RescueTime Reviews

“Good automatic tracking capacity.

Pros

One of the most useful aspects of RescueTime for me is its ability to automatically track the time I spend on different apps and websites without needing any manual intervention. This feature helps me get an accurate and objective picture of my workday without extra effort.

Cons

While I get the productivity boost from monitoring, I sometimes fret over privacy, especially with sensitive work info. I feel like there's a lack of clarity in guidelines compared to similar tools.

“Excellent Rescue Time!

Pros

With it, I plan my work, organize my time, control the duration of use of websites, and block those that distract me. I can also save my activities every day. It's unbelievable!

Cons

This awesome software seems tailored solely for English speakers; there is no language switch option.

“Really valuable resource

Pros

For our team, this tool has been eye-opening for tracking and improving productivity. Its automatic time tracking feature helps me understand how I spend my time on the computer and mobile devices. I particularly like the detailed reports and activity breakdowns, which provide valuable data to identify time-wasting habits and increase focus. The goal-setting and notification features encourage me to stay on track towards my productivity goals.

Cons

It might take a while to fully utilize the insights this tool offers.

“Great for seeing where your time goes

Pros

All versions of RescueTime offer me a great overview of where I spend my time, particularly how much time I waste on things like email and social media.

Cons

I can't think of anything negative. Even the free version meets all my needs.

“Activity tracking done right

Pros

The best thing about RescueTime is how, after setup, I simply forget about it. It works 100% without interaction, and at the end of each day, I have a comprehensive report on all the activities I performed.

Cons

Until recently, the user interface was not ideal. But with the new version of RescueTime, that's no longer an issue thanks to the sleek layout.

“Identify potential time wasters with RescueTime

Pros

The detailed analysis of how I use apps and websites has made it possible for me to become more efficient when working with a computer. I can also block distractions if needed.

Cons

I don't have any gripes but if you are wary of online activity logging, that could be a downside.

“Unleash Your Potential with RescueTime's Powerful Time Tracking

Pros

RescueTime helps me find and get rid of distractions to increase productivity by giving me insightful information about how I spend my time. The program automatically keeps tabs on my usage across numerous websites and applications and generates thorough time usage reports. I can establish objectives and track development using RescueTime's productivity scores and goal-setting options. RescueTime enables me to retain focus on key tasks with its customized warnings and concentrate time settings. I am empowered to make knowledgeable decisions about my time management by the software's user-friendly interface and clear reports, which increase my productivity and work-life balance.

Cons

One downside of RescueTime is its automatic tracking may miss some offline activities, leading to inaccurate results. The free edition is limited, and upgrading is necessary for advanced features. Some might find the comprehensive reports overwhelming or the productivity ratings arbitrary. It provides information but doesn't actively push behavior change.

“Keeps track of what you are doing automatically (and how long...)

Pros

The ease of use is the best aspect of this tool for me. Without having to remember to start a task, it silently records what I am doing in the background.

Cons

it's tricky to assign an activity to a specific project, especially with multiple similar projects simultaneously.

“Great tool to time tracking

Pros

Time tracking with RescueTime is easy for me. It has a good UI and categorizes automatically the tools I use on my PC.

Cons

I wish the free plan included more reports and the mobile app was better.

“Excellent product for like me people that do not manage time properly

Pros

As a tech-savvy person who likes to research new technology, I used to spend more than 5+ hours on it without managing how much time I spent watching YouTube videos or Netflix Web Series. For a long time, I couldn't monitor my time. Then, one of my favorite YouTubers talked about RescueTime. They said it helped them manage their time, so I decided to try it too. Now, it has helped me understand how I spend my time and provided insightful information about it. I can modify my time-spending structure and get the most out of my time.

Cons

This software is fantastic, I can't find any cons.

“It worked with minor glitches

Pros

For me, it was easy to use, and the automatic time tracking is great.

Cons

The pricing is not as appealing compared to other time tracking tools.

“RescueTime Review

Pros

I am using the free version of RescueTime installed on my laptop. The product is easy to use, easy to implement, and has a good user interface. The aspect I enjoy the most is the overview of my total weekly performance monitored by time, which offers me knowledge of time spent, including productivity concerns. As an affiliate, I am promoting this product through my blog and social network.

Cons

I am quite comfortable with it; could not find any downsides. Will keep an eye out for future updates.

“One of the best in the market

Pros

Its usage tracking abilities across multiple devices is definitely its killer feature for me.

Cons

The API capabilities are limited, and new features seem to worsen the product.

“Great for finding "time leaks" in productivity

Pros

I like the weekly emailed report on productivity. Its helped me find and fix "time leaks" in my productivity.

Cons

I don't use it for billing because tracking time across various projects and platforms is complex. I rely on another software for project time tracking.

“Great automatic activity tracker, with only the limitations of that approach

Pros

It tracks what I work on completely automatically, reliably records all applications I use, and gives automatic ratings on how productive certain applications are.

Cons

Updating the Linux client could be smoother.

“No more asking where your spend your time

Pros

I really like that I can see where I spend or waste most of my time.

Cons

It would be great if it were available in other languages like French for easier recommendation to non-English speaking friends.

“Habit Buster

Pros

I used this app to track my digital footprint, and it helped me change how much time I spend on social media.

Cons

Nothing negative to say, RescueTime is a great app that helps curb unproductive habits.

“Unintrusive way to track how you are spending your time

Pros

My most fav features are detailed stats, Focus mode, API integrations, and support for all relevant platforms.

Cons

It can be slow when viewing monthly or yearly stats and lacks a single-page view for daily activities.

“Productivity Tracker for Remote workers

Pros

It is easy to use. It provides productivity reports at the end of the day, helps me stay on track with my tasks daily, and is invaluable for tracking billable hours.

Cons

The interface looks outdated and clunky, but it's excellent for productivity tracking.

“The best time-tracking tool. Period.

Pros

This software has been a game-changer for me, and I have been a happy paying customer for more than three years now. The tracking is very precise and works on all of my devices. Reports and analytics are easy to understand, and the software allows a lot of customization when it comes to recorded activities and their categorization. All in all, it is a top product.

Cons

The only issue is it records me on multiple devices simultaneously, which can skew the data. I wish there was AI to handle this better in the future.

“Take advantage of your time

Pros

It saves me time by counting the time I spend on my computer. I can see which places distract me the most and which I spend more time on.

Cons

It is only available in English, but it does not discriminate when the user is not working.

“Distraction Buster

Pros

I love that this app works on both Windows and Android, giving me a full picture of how I spend my time.

Cons

Nothing at all, RescueTime is fantastic and highly recommended for time insight.

“Check Your Schedule

Pros

This software is simply great. I can see a graph of the time I spend on different apps, both on my phone and on my PC. I love it.

Cons

RescueTime is legendary, it delivers on its promises.

“Productivity Tracker

Pros

I like that this app can record all the apps I use and plot a graph showing this usage. It can track usage across all platforms and give a consolidated usage graph.

Cons

This app is great, no complaints, no bugs during my trial period.

“Find Your Distraction

Pros

This app helps me log what I spend my time doing on the PC and allows me to see when and what gets me distracted.

Cons

It feels a bit invasive since someone could install it on your device without you noticing.

“Very reliable time management app

Pros

The most powerful feature of RescueTime for me is tracking the activities I spend my time on and when I do them. The real power comes from having it on every device I use.

Cons

I wish the mobile app had more features, especially for logging offline time easily.

“RescueTime is a Very useful Online Time Management Tool

Pros

It is a fantastic tool for keeping track of my precious time online. It monitors every website I visit and app I use, tracking how much time I spend on each. It automatically categorizes most of my apps and sites as productive or destructive. I can always map various sites according to my needs. It provides very detailed weekly stats and shows exactly how I spend my time online. It also helps me set weekly productivity goals and reduce unproductive time. It seamlessly works in the background, tracking time on my PC and mobile. The free version of RescueTime is enough for my needs.

Cons

Real-time notifications would make a difference. The pro version of RescueTime is a bit expensive for me.

“Easy time tracking and management

Pros

It's very easy for me to track time spent on different activities. It has desktop and smartphone apps, and the browser extension is very handy. I appreciate the weekly reminders.

Cons

The user interface feels outdated, and the user experience needs improvement. Some features are buried and require too many clicks to access. It's a hassle to change activity categories, especially doing multiple at once.

“Allow you to be more productive

Pros

This software helped me identify which activities were consuming too much time so I could focus on activities that bring value. It shows me what kinds of software I used, and it is very effective when installed on both my computer and phone.

Cons

I can't find any downsides to RescueTime. It's all smooth sailing and really boosts productivity.

“Nice interface, but I really do not use it much

Pros

Their appealing interface and the app support for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, and the browser plugins for Chrome and Firefox.

Cons

I prefer the Timeline view for associating activities with projects, but it lacks details compared to the activity view. It's odd that it only shows app and site details without timestamps. Getting details in the Timeline view means opening each item one by one, which is cumbersome.

“Runs smoothly in the background

Pros

I appreciate that RescueTime is one of those "set it and forget it" programs. I often forget that it's there and enjoy getting a weekly update that's clear and easy to read.

Cons

While it's not always 100% accurate in categorizing activities, it is pretty close. Just keep in mind, it does not track calls or meetings. It's a good estimate, but don't rely on it for specific goals.

“The Best Productivity Tracker

Pros

RescueTime is very easy for me to use as a time tracker. I just downloaded the app onto my laptop and Android device, and it did the rest. It fits well with my current requirements, as it silently and automatically records time spent on each application in the background. The feature I enjoyed the most is seeing a complete picture of my productive and non-productive time, all categorized automatically and accurately.

Cons

It would be great to have a feature to categorize certain activities as productive or integrate logged hours with billing tools.

“Innovative way to understand personal productivity

Pros

This is a good learning tool for me, allowing me to gauge how my time has been applied and figure out how I can streamline my not-so-productive activities.

Cons

There is not much to criticize, but it's important to use it as a tool for self-reflection, not as a definitive measure. Don't take the results out of context; they're for personal improvement.

“Helpful for time tracking

Pros

It works in the background without me having to think about it. It provides updates on how I've used my time.

Cons

I have no complaints about RescueTime so far. It works smoothly, and I can't think of any drawbacks.

“What I like most of rescuetime is it's ability to detect when an user is not using the computer.

Pros

I like how RescueTime tracks all the apps I have opened and used, as well as the browser links. I appreciate its idle time feature and their reports and graphics.

Cons

It's not possible to track by project and estimate time spent on each project by default. The prompt for idle time is useful but should be active by default.

“Rescue your days and weeks from procastinating (too much)

Pros

RescueTime is a great tool for me as I am concerned about how I spend my time online. RescueTime lets me record precisely how much time I spent and where, giving me a real (often shocking) insight into what I was doing. This is useful not only for productivity but also for staying away from my phone. In general, RescueTime is simple and their free version meets my needs. Its simple to use; I don't have to do anything but check my reports to see what's going on.

Cons

The GUI could be improved, it feels outdated for such a popular service. Overall, though, I'm satisfied with RescueTime and don't encounter major issues.

“Only tool that met my needs (using Linux background daemon)

Pros

After evaluating all possible time trackers for Ubuntu, I found RescueTime to be the only product that would give me a simple metric as part of my KPIs: how much time I spend at my workstation every day during weekdays. The tool does a lot more than that, but I capture this metric and email it to myself daily thanks to a Zapier hook.

Cons

It would be nice to have a GUI for Ubuntu, although I probably would not use it much even if it existed.

“Time Management

Pros

It helped me manage my time and properly allocate the hours in my day. It's amazing because it showed me where I was spending most of my time.

Cons

Sometimes it records time on a specific application even when I am not using it.

“How Dare You Make Me Focus

Pros

Oh RescueTime, how I love and hate you. You make me focus when I don't want to, so I actually get stuff done. When I set up RescueTime, I have to know I'll be incredibly frustrated when I'm locked out of certain websites, but that's the point. It's great at helping me focus my attention where I need it to be.

Cons

It did not work well on my phone. I could usually bypass it and access blocked websites during focused time, which is my fault for not stopping myself.

“Great for staying accountable

Pros

RescueTime offers automatic tracking of how I use my time. The dashboard is easy to use, and it's a great way to stay accountable with my goals.

Cons

Reporting lacks detail, and RescueTime is not a replacement for contractor time tracking. The continuous recording nature poses a privacy risk.

“A Good Way to Get an Overview of Where your Time is Going

Pros

It is easy to set up and use, and it pretty much works on its own. Using RescueTime, I can see how much time I spend on my computer and what types of things I am doing.

Cons

The default categorization does not always match reality, for example, it might label a productive task as unproductive. So, it's important to review or take reported activities with a grain of salt.

“Time Management with Rescue Time

Pros

RescueTime tracks my time both in apps and on sites. I'm able to set timers, and it has strong reporting capabilities that are easy to customize.

Cons

It is not very accurate with iPhone usage, and it improves over time as it learns habits. The premium version doesn't justify the expense for me, as not all features are available in the free version.

“Great way to see where your time is going

Pros

It is user-friendly that's also highly customizable. It gives me a full overview of where my time is being spent on the computer. I can categorize and filter out data if I like.

Cons

This software takes a while to ensure all activities are properly categorized.

“Insight into how you spend your time

Pros

I like how I can use RescueTime across devices. It helps me keep track of how I spend my time. My boss and I used it and shared our reports, and it worked well.

Cons

As a marketer, spending time on social media platforms may seem like wasted time but is often work-related. It would be helpful to configure RescueTime to better reflect this.

“Great for managing your time

Pros

It is quite complete. I like that it also analyzes the websites I use, not just the apps, and allows me to get all information as one, from my phone, personal computer, work laptop, and so on.

Cons

Managing categories can be a hassle, especially when you access sites like YouTube for legitimate reasons during work. It doesn't consider the timing, just the distraction level.

“Time management rocks"

Pros

I appreciate that the technology can help me keep track of my time spent on different sites and also notify me.

Cons

I find it a bit expensive for what seems like a simple application. I believe the price should be lower.

“RescueTime to rescue your time

Pros

I liked that it was easy to set up. It tracks time in specific software and websites. The design is professional.

Cons

It does not provide actionable insights as I would like. Instead of just showing time spent, it should offer more useful insights.

“Cannot recommend this enough.

Pros

The amount of information I gather with this is just mindblowing, and having it available on everything is awesome. The automatic categorization for apps works most of the time. Then there are the vast amount of integrations it offers. This is the best time tracking software I have used, and it just gets better with time.

Cons

Re-categorizing activities is somewhat convoluted for me. I have had to bookmark the page so I can get to it quickly. The focus sessions are a neat feature, but I think they need to be more robust as its quite easy to circumvent them.

“Bottom-Up Objectivity Yields No-brainer Accountability

Pros

This is a no-brainer to install with no configuration, and I instantly get personalized and valuable weekly reports. It works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iPhone, so it can be used by anyone in the company or any external team. The user interface is excellent, and it's very easy to customize to each user's specific goals if they choose to do so.

Cons

The phone apps don't always categorize calls with known contacts automatically. Tracking sites with multiple goals or intentions is tricky at times.

“Automatic Time Tracking

Pros

RescueTime offers effortless time tracking with a 'set and forget' kind of approach. It works in the background to identify the tasks I am working on and provides insightful reports on productivity.

Cons

Integration with other systems would be extremely useful since we have switched to a different solution that integrates with our internal tools.