COMPARISON

Lync vs WakaTime

WakaTime is the industry standard - but it costs $9/month for full features. Lync gives you the same core tracking capabilities, completely free, forever.

Try Lync FreeNo credit card · Setup in 2 minutes
CHOOSE LYNC IF...
  • You want free time tracking forever
  • You primarily code in VS Code
  • Privacy matters to you
  • You want simple, clean dashboards
  • You're a student, freelancer, or indie dev
CHOOSE WAKATIME IF...
  • You use 5+ different editors daily
  • You want public leaderboards
  • Your team requires WakaTime integration
  • You need goal tracking features
  • Budget isn't a concern

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Feature
Lync
WakaTime
Price
Free forever
$9/month (premium)
History
Unlimited
14 days (free tier)
VS Code support
Multi-editor
Auto tracking
Project breakdown
Language stats
Team features
Free
Paid only
Code privacy
Offline tracking
Leaderboards

Pricing Reality

WakaTime's free tier gives you just 14 days of history — not enough to spot trends or compare month-over-month. The full experience costs $9/month.

$0
Lync — Forever
  • ✓ Unlimited history
  • ✓ All features included
  • ✓ Team sharing
  • ✓ No credit card ever
$108
WakaTime — Per Year
  • ✓ Unlimited history
  • ✓ Goals and leaderboards
  • ✓ Multi-editor support
  • ✗ 14-day limit on free tier

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a free alternative to WakaTime?

Yes, Lync is a free forever alternative to WakaTime. Unlike WakaTime's free tier which limits you to 14 days of coding history, Lync gives you unlimited history and all features at no cost — no credit card required.

Does Lync track coding time the same way as WakaTime?

Yes. Both Lync and WakaTime automatically track coding time in VS Code without manual timers. Lync records time per project, file, and programming language, just like WakaTime, but with no paywalls.

How do I switch from WakaTime to Lync?

Install the Lync extension from the VS Code marketplace, create a free account at lync.life, and paste your API key into the extension settings. Setup takes under 2 minutes and tracking starts immediately.

What does WakaTime cost compared to Lync?

WakaTime's premium plan costs $9 per month ($108/year) for unlimited coding history. Lync is completely free forever with no paid tier, no hidden fees, and no feature restrictions.

Switch from WakaTime in 2 Minutes

Install the VS Code extension, create a free account, generate an API key. That's it. Your data starts syncing immediately.

Start Free — No Credit Card

Join developers who switched from WakaTime and saved $108/year