Track your time. Skip the setup.
See where your time goes with TimeRetain. Track work, study, or personal projects right in your browser, with no account or download needed.
Your records stay on your device by default.
What makes it different
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Nothing to install
It opens in your browser and keeps working offline after the first visit.
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Nothing to sign up for
No account and no email address. Your history lives on this device.
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Nothing watching you
No screenshots and no activity tracking. You start and stop the timer yourself.
Your time tells a personal story: the work you do, the things you’re learning, and the projects you care about.
You should be able to look back on it without handing that story to someone else. TimeRetain keeps your records on your device by default.
Sync is optional, and encrypted so that only you can read it.
How it works
01Track
Start a timer. Say what you did.
Start when you begin, stop when you finish. Your entries appear in History, grouped by day. Add a note or correct a time whenever you need to.
02Sort
Add structure when you need it.
Start tracking without sorting everything first. Tags and timelines are optional, and you can add them to earlier entries in bulk.
03Review
See where the hours went.
Look back over a week or month. See your total time, then break it down by tag or timeline when you want more detail.
Yours to keep
Sync between devices, if you want it.
Your history stays on this device until you turn on Sync. Synced stopwatches are encrypted end to end, so the server only holds data it can’t read.
Export whenever you like.
CSV for spreadsheets, JSON for backups. Export is free, and will stay free.
It works without a connection.
After the first visit, TimeRetain loads offline. Add it to your dock or home screen and it opens like any other app. Chrome and Firefox handle this best.
Smaller things that help
- Quick nudgesNudge time up or down for quick corrections.
- Exact timesEdit exact start and end times.
- Search and filterSearch descriptions, filter by tag.
- Several at onceRun multiple stopwatches at once.
- Flexible ratesBill by timeline, tag, default, or manual rate.
- Any periodView by week, month, quarter, year, or all time.
How TimeRetain compares
| Feature | TimeRetain | Other trackers (varies by app) | | --- | --- | --- | | Account | No signup or personal details | May require an account | | Installation | Runs in your browser | May require an app or extension | | Organization | Tags and timelines are optional | May require projects or clients first | | Storage | On your device; encrypted sync optional | May store your records in the cloud | | Tracking | You start and stop the timer | May also monitor activity automatically | | Offline use | Works after the first visit | Offline support varies | | Export | Free CSV and JSON exports | Formats and access vary |
| TimeRetain | Other trackers (varies by app) | |
|---|---|---|
| Account | No signup or personal details | May require an account |
| Installation | Runs in your browser | May require an app or extension |
| Organization | Tags and timelines are optional | May require projects or clients first |
| Storage | On your device; encrypted sync optional | May store your records in the cloud |
| Tracking | You start and stop the timer | May also monitor activity automatically |
| Offline use | Works after the first visit | Offline support varies |
| Export | Free CSV and JSON exports | Formats and access vary |
Why TimeRetain exists
I found existing solutions bulky and cumbersome to set up and use. I built TimeRetain so you can open it and start tracking.
A time tracker is simple software. It doesn’t need a server, and it can run on your device even when you’re offline.
It is manual on purpose. You start and stop the timer yourself, so every stopwatch means something. Nothing watches in the background, and nothing guesses what you were doing.
Sync shouldn’t cost you your privacy either. How you spend your day is your business, not mine.
TimeRetain helps you record your time and see where it goes, with room to organize it when you need to.
Questions
Using it
What is a timer and what is a stopwatch?
A timer counts down and a stopwatch counts up. TimeRetain supports both. Hit “Start” to let a stopwatch run open-ended, or click “Countdown” to set a target duration and count down to zero.
Do I have to use timelines and tags?
Both are optional. A tag labels an activity, such as writing or meetings. A timeline keeps a context, such as a client or course, separate from others. Start tracking without either, then add them to earlier entries in bulk when you want more detail.
If you adopt one later, open that timeline or tag and choose “Bulk…” to filter your past stopwatches, select the ones that apply, and review the list of changes before you save. More in Timelines vs. tags.
Can I search my history?
Yes. Open Filters and search by description or tag. History and stats update immediately as you type.
How does rate tracking work?
You can set rates on timelines and tags, keep a default in Preferences, or enter a rate on one stopwatch. For automatic rates, TimeRetain first checks the selected timeline and its parents. If none has a rate, one unambiguous tag rate applies; otherwise it uses the default. A manual stopwatch rate stays in place until you reset it.
I just want to track time, not earnings. Is that possible too?
You can turn off earnings in Preferences. TimeRetain won’t show totals or fields for rates and currency.
What is adjust minutes?
Forgot to pause for lunch? Add or subtract minutes from any stopwatch without editing start and stop times. Turn on “Adjust” in Preferences. You can even set a default deduction (like 30 minutes) and tweak it on the fly.
Privacy
Is TimeRetain really private?
By default, your time data stays in your browser. If you opt into syncing, everything is encrypted on your device first, so only your specific login key can decrypt it. Beyond that, TimeRetain collects privacy-friendly product analytics and basic access and error logs. Read more on the Privacy page.
Do I need to create an account?
No. If you enable Sync, you receive a login key that only you control. There is no account, email, or password.
What happens if I lose my login key?
TimeRetain cannot reset your login key or access your data because it is encrypted on your device before syncing. If you lose your login key, your synced data cannot be recovered.
Your data
How can I import data from other apps or my spreadsheet into TimeRetain?
Start with the import page for supported paths today. The machine-readable JSON specification lives at timeretain.com/import.md; give an AI assistant the raw data plus that document to produce a compatible JSON file for Data & Sync → Import.
The same instructions apply when building the JSON file manually. A universal import tool is on the roadmap.
Can I export my data?
Yes, and you’re encouraged to do so. TimeRetain supports CSV exports for further processing and JSON to make backups.
What happens to my data if I clear my browser cache?
Local data will be deleted. Back up your data to prevent loss.
Why do I need to back up my data?
Your device is the primary storage location, even if Sync is enabled. TimeRetain cannot access your data because it is encrypted with your login key.
If you clear your browser storage, lose your login key, or hit a software bug, your data could be permanently lost. To help prevent this, TimeRetain includes a simple backup tool and sends periodic reminders.
Do rate or currency changes affect past stopwatches?
Changing the workspace currency changes the label shown beside every rate and total. It does not convert or rewrite the stored numbers.
Editing a timeline, tag, or default rate affects future automatic rate choices. Changing a stopwatch’s timeline or tags recalculates its automatic rate for all of its intervals. A manual rate stays in place until you reset it.
Other
What does TimeRetain cost?
TimeRetain is free during beta. Feedback is still being collected and shaping the product. Pricing will be introduced in the future. Your data stays yours, and CSV export is always available.
Is TimeRetain open-source?
Not yet. Open-sourcing is not a current priority, though the benefits are clear.
Your timesheet in a browser tab.
Open TimeRetain and record your first few minutes. Free while in beta.
Start tracking