How to Build Your Own RescueTime
Replace RescueTime with a custom build. Take Control of Your Time: Automatic time tracking with RescueTime!
Build Difficulty: 4/5
A few focused days to build a solid replacement
Estimated Timeline
Based on 66 features at Few Days difficulty, expect about 3-5 days with AI-assisted development.
Recommended Tech Stack
Full-stack React framework with API routes and server components
PostgreSQL database, auth, and real-time subscriptions
Utility-first styling for rapid UI development
Key Features to Replicate
Top features across 8 categories. See all 66 features
Reporting(11 features)
Generate detailed reports for clients showing time tracking and billable hours by project or task
Report showing daily patterns in your work habits and productivity trends
Access comprehensive reports showing exactly what you're focused on within the tools you use most, with down-to-the-minute details
Comprehensive reporting at both individual and team level for full visibility
Report showing the key tools and applications your team uses most frequently
+6 more in this category
Core Tracking(6 features)
RescueTime runs in the background, automatically tracking time spent on apps, websites, and documents without requiring manual timers or spreadsheets
Track specific documents and file names, not just apps and websites, to see exactly what you're focused on
Automatically detect and track periods when your computer is idle to provide accurate activity logging
Configure your own logging schedule to track time according to your work hours
Log in-person meetings, calls, brainstorming sessions, and other offline activities to capture a complete picture of your day
+1 more in this category
Team Management(6 features)
Create and manage multiple teams within your RescueTime account
Configure domain-specific settings and rules for team members
Share clients, projects, and tasks across team members for collaborative tracking
Shared calendar view for team members to coordinate schedules, balance workloads, and optimize productive hours
Track team key tools, productivity trends, work categories, and monitor team-wide time tracking
+1 more in this category
Timesheets & Billing(6 features)
Track and categorize billable and non-billable hours for accurate client invoicing
Set billable rates and generate invoices filtered by project, client, or custom criteria for client billing
Set default billing rates for team members or categories for automated invoice generation
Support for multiple global currencies for international billing and reporting
Automatic timesheet generation by project, client, and task without manual entry or timers
+1 more in this category
Security & Admin(5 features)
Two-factor authentication for enhanced account security
Ability to archive and preserve historical data for compliance and record-keeping
Privacy controls and settings to manage what data is collected and how it's used
Manage team member permissions and access levels based on assigned roles
Enterprise SSO integration for team account management
Automation(4 features)
Machine learning-powered suggestions that learn from your history to help complete project and task entries
Automatically create calendar events from tracked time and projects
Machine learning system that learns your work patterns to improve tracking suggestions
Review and confirm suggested project and task assignments before they're logged
Goal Management(4 features)
Set a specific daily target goal and track real-time progress with visual indicators
Set unlimited focus goals and receive real-time alerts when distractions pull you off track, with customizable notifications
Set goals and targets for specific projects to monitor progress and ensure projects stay on track
Set and track goals for individual projects and team-wide targets
Search & Filters(4 features)
Flexible time filters allowing you to analyze productivity on your terms, zoom in, compare time ranges, and reveal long-term trends
Search reports by client, file name, or topic to quickly view down-to-the-minute details of your work
Search reports using keywords to quickly locate specific activities and projects
Save frequently used searches and apply custom filters to analyze productivity data
Cost Calculator
Keep Paying RescueTime
Build It Yourself
Total Cost Comparison
DIY hosting estimate based on Vercel + Supabase free/pro tiers (~$20/mo). Build time estimated from 66 features at easy complexity.