Automatic background capture
Records active apps, sites, and session context in the background, so the timeline is ready without starting a timer or cleaning up tags later.
drifty
drifty is a Mac AI time tracker that captures app, site, and session context in the background, then classifies activity as focus, neutral, or drift. It helps people review where their attention went without manual timers or screen recording.
Overview
drifty is a Mac time-tracking app that captures activity in the background and uses AI to interpret what you were doing, not just which app was open. It is designed to separate focus from drift by looking at app, site, and window context, then turning that data into a reviewable timeline.
The product is aimed at people who want more meaning from activity tracking than raw totals. Instead of manual timers or screen recording, drifty classifies sessions into categories such as focus, neutral, and drift, then presents daily and weekly summaries that can help users understand where attention actually went.
Core features
Context-aware classification
Uses AI to label sessions as Focus, Neutral, or Drift based on context rather than app names alone.
Timeline and weekly summaries
Shows three-minute timeline blocks plus weekly calendar views, making it easier to inspect the day at different levels of detail.
Privacy-oriented activity tracking
Keeps raw activity local by default and avoids screen recording or saved screenshots.
Flexible AI processing options
Supports different analysis modes, including drifty Cloud, Local AI on Mac, and OpenRouter API key-based setup.
Drift review and recovery tools
Adds drift alarms and review surfaces such as recent focus targets and end-of-day review for catching distractions before they spread.
Common use cases
Automatic personal time tracking
Useful for people who want to understand how their workday was spent without manually starting and stopping timers. drifty records activity in the background and organizes it into a later reviewable timeline.
Context-based focus analysis
Helps when the same app can mean different things depending on the task. For example, a browser window may represent research, a lecture, or distraction, and drifty classifies those sessions by context.
Deep work and context-switch review
For developers and other Mac users who move between IDEs, browsers, and communication tools, drifty can summarize where deep work happened and where context switching took over.
Distraction recovery during the day
For people trying to reduce drift, the alarm and review surfaces can make recent focus work easier to return to before a distraction session becomes longer.
Choosing an analysis mode
Teams or individuals comparing setup options can use the pricing model to choose between the free local plan, hosted Cloud AI, or a key-based local-first setup.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Automatic tracking reduces the need to start timers or enter tags manually.
- Context-aware classification can distinguish different kinds of use inside the same app or site.
- No screen recording or saved screenshots, which may appeal to users who want lighter-weight activity tracking.
- Multiple AI processing options let users choose between hosted Cloud, local classification, or a BYOK setup.
- Timeline, daily, and weekly views provide more than a simple hours-per-app report.
Cons
- The product appears focused on Mac, with download and setup materials centered on macOS.
- Some AI processing modes require setup, such as a local model or an OpenRouter key, so the simplest workflow may still involve configuration.
- The source does not show deep third-party integrations beyond AI/model options and API-key based setup.
FAQ
Do I need to start timers or tag my work?
No. drifty is built around automatic Mac activity capture, so you can review a timeline later instead of starting timers or tagging work manually.
What information does drifty use to classify activity?
drifty classifies activity using context around each session, including the app, site, title, and how the session fits into the rest of your day.
Does drifty record screens or save screenshots?
No. drifty is not a screen recorder and does not save screenshots; it focuses on activity context instead of visual capture.
Where does the AI analysis run?
You can choose between drifty Cloud, Local AI on your Mac, or your own OpenRouter key. The pricing page also shows a local-first free plan and a hosted Cloud AI plan.
What happens if I work offline?
Activity capture stays local on your Mac. Cloud and OpenRouter classification need a connection, while Local AI can classify on-device after setup.
Quick Facts
- Category
- AI time tracker
- Platform
- Mac
- Primary workflow
- Automatic activity capture with AI classification into focus and drift
- Source domain
- drifty.so
- Pricing model
- Free local plan and paid Cloud plan from $5/month
- Data capture
- App, site, title, and session context; no screen recording
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