Track your code,
not your screen
Timely monitors every app and window on your computer. Scribe reads your git commits, file changes, and Claude Code conversations — then turns them into invoices. No screen monitoring. No data sent to the cloud.
Side by side
Different tools, different philosophies.
| Feature | Scribe | Timely |
|---|---|---|
| How tracking works | Reads git commits, file changes, and AI sessions | AI monitors all apps, windows, and websites |
| What gets tracked | Developer work evidence — commits, files, conversations | Everything on your computer |
| Privacy model | Local SQLite — nothing leaves your machine | Activity data sent to Timely cloud for AI processing |
| Invoicing | Built-in, generated from your timeline | Not included — integrates with other tools |
| AI conversation tracking | Claude Code sessions parsed from local logs | |
| Free tier | 30 days of history | No free tier |
| Setup | Download app, point at folders | Install memory tracker, configure integrations |
| Screen monitoring | Never — tracks git and files only | Yes — records active windows and URLs |
| Works offline | Full functionality, always | Memory tracker works offline, syncs when online |
| Pricing | Free / $12/mo Pro | $9-22/user/mo (no free tier) |
Which tool fits?
Stick with Timely if you
- Want to track all computer activity, not just coding
- Need AI-generated timesheets across non-dev apps
- Manage a team with scheduling and capacity planning
- Work across many apps and want everything logged
Switch to Scribe if you
- Want automatic tracking without screen monitoring
- Care about data privacy — nothing leaves your machine
- Write code and want evidence from git, not window titles
- Use Claude Code or other AI coding tools
- Want a free tier to start with
Common questions
Both Scribe and Timely are automatic — what's the difference?
Timely tracks everything on your computer — every app, window, and URL — then uses AI to categorize it. Scribe only reads your git commits, file changes, and Claude Code conversations. Same goal, very different approach to privacy.
Does Scribe monitor my screen?
Never. Scribe reads git history and file modification timestamps — it has no knowledge of what apps you have open, what websites you visit, or what's on your screen.
Is Timely better for non-developers?
Yes. Timely tracks all computer activity and works for any role — designers, PMs, marketers. Scribe is purpose-built for developers who work in code.
Is my data private?
Scribe stores everything in a local SQLite database. No code, conversation content, or activity data leaves your machine unless you explicitly sync to a team hub. Timely sends your activity data to their cloud for AI processing.
Scribe is in private beta
We're rolling out access gradually. Join the waitlist and we'll notify you when your seat opens.
Get more like this
Developer insights and product updates.