Track your time. In your browser.
A fast time tracker that runs in your browser. Your time data stays in your browser by default—with encrypted Sync available to use both your phone and laptop.
Free while in beta · No account · Works offline
Time tracking is deeply personal. Your timesheet shows where your time goes, who you work for, and what you charge. TimeRetain is designed to keep that information where it belongs: with you.
You already know how to use TimeRetain.
Everything you track shows up in a personal feed, grouped by day. Scroll to revisit, click to edit — it saves as you go.
Today
1.8h 1.7h
09:00 – 10:45
Analytics dashboard QA
30m 25m
11:30 – 12:00
Support macro refresh
75m 85m
15:00 – 16:15
Changelog copy
Yesterday
60m 50m
10:00 – 11:00
SEO blog outline
2.5h 1.8h
14:00 – 16:30
Partner pitch deck
Saturday, Apr. 11
2h 1.6h
08:30 – 10:30
Paid social review
75 minutes
15:00 – 16:15
Webinar dry run
Friday, Apr. 10
2.3h 1.8h
09:00 – 11:15
Campaign landing A/B
1.5h 85m
13:00 – 14:30
Newsletter — April draft
Know how much time you spend — and where it goes.
See how much time you spend per period, and on what. Totals update automatically.
- Work 45%
- Family 33%
- Sports 22%
Local by default. Sync optional.
Your entries stay on your device by default. Turn on Sync and they move between your devices with end-to-end encryption — readable only by you.
Design review
45 min
Design review
45 min
Entries stay local. No server storage. Synced to your devices. Encrypted in transit and at rest.
One-click export. Your data is yours.
Export to CSV for further processing, or JSON for backups. Both are one click away. Never paywalled.
Runs offline. Installs like an app.
After the first load, TimeRetain works with the internet off. You can add it to your dock or home screen to make it work just like a native app. Chrome and Firefox support this best.
How TimeRetain compares
| TimeRetain | Other trackers | |
|---|---|---|
| Account required | No | Yes |
| Installation | None — runs in your browser | App or extension required |
| Where your data lives | Your device (sync optional) | Their servers |
| Who sees your work | Only you | The company |
| Works offline | Always | Sometimes |
| Export | One-click CSV or JSON | Often limited or paywalled |
| Interface | Minimal, built for speed | Slow and bloated |
Why TimeRetain exists
I found existing solutions bulky, and cumbersome to set up and use. They demand personal data—like an email address—just to get started, then send your sensitive information straight to the cloud.
I built TimeRetain to be different. A time tracker is simple software. It doesn't need the cloud—it can run directly on your device, even offline.
Syncing across devices shouldn't compromise your privacy, either. How you spend your time and what you charge is nobody's business—not even mine.
The result is an intuitive, fast, and private time tracker. It easily logs your time, instantly shows where it went, and offers optional earnings tracking if you choose to enable it.
Frequently asked questions
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 "Timer" to set a target duration and count down to zero.
Can I search for entries?
Yes—use the top search bar to filter by description or tag. Your feed and stats update immediately as you type.
How does rate tracking work?
You can assign a default base rate, assign custom rates to tags, or override the numbers on a single entry for one-off jobs. Start simple with a default rate in Preferences and add tag-level granularity later. TimeRetain handles the calculations automatically as you track.
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 entry without editing start and stop times. Turn on "Adjust Minutes" in Preferences. You can even set a default deduction (like 30 minutes) and tweak it on the fly.
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—meaning 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, e-mail, 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.
How can I import data from other apps or my spreadsheet into TimeRetain?
The fastest method right now is to let AI transform your existing data into a format that TimeRetain can import. Give your preferred AI assistant your existing data along with the instructions at timeretain.com/llms.txt. It will generate a compatible JSON file that you can upload directly via Data & Sync → Import.
You can use those same instructions to produce the right file format yourself. 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 entries?
No. Past entries keep whatever rate and currency they were tracked with.
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 — 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 the app and start tracking immediately. Free while in beta.
Open TimeRetain