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Cross-platform time tracking app for macOS, iOS, and Android

2 starsSwift

Local Hours – Local-first time tracking app (macOS, iOS, open source)

by stinger·Feb 26, 2026·1 point·0 comments
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AI Analysis

●●SolidSolve My ProblemCozy

Plain-JSON timesheet app syncs via your cloud folder, no backend, no lock-in.

Strengths
  • •Intentional JSON format enables portable, inspectable data export and self-hosted sync—no vendor lock-in risk.
  • •Menu bar + iOS widgets + email approval workflow address real freelancer pain, all offline-first.
Weaknesses
  • •Time tracking is a crowded category (Toggl, Clockify, Harvest, Toggl)—JSON storage alone doesn't differentiate the UX or reporting.
  • •No team collaboration, no invoicing integration, no API—limited to solo/small-group workflows that competitors already serve better.
Category
Productivity
Target Audience

Freelancers, contractors, and employees needing simple time tracking without SaaS lock-in or privacy concerns.

Similar To

Toggl Track · Clockify · Harvest

Post Description

I built Local Hours because I needed a simple time tracker that doesn't require online accounts, send data to someone else's cloud, and lock me into proprietary formats.

Local Hours stores everything as plain JSON files in a folder you choose. Point it at an iCloud, Google Drive, or OneDrive folder and your data syncs across devices automatically — no docker, no backend, no accounts, no analytics.

How it works: - Start/stop a timer from the macOS menu bar or iOS widgets - Add a short description when you stop - Generate weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly timesheets - Email approvers with an embedded summary or CSV attachment

The storage format is intentionally simple so you can inspect, back up, or migrate your data anytime. Both the macOS and iOS apps point at the same folder, so cross-device sync just works via your cloud storage provider.

It's free on the App Store (iPhone, iPad, Mac): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/local-hours-simple-timesheet/i...

Built with Swift/SwiftUI. MIT licensed. No tracking, no telemetry, no in-app purchases.

I'd love feedback on the UX, the local-first approach, or ideas for what to build next. Android is planned.

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