We built the tool
we always wanted.
We kept forgetting to start a timer. So we built one that doesn't need starting.
What tracewise is
tracewise is an automatic time tracker for Mac. Its menu-bar agent watches file-system events in folders you choose, measures your focus patterns, and generates invoices and weekly reports from that data. It never reads file contents, captures keystrokes, or takes screenshots.
It runs silently in the background. You open it when you want to see your day. The rest of the time it just watches and records — so you don't have to.
Why we built it
Most time trackers make you remember to press start. We always forgot. The quick call, the ten-minute fix, the revision made on a Sunday, the task that ran long — real work that never made it onto the timesheet. So at the end of the week we'd guess, and the invoice was always short.
We wanted something that just noticed. Something that saw when we were working and kept track on its own, no timer to start or stop. That's what tracewise does. The documentation explains exactly how.
It started as a script. Then a menu-bar app. Now it's a full product — and we use it every day.
Our values
We see file names and timestamps. We never see file contents, keystrokes, or screenshots. Your code is yours.
All data is stored locally in a SQLite database on your Mac. The cloud sync is optional — sign out and nothing leaves your machine.
Every decision is made for freelancers and independent professionals doing focused work — from the folders you track to the invoices you send.
Free plan is free forever. No dark patterns, no surprise charges, no vendor lock-in. Your data is yours — ask and we'll export it anytime.
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