Wakapi vs FocusTime Tracker
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?
Wakapi
Self-hosted coding activity and time tracking server
VS
FocusTime Tracker
Minimal command-line and web work timer
| Feature | Wakapi | FocusTime Tracker |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Time Tracking | Time Tracking |
| License | GPL-3.0 | MIT |
| Language | Go | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, binary, source | binary, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,398 | ★ 2,535 |
| First released | 2019 | 2015 |
| Replaces | WakaTime, RescueTime | Toggl, Harvest |
Why pick each one
Choose Wakapi if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (4.4k GitHub stars)
Choose FocusTime Tracker if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Active community (2.5k GitHub stars)
- Written in Python
Frequently asked questions
Is Wakapi or FocusTime Tracker better?
Neither is universally better. Wakapi has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Wakapi and FocusTime Tracker free and open-source?
Yes. Wakapi is licensed under GPL-3.0 and FocusTime Tracker under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Wakapi and FocusTime Tracker with Docker?
Wakapi: yes. FocusTime Tracker: check the project docs for container support.