drifty
drifty is a context-aware AI time tracker for macOS that automatically records how you spend your day without requiring manual timers or log entries. It monitors active applications and windows, then uses AI to understand the context of your work at a deeper level — such as which browser tab, code file, or document you are interacting with. This allows drifty to classify activity as productive focus or unproductive drift, and present a clear timeline of your workday. Unlike traditional time trackers that simply list application names, drifty inspects the content and intent behind each session. For example, it can recognize that time spent on YouTube is focused learning if you are watching a development tutorial, but drift if you are watching entertainment shorts. It also detects transitions between tasks, distinguishes between work and break periods, and identifies when you switch away from a task and later return, helping you recover focus. The app generates automatic timelines, focus graphs, and insights showing how much of your day was truly productive. drifty is built with privacy in mind, running on your terms. It is currently free to use and available for Mac, with a Windows version in development. The tool is designed for individuals who want to understand their work habits and improve focus without the overhead of manual time tracking. It serves developers, freelancers, students, and anyone who spends significant time at a computer and wants to reduce digital distraction.
- Category
- Observability
- Pricing
- Free
Problem solved
Manual time tracking is tedious and often inaccurate, while existing automatic trackers only see app-level usage. drifty solves this by using AI to capture and classify your actual work context — separating focused, productive time from drifting, distracted time — automatically and privately.
Use cases
- Tracking developer productivity without timers
- Freelance time tracking for client billing
- Personal focus analysis for remote workers
- Identifying sources of distraction at work
- Understanding time allocation across projects
- Monitoring study sessions and breaks
- Recovering focus after interruptions
Audience
- Developers
- Startups
- Hobbyists
Pros
- Automatic time tracking with zero manual effort
- AI understands context within apps, not just app names
- Separates focus from drift for better insights
- Free to use
- Privacy-focused design
Cons
- Mac-only for now; Windows version not yet released
- AI classification may occasionally misjudge context
- No Linux or mobile support
Official website: https://drifty.so/
Canonical LambdaBase page: https://www.lambdabase.com/tools/drifty