ctrlhqctrlhq vs TimingA time tracker you can't forget is running.
ctrlhq vs Timing: a Mac time tracker in the notch. One click starts a task timer that stays in view, idle detection keeps it honest, CSV export for invoices. Pay once.
14-day money-back guaranteeAlready bought? Download
- ctrlhq
- Productivity app in the notch
- $19 launch price (then $49) · macOS 26 Tahoe+ · native, about 12 MB
- Timing
- automatic time tracker
- From $10/month
Timing tracks everything you do automatically and helps you sort it into projects afterwards. It's powerful, especially for billing many clients, and it's a monthly subscription.
ctrlhq takes the manual route and makes it hard to get wrong: your task and the running timer sit beside the notch in every app, so you always know what's being tracked. Idle detection asks what to do with time you were away, and reports export to CSV or JSON. No subscription, no account.
ctrlhq vs Timing, side by side
| Feature | ctrlhq | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19 once (launch price, then $49) | Subscription from $10/month |
| Timer always visible | Yes, beside the notch | Menu bar |
| Automatic app and document tracking | Screen time per app | |
| One-click task timers | ||
| Idle detection | ||
| Reports and CSV export | ||
| Tasks, priorities and due dates | ||
| Pomodoro focus | ||
| Web dashboard and team features | Higher plans | |
| Data stays on your Mac | Optional sync |
Timing details from its website, checked September 2026. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Choose Timing if
- You want every app and document logged automatically, then sorted later.
- You bill many clients and need rules, invoices and team reports.
Choose ctrlhq if
- You want a simple timer you can see at all times, tied to your task list.
- You'd rather pay once and keep your data in one file on your Mac.
Lightweight by design
ctrlhq is a native Swift app, about 12 MB to download, with no background daemons or helper apps. One app that's already in your notch replaces a shelf of single-purpose ones, and every menu bar icon that came with them.
The ctrlhq features that cover Timing
Time tracking
Your tasks and the running timer live in the notch, so you never forget to start or stop.
Idle detection
No more phantom hours from a timer left running over lunch.
Time reports
By category and by task, for today, the last 7 or the last 30 days, with a timeline of your day.
Screen time
App usage for today and the last 7 days, plus your battery's health.
Questions
Does ctrlhq track automatically?
ctrlhq counts time per app for Screen time, but task time is started by you, with one click or ⌥⌘T. That keeps your hours accurate without a clean-up session every Friday.
Can I export for invoices?
Yes, as CSV or JSON.
Run it next to Timing.
Every feature for $19 launch price (then $49), no subscription. Not for you? Full refund within 14 days.
14-day money-back guaranteeAlready bought? Download
Timing is a trademark of its owner. ctrlhq isn't affiliated with it.