Hamster vs TimeCase
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted time tracking options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Hamster
Desktop time tracker for individual productivity
VS
TimeCase
Free self-hosted time tracking web application
| Feature | Hamster | TimeCase |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Time Tracking | Time Tracking |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Python | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,127 | ★ 21 |
| First released | 2008 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Toggl, RescueTime | Clockify, Toggl |
Why pick each one
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
Choose TimeCase if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in PHP
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Hamster or TimeCase better?
Hamster is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider TimeCase if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Hamster and TimeCase free and open-source?
Yes. Hamster is licensed under GPL-3.0 and TimeCase under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Hamster and TimeCase with Docker?
Hamster: check the project docs for container support. TimeCase: yes.