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.
| Feature | Hamster | TimeCase |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 49 · Fair | 0 · At risk |
| 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 | ★ 1,126 | ★ 21 |
| First released | 2008 | 2020 |
| Replaces | Toggl, RescueTime | Clockify, Toggl |
What are Hamster and TimeCase?
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
TimeCase
TimeCase is a free, open-source, self-hosted time tracking web application for recording hours against projects and clients. It provides reporting to review how time is spent over a period.
- Project and client time logging
- Time reports
- Multi-user support
- Self-hosted deployment
Hamster vs TimeCase: key differences
Hamster is written in Python, while TimeCase is built with PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Hamster versus MIT for TimeCase. Hamster is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for TimeCase. Hamster is the more established project (first released 2008), while TimeCase arrived in 2020. Hamster has the considerably larger community, at 1,126 GitHub stars versus 21. TimeCase lists first-class Docker deployment; Hamster does not.
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.
Which is lighter on resources, Hamster or TimeCase?
Hamster has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for TimeCase. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.