Best ActivityWatch alternatives (2026)
Looking to replace ActivityWatch? These 8 alternatives come from our verified catalog. Each one links only to its publisher’s official source, and we show its current version, user rating and virus scan so you can compare them honestly.
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Official download
Notesnook
Streetwriters
A fully open source and end-to-end encrypted note-taking application, serving as an alternative to Evernote.
- Windows
- v3.4.9 · October 6, 2026
- ✓ 0/67
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Official download
Joplin
Laurent Cozic
Joplin is a privacy-focused note taking app with sync capabilities for cross-platform use.
- Windows
- v3.7.21 · September 25, 2026
- ✓ 0/52
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Official download
note-gen
Codexu
A cross-platform Markdown AI note-taking software.
- Windows
- v0.38.0 · September 30, 2026
- ✓ 0/69
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Official download
AFFiNE
ToEverything
AFFiNE is an open-source knowledge base combining planning, sorting, and creating with privacy-first design.
- Windows
- v0.27.4 · August 18, 2026
- ✓ 0/68
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Official download
MarkText
Mark Text
A simple and elegant markdown editor, available for Linux, macOS and Windows.
- Windows
- v0.20.0 · October 2, 2026
- ✓ 0/57
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Official download
Butterfly
Linwood Cloud
Powerful, minimalistic, cross-platform, open-source note-taking app.
- Windows
- v2.6.0 · September 28, 2026
- ✓ 2/64
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Official download
Flow Launcher
Flow Launcher
Quick file search and application launcher for Windows with community-made plugins.
- Windows
- v2.1.4 · September 20, 2026
- ✓ 0/66
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Official download
Zettlr
Zettlr
A markdown editor for academic writing, note-taking, and publishing with Zettelkasten support.
- Windows
- v4.8.0 · September 18, 2026
- ✓ 1/52
ActivityWatch vs the alternatives
A side-by-side view, built only from verified data.
| App | Developer | Platforms | Version | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ActivityWatch this one | ActivityWatch | Windows | 0.14.0 | — |
| Notesnook | Streetwriters | Windows | 3.4.9 | 4.7 (1) |
| Joplin | Laurent Cozic | Windows | 3.7.21 | — |
| note-gen | Codexu | Windows | 0.38.0 | — |
| AFFiNE | ToEverything | Windows | 0.27.4 | — |
| MarkText | Mark Text | Windows | 0.20.0 | — |
| Butterfly | Linwood Cloud | Windows | 2.6.0 | — |
| Flow Launcher | Flow Launcher | Windows | 2.1.4 | — |
| Zettlr | Zettlr | Windows | 4.8.0 | — |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to ActivityWatch?
Based on our verified catalog, Notesnook is the strongest alternative to ActivityWatch. Other solid options are Notesnook, Joplin, note-gen and AFFiNE. Every one links to its official source.
Are there free alternatives to ActivityWatch?
Yes. All 8 alternatives listed here are free to download from their official source, and many are open source.
Are these ActivityWatch alternatives safe to download?
Each download links only to the publisher’s official source — never a third-party mirror or bundled installer. Where the publisher provides a checksum we show it, and installers are checked against multiple antivirus engines.