Simple Time Tracker — Tracks time spent on activities on Android and Wear OS, with custom categories and stats.

Analyzed by · Mobile · Productivity · View on GitHub

What It Is

This is an open-source Android and Wear OS application that functions like a personal digital stopwatch and logbook for your daily activities. You can define tasks, start and stop timers, and view statistics on how your time is spent, directly from your phone or smartwatch.

It helps users gain insight into their time allocation, identify unproductive habits, and improve focus. For individuals, it's a tool for personal productivity; for businesses, it offers a foundation for custom time-logging solutions without vendor lock-in, albeit with licensing considerations.

Simple Time Tracker GitHub repository card

License Verdict

GPL-3.0 License — Strong Copyleft Restrictions — Commercial Use Allowed (with conditions) • Source Code Must Be Shared

The main Android app component is licensed under GPL-3.0. This means you can use, modify, and distribute the software, even for commercial purposes. However, if you distribute a modified version, you must release your source code under the same GPL-3.0 license. This makes building proprietary SaaS difficult, as users could demand your server-side code if it interacts with the GPL-licensed client. The Wear OS component uses the less restrictive MPL-2.0.

How to Use It

To get Simple Time Tracker running, clone the repository, open it in Android Studio, and let Gradle sync the project. You can then build and run the 'play' flavor on an Android emulator or device.

Prerequisites:

Estimated setup time: 30 minutes.

git clone https://github.com/Razeeman/Android-SimpleTimeTracker.git
cd Android-SimpleTimeTracker
# Open project in Android Studio, then sync Gradle
# Or build from command line:
./gradlew assemblePlayDebug

What I'd Build With This

Niche Professional Time Tracker (micro-saas)

Develop a specialized version of the app for a specific profession (e.g., freelance consultants, field technicians, artists). Customize activity categories, add industry-specific reporting templates, and integrate with niche-specific tools (e.g., project management software with open APIs). The business would sell custom builds or provide a hosted version, sharing modifications under GPL-3.0.

Effort: 3 Weeks Build Time · Target: Niche Professionals & Small Agencies · Pricing: $29/mo per user

GPL-Compliant Hosted Time Tracking (saas)

Offer a fully hosted, managed, and supported version of Simple Time Tracker. The business model would be to provide the infrastructure, customer support, and potentially premium features (also open-sourced under GPL-3.0) for organizations that want an open-source solution without the hassle of self-hosting. This leverages the GPL by offering value around the open core.

Effort: 3 Months Build Time · Target: Privacy-Conscious Businesses & NGOs · Pricing: $99/mo for 10 users + support packages

White-Label Employee Productivity Suite (enterprise)

Provide a white-label, customized version of the Android and Wear OS app to large enterprises for internal use. This could be for tracking employee time on specific tasks, managing work-from-home productivity, or ensuring compliance in regulated industries. The enterprise pays for the extensive customization, integration with their existing HR/ERP systems, and ongoing maintenance and support.

Effort: 6 Months Build Time · Target: Large Corporations & Industrial Clients · Pricing: $75,000+ per project

Sai Pavan Gopularam's Take

This project is a solid, active Android and Wear OS app for time tracking, but the GPL-3.0 license for the core Android app is a major hurdle for traditional proprietary SaaS. I'd focus on a service model around the open-source core, perhaps offering a managed, hosted version with support for $100/month per small team.

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