Compare Tracking Time, StayFocusd, and TimeOWare: Which Extension is the Best?

Tracking Time is a tool for managing tasks and projects with ease. It offers strong integrations and reporting with few functions and many bugs, which lowers the rating.
StayFocusd helps you block distracting websites with customizable time limits, nuclear mode, and smart scheduling. We tested this 600K+ user extension to see if it really boosts productivity.
TimeOWare helps you track and manage your online time easily. With its simple design and easy website blocking, TimeOWare is a valuable tool for enhancing digital well-being.
Key Features
  • Time Tracking: Easily track time spent on tasks with a simple interface.
  • Project Management: Organize tasks and projects efficiently.
  • Reporting: Generate detailed reports to analyze productivity.
  • Integrations: Connect with popular tools like Google Calendar and Slack.

Website Time Limits: Set daily time limits for specific websites to control your usage

Nuclear Option: Block all websites except those on your allowed list for a set period

Customizable Blocking: Block entire sites, specific pages, or even in-page content like videos and images

Active Days/Hours: Define specific days and times when restrictions apply

Require Challenge: Enable a typing challenge to prevent easy changes to settings

YouTube Shorts Blocker: Block distracting components on YouTube, including shorts, comments, and recommendations

Usage Analytics: Get detailed statistics about your daily website usage

Cross-Device Sync: Connect Android devices and other browsers to sync usage limits

  • Time Tracking: Easily see how much time you spend on each website.
  • Daily Usage Stats: Get a clear overview of your daily online activity.
  • Website Blocking: Block distracting sites with a simple click.
  • Privacy-Focused: No data is transmitted; everything stays on your device.
  • Open Source: Check out the code on GitHub for transparency.
Our Rating
7.6
8.5
8.5
Total users
32,196
618,057
274
Total ratings
158
8,486
3
Average rating
3.4 ⭐
4.7 ⭐
5.0 ⭐
Entry Level PriceFreeFreeFree
Chrome
Chrome Web Store logo
4.4
4.23
147 ratings
30.0K+Users
Chrome Web Store logo
4.5
4.68
8.5K+ ratings
600.0K+Users
Chrome Web Store logo
5.0
5.0
3 ratings
274Users
Edge
Microsoft Edge Store logo
3.0
3.67
3 ratings
1.8K+Users
Microsoft Edge Store logo
5.0
5.0
24 ratings
18.1K+Users
-
Firefox
Mozilla Firefox Add-ons Store logo
2.8
3.36
8 ratings
444Users
-
-
Safari
-
-
-
Features
5.5

Tracking Time offers numerous functions aimed at both individual users and teams. Projects can be created for which time tracking can then be started. Detailed reports can then be output. In our tests, all these functions also worked in the Tracking Time tool.

Tracking Time


However, the web extension considered here was disappointing. This only has the function of starting and stopping time recording. Even when beginning time tracking, the extension requires that the corresponding project has been created. It is impossible to spontaneously start time tracking for a new project; the new project must first be made on the external Tracking Time website, where the reports can also be found.

The Tracking Time extension therefore has great potential to integrate many useful Tracking Time functions. However, the functions are currently very limited in comparison to competitors.

8.2

StayFocusd packs a solid set of productivity features. You can flexibly set website time limits, block domains, pages, or just distracting content (like videos or images). The “nuclear option” blocks everything except your allowed sites, which is a great focus booster. YouTube blocking targets shorts and recommendations, and usage analytics help you spot your browsing patterns. Cross-device sync is handy, though some advanced controls could be improved.

7.0

TimeOWare offers basic functions for checking the time spent on websites. These include time recording on websites, where the percentage of total time taken up by each website is displayed directly in real-time in a statistic.

statistics

Another feature is the blocking of websites. Websites can easily be blocked manually if you think that you no longer want to use this website. Here we would like to see the manual blocking of websites.

block websites

However, it lacks advanced features such as detailed analytics or customizable alerts that some users may find useful. Nevertheless, the core features are well implemented and serve the main purpose of improving digital well-being.

Performance
8.0

In general, Tracking Time works reliably, but in reviews some users have reported occasional slowdowns, especially when processing large data sets. Regular updates and optimizations could help improve performance consistency.

8.4

The extension is lightweight and responsive, without slowing your browser. Features work reliably, and time limits activate quickly. Minor lags occur in the analytics dashboard and cross-device sync, but overall, performance is smooth and stable for day-to-day use.

9.0

TimeOWare works reliably, with no noticeable slowdowns or performance issues during use.
The extension runs in the background and provides real-time updates on time spent without affecting browser speed.

Design
8.0

The design of Tracking Time is clean and modern and makes it easy to navigate. The dashboard on the website is well organized and you get an instant overview of your times. There are still improvements to be made in terms of customization options such as layouts.

8.3

The interface is simple and minimalist, sticking to productivity basics. Settings are well-organized and easy to navigate, with clear controls and indicators. While functional and easy to use, the look is a little dated and the analytics dashboard could be more engaging. It’s practical but not stylish.

7.5

The design of TimeOWare is clear and intuitive, making it easy to find your way around immediately. All available functions can be used directly. The minimalist interface ensures that users are clearly shown which websites may pose problems for their digital well-being. In our tests, however, we found that there could be a little more customization options to adapt the displays to our own needs.

Value for Money
8.0

The web extension is free of charge. However, it should be noted that it offers only a few functions. Other competitors offer considerably more functions for their free extensions. If you only use the extension in addition to Tracking Time and consider all functions in the price-performance ratio, it is competitive. In particular, the free plan already offers sufficient features for most people.
The paid plans offer advanced features and integrations with excellent value for money, making it a particularly worthwhile investment for teams looking to increase their productivity.

9.5

All features are free—no ads, paywalls, or premium tiers. The feature set rivals paid competitors and includes regular updates. There’s great value for anyone seeking basic to moderate website blocking, though free tools like this sometimes lack advanced paid support.

9.0

As a completely free tool, TimeOWare offers excellent value for money as it provides essential time management features at no cost whatsoever.
The open-source nature of the extension also adds value as it allows users to review and modify the code if desired.
The only reason it doesn't get full marks is that some features offered by competitors are not yet available.

Ease of Use
7.0

Although the tool is generally easy to use on the website, there are problems with the basic functions of the extension. In the test, we started a time recording on the website and stopped it later via the extension. When we wanted to start a new task, it took us a while to understand the principle that only tasks that had already been created could be restarted. This is not an intuitive function, which is why users might be annoyed right from the start.
One positive point, however, is the tutorials and support documentation, which can help new users.

8.5

Set up is fast and all main functions are accessible with just a few clicks. Adding sites or setting limits is straightforward, and tooltips help if you need them. The nuclear option and challenge features are easy to use but offer enough resistance to accidental changes. Mobile integration is available, though setup there could be smoother. It’s user-friendly with almost no learning curve.

8.5

TimeOWare is easy to use, with little set-up time.
Once installed, it starts tracking time immediately. Likewise, the limited settings are self-explanatory and should be easy for anyone to understand.

settings

In our tests, we noticed that if several tabs are opened next to each other, they are also added up in the extension at the same time. The total number of hours is therefore higher than the actual number in the browser. This can be somewhat confusing for new users.

total time
Security & Privacy
9.0

Tracking Time uses basic security measures to protect user data. Encryption and regular updates ensure the integrity of the data. In our research, most of this could be read in the privacy policies, but a little more transparency in the handling of user data would still be an advantage, as this is stored online.

7.9

StayFocusd runs mostly on your device and collects very little personal data. The privacy policy is transparent, and data for analytics is anonymized. The extension only requests required permissions, though some users may still worry about the broad “read and change all your data” permission. No tracking cookies or web beacons are used.

10

TimeOWare is characterized by security and privacy, as it does not transmit any user data to the outside world and all information is only stored offline on the user's device.
This privacy-focused approach is a key benefit for users who are concerned about data security. Users can also check the code used on GitHub themselves if they have any concerns.

Conclusion

Tracking Time is a tool for anyone who wants to improve their time management. The design is very intuitive, but unfortunately, the extension has hardly any functions. The extension is useful for anyone who uses Tracking Time, but anyone looking for a good extension for time tracking will not find it here.
However, the price-performance ratio of the functions of the entire tool is good.

StayFocusd delivers on its promise to help you stay focused, but it's not a magic solution. We found it most effective when combined with genuine motivation to be more productive. The extension works best for people who want to reduce mindless browsing but still need occasional access to social media or entertainment sites.

The free price tag makes StayFocusd an easy recommendation for anyone struggling with online distractions. While it won't solve deep productivity issues, it creates enough friction to make you more conscious of your browsing habits. The nuclear option is particularly useful for intense work sessions, and the customizable blocking options give you fine-grained control over your digital environment.

If you're serious about improving your focus and don't mind the occasional frustration when you hit a time limit, StayFocusd is worth trying. Just remember that the most important part of any productivity tool is actually wanting to be more productive.

TimeOWare is a great choice for anyone who wants to manage their online time more effectively and realize how much time is spent on websites.

Its simple design and privacy-focused approach make it, in our opinion, a standout option in the time management space.

We felt in testing that a little more customization and even more features could further improve the extension. Overall, however, we think TimeOWare is already a valuable tool for anyone looking to improve their digital well-being.

Our Recommendation

In our comparison between Tracking Time, StayFocusd, and TimeOWare, StayFocusd and TimeOWare both came out on top, each scoring 8.5.

StayFocusd is the most widely used, with over 618k users and 8k+ reviews—and it also delivered the strongest performance in our tests. User reviews for Tracking Time and StayFocusd reflect our findings, while we rate TimeOWare lower than users do.

Notably, TimeOWare has the highest user rating in the Chrome Web Store at 5.00, which is even higher than our rating of 8.5.

There are some noticeable differences between these extensions, so it's worth considering your priorities and the details below.


  • Looking for the richest feature set? StayFocusd stands out with a rating of 8.2. On the other hand, Tracking Time lags behind in this area with a rating of 5.5.
  • Need top performance? TimeOWare stands out with a rating of 9. On the other hand, Tracking Time lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.
  • Design lovers, take note: StayFocusd stands out with a rating of 8.3. On the other hand, TimeOWare lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.5.
  • Want to get the most for your money? StayFocusd stands out with a rating of 9.5. On the other hand, Tracking Time lags behind in this area with a rating of 8.
  • Ease of use? It's a tie: StayFocusd and TimeOWare. In the Ease of Use category, StayFocusd has scored a very good 8.5. It is user-friendly, though there may be a small learning curve for some users.
  • With privacy and security becoming ever more important, TimeOWare stands out with a rating of 10. On the other hand, StayFocusd lags behind in this area with a rating of 7.9.

There's no single winner, so check the categories above to find your best fit.