Top / Free / Best Activity Monitoring Software in 2025: Reviews & Pricing

More and more companies use employee monitoring software to monitor their workers’ activity, especially online. In 2024, there was a survey among 1,000 remote work and hybrid US employees conducted by CFO.com. 43% said their employer monitors their online activity. That broke down into 48% of hybrid workers and 37% of fully remote ones (remote employee monitoring is increasingly needed as more people work from home).

Other estimations suggest this number is closer to 70%, especially among large companies. And while employee monitoring software can do a lot of good, it has to be used in a well-thought-out way. From the average employee’s perspective, monitoring computer activity can be intrusive and even unethical, especially if you implement some of the more “aggressive” tracking strategies, such as keystroke logging, video recording, or screenshot monitoring. Also, monitoring can increase employee stress levels by making them feel constantly scrutinized.

With remote work, employers face challenges in maintaining productivity and oversight. But user activity monitoring has to take place within legal limits and in a transparent manner. Your main goal should be to measure productivity and improve it, not stalk your employees’ every step (pay attention especially to employee privacy and handling sensitive data in a safe manner).

Additionally, effective communication of monitoring goals can enhance employee morale and cooperation in achieving productivity targets. Employees feel more engaged when monitoring practices are explained and tied to performance incentives.

And this is where user activity monitoring (UAM) software steps in the game. With those tools, you can track employee performance (among both on-site and remote employees) and improve business processes to make your company more effective and your processes more optimized.

We made a list of 8 employee monitoring tools that will come in handy in your company. But before we get to that, let’s analyze the crucial features such software should have.

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The need for employee activity monitoring

Many employees spend a significant portion of their work time on non-work-related activities. For example, a study published in 2022 found that employees spend around 40–45 minutes on social media during working hours for non-work-related purposes. UAM software helps track employee activities and stay on top of resource utilization, which saves money for the organization.

Key Features of the Best Activity Monitoring Software in 2025

• Website and application use tracking: Look for an employee monitoring tool that tells you which websites and apps your employees use during work hours. Such a feature will help you distinguish between productive and distracting activities.

• Employee engagement monitoring: The best employee monitoring software tracks when employees are most active and what tasks they’re working on, thus allowing managers to identify patterns that affect your team’s productivity and engagement.

• Time and attendance management: Many activity tracking tools out there provide users with more features. Some of them can be used for recording work time and attendance, controlling working hours, lateness, or overtime.

• Automated employee monitoring: Most computer monitoring software works in an automated manner, and that’s what we recommend as the best option. Manual time tracking is time-consuming and prone to errors.

• Activity insights and reporting: Pick employee activity software that comes with an extensive analytics module. You don’t want to analyze all the data yourself; the tool should provide you with ready-made, easy-to-understand insights.

• Privacy-respecting design: Employee PC monitoring software is often intrusive. Keep your employees’ privacy in mind and collect employee activity data in a transparent way that respects your workers’ rights.

• Real-time activity tracking: Good staff monitoring software offers a live view of user activity. Such a feature is useful primarily because it helps managers to understand how time is being spent throughout the workday, which is beneficial in terms of making the most of every workday.

Best Employee Monitoring Apps in 2025, Compared

Activity monitoring software	Best for	User ranking (Capterra reiews)	Pricing (cheapest paid plan)
TimeCamp	Automated time tracking with performance insights	4.7 (589)	$2.99 per user/month
ActivityWatch	Open-source activity monitoring	n/a	No paid plan
InterGuard	Remote employee monitoring and insider threat detection	3.3 (33)	Tailor-made pricing
Controlio	Productivity measurement and performance trends	4.9 (55)	$7.99 per user/month
Flowace	Productivity tracking	4.6 (5)	$1.99 per user/month
Yaware	Automatic time tracking and performance analysis	4.3 (4)	$3.99 per user/month
SoftActivity	Computer monitoring software	4.6 (66)	$15 per user/month
Data Resolve	Insider threats and cybersecurity risks	n/a	Tailor-made pricing

TimeCamp

TimeCamp is a time-tracking and employee performance monitoring tool that allows you to monitor employee productivity and activity throughout the day.

How TimeCamp Works

TimeCamp offers many features for time and activity tracking. Our user activity monitoring tools track how your employees spend their time on digital devices. Our platform records website and application usage, allowing managers to evaluate which tools contribute to productive work and which may be distractions. Our software also monitors engagement levels, identifying when employees are most active and what tasks they are working on throughout the day.

Our platform comprises strong features for privacy protection, such as designated private time during which monitoring is disabled. TimeCamp combines available data into reports that enable you to get actionable insights on productivity patterns and trends, which is helpful when it comes to optimizing workflows and identifying operational bottlenecks.

TimeCamp’s desktop app works seamlessly on your employees’ devices, ensuring that all their computer activities are tracked accurately in real-time. Whether they work in the office or remotely, you can monitor productivity and identify any potential fraud (e.g., related to the safety of company data).

TimeCamp Pros

• Automated monitoring without the need for manual data entry

• Many different features for productivity tracking, attendance tracking, real-time monitoring, invoicing (including estimating project costs), billing, and more

• Detailed reports

TimeCamp Cons

• This tool can feel a little overwhelming at first

• An advanced interface that requires experience

TimeCamp Pricing

Free

$

0.00

billed annually

Free plan includes all the essentials (accurate time tracking, unlimited projects, desktop, and mobile apps, idle time detection, and many more).

Starter

$

2.99

billed annually

Starter plan includes unlimited tasks, excel reports export, attendance, time-off, overtime tracking.

Premium

$

4.99

billed annually

Premium plan includes one integration, billable time, budget and estimates, apps and websites tracking, project archiving, and more.

Ultimate

$

7.99

billed annually

Ultimate plan includes unlimited integrations, billable rates, labor costs, invoicing, timesheet approvals, custom user roles, and more.

Enterprise

$

11.99

billed annually

Enterprise Plan, designed for companies with 50+ employees, includes priority support with SLA, self-hosted and private cloud instances, custom integrations, and more.

Top TimeCamp Integrations

TimeCamp can be integrated with over 100 different tools, including project management tools, helpdesk software, collaboration tools, CRMs, and more. Some of our top integrations:

• Trello – for tracking time spent on recruitment tasks or onboarding checklists

• Asana – for monitoring project progress and managing workloads

• Jira – for logging time on internal requests or support tickets, especially in larger tech-driven organizations

• ClickUp

• Monday.com

• QuickBooks

👉 See the full list of TimeCamp integrations

Available For

• Desktop (Windows, macOS, and Linux)

• Mobile (Android, iOS)

• Plugins (Chrome, Edge)

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ActivityWatch

It’s an open-source app that automatically tracks how you and your team members spend time on their devices.

How ActivityWatch Works

ActivityWatch is an open-source time-tracking tool that automatically monitors active applications on your employees’ computers, including window titles and browser activity, through built-in watchers and browser extensions (available for Chrome and Firefox). It supports categorization of usage data to help you analyze it and draw meaningful conclusions.

For user privacy and data control, all your company’s data is stored locally only. ActivityWatch can be used to:

1. Monitor productivity

2. Track project time

3. Identify screen habits

4. Support self-quantification or behavioral research.

ActivityWatch Pros

• Entirely free, open-source app

• Bad screen habits management

• Behavioral trends

ActivityWatch Cons

• A little outdated dashboard

• ActivityWatch is mostly for personal use

ActivityWatch Pricing

ActivityWatch is a 100% open-source tool. Therefore, there are no paid plans available.

Top ActivityWatch Integrations

ActivityWatch doesn’t share any information on available integrations.

Available For

This tool is available as a web app (for Windows, Mac, and Linux) and a mobile app (for Android).

InterGuard

InterGuard is employee monitoring software that offers features such as time tracking, productivity analysis, suspicious behavior alerts, and data loss prevention (DLP).

How InterGuard Works

InterGuard provides you with employee monitoring capabilities to help you track activity on company devices, whether employees are in the office or working remotely. The software captures data on application and website usage, idle time, and overall productivity. InterGuard gives you access to detailed metrics that help identify high performers and those who may be underutilizing their time (monitoring systems can help identify high performers and enable recognition, which can enhance employee morale). Administrators can configure real-time alerts for suspicious behavior and even view remote desktops, which is especially useful to spot data breaches and detect insider threats.

The software includes tools for investigating internal issues, preventing data leaks, and meeting compliance requirements. InterGuard can be installed in stealth mode (e.g., for investigation purposes) and helps ensure secure handling of sensitive information by alerting administrators to risky behavior, such as emailing or uploading confidential data (file-transfer tracking is available). InterGuard also boasts that it supports regulatory compliance with major privacy standards, such as HIPAA, PCI, and FINRA.

InterGuard Pros

• Easy monitoring of all the employees

• Helpful for employee investigations

• Real-time notifications and email monitoring

InterGuard Cons

• Difficult dashboard

• Many users report poor customer service

• Can slow down other apps running on a computer

InterGuard Pricing

InterGuard doesn’t offer flat pricing. All pricing plans are tailor-made to each client.

Top InterGuard Integrations

InterGuard doesn’t share any information on available integrations.

Available For

InterGuard is available for Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Android, and iOS.

Controlio

Controlio is an all-in-one tool that helps you monitor your employees’ activity, productivity, work time, and app usage. It works with both on-site and remote employees.

How Controlio Works

Controlio is an employee monitoring software that helps you to effectively monitor attendance, working hours, and real-time activity of your team members. It automatically records the start and end times of the work sessions, tracks logon/logoff times and PC lock events, and eliminates the need for manual timesheets or additional time-tracking tools. Managers can see how many employees were working on any given day, review break times, and compare actual work hours across staff with similar responsibilities to identify workload irregularities.

The platform offers real-time monitoring capabilities that show which applications or websites employees are currently using, along with active window titles. There are time charts that reveal how users have interacted with their computers over the past hour. Also, the optional live screen streaming allows supervisors to observe ongoing activity directly. These tools support the timely detection of unproductive or suspicious behavior and enable performance analysis based on how working hours are spent.

Controlio Pros

• Available as a cloud, private cloud, and on-premises solution

• At least 6 months of data storage

• Many security measures

Controlio Cons

• The interface can feel overwhelming at first

• Some users report that there are too many features

• Some users report slow updates

Controlio Pricing

Controlio comes in three different versions:

1. Cloud

2. Private cloud

3. On-premises

Only the cloud version has publicly available pricing ($7.99 per user/month).

Top Controlio Integrations

Controlio doesn’t provide the information on available integrations. However, the platform does offer the documented API and API tokens to enable users to connect the app to their tech stack, like BI or SIEM.

Available For

Controlio is only available as a web app.

Flowace

Flowace is an AI-driven workforce analytics platform that enables team leaders to improve team productivity, effectiveness, and well-being.

How Flowace Works

Flowace is a time and productivity tracking tool that automates:

1. Attendance monitoring

2. Task management

3. Application usage reporting

It records start and end times of work sessions, tracks active and idle periods, and sends alerts for missing work hours. The system also categorizes websites and applications by productivity level and work type, allowing your company to generate detailed reports and receive alerts on unproductive behavior or unauthorized access.

In addition to time tracking, Flowace supports project and task management with features like automatic and manual time capture, customizable templates, expected vs. actual time comparisons, and financial monitoring. Additionally, managers can track employee costs, generate timesheet reports, and add comments or narrations to tasks. Monitoring capabilities include silent tracking, optional screenshots, monitoring Internet activity, offline tracking, and meeting and call logging. Flowace also offers tools for expense tracking and invoicing.

Flowace Pros

• Helpful and responsive customer support

• Many useful features

• Easy to use

Flowace Cons

• Some users report performance issues on Ubuntu systems

• There is no easy uninstall option

• Users report it requires significant time investment at first

Flowace Pricing

Flowace is one of the cheapest tools out there. The Basic plan starts at $1.99 per user/month, and it offers unlimited users and groups. However, if you need more advanced features and integrations with third-party tools, you need to use at least the Standard plan (starting at $3.99 per user/month). There is also the Premium plan that starts at $6.98 per user/month.

Top Flowace Integrations

Flowace can be integrated with 10+ third-party tools and apps, including:

1. BambooHR

2. Asana

3. Dropbox

4. WhatsApp

5. MS Teams

Available For

Flowace is available as a:

• Desktop app (for Windows, Mac, and Ubuntu)

• Mobile app (for Android and iOS)

• Browser extension (for Chrome and Firefox)

Yaware

Yaware is a time tracker for work hours and productivity management. It offers instant reports and a convenient way to track time across projects.

How Yaware Works

Yaware is an employee activity monitoring software and productivity tracking tool that automatically records work hours, categorizes time usage, and provides reports on employee activity across different projects. It tracks employee computer activity, including Internet and software usage, meeting time, document work, and breaks. Managers can monitor attendance, detect late arrivals or early departures, and receive real-time updates through email or mobile notifications.

The platform also includes features for task management and project management. Employees can be grouped by departments, with designated managers granted tailored access to productivity data and discipline reports. Yaware has its own task manager known as TaskTracker. This module enables project delegation, progress monitoring, and budget tracking, helping teams align their time with goals. The system can operate in either hidden or visible monitoring mode, allowing organizations to choose their preferred level of transparency.

Yaware Pros

• Different access levels

• Tailored to many different industries

• Flexible tool

Yaware Cons

• Some users complain about how the payment section has been designed

• Users report that the Yaware’s API is not sufficient for third-party integrations

• Limited functionality of the mobile app

Yaware Pricing

Yaware starts at $3.99 per user/month, although oftentimes, some discounts are available. There are two higher pricing plans:

1. Conscious Leader: $10 per user/month

2. Project Management: $13 per user/month

If you need a local-based enterprise version, you need to get in touch with Yaware, because this option doesn’t have a publicly available price.

Top Yaware Integrations

In the highest pricing plan, Yaware can be integrated with Jira for project management purposes.

Available For

Yaware is available as a web app and a mobile app for iOS and Android.

SoftActivity

It’s a Canadian employee monitoring tool that tracks work time, website usage, idle periods, and screen activity on Windows devices.

How SoftActivity Works

SoftActivity is available as a cloud-based or on-premises productivity monitoring solution designed to track employee activity on both local and remote devices. SoftActivity supports remote monitoring of both in-office and off-site employees, helping organizations boost productivity and detect insider threats without requiring on-premise infrastructure.

SoftActivity records work time, idle time, and login/logout events while also capturing website usage and screenshot history. The platform can monitor remote workers, office employees, freelancers, and contractors, but only on Windows-based devices.

Admins can access monitoring data from anywhere via a web interface, including SSO integration with Microsoft accounts. Additionally, SoftActivity provides managers with insight into potential security threats.

SoftActivity Pros

• Available both in the cloud and on-premises

• You can purchase a lifetime license

• Stealth mode available

SoftActivity Cons

• A bit outdated dashboard

• Some users report that the interface is not user-friendly

• Only works with Windows devices

SoftActivity Pricing

You can purchase a SoftActivity license and have it running locally within your IT infrastructure. The lowest available package is for three computers with one-year customer support and lifetime access. It’s available for $360 CAD (around $260 USD). There is also a cloud-based version available, called SoftActivity Work, that’s available for $15 USD per user/month.

Top SoftActivity Integrations

SoftActivity doesn’t provide information on available integrations.

Available For

SoftActivity is only available as a desktop or web app.

DataResolve

DataResolve is an Indian employee monitoring and data leak prevention tool that helps organizations protect against insider threats and intellectual property theft.

How DataResolve Works

DataResolve provides your company with detailed visibility into employee activities to measure compliance, security, and productivity. It tracks how employees interact with sensitive data, detects misuse of company resources, and silently observes whether individuals spend their time at work as intended. The system identifies violations of company policies, including the use of offensive or abusive language in emails and chats, unauthorized software installations, and illegal online behavior.

The tool also supports investigations by capturing evidence related to complaints such as sexual harassment and behavioral issues. It monitors psychological stability indicators that may affect team dynamics, helping management intervene proactively. In general, DataResolve acts as a comprehensive internal control system for risk mitigation and employee oversight.

DataResolve Pros

• Many different solutions are available

• Proactive warnings about probable data loss

• Can monitor employee activity, servers, and emails

DataResolve Cons

• No US presence

• Dashboards are not customizable

• Some users suggest that reporting should be improved

DataResolve Pricing

DataResolve doesn’t show pricing on their website.

Top DataResolve Integrations

DataResolve doesn’t show available integrations on their website.

Available For

DataResolve is probably available only as a web app.

How To Choose The Best Employee Monitoring Software

As you can see, the choice is broad, and many tools offer similar functionality. Our advice is to look for tools that offer website and application usage tracking so you can identify whether time is spent on productive tasks. Additional features, such as real-time activity tracking and engagement monitoring, will give you valuable insights into when employees are most active and how their time is distributed across tasks. Automation is also key; manual tracking is not only inefficient but also more prone to errors.

The choice of the right tool depends primarily on your company’s size, needs, and budget. If you’re looking for low-cost options, Flowace (starting at $1.99/user) and TimeCamp (starting at $2.99/user) are the best choices, as both tools offer automated time tracking with productivity insights. If your focus is on cybersecurity and insider threat detection, InterGuard or Data Resolve are potentially good choices. Teams focused on productivity trends might prefer Controlio ($7.99/user), which has advanced performance analytics.

Wrapping Up: Make The Most Of Activity Monitoring Features With TimeCamp

If you are looking for a comprehensive platform that equips you with employee and productivity monitoring tools, we’re at your service! Our platform offers many useful functions and features, including:

• Activity monitoring

• Productivity monitoring

• Location (GPS) monitoring

• Attendance monitoring and management.

If you need more tools, feel free to explore our website! And if you’d like to test TimeCamp, you can do so for free even today. You can start a free trial or choose a free plan.

Try the best activity monitoring software today.

TimeCamp provides you with insights into employee productivity, computer activity, and how employees spend time at work.

Sign up for free

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Ola Rybacka Product Marketer and Content Specialist at TimeCamp. Remote worker advocate; has been working from home for 10+ years so far. Knows TimeCamp far and wide and does her best to translate the technical jargon into reader-friendly English to help users gain better understanding of our time tracker. Feels best in writing, but is also open for creating short video explainers. Privately, passionate about any form of Japanese culture and has been learning 日本語 for 4 years so far to devour animes and mangas in their native language.

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