TimeTagger vs Ziit
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?
TimeTagger
Tag-based time tracker with an interactive timeline
VS
Ziit
The Swiss army knife of code time tracking (alternative to WakaTime)
| Feature | TimeTagger | Ziit |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Time Tracking | Time Tracking |
| License | GPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,769 | ★ 249 |
| First released | 2021 | 2025 |
| Replaces | Toggl, Harvest | — |
Why pick each one
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)
Choose Ziit if…
- Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in TypeScript
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is TimeTagger or Ziit better?
TimeTagger is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Ziit if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are TimeTagger and Ziit free and open-source?
Yes. TimeTagger is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Ziit under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run TimeTagger and Ziit with Docker?
TimeTagger: yes. Ziit: yes.