Time Trackers Without Screenshots: Top Picks For People-Friendly Teams

Time trackers with screenshots are like a clingy ex who won’t stop texting, except it’s software constantly asking, “Are you really working right now?”. Ugh.
Truly, such time trackers have a microscope pointed at your life 24/7; suddenly, every coffee sip, awkward stretch, and the time you take to think becomes evidence of your productivity. If you’ve ever monitored pixel by pixel, you know how “thrilling” it can be.

Luckily for you (and all people-friendly teams out there), there’s a brighter, friendlier world of time trackers. The one in which your team’s trust isn’t measured in screenshots per hour (thank God!).

In this article, we’ve rounded up 6 best time trackers without screenshots that will keep your projects on track. Think of it as time tracking without guilt or judgment.

Why is taking employee screenshots bad?

Um, do you really have to ask? 🙂

Screenshot-based monitoring tools don’t catch every idle moment or “unapproved” tab. They are a form of pretty invasive employee monitoring; they contribute to decreased morale and a culture based on visibility, rather than actual activity and deliverables.

Here’s why time trackers with screenshots are a bad idea at best and a total breach of trust at worst.

#1 Privacy invasion

It’s no secret that screenshots can capture personal information, including private messages, passwords, or sensitive documents. The privacy risks are high and can lead to legal complications, yet companies still rely on them as proof of work.

And sometimes, those risks materialize. Cybernews reported a major privacy incident involving a workplace monitoring app. Their investigation revealed that more than 21 million employee screenshots were left exposed in an unsecured Amazon S3 bucket — a clear reminder of how storing visual data can put both companies and employees at risk.

#2 Trust on thin ice

Constantly monitoring employees’ screens does not exactly show trust in them. Employees may feel like they’re being watched constantly, which can lead to decreased morale and engagement. This feeling of surveillance contributes to burnout and disengagement.

#3 Legal (and ethical) issues

In many jurisdictions, monitoring employees without their consent is a violation of privacy laws. For example, in the US, federal laws allow some monitoring, but many states require employers to inform employees about the monitoring and get their consent.

According to Business News Daily, workplace privacy and employee monitoring laws vary from state to state. Here are some laws from different states:

• In Connecticut, any company that monitors its employees must inform them in writing, specifying the tracking methods that will be used.
• California, Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina state that employees have a right to privacy, meaning employers must be careful when setting up employee monitoring systems.
• In New York, an employer that wants to monitor employees in the workplace is required to provide specific notice upon hiring. Additionally, an acknowledgment of monitoring must also be kept on file for each employee.

#4 False sense of productivity

Focusing on screenshots as evidence of productivity can quickly turn into micromanagement, as productivity is often judged by how busy someone appears on-screen rather than what they actually accomplish. Screenshots become the equivalent of a manager pacing behind every desk to make sure employees’ fingers are hitting keyboard keys—it’s wildly inappropriate and unnecessary.

Now, the main problem is that screenshots only capture a tiny slice of work. They can’t see the brainstorming happening on paper, the problem-solving process that often happens during a walk, or the hours spent mentally putting together a complex solution. Not to mention, real productivity also looks like staring into space, being messy with notes, or talking through ideas with a colleague, and none of these activities look “impressive” in a screenshot.

When managers reward mouse movement and tab activity, they value the illusion of work over actual deliverables. Moreover, employees may start “performing productivity” for the screenshot, such as keeping busy windows open, clicking aimlessly, or avoiding legitimate breaks out of fear of appearing idle. Instead of feeling trusted to deliver results, the team works for appearances.

Why you should opt for a no-screenshot solution

Screenshots are great for memes, and vacation pics, but for tracking employees? Absolutely not.

Here’s why opting for a no-screenshot solution is kinder and smarter.

#1 Cultivates trust, not suspicion

Screenshot-based monitoring sends a clear message: “This company doesn’t trust you”, and that’s why employees’ trust (and health) drastically drops.
A study found that employees who were monitored found their working conditions stressful. They reported anxiety, depression, and work fatigue.

Moreover, according to a Harvard Business Review article, the best way to improve engagement isn’t through surveillance, or endless check-ins (or even perks), but by treating people like responsible adults. When you give them clear direction, the tools to succeed, and then let them do the work, they’ll feel like they are contributing daily, trusted to deliver results.

Here are a few key takeaways from that article that show that trust drives performance:

• The human body contains oxytocin, often known as the “trust hormone.” The author measured oxytocin levels in lab and real-world workplace settings to track how particular management behaviors influence trust and engagement.
• High engagement, when employees feel connected to their work and valued by their colleagues, naturally leads to better outcomes like increased productivity and higher-quality results.
• The key behaviors that managers can use to trigger oxytocin release and build trust are recognizing excellence, providing “challenging but achievable” stress, giving employees discretion in how they do their work, sharing information openly, supporting personal growth (not just productivity), and showing vulnerability as a leader.

All these key points suggest one thing: building trust within a company leads to happier, more loyal, and more productive teams. When employees feel respected, they’re more likely to go the extra mile and stick around.

#2 Avoids micromanagement

Screenshots allow management to focus on the wrong things—looking busy rather than being productive, and that’s why monitored employees often fake activity to look busy. 

Excessive monitoring undermines workplace culture and fails to focus on outcomes.

#3 Respects employees’ privacy and autonomy

Screenshot-based trackers make many workers feel uncomfortable.

According to a Workplace Journal article, based on research involving 1,000 UK employers and 1,000 employees, employers often rely on monitoring because trust is lacking; however, their surveillance practices further erode that trust. The final result is stressed employees, higher turnover risk, and a control-based workplace culture:

• Over half of UK employers admit that they cannot trust their employees without some form of monitoring.
• Approximately 85% of UK employers use online monitoring, including tracking websites, apps, and capturing screenshots, to assess employee productivity. 
• More than half of the surveyed employees say they’d consider quitting if subjected to workplace surveillance, and 42% believe it’s unethical to monitor activities such as emails, chats, or video calls.
• Over 40% of employees suspect they’re already being monitored without being told, with 38% of employees unaware that employers are legally allowed to monitor communications for legitimate business purposes.
• 17% of workers stated they’d be willing to take a 25% pay cut just to avoid being monitored, which is a big signal of how deeply surveillance affects morale.

When you look at those numbers, it’s clear that monitoring undermines work and productivity. To put the contrast into perspective, here’s how screenshot-based monitoring compares to no-screenshot solutions at a glance:

Top 6 time trackers without screenshots

Time tracking shouldn’t be about turning your workday into a reality show for your manager or client. Screenshot-happy software should be a thing of the past, as there are people-friendly tools that measure productivity without spying on every pixel.

Here are 6 of the best.

#1 Memtime

If you want a silent, no-screenshot, no-timer, no-maintenance, no-interruption solution, Memtime’s the one for the job.

Our ethical, fully automatic time tracker runs quietly in the background, meaning you don’t have to start or stop timers, fiddle with annoying pop-ups, or worry about forgetting to track time. It logs your digital activity across apps, tabs, and documents automatically.

If Memtime were a camera, it would come with the lens cap permanently on, because some things should not be captured. 🤷

Here’s why Memtime is the best privacy- and people-friendly solution out there:

• Memtime is against any monitoring practices. No screenshots, ever. No keystroke monitoring or behavioral surveillance. No automatic syncing of raw activity data to the cloud. Instead, all activity data stays safely stored locally on the user’s device, giving individuals full control over what gets shared.
• There’s a private and clear activity timeline. You can see a detailed, chronological timeline, called Memory Aid. It logs your time by program, browser tab, document, or email, down to the minute, and you choose which activities to assign to tasks or projects, keeping control in your hands.

• You get deep integration and syncing. Memtime offers 2-way sync with over 100 tools, including project management, invoicing, and time tracking systems. You can assign timeline entries to tasks; then, those time entries sync instantly with connected tools, and vice versa.
• Memtime doesn’t rely on AI. Memtime offers simple automation without relying on AI. It tracks computer activity by noting which application is active, then allows you to manually assign entries to corresponding tasks. Additionally, Memtime enables you to create custom rules for automatic time entry suggestions. These rules can be based on activity name, program, URL/document path, window title, browser profile, email subject, or email participant. Once a rule is set up, our app will suggest time entries that match the defined conditions, which you can then accept, modify, or decline.‍
• You can automate timesheets. Memtime automates approximately 90% of the timesheet workflow. All tracked time flows into your timesheets or connected tools with minimal manual effort.

So, how does Memtime sound? If you’re thinking “too good to be true”, then you have to give it a go and see just how well it works. 😁

Try Memtime free for 2 weeks; it’s on us. No credit card required; simply click the button below.

#2 Toggl Track

Toggl Track is a well-known time tracking app designed for individuals and teams that want to know how their time is spent across projects and tasks. It offers features like:

• Manual time tracking, where users can start and stop timers or log time entries manually.
• Background tracking is done through its Timeline feature that passively monitors computer activity, and you can later convert that activity into time entries.
• Reports to analyze time usage and project profitability.
• Connection with over 100 tools (only 4 of them are supported via 2-way sync), including project management software like Asana, Jira, and Trello.
• It’s available via web browsers, desktop, and mobile apps.

By design, Toggl Track does not support screenshot functionality. Also, activities recorded are private to the user and are not visible to others unless the user chooses to share them.

#3 Timely

Timely is an automatic time tracking tool designed for freelancers and teams of all sizes. It offers features like:

• Automatic time tracking that tracks everything you work on automatically in the background and syncs data to the cloud.
• AI features to log your work behind the scenes in a memory timeline.
• Connection with tools like Asana, Trello, Jira, Google Calendar, and more.
• Dashboards for project tracking and performance insights, with reporting tools that can break down hours by client, task, or team.
• Timely is accessible via web browsers, desktop, and mobile.

Timely does not have screenshot functionality.

#4 Traqq

Traqq is a desktop-based, ethical time tracking software marketed as a productivity monitor that respects employee privacy. It offers features like:

• Automatic time tracking that tracks work hours and activity levels in a balanced way.
• AI-powered analytics that give insights into team performance and productivity.
• Offline tracking, meaning it continues to record your work activity even when you're offline or have no internet connection.

By default, Traqq does not support screenshot functionality.

#5 ActivityWatch

ActivityWatch is a privacy-first productivity tracker that automatically records activity across devices. It’s also open-source, meaning it’s free and allows users to customize and host the tool independently.

Here are some of the ActivityWatch features:

• It provides reports on time usage and patterns.
• It allows users to control data storage and security.
• It works across multiple devices.

By design, ActivityWatch does not support screenshot functionality. Plus, all activity data is stored locally on the user's device, ensuring privacy and control.

#6 Harvest

Harvest is a desktop, mobile, and web time tracking app that allows you to track time with a timer or by adding manual entry. You can also:

• Log expenses and generate invoices within the app.
• Monitor project budgets and profitability.
• Access reports on time usage and team performance.

By default, Harvest does not take screenshots or video recordings of your computer. It does not monitor your chats, messages, or track which websites or apps you’re using. The only data your employer will see is your timesheets after you submit them.

However, the tool does provide an option for screenshot monitoring, and here’s how it works:

• Screenshots are taken every 10 minutes via the desktop app when the timer is active.
• Users are notified.
• Only Admins and Supervisors can view the screenshots; regular users do not have access to their own captures.
• Users can delete sensitive screenshots, but there’s no automatic blurring feature.

So, unless screenshots are explicitly switched on in settings, Harvest behaves as a no-screenshot tool in practice. It’s up to you to decide whether you’re comfortable using a tool that includes a screenshot monitoring option.

Wrapping it up

In a world where time tracking should be less Big Brother-ish and more productivity-without-paranoia, you’ve got options.

With these 6 no-screenshot tools, you can track your hours without worrying, proving that productivity and trust can actually coexist. The tools on our list are professional yet comfortable to use.

In my humble opinion, it’s time to stop micromanaging pixels and start managing outcomes. Here’s to screenshot-free time trackers! 🥂

What are time trackers without screenshots?

Time trackers without screenshots monitor productivity by tracking tasks and app usage, but do not capture screen images. They help teams stay productive and protect privacy. Memtime offers automated tracking without screenshots or keystroke monitoring.

Why should I avoid screenshot-based time trackers?

Screenshot-based trackers can invade privacy, create stress, and reduce trust between employees and managers. They encourage micromanagement and can lead to disengagement or even higher turnover.

How does Memtime track work without screenshots?

Memtime automatically logs computer activity such as applications, browser tabs, documents, and emails. Users can then assign entries to specific tasks manually or set rules for automatic suggestions. All data is stored locally on the device, ensuring privacy while keeping productivity insights accurate and easy to manage.

Can Memtime help improve employee trust and engagement?

Yes. By avoiding invasive monitoring, Memtime fosters trust and autonomy. Employees feel respected when they have control over how their time is tracked, which in turn increases engagement and motivation. Clear, privacy-friendly tracking reduces stress while still giving managers accurate insights into project progress.

Can I try Memtime before committing?

Yes! Memtime offers a free 2-week trial with no credit card required. This allows you to experience fully automated, no-screenshot time tracking while seeing how it improves productivity, trust, and workflow management.