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Hubstaff vs Time Doctor vs Insightful: who records what
Three big trackers, three different capture lists. Here is what each one records, and where the differences stop mattering.
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The shared model underneath
All three start from the same two signals: input and the window in front. Each has a dedicated article here — Hubstaff activity, Time Doctor capture, Insightful bypass.
Hubstaff: input, screenshots, apps and URLs
Hubstaff splits time into 10-minute intervals and scores the share containing mouse or keyboard input. It also takes screenshots at a frequency the employer sets, and logs which applications and URLs were in use.
- Input scored per 10-minute interval.
- Screenshots at an employer-set frequency.
- Application and URL usage logged.
Time Doctor: the deepest capture list
Time Doctor takes screenshots on an interval, and companies can enable screen recording and webcam shots. Version 2 also runs an Unusual Activity Report whose AI detector flags monotonous clicking and long mouse movement without clicks.
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- Screenshots, screen recording and webcam shots.
- Capture channels are switched on by the company.
- Unusual Activity Report flags repetitive input.
Insightful: what the window says
Insightful, formerly Workpuls, categorizes applications and websites as productive or unproductive and reports the time spent in each. So input alone is not the whole score — the active window shapes how that time is read.
In short
The capture channels differ, but the model is shared: input plus active window, with Time Doctor going deepest and Insightful judging what the window contains.
Let Reaction hold the number for you
Set your activity band, turn on hidden mode, and Reaction keeps a natural, human-like level while you are away — and hands control back the moment you return.
FAQ
Which of the three records the most?
Time Doctor, because a company can enable screen recording and webcam shots alongside screenshots.
How often do these trackers take screenshots?
The frequency is an employer setting rather than a fixed number.
Does Insightful care what I am working in?
Yes — it classifies applications and sites as productive or unproductive, so the active window affects the report.