website tracking.
DeskTime review

Choose Yap if

  • You need dictation at the cursor.
  • You work on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android.
  • You also want on-device recognition.
Yap review

Questions people ask

Is DeskTime or Yap better?
Neither clearly leads. DeskTime starts at Free and Yap at $6.9/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, DeskTime or Yap?
DeskTime has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for DeskTime and $6.9/month for Yap.
Does DeskTime or Yap run on more platforms?
DeskTime runs on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux. Yap runs on macOS, Windows, iOS, Android.
Can I use DeskTime for free?
Yes. DeskTime has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Yap starts at $6.9/month.
What is DeskTime best used for?
DeskTime is most often used for automatic time tracking of desktop app and website usage, measuring team productivity and idle time, scheduling shifts and tracking absences. Of those, automatic time tracking of desktop app and website usage and measuring team productivity and idle time are not what Yap is typically brought in for.
What can DeskTime do that Yap cannot?
DeskTime covers Automatic activity tracking, Application and website tracking, Daily reports, Weekly summaries. Yap covers Dictation at the cursor, On-device recognition, Automatic language detection, Text cleanup.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

DeskTime: What are DeskTime's subscription tiers?

DeskTime offers Pro at $6.42/user/month (annual billing) for small teams and startups, Premium at $9.17/user/month (marked Most Popular) for hybrid and growing teams, and Enterprise with custom pricing for 200+ users.

Source
Yap: How much does Yap cost?

A free account works for 3 days with no card. After that a 10-day trial with a card leads to $6.90 a month or $69 a year. Cancel before the trial ends and you are not charged.

Source
DeskTime: What features differentiate the Premium tier from Pro?

Premium adds screenshots, integrations & API, and shift scheduling compared to Pro's document title tracking and calendar integrations.

Source
Yap: Does Yap upload my voice?

No. Speech recognition runs on the device and audio is not uploaded to a transcription service. Completed text is kept in a local history you can copy or delete. An internet connection is needed to download the speech model on first use.

Source
DeskTime: How long is the DeskTime free trial?

DeskTime offers a 14-day free trial. No credit card is required to start.

Source
Yap: Which computers does Yap run on?

Apple Silicon Macs (M1 and later) and Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit. Intel Macs are not supported. There are also apps for iPhone (iOS 17 or later) and Android 10 or later, covered by the same subscription.

Source
DeskTime: What billing options does DeskTime offer?

DeskTime offers monthly or annual billing. Annual subscriptions include one complimentary month compared to monthly plan pricing. You can pay by credit card or PayPal.

Source
Yap: Which languages does Yap support?

25 languages. Each recording detects its own language from the audio, so there is no need to select languages in advance.

Source
Yap: Does Yap work offline?

Transcription runs locally, but internet access is required for first launch, activation and periodic access checks. Offline access lasts up to 24 hours.

Source
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