Best Open Source Focus, Pomodoro and Time Tracking Apps in 2026

The best open source Pomodoro timers, focus apps and time trackers in 2026, with the license, latest release and source code of each. Honest picks.

Open Sunsama Team · September 24, 2026 · 11 min read

Best Open Source Focus, Pomodoro and Time Tracking Apps in 2026

The best open source focus app in 2026 is Open Sunsama, if you want to focus on the day you planned. It opens one task full screen with a timer against your estimate, so you see planned vs actual.

For an open source Pomodoro app, pick Super Productivity or Pomatez. For open source time tracking software, pick Kimai or solidtime.

We build Open Sunsama, so we put it first — here is why, and where others fit better.

Open Sunsama has no built-in Pomodoro cycle. Its timer counts up against your estimate, with no set sprints or forced breaks. If you want 25-minute sprints, the Pomodoro timers below do that better, and they run fine next to it.

Key takeaways

Best overall: Open Sunsama, for focusing on your planned day. Focus mode runs a timer against your estimate and shows planned vs actual.
Best open source Pomodoro app with tasks: Super Productivity, on desktop and phone.
Best standalone Pomodoro timers: Pomatez for strict sessions, Pomotroid for stats and themes.
Best break reminder: Stretchly, which makes you stand up and rest your eyes.
Best open source time tracker for billing: Kimai. solidtime is the modern pick for freelancers.
Simple self-hosted time logs: Traggo and TimeTagger.
Automatic tracking: ActivityWatch logs your apps and sites on your own computer.

Open source focus and time tracking apps compared

App	License	Stars	Latest release	Platforms	Self-host	API	MCP
Open Sunsama	Open Sunsama Non-Commercial License	65	v1.0.16 (Sep 2026)	Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, Server	Docker	REST	Official
Super Productivity	MIT	22.2k	v19.1.0 (Sep 2026)	Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android	Docker (web app, sync server)	REST, Plugins	Community
Pomatez	MIT	4.9k	v1.11.0 (May 2026)	macOS, Windows, Linux	No	None	None found
Pomotroid	MIT	5.5k	v1.7.1 (May 2026)	macOS, Windows, Linux	No	None	None found
Solanum (Maintenance mode)	GPL-3.0-or-later	36	6.0.0 (Apr 2025)	Linux	No	None	None found
Stretchly	BSD-2-Clause	6.6k	v1.22.1 (Aug 2026)	macOS, Windows, Linux	No	CLI	None found
Kimai	AGPL-3.0-or-later	5k	2.67.0 (Sep 2026)	Web, Server	Docker, PHP app	REST, Plugins	Community
solidtime	AGPL-3.0-or-later	8.9k	v0.21.0 (Sep 2026)	Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, Server	Docker	REST	Community
Traggo	GPL-3.0-only	1.6k	v0.8.3 (Mar 2026)	Web, Server	Docker, binary	GraphQL	Community
TimeTagger	GPL-3.0-only	1.8k	v26.1.3 (Feb 2026)	Web, Server	Docker, pip (Python)	REST, CLI	Community
ActivityWatch	MPL-2.0	19k	v0.13.2 (Oct 2024)	macOS, Windows, Linux, Android	No	REST	Community

Stars, licenses and releases from each project's repository, checked Sep 2026. App names link to the source code.

Each app solves a different problem. Start with the job you need done.

You want to…	Kind of app	Our picks
Focus on the tasks you planned today	Focus mode in a planner	Open Sunsama, Super Productivity
Work in short sprints with breaks	Pomodoro timer	Pomatez, Pomotroid, Solanum
Rest your eyes and body	Break reminder	Stretchly
Bill clients by the hour	Time tracker	Kimai, solidtime
Log time with tags	Time tracker	Traggo, TimeTagger
See where time goes, no timer	Automatic tracker	ActivityWatch

How we compared

We build Open Sunsama and use it every day to plan and focus. For every other app, we read its license file, release notes, docs and open issues. Stars and releases come from each project's GitHub or GitLab page on 24 September 2026.

We did not use each app for weeks, so we don't claim hands-on testing. Screenshots come from each project's own images, or from demos and web apps we opened ourselves. The caption under each one names the source.

An app made the list only if its code is open source and it still gets fixes. Solanum is in maintenance mode, and its card says so.

Open Sunsama is the best open source focus app for a planned day

1. Open Sunsama

A daily planner with a kanban board of days, time blocking, focus mode and a hosted MCP server for AI agents.

Best for: Focusing on your planned day: focus mode with a timer against your estimate, and planned vs actual.

Note: The code is public under a non-commercial license: you can read, run and self-host it for personal use. Companies need a commercial license.

Open Sunsama screenshot — Captured from the Open Sunsama web app

License: Open Sunsama Non-Commercial License
Stars: 65 (as of Sep 2026)
Latest release: v1.0.16 (Sep 2026)
Language: TypeScript
Platforms: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, Server
Self-host: Docker
API: REST
MCP: Official

Source code · Website · Docs · Facts checked Sep 2026

Verdict: best overall. Focus mode lives inside your daily plan, so you always focus on a task you already chose.

Most focus apps start with a blank timer. Open Sunsama starts with your day. You plan tasks on a board, give each one an estimate, and block time for it on your calendar.

Then press F on a task. It fills the screen with its subtasks, notes and a focus timer. Press Space to start.

Press F to open a task in focus mode, then Space to start the timer.

The timer counts up next to your estimate, like 0:42 / 1:30. When you stop, it saves the real time to the task.

Open Sunsama focus mode showing a task with 0:42 of 1:30 spent, its subtasks and notes — 0:42 spent of a 1:30 estimate, with subtasks and notes in view.

At the end of the day, you check off what you did. Each done task keeps its real time next to its estimate. That is planned vs actual, and it makes tomorrow's plan more honest.

Check off tasks at the end of the day and see what you really got done.

What it does well:

Focus mode on any task, with subtasks and notes in view.
A timer that counts up, so a long task never cuts you off.
Planned vs actual for each task and each day.
Time blocking on a calendar next to your Google, Outlook or iCloud events.
A hosted MCP server, so Claude or ChatGPT can read your estimates and actual time.
Web, plus desktop apps for Mac, Windows and Linux.

Where it falls short:

No built-in Pomodoro cycle, so no set sprints or forced breaks.
No break reminders and no automatic app tracking.
No iOS or Android app. On a phone, it runs in the browser.
The code is public on GitHub. It uses a non-commercial license: you can read it, run it and self-host it for personal use. Companies need a commercial license.

Pick it if you want to focus on the work you planned, not just run a timer. Add Pomatez or Pomotroid if you also want Pomodoro sprints. Read more on the focus mode page.

Open source Pomodoro timers and break reminders

A Pomodoro timer splits work into short sprints with breaks in between. Our Pomodoro technique guide explains the method.

Super Productivity: a Pomodoro timer inside a full to-do app

2. Super Productivity

A to-do app with timeboxing, time tracking and focus mode that can pull in issues from Jira or GitHub.

Best for: A Pomodoro timer, a to-do list and time tracking in one app, on desktop and phone.

Super Productivity screenshot — Captured from the web app at app.super-productivity.com

License: MIT (MIT License)
Stars: 22.2k (as of Sep 2026)
Latest release: v19.1.0 (Sep 2026)
Language: TypeScript
Platforms: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
Self-host: Docker (web app, sync server)
API: REST, Plugins
MCP: Community

Source code · Website · Docs · Facts checked Sep 2026

Verdict: the best open source Pomodoro app if you want your tasks and your timer in one place.

What it does well:

A Pomodoro timer, a break reminder and time tracking for each task.
Timeboxing, so you plan how long each task gets.
Works offline with no account. Syncs through SuperSync, Dropbox or WebDAV.
Pulls in issues from Jira, GitHub, GitLab, Linear and more.

Where it falls short:

It has many features and settings, so it takes a while to learn.
MCP comes from community servers, not the core app.

Pick it if you want a Pomodoro timer and a to-do list with real phone apps.

Pomatez: strict Pomodoro sessions on your desktop

3. Pomatez

A desktop Pomodoro timer with a simple task list, break rules and a strict mode.

Best for: Strict Pomodoro sessions, with full-screen breaks you can't skip.

Pomatez screenshot — Official screenshot from the project's website, © the Pomatez project

License: MIT (MIT License)
Stars: 4.9k (as of Sep 2026)
Latest release: v1.11.0 (May 2026)
Language: TypeScript
Platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux
Self-host: No server
API: None
MCP: None found

Source code · Website · Facts checked Sep 2026

Verdict: the best standalone open source Pomodoro timer for the desktop.

What it does well:

You set the length of work, short breaks and long breaks.
Strict mode stops you from pausing, skipping or resetting a session.
Full-screen breaks keep you off the keyboard while you rest.
Special breaks for lunch or a snack, set once at fixed times.
A small task list, so you know what each session is for.

Where it falls short:

Desktop only, with no phone app and no sync.
The task list is basic. It does not plan your day.

Pick it if you want a timer that won't let you cheat.

Pomotroid: a Pomodoro timer with stats and themes

4. Pomotroid

A Pomodoro timer for your desktop with session stats, themes and global shortcuts.

Best for: A good-looking Pomodoro timer that keeps a record of your sessions.

Pomotroid screenshot — Official screenshot from the project's README, © the Pomotroid project

License: MIT (MIT License)
Stars: 5.5k (as of Sep 2026)
Latest release: v1.7.1 (May 2026)
Language: Rust
Platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux
Self-host: No server
API: None
MCP: None found

Source code · Website · Facts checked Sep 2026

Verdict: the best open source Pomodoro timer for people who like to see their streaks.

What it does well:

You set work and break lengths, and the rounds before a long break.
Daily, weekly and all-time stats, with a heatmap of the past year.
38 built-in themes, and you can add your own.
Global shortcuts control the timer even when its window is hidden.

Where it falls short:

No task list. It times sessions, not tasks.
Desktop only, with no sync between computers.

Pick it if you want a simple timer and a chart of your focus time.

Solanum: the simplest Pomodoro timer for GNOME

5. Solanum (Maintenance mode)

A small Pomodoro timer for the GNOME desktop that times work laps and breaks.

Best for: GNOME users who want a tiny timer with one button.

Note: Linux only; it ships as a Flatpak on Flathub.

Solanum screenshot — Official screenshot from the project's README, © the Solanum project

License: GPL-3.0-or-later (GNU General Public License v3.0 or later)
Stars: 36 (as of Sep 2026)
Latest release: 6.0.0 (Apr 2025)
Language: Rust
Platforms: Linux
Self-host: No server
API: None
MCP: None found

Source code · Website · Facts checked Sep 2026

Verdict: a small, calm timer for the Linux desktop, now in maintenance mode.

What it does well:

One button starts a work lap, then a break.
It looks and feels like the rest of the GNOME desktop.
It can go full screen during breaks.

Where it falls short:

Linux only, from Flathub.
It gets only small fixes and translations now. The last new feature landed in 2024.

Pick it if you use GNOME and want the least setup possible.

Stretchly: break reminders, not a Pomodoro timer

6. Stretchly

A desktop app that reminds you to take short and long breaks from your computer.

Best for: People who sit too long and forget to take breaks.

Stretchly screenshot — Official screenshot from the project's README, © the Stretchly project

License: BSD-2-Clause (BSD 2-Clause "Simplified" License)
Stars: 6.6k (as of Sep 2026)
Latest release: v1.22.1 (Aug 2026)
Language: JavaScript
Platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux
Self-host: No server
API: CLI
MCP: None found

Source code · Website · Docs · Facts checked Sep 2026

Verdict: the best open source app to make you rest.

What it does well:

A 20-second mini break every 10 minutes and a 5-minute long break every 30 minutes. You can change all of it.
It pauses breaks when you step away, or when Do Not Disturb is on.
You can put a break off once, then skip it later if you must.
A command line lets you control the running app.

Where it falls short:

It does not time your work or track tasks.
The macOS build is not signed, so macOS may block the first launch.

Pick it if your problem is sitting too long, not staying on task.

Open source time tracking software

A time tracker logs how long work takes. Use one to bill clients, or to learn where your week goes. Our guide on how to track your time covers the habit.

Kimai: time tracking with invoices

7. Kimai

A web app for tracking work hours, with timesheets, reports, invoices and teams.

Best for: Freelancers and teams who bill clients by the hour.

Note: Some extra features are sold as paid plugins in the Kimai store.

Kimai screenshot — Captured from the public demo at demo.kimai.org

License: AGPL-3.0-or-later (GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 or later)
Stars: 5k (as of Sep 2026)
Latest release: 2.67.0 (Sep 2026)
Language: PHP
Platforms: Web, Server
Self-host: Docker, PHP app
API: REST, Plugins
MCP: Community

Source code · Website · Docs · Facts checked Sep 2026

Verdict: the most complete open source time tracker for billable work.

What it does well:

Timesheets, reports, invoices and teams in one web app.
Rates per user, customer or project, plus budgets and tags.
An API, two-factor login and a plugin store.
Self-host it with Docker, or on any PHP host.

Where it falls short:

Some extra features are paid plugins.
Phone apps come from other developers, not the Kimai project.

Pick it if you need timesheets and invoices on your own server.

solidtime: a modern time tracker for freelancers

8. solidtime

A modern time tracker for freelancers and agencies, with projects, clients and billable rates.

Best for: Freelancers and agencies who want a clean, modern timer for client work.

Note: Some advanced self-hosted features need the paid On-Premise Business plan.

solidtime screenshot — Official screenshot from docs.solidtime.io, © the solidtime project

License: AGPL-3.0-or-later (GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 or later)
Stars: 8.9k (as of Sep 2026)
Latest release: v0.21.0 (Sep 2026)
Language: PHP
Platforms: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, Server
Self-host: Docker
API: REST
MCP: Community

Source code · Website · Docs · Facts checked Sep 2026

Verdict: the most modern open source time tracker, built for client work.

What it does well:

Projects, clients and billable rates.
A timer on the web, in desktop apps and in a browser extension.
A REST API, and Docker for self-hosting.

Where it falls short:

Some advanced self-hosted features need a paid business plan.
No phone app.

Pick it if you want a clean timer for client work that you can host yourself.

Traggo: time tracking by tags

9. Traggo

A self-hosted time tracker where you tag spans of time instead of filing them under tasks.

Best for: People who want to tag their time freely instead of filing it under projects.

Traggo screenshot — Official screenshot from the project's README, © the Traggo project

License: GPL-3.0-only (GNU General Public License v3.0)
Stars: 1.6k (as of Sep 2026)
Latest release: v0.8.3 (Mar 2026)
Language: Go
Platforms: Web, Server
Self-host: Docker, binary
API: GraphQL
MCP: Community

Source code · Website · Docs · Facts checked Sep 2026

Verdict: a small, flexible tracker built on tags, not tasks.

What it does well:

You tag spans of time, like "project:blog" or "type:meeting".
A calendar view and dashboards you build from your tags.
A GraphQL API, and Docker or a single binary to run it.

Where it falls short:

A small project with slow releases.
No phone app.

Pick it if you want to slice your time any way you like.

TimeTagger: your day as a timeline

10. TimeTagger

A web-based time tracker built around an interactive timeline and #tags.

Best for: People who like to see and drag their day on a timeline.

TimeTagger screenshot — Captured from the public demo at timetagger.app

License: GPL-3.0-only (GNU General Public License v3.0)
Stars: 1.8k (as of Sep 2026)
Latest release: v26.1.3 (Feb 2026)
Language: Python
Platforms: Web, Server
Self-host: Docker, pip (Python)
API: REST, CLI
MCP: Community

Source code · Website · Docs · Facts checked Sep 2026

Verdict: a light tracker built around a timeline you can drag.

What it does well:

An interactive timeline you drag to see any stretch of time.
Plain #tags in each entry, with reports by tag.
A web API and a command-line tool.
Self-host it with Docker or pip.

Where it falls short:

New work comes slowly. The last commits were in May 2026.
No phone app, though the web app works in a phone browser.

Pick it if you think about time as blocks on a line.

Automatic time tracking

ActivityWatch: automatic tracking that stays on your computer

11. ActivityWatch

An automatic time tracker that logs which apps and websites you use, stored on your computer.

Best for: Seeing where your screen time really goes, with no timer to start.

Note: The last stable release is from October 2024; newer versions are betas.

ActivityWatch screenshot — Official screenshot from activitywatch.net, © the ActivityWatch project

License: MPL-2.0 (Mozilla Public License 2.0)
Stars: 19k (as of Sep 2026)
Latest release: v0.13.2 (Oct 2024)
Language: Python
Platforms: macOS, Windows, Linux, Android
Self-host: No server
API: REST
MCP: Community

Source code · Website · Docs · Facts checked Sep 2026

Verdict: the best open source automatic time tracker.

What it does well:

It logs your active app and window title as you work.
A browser extension adds the tab and site you are on.
It knows when you step away from the keyboard.
Your data stays on your computer, with a local REST API.

Where it falls short:

Sync between devices is still in testing.
It shows where time went, but not what you should work on.

Pick it if you want the plain truth about your screen time.

What about open source habit trackers?

Most apps here track time, not habits. For a daily habit, a recurring task in Open Sunsama puts it on your board each day, and the focus timer logs the time.

If you want a streak chart, look at Loop Habit Tracker. It is a well-known open source habit app for Android, under GPL-3.0. We did not rank it here because it does not time your work.

Which focus apps work with AI agents?

MCP lets an AI agent like Claude or ChatGPT read and change your data. For focus apps, that means your agent can see planned vs actual and plan tomorrow.

Open Sunsama: an official hosted MCP server with OAuth sign-in. Your agent can read estimates and actual minutes, and add time blocks. See the MCP setup guide.
Super Productivity, Kimai, solidtime, Traggo, TimeTagger and ActivityWatch: community MCP servers built by other people.
Pomatez, Pomotroid, Solanum and Stretchly: we found no MCP server.

Which one should you pick?

For most people: Open Sunsama. Plan your day, then focus on one task at a time with a timer against your estimate.
If you want a Pomodoro timer and to-do list in one app, pick Super Productivity.
If you want strict Pomodoro sessions, pick Pomatez.
If you want stats and themes, pick Pomotroid.
If you use GNOME and want it simple, pick Solanum.
If you forget to take breaks, pick Stretchly.
If you bill clients by the hour, pick Kimai or solidtime.
If you want flexible tags, pick Traggo or TimeTagger.
If you want tracking with no timer, pick ActivityWatch.

You can self-host Open Sunsama with our Docker guide, or read about it on the open source task manager page.

More open source picks

Best open source productivity apps: the full list, sorted by job.
Best open source planner apps: daily planners and time blocking.
Best open source to-do list apps: task lists you can own.
Best focus apps for deep work: open source and not.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best open source focus app?

Open Sunsama is our pick if you want to focus on the day you planned: it opens one task full screen with a timer against your estimate. For a classic Pomodoro timer, pick Super Productivity, Pomatez or Pomotroid.

What is the best open source Pomodoro timer?

Super Productivity is the best one with a to-do list built in, on desktop and phone. Pomatez is the best standalone timer, with strict mode and full-screen breaks. Pomotroid is best if you want session stats and themes.

Does Open Sunsama have a Pomodoro timer?

No. Its focus timer counts up against the task's estimate and saves the real time to the task. There are no set sprints or forced breaks, so run Pomatez or Pomotroid next to it if you want those.

What is the best open source time tracker?

Kimai is the most complete for billable hours, with timesheets and invoices. solidtime is the modern pick for freelancers. ActivityWatch tracks your apps and sites on its own, with no timer to start.

Is there an open source habit tracker?

Yes. Loop Habit Tracker is a well-known open source habit app for Android, under GPL-3.0. For habits you do at a set time, recurring tasks in a planner like Open Sunsama also work.

Can I self-host a time tracker?

Yes. Kimai, solidtime, Traggo and TimeTagger all run on your own server with Docker. ActivityWatch runs on your own computer and keeps its data there.

Is Open Sunsama open source?

The code is public on GitHub. It uses a non-commercial license: you can read it, run it and self-host it for personal use. Companies need a commercial license.

Which open source focus apps work with Claude or ChatGPT?

Open Sunsama has an official hosted MCP server, so Claude or ChatGPT can read your estimates and actual time. Super Productivity, Kimai, solidtime and ActivityWatch have community MCP servers. We found none for Pomatez, Pomotroid, Solanum or Stretchly.