Dayflow vs Timing
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Dayflow is an open-source and local-first software that privately turns your screen into a timeline of what you actually accomplished. It automatically tracks your work and provides a journal of your activities, helping you stay organized and focused.
Timing is an automatic time tracking app for macOS that records application, website, and document usage in the background, then uses AI-powered summaries to group related activity so users can see what they actually worked on without starting or stopping a timer. It tracks idle time, phone calls, meetings, and calendar events alongside app usage for a fuller picture of a workday. Users can drag and drop tracked time onto projects, set up automation rules to auto-categorize recurring activity, and export reports as PDF, XLSX, CSV, or HTML. Timing is aimed at freelancers, consultants, and professionals who want accurate billable-time records without the friction of manual time tracking.
- Automatic tracking saves time and effort
- Local-first storage ensures data privacy
- Open-source and customizable
- Simple and intuitive interface
- Fully automatic tracking removes the need to remember to start or stop a timer
- AI summaries make it easy to reconstruct a workday from raw activity data
- Deep coverage of developer and creative tools (VS Code, Xcode, Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro)
- 30-day free trial with no credit card required
- Limited integration with other tools and services
- No cloud syncing or collaboration features
- Limited reporting and analytics capabilities
- Mac-only; no native Windows, Linux, iOS, or Android app for the core tracking engine
- Cross-device sync requires the pricier annual Connect plan on top of the base subscription
- Passive tracking of all app/website activity may feel invasive to some users compared to manual timers
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataDayflow is a free, open‑source, privacy‑focused time‑tracker with basic automatic logging, while Timing offers a richer, paid feature set with AI summaries and extensive integrations but only on macOS.
Key differences
- •Dayflow stores data locally with no cloud sync; Timing offers cloud sync via a paid Connect plan.
- •Dayflow is free and open‑source; Timing requires a subscription.
- •Timing provides AI‑generated activity summaries and detailed export formats; Dayflow’s reporting is limited.
- •Timing integrates with many developer/creative tools and Zapier; Dayflow has no listed integrations.
- •Timing runs only on macOS; Dayflow also macOS‑only but is open‑source and can be self‑hosted if compiled.
Pricing & value
Dayflow is free and open‑source; Timing requires a paid subscription.
Ease of use / learning curve
Dayflow’s simple, intuitive interface requires minimal setup; Timing adds AI rules and integrations that may need learning.
Features & depth
Timing includes AI summaries, idle detection, phone/meeting tracking, and extensive export formats; Dayflow’s analytics are limited.
Integrations & ecosystem
Timing lists Zapier, Slack, VS Code, Xcode, GitHub, etc.; Dayflow has no listed integrations.
Collaboration
Timing offers cloud sync and team‑oriented Connect plan; Dayflow lacks any collaboration or syncing features.
Security & privacy
Dayflow stores data locally and is open‑source, ensuring privacy; Timing stores data in the cloud and is proprietary.
Support
Timing provides email and a Help Center; Dayflow only offers email support.
Choose Dayflow if…
Freelancers or individuals needing a free, privacy‑first tracker with minimal features.
Choose Timing if…
Mac‑based professionals who need AI summaries, rich exports, and tool integrations, and are willing to pay for them.
Common questions
Is there any cost to start using either tool?
Dayflow is free; Timing requires a paid subscription after a 30‑day free trial.
Can I sync my data across multiple devices?
Dayflow has no cloud sync; Timing offers cross‑device sync only with its paid Connect plan.
Does either product offer integrations with development tools?
Timing integrates with VS Code, Xcode, GitHub, and others; Dayflow lists no integrations.