Around
DeskTime
| Feature | Around | DeskTime |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $10.99/mo | Free / from $7/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Best For | remote-teams, quick-standups, pair-programming, distributed-teams | managers, remote-teams, freelancers, agencies |
| Founded | 2020 | 2011 |
| Floating Video | ✓ | ✗ |
| Auto Leveling | ✓ | ✗ |
| Noise Cancellation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Screen Sharing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Reactions | ✓ | ✗ |
| Virtual Backgrounds | ✓ | ✗ |
| Automatic Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Productivity Calculation | ✗ | ✓ |
| Screenshots | ✗ | ✓ |
| Url Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Project Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Absence Calendar | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Around Pros
- Lightweight and fast
- Minimal floating interface
- Good noise cancellation
- Reduces meeting fatigue
✗ Around Cons
- Limited features vs Zoom
- Smaller user base
- No recording on free
✓ DeskTime Pros
- Automatic productivity tracking
- Good free plan for individuals
- Screenshot monitoring option
- Detailed reports
✗ DeskTime Cons
- Can feel invasive to employees
- Limited project management features
- Desktop app required
The Verdict
Around is built for remote teams and quick standups, with a focus on floating-video and auto-leveling. DeskTime targets managers and remote teams and leads with automatic-tracking and productivity-calculation.
Pricing is close: DeskTime starts at $7/mo versus $10.99/mo for Around — not a deciding factor on its own.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Both tools are a solid fit for remote teams — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.