OneTracker vs. ActivTrak: Key Differences, Features & Which to Choose
A Quick Introduction
In the age of hybrid workplace and employees working fully remote, simply knowing when employees clock in and out isn’t enough. Businesses now require in-depth visibility into productivity patterns, engagement levels and attendance accuracy. Two platforms that offer solutions in this space are The One Tracker and ActivTrak.
While both tools help track performance, their core strengths, flexibility, and the problems they solve differ significantly. If you’re trying to choose between them, this blog will give you the clarity you need to make the right call for your team.
What is ActivTrak?
ActivTrak is a workforce analytics platform that leans into behavioral insights. It offers detailed tracking of user activity, productivity trend analysis and AI-driven alerts to flag potential burnout or disengagement. Its sleek interface and intelligent coaching tools make it a popular choice among organizations focused on optimizing digital workflows and employee wellness.
What is The One Tracker?
The One Tracker is a comprehensive workforce management solution. It’s designed to give Super Admins, Owners, Managers and Employees the right level of control and visibility. From screenshot-based monitoring with active window data to manual time entry approvals, it covers productivity, attendance, and even billing, all in one place. It’s ideal for organizations that need structure, transparency, and scalable operations.
Feature Comparison Between The One Tracker vs Time Doctor
| Feature | The One Tracker | ActivTrak |
|---|---|---|
| Role-Based Access (Admin/Manager/User) | ✓ Yes | ✗ Limited |
| Productivity Monitoring | ✓ Detailed per-user stats | ✓ Advanced analytics |
| Screenshot Monitoring | ✓ With active window & activity tracking | ✗ Optional screenshots |
| Manual Time Requests | ✓ Submit, approve, edit | ✗ Not available |
| Attendance & In/Out Time | ✓ Monthly tracking & exports | ✗ Partial support |
| Behavior Analytics | ✗ Basic metrics | ✓ AI-powered insights |
| Billing Management | ✓ View bills & payment status | ✗ Not supported |
| Custom Permissions | ✓ Based on roles | ✓ But less granular |
| Company & Shift Management | ✓ Fully supported | ✗ Not included |
| Free Trial Configuration | ✓ Super Admin controlled | ✓ Basic trial available |
What Makes the One Tracker Unique form ActivTrak ?
1. Structured Access for All Roles
Super Admins, Owners, Managers, and Users each get role-specific dashboards and access levels, making it ideal for layered teams and complex organizations.
2. Manual Time Entry Workflows
Employees can submit time for meetings, system issues, or off-platform tasks. Managers can approve, reject, or modify these entries ensuring accurate productivity data.
3. Screenshot Monitoring with Deep Context
Screenshots are enriched with active window titles, mouse/keyboard activity, and real-time engagement insights.
4. Built-In Attendance Tracking
Capture check-in/out times, generate monthly attendance reports, and export data for payroll or performance reviews. All without third-party tools.
5. Onboarding + Billing Controls
Super Admins can configure trial lengths, user caps, and automated onboarding emails. Billing and payment histories are available directly in the dashboard.
Where ActivTrak Shines
ActivTrak excels in behavioral analytics and digital productivity optimization. Unlike traditional trackers that primarily log hours or app usage, ActivTrak takes a more nuanced, data-driven approach to understanding how employees work. And why they might be disengaging.
One of its standout features is AI-powered insights. It analyzes patterns in user activity to surface potential signs of burnout, fatigue and distraction. These insights are especially useful for HR team managers focused on promoting employee well-being.
ActivTrak also offers productivity coaching recommendations. Based on usage data, it can suggest ways to improve focus time, reduce multitasking and rebalance workloads across teams. For organizations aiming to support digital wellness, reduce employee burnout and foster a more mindful workplace culture.
Ideal Use Cases
Choose The One Tracker if:
- Need role-based access for different user types (Admin, Manager, User)
- Want approval-based manual time tracking for transparency and accuracy
- Require in-depth attendance logs and exportable reports
- Handle billing and user management across departments or clients
- Value operational control and audit-readiness
Choose ActivTrak if you:
- Prioritize behavioral analytics and AI coaching for employees
- Want to identify burnout risks and productivity bottlenecks
- Prefer a streamlined UI without layered access roles
- Don’t need manual time, billing, or in-depth attendance tracking
The Conclusion
Both The One Tracker and ActivTrak serve important roles in productivity management but their focus areas differ.
ActivTrak
Choose ActivTrak if your top priority is gaining behavioral insights, coaching employees, and detecting engagement risks. It’s well-suited for teams focused on performance improvement from a wellness perspective.
The One Tracker
Choose The One Tracker if your organization needs operational oversight, flexible user access, and end-to-end time tracking features, including billing and attendance. It’s built for businesses that scale.
In the end, if accuracy, transparency, and control matter most, The One Tracker is the clear winner.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Admins can toggle screenshot monitoring on/off.
- No keystroke logging or background audio recording.
- Employees receive transparent notifications when being monitored (configurable by admin).
- Cloud-based access
- Activity & idle time tracking
- Manual time request approvals (for payroll accuracy)
- Submit/approve time requests.
- Adjust idle vs. active hours.
- Sync corrections with payroll.
- Excel/CSV export for payroll processing
- API access for custom integrations (e.g., QuickBooks, ADP)
Note: Native payroll integrations are coming soon!
- Call centers (attendance tracking)
- Healthcare (compliance monitoring)
- Finance (secure productivity tracking)
- Remote-first companies (flexible time logging)
- End-to-end encryption (AES-256)
- GDPR-compliant data storage
- Role-based access control (RBAC)
- Super Admins → Full control
- Managers → Approve team time requests
- Employees → Submit adjustments
- 24/5 live chat
- Email support
- Onboarding demos for enterprise clients
- No keyboard/mouse input is detected for 5+ mins (customizable).
- Manual overrides let employees tag idle time as "active" (e.g., during meetings).
- Admins receive idle vs. productive time reports.