ActivityWatch is a free, MPL-2.0 licensed automatic time tracker for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android that logs the active app, window title and idle time, with browser extensions and editor plugins for more detail.
Free / open sourceSelf-hosted
Best Open Source Employee Monitoring Software for Hourly Teams
Open source time clocks and attendance tools for hourly staff, compared on mobile punches, geofencing, scheduling, payroll links and the real cost of running free software yourself.
What this audience should prioritize
For hourly workers, monitoring mostly means accurate punches: when a shift started, where the worker was and how overtime adds up. That is time and attendance rather than screen tracking. Open source options can cut license costs, but a broken time clock on payday costs more than a subscription.
TimeTrex is the most complete of the group for shift work. Its product includes iOS and Android apps, geofencing aimed at time fraud, facial recognition time clocks, scheduling with shift swaps and integrated payroll. A free Community edition exists, paid editions are quote-based, and a 30-day trial is available. Self-hosting the free version still needs technical staff.
Two names that come up in this search are not open source: Open Time Clock is a proprietary hosted time clock with a free plan, and eHour has replaced its open-source edition with a hosted service at €4.99 per user per month. Kimai records timesheets and generates invoices in PDF or DOCX, which suits hourly contractors billing by the hour more than a shop-floor clock. OrangeHRM covers attendance within a wider HR system for SMB and mid-market employers.
Shortlist candidates for Hourly Teams
Kimai is a free, open-source time tracking tool built for teams that want a more structured way to track time, activity, attendance, or workforce visibility in self-hosted or open environments.
Free / open sourceSelf-hosted
TimeTrex is time and attendance software with a free self-hosted community edition and paid cloud or on-site editions.
Free / open sourceCloudFree trial
OrangeHRM is open-source HR software with a free Starter edition you can self-host and a paid Advanced edition with extra modules.
Free / open sourceCloudFree trial
Sentrifugo is a free, GPL-3.0 open-source HRMS that you download and host yourself, covering employee records, leave, attendance, appraisals and recruitment.
Free / open sourceSelf-hosted
Frequently asked questions
Is TimeTrex free for hourly teams?
The Community (open source) edition is free, but a company must host and maintain it. The commercial editions come with vendor packaging and are priced by quote.