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SiteKeeper

A RescueTime alternative for Chrome browsing time

If you want RescueTime-style automatic tracking for the sites you actually use in Chrome — plus daily limits when a site eats the afternoon — SiteKeeper is the RescueTime alternative built for the browser. It does not track desktop apps, and it is not a timesheet product.

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TL;DR

RescueTime is strongest when you want automatic tracking of desktop apps and websites, a long Productivity Pulse history, and timed Focus Sessions — or Solo+ timesheet reports. SiteKeeper is the RescueTime alternative for Chrome: it tracks the active tab, then lets you set daily or weekly caps that block a site when time is up. Stay with RescueTime if you need apps, mobile, or billable-hour reports; choose SiteKeeper if the job is website time plus limits, without a desktop install.

Best RescueTime alternatives in 2026

Best for Chrome website time + limits

SiteKeeper

SiteKeeper automatically tracks the tab you are viewing, then lets you cap distracting sites. Install the Chrome extension and see today without starting a timer.

Best for free, local, open-source desktop tracking

ActivityWatch

ActivityWatch is an open-source desktop tracker that records apps and (with an extension) websites. It is a strong RescueTime alternative if you want local-first data and do not need polished site limits.

Best for AI focus coaching on the desktop

Rize

Rize is a desktop time tracker with AI coaching. Choose it if you want session goals and coaching more than Chrome-only website limits.

Best for a free Chrome/Edge limiter with Nuclear lock

StayFocusd

StayFocusd caps listed sites and can hard-lock them with Nuclear Option. It now includes a usage dashboard, but it is still a limiter first — not RescueTime-style all-app analytics.

Best other Chrome tracker + per-site limits

SurfPal

SurfPal is a Chrome extension that tracks per-site time and sets duration limits and schedules. Same job as SiteKeeper for browser time; it does not replace RescueTime’s desktop apps or Pulse.

Best for schedule and Focus-mode blocking

BlockSite

BlockSite is a mass-market blocker with lists, schedules, and Focus Mode across Chrome and mobile. Pick it if you came to RescueTime for blocking, not for a productivity score.

SiteKeeper vs RescueTime vs ActivityWatch

  • Automatic tracking

    SiteKeeper
    Yes, active Chrome tab
    RescueTime
    Yes, apps and websites
    ActivityWatch
    Yes, apps and websites

  • Tracks Chrome websites

    SiteKeeper
    Yes
    RescueTime
    Yes — desktop app; extension optional
    ActivityWatch
    Yes (with their extension)

  • Tracks desktop apps

    SiteKeeper
    No
    RescueTime
    Yes
    ActivityWatch
    Yes

  • Per-site time limits & blocking

    SiteKeeper
    Standing daily/weekly caps
    RescueTime
    Paid Focus Sessions (timed, not daily caps)
    ActivityWatch
    No built-in site blocker

  • Path-level (URL) breakdown

    SiteKeeper
    Yes — path tree (2 levels free, 10 on Pro)
    RescueTime
    Site, sometimes top-level path
    ActivityWatch
    No

  • Productivity score

    SiteKeeper
    Yes (0–100)
    RescueTime
    Yes
    ActivityWatch
    Categories, not a daily score

  • Price to start

    SiteKeeper
    Free Chrome extension
    RescueTime
    Lite free (2 weeks of reports); Solo Focus from $7/mo annual
    ActivityWatch
    Free and open source

  • Privacy model

    SiteKeeper
    Privacy-first; we never sell or share your data. History stays on this Chrome profile.
    RescueTime
    Desktop/Android activity is sent to their servers. They say they never sell personal data.
    ActivityWatch
    Local-first open source

How SiteKeeper and RescueTime actually differ

Tracking

RescueTime’s desktop app records the active application and website, then sends that activity to their servers to build reports. Chrome tracking works with the desktop app; their Chrome extension is optional, not required. URLs are stored as the site, and sometimes a top-level directory — not a full path tree.

SiteKeeper tracks only the active Chrome tab, including path-level time so you can tell tutorials from Shorts on the same domain. It does not track desktop apps, meetings, or phone time. If your workday is Slack, Figma, and a browser, RescueTime still covers more of the computer.

Limits and blocking

RescueTime blocking is Focus Sessions on paid plans (Solo Focus and above). You start a timed session that blocks distracting apps and sites. Goals can warn you when you spend too long on YouTube; they do not lock that site until midnight. Lite has no Focus Sessions.

SiteKeeper uses standing daily or weekly caps. When the cap hits, the site is blocked until you extend time or turn the limit off. That is a soft block, not RescueTime’s session model, and not a hard lock.

Privacy

RescueTime’s own FAQ says the desktop app sends activity data to their servers to generate reports. Their policy also says they never sell, rent, or share personal information. iOS activity stays on the device and does not appear on the RescueTime website.

SiteKeeper is privacy-first: we never sell or share your data. History stays on this Chrome profile. We do not require a desktop agent that uploads every app you open.

Pricing: SiteKeeper vs RescueTime

  • Free tier

    SiteKeeper
    Tracking, daily limits, path analysis (3 sites), productivity score
    RescueTime
    Lite: automatic tracking; 2 weeks of reports you can view; no Focus Sessions

  • Paid personal

    SiteKeeper
    Pro $4.99/mo or $24.99/yr
    RescueTime
    Solo Focus $9/mo or $7/mo billed annually ($84/yr)

  • Upper personal

    SiteKeeper
    Lifetime $29.99 once — all Pro features
    RescueTime
    Solo+ $15/mo or $12/mo annual — timesheets, clients, billable-rate reports

RescueTime prices from their public pricing page (September 2026). Solo+ exports timesheet reports; it is not a full invoice-sending product. SiteKeeper has no team plans.

Why people look for a RescueTime alternative

Privacy-first by design

RescueTime’s reports need activity on their servers. Some people want a privacy-first tool that never sells or shares data, and keeps history on this Chrome profile.

Chrome is the whole workday

If most of your time is browser tabs, a desktop app that mixes every window is noisier than you need. SiteKeeper tracks the active Chrome tab only.

Standing caps, not focus sessions

RescueTime is strongest at reports and timed Focus Sessions. If you want a site blocked when a daily or weekly timer runs out — without starting a session — you need tracking and limits together.

A free way to start

Lite lets you view two weeks of reports; paid plans add Focus Sessions and longer history. A free Chrome extension is enough if the job is website time, not all-app desktop tracking.

Which should you use?

Choose SiteKeeper if

  • You work in Chrome and want automatic website time tracking
  • You want daily or weekly caps that block a site when time is up
  • You want path-level stats (YouTube tutorials vs Shorts)
  • You want a free way to start without a desktop install

Stick with RescueTime if

  • You need automatic tracking of desktop apps, not just websites
  • You want mobile tracking alongside desktop (knowing iOS does not roll up to the website)
  • You need timesheets, clients, or billable-rate reports (RescueTime Solo+)
  • You already have years of RescueTime Pulse history you do not want to leave

Switching from RescueTime

SiteKeeper cannot import RescueTime history. Plan on a clean start in Chrome, and keep a CSV if you still want the old Pulse trend on file.

What you can take with you

  • RescueTime report CSV (documented on paid report views). Keep it as an archive — SiteKeeper will not ingest it.
  • The list of sites you already categorized as distracting. Those become SiteKeeper limits and tags.
  • Nothing from desktop apps, iOS Screen Time, or Solo+ timesheets — SiteKeeper does not cover those jobs.

What you set up again

  • Tags in SiteKeeper. RescueTime’s Focus Work / Distracting levels only loosely map.
  • Daily or weekly caps in place of “less than X on Y” goals and Focus Session block lists. Behavior changes: SiteKeeper blocks when the cap hits; RescueTime blocked during a session.
  • Time windows if work hours should have a stricter budget than the daily cap. RescueTime Focus Sessions are timed blocks you start.

There is no white-glove import. Install the Chrome extension, recap the sites that matter, and leave RescueTime installed until you trust a week of SiteKeeper data.

Keep exploring

Frequently asked questions

Track Chrome time. Cap the rest.

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