Employee time clocks help track when employees are working or on break beyond work start and stop times. The best employee time clocks are robust systems that work for multiple locations, have facial recognition technology, and provide customized reporting. There is also time clock software that enables 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 allowing users to allocate time to specific projects and tasks. In this guide, we considered both types of employee time clocks, looking at each solutions’ ease of use and time tracking features.
Time Clocks | Best For |
|---|---|
(Best overall) Businesses with one physical location that want a free online digital time clock | |
Manufacturing businesses or warehouses needing a wall-mounted biometric time clock with fingerprint security | |
Restaurants and other hospitality companies that share employees across departments | |
Small employers planning to scale from 50 to a maximum of 500 | |
High-security companies, i.e., medical, that need multiple biometric time clock options |
If you’re interested in learning about more online employee time clocks, check out our top time and attendance software picks.
How We Evaluated Employee Time Clocks
Aside from pricing and ease of use, we looked for essential features like time capture options, break times and paid-time-off (PTO) tracking, and reporting tools. Then, we rated each based on the following criteria:
20% of Overall Score
We checked to see if the provider has a free plan and transparent pricing for its paid tiers. We also considered the cost of paid subscriptions and gave those that are priced $10 or less per employee monthly extra points.
20% of Overall Score
The best employee time clock includes at least basic tools, such as exportable time data, multiple time clock types, breaks and PTO tracking, and administrator alerts. Plus, having access to mobile apps and a self-service portal are also ideal.
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 has the capability to set up approvals and limit early time-ins.
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
Having a time clock and time tracking software that are intuitive and easy to learn is a must. We also looked at whether the provider offers live phone support, training, quick system implementations, and integration options with payroll, point-of-sale (POS), and scheduling systems.
10% of Overall Score
We checked reviews that actual users left on third-party sites like G2 and Capterra.
Based on our evaluation criteria, we determined Homebase to be the best online time clock given its flexibility and low cost. With its free plan, you can track the time entries of unlimited employees—provided they work in a single location. It also has an online schedule builder and essential hiring tools that enable you to post jobs and track applicants with ease.
If you’re looking for more free time tracking options, check out our top recommendations for free time tracking software.
Homebase
PROS
- The free plan includes online time clock apps, attendance monitoring, employee scheduling, job postings, and applicant tracking
- User-friendly interface
- Can handle unlimited employees
CONS
- Free plan limited for one location only
- Geolocation tracking, geofencing, PTO accrual tracking, and overtime alerts are included in paid plans
- Software lags from time to time
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Time & Attendance Functionality | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Popularity | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Reporting | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Security | 4.38 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Ease of Use | 4.88 | OUT OF | 5 |
Homebase is optimal for companies with one physical business location that need a feature-rich online time clock to help reduce scheduling errors and allow smooth payroll processing. It provides free time clock software and employee time clock apps that work on computer kiosks, 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 are granted access to premium features like geofencing, overtime and late employee alerts, early clock-in prevention, and auto-scheduling.
Homebase is our top recommended virtual time clock.
Pricing
- Free plan: Basic tier covers one location and unlimited employees; comes with time tracking, employee scheduling, job postings, applicant tracking, employee time sheets, software integration with top payroll and POS tools, team messaging, and standard breaks and overtime settings for your state
- Paid plans: Three options (Essentials, Plus, and All-in-One) with monthly fees that range from $19.90 to $99.95 per location; includes additional features like geolocation tracking, geofencing, onboarding tools, online document storage, PTO accruals and balance tracking, and automated text reminders to employees for clock-outs and schedules
- Add-ons: Job posting boosts (starts at $79 per post) and access to “HR Pro” advisers and resources ($99 per month; free if subscribed to the All-in-One plan)
Homebase Features
- Employee time clock: Time clock apps (for computers, tablets, and smartphones) that support PIN code clock-ins/outs; screening questions for employees who are clocking in; geofencing and geolocation tracking capabilities only in paid plans
- Time and attendance: Online time sheets that automatically identify missed staff breaks and clock-outs; early clock-ins limit feature; alerts for late employees and those approaching overtime with a paid subscription
- Employee scheduling: Online schedule builder with drag-and-drop functionality, schedule templates, open shifts, shift swaps, PTO requests, shift preferences, and schedule availability management; automatic standard breaks and state overtime settings; auto-scheduling and schedule confirmations; automated shift and attendance-related SMS reminders to employees with a paid plan
- Hiring: Posting to job boards, candidate tracking, and screening questions for online applications—all for free; boosts your job posts (starts at $79 per post)
- HR and compliance: A suite of HR solutions for managing employee onboarding and compliance—features that are available only in premium tiers; electronic signatures, new hire onboarding, online document storage, labor law alerts, advanced compliance support, an HR resource library, and access to HR advisers
- Team messaging: Built-in messenger to send individual and group messages including team announcements and employee shift feedback; company announcements, read receipts, and a feature to add instructions or notes to employee schedules available with a paid plan
- Mobile apps (for iOS and Android devices): App shows the employee’s actual hours worked and expected earnings; create work schedules, request and accept shift trades, and submit PTO requests while on-the-go
- Customer support: 24/7 email support, including live phone and online chat services that are available weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central time
- Third-party software integration
- POS systems: Square, Clover, Vend, Toast, Shopify, Revel Systems, and Lightspeed
- Job boards: Indeed, Glassdoor, and ZipRecruiter
- Other business apps: Restaurant365, Shopventory, Ctuit Software, and BevSpot
- Payroll solutions: Paychex, Rippling, ADP, Gusto, QuickBooks, and Square Payroll
Check our best payroll services guide for more information on some of the payroll solutions Homebase integrates with.
Timelogix
PROS
- User-friendly
- Its time clock and software products come with unlimited support and data hosting plus a 30-day money-back guarantee
- Offers both physical time clocks and mobile apps with geolocation capabilities for tracking attendance of field employees
CONS
- Limited integration options
- Occasional system glitches
- Customer support is unresponsive at times
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 2.75 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Time & Attendance Functionality | 4.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Popularity | 2.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Reporting | 2.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Security | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Ease of Use | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 |
For businesses 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 smart badge cards and fingerprint scans to facial recognition and PIN codes.
Aside from physical employee time clocks, Timelogix provides a cloud-based time and attendance solution that includes staff scheduling, online time sheet editing, an employee portal, and mobile apps with GPS clocking functionality. It can also handle unlimited locations and administrators. Another great feature is that 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.
Timelogix fingerprint time clocks are available in black and white.
Pricing
- Physical time clock: Timelogix TL200 costs $349.99; other Timelogix employee clocks range from $249.99 to $999.99
- Time and attendance software
- 1–10 employees: $14 per month
- 11–20 employees: $28 per month
- 21–30 employees: $39 per month
- 31–40 employees: $50 per month
- 41–50 employees: $60 per month
- More than 50 employees: Contact Timelogix for a custom quote
Timelogix Features
- Employee time clock: Physical time clocks that can be mounted on walls; online time clock apps with geolocation features that work on mobile devices; built-in Wi-Fi plus a feature that saves the time entries into its internal memory if the internet goes down and sends all the data to the software once connection has been restored
- Time and attendance: Employee time entries in real time; edit features for electronic employee time sheets; custom overtime types, PTO entitlements, and time clock messages that appear whenever employees clock-in and out
- Employee scheduling: Create employee shifts; manage “out of shift” time; feature that allows you to approve or disapprove extra minutes that your staff actually worked before and after their scheduled shifts
- Mobile apps (for iOS and Android): Geo punches feature for tracking your staff’s clock-in and out locations; shows the chronological order of their geo punches and you can view the addresses of each clock-in/out transaction
- Customer support: Phone and live chat support on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time; support ticket via website
- Third-party software integration: Integration with popular payroll providers such as ADP, Paychex, and QuickBooks
uAttend JR2000
PROS
- Has a plug-and-play self-guided setup wizard
- Employees can track jobs directly from the time clock
- The monthly plan covers two time clocks and includes unlimited data storage and CSV file data exports
CONS
- Limited integration options; connects only with QuickBooks Desktop
- Its monthly subscription is more expensive compared to similar time clocks (fees start at $22 per month for up to nine employees)
- Occasional time clock and mobile app glitches
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 1.75 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Time & Attendance Functionality | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Popularity | 4.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Reporting | 2.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Security | 3.38 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Ease of Use | 3.25 | OUT OF | 5 |
uAttend offers wall-mounted employee time clocks that support multiple clock-in/out options. Your employees can even track jobs and submit department transfer requests directly from the unit, making it great for companies that assign their employees to multiple departments throughout the day or pay period.
Its JR2000 time clock can capture time entries made through PIN code, biometric fingerprint scans, and RFID card taps. It also has a built-in Wi-Fi that allows seamless transfers of employee time data from the time clock into uAttend’s cloud-based software.
What’s great about the uAttend JR2000 physical unit is that it has a wide interface with a touch-screen display, allowing you and your employees to easily see time clock details and system controls—from setting up time zones to starting and ending break times.
You can connect the uAttend JR2000 to the internet via Wi-Fi and LAN.
Pricing
- Physical time clock: The JR2000 costs $179; other uAttend time clocks are priced at either $299 or $399
- Time and attendance software: Access to the software requires a cloud account subscription that covers two time clocks, one system administrator, unlimited data storage, and unlimited CSV file data exports. The fees are based on the number of employees you have.
- 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 and more employees: $129 per month
- Add-ons: Cloud account for additional time clocks ($10 per time clock, per month); additional system administrators ($6 per seat, per month); data exports in formats other than a CSV file ($5 per month)
uAttend JR2000 Features
- Employee time clock: PIN code, RFID ID, and fingerprint clock ins/outs; offline mode that stores time punches in the clock and sends data to its cloud-based software once internet connection has been restored
- Time and attendance: PTO management with online requests and approvals; alerts when an employee is nearing overtime; time card management; department transfer functionality that lets you track employee transfers, including which department they went to, the work they did, and the time duration
- Employee scheduling: Online schedule builder with a point-and-click interface; create shifts and assign employees by positions; schedule templates; employee break time-in/out restrictions
- Mobile apps (for iOS and Android): Clock in/out with geolocation tracking for your remote staff; submit PTO and department transfer requests; employees can add tips and expenses for reporting and payroll; view and edit time cards
- Customer support: uAttend provides email and live phone support
- Third-Party Software Integration: Offers direct integration with QuickBooks Desktop
Icon Time TotalPass P600
PROS
- 50-employee capacity at base cost (can be upgraded to 500)
- No recurring monthly fees
- View missed punches in real time
CONS
- Web punch licenses and proximity card badges (in excess of the initial items provided) cost extra
- Offers 30-day free support to new clients; you have to purchase a “care pack” annually to get unlimited email and phone support
- Mobile app unavailable; time clock doesn’t support biometric fingerprint scans
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Time & Attendance Functionality | 2.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Popularity | 3.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Reporting | 2.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Security | 2.13 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Ease of Use | 4.25 | OUT OF | 5 |
With Icon Time TotalPass P600, you get a proximity 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 and uAttend, you don’t need to download and install a timekeeping system in order to make the time clock work. 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.
While the TotalPass timekeeping software is built directly into the clock, you can also access the system from any device through a web browser.
Pricing
- Physical time clock: The TotalPass P600 is priced at $399 and includes five web punch licenses, 15 proximity badge cards, and an employee capacity of up to 50 (expandable up to 500); other Icon Time employee time clocks cost anywhere from $179 to $2,609
- Basic time and attendance software: No monthly fees
- Add-ons: Web punches ($99 per pack of five licenses); proximity badges ($39.99 and $59.99 per pack of 10 and 20 cards, respectively); TotalPass P600 “care pack” ($180 per year, per time clock) that includes software updates, remote login assistance and troubleshooting, time clock repairs, and unlimited phone and email support
Icon Time TotalPass P600 Features
- Employee time clock: Supports clock ins/outs via PIN code, RFID/proximity badge card taps, and web punches with geolocation tracking; SSL encryption ensures secure data transfers to and from the clock; automatic backups; built-in Wi-Fi with Ethernet and USB connectivity options
- Time and attendance: Review and approve time sheets via a web browser; can handle up to 99 department codes; PTO accruals tracking; customized email alerts for overtime and clock-in/out notifications; employee productivity tracking for tips, piece counts, and job numbers
- Customer support: 30-day free phone and email support for new clients; you have to purchase a support pack ($180 per year, limited to only one TotalPass P600 time clock) to get customer support
- Third-party software integration: Compatible with most payroll software such as QuickBooks, Paychex, Paylocity, ADP Workforce Now, Paycom, and SurePayroll
Allied Time CB4000
PROS
- Time clock supports up to five clock-in/out options (including palm scans)
- Offers a 30-day free trial for its cloud-based timekeeping software
- Monthly subscription includes free setup, unlimited software upgrades, lifetime support, and lifetime clock replacement
CONS
- Its time clock is expensive compared to similar providers
- Occasional time clock glitches; rejects fingerprint scans from time to time
- RFID badge cards cost extra
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 2.75 | OUT OF | 5 |
| Time & Attendance Functionality | 4.25 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Popularity | 3.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Reporting | 2.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Security | 2.13 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Ease of Use | 2.88 | OUT OF | 5 |
If you’re looking for a web-based time tracking solution that can verify and identify employee palm scans, then the Allied Time CB4000 biometric time clock is the right tool for you. Aside from palm scans, it accepts clock-in/out entries via fingerprint, facial recognition, PIN code, and RFID badge card taps.
Similar to the Icon Time TotalPass P600, this time clock doesn’t require any software installation. However, you have to pay a monthly fee in order to access its cloud-based timekeeping system. For new clients, you can use the system for free for 30-days.
The Allied Time CB4000 has built-in Wi-Fi, but you use your existing LAN to connect it to the internet.
Pricing
- Physical time clock: The CB4000 with a touch-screen interface for viewing time logs and selecting jobs costs $239, while its touch-free version is priced at $199; other Allied Time time clocks cost anywhere from $139 to $219
- Time and attendance software: 30-day free trial for new clients; monthly subscription includes system access, free setup, data storage and backups, unlimited software upgrades, lifetime support, and lifetime clock replacement. The fees are based on the number of employees you have.
- 1–9 employees: $20 per month
- 10–19 employees: $30 per month
- 20–49 employees: $40 per month
- 50–99 employees: $60 per month
- 100–250 employees: $100 per month (plus $20 for each additional 50 if headcount exceeds 250)
- Add ons: Additional CB4000 time clocks in use per account ($10 per month for each device); RFID badge cards ($24.99 per pack of 10)
Allied Time CB4000 Features
- Employee time clock: PIN code, RFID ID, palm scan, fingerprint, and facial recognition (for mobile app) clock ins/outs; supports employee ID/PIN code combination for optional keypad clocking; the touch-screen version can track up to 20 jobs
- Time and attendance: Regular time and overtime tracking (based on daily and weekly OT rules including California OT regulations); supports multiple pay hour categories; track wages by employees and by specific jobs; optional automatic lunch deduction
- Mobile app (for Android): Clock in/out with facial recognition and geolocation tracking for your remote staff; view time cards while on the go
- Customer support: Allied Time offers live phone support
- Payroll integration: Has built-in CSV exports for easy integration with payroll systems
Bottom Line
All of the options that we reviewed in this guide would work well for a small business. They can help business owners and their HR teams efficiently manage employee time and attendance issues. 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.
Rajeev Chandra
I like how this article is written. Your points are sound, original, fresh and interesting. This information has been made so clear there’s no way to misunderstand it. Thank you.
Laura Handrick
Thank you Rajeev. We do our best to provide multiple options for small business to consider, based on their size and business needs.
Best!
Lionel
Great extensive review. I would like you to review web-based time clocks such as emplotime , tick, toggle, tanda and tell us what do you think about them.
Thank you Jason!
Priyanka Prakash
Thanks for the suggestion Lionel!