How does activity tracking work in Hubstaff?

Hubstaff measures keyboard and mouse activity while time is tracked. This data is then shown as an overall activity percentage. It does not capture keystrokes or private content.

Does Hubstaff track keystrokes?

No. Hubstaff only checks whether or not there is keyboard and mouse activity. It does not log keystrokes or personal information.

Why does activity look low for some team members?

Low activity can be normal depending on the type of work being done. For instance, a role that requires heavy research can yield lower average activity rates, while one that involves a lot of writing will result in higher figures. You can review longer-term trends in Insights or use Hubstaff resources to support focus where needed.

Why do some team members not appear in activity reports?

If privacy settings are enabled, a team member’s activity data may be hidden from reports.

How are activity levels calculated?

Activity levels reflect active keyboard and mouse input compared to time tracked. They help show focus patterns and productivity trends over time.

Can I adjust activity tracking settings?

Yes. You can turn activity tracking and screenshots on or off, set screenshot frequency, and allow team members to edit or delete their own data.

Which plans include activity tracking features?

Activity tracking is included on all plans. Advanced analytics, like work time classification and unusual activity detection, are available on higher tiers and with the Insights add-on.

Which plans include activity reports?

Time and activity reports are available on all plans, with more advanced filtering, scheduling, and export options on higher tiers.

Can I export or schedule activity reports?

Yes. Reports can be exported as CSV or PDF files or scheduled for weekly or monthly delivery.

Do I need the desktop app for activity tracking?

Yes. Activity levels are captured through the Hubstaff desktop timer.

Time and activity tracking for teams who want to improve context and visibility

Track time accurately and understand work in context. View activity levels, keyboard and mouse input patterns, and other real-time data — all with full transparency and control for every team member.

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Hubstaff time tracker with screenshots dashboard view

A time tracking software with built-in activity context

Track active time using keyboard and mouse activity signals and understand work with real-time data on hours worked, activity, and more — without micromanaging or logging keystrokes.

Hubstaff time tracking features on desktop and mobile, with apps available for multiple platforms.

Accurate time tracking

Teams can track time with a single click using the Hubstaff desktop app on Windows, Mac, or Linux. Logged hours flow directly to projects and tasks, giving teams reliable records for planning, reporting, payments, and invoicing.

Hubstaff time tracking app with project hours, start and stop timer, GPS job sites, daily hours graph, and download options

Real-time activity levels

Hubstaff is designed to support ethical productivity monitoring without collecting private information. Activity levels show how productive work time is through keyboard and mouse input — not keystrokes. They help teams understand performance trends and workload patterns in real time, enabling on-the-fly workflow adjustments.

Hubstaff productivity dashboard showing team activity, projects worked on, daily limits, and member activity metrics

Support focused work

Activity data reflects input patterns, but not all work requires constant attention. Context from app usage and optional screenshots helps teams explain low-input work like reading or meetings and set fair expectations across different roles and workflows.

Hubstaff time tracking dashboard with screenshot monitoring, activity benchmarks, and visual work progress insights

Shareable activity reports

Easily access and share detailed Time & Activity reports across members, projects, teams, or clients. You can filter by hours, activity levels, or idle time, then export as CSV or PDF or schedule recurring reports to stakeholders for transparent employee monitoring workflows and client accountability.

Insights for activity trends

Use the AI-driven Insights add-on to classify work time, identify productive vs. unproductive apps, and compare team benchmarks. Detect unusual activity drops or spikes and balance meeting and focus time to understand workload issues early, and track trends for improved team performance.

Collage of Hubstaff time tracking with screenshot blur, productivity tracking, and team collaboration features

How Hubstaff’s time and activity tracking tracking works

Install the Hubstaff desktop app
Download the Hubstaff app on Windows, Mac, or Linux. Invite your team, ensure the correct permissions are granted, assign projects and tasks, and start capturing time, activity levels, and other data in real time.
Configure activity tracking settings
Next, you can adjust Hubstaff to meet your managerial and compliance needs. You can enable or adjust activity tracking, set screenshot frequency, and customize other settings per member or team. Users can edit or delete their data for flexible, ethical tracking.
Track time and see activity instantly
As users in your organization track time, you’ll see hours worked, activity levels, idle time, and other data in real time. Drag-and-drop widgets help managers decide what metrics they value and keep the information front and center.

Track employee web activity and more

Build healthier activity habits with Hubstaff

Learn how to increase Hubstaff activity levels the right way: by shaping schedules, workflows, and focus habits to support deep work instead of gaming activity scores.

Increase Hubstaff activity

Understand unusual activity in Hubstaff

Unusual activity explained, including how sustained spikes or long idle stretches can point to workload issues, fatigue, or misaligned expectations.

Unusual activity explained

How activity scores are calculated

Discover how Hubstaff calculates activity levels, what goes into the score, and how to interpret the numbers accurately across different roles and types of work.

Learn more about activity levels

How to create an effective weekly activity report

Learn how to make an effective weekly activity report and use it to review trends, balance workloads, and support team performance. Free template included.

Create a weekly activity report

Track employee internet activity responsibly

This guide explains how to monitor internet activity in a work setting, what data is typically tracked, and how to apply monitoring practices thoughtfully.

Monitor internet activity responsibly

Surveillance vs. productivity monitoring

Understand surveillance vs. monitoring by assessing factors like intent, data scope, and transparency to separate productivity monitoring from invasive surveillance — and why that distinction matters long term.

Explore surveillance vs. monitoring

Frequently asked questions

Your activity tracking questions, answered

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