Timewarrior 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 | Timewarrior | TimeTagger |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 85 · Excellent | 71 · Good |
| Category | Time Tracking | Time Tracking |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C++ | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 64 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | binary, source | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,663 | ★ 1,789 |
| First released | 2016 | 2021 |
| Replaces | Toggl | Toggl, Harvest |
What are Timewarrior and TimeTagger?
Timewarrior
Timewarrior is a command-line time tracking utility that records start and stop times of tracked activities. It offers flexible tagging, reports, and analytics for personal productivity.
- Pure command-line workflow
- Tag-based tracking
- Flexible reports and charts
- Integrates with Taskwarrior
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
Timewarrior vs TimeTagger: key differences
Timewarrior is written in C++, while TimeTagger is built with Python. Licensing differs — MIT for Timewarrior versus GPL-3.0 for TimeTagger. Timewarrior is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 128 MB for TimeTagger. Timewarrior is the more established project (first released 2016), while TimeTagger arrived in 2021. TimeTagger lists first-class Docker deployment; Timewarrior does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Timewarrior if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (1.7k GitHub stars)
- Written in C++
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 Timewarrior 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 Timewarrior and TimeTagger free and open-source?
Yes. Timewarrior is licensed under MIT and TimeTagger under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Timewarrior and TimeTagger with Docker?
Timewarrior: check the project docs for container support. TimeTagger: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Timewarrior or TimeTagger?
Timewarrior has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 128 MB for TimeTagger. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.