Time & Bill is back.

We rely on software every day. Most of it is convenient, powerful, and easy to use. But often, it is also outside of our control. Data flows into systems we do not own, and decisions are shaped by incentives we do not see. Over time, we get used to it.

I have seen what happens when systems fail, or when no one really feels responsible for them.

That is why I believe independent software matters. Not as an ideology, but as a choice. A choice to use tools that respect privacy, that are built with clear intent, and that remain understandable to the people who depend on them.

Time & Bill continues to be built with privacy in mind.

Data is handled with care, and the system is operated within a European context where expectations around data protection and responsibility are clear.

What went wrong before

In 2023, I shut down Time & Bill.

At the time, most accounts were free. The income that existed was eaten up by infrastructure costs. I spent more time keeping the system alive than improving it. Eventually, I ran out of time and energy to fix the problems properly.

That was my mistake. I built something people used, but not something that could sustain itself.

Over the past years, I took the time to reflect on that. If Time & Bill returns, it has to be built to last.

Not driven by growth pressure, not optimized for expansion, but designed to remain stable, private, and reliable over time.

What changed

Since the relaunch work started, I focused on making the system solid again.

Security has been improved. The frontend was modernized. A lot of cleanup work went into making the application more stable and maintainable.

More importantly, the way I work on Time & Bill has changed. With better tooling and a clearer focus, I can now move faster and address problems directly instead of letting them accumulate.

What comes next

This relaunch is only the beginning.

Planned next steps include:

  • the return of the mobile app
  • an on-premise version
  • continuous improvements based on real usage

A sustainable path forward

There is one important change.

Time & Bill will no longer offer free accounts.

In the past, free usage without a sustainable model led directly to the shutdown. I will not repeat that.

Starting May 1, 2026, all accounts require an active subscription.

This is not primarily a pricing decision. It is a decision to keep the system independent, maintainable, and reliable in the long term.

Closing

Time & Bill is not starting from zero. Many of you have used it before.

If you return, you will find a system built with a clearer understanding of responsibility, both technical and human.

Thank you for your trust.