The short version
RescueTime is automatic time tracking that tells you where the day actually went. NGUMU: Screen Time Control is a browser extension that combines work-break timers, intelligent website blocking, enforced full-screen breaks and local productivity analytics in a single popup.
They overlap less than the category labels suggest. RescueTime is a automatic time tracker with a focus session mode; NGUMU is an enforcement layer for the browser where most knowledge work — and most procrastination — actually happens.
NGUMU vs RescueTime at a glance
| NGUMU: Screen Time Control | RescueTime | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Browser focus & screen-time extension | Automatic time tracker with a Focus Session mode |
| Platforms | Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Brave | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, browser extensions |
| Work-break cycles | Pomodoro, 52-17, 90-20, 20-20-20, custom | Focus Sessions |
| Website blocking | Blacklist, whitelist, curated presets, active only during focus | Distraction blocking during Focus Sessions (Premium) |
| Break enforcement | Full-screen overlay + pre-break blink warning | Break reminders |
| Tab management | Limits distracting tabs during a session | Not a focus |
| Analytics | Focus minutes, sessions, daily/weekly goals, streaks | Best-in-class automatic categorisation and productivity scoring |
| Data handling | Local storage, no personal data collected, no account | Continuous activity data uploaded to an account |
| Price | Free to install, optional Pro | Free tier (Lite); Premium subscription |
Where RescueTime is genuinely good
- Passive tracking — you get data without remembering to start anything
- Categorised productivity scores across every app and site
- Long-term trend reporting that reveals real patterns
We're not interested in strawmen. If the list above describes your bottleneck, RescueTime is a good purchase and you should make it.
Where RescueTime leaves a gap
- It observes far more about you than a local-only tool does
- Blocking is a Premium add-on, not the core product
- Awareness alone rarely changes behaviour without structure
The pattern behind all of these: a tool that lives outside the browser can advise, measure or motivate, but it cannot close the tab. The moment attention wobbles, the distracting site is one keystroke away.
Where NGUMU is stronger
1. Blocking that only runs when you're working
NGUMU enforces blocklists while a focus session is active and steps out of the way the rest of the day. Curated presets cover social media, video streaming and news, so setup is seconds rather than an afternoon of regex.
2. A rhythm, not just a restriction
Blocking removes the bad option; it doesn't create the good one. Pomodoro (25/5), 52-17, 90-20, 20-20-20 or a custom cycle give the session a shape and a finish line. See the full feature list for every cycle.
3. Breaks you actually take
A full-screen overlay makes returning early deliberately awkward, and a pre-break "blink warning" prompts you to rest your eyes before the screen changes — the part almost every competitor skips.
4. Honest numbers, kept local
Focus minutes, session counts, goal progress and streaks live in the NGUMU dashboard and stay in your browser's local storage. No account, no upload, no personal data collected. You can export everything to JSON or CSV whenever you like.
5. Free where it counts
Core timers, blocking, break overlays and analytics are free. Pro adds extended analytics and advanced blocking for people who want them — it isn't a paywall around the basics.
Choose RescueTime if…
- You want automatic, whole-machine measurement across every app
- You're comfortable with continuous activity data in the cloud
Choose NGUMU if…
- You want intervention during the session, not a report afterwards
- You'd rather your session data never leave your browser
Can you use both?
Yes, and plenty of people should. Use RescueTime for the diagnosis and NGUMU for the treatment — measurement plus enforcement.
Switching from RescueTime to NGUMU in five minutes
- Install NGUMU from the Chrome Web Store, Edge Add-ons or in Brave.
- Open the popup and pick a cycle — start with 25/5 if you're unsure.
- Apply a curated blocklist preset, then add any site that personally derails you.
- Run one session end to end, including the break. Don't skip the break.
- Check the dashboard after three days and adjust the cycle to what the data shows.
Frequently asked questions
Is NGUMU free?
Yes. Installing NGUMU and using its timers, blocking, break overlays and analytics costs nothing. An optional Pro upgrade adds deeper analytics, extended timer options and more granular blocking.
Does NGUMU work on Windows?
NGUMU runs on Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Brave. Any Chromium browser that can install from the Chrome Web Store will work.
Does NGUMU collect my data?
No personal data is collected. Session history, streaks and settings are stored locally in your browser, and you can export or delete them at any time.
Is RescueTime better than NGUMU?
For its own job — automatic time tracking that tells you where the day actually went — RescueTime is strong. For running disciplined work-break cycles with enforced blocking and rest inside the browser, NGUMU does more, on more browsers, for free.
Can I keep my RescueTime subscription and still use NGUMU?
Yes. NGUMU doesn't conflict with other timers, trackers or blockers. Many people pair them exactly as described above.