Game Time Manager vs Steins;Tracker

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.

Steins;Tracker is a Windows desktop app that automatically records game time and displays statistics in an interactive dashboard. It detects games in the background and tracks total time, daily averages, session history, streaks, goals, and yearly heatmaps. Users can add games manually or by folder, then set friendly names and custom icons. System monitoring covers CPU, RAM, GPU, temperatures, network speed, ping, and FPS. The interface can be adjusted with themes, wallpapers, blur, opacity, dark mode, and controls for hiding interface elements. A QR code opens the dashboard on a phone over the user's local network. The maker says data is stored locally in the Documents folder and is not sent to external servers without explicit action. However, a Google account is required even for free use for validation and fraud prevention. The app supports CSV log export and JSON import of visuals and settings. Compatibility is listed as 64-bit Windows 10 or 11, and the maker provides an all-in-one installer with an embedded local server and automatic updates through GitHub Releases.