What it does
WakaTime uses editor plugins and apps to track active coding activity and report time by project, language, editor, and day. Its FAQ says a background plugin records file edits and active time without manual timers, with a configurable keystroke timeout that affects how activity is grouped. The service has a Free plan and paid tiers; Free retains captured statistics but limits dashboard history to one week.
A developer can install a WakaTime plugin for a supported editor and review automatically recorded coding time by project or language, rather than starting a timer for each session. The FAQ explains that activity is inferred from file edits and time actively spent in the editor, then grouped using a configurable timeout; that setting affects how gaps are counted. This is a focused tracker for coding work, not a general timesheet for every job. The Free plan keeps activity data and supports exports, but its dashboard shows only one week of history; a paid plan is needed to unlock the complete dashboard history. No plugin or account was installed.
Strengths
- Tracks coding time in the background without requiring manual start/stop timers.
- Dashboards can summarize activity by project, language, editor, and time period.
- Free retains captured coding statistics and offers limited dashboard history.
Watch out for
- The tracking focus is developer activity in editors rather than general workforce or all-purpose project time.
- Free dashboard history is limited to one week; full history is listed with paid Premium.
Best for
- Developers who want automatic estimates of time spent coding across supported editors
- Contractors or teams reviewing coding activity by project
Sources
- WakaTime - AI coding analytics for developers (Oct 25, 2026)
- FAQ - WakaTime (Oct 25, 2026)
- Pricing - WakaTime (Oct 25, 2026)