Which deployment fits your team
Deploy in cloud for simplicity or on-premise for full control and compliance.
Cloud: up and running in minutes
The cloud option requires no server setup, no maintenance overhead, and scales with your team automatically. Ideal for teams that want to start quickly.
On-premise: complete control over your data
All data stays on your own infrastructure. Nothing is shared with ManicTime or any third party. This is the right choice for teams with strict privacy, compliance, or security requirements.
Same features in cloud or on-premise
Both options provide the same automatic tracking, reporting, and team management capabilities. Deployment choice affects where data lives, not what you can do with it.
Direct database access on-premise
When you host your own server, you can access time data directly via SQL queries and integrate it into your existing systems and reporting pipelines.
How this feature works in 3 simple steps
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Step 1
Install and connect
Install ManicTime and connect your workspace in minutes, without complicated setup.
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Step 2
Automatic activity capture
ManicTime records apps, websites, documents, and activity timelines automatically in the background.
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Step 3
Review, assign, and report
Review captured work, assign time to projects, and generate reports or invoices with confidence.
Cloud
ManicTime Cloud requires no server setup and no in-house maintenance. Your organization can be up and running in minutes, and the software scales automatically as your team grows. Automatic updates mean you always have the latest features and security fixes without any IT overhead. Data is backed up automatically, protecting against hardware failure or unexpected loss.
On premise
With on-premise deployment, ManicTime Server and all tracking data run entirely on your own infrastructure. Nothing is shared with ManicTime or any third party. This gives organizations complete control over data privacy, security policy, and compliance requirements. You also get direct database access for custom reporting and integration with existing systems, and ManicTime can be deployed to multiple machines via Group Policy with predefined settings for tracking behavior, allowed tags, and more.
Related features
Self-Hosted Time Tracking Deployment
Run ManicTime Server in your own environment with Docker and Azure deployment options while keeping full control over data and infrastructure.
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Privacy Control
Control what ManicTime records, when it records, and what data is shared with your server.
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Integrations and Time Tracking API
Use out-of-the-box integrations, API endpoints, and direct data access to connect tracking with your existing systems.
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Who benefits from this feature?
The biggest impact usually appears across these user groups.
Enterprise
Deploy on your own infrastructure with Active Directory, Group Policy rollout, and full data sovereignty.
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Small Teams
Get your team tracking time in minutes with shared projects, tags, and team reports — no IT setup needed.
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Government Teams
Meet compliance and audit requirements with transparent, policy-driven time tracking on your own infrastructure.
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FAQ
What is the difference between cloud and on-premise?
Is on-premise more secure?
Can I switch from cloud to on-premise later?
Do both options include the same features?
Can I deploy ManicTime to multiple machines centrally?
Our customer opinions
This software automatically tracks the time you spend on your computer. When you step away from your computer for a certain length of time (set by user), it will prompt you to tag that time. For example, if I'm getting coffee and have a 20 minute chat about the weekend, I tag it as personal. But if I have a chat about an upcoming or existing project, I tag it about that project. For the tasks you do on the computer, it can save screenshots every X seconds (again, set by user), so that you can have a reminder when you go to do your billing what each task was for.
I like this application because with manic time we can verify who does their right job. And we also have better control because we can choose the best workers to increase production works very well and without errors.
Just wanted to let you know that I think your software has helped me capture $1000's of dollars in revenue that I just wasn't billing before, as I wasn't doing a very good job of tracking my time. With ManicTime I get it all, and if I were ever to be audited by a client, I could give them every detail. Thanks so much!
I like that it tracks inactive time on the computer so that you can remember when you started working and when you stopped, and when you took breaks. Very easy to use, I don't have to remember to log in and the app does everything for me without me even doing anything except installing the program. It shows exactly what page and project you were working on and for how long and when.
There is a lot to love about Manic Time. It was easy to use and did way more than I was expecting from it. The reporting was informative. The editing was awesome. Tagging and managing the time tracked is robust, yet simple. It is great at taking the tracking out of time tracking. It just does 90% for you. The last 10% is tagging and validating. It really does an amazing job at showing how much time is wasted on mundane tasks or mindless browsing. I handed in my time to a project manager. He asked how I knew I worked 3.28 hours on a specific task. "Manic Time" was my answer.
Just renewed my licence for another year Just thought I'd let you know that this is one of the best pieces of software I've ever installed on my computer, free or paid for. I run my own business which principally relies on writing technical reports. ManicTime has made it so much easier to track my time over the various projects and therefore manage my fees and costs. (And your support has been excellent when I have had the odd problem).
ManicTime’s ease of use is unmatched, thanks to its intuitive interface and flexible granularity in time-tracking. The power to dive as deep as you need into data with comprehensive tagging and reporting systems is a significant upside. Its vast number of features like document, application, and activity trackers streamline the process of managing and analyzing time efficiently. Moreover, ManicTime’s advanced search capabilities, coupled with the functionality to annotate tagged time, make it a vital tool for enhancing productivity and recalling information during discussions.
Dr Steve Day (podcast)
Time tracking and its importance in business operations are discussed in this episode. Dr. Steve Day shares update on their time tracking policies, including the use of new apps and tools such as ManicTime, particularly focusing on the implementation of screenshot tracking.
Listen now
I do contract work and manage multiple projects where I bounce between projects on an almost by the minute basis. Once tagging is setup I can easily tag all my activities as I do them and my time accumulates in each project bucket. At the end of the day my timesheet is a breeze. This is the best tool I have found so far for a work style that involves heavy duty multi-tasking. I don't know what I would do without ManicTime. Well designed and thought out product.
The interface is very intuitive and easy to use. The ability to tag and color-code my work allows me to see at a glance how my day has been going. I can organize and structure things as much or as little as I like. What a great product!
It provides with useful reports which track and monitor the computer usage of employees, as well as the time spent on each computer program or application. Also the presence of an automatic screenshot feature resulted in an increase in my employees’ productivity. It runs automatically on my computer, great.
Choose the deployment that fits your team
Cloud or on-premise — ManicTime gives you the same powerful time tracking either way, with the data location and control model that fits your requirements.