OpenHistory
Open-source, private macOS app that turns your permitted activity into a searchable work timeline
Data verified Sep 30, 2026
Score
Editorial Verdict
AI-researched, not hands-on testedOpenHistory's deliberate exclusions — no screenshots, no keystrokes, no telemetry — make it one of the more privacy-conscious activity trackers available, open source or not, while still providing enough structured context for a local AI agent to answer real questions about a person's day.
Reviewed by AIToolPundit Editorial Team · last verified September 2026
About OpenHistory
OpenHistory is an open-source macOS app that builds a private, searchable timeline of a user's work by observing only the foreground activity they explicitly permit — window names, document context, browser domains, clicks, and visible interface text via macOS Accessibility APIs. It generates hourly and daily summaries and gives approved local AI agents a controlled way to answer questions about what the user did, using Apple's local Foundation Model by default or, optionally, OpenAI, Anthropic, or Kimi. By design, it does not capture screenshots, audio, camera or microphone input, passwords, private browser windows, or low-level keystrokes, and sends no analytics or telemetry of its own. All activity, timelines, summaries, settings, and agent connections are stored in a permission-restricted directory on the user's own Mac. It requires macOS 14 or later and is available on GitHub and via a direct download from its own site.
Screenshots


Commonly Cited Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- Explicit, narrow privacy design — no screenshots or keystroke logging even though it's an activity tracker
- Data stays in a permission-restricted local directory rather than a cloud account
Limitations
- macOS 14+ only — no Windows or older macOS support
Details
- Pricing Model
- Free
- Starting Price
- Free
- Team Size
- 1-10
- Category
- Productivity & Automation
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OpenHistory free?
Yes, OpenHistory is free to use.
Does OpenHistory have an API?
OpenHistory does not currently offer a public API.
Is OpenHistory open source?
Yes, OpenHistory is open source.
What are the downsides of OpenHistory?
macOS 14+ only — no Windows or older macOS support
What is the best alternative to OpenHistory?
AxonSheet is the closest alternative to OpenHistory, followed by Manus and Sista AI.
How does OpenHistory compare to AxonSheet?
OpenHistory and AxonSheet are both used for productivity & automation. See the full side-by-side comparison for pricing and feature differences.
Key Features
- Permission-scoped activity captureOnly observes foreground apps, window names, and browser domains the user explicitly permits.
- Hourly and daily summariesAutomatically summarizes activity into a readable, searchable timeline.
- Local AI agent accessApproved local agents can query the timeline using Apple's on-device Foundation Model or an optional cloud model.
- No sensitive capture by designNever records screenshots, audio, camera/mic input, passwords, private windows, or raw keystrokes.
- No telemetrySends no analytics or usage data back to the developer.
Technical Details
- Free Plan
- Available
Official Pricing
OpenHistory's published pricing · verified Sep 30, 2026
Free
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