# ctrlhq vs Timing: A 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.

- ctrlhq: $19 once (launch price, regular $49), no subscription, 14-day money-back guarantee. Native, about 12 MB. macOS 26 Tahoe or later.
- Timing: automatic time tracker. Price: From $10/month. Source: https://timingapp.com
- Facts checked September 2026. Also relevant if you're looking at Rize, RescueTime.

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 at a glance

| | 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 | Yes |
| One-click task timers | Yes | Yes |
| Idle detection | Yes | Yes |
| Reports and CSV export | Yes | Yes |
| Tasks, priorities and due dates | Yes | No |
| Pomodoro focus | Yes | No |
| Web dashboard and team features | No | Higher plans |
| Data stays on your Mac | Yes | Optional sync |

## 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. It replaces a handful of single-purpose apps with one that's already running in your notch.

## The ctrlhq features that cover Timing

- [Time tracking](https://ctrlhq.app/features/time-tracking): Your tasks and the running timer live in the notch, so you never forget to start or stop.
- [Idle detection](https://ctrlhq.app/features/idle-detection): No more phantom hours from a timer left running over lunch.
- [Time reports](https://ctrlhq.app/features/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](https://ctrlhq.app/features/screen-time): App usage for today and the last 7 days, plus your battery's health.

## FAQ

### 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.

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Timing is a trademark of its owner. ctrlhq isn't affiliated with it. Download ctrlhq: https://ctrlhq.app/download · All comparisons: https://ctrlhq.app/compare