Build an activity tracker for builders not goal trackers
The Problem
Builders and indie hackers struggle to prove daily output as existing tools like time trackers (Toggl) focus on hours rather than specific work touches, leaving no easy log for non-timed activities. Task managers (Todoist, Asana) emphasize goals and milestones without documenting granular proof-of-work. Solo founders waste time manually compiling work evidence for clients or self-motivation, with productivity apps serving teams more than individuals; e.g., Teamwork.com users value consolidated logging but note focus challenges. Current spending: users pay $4-$11/month per tool for partial solutions.
Real Demand Evidence
Found on reddit·1 month ago
The problem is most tools are goal-based, not activity-based. What worked better was tracking daily touches instead of progress.
Core Insight
Unlike Toggl's time-only tracking or Todoist's task lists, this tool specializes in logging daily 'work touches' (e.g., code commits, designs, fixes) as proof-of-work entries with retroactive input, browser integrations, and builder-focused reports—filling the gap for non-goal, activity-based validation without team overhead.
- Target Customer
- Indie hackers and solo founders building SaaS/products (e.g., 1M+ active indie hackers on platforms like Indie Hackers.com, plus 30M+ freelancers/solopreneurs globally), needing personal proof-of-work logs; market for productivity SaaS exceeds $5B annually with high solo user adoption.
- Revenue Model
- Freemium with free basic logging (like Toggl/Teamwork), pro tiers at $9-$12/user/month for advanced reports, exports, and unlimited projects (anchored to $10 Toggl/$11 Teamwork pricing), annual discounts for indie hackers
Competitive Landscape
Free, with paid plans starting at $10/user/month
Toggl Track excels at time tracking by project or task but lacks specific logging of granular 'daily work touches' or proof-of-work entries beyond timed sessions, making it hard for builders to capture non-timed activities like quick fixes or ideas. Reporting focuses on time analytics rather than comprehensive work logs for showcasing daily output.
Free Lite plan; Premium $6.50/user/month (billed annually)
RescueTime automatically tracks time spent in apps and websites in the background but does not allow manual logging of specific builder activities or proof-of-work details, providing passive analytics without user-input work logs. It identifies time waste but misses active documentation of productive touches.
Free forever plan; Deliver $10.99/user/month (annual billing)
Teamwork.com offers timesheets and timers for logging hours per project but emphasizes team collaboration and profitability tracking over individual builder proof-of-work logs, lacking focus on daily micro-tasks without tying to billable time. It's more suited for teams than solo builders needing personal activity proof.
Free plan; Pro $4/user/month (billed annually)
Todoist manages tasks with due dates, priorities, and Kanban views but does not track or log actual work touches or time spent, functioning as a goal-oriented checklist without proof-of-work documentation or productivity insights from daily activities.
Free forever; Unlimited $7/user/month (annual billing)
ClickUp provides flexible task planning, goals, and progress tracking for teams but focuses on high-level project management and collaboration rather than detailed daily work touch logs for solo builders, with time tracking as an add-on not centered on proof-of-work.
Willingness to Pay
- $10.99/user/month
"I no longer squander time on my assignments since we started working together... everything is consolidated which makes it simple for us to log hours for each project, provides productivity tracking and future workload estimation."
G2 review on Teamwork.com[2]
- $10/user/month
Paid plans starting at $10 (Toggl Track) highlight user willingness to pay for detailed time tracking and reporting insights beyond free basics.
Buffer review of productivity tools[1]
- $7/user/month
ClickUp is used by many small and medium-sized companies... for planning and tracking tasks with real-time goal progress.
Workforce.com comparison[3]
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