Hamster vs TimeTagger
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted time tracking options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
TimeTagger
Tag-based time tracker with an interactive timeline
| Feature | Hamster | TimeTagger |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 49 · Fair | 71 · Good |
| Category | Time Tracking | Time Tracking |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,126 | ★ 1,789 |
| First released | 2008 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Toggl, RescueTime | Toggl, Harvest |
What are Hamster and TimeTagger?
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
TimeTagger
TimeTagger is an open-source time tracking app with an interactive timeline interface. Records are organized with hashtags, making reporting fast and flexible.
- Interactive timeline view
- Hashtag-based organization
- Live reporting
- Works offline as a PWA
Hamster vs TimeTagger: key differences
Both projects are written in Python. Hamster is the more established project (first released 2008), while TimeTagger arrived in 2021. TimeTagger 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 TimeTagger if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (1.8k GitHub stars)
Frequently asked questions
Is Hamster or TimeTagger better?
Neither is universally better. TimeTagger has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Hamster and TimeTagger free and open-source?
Yes. Hamster is licensed under GPL-3.0 and TimeTagger under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Hamster and TimeTagger with Docker?
Hamster: check the project docs for container support. TimeTagger: yes.