Best Employee Time Clocks for Employers for 2023
Charlette has over 10 years of experience in accounting and finance and 2 years of partnering with HR leaders on freelance projects. She uses this extensive experience to answer your questions about payroll.
Jennifer Hartman is an HR Specialist and staff writer for Fit Small Business, with over 15 years of experience in accounting, payroll, and human resources.
The best employee time clocks have robust systems that support multiple clock-in/out options, have biometric and facial recognition technology, and provide customized reporting. There are also systems that enable employees to clock in or out through a website or app. These digital time clocks provide users better time-tracking flexibility while offering more advanced features, such as GPS-based clock-ins, customizable reports, and project- or task-based time allocation.
This guide considered both types of employee time clocks, looking at each product’s ease of use and time-tracking features. In total, we evaluated 18 solutions and narrowed the list down to our top five recommendations.
- Homebase: Best overall for small businesses
- Timelogix: Best for companies (manufacturers/warehouses) needing a wall-mounted biometric time clock with fingerprint security
- uAttend JR2000: Best for businesses sharing employees across departments
- Allied Time CB4000: Best for high-security companies, such as medical, requiring multiple clock-in/out options
- Icon Time TotalPass P600: Best for businesses planning to scale to a maximum of 500
Top Employee Time Clocks Compared
Our Ratings | Free Plan | Paid Plans Monthly Fees | Wall-mounted Time Clock Device Costs | Clock-In/Out Options | Built-in Employee Scheduling | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 4.6/5 | ✓ | $24.95–$99.95 per location | ✕ | PIN code | ✓ |
 | 3.65/5 | ✕ | $20–$100+ | $199.99–$499 | PIN code, fingerprint, facial recognition, and radio-frequency identification (RFID) card* | ✓ |
 | 3.35/5 | ✕ | $22–$129 | $119–$399 | PIN code, fingerprint, and RFID card | ✓ |
 | 3.25/5 | ✕ | $20–$100+ | $139–$339 | PIN code, fingerprint, face scans, RFID card, and palm scans | ✕ |
 | 3.15/5 | ✕ | ✕ | $349–$549 | PIN code, RFID card, and web punches | ✕ |
*The type of clock-in/out option varies, depending on the time clock device.
Note that all time clocks on this list have mobile apps with offline time tracking that syncs data once your internet connection is restored.
If you’re interested in learning about more online employee time clocks, check out our top time and attendance software picks.
Need help choosing the best time clock to use for your employees? Answer this three-question quiz and find one that best fits your business’s needs.
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Homebase: Best Overall Employee Time Clock
Homebase
Overall Score: 4.60
OUT OF 5
What We Like
- Free plan includes online time clock apps, attendance monitoring, employee scheduling, job postings, and applicant tracking
- User-friendly interface
- Can handle unlimited employees
What's Missing
- Free plan limited to one location
- Geolocation tracking, geofencing, paid time off (PTO) accrual tracking, and overtime alerts are only included in paid plans
- Software lags from time to time
Homebase Pricing
- Free plan: Covers one location and unlimited employees
- Three paid plans:
- Essentials: $24.95 per location monthly
- Plus: $59.95 per location monthly
- All-in-One: $99.95 per location monthly
- Add-ons
- Job posting boosts: Starts at $79 per post
- Payroll: $39 plus $6 per active employee monthly
- Access to “HR Pro” advisers and resources: $99 per month; free if subscribed to the All-in-One plan
Homebase is optimal for small businesses, especially companies with one physical location, needing a feature-rich online solution to help track employee time, reduce scheduling errors, and process payroll smoothly. It provides free time clock software and employee time clock apps that work on computers, tablets, and smartphones.
Apart from letting you create staff schedules and capture time entries, it offers team communication, job posting, and applicant tracking tools—all at no cost. If you upgrade to a paid subscription, you can access premium features like geofencing, overtime and late employee alerts, early clock-in prevention, and auto-scheduling.
Overall, Homebase earned a score of 4.6 out of 5 in our evaluation. It posted scores of 4 and above in most of our criteria, with perfect marks in pricing, reporting, and popularity among users. Time and attendance is the only criterion where it didn’t rate at least 4 (scoring only 3.75). Despite tracking time, PTO, and breaks efficiently, Homebase doesn’t have the physical time clock the other providers on this list offer.
Many users still appreciate its time-tracking tools that make monitoring attendance easy for employees and employers alike. Some, however, said that its mobile app can be glitchy and loads slowly at times.
Homebase is our top-recommended online time clock.
Homebase Standout Features
- Feature-rich free option: Homebase’s free plan is packed with features. You can create work schedules, capture and monitor employee attendance, post jobs, and track applicants at no cost—provided you have only one business location. Only Homebase has hiring tools and a free option, though Timelogix, uAttend, and Homebase come with built-in employee scheduling.
- Per-location pricing scheme: Homebase’s per-location pricing scheme makes it easy for you to grow your workforce. You don’t have to pay for additional user seats, provided your employees work in the same location. This is unlike the other providers in this guide (except Icon Time TotalPass P600), which charge monthly software fees per employee.
- Online employee time clock: With its time clock apps, you can turn computers, tablets, and smartphones into time-tracking devices. The app even works on point-of-sale (POS) systems—a functionality that none of the other providers we reviewed have. With Homebase, employees can clock in/out via PIN codes and answer screening questions before clocking in. You have to upgrade to its paid plans if you want PTO management, geofencing, and GPS tracking tools. However, if you’re looking for physical time clocks, we recommend the other providers here as they offer wall-mounted time-tracking devices.
- Efficient time and scheduling tools: Homebase’s online tools can help you streamline time tracking and scheduling processes. Its features include automated time sheets, daily labor reports, administrator alerts for late clock-ins and overtime, and a drag-and-drop schedule builder (Allied Time and Icon Time don’t have this). It even lets you allocate hours by jobs and track employee time with multiple roles and wage rates.
What Homebase Is Missing
- Physical time clock devices: Instead of physical time clocks, Homebase offers time clock apps that work on computers, smartphones, tablets, and POS systems. If you’re looking for a physical device that comes with basic time and attendance software, we recommend Icon Time TotalPass P600.
- Multiple clock-in/out options: While the time clocks of the other providers on this list support several clock-in/out types, Homebase’s time clock apps only accept PIN code time entries.
Timelogix: Best for Manufacturing Companies & Warehouses Needing a Wall-mounted Biometric Time Card Machine
Timelogix
Overall Score: 3.65
OUT OF 5
What We Like
- User-friendly
- Time clock and software come with unlimited support and data hosting, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee
- Has physical time clocks and mobile apps with geolocation capabilities for tracking attendance of field employees
What's Missing
- Limited integration options
- Occasional system glitches
- Customer support is unresponsive at times
PricingTimelogix Pricing
- Physical time clock: Timelogix TL200 costs $349.99; other Timelogix employee clocks range from $199.99 to $499.99
- Time and attendance software
- 1–10 employees: $20 per month
- 11–20 employees: $40 per month
- 21–30 employees: $60 per month
- 31–40 employees: $80 per month
- 41–50 employees: $100 per month
- More than 50 employees: Contact Timelogix for a custom quote
For businesses such as manufacturing facilities and warehouses that prefer a physical employee time clock in lieu of a software app, Timelogix offers wall-mounted machines with flexible clock-in/out options. It supports several time entry types—from RFID cards and fingerprint scans to facial recognition and PIN codes.
Aside from physical employee time clocks, it provides a cloud-based time and attendance solution, which includes staff scheduling, online time sheet editing, and mobile apps with GPS clocking functionality. It can also handle unlimited locations and administrators, plus you get unlimited support and data hosting.
If you want a reasonably priced employee time clock with smart card, fingerprint biometrics, and PIN code time capture capabilities, then the Timelogix TL200 is a good option. Note, however, that you need to pay a one-time fee to purchase the unit and monthly fees to use Timelogix’s cloud-based system.
Overall, Timelogix scored 3.65 out of 5 in our evaluation of best employee time clocks. It earned a perfect score in security and high marks (4 and above) in time-tracking functionality given its overtime and break tracking tools, alerts, and multiple clock-in/out options to help prevent buddy punching and time theft. However, its limited report customizability and the lack of a free plan prevented it from ranking higher on this list. Plus, it isn’t as popularly rated as Homebase, with many Timelogix users complaining about occasional app glitches and poor customer support.
Timelogix’s fingerprint time clocks are available in black or white.
Timelogix Standout Features
- Multiple time clocks: Aside from time clock apps with geolocation features that work on iOS and Android devices, Timelogix offers physical time clocks, which can be mounted on walls. Its machines have built-in Wi-Fi, touch-screen displays, and an offline mode that saves time entries to its internal memory if the internet goes down and sends all the data to the software once the connection has been restored.
- Secure clock-in/out options: Unlike Homebase, which only accepts PIN code clock-ins/outs, Timelogix’s time clock machines support facial recognition, fingerprint scans, PIN codes, and RFID card taps.
- Time and attendance management: With Timelogix’s time and attendance software, you can view employee time entries in real time, edit electronic time sheets, set rules for overtime and breaks, and select the time devices from which employees can clock in/out. However, like most of the systems on this list (except Icon Time), you have to pay monthly fees to access its time and attendance solution.
- Employee scheduling: In addition to creating employee work shifts, you can assign a project, job, or location to a schedule. Timelogix even lets you manage “out of shift” time, allowing you to approve or disapprove extra minutes that your staff worked before and after their scheduled shifts.
What Timelogix Is Missing
- Free plan: Unlike Homebase, it doesn’t have a free plan for its time-tracking software. You may want to consider Icon Time TotalPass P600 if you don’t want to pay monthly fees for a time and attendance solution since its time clock device comes with free software. If you’re still undecided on which time clock to use, check our free time card calculator, which can help calculate the total hours your employees worked in a week. Or, you can use our free downloadable time sheet templates to track employee hours.
- Strong report customization: While Timelogix lets you create custom reports by selecting pre-identified data ranges, you can’t add your own data fields to further personalize reports. For robust reporting tools, we recommend Homebase.
uAttend JR2000: Best for Companies Sharing Employees Across Departments
uAttend JR2000
Overall Score: 3.35
OUT OF 5
What We Like
- Intuitive self-guided setup wizard
- Employees can track jobs directly from the time clock
- Monthly plan covers two time clocks and includes unlimited data storage and comma-separated values (CSV) file data exports
What's Missing
- Connects only with QuickBooks Desktop
- Monthly subscription is more expensive compared to similar time clocks
- Occasional time clock and mobile app glitches
uAttend Pricing
- Physical time clock: The JR2000 costs $179; other uAttend time clocks cost anywhere from $119 to $399
- Time and attendance software
- 1–9 employees: $22 per month
- 10–19 employees: $37 per month
- 20–49 employees: $65 per month
- 50–99 employees: $99 per month
- 100 or more employees: $129 per month
- Add-ons
- Cloud account for additional time clocks: $10 per time clock monthly
- Additional administrator seat: $6 per seat monthly
- Data exports in formats other than CSV: $5 per month
uAttend offers wall-mounted employee time clocks that support multiple clock-in/out options. Your employees can even track interdepartmental jobs and submit department transfer requests directly from the unit, making it ideal for companies assigning employees to multiple departments throughout the day or pay period.
Its JR2000 time clock can capture employee attendance via PIN code entries, biometric fingerprint scans, and RFID card taps. It even has built-in Wi-Fi, allowing seamless transfers of employee time data from the time clock into uAttend’s cloud-based software. What’s also great about this device is that it has a wide touch-screen display, allowing you and your employees to easily see time clock details and set up system controls.
Scoring 3.35 out of 5 in our evaluation, uAttend posted ratings of 3 and above in nearly all of our criteria, with perfect marks in time and attendance functionalities. It posted low scores in reporting (has limited report customizability) and pricing (its monthly software fees are pricier than the other providers on this list). Still, many users like that it is easy to set up and use with flexible clocking options and good customer support. However, others said that its biometric scanner is slow to recognize fingerprints at times.
You can connect the uAttend JR2000 to the internet via Wi-Fi and LAN.
uAttend JR2000 Standout Features
- Multiple clock-in/out options: Its JR2000 model supports RFID ID, fingerprint, and PIN code time entries and connects via Wi-Fi or LAN. uAttend also offers a wide range of physical employee time clocks that support several clock-in/out options—from facial recognition to fingerprint scans.
- Department transfers directly from the time clock: If you have employees who work across departments, they can track jobs and request department transfers directly from uAttend JR2000. None of the other employee time clock providers on this list have this functionality.
- Helpful setup wizard: Like Icon Time TotalPass P600, you can easily get uAttend’s time clock up and running by using its self-guided setup wizard. The guide is intuitive and only requires an internet connection so that you can pair the device with your online uAttend account, set up the time zone, and then start using the time clock.
What uAttend JR2000 Is Missing
- Robust integration options: uAttend only connects with QuickBooks Desktop, while Homebase, Timelogix, and Icon Time integrate with several third-party software.
- Customizable reports: uAttend provides real-time reports, but the customization options are limited. You also have to pay extra if you want to export reports in file formats other than CSV. If this is a dealbreaker, then you might want to consider Homebase.
Allied Time CB4000: Best for High-security Companies Requiring Multiple Clock-in/out Options
Allied Time CB4000
Overall Score: 3.25
OUT OF 5
What We Like
- Time clock supports up to five clock-in/out options (including palm scans)
- 30-day free trial for its cloud-based timekeeping software
- Monthly subscription includes free setup, unlimited software upgrades, and lifetime support and clock replacement
What's Missing
- Occasional time clock glitches
- Rejects fingerprint scans from time to time
- Lacks direct integration with third-party software
Allied Time Pricing
- Physical time clock: The CB4000 costs $239; other uAttend time clocks cost anywhere from $139 to $339
- Time and attendance software
- 1–9 employees: $20 per month
- 10–19 employees: $30 per month
- 20–49 employees: $40 per month
- 50–99 employees: $60 per month
- 100 or more employees: $100 per month plus $20 per each additional 50 users
- Add-ons
- Additional CB4000 time clocks in use per account: $10 per device monthly
If you’re looking for a web-based time-tracking solution that can handle multiple biometric and clock-in/out options, then the Allied Time CB4000 biometric time clock is the right tool for you. It accepts clock-in/out entries via palm scans, fingerprint, facial recognition, PIN code, and RFID badge card taps—making it a great option for high-security companies.
Similar to the Icon Time TotalPass P600, it doesn’t require any software installation. You have to pay a monthly fee to access its cloud-based timekeeping solution, but new clients can use the system for free for 30 days.
Allied Time CB4000 scored 3.25 out of 5 in our evaluation. It did well in security, time and attendance functionalities, and popularity among users. However, the lack of customizable reports, integration options, and a free plan lowered its score. Many users appreciate its versatility and ease of setup, although some complained about reporting limitations and occasional fingerprint scan glitches.
The Allied Time CB4000 has built-in Wi-Fi, but you use your existing LAN to connect it to the internet.
Allied Time CB4000 Standout Features
- Flexible clock-ins/outs: In addition to PIN code and RFID card scan time entries, the Allied Time CB4000 can verify the attendance of employees who are clocking in via biometric fingerprint, face, and palm scans.
- Time and attendance tracking: Aside from tracking regular working hours, its cloud-based software can monitor overtime based on daily and weekly overtime rules (including California’s more rigorous overtime regulations). It can also handle multiple pay hour categories and has an optional automatic lunch deduction feature.
- Unlimited software upgrades and device warranty: As long as you have an active subscription to Allied Time’s monthly software, you get unlimited system upgrades and lifetime employee time clock replacements. Homebase doesn’t provide physical time clocks, and the other providers on this list don’t have the unlimited device warranty that Allied Time offers.
What Allied Time CB4000 Is Missing
- Scheduling tools: While it has an efficient cloud-based time-tracking solution, it doesn’t have the employee scheduling capabilities that Homebase and Timelogix have.
- Third-party software integrations: Allied Time doesn’t integrate directly with third-party software, although its built-in CSV file exports make sending employee attendance data to payroll systems easy. We recommend Homebase if you require integration with POS and payroll solutions, including restaurant management tools like BevSpot and Restaurant365.
Icon Time TotalPass P600: Best for Small Employers Planning to Scale to a Maximum of 500
Icon Time TotalPass P600
Overall Score: 3.15
OUT OF 5
What We Like
- 50-employee capacity at base cost (can be upgraded to 500)
- No recurring monthly software fees (its basic time and attendance software is built into the time clock)
- Time and attendance software includes employee scheduling tools
What's Missing
- Web punch licenses and proximity card badges (in excess of the initial items provided) cost extra
- New clients get free customer support only for the first 30 days; you have to purchase a “care pack” annually to get unlimited email and phone support
- Time clocks are more expensive compared to similar providers
PricingIcon Time Pricing
- Physical time clock: The TotalPass P600 costs $499; other Icon Time time clocks cost $349 and $549
- Add-ons
- Web punches (pack of five licenses): $99
- 10 Proximity card badges: $39.99
- 25 Proximity card badges: $59.99
- TotalPass P600 care pack: $180 per year, per time clock
With Icon Time TotalPass P600, you get a time clock that can handle up to 500 employees. This makes it an ideal solution for small businesses with plans to scale. Apart from on-site time tracking, it has a web punch functionality that lets your employees clock in/out from tablets, smartphones, and computers—provided an internet connection is available.
Unlike Timelogix, Allied Time, and uAttend, you don’t need to download and install a timekeeping system to make the time clock work, as Icon Time TotalPass P600 has a basic time-tracking software built right into the unit. In addition, you don’t have to pay monthly fees to use the system. You only need to purchase the unit, plus optional add-ons for proximity cards, web punch licenses, and customer support.
Overall, Icon Time Total Pass P600 scored 3.15 out of 5 in our evaluation, with high marks in ease of use and user popularity. However, it doesn’t have break tracking, early clock-in prevention, and robust report customization tools. These limitations prevented Icon Time from ranking higher on our list.
In terms of user reviews, many like that it is easy to set up and use with efficient tools to automate time-tracking processes. Meanwhile, some are unhappy with the occasional software glitches and pricey time clocks.
While the TotalPass timekeeping software is built directly into the clock, you can also access the system from any device through a web browser.
Icon Time TotalPass P600 Standout Features
- Free software access: Compared to the three other physical time clock providers on this guide, Icon Time doesn’t charge monthly fees for its basic time and attendance software. You also don’t need to download its system separately since it’s built directly into the time clock.
- Web punches: Icon Time TotalPass P600 is the only physical time clock on our list that supports web punches, allowing you to select employees who can also clock in/out via a web browser. However, if you prefer a digital time clock, consider Homebase since its time clock apps work on computers and mobile devices.
- Robust email alerts: What makes Icon Time’s email alert function stand out from the rest of the providers here is the type of notifications that it sends. Aside from clock-in/out alerts, it notifies you of employees approaching daily, weekly, and consecutive overtime. You can also create alerts for low and high work hours, including notifications for software updates and data backup reminders.
What Icon Time TotalPass P600 Is Missing
- Biometric fingerprint scans: While Icon Time TotalPass P600 supports clock-ins/outs made through RFID taps, web punches, and PIN code entries, the device doesn’t accept fingerprint scans. For those looking for biometric time clocks, consider any other providers on this list (except Homebase).
- Robust knowledge base: Apart from a few video tutorials and online product brochures showcasing some of its time clocks’ features, Icon Time doesn’t have many help articles posted on its website. If you’re looking for something that offers articles, then Homebase is a good option.
How We Evaluated Employee 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%
Pricing
20%
Time and attendance functionalities
20%
Security
20%
Ease of use
10%
Reporting tools
10%
Popularity
20% of Overall Score
We checked if the provider has a free plan and transparent pricing for its paid tiers. We also considered the cost of subscriptions and gave those priced $10 or less per employee monthly extra points. Only Homebase has a free option, but this covers just one business location. For physical time clocks, Icon Time TotalPass P600 is reasonably priced since you only have to pay for the device. With uAttend, Timelogix, and Allied Time, you have to pay monthly software fees and a one-time device fee.
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. uAttend CB4000 received perfect marks here, while Icon Time TotalPass P600 scored the lowest.
20% of Overall Score
20% of Overall Score
10% of Overall Score
Aside from having access to standard and pre-built reports, users should be able to customize reports. Homebase received a perfect score here, having met all of our reporting requirements.
10% of Overall Score
We checked reviews that actual users left on third-party sites like G2 and Capterra. Homebase received a perfect rating here, with Timelogix in last place given its 2.5 out of 5 score.
*Percentages of overall score
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best employee time clock software?
The best employee time clock software offers a variety of clock-in/out options, has advanced recognition technology, mobile app access, and provides customized reporting. Our evaluation of this software found Homebase ranked the best overall for small businesses, as it offers time and attendance monitoring, online clock-in/out options for an in-office or remote workforce, and has a free plan for one location with unlimited employees.
How do you use a time card machine?
Each time card machine or software has a unique way for your employees to clock in and out. Some use a punch method where the employee will place a paper into the time card machine that records the day and time of the punch. Others use biometric data, such as a fingerprint or facial recognition to clock the employee in and out. Some software, such as Icon Time Total Pass P600, uses a pin pad where employees enter their unique pin code to clock in and out.
Bottom Line
All of the options we reviewed in this guide would work well for a small business. They can help business owners and their HR teams efficiently manage employees. 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.
