Hamster vs timetrace
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted time tracking options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Hamster | timetrace |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 49 · Fair | 13 · At risk |
| Category | Time Tracking | Time Tracking |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,126 | ★ 794 |
| First released | 2008 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Toggl, RescueTime | Clockify, Toggl |
What are Hamster and timetrace?
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
timetrace
timetrace is a simple command-line time tracker that records hours spent on projects and tasks directly from the terminal. It stores records as local files and produces reports for billing and review.
- Terminal-based tracking
- Local file storage
- Project and task records
- Reporting commands
Hamster vs timetrace: key differences
Hamster is written in Python, while timetrace is built with Go. Timetrace is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for Hamster. Hamster is the more established project (first released 2008), while timetrace arrived in 2021.
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 timetrace if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in Go
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Hamster or timetrace better?
Neither is universally better. Hamster has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Hamster and timetrace free and open-source?
Yes. Hamster is licensed under GPL-3.0 and timetrace under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Hamster and timetrace with Docker?
Hamster: check the project docs for container support. timetrace: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Hamster or timetrace?
timetrace has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for Hamster. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.