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Software · head to head

RescueTime vs Clockify

RescueTime logo

RescueTime

Software

Take back control of your time

From
$12/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Clockify logo

Clockify

Software

Free time tracker for teams

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Clockify has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: RescueTime no free tier since 2023, making it costly for individual experimentation; Clockify the free plan stops at 5 users
  • They diverge on capability: RescueTime covers Automatic time tracking, Clockify covers Timer & manual time entry.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which RescueTime and Clockify actually diverge.

Attributes where RescueTime and Clockify differ
AttributeRescueTimeClockify
Starting price$12/monthFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Android, WebWeb, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Browser-extension
Founded20062017

Identical on both: 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 RescueTime

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

Only in Clockify

  • Timer & manual time entry
  • Timesheets
  • Calendar view
  • Projects & tasks
  • Reports & analytics
  • Team dashboard
  • Kiosk mode
  • Offline mode

Both cover

  • Google Calendar
  • SSL

What people use each for

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

RescueTime

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

Clockify

  • Employee time trackingnot RescueTime
  • Project time budgetsnot RescueTime
  • Client billingnot RescueTime
  • Productivity analysisnot RescueTime
  • Payroll calculationnot RescueTime

Where each one falls short

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

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

Clockify

  • The free plan stops at 5 users
  • Free accounts are throttled to 30 API requests per hour and 3 webhooks
  • Reporting on the free plan only covers a 1 month range
  • Invoicing needs Standard at $5.49 per seat per month and GPS tracking needs Pro at $7.99
  • SSO, SCIM provisioning, a custom subdomain and the audit log are Enterprise only at $11.99 per seat per month

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Clockify

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited users
    • Unlimited projects
    • Time tracking
  • Basic$3.99/user/month
    • Bulk edit
    • Billable rates
    • Rounding
  • Standard$5.49/user/month
    • Timesheet approvals
    • Invoicing
    • Scheduled reports
  • Pro$7.99/user/month
    • Profit & loss
    • GPS tracking
    • Screenshots

Which should you pick?

Choose RescueTime if

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

Choose Clockify if

  • You need timer & manual time entry.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Browser-extension.
  • You also want timesheets.
Clockify review

Questions people ask

Is RescueTime or Clockify better?
Neither clearly leads. RescueTime starts at $12/month and Clockify at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, RescueTime or Clockify?
Clockify has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $12/month for RescueTime and Free for Clockify.
Does RescueTime or Clockify run on more platforms?
RescueTime runs on Windows, macOS, Android, Web. Clockify runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Linux, Ios, Android, Browser-extension.
Can I use Clockify for free?
Yes. Clockify has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. RescueTime starts at $12/month.
What is RescueTime best used for?
RescueTime is most often used for personal productivity tracking, time audit, focus improvement, work-life balance. Of those, personal productivity tracking and time audit are not what Clockify is typically brought in for.
What can RescueTime do that Clockify cannot?
RescueTime covers Automatic time tracking, Productivity scoring, Detailed categorization, FocusTime blocking. Clockify covers Timer & manual time entry, Timesheets, Calendar view, Projects & tasks. Both handle Google Calendar, SSL.

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

More on RescueTime

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