Ruam vs DeskTime
Checked . Sources linked in the table.
The short answer
Pick Ruam if you want one flat price for the whole team, people seeing their own day first, and a record of work that stays light: no screenshots, no keystrokes. Pick DeskTime if you need Linux, or want it to log documents and email subjects, with optional blurred screenshots.
Free forever for one person. Teams get 7 days free, no card.
- Screenshots
- Optional. Off by default, available on Premium and up, and they can be blurred.
- Keyboard and mouse activity
- No keystrokes, webcam, GPS or video are recorded.
- Apps and sites recorded
- Yes. Apps, URLs, document titles, email subjects and idle time, with optional IP location.
- Who sees the data first
- Employees can see their own data and can turn on Private Time.
- Shifts and attendance
- Yes, on Premium. Shift scheduling is not on Pro.
What it costs as your team grows
DeskTime charges per user, has no free plan and starts with a 14-day trial. See its pricing page for current prices.
Ruam and DeskTime, side by side
Screenshots
RuamNo. Ruam has no screenshot feature on any plan.
DeskTimeOptional. Off by default, available on Premium and up, and they can be blurred. Source
Keyboard and mouse activity
RuamNo. No keystroke or mouse tracking, no webcam and no activity scores.
DeskTimeNo keystrokes, webcam, GPS or video are recorded. Source
Apps and sites recorded
RuamYes, the site name and page title during work time. On the desktop app, only if the person turns it on. Managers never see page titles.
DeskTimeYes. Apps, URLs, document titles, email subjects and idle time, with optional IP location. Source
Who sees the data first
RuamYes. People review their own day in their Logbook before anything is shared.
DeskTimeEmployees can see their own data and can turn on Private Time. Source
Shifts and attendance
RuamYes, on Team and up. Shifts across time zones, overnight shifts, and attendance against the schedule.
DeskTimeYes, on Premium. Shift scheduling is not on Pro. Source
Approvals and time off
RuamYes, on Team and up. Approvals for timesheets, manual time and schedule changes, plus time off with balances and holidays.
DeskTimeYes, on Premium. An absence calendar where an owner or administrator approves days off, plus approval of offline time. Source
Platforms
RuamWeb clock, Chrome extension, and apps for Mac and Windows (from the Microsoft Store). No Linux. iPhone and Android are coming soon.
DeskTimeMac, Windows and Linux. Source
Free plan
RuamYes. Free for 1 person at $0. Paid plans start with a 7-day trial, no card.
DeskTimeNo. There is a 14-day trial. Source
Pricing model
RuamFlat price, not per person. Starter $39 a month for up to 10 people. Team $99 and Business $249 for unlimited people.
DeskTimePer user. See their pricing page for current prices in your currency. Source
Where DeskTime is better
- Linux support, where Ruam covers the web, Chrome, Mac and Windows.
- More detail on what was worked on, including document titles and email subjects, if you want that.
- Private Time, a switch employees can use to keep their own time out of the record.
Where Ruam is better
One flat price
Team is $99 a month for unlimited people, so adding a person never changes the bill.
People see their day first
Each person reviews their own day before it is shared. Managers never see page titles.
No screenshot feature to configure
Ruam has none on any plan, blurred or not.
Tracking inside the schedule
Paid plans count time on their own, inside the shift for teams with shifts, and Free starts the day with one tap.
What each one records
Ruam records
- Work time only: inside the shift for people on one, otherwise from the first active minute (on Free, from one tap on Start my day).
- The app in front, and on the web the site name and page title. On the desktop app, sites are off until the person turns them on.
- Never screenshots, screen recordings, keystrokes, mouse movement, audio, video or webcam.
- Managers see hours, status and breaks. They never see page titles.
DeskTime records
- Apps, URLs, document titles, email subjects and idle time, with optional IP location.
- Screenshots only if an admin turns them on (Premium and up), and they can be blurred.
- No keystrokes, webcam, GPS or video.
Switching from DeskTime in 3 steps
- 1
Start on Ruam and invite your team from a CSV.
- 2
Set the shift schedule, then ask everyone to use the web clock, the Chrome extension or the Mac app.
- 3
Run both for one pay period and compare the hours, then cancel DeskTime. Export your DeskTime history first, because Ruam does not import it.
Moving a whole team? Book a call and we'll set it up with you.
Questions
Is there a DeskTime alternative without screenshots?
Yes. Ruam has no screenshot feature on any plan. DeskTime's screenshots are optional and off by default.
How much does DeskTime cost?
DeskTime charges per user; see its pricing page for current prices. Ruam's Team plan is $99 a month for unlimited people.
Does DeskTime record keystrokes or use a webcam?
No. DeskTime states it does not record keystrokes, webcam, GPS or video. It does record apps, URLs, document titles and email subjects.
Does Ruam work on Linux?
No. Ruam runs on the web, as a Chrome extension, and as apps for Mac and Windows.
Do I need a card to try Ruam?
No. Paid plans have a 7-day trial with no card, and Free is $0 for one person.
How we compared
We checked DeskTime's pricing and tracking pages in October 2026 and linked each one next to the claim it supports. DeskTime's prices vary by region, so we link to its pricing page instead of quoting a number. Ruam facts come from Ruam's own product and privacy pages. Ruam is made by Kratuva Inc., which is a bias to keep in mind. If something here is wrong, write to hello@ruam.ai and we will correct it.
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Free forever for one person. Teams get 7 days free, no card.
DeskTime is a trademark of its owner. Ruam is not affiliated with or endorsed by DeskTime. Prices and features are from DeskTime's public pages, checked October 2026.