Time tracking

Should you build your own Timely?

Record opt-in app names locally and turn them into suggested time entries

Worth subscribing · the value goes beyond code
Price $11/moEstimated savings $108/yrEstimated time closest consolation build: one sittingCategory Time trackingCatalog votes 0

A consolation build is possible, but the paid product's decisive value sits outside a solo rebuild. For Timely, record opt-in app names locally and turn them into suggested time entries. The hard boundary is automatic memory timeline, model tuning, cross-device clients, team reporting, and privacy operations, plus ubiquitous capture, coaching, and team workflow.

ENOriginal research content in English. Original prompt preserved in English.

The complete prompt
Build a closest honest personal substitute for Timely in an empty repository.
Use Tauri 2, React, TypeScript, SQLite, and optional OS accessibility APIs; do not offer alternative stacks.
The core loop is: record opt-in app names locally, turn them into suggested time entries, review patterns locally, and export a transparent activity record.
Make the first run work locally with one documented command.
Store all user data locally by default and make export straightforward.
Put secrets in .env, ship .env.example, and never commit credentials.
Create one-click start and stop, manual entries, idle detection, tags, projects, and notes.
Keep any application-name tracking opt-in and never record window contents or keystrokes.
Add Pomodoro-style focus sessions, break reminders, and an optional allowlist blocker.
Provide daily, weekly, project, and category reports with editable corrections.
Export CSV and JSON and make the underlying event log inspectable.
Add automatic local backups and a privacy screen explaining every collected field.
Include clear empty, loading, success, and recoverable error states.
Add input validation, safe filenames, and graceful handling of unavailable APIs.
Write focused tests for the core transformation and one end-to-end happy path.
Create a README with setup, architecture, permissions, data location, and backup steps.
Do not add accounts, billing, telemetry, analytics, or a hosted control plane.
Do not claim to reproduce proprietary data, network liquidity, regulated access, or frontier infrastructure.
Deliberately leave out employee surveillance.
Deliberately leave out payroll and billing automation.
Deliberately leave out cross-device blocking and behavioral coaching services.
Finish by running the tests and listing the exact commands used.

The prompt opens pre-filled in your agent. Review it before running. · this prompt is generated from the build plan · improve it via PR

Original prompt preserved in English.

What would building your own look like?

Record opt-in app names locally, turn them into suggested time entries, review patterns locally, and export a transparent activity record.

What you will need

Why paying can still make sense

People still pay for Timely because the timer is simple, but people pay for frictionless capture and a history they trust enough to invoice or change habits from. The recurring cost buys idle detection, permissions, app metadata, privacy, notifications, sync, reports, integrations, and backups, not just the visible interface.

What you lose

xautomatic memory timeline, model tuning, cross-device clients, team reporting, and privacy operations

xcross-device history

xteam timesheets and payroll

xbehavioral datasets

xblocking across every platform

Share on X ↗"I just replaced Timely ($11/mo) with one prompt"
Free alternatives

Prefer something ready-made?

Clockify FreeFive users get timers and a private auto-tracker; reports stop at 31-day windows and CSV export is paid.$0Free↗ManicTime FreeOne computer gets automatic app, site and document history, tags and timesheet export; cloud sync is the billable part.$0Free↗Toggl Track FreeFast timers plus a private desktop activity trail you can promote into entries; formal approvals cost extra.$0Free↗

View all 3 alternatives to Timely →· Licença, instalação e limitações em cada alternativa.

Plans and pricing

How much does Timely cost?

In your currency · US DollarChecked on 10/20/2026
Monthly billing
$11/mo · per person
Per year
$132/yr
Annual billing
$108/yr18% cheaper than paying monthly
Buy on the official site

You complete the purchase on Timely’s site. Vibe Radar does not handle payments.

PlanMonthlyAnnual (per month)What is included
starter$11/user$9/user20 projects; maximum 5 users.
premium$20/user$16/userUnlimited projects; maximum 50 users.
unlimited$28/user$22/userUnlimited projects and users.
enterprisecustom-Custom seats, security, onboarding, and support.

Free tierno free tier

Billing termsmonthly + annual (about -20%); trial; Enterprise custom

Additional costsTasks is a separate add-on starting at $5/person/month.

verified 2026-08-14 · source ↗

Build or buy

Is it cheaper to build or buy Timely?

Adjust the numbers: hours to build, your hourly rate, running costs and the subscription price.

Subscribe
Build it yourself
Horizon
Subscribe$216
Build it yourself$1,520

Over 24 months, subscribing is cheaper.

Starting hours estimated from the analysis (closest consolation build: one sitting). Does not price what you give up (support, integrations, security).

Frequently asked questions
Can I rebuild Timely?

Not really. Timely’s value is not the code: Recheck price before merge. See the honest breakdown above.

How much does Timely cost?

Timely costs about $11/mo (Starter, checked 10/20/2026), which is $108 per year.

What do I lose by replacing Timely?

Honestly: automatic memory timeline, model tuning, cross-device clients, team reporting, and privacy operations; cross-device history; team timesheets and payroll; behavioral datasets; blocking across every platform. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.

Is there an open-source alternative to Timely?

Yes: Clockify Free (Five users get timers and a private auto-tracker; reports stop at 31-day windows and CSV export is paid.) ManicTime Free (One computer gets automatic app, site and document history, tags and timesheet export; cloud sync is the billable part.) Toggl Track Free (Fast timers plus a private desktop activity trail you can promote into entries; formal approvals cost extra.) All 3 curated free alternatives are at https://viberadar.si/timely/alternatives. The prompt is for when you want it exactly your way.

New ideas on your radar.

Get catalog updates and prompts for your next project.