The best employee time clock should have a robust system that supports multiple clock-in/out options, uses biometric or facial recognition technology, and includes mobile apps with GPS-based clock-ins. Moreover, some of the best time card machines go beyond clock-ins with scheduling and employee communications. A digital time clock for employees provides users with better time tracking flexibility while offering more advanced features, such as customizable reports and project- or task-based time allocation.
We reviewed 24 time clocks and condensed our list to the top eight time card options that offered the most time management features at an affordable price.
- Homebase: Best overall for small businesses
- OnTheClock: Best for employee communications
- Deputy: Best for seasonal businesses or those with employees on standby
- busybusy: Best for field employees like construction workers
- Buddy Punch: Best for limiting buddy-punching or unauthorized overtime
- 7shifts: Best for restaurants and shift scheduling
- When I Work: Best for growing and multilocation businesses
- BambooHR: Best for companies needing robust HR tools
Employee Time Clocks Compared
Our Score (Out of 5) | Free Plan | Paid Plans Monthly Fees | Hardware Types | Clock-in/Out Options | Built-in Employee Scheduling | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 4.56 | $24.95-$99.95 per location | Computer, tablet, iPad | PIN code | ✓ | |
 | 4.46 | $3.20-$3.50 per employee | Fingerprint (costs extra), PIN, password | ✓ | ||
 | 4.39 | Computer, tablet, iPad | Facial recognition and voice command clock ins/outs | ✓ | ||
 | 4.34 | $11.99-$17.99 per user + $40 admin license | Computer, tablet, iPad | Facial recognition | ✓ | |
 | 4.29 | $4.99-$7.99 per user + $19 base fee | Computer, tablet, iPad | QR codes, 4-digit PIN codes, facial recognition, and username with password | w/ Pro plan | |
 | 4.18 | $34.99-$150 per location | Computer, tablet, iPad | Simple clock in | ✓ | |
 | 4.13 | Computer, tablet, iPad | Facial recognition | ✓ | ||
 | 3.90 | Contact for pricing | Computer, tablet, mobile device | PIN code | ✓ | |
Why You Can Trust Fit Small Business
Homebase: Best Overall Employee Time Clock
Pros
- Free plan includes attendance monitoring and employee scheduling
- User-friendly interface
- Can handle unlimited employees
- POS integrations
Cons
- Free plan limited to one location and only up to 20 employees
- PIN with implementation does not always work
- Geolocation tracking, geofencing, paid time off (PTO) accrual tracking, and overtime alerts are only included in paid plans
Overview
Who Should Use It:
Homebase is the best time clock for small businesses, especially companies with one physical location needing a feature-rich online solution to help track employee time and reduce scheduling errors. It provides free time clock software and employee time clock apps that work on computers, tablets, and smartphones.
Why We Like It:
Apart from letting you create staff schedules and capture time entries, it offers team communication at no cost. Paid subscriptions include payroll integration, geofencing, overtime and late employee alerts, early clock-in prevention, and auto-scheduling.
Overall, Homebase earned a score of 4.56 out of 5 in our evaluation. It posted scores of 4 and above in most of our criteria, with perfect marks in attendance functions and reporting. It fell short in that it does not offer fingerprint or facial recognition, and had a lot of complaints about the app being glitchy and slow to load at times. However, users agreed it’s easy to use, rating it an average of 4.4 out of 5 on third-party review sites (G2 and Capterra).
Homebase, like busybusy, 7shifts, OnTheClock, and Deputy, has a free plan. It works for one location and up to 20 employees, making it the best if you have a limited number of employees in one location.
Not all features are available in its free plan, however, it has three paid plans:
- Essentials ($24.95 per location monthly): Free plan + unlimited employees, advanced scheduling, advanced time tracking, team communication, payroll add-on capability
- Plus ($59.95 per location monthly): Essentials plan + hiring, PTO and time-off controls, departments and permissions, and employee certification and performance notes
- All-in-one ($99.95 per location monthly): Plus plan + onboarding, labor cost management, HR & compliance tools
For an additional $39 per month + $6 per employee, you can add Homebase payroll.
- Feature-rich free option: Homebase’s free plan is packed with features. You can create weekly schedules, capture and monitor employee attendance, store timesheets for 90 days, integrate with POS software, message team members in real time, and provide employees access to up to $400 of earned pay. It’s the best free plan if you have one location and fewer than 20 workers.
- POS integrations: Even Homebase’s free plan integrates with point-of-sale (POS) systems, making it a great choice for retail.
- Efficient time and scheduling tools: Homebase’s online tools can help you streamline time tracking and scheduling processes. Its features include automated timesheets, daily labor reports, administrator alerts for late clock-ins and overtime, and a drag-and-drop schedule builder.
- Multiple job rates: If your employee works different jobs at different rates, Homebase can allocate hours by job and track employee time with multiple roles and wage rates.
- Compliance tools: Homebase can track PTOs and breaks, and send overtime alerts. However, its higher plans also alert you to changing federal and state laws and offer live HR assistance if you have questions. This is a bit like 7shifts, which also has state-specific compliance features.
- Basic HR tools: Homebase alone includes a range of HR tools. At its most basic, it lets you communicate with team members, but it also has onboarding, performance evaluation, certificate tracking, and more.
OnTheClock: Best for Employee Communication
Pros
- Free plan for 1 or 2 people
- PTO tracking
- Communication tools include surveys, photo attachments, notes
- Free phone support
Cons
- No offline mode
- Slightly higher learning curve
- Basic reports only
Overview
Who Should Use It:
OnTheClock is one of the most inexpensive time clocks for employees that works with salary and hourly employees. It tracks by job, position, or location clock-ins and includes employee communications. With one of the strongest communications tools we’ve seen, it’s an excellent choice for businesses that need a “paper trail” for actions accomplished on shifts or for deliverables to customers.
Why We Like It:
With a 4.46 out of 5, it had perfect scores for pricing, time and attendance features, and security tools. It fell short in popularity only because of a few complaints of the app glitching—its user score averaged 4.52 out of 5 over multiple third-party user review sites, however. It also lost a few points for ease of use because it lacks an offline mode.
Unlike most of the others on our list, OnTheClock offers only one plan with all features, with no minimums or base fees. Pricing is per person, per month, and the per-person price decreases the more employees you have. If you need a plan for just two people, OnTheClock is free. Educational institutions, government agencies, and nonprofits get discounts.
- 1-2 users: $0.00
- 3-10 users: $3.50 per month
- 11-25 users: $3.45 per month
- 26-50 users: $3.40 per month
- 51-100 users: $3.35 per month
- 101-200 users: $3.30 per month
- 201-300 users: $3.25 per month
- 301-400 users: $3.20 per month
- 401+ users: Custom
Fingerprint readers cost about $100, plus an extra 50 cents/employee/month for those using it.
- Clock in by job, location, or position: Like Buddy Punch, you can clock in by job rather than position. It also has geofencing so you can ensure field workers are on-location before they clock in.
- Fingerprint clock-in: Rather than facial recognition, it uses fingerprints or employee numbers or names. This feature requires hardware and an extra fee, but can be applied to only those who use the fingerprint reader for check-in.
- Communications: Use messaging to communicate with individuals or teams, create surveys to get important feedback, or ensure tasks are completed (like recurring training). You can also attach notes to the schedule, have employees add notes to their shifts, and attach photos.
- Compliance checks: Like When I Work, OnTheClock lets you set time limits to prevent early clock-ins. It also provides automated breaks and clock-out reminders.
- Job costing and payroll: While Homebase offers job costing in its highest plan, this tool is included with any OnTheClock plan. Even better, it lets you create Billable Reports. It also calculates gross payroll automatically and lets you integrate with several payroll software systems.
- Salaried hours tracking: Salary workers can use OnTheClock as well. This can help track salary-plus-overtime jobs or billable hours.
Deputy: Best for Seasonal Businesses
Pros
- Supports multiple locations
- International: 90+ countries
- Reduced price plan for those with only a few people on schedules
Cons
- Free plan limited to 100 shifts, US only
- Monthly minimum of $25
- Need Premium plan for geofencing tools
Overview
Who Should Use It:
Deputy ranks third for best time clock for small businesses because of its versatility of plans and international scope. We especially like the Flexi Weekly Plan for seasonal workers or businesses that have a week-on/week-off shift schedule. It’s easy to use and offers facial recognition, as well as PIN codes for clock-ins, break reminders and verification, and wage calculations on the timesheets.
Why We Like It:
Deputy earned 4.39 out of 5 on our evaluation. It lost points in pricing for requiring a minimum $25 monthly spend—but earned a perfect score for time and attendance tools and reporting, with advanced and custom report capabilities. It’s also easy to use and has a high average user review score on third-party review sites (G2 and Capterra) scoring 4.6 out of 5.
Deputy has a simple free plan that lets you publish 100 shifts per month and approve 100 timesheets per month. It includes PTO management, a newsfeed, and 24/7 email support. Its paid plans are divided by scheduling, time & attendance, and a combination of the two.
- Time & Attendance ($4.50 per user per month): Features of Free + unlimited timesheets, POS integration, tasking, performance, shift journals, custom timesheet fields, and payroll integration. Timeclock includes facial recognition and geofencing.
- Scheduling ($4.50 per user per month): Features of Free + unlimited shifts, auto-scheduling, POS integration, tasking, meal and break planning, SMS notifications, availability management, shift swap, and schedule templates.
- Premium ($6.00 per user per month): Scheduling and Time & Attendance plans + reports, shift engagement tracking
- Enterprise (Custom quote): Premium + single sign-on, advanced demand planning, advanced reporting, customizations, implementation and dedicated support, training, and department level procedures.
- Flexi Weekly Plan ($2.50 per active user per week + 50 cents per inactive user per week): Premium plan for use when half or more of your employees are off during any given week.
Deputy has a minimum monthly spend of $25 and offers special pricing for charities, nonprofits, and community organizations.
- Special plan for seasonal or rotating workforce: If you have big seasonal fluxes or a rotating schedule of week(s)-on/week(s)-off, Deputy might be a more cost-effective option. Rather than paying for all employees all the time, you pay only for active members, with the others in archive for easy reactivation. The Flexi plan includes both scheduling and time clock machine features. It’s unique to any plan we’ve researched.
- Voice-command clock-ins: Deputy allows employees to clock in with voice commands, something we did not find in other employee time clocks on our list.
- Employee communication: In addition to showing expected lunch and short breaks, Deputy also lets you add one-time or recurring task lists for employees to refer to and check off. Unlike Homebase, however, it does not let you divide hours by task.
- Compliance tools: You can require employees to verify that they took their required breaks. It also lets you set up questions, such as for COVID precautions, in order to keep up with legal and health rules.
- Calculate wages: The timesheets allow you to calculate wages, including overtime and penalties. Most software on our list will require you to put the information into payroll software. Deputy integrates with multiple popular payroll software programs.
- HR tools: Deputy has a new HR product that includes hiring, onboarding, and document management tools. The price is to be determined, but contact Deputy if interested. Homebase, on the other hand, readily offers these tools in its higher plans.
- Multinational: Deputy works in over 90 countries. The mobile app and iPad/tablet kiosk can handle multiple languages. In fact, employees can select their language.
busybusy: Best for Employees in the Field
Pros
- Offline mode
- Limit early clock-ins
- Safety and project reports
- Job costing codes include instructions and color-coding
Cons
- No phone support
- No overtime alerts
- Standard reports only
Overview
Who Should Use It:
For workers on the move who may go from project to project—like plumbers, landscapers, or construction workers—busybusy offers a time clock and scheduling tools to make tracking time on site and on the job easier. In addition to strong geofenced clock-in tools that can include facial recognition, it also offers excellent means for communication (similar to OnTheClock, but more industry-specific). It offers billing capability, shift reports (like safety), timecard signatures in-app, and equipment tracking.
Why We Like It:
It earned 4.34 out of 5, with perfect scores for pricing, security, and popularity. Its reports aren’t as customizable as others on our list, and it lost points for not having phone support. While we found overtime rules tracking and calculations, we did not find an alert system, costing it a few points. Users on third-party review sites (G2 and Capterra) scored busybusy an average of 4.65 out of 5 because of the ability to keep track of employees no matter where they log in.
busybusy has a free plan with GPS time tracking, job costing, equipment tracking, and unlimited users. If you only need time tracking for jobs, it’s a better deal than Homebase, which has limits on people and location. It offers two paid plans, plus the ability to add payroll or integrations for an extra fee—Contact busybusy for the add-on prices.
- Free plan: GPS time tracking, job costing, equipment tracking, unlimited users
- Pro ($11.99 per user per month + $40 admin license): Free plan + GPS breadcrumbing, supervisor tools, safety reports, photos and notes, scheduling
- Premium ($17.99 per user per month + $40 admin license): Pro plan + documents, daily project reports, progress tracking, checklists, team messages, Zapier for integrations
- GPS breadcrumbing: busybusy goes beyond the others on our list by not only allowing geofencing but by tracking the locations of employees throughout the day. This makes it great for moving companies, supply runs, or home servicing companies. Also, while others can tell you who is on duty, busybusy gives you a map of everyone’s location as well.
- Offline mode: Away from wif-fi? busybusy continues to track on the phone and uploads when a connection is available.
- Team clock: Supervisors can clock entire teams in and out, even for breaks and lunches.
- Daily reports: While OnTheClock has employee notes, busybusy allows for full daily construction reports. It automatically adds weather reports, lets you upload photos of progress or trouble areas, tracks hours and cost codes, lists equipment, and records digital signatures.
- Safety reports: busybusy is the only time clock software on our list that also lets you file safety reports. This can include daily sign-offs of safety briefings to reduce liability or reporting injuries that happened on the job.
- Cost codes: While some of the software on our list, like Deputy, lets you create job codes, busybusy goes past that by attaching special instructions for the codes and adding colors for specific jobs to help keep your workers organized. Employees can switch between projects and cost codes.
- Equipment tracking: This is the only time clock software that also tracks equipment and operator time, a vital component of job costing.
Buddy Punch: Best for Preventing Time Theft
Pros
- Easy to use
- Multiple clock-in/out options; supports PIN code, facial recognition, QR code, and username with password time entries
- Highly rated by users on third-party user review sites
- Prevent early clock-ins
Cons
- Limited client billing capabilities
- No phone support
- Expensive for only a few users
Overview
Who Should Use It:
Buddy Punch is the best employee time clock for businesses wanting to avoid time theft—but it’s also an excellent time clock overall for features and ease of use. It lets employees clock in via QR code and has facial recognition, passwords, and PINs to avoid buddy punching. It includes job tracking by department or customer, breaks, alerts, and more.
Why We Like It:
Buddy Punch earned 4.29 out of 5, with perfect scores for time and attendance, reporting, security, and popularity. It requires a monthly base fee of $19 plus the per-user fee, which hurt it in pricing (along with not having a free plan). Meanwhile, the lack of live phone support took it down in ease of use, which was enough to knock it down in terms of its overall score.
Users on third-party review sites rave about Buddy Punch, earning it an average of 4.8 out of 5 on sites like G2 and Capterra. They appreciate its simple and straightforward design and the ease of onboarding and integrations.
All plans start with a $19 base fee, regardless of how many users you have. This can make it more expensive for very small businesses. However, the per-user prices are reasonable, and the software, robust.
- Standard ($4.99 per user per month + $19 per month base fee): Unlimited administrators, basic GPS, time off tracking, time tracking, reports, alerts and reminders, payroll integrations, job tracking, break planning, multi-channel support.
- Pro ($5.99 per user per month + $19 per month base fee): Standard plan plus shift trades, schedule templates and notifications, availability management, early/absent/late reporting
- Premium ($7.99 per user per month + $19 per month base fee): Pro features plus real-time GPS tracking, reporting, and location dashboard.
- Enterprise (Custom): Premium features plus API access and single sign-on
Buddy Punch Payroll can be added for $39 per month + $6 per user per month and includes unlimited pay runs, tax forms, direct deposit, and employee onboarding.
- QR Code punch-in: Buddy Punch is the only time clock on the list to provide QR-code punch-in capabilities. Employees are given a unique QR code so that you can track them in real time or let them scan it for self-reporting.
- SMS clock-in: For employees who travel or work remotely, you can set up SMS clock-in via Zapier. Employees in the field can clock in by sending a text message to a specific number. Again, this is unique to the products on our list.
- Overtime notifications: If overtime is a concern, Buddy Punch can send email or mobile notifications to managers so that if an employee is nearing overtime for the week, you can adjust your schedule.
- Job codes: Like Homebase, you can assign job codes so that employees can clock in and out by job. Even more, it lets your employee designate their customer, to help with tracking billable hours.
- Multilocation tracking: While several software on our list can manage multiple locations, Buddy Punch lets employees track their locations so that if someone works in multiple offices, they can choose the office for that shift.
- Notifications: Buddy Punch provides notices for employees, managers, and admins that include time card changes, overtime alerts, and PTO requests and approvals.
- Geolocation tracking: Unlike OnTheClock, which has only geofencing, Buddy Punch includes GPS tracking. This is similar to busybusy, so you can track employees on the go.
7shifts: Best for Restaurants
Pros
- Strong compliance tools for employees who are minors
- Compliance and overtime rules
- Free plan for one location
Cons
- Plans are by location; can be expensive for small staff sizes
- Many of the features are in the higher plans
- Custom reports only in higher plans
Overview
Who Should Use It:
7shifts is the best punch clock software for restaurants because of its shift-swapping capabilities, employee health checks, forecasting, tips tracking, and more. However, its compliance tools also make it good for industries hiring minors, who have more rules concerning breaks and work hours.
Why We Like It:
It earned 4.18 out of 5 on our list, with perfect scores in time and attendance tools and in popularity. It has the second-highest user approval score after Buddy Punch, earning a 4.6 out of 5. It’s one of the few with live phone support. However, it’s also one of the more expensive options, and many of its advanced features that others provide in lower plans, are with the higher plans (like task notes and compliance tools).
Users on third-party review sites (G2 and Capterra) agree that 7Shifts is easy to use, rating it an average of 4.6 out of 5. They liked the ease of logging notes for managers and the ability to trade shifts. However, users did complain of software glitches and limited third-party integrations.
There are several plans from free to $150 per month per location. The prices depend on features, but the free plan and Entree plan have user limits.
- Comp (Free): 1 location, up to 30 users, includes mobile app, bulk editing, scheduling, shift pools, availability and time off requests, time clock and compliance, employee health checks, hiring tools, POS integration, team chat and announcements, engagement dashboard, reports, chat support
- Entree ($34.99 per location, up to 50 locations): Up to 30 users, includes Comp plan + unlimited scheduling, shift notes, shift reminders, labor budgeting, time off approval and tracking, time punch editing, tips tracking, break tracking, customized employee health check, wage-based roles, announcement read receipts, phone support
- The Works ($76.99 per location, up to 50 locations): Unlimited employees, includes Entree plan + scheduled breaks, department-based budgeting, geofencing, advanced time clock compliance, overtime, break, and punch alerts, state-based compliance tools, payroll integration, activity and manager logbooks, shift feedback and performance logs, punch audit reporting
- Gourmet ($150 per location, unlimited locations): Unlimited users, includes The Works plan + dedicated account manager, operations overview, task checklists, machine-learning autoscheduler, employee onboarding
If you choose a lower plan than Gourmet but want to add some tools, you can add these:
- Task management (task checklists): $12.99 per location per month
- Tip pooling: Starts at $24.99 per location per month
- Tip payouts: $49.99 per location per month + 75 cents per transaction
- Employee onboarding: $2.99 per onboarding package sent
- Operations Overview (track labor performance and engagement): $6.99 per location per month
- Manager log book: $14.99 per location per month
- Restaurant-specific tools: Integrations into 25+ POS systems, tip pooling and calculations, and specialized employee health checks make this a top choice for the restaurant industry. 7shifts also offers discounts to franchises.
- Clock-in limits: One unique feature 7shifts has is only allowing people who are scheduled to clock in, which can save you unbudgeted labor hours. It also had facial recognition and geofencing, as well as early clock-in prevention.
- Labor compliances: While most of the software on our list lets you schedule break reminders and offer overtime alerts, 7shifts goes further by including state compliance rules (with higher plans). This saves you from manually inputting rules. Minors are also flagged so managers can keep this in mind when scheduling.
- Communications: Like OnTheClock, you can contact people through the app, offer empty shifts, enable shift swap, and provide task notes. However, it also has a manager log book that will record tasks completed as well as any important shift notes.
- Alerts: Unlike busybusy, you get alerts for employees approaching overtime, not taking a required break, or missing a punch.
When I Work: Best for Growing Businesses & Multiple Locations
Pros
- Access to overtime alerts, POS and payroll software integrations, and mobile time clock apps with GPS enforcement cost extra
- SMS and push notifications
- Task lists; autoscheduling; custom reports
Cons
- No free plan
- No phone support
- No offline mode
Overview
Who Should Use It:
When I Work is a solid time clock app for employees. Its pricing structure makes it a good choice for growing companies and those with multiple locations, particularly with shift workers. It not only includes shift swapping and requests but allows employees to bid on popular shifts. The scheduling tool lets you optimize work schedules automatically. It offers facial recognition and can forbid early clock-in.
Why We Like It:
This time clock software earned 4.13 out of 5. Like most of the cloud-based time clocks on our list, it got a perfect 5 out of 5 on time and attendance tools, and its custom report capabilities earned it a perfect reporting score, too. However, pricing, security, and ease of use were all below 4. It’s a popular software, however, and users give it an average of 4.4 out of 5 on third-party review sites like G2 and Capterra.
When I Work lacks a free plan (instead consider Homebase, Deputy, or OnTheClock). To track your employees’ time, you’ll need to activate time and attendance to the scheduling plan, which increases the basic price. The prices listed here include that option.
- Essentials ($3 per user per month): Team messaging, availability management, time off management, document storage, SMS notifications, autoscheduling, labor planning, multiple schedules and locations, job sites, tags, shift swap and bidding, timesheets, overtime alerts, break management, geofencing, facial recognition, payroll integration, on-demand pay
- Pro ($5 per user per month): Standard plan plus advanced scheduling tools like labor sharing, shift reports, API access, absence tracking, custom reports
- Premium ($7 per user per month): Pro plan plus scalability and customization, single sign-on, and custom integrations
- Clock-in tools: These compare well with the others on our list, like Homebase or Deputy, including geofencing and facial recognition. It alerts managers of missed clock-ins, something not found in busybusy, for example, and comes with PTO management.
- Prevent early clock-in: Like OnTheClock, When I Work lets you set rules to prevent early clock-ins.
- Labor costing: You can set different positions for each employee so that you can track hours and pay rates accordingly, making it easier to manage payroll.
- Employee shift communications: In addition to alerts like reminders to clock in or out, you can send team messages through the app or directly to individuals through SMS texting. This includes sending documents, such as training forms.
- Shift swaps: This is a strength for When I Work. While others, like 7shifts, allow employees to swap shifts, When I Work goes further with availability settings and shift bidding. Shift bidding lets multiple users express an interest in picking up a shift so that managers or individuals have a choice of replacements.
- Tasks: Employees can see shift task lists and check them off. Supervisors, meanwhile, can track progress.
- Advances on pay: Like Homebase, When I Work has a program that lets employees request and receive advances on pay for hours they’ve already worked.
BambooHR: Best for Small Businesses Needing Time Tracking & Robust HR Tools
Pros
- Allows tracking of time, projects, and tasks
- Geolocation tracking
- Full customer support—phone, chat, and email—available with all plans
Cons
- No free plan
- Time tracking is an add-on; must purchase base plan in addition
- Pricing is not transparent
Overview
Who Should Use It:
BambooHR includes human resources features, like hiring and onboarding, time off tracking, and benefits administration, and integrates with more than 50 third-party applications, like employee and performance management tools, applicant tracking systems, and learning and training apps. You can track attendance and clock in from a mobile app—allowing employees to clock in/out from anywhere—and managers have access to data to approve and make changes.
Why We Like It:
BambooHR not only offers time clock features, such as mobile tracking, automated reminders, and one-click approvals, but it also offers robust HR tools that allow small businesses to do more than just collect employee hours. This makes it ideal for companies that need all-in-one services that incorporate HR tools and payroll.
Scoring a 3.9 out of 5, BambooHR received perfect marks in 4 of the 6 categories, falling short in pricing due to its non-transparency and lack of a free plan and security for its limited sign in options. Users rate it a combined 4.5 out of 5 on popular third-party review sites like G2 and Capterra. They like how easy it is to navigate the software and they favor its employee management capabilities. Users did complain that it lacks more robust HR features than other big HRIS platforms, however, its time clock features appear to be in line with comparable providers.
BambooHR has a 14-day free trial; however, it lacks a free plan (for a free plan consider Homebase, Deputy, or OnTheClock). To track your employees’ time, you’ll need to subscribe to the time and attendance add-on, which increases the basic price.
Pricing on BambooHR’s website is not transparent:
- Core: Ideal for smaller HR teams. Includes HR data and reporting, hiring and onboarding, time off and benefits tracking, and third-party integrations.
- Pro: Ideal for scaling companies. Includes everything in the Core plan, plus performance management, employee experience and rewards, and an employee community.
Add-ons Add-ons are an additional per employee per month price. Must also subscribe to either the Core or Pro plan. :
- Payroll
- Benefits Administration
- Time Tracking
- Project tracking: Assign multiple pay rates per employee, track time spent on specific categories (tasks, clients, locations), and then seamlessly integrate into payroll.
- One-click approvals: Managers can easily review and approve time with just one click, saving valuable time.
- Automatic reminders: Everyone, from employees to managers, can stay up to date with auto-generated reminders. Entries will not be forgotten and overtime can be addressed immediately, ensuring accurate payroll reports and no late entries.
- Payroll hours reports: Built-in timesheet reports allow you to compile all general, overtime, and PTO hours and link directly to payroll.
- Mobile tracking: Users can not only track their time via the web but also through a mobile device. Like Buddy Punch, BambooHR offers geolocation tracking, allowing employees to clock in once they reach their job site.
How to Choose an Employee Time Clock
Choosing the best time clock for your small business doesn’t have to be difficult. Start by understanding what you want from the time clock software. Consider your business situation and ask these questions:
- Do you have a problem with early clock-ins? Most time clocks for employees can prevent this.
- Do you want to enforce manager approval of overtime? Some notify managers when someone is late clocking out while others ping the employee with a reminder.
- Does your state enforce breaks and lunches? Some time clocks let you set these rules.
- Do your people work outside of the office? Some time clocks have mobile apps with geofencing that lets employees punch in when they are on location.
- How important is it to integrate with your payroll software? The best cloud-based time clocks for small businesses include integrations with popular software, while others create CSV files you can upload. Meanwhile, the best time card providers let you download a file to upload into your payroll software.
- Do your employees need to track time to specific projects? While time tracking software is your better bet, there are some time clock software that include project management features.
Next, consider hardware. Most time clocks for small businesses operate from tablets—usually iPads. However, some require their own hardware. These cost $200-$500, depending on features, which is less than an iPad. However, they usually have less robust software.
Naturally, price is a consideration. Most come with monthly fees, especially if they have cloud-based software or mobile apps. Keep in mind, however, that you are paying for convenience—time clock software is usually more accurate, includes rules and reports that help you with compliance to state break laws, and makes it easier to create timesheets or integrate straight to payroll software.
Benefits of Using Time Clock Software
Relying on pen and paper to track employee time can be a cause for errors. However, using a time clock or time clock software that allows employees to clock in and out on a device can ensure accuracy when processing payroll. Below are additional benefits of using time clock software:
- Accountability: Having a central place for employees to clock in and out helps employees stay accountable.
- Labor law compliance: Time clock software can help your business stay compliant by remaining updated on all applicable state and federal laws.
- Accuracy: By having employees clock in and out through software, managers can instantly check and approve time, thus increasing accuracy in time records.
- Improved management: Because managers have the ability to review and approve timesheets within the software it increases overall management.
- Reduced time theft: Time clock software ensures individual employees only clock in for themselves by mandating PIN codes, facial recognition, and biotechnology.
How We Evaluated The Best Time Clocks
Aside from pricing and ease of use, we looked for essential features like time capture options, break and PTO tracking, and reporting tools. Then, we rated each based on the following criteria:
20% of Overall Score
20% of Overall Score
The best employee time clock includes basic tools, such as exportable time data, multiple time clock types, break and PTO tracking, and administrator alerts. Plus, having access to mobile apps and a self-service portal is also ideal.
10% of Overall Score
10% of Overall Score
Aside from having access to standard and pre-built reports, users should be able to customize reports.
20% of Overall Score
Geofencing, geolocation tracking, and multiple clock-in/out options (such as fingerprint, badge, and pin code) are just some of the essential functionalities that we looked at. We also checked whether or not the software can set up approvals and limit early time-ins.
20% of Overall Score
Employee Time Clock Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The best time clock app does more than just allow your employees to clock in and out from their mobile devices—it will allow you to send and approve PTO requests, create schedules, post jobs, record expenses, and track locations. Our top picks include Homebase, Clockify, and When I Work.
While several time clocks have their own devices, many will work using a tablet or even your employee’s mobile phone. These are usually cloud-based and come with additional software features.
Each time card machine or software has a unique way for your employees to clock in and out. The oldest models used time cards that literally punch in times. These still exist, but none made our list. The most convenient allow facial recognition, thumbprints, and/or a PIN code to clock in. In those cases, the employee simply follows the directions on the pad. Some have geofencing procedures that let the employee clock in on their mobile device provided they are in a certain area of the workplace, which is great for out-of-office workers like construction or catering.
Bottom Line
All of the options we reviewed in this guide are great for helping business owners and their HR teams efficiently manage employees. They track time in and out, allow you to put that information into timecards for payroll, and prevent buddy punching. Some let you enforce breaks, communicate with employees through the clock, and more.
Our top pick for employee time clocks is Homebase, as it provides single-location businesses with a free online time clock to use that includes timekeeping, scheduling, and hiring tools. Start tracking your employees’ work time for free.