![[macOS] Chronoid - Automatic Time Tracking & Productivity - May Updates](https://preview.redd.it/kp081gm9jb2h1.png?auto=webp&s=a5287bfef18cd635067d871cf06a51d26a4ac08e)
[macOS] Chronoid - Automatic Time Tracking & Productivity - May Updates
Hey everyone,
I've been building a macOS time tracking app, Chronoid, over the past year and wanted to share where it's at right now.
I first shared it here a couple months ago.
Back then it was mostly focused on automatic Mac tracking.
Since then I've been using it daily for my own freelance/dev work and kept improving it based on all the little frustrations I kept running into.
One of the biggest requests after the last post was actually: “can it combine Mac + iPhone/iPad activity together?”
So I just released Screen Time sync in the latest update.
About the app
- Native Swift macOS app built exclusively for Mac
- Automatic tracking for apps, websites, docs, coding sessions
- Import iPhone/iPad Screen Time into Chronoid
- Timeline editing + manual time entries
- Web blocker + Pomodoro
- Invoice + billing reports
- Fully local tracking (no cloud, no account)
- MCP server + Apple Intelligence support
Problem
Most time trackers still depend too much on manual timers.
You either forget to start them, forget to stop them, or spend more time organizing the tracking than actually working.
And honestly, a huge amount of distraction/productivity now happens across both Mac + phone.
So only seeing desktop activity never felt complete to me.
Comparison
Compared to tools like Timing, RescueTime, Toggl, etc:
- Fully local-first
- No subscription
- Mac + iPhone/iPad activity in one timeline
- Built-in MCP support for AI assistants
- More focus on understanding actual work patterns/distractions
- More flexible categorization with compound rules + regex
Recent things added since my last post here:
- Screen Time sync for iPhone/iPad
- Multi-project reports
- Smarter MCP + AI assistant tools
- Global tracking shortcut
- Better fullscreen game + browser tracking
Pricing:
$49 for 1 device
$99 for 3 devices
True lifetime license with updates.
Not gonna lie, productivity/time-tracking apps are a pretty crowded space now.
And adding Screen Time support made me realize how fragmented our attention really is between devices all day.
Sometimes I think I had a “productive” day on my Mac until I see 2+ hours disappeared on my phone 😅
What I'm trying to figure out
If you've used time trackers before:
- What still feels missing today?
- What annoys you the most?
- Would mobile activity integration actually matter to you?
- Or do you prefer desktop-only tracking?
Transparency
I'm Vu, solo dev building this.
I also the guy behind smoothcapture.app ❤️