Table of Contents
What Is Workpuls (Insightful)?
Workpuls is a time tracking and employee monitoring software that rebranded to Insightful in 2022. Created by Ivan Petrovic and launched in San Francisco in 2015, the software is designed to help managers monitor employee productivity, automate time tracking, and oversee remote work. It sits in the same category as tools like TeamLogger, DeskTime, and Time Champ.
Despite the rebrand, the core software and tracking capabilities remain the same. If your employer previously used Workpuls, they are now running Insightful with identical monitoring features. This guide covers what the software tracks and how to maintain consistent activity reports. For a broader overview, see our guide on tricking employee monitoring software.
Monitoring Features
Real-Time Activity Tracking
Workpuls tracks what applications and websites employees use in real time. It records which apps are in the foreground, how long each is used, and categorizes them as productive, unproductive, or neutral based on admin-defined rules. Managers can see a live feed of who is working and what they are doing at any moment.
Periodic Screenshots
The software can capture screenshots at configurable intervals — up to 30 per hour on standard plans, unlimited on Enterprise. Screenshots can be triggered on a schedule or by specific rules (such as when an employee visits an unproductive website). This is similar to the screenshot features in Hubstaff and Time Doctor.
Attendance and Time Tracking
Workpuls automatically logs when employees start and stop working based on computer activity. It eliminates manual clock-in/clock-out by detecting when the agent software is active on the machine. This data feeds into attendance reports and can integrate with payroll systems.
Productivity Classification
Like ActivTrak, Workpuls categorizes applications and websites into productive, unproductive, and neutral buckets. Admins can customize these classifications for each team or role. A developer might have VS Code classified as productive while a sales rep has CRM tools in that category instead.
How the Agent Works
Workpuls operates through three components:
- Workpuls Agent — A lightweight application installed on each employee’s computer. It runs in the background (optionally in stealth mode) and records application usage, screenshots, keystrokes, and mouse activity. The agent sends this data to the central server at regular intervals.
- Workpuls Server — Collects and processes all agent data. It applies machine learning to categorize activities, generate productivity scores, and create analytics reports.
- Workpuls Dashboard — The web-based admin panel where managers view real-time activity, review screenshots, configure monitoring rules, and generate reports.
The stealth mode is worth noting: when enabled, the agent runs invisibly with no system tray icon or taskbar entry. Employees may not know it is installed. This is different from tools like Toggl Track where the user controls the timer.
Supported Operating Systems
Insightful supports Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. The agent installs on each machine and runs natively on all three platforms with equivalent monitoring capabilities.
Pricing Plans (2026)
Insightful offers a 7-day free trial with full access to all features and no credit card required. After the trial, four pricing tiers are available:
- Employee Monitoring — $8/user/month ($6.40 billed annually) — Stealth mode, real-time monitoring, app and website usage tracking, productivity categorization, and basic reports.
- Time Tracking — $10/user/month ($8 billed annually) — Everything in Monitoring plus manual time entries, detailed productivity tracking, advanced categorization, and customizable timesheets.
- Automatic Time Mapping — $15/user/month ($12 billed annually) — Everything in Time Tracking plus automatic activity-to-project mapping using AI, custom industry templates, and advanced analytics.
- Enterprise — Custom pricing — On-premise deployment, role-based access controls, audit logs, unlimited screenshots, SSO, and dedicated support. Contact sales for pricing.
All plans include screenshots (up to 30/hour), time and attendance tracking, productivity tracking, API access, and live support. Compared to Teramind ($15–$25/user/month) or Hubstaff ($7–$14/user/month), Insightful sits in the mid-range for employee monitoring pricing.
How to Hack Workpuls
The approach below works specifically for Workpuls/Insightful, but TrickTack supports virtually every monitoring tool. For guides on similar tools, see our walkthroughs for TeamLogger, DeskTime, Insightful, and the general guide on cheating time tracking software.
Since Workpuls monitors mouse and keyboard activity, application usage, and periodic screenshots, maintaining consistent reports requires activity across all three dimensions. A simple mouse jiggler will not be enough — the software also checks which applications are in the foreground and captures visual proof.
Trick Tack is a Windows desktop application that addresses each layer of Workpuls monitoring:
- Mouse movement simulation — Natural, randomized mouse movements that keep your activity levels high and prevent idle detection from triggering.
- Keyboard input simulation — Periodic keyboard activity to match normal work patterns where both mouse and keyboard are used.
- Scrolling simulation — Natural scrolling behavior that adds realistic depth to your activity profile.
- App switching — Rotates between open applications, ensuring productive apps appear in screenshots and in the activity log. This is critical for Workpuls since it captures periodic screenshots and categorizes foreground apps.
Getting Started
- Open your work applications before stepping away — your IDE, email, project management tools, or whatever Workpuls classifies as productive for your role.
- Download Trick Tack and sign up for a free 7-day trial.
- Configure your simulations — enable mouse, keyboard, scroll, and app switching as needed.
- Activate when you step away and let Trick Tack maintain your activity profile while you handle things that do not happen at a keyboard.
Keep Your Workpuls Reports Consistent
Trick Tack simulates mouse, keyboard, scrolling, and app switching to address every layer of Workpuls monitoring — including screenshots. Try it free for 7 days.
Download for WindowsFrequently Asked Questions
Is Workpuls the same as Insightful?
Yes. Workpuls rebranded to Insightful in 2022. The software, team, and core features remained the same — the company updated its name and branding to better reflect its focus on workforce analytics rather than simple monitoring. If your employer used Workpuls before, they are now using Insightful with the same tracking capabilities. See our dedicated Insightful guide for the latest details.
Does Workpuls (Insightful) take screenshots?
Yes. Insightful can take periodic or rule-based screenshots of employee screens. The frequency depends on the plan and admin settings — it can capture up to 30 screenshots per hour on standard plans, and unlimited screenshots on the Enterprise plan. Screenshots are stored in the cloud dashboard and visible to administrators.
Can Workpuls run in stealth mode?
Yes. Insightful offers a stealth (silent) installation mode where the monitoring agent runs invisibly on the employee’s computer. In stealth mode, there is no visible icon, system tray indicator, or notification that the software is running. The agent does not appear in the Windows Start menu. This is available on all paid plans.
How does Workpuls count users for billing?
Each employee is counted as one user for each device they use for work. Admin, manager, and client users are not counted toward the user limit unless they are also being tracked by the software. New users can be added at any time and their cost is prorated on the next billing cycle.
Does Workpuls offer a free trial?
Yes. Insightful offers a 7-day free trial with full access to all features and no credit card required. During the trial you can test employee monitoring, time tracking, automatic time mapping, screenshots, and all dashboard features without limitations.
