RescueTime is a productivity tool that tracks and analyzes your activities across devices, providing insights to improve time management. It enables goal-setting, distraction-blocking, and informed productivity decisions. RescueTime costs $12 monthly and $78 annually, with both plans offering a two-week free trial.
Pros & Cons of the RescueTime App
RescueTime’s real-time tracking and analysis help you to understand your focus habits, as well as your distractions, automatically. When you start a focus session, RescueTime will block distracting websites, messages, and more which is critical to staying focused. Unfortunately, RescueTime requires access to a large amount of your personal data and information in order to provide accurate insights.
RescueTime App Key Takeaways
- The automatic time-tracking and distraction blocking is a key feature that helps those who work at home, are freelancers, and those with ADHD to focus on their workload.
- An option for virtual co-working spaces can help those who are remote employees to meet people and not feel isolated.
- Cross-platform compatibility allows you to start a task on your phone and easily switch to your desktop whenever needed.
- In-depth reporting can help show areas you need to focus on more, the hours your focus is highest, and more.
- There is a free version of the app and student discounts available.
Final Verdict on RescueTime
Overall, I found RescueTime to be incredibly helpful in understanding my habits and how frequently I become distracted or shift between tasks. RescueTime has helped me become more disciplined with my time and recognize that some habits I felt were productive were actually interfering with my overall level of productivity. The detailed tracking on iPhone or iPad is limited, however, I used RescueTime mainly on my computer.
RescueTime’s monthly or yearly plans are worth the cost to have distraction blocking. This is a key feature that can help increase your awareness of how often and to what level you are distracted throughout the day. I highly recommend signing up for the two-week free trial and purchasing one of the subscription plans.
What is RescueTime?
RescueTime is a productivity tool that offers real-time tracking of the apps you use throughout the day. There are various features that will help you train your brain to concentrate on essential tasks and learn to ignore alerts from notifications, social media, and other distractions. RescueTime costs $12 monthly and $78 annually, with both plans offering a two-week free trial.
What is the RescueTime App?
Within the RescueTime app, you have four sections: “Focus,” “Activity,” “Assistant,” and “Settings.” “Focus” allows you to begin a focus session directly from the app, which will block any messaging or apps that are considered non-work related. “Activity” allows you to see how much time is spent on apps, similar to your phone’s native screen-time reports.
“Assistant” uses a similar interface to the tool of the same name for your desktop in order to enable cross-platform compatibility. This tool allows you to add offline work, see recommendations to take a break, when your best hour for focus may be, and the ability to see your balance goal report. Lastly, “Settings” allows you to configure blocking, work schedules, focus sessions, and frequency of alerts and email notifications from RescueTime.
What is RescueTime Like on Desktop?
In the desktop version of RescueTime, you have more tabs to review: “Activities,” “Overview,” “Meetings,” “Goals,” and “Analytics.” The “Activities” section, you can see a breakdown of Focus Work, Other Work, and Personal Activities. You can move certain apps to and from each of these lists to help make reporting more accurate.
In “Overview,” you can see your productivity, attention, balance, and a few other areas that contribute to the work week. “Meetings” help to summarize the total time spent in virtual meetings, however, it does not always seem 100% accurate. “Analytics” is another way for you to visually see how your time is spent and which apps or activities are taking precedence.
“Goals” helps you establish goals for Focus Work, Distractions, Communication, Balance, and Focus Sessions. This tab allows you to track the average amount of time spent progressing toward your individual goals. It also helps you see which areas you need to improve in and make changes accordingly. Finally, “Overview” provides a brief overview of all your individual goals.
How Much Does RescueTime Cost?
RescueTime has a free version and costs $12 monthly or $78 annually for the premium version. Both premium subscriptions offer a two-week free trial.
RescueTime Lite
RescueTime Lite is the free version of the RescueTime app. This free version has limited features available, like automatic time-tracking, weekly emailed progress reports, and cross-platform capability.
RescueTime App Premium
RescueTime’s premium app costs $12 monthly or $78 annually, with both offering a two-week free trial.
Premium actually offers two versions, RescueTime and RescueTime Classic. RescueTime Classic is the original version of the app and offers detailed, down-to-the-minute activity tracking. RescueTime is the newer version and focuses more on your workday.
RescueTime App Discounts
RescueTime App offers a 30% student discount and requires you to contact your support team using your preferred online chat or by emailing: [email protected].
How to Get Started With RescueTime
Getting started with RescueTime is as easy as signing up on the RescueTime Website. You can also download the RescueTime App from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
Follow these easy steps to get started:
- Input basic information, like your name, current work situation, and your work schedule.
- Choose a monthly or annual subscription, both of which include a two-week free trial.
- Download the RescueTime Assistant on all of the devices you want to use to track your progress. In order to have cross-platform compatibility, you will need RescueTime running in the background of each device.
RescueTime App Key Features
RescueTime’s key features help you improve your focus and productivity through a variety of ways such as time tracking, distraction blocking, and more. Most of these features are only available in the premium version. RescueTime’s premium plans cost $12 monthly or $78 annually, with both offering a two-week free trial.
Automatic Time Tracking and Offline Tracking
Automatic time tracking allows you to track your activities across devices in order to see an accurate picture of how you spend your time. Whether you are in a meeting, writing a document, or doing research, the RescueTime assistant will recommend when to take breaks for balance and improve overall productivity and focus.
The ability to include offline tracking offers an even more comprehensive view of your day and time spent. Automatic time tracking is available for both the lite and paid subscriptions, however, offline tracking is only available in the premium versions.
FocusTime Mode and Distraction Blocking
RescueTime offers two focus categories: “Focus Work” and “Focus Session.” “Focus Work” is tracked automatically and included in your categorized analysis. It is also one of the main features of using RescueTime.
“Focus Sessions” and “Distraction Blocking” happen simultaneously. Your “Focus Sessions” can either be pre-scheduled via your calendar, by using your app assistant, or by manually selecting a session. During these “Focus Sessions” non-work related websites, messaging apps, and games will automatically be blocked and a pop-up will remind you that you are in a session.
Personally, distraction blocking is one of my favorite features and helped me become more aware of my habits and how easy it can be to become distracted. Both FocusTime mode and Distraction Blocking are only available in the premium version. Unfortunately, it is easy to get around the distraction-blocking function on the desktop meaning your willpower will be tested! When you click on a website RescueTime deems a distraction, you will have three options: continue focusing or start a focus session, continue to the website during this session, or continue to always allow the website during these focus zone times.
On the mobile there is no option to continue through to the app, only to “keep focusing.” Keep in mind that the more you stick to your schedule and choose to remain in your focus time, the easier it will be to maintain.
Productivity Reports and Categorized Activity Analysis
Productivity reports and categorized activity analysis are tools available to free and premium you. Productivity reports are emailed weekly and provide you a summary of your total focus work, focus sessions, top focus activity, total personal time, most distracting, and average distractions. Your report also includes your best hour to focus, total time spent in meetings, and how frequently you shift to communication instead of focus work.
Categorized activity analysis provides a detailed breakdown of the time you spend on each activity, whether it is focus work, other work, or personal activities. The apps are also subcategorized into general apps, meeting apps, or communication apps. RescueTime also records the number of shifts, i.e. jumps from one activity to another, during an hour. Shifts impact your levels of productivity and efficiency during work hours.
Cross-Platform Compatibility and Integration Support
Cross-platform compatibility is really helpful for those of you that have a tendency to switch between using your computer, tablet, or phone and is available in both the free and premium plans. In order for this to work, RescueTime requires that you let it continuously run in the background.
Personally, I find I use RescueTime the most on my computer, as that is where I spend most of my time working. RescueTime easily integrates with Google and Outlook calendars, Spotify, Slack, Asana, Trello, and GitHub. Integrating your calendars or apps are not required, but does help give in-depth and accurate reporting at the end of your work week.
Recommendations for Goals
RescueTime provides recommendations for goals in order to improve your work habits. These goals include personalized focus work goals, distraction and communication goals, balance goals and focus session goals. Goals help you understand how to better improve your time and structure your day for optimal success.
The balance goal helps to monitor how frequently you are working outside of your designated work schedule and provides warnings when it may be too much. This can help to prevent fatigue and burnout. Goal reports and recommendations are available for both free and premium versions of the app and desktop versions.
Who is the RescueTime App Right For?
RescueTime is ideal for college students, entrepreneurs and freelancers, remote employees, and those with ADHD.
College Students
RescueTime is great for students who are looking to improve their study habits and increase their focus. College offers a lot less structure in comparison to high school and RescueTime can help college students understand what keeps them distracted and reminders to stay on task for studying.
Entrepreneurs and Freelancers
Entrepreneurs and freelancers can benefit from RescueTime to help manage tasks to complete. It can also help by blocking apps and tools that can cause distractions. This can also help in preventing burnout. RescueTime provides insights and analysis into how much time you spend being productive and when you are distracted, offering suggestions on how to find a better balance between the two.
Remote Employees
RescueTime offers coworking sessions via your desktop app and can help reduce some of the isolated feelings that arise when working from home. You can also manage your work tasks more effectively and easily.
Those with ADHD
RescueTime can help those with ADHD focus on tasks they need to accomplish throughout the day. With distraction blocking, apps like Instagram, Facebook, and other social media can be turned off. This can allow those with ADHD to be redirected back to their personal goals.
Who May Want an Alternative to RescueTime App?
RescueTime may not be ideal for those not interested in learning a new app, have concerns with privacy permissions, or those with ADHD needed more individualized support.
Those Who Do Not Want to Learn a New App
For some, it can be an overwhelming process to learn a new app. There are a lot of ins and outs to the RescueTime app and this can also be overwhelming. For those wanting a lower-tech option to track their daily task, we recommend making a good old-fashioned “To-Do” list.
You Have Concerns With Privacy Permissions
In order for RescueTime to work effectively, there is an extensive list of permissions that need to be granted in order to provide the best user experience and data. This includes but is not limited to, access to your web browsing history, email, messages, and more. Those who are working on highly confidential workspaces or have general concerns with privacy permissions may not be keen on granting access to RescueTime. In this case, we recommend utilizing your phone’s native focusing tool, which can often be found in general settings.
Those With ADHD Seeking Individualized Support
Those with ADHD may want more individualized support, such as live therapy, to help them understand their productivity habits and overall executive dysfunction. This is not something that RescueTime currently offers. Taking the time to review our Best Online Therapy Buyer’s Guide article may be a great place to start in finding a better alternative to better suit your needs.
What Are Users Saying About the RescueTime App?
The RescueTime App has a 2-star rating from 12+ reviews in the Apple App Store, and a 3.5-star rating from 3,100+ reviews in the Google Play Store. The desktop version of RescueTime has a 4.5-star rating from 130+ reviews on Software Advice and 4-star rating from 80+ reviews on G2.
Frustrations with Mobile App Functionality
Some users found that the mobile app lacked the detailed productivity information that the desktop version provides. RescueTime is limited by Apple and Android permissions on what can and cannot be tracked, therefore, this is not necessarily a fault of RescueTime developers. Personally, I used RescueTime mostly on my desktop, as that is where I spend the majority of my workday and experienced no limited functionality.
Helpful in Staying on Track During Work
Many users found RescueTime to be one of the best in helping them stay on track during work. There was a mix of users that prefer to use RescueTime Classic or the free version RescueTime Lite. In both versions, you can track how often you are shifting between tasks.
Personally, I used RescueTime premium and the distraction blocking was by far the most useful feature for me. This helped me become more aware of how often I get distracted. Additionally, the daily and weekly reports of how I spend my time, including shifting from one task to another has helped to increase my awareness and improve my productivity.
Privacy Concerns
RescueTime is very clear and transparent about the need for extensive app permission and data tracking. Many users were not too keen on this, which is understandable. There is a lot of trust that goes into granting such permissions, especially you that work with sensitive data. One review even mentioned feeling fearful that employers may use these data reports for employee termination without having additional methods for employee performance and productivity.
RescueTime App Vs Habitica
RescueTime and Habitica are both focused on improving habits and overall productivity. As mentioned in our Habitica app review, it relies heavily on gamification to encourage motivation. It also offers a variety of community support and engagement. RescueTime offers co-working sessions, however most of the tools are individual-based with real-time feedback on your habits.
There is a big difference between costs for RescueTime and Habitica. RescueTime costs $12 monthly for premium versus Habitica which costs $4.99 monthly. Both apps do have a free version available, but offer more robust options in the paid version.
RescueTime App would be better for individuals not interested in gamification and would prefer live tracking for their time spent on the computer. Habitica is better for individuals who enjoy the aspects of gamification and may have other areas in their life they wish to improve beyond productivity.
History of RescueTime App
RescueTime was founded in 2008 by Joe Hruska and Brian Fioca. RescueTime was developed as a tool to help people understand how they spend their time on digital devices and improve overall productivity. With this, the founders wanted to create a system that can track and analyze user activities automatically.
RescueTime’s popularity grew quickly and continued to improve and develop into the platform it is today. RescueTime continues to have various updates, enhancements, and feature additions making it a reliable all-in-one productivity tool.
FAQ’s
How Do I Cancel My RescueTime App Subscription?
To cancel your subscription, simply visit Account Settings > Billing and Cancel your subscription. There is also an option to delete your account entirely.
If you still need support on how to cancel your subscription, contact support using the chat function or by emailing [email protected].
Does the RescueTime App Offer Refunds?
No, the RescueTime App does not offer refunds.
Is It Safe to Use RescueTime?
RescueTime values privacy and personal data protection, and are committed to ensuring that your practices align with GDPR regulations. Additionally, RescueTime states on its website that, “RescueTime understands the importance of transparency and trust in our you, and we are dedicated to maintaining these values as we continue to improve and develop our services.”
Please visit RescueTime’s Terms of Service and RescueTime’s Privacy Policy for more information.
