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Stop Losing Money on Padded Hours
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Try It FreeKey Takeaways
- ✔The best time tracking software depends on your team’s work setting, payroll needs, and biggest timekeeping problem.
- ✔Digital time tracking can reduce manual errors, discourage buddy punching, and help managers identify potential overtime costs earlier.
- ✔Office, remote, shift-based, and field teams need different tools because their clock-in methods and oversight needs vary.
- ✔The true cost depends on base fees, per-user charges, add-ons, and modules rather than the advertised starting price.
- ✔Testing the software for one full pay period helps reveal how it handles actual punches, overtime, multiple pay rates, and payroll exports.
Consider a hypothetical 20-person crew in which each worker incorrectly records an extra five minutes at the beginning and end of each workday.
That's 10 minutes per person per day. Across 22 working days at $22 an hour, you just paid for approximately 73 hours, or $1,613 in potentially overstated wages for the month. For a growing business, the best time tracking software does three things at once: it provides attendance records for review, can alert managers to approaching overtime, and prepares approved hours for payroll.
Running a business today means keeping a close eye on time. Missed punches, manual time sheets, and late payroll don't just waste money; they drain your energy as a manager. Time tracking software can help by organizing attendance records, providing visibility into employee hours, and supporting payroll exports. Common challenges include missed punches, unauthorized clock-ins, unexpected overtime, and reconciling hours across shifts and sites.
No single tool wins for every business. Below are nine picks, each matched to a real situation, starting with the one for small teams.
What Businesses Actually Want From Time Tracking
Businesses need attendance records they can review. PINs, photos, and supported device location records can help discourage unauthorized punches, although no single control can guarantee identity.
After attendance records comes the math. Configured overtime and break rules, and hours split across jobs or pay rates, need to be reviewed before moving into payroll without hand keying. Employers must maintain accurate records of hours worked and apply appropriate overtime rules based on employee classifications and applicable law.
And it has to survive a busy day. The right pick shifts with what you need most: deterring buddy punching, supporting overtime compliance, or reducing the payroll scramble every other Friday.
Quick Picks: The Best Time Tracking Software at a Glance
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OnTheClock: Best for small business management
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GoodDay: Best for project management with built-in time tracking
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Deputy: Best for shift-based teams
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QuickBooks Time: Best for payroll
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Connecteam: Best for remote workforces
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Beebole: Best for project tracking and performance
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EakTime): Best for heavy-duty tracking
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ClockShark: Best for construction and field services
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Jibble: Best for companies seeking GPS functionality
How We Evaluated the Best Time Tracking Software
We judged each tool on what actually matters day to day, not on feature-sheet length. We compared every option against the seven needs business owners and managers keep raising, what we call the OnTheClock Time Tracking Checklist:
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Ease of use: employees can clock in and out with minimal training.
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Accuracy and controls: GPS, geofencing, or photo verification to help reduce unauthorized or inaccurate punches.
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Mobile access: a strong app for field teams, remote staff, and managers on the go.
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Scheduling and PTO: shift planning, leave requests, and overtime alerts in one place.
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Payroll and integrations: clean connections to the payroll and accounting tools you already run.
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Reporting and compliance: clear reports for labor costs, job costing, and record-keeping.
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Price for the team you have: the real monthly cost once you count heads, sites, or modules.
OnTheClock earns the small-business label here because its time-tracking plan combines supported GPS and geofencing controls, shared-device punching, scheduling, PTO, and overtime tools. That breadth at the base price is the basis for the label, not a ranking against the other picks. Each of the others serves its own situation best.
The Best Time Tracking Software
Here are nine time tracking platforms suited to different situations. For each one, we cover whom it fits best, where it stands out, and where it may not be the right move.
OnTheClock: Best for Small Business Management
Available on: Web, iOS, Android
Why OnTheClock Is Best for Small Business Management
OnTheClock is a cloud-based time tracking and workforce platform built with small businesses in mind. It goes beyond basic punch-in and -out, giving owners tools to oversee teams, simplify payroll preparation, and support accurate timekeeping in one system. The buyer here is the owner or office manager who wears the payroll hat too.
It meets every need on the base plan's checklist. Managers see where employees work, how hours are logged, and how time is assigned to jobs, while employees get GPS-enabled mobile clock-ins, easy PTO requests, and clear schedules. Setup and training needs depend on the business, and supported connections to QuickBooks, ADP, and Gusto can reduce manual payroll preparation.
Why OnTheClock Is Different for Small Business
The time-tracking rate is $5/month base plus $4 per employee/month, with core tracking features included. A 15-employee team pays $65/month for time tracking before optional services.
Businesses that want to reduce software complexity may value having time tracking, scheduling, and PTO management together. Companies needing extensive enterprise analytics should compare reporting requirements before making a choice.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Pricing
- 30-day free trial, no credit card
- $5/month base plus $4 per employee/month (see how OnTheClock pricing works)
- Optional full-service payroll: $40/month base plus $6 per employee/month; one-time $250 implementation fee
GoodDay: Best for Project Management With Built-In Time Tracking
Available on: Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
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Why GoodDay Is Best for Project Management with Time Tracking
GoodDay is a strong choice for teams that need project management software with time tracking, as it links recorded hours to tasks, projects, and reports. Users can track time with a built-in task timer or add entries manually.
The platform also helps understand how project effort is distributed. Advanced reports and visual analytics show where time is being spent. Combining project management and time tracking can reduce duplicate entries and help teams review progress. It is geared toward project and task time rather than serving as a traditional attendance clock.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Pricing
- Free plan available; Professional: $4/user/month
- Business: $7/user/month
- Enterprise with custom pricing
Deputy: Best for Shift-Based Teams
Available on: Web, iOS, Android
Why Deputy Is Best for Shift-Based Teams
Deputy fits the shift-based business that lives on last-minute schedule changes: restaurants, retail shops, clinics, and hospitality teams where time tracking can't be separated from scheduling and compliance. The buyer is the manager who answers for both coverage and labor law.
Where it stands out is bringing attendance, fair scheduling, and compliance into one system. Supported punches can capture device-location records, managers can review attendance alerts, and configurable overtime and break settings help prepare timecards. Scheduling and payroll functions vary by plan; businesses seeking only a basic clock may not need the advanced options.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Pricing
- Free trial available
- Lite $5/user/month; Core $6.50/user/month; Pro $9/user/month; $30 monthly minimum
QuickBooks Time: Best for Payroll
Available on: Web, iOS, Android
Why QuickBooks Time Is Best for Payroll
QuickBooks Time, formerly TSheets, is built to take the stress out of payroll. It records employee hours and supports moving approved time into compatible QuickBooks accounting and payroll workflows. For businesses already using QuickBooks, it may reduce manual entry and reconciliation. The buyer is an owner or bookkeeper who needs reliable time sheets for payroll review.
Where it stands out is closing the gap between time tracking and payroll. Employees clock in from a phone, browser, or shared kiosk; supported GPS and geofencing records can help review clock-in locations; and managers transfer approved time sheets using compatible workflows. The caution is the cost of separate QuickBooks subscriptions and the configuration required for advanced workflows.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Pricing
- Time Premium: $20/month base + $10/user/month; Time Elite: $40/month base + $12/user/month
- QuickBooks Online subscription required separately; payroll may also require a separate subscription
Connecteam: Best for Remote Workforces
Available on: Web, iOS, Android
Why Connecteam Is Best for Remote Workforces
Connecteam fits the business with dispersed teams that need more than a punch clock. Employees can record time and jobs through Operations and communicate through the Communications hub, depending on the selected subscriptions. The buyer is the operations lead keeping crews aligned across locations.
Where it stands out is breadth for deskless teams: The Operations hub provides time tracking, scheduling, forms, and tasks, while the Communications hub provides messaging and updates. Paid hub subscriptions may incur additional charges, so evaluate the total cost for the features you need.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Pricing
- 14-day free trial available
- Free Small Business plan for up to 10 users; Operations Basic $35/month, Advanced $59/month, Expert $119/month for first 30 users; additional users and paid hubs cost extra
Beebole: Best for Project Tracking and Performance
Available on: Web, iOS, Android
Why Beebole Is Best for Project Tracking and Performance
Beebole combines time tracking with project financial management, so project managers and finance teams see cost, billing, and margin data without waiting on month-end reports. The buyer is the finance controller or project manager who needs project cost and budget information before billing.
Why Beebole Is Different
Resource planning connects directly to the time sheet. Managers assign work in the planning view, and those planned entries appear pre-populated in each employee's time sheet — employees confirm or adjust rather than starting from a blank grid, and managers see deviations between planned and actual time as they happen. Configurable cost and billing rates, reporting dimensions, and approvals can help teams assess labor costs and project progress. Available rate-management and approval features vary by plan, so businesses should review which capabilities are included.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Pricing
- Free plan: up to five users
- Essential: $10/user/month (monthly)
- Advanced: $20/user/month (monthly)
- 30-day free trial, no credit card required
Arcoro Time (Formerly ExakTime): Best for Heavy-Duty Tracking
Available on: Web, iOS, Android
Why Arcoro Time Is Best for Heavy-Duty Tracking
Arcoro Time is built for the tough environments where construction and field crews actually work. Its mobile and physical time clock options are designed for construction and field environments, including areas with limited connectivity. The buyer is the contractor or construction manager who needs accurate punches in the mud, under blazing sun, or at a remote site.
Supported photo and GPS-related records can help managers review punches and investigate discrepancies, while offline punching is available through supported workflows. Pricing requires a vendor quote, and hardware or configuration needs may add complexity.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Pricing
- Custom quote required; confirm plan, hardware, and implementation charges
ClockShark: Best for Construction and Field Services
Available on: Web, iOS, Android
Why ClockShark Is Best for Construction and Field Services
ClockShark is a time tracking and scheduling app designed specifically for construction, field services, and other industries where employees are always on the move. Most of the work happens out in the field, not behind a desk, so hours, jobs, and locations get messy fast without the right tool. The buyer is the contractor keeping projects on track and profitable.
Where it stands out is solving the biggest field pain points at once: Workers clock in from their phones with GPS-stamped records, and geofencing, job codes, and crew scheduling show who's working where and on what. Approved time sheets can support payroll and job-costing workflows. The key limitation is a three-year contract commitment, in addition to the monthly base and per-user fees.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Pricing
- 14-day free trial available
- Standard: $42/month base + $9.50/user/month; Pro: $63/month base + $11.50/user/month. Three-year contract applies to both plans
Jibble: Best for Companies Seeking GPS Functionality
Available on: Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Kiosk
Why Jibble Is Best for Companies Seeking GPS Functionality
Jibble is a comprehensive employee time sheet app that lets users maintain accurate time sheets and keep track of their team’s working hours while on the move. It offers mobile time tracking and supported GPS and biometric options, with feature availability depending on the plan.
What stands out is its flexibility and approachability. The platform offers broad compatibility across multiple devices and systems, from desktop to mobile to a physical kiosk app. It offers help resources and several clock-in methods, including mobile and kiosk options. Availability of advanced tracking and biometric features depends on the selected plan.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Pricing
- Free plan for unlimited users; Essential $3.49/user/month; Growth $5.99/user/month; Pro $10.99/user/month
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Tool | Best For | Pricing | Key Strengths | Top Integrations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OnTheClock | Best for small business management | $5/month base + $4/employee/month | Kiosk clock-in, GPS-related records, scheduling, PTO, audit trails | QuickBooks, ADP, Gusto, Square |
| GoodDay | Project management software with time tracking | Professional $4/user/month | Task timer, reports, and task connectivity | Integrations and API access; confirm connection methods |
| Deputy | Shift-based teams | Lite $5/user/month; $30 monthly minimum | Configurable pay rules, drag-and-drop scheduling, attendance alerts | ADP, Gusto, BambooHR, Lightspeed, NetSuite |
| QuickBooks Time | Payroll | $20 base + $10/user/month + required QuickBooks Online subscription | GPS tracking, real-time who's working, payroll sync | QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Payroll |
| Connecteam | Remote workforces | Free up to 10; Operations Basic $35/month for first 30 | Operations time clock and tasks; Communications chat | Payroll exports and supported integrations |
| Beebole | Project tracking and performance | Free up to 5 users; Essential $10/user/month | Project tracking, billable hours, custom reports | Data exports and API access |
| Arcoro Time | Heavy-duty tracking | Custom quote required | Rugged clocks, photo ID, job cost tracking | Sage, QuickBooks, ADP, Viewpoint, Procore |
| ClockShark | Construction and field services | Standard $42/month base + $9.50/user/month; 3-year contract | GPS, task tracking, scheduling; advanced costing in Pro | QuickBooks, ADP, Sage, Xero, Zapier |
| Jibble | Companies seeking GPS functionality | Free; Essential $3.49/user/month | Time tracking, GPS and biometric options by plan | Payroll exports and integration options |
Pricing and features reviewed October 2026. Standard U.S. monthly rates are shown where confirmed; base fees, separate subscriptions, plan limits, and contract terms may apply.
What's the Best Time Tracking Software for Your Business?
The best option isn't the one with the longest feature list. It's the one that fits how your team actually works. Start with one question: where do your employees clock in?
That answer points you fast.
- For small-business time tracking, OnTheClock combines attendance controls, scheduling, and payroll exports in one plan.
- For changing shift coverage, Deputy combines configurable pay rules and scheduling.
- For an existing QuickBooks workflow, QuickBooks Time can reduce manual time entry.
Field businesses may favor ClockShark or Arcoro Time; project teams may prefer GoodDay or Beebole; teams prioritizing a free plan may consider Jibble. Choose the tool that addresses your most important workflow.
What Time Tracking Software Actually Does
Time tracking software is a digital tool that records your employees' work hours, breaks, and overtime in one system. Instead of chasing paper time sheets or doing late-night payroll math, you can review employee hours and prepare approved records for payroll.
At its core, it can replace manual methods like paper time sheets, spreadsheets, and handwritten notes. Employees clock in and out via a mobile app, computer, or kiosk, and the system automatically stores every record. Digital records can reduce lost paperwork, make missed punches easier to investigate, and help resolve discrepancies before payroll.
Who Needs Time Tracking Software?
If you manage people who punch a clock, track shifts, or submit hours, you need time tracking software. It's not just for big corporations; small businesses often feel the pain most when hours are lost, or payroll errors pile up.
Construction crews clock in from their phones with GPS across multiple job sites. Restaurants and retail keep schedules, clock-ins, and labor costs aligned as shifts change fast. Health care offices cut manual entry on complex rotations. Remote and field teams gain accountability from anywhere. And small business owners automate hours so they can run the business instead of chasing time sheets. The common thread is simple: If payroll mistakes, compliance worries, or lost hours create stress, this software gives you control.
Why Businesses Lose Money Without Good Time Tracking
Work happens over long days, across changing shifts, and at more than one site. Small errors there don't stay small. A few padded minutes per worker, multiplied across a full schedule, add up to thousands of dollars a month in hours nobody worked.
The old way also breaks on compliance. Labor laws around overtime, breaks, and paid time off are hard to follow when records are kept on paper, so manual math misses the mark. A real time clock flags overtime early and proves breaks, which protects both pay and the budget. You can pair it with employee scheduling so hours and shifts finally match.
Key Features Time Tracking Software Should Have
Before comparing prices, make sure any tool covers the basics a business leans on.
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Mobile and GPS clock-ins: punch in from a phone while capturing location data for supported devices for review when it matters to off-site crews.
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Overtime and PTO tracking: real-time alerts and leave balances in one place, no juggling emails or calendars.
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Photo or biometric verification: supported PIN, photo, or biometric controls that help deter unauthorized punching.
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Job and project tracking: assign hours to a project or cost code to see where the budget goes.
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Payroll and HR integrations: supported exports or integrations that can reduce manual reentry after timecard review.
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Reports and dashboards: instant summaries of hours, overtime, and costs for the visibility managers need.
How to Choose the Right Time Tracking Software for Your Business
Step 1: Count your team and locations, then do the pricing math. Pricing splits several ways, and it changes the bill a lot. Per-user tools charge by head, some add a base fee, and some bill per module. For example, 25 employees using OnTheClock at $4/employee plus a $5 monthly base would cost $105/month for time tracking. The same team on a per-module tool can look cheaper until you add the modules you need. Run your actual headcount and site count before comparing a single feature.
Write down both numbers now: how many people punch, and how many locations they punch from. A single office and a field service with three territories will use different tools, even at the same headcount. The model, not the sticker price, decides the winner.
Step 2: Name your single biggest problem. Pick the one leak that hurts most: buddy punching, overtime compliance, or the payroll rebuild. Your answer points straight at a tool. If workers cover for each other at the station, supported Arcoro Time photo controls or OnTheClock kiosk and PIN options can discourage unauthorized punching and support manager review. If payroll accuracy keeps you up at night, QuickBooks Time may reduce manual data entry.
Don't try to solve all three at once. Fix the costliest one first, then confirm the tool handles the other two well enough. A clear top problem keeps you from paying for features you'll never turn on.
Step 3: Match the punch method to where people work. Decide where employees actually clock in. An office or shop wants a fixed kiosk with a PIN or photo. A field service wants a phone punch with GPS that stamps the job address. Test the method during a real shift change, when everyone is in a hurry.
If your team splits between the building and the field, pick a tool that handles both from a single account. OnTheClock and Connecteam both cover kiosk and mobile, so a mixed team doesn't run two systems.
Step 4: Verify accuracy and compliance. Set up your overtime, break, and rounding rules, then confirm the software applies them correctly. Check that edits are logged with an audit trail so you always know who changed what. The Department of Labor sets the federal floor, and many states stack stricter rules on top of it.
Ask each vendor to show the overtime setting, not just claim it. A tool that only counts weekly overtime will miss daily overtime and other rules, leaving you exposed. Test the applicable overtime rules with realistic sample timesheets.
Step 5: Handle multiple rates and job costing. A worker who floats between two roles, or logs hours against different jobs, has to be paid and costed right for each. Confirm the tool clocks one worker at more than one rate and keeps job costs straight. Then check those rates and codes carry through to the payroll export, not just the on-screen report.
Run a quick test with a sample split shift across two rates. If the totals come out clean, the tool can handle a real schedule. If they don't, you'll have to fix it by hand every period.
Step 6: Confirm the payroll connection. Check that the tool exports hours, overtime, and multiple rates to your payroll, whether that's QuickBooks, ADP, Gusto, or Paychex. Run a sample export and verify the data matches. OnTheClock also offers built-in payroll if you'd rather keep everything in one place.
A clean connection is where the time savings actually show up. The goal is one approval, then hours flow to pay without rekeying. Confirm the exact integration you need exists before you buy, not after.
Step 7: Run a free trial through one full pay period. Run the tool live through a real pay period, including nights and weekends, so you can see punches, overtime, and the payroll export under pressure. Trial lengths and free-plan eligibility vary by provider; OnTheClock offers a 30-day trial without a credit card. Have your actual staff clock in, not just an admin testing on a laptop.
Watch what happens at the messy edges: a missed punch, a swapped shift, a split across two rates. The tool that handles your worst day, not your average one, is the one to keep.
Tips for Rolling Out Time Tracking in Your Business
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Start with one team, not the whole company. Pilot the time clock on a single location or shift, work out the kinks, then roll it wider with a short how-to the team can trust.
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Explain the "why" upfront. Explain what information is collected, when photos or location data are captured, who can access it, and how records support fair payroll review.
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Set the rules to match labor law. Build your overtime plan and break rules into the tool from day one. The Department of Labor sets the federal floor, and many states stack stricter rules on top.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time tracking software?
For small business management, OnTheClock is a strong option. It offers supported GPS punching, scheduling, PTO, and payroll exports at $5/month base plus $4/employee/month. Shift-based teams may prefer Deputy, payroll-first businesses may prefer QuickBooks Time, and construction teams may prefer ClockShark, each matched to a specific situation in the list above.
How much does time tracking software cost?
Pricing depends on team size and features. Some platforms offer free plans, while others charge per employee, base fee, module, or location. OnTheClock time tracking costs $5/month base plus $4/employee/month, so a 15-person team costs $65/month before optional services. Count your team and locations before you compare.
Can employees clock in from their phones?
Absolutely. Mobile punching is common. Supported GPS and geofencing features can provide device-location records for managers to review; they do not independently verify who performed the work.
Can time tracking software stop buddy punching?
These tools can help deter buddy punching through supported PIN, photo, location, and biometric controls. No single method guarantees identity in every situation. Feature availability depends on the product and configuration.
Does time tracking software integrate with payroll systems?
Compatible tools can transfer or export approved hours to payroll, reducing manual entry. Connection methods vary by vendor, and managers should review exceptions first. Confirm the exact integration you need exists before you buy, then run a sample export to verify the data matches.
What happens if an employee forgets to clock in or out?
Missed-punch alerts, editing permissions, and audit trails vary by product and configuration. Managers should review and document corrections promptly, ideally before payroll processing.
