# Shadowly vs Timecard: which to pick

> Shadowly vs Timecard: pricing, platforms, launches, upvotes and founders side by side on ProductsFarm, with notes on which to pick.

Canonical: https://productsfarm.com/compare/shadowly-vs-timecard
Last updated: 2026-11-14

|  | [Shadowly](https://productsfarm.com/product/shadowly) | [Timecard](https://productsfarm.com/product/timecard) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| What it is | View public Instagram stories, profiles and reels without logging in | Screen time tracker and app blocker for Mac, with a daily timecard |
| Pricing | Freemium | Paid |
| Platforms | Web | macOS, Web |
| Categories | Analytics, Marketing | Productivity, Analytics, Consumer apps |
| Made for | creators, brands, social media users | mac users, knowledge workers, people managing screen time |
| Built with | [Cloudflare](https://productsfarm.com/tech-stack/cloudflare), [Google Analytics](https://productsfarm.com/tech-stack/google-analytics) | [Next.js](https://productsfarm.com/tech-stack/nextjs), [React](https://productsfarm.com/tech-stack/react), [Swift](https://productsfarm.com/tech-stack/swift), [Vercel](https://productsfarm.com/tech-stack/vercel), [Polar](https://productsfarm.com/tech-stack/polar), [Google Analytics](https://productsfarm.com/tech-stack/google-analytics), [Tailwind CSS](https://productsfarm.com/tech-stack/tailwind-css) |
| Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Website | [shadowly.app](https://shadowly.app/en/) | [timecardmac.site](https://www.timecardmac.site/) |

## About Shadowly

Shadowly is a web tool for viewing public Instagram accounts without logging in. It shows profile details, posts, active stories, highlights, reels and follower lists on one screen. Because it does not use your own Instagram account, the owner's story viewer list does not show your name. Private accounts cannot be opened.

Users type a username or paste a profile link, then move between posts, stories, highlights and reels, and save reels as MP4 files. Shadowly is read-only, so it cannot follow, like or comment. It also offers Creator Reports and engagement tools for public Instagram and TikTok accounts.

Basic use is free, with one free try per day on each tool. More analyses and profile sections are unlocked with credit packs that never expire and do not auto-renew.

## About Timecard

Timecard is a screen time tracker for macOS that records which apps and websites you use, and how long. It splits browser time into real sites such as github.com and x.com instead of one combined Chrome or Safari figure, ignores time when you are away, and keeps every day in a single local file rather than the roughly four weeks Apple's Screen Time keeps. Each evening it prints your day as a numbered timecard with punch in and out times, top apps and sites, and work, social and fun totals.

You can set daily limits on any app or website. At 80% of a limit Timecard shows a nudge, and when the time runs out it blocks the site's tab or covers the app. Version 2 adds a view of AI coding tool usage from Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, opencode and Gemini CLI, and an MCP server so those agents can query your own Timecard data. Version 2.4 adds iPhone usage synced through Apple's Share Across Devices, with a Timecard Gate shortcut for iPhone limits.

It is for Mac users who want a clearer picture of their own time than Screen Time gives, including people who want to limit distracting sites or review how their workday was spent. Data stays on the Mac, and the product is sold as a one-time purchase for macOS 14 Sonoma or later.

## Related

- [Shadowly](https://productsfarm.com/product/shadowly)
- [Timecard](https://productsfarm.com/product/timecard)
- [More comparisons](https://productsfarm.com/compare)