A Qbserve alternative that also runs on Windows
Qbserve is the app that proved a lot of people right: automatic time tracking can be local and one-time-purchase instead of cloud and subscription. If you're looking at alternatives, it's usually for one of three reasons — you also work on Windows, you want a more modern timeline UI, or you're unsure about its development pace. DayReplay keeps Qbserve's values and answers all three.
Is Qbserve still maintained?
It hasn't been officially discontinued, but public releases have been infrequent for several years — check the developer's site (qotoqot.com) for the current release history and judge for yourself. That matters more for a time tracker than for most software: it sits in the path of every macOS release, and accessibility APIs and browser internals shift constantly. A tracker that isn't updated regularly tends to degrade quietly — capture gaps, misread URLs — which you often only notice at invoice time. Whatever tool you pick, favour one with a visible, recent changelog.
| DayReplay | Qbserve | |
|---|---|---|
| Data location | Local (your machine) | Local (your machine) |
| Pricing model | Free tier; $7/mo or $49 lifetime | One-time purchase |
| Platforms | Native Windows + macOS, one license | macOS only |
| Automatic capture | Yes — app + window + browser URL/tab | Yes — apps + websites |
| Invoicing | Invoice-ready CSV (one row per session) | Built-in invoice generation |
| Development | Actively developed, visible changelog | Infrequent releases in recent years |
| Multi-device | One key, up to 5 devices | Per-Mac, no sync |
Local storage, no account, pay once — the things people buy Qbserve for are the things DayReplay is built on. The difference is one license that covers the Windows machine too, and an app that's actively updated as macOS and browsers change.
Reasons to switch from Qbserve to DayReplay
- Windows + macOS on one license. Qbserve is Mac-only; if any part of your work happens on a Windows box, that half of your day is invisible to it.
- Browser context that reads like project work. Sessions group by domain and path — “3.2h on github.com/client-org” rather than “Chrome, 4 hours.”
- Active development. Regular signed releases on both platforms, a public changelog, and an inbox that answers.
- Modern timeline UI. A visual replay of the day, not a stats window.
Where Qbserve is the better choice
If you're Mac-only, happy with it, and use its built-in invoice generator, there's no urgent reason to move — DayReplay exports invoice-ready CSV for your billing tool rather than generating invoices itself. Qbserve has also been around longer, and its one-time price has historically been very fair. This page is for the people it no longer fits.
Try DayReplay
Free shows your last 7 days with day navigation; Pro adds 90-day history, custom categories & colours, category rules, and CSV export — one-time lifetime license or monthly.
More: How it works · Local-first time tracking · Security & privacy · Pricing · Compare all alternatives.