Game Time Manager vs PlayCounter

Game Time Manager is a free Windows PC app that tracks gaming time and play history, with the stated aim of helping users balance gaming with the rest of life. When it detects a full-screen game, it periodically displays how long the user has been playing. The default overlay stays visible for 10 seconds every 10 minutes, and its settings can be changed in config.toml without restarting the app. It records what was played and when. The maker describes it as compatible with most PC games. After installation it runs in the background and starts when the user logs in. Installation requires downloading a release, unzipping it, and running install.ps1 with PowerShell. The project is published under the Apache License 2.0. Listed releases are pre-release alpha versions, with v0.0.1-alpha.3 the newest shown. Play-over-time metrics and game-specific rules are TODO items rather than available features. Its free plan is free and lists Windows 10 and 11 as tested.

PlayCounter is a free Windows desktop app that automatically records playtime for recognized PC games across launchers. It displays a live session timer and saves a session when a recognized game closes. The library shows game covers, total hours, and session counts; history includes dates, session lengths, streaks, and playtime summaries. Users can track milestones, add notes, and keep separate playthroughs for each game. Listed sources include Steam, Epic, Battle.net, Xbox app, GOG, EA app, Ubisoft Connect, Riot Client, itch.io, disc installs, and standalone executables. Steam, Xbox, and Epic imports can bring in the playtime those services report; Battle.net import supplies a game list but no playtime. Sessions, notes, and history stay on the user’s PC, and the desktop app requires no account. It can run offline, though automatic game matching, cover images, and update checks need a server connection. The public installer is for Windows; the site says macOS, Linux, and console live tracking are not supported by that installer. The app sends a pseudonymous installation identifier at startup and about hourly, and process identifiers for online game matching.