Privacy-First Time Tracking: DoneThat Takes on RescueTime

In the crowded market of time-tracking tools, DoneThat sets itself apart by prioritizing both accuracy and privacy. Traditional options like RescueTime rely largely on activity logs, which often fall short of providing truly useful insights. DoneThat, however, leverages large language models (LLMs) to interpret screenshots, aiming for a significant boost in precision.

Privacy at the Core

Privacy isn't just a feature here. it's fundamental. DoneThat operates as a source-available desktop app, capturing screenshots every few minutes. However, it blanks out sensitive applications, such as password managers and personal communications, before the data even leaves your device. What happens next is equally critical: the raw screenshots are discarded after being converted into brief text descriptions by the LLM.

This data is then processed on Google Cloud Platform (GCP) in the European Union. Users have control over sharing options, which are strictly opt-in and designed to balance privacy with utility. The company offers a detailed data flow visualization to keep users informed about how their information is handled.

Is Full Local Processing a Must?

Despite these privacy measures, some may argue that full local processing is the only way to ensure absolute data security. For those users, alternatives like Dayflow or Screenpipe might be more appealing. DoneThat acknowledges this need by transparently listing other tools in the space, showcasing a commitment to user choice.

A Coach in Your Corner

Beyond tracking, DoneThat is developing a proactive coach feature, reminiscent of the infamous Clippy but with the ambitious goal of offering real assistance rather than novelty. This feature caters specifically to requests from users with ADHD, aiming to provide meaningful support.

So, should DoneThat be your go-to time tracker? If your priority is a balance between precision and privacy, the answer seems to be yes. The market map tells the story: DoneThat is addressing gaps that traditional tools have left open. But as always, the competitive landscape shifted this quarter. Whether DoneThat can maintain its edge depends on its continued commitment to innovation and user-friendly features.

Here’s a thought: Is privacy in productivity tools becoming the new standard, or is it just a passing trend? As more users demand control over their data.