TimeTracker vs Hamster
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted time tracking options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
TimeTracker
Self-hosted web-based time tracking for teams
VS
Hamster
Desktop time tracker for individual productivity
| Feature | TimeTracker | Hamster |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 80 · Excellent | 49 · Fair |
| Category | Time Tracking | Time Tracking |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 628 | ★ 1,126 |
| First released | 2024 | 2008 |
| Replaces | Toggl, Harvest | Toggl, RescueTime |
What are TimeTracker and Hamster?
TimeTracker
TimeTracker is a self-hosted web-based time tracking application for freelancers, teams, and businesses. It manages projects, logs billable time, and generates invoices, keeping all data under your control.
- Project-based time logging
- Invoice generation
- Multi-user accounts
- Self-hosted data control
Hamster
Hamster is a free desktop time tracking application that helps individuals record how long they spend on activities. It groups entries by category and produces simple overviews and exports of tracked time.
- Activity categorization
- Daily and weekly overviews
- Local SQLite storage
- Export to common formats
TimeTracker vs Hamster: key differences
Both projects are written in Python. Licensing differs — MIT for TimeTracker versus GPL-3.0 for Hamster. Hamster is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for TimeTracker. Hamster is the more established project (first released 2008), while TimeTracker arrived in 2024. TimeTracker lists first-class Docker deployment; Hamster does not.
Why pick each one
Choose TimeTracker if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Choose Hamster if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (1.1k GitHub stars)
- Written in Python
Frequently asked questions
Is TimeTracker or Hamster better?
Hamster is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider TimeTracker if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are TimeTracker and Hamster free and open-source?
Yes. TimeTracker is licensed under MIT and Hamster under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run TimeTracker and Hamster with Docker?
TimeTracker: yes. Hamster: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, TimeTracker or Hamster?
Hamster has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for TimeTracker. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.