If you’ve ever spent a Monday morning texting foremen seeking missing hours or questioning overtime mistakes after a long week, you’re not alone. Time tracking in construction is messy, especially when crews are moving between sites, clocking in late, or writing hours on paper (if at all).
We’ve tested dozens of tools and talked to contractors who needed more than just a digital punch clock. They needed a construction time tracking system that works offline, tracks crews, handles job costing, and plays nice with payroll, without slowing down the field.
In this guide, you’ll find six construction-ready time tracking apps that solve real problems. Whether you’re managing union crews, juggling cost codes, or just tired of late-night payroll math, these tools help bring accuracy, visibility, and peace of mind to your job site hours.
Time tracking in construction isn’t just about clocking in and out; it’s about accuracy, accountability, and keeping payroll clean, even when your crew is working offline, across multiple job sites, or under union rules.
To find the best tools, we used a 100-point scoring system based on real job site needs. Here's what made the cut:
This checklist helped us zero in on systems that aren’t just built for construction — they’re built for crews who need to track time with confidence.
Available on: Web, iOS, Android
If you’re managing a small construction team – maybe five to 50 workers – you need a time-tracking system that’s easy to deploy, easy to use in the field, and doesn’t overwhelm you with features you’ll never use. At OnTheClock, I’ve worked with many small contractors who were getting bogged down with paper timecards, “who’s on site” calls, and last-minute overtime surprises. That’s why we built OnTheClock as a streamlined mobile-friendly platform that fits smaller crews without sacrificing key capabilities like job codes, mobile clock-in, and integration readiness.
Your foreman can open the mobile app, tap a job or cost code, clock the crew in, and head off with confidence that the office will see hours in real time. Your office manager won’t have to fix spreadsheets after hours. And you’ll maintain visibility over job costing and overtime without paying for enterprise features your crew will never use.
For a small construction company wanting to track time reliably, manage basic job codes, and reduce the chaos of Monday morning payroll corrections, OnTheClock delivers that mobile option with simplicity.
Intuitive and Easy to Use
All-in-One Solution
Great Customer Support
Budget-Friendly
Needs Internet or Wi-Fi Access to Work
Available on: Web, iOS, Android & Kiosk
When you’re running construction crews across multiple sites, compliance isn’t optional — it’s essential. ExakTime is a time tracking system that keeps workers on top of field hours, meal breaks, location verification, and cost-code allocations without losing the simplicity a crew needs.
If you’ve been chasing timecards at coffee shops, sorting through spreadsheets late nights, or are worried about audit risk from prevailing-wage jobs, this tool helps bring the field and office together. ExakTime connects mobile apps, rugged kiosks, and job site hardware so everyone clocks in, and you get the visibility.
Beyond just hours worked, ExakTime supports GPS geofencing, photo ID capture, equipment tracking, and certified payroll reporting, giving you the controls you need to stay compliant while keeping crews productive.
Accurate GPS Verification
Easy for Crews to Use
Job Costing Tools
Strong Payroll Integrations
Limited Customization Options
Occasional Sync or App Glitches
GPS Accuracy can Vary
Available on: Web, iOS and Android
If your team is out in the field — moving between job sites, switching tasks mid-shift, and using mobile devices more than desktop computers — ClockShark is an adequate platform built for that environment. With a mobile app designed for ease of use and crew-friendly scheduling tools, it lets foremen and managers stay in control without forcing workers into complicated workflows.
One foreman can clock in an entire crew via the “Crew Clock” feature, making it practical for job sites where not every worker has a smartphone. Its drag-and-drop schedule board lets you create, move, or copy shifts quickly, even when things change at the last minute. And because job costing is built into every shift, you get insight into how time breaks down by task, project, or cost code.
The mobile apps also support GPS location tracking, geofencing, and “Who’s Working Now” views so you can see where people are and what they’re doing. For a contractor seeking a construction time tracking system that seamlessly integrates field mobility with job costing and scheduling, ClockShark makes a compelling case.
Easy for Crews to Use
Excellent Customer Support
GPS/Geofence Accountability
Accelerates Payroll and Job Costing Processes
GPS/Sync Issues at Times
QuickBooks Setup Confusion
Limited Overtime Settings
Available on: Web, iOS and Android
If you prefer a single app instead of juggling five different ones, Connecteam is built for your world. It wraps time tracking, scheduling, communication, training, and forms into one mobile-first platform. Field workers clock in or out, update jobs, submit forms, and managers see everything from the office.
From a construction management standpoint, this matters. You’ll avoid chasing paper time sheets, missing crew updates, or filming job site sign-in and forms manually. Connecteam lets you schedule crews via mobile, track hours by job or task, send instant updates, and capture proof of work and safety tasks, all in real time. For instance, foremen can use the mobile time clock, the scheduler sends shifts to workers’ phones, and job costing links directly into those entries.
Another key benefit: Training and compliance live in the same app. You can assign mobile courses or safety checklists, track completion, and keep an audit trail, especially valuable when you’re juggling crews in the field and need proof of training or forms for audits. For contractors who want one tool for their crews, schedules, compliance, and time tracking -- and they want mobile simplicity -- Connecteam stands out.
Easy to Use
All-in-One Platform
Strong Team Communication
Quick Setup/Onboarding
No Offline Clock-Ins
Higher-Tier Pricing
Integration Gaps
Available on: Web, iOS, and Android
If your job sites aren’t just about tracking time, but also tracking machines — who’s using what, where it’s located, how many hours it’s on-site — then busybusy is built to deliver. With crews in the field and equipment moving from site to site, this app brings field data and asset data into the same mobile view.
From a mobile-first perspective, busybusy offers reliable clock-in/out even offline, GPS location and breadcrumb tracking of both personnel and equipment, and a clean mobile UI that crews can adopt quickly. What really sets it apart is the equipment tracking functions: idle hours vs. active hours, equipment lists by site, and operator logs attached to machines. For a mobile crew app that gives you oversight on labor and major assets, busybusy stands out.
That said, if you only need basic time tracking without heavy visual oversight of equipment or asset movement, you might find parts of the system over-built. Still, for mobile crews and site supervisors needing both time and asset control, busybusy offers a strong solution.
Intuitive and Easy to Use
Strong Job Costing
Reliable GPS
Clean Reporting
Occasional Glitches
Too Many Unused Features
GPS Requirements Feel Intrusive
Available on: Web, iOS and Android
If you’re managing multiple job sites and still using paper logs, spreadsheets, or end-of-week catch-ups, you’ll appreciate how Raken brings field data into one app. It’s built for job sites — crews input hours, progress, safety checks, and photos in real time -- and managers back in the office see it almost instantly.
Raken simplifies daily reporting in a way that helps you avoid surprises: no more digging through stacks of paper or wondering whether your timecards match what got done. With its mobile app, crews can clock in, upload photos, attach notes, track material or equipment use, and share it all with you at the office.
For contractors who value visibility as much as clock-in accuracy — especially when job site conditions, safety logs, quality inspections, and equipment usage come together — Raken provides a unified mobile platform your team can actually use. It’s not just about time tracking; it’s about turning field activity into documentation, insight, and profit.
Easy to Use
Excellent Daily Reports
Strong Documentation Tools
Great Customer Support
Occasional glitches
Adoption Difficulty
Confusing Features
Construction time tracking software works just like a regular time clock, but it has specific features designed for construction. For example, it includes job costing, so you can see how much time your crew spends on each project, phase, or task, not just total hours worked.
With construction time tracking software, you can:
Anyone managing a construction crew can benefit from a system that tracks time accurately and automatically. Whether you run a small contracting business, oversee multiple job sites, or manage a handful of field workers, reliable time tracking helps you stay organized and in control.
This kind of software is especially useful for:
If you’re managing people in the field, this tool saves you hours of admin time, reduces payroll mistakes, and gives you confidence that every minute worked is accounted for.
Time tracking tools allow construction companies to manage their teams and their resources with confidence. When you’re running projects across different sites, keeping track of who’s working, for how long, and on what job isn’t easy — especially when every hour affects your budget.
A construction time tracking system brings all of that information together. It helps you:
Accurate time data doesn’t just protect your bottom line — it protects your crew. It ensures that everyone is paid fairly, overtime rules are followed, and compliance records are readily available when needed.
Not all time tracking apps are built for construction. Fieldwork adds layers of complexity — multiple sites, variable shifts, heavy equipment, and crews that move daily. The best tools simplify all of it, helping you manage people, time, and costs from anywhere.
When choosing an app, make sure it includes features made for the job site:
A solid time tracking system does more than log hours — it builds trust, improves payroll accuracy, and gives you insight into where your projects stand day to day.
Choosing the right time tracking software for your construction team doesn’t have to be complicated. The best way to find the right fit is to walk through each step and match the software’s features to the way your crew actually works.
Step 1: Identify your field challenges
Start with what’s slowing you down today. Are your crews missing clock-ins? Is payroll taking hours to verify? Are you losing track of labor costs by job? Defining your pain points helps you focus on the tools that actually solve them — not just the ones with the longest feature list.
Step 2: Prioritize construction-specific features
Look for systems built with job sites in mind. A great construction time tracker should handle GPS verification, cost codes, crew clock-ins, and offline tracking. These features are what separate real job site tools from generic time clocks.
Step 3: Test how it fits your daily routine
Think about how your team starts and ends their day. If foremen clock-in crews, make sure the app allows mass punches. If your projects move daily, GPS geofencing and project-based job codes are essential. The right system should match your workflow, not force you to change it.
Step 4: Keep compliance top of mind
Labor laws, meal breaks, and certified payroll rules can cost you if ignored. Choose software that automatically applies overtime rules, tracks breaks, and keeps an audit trail. Compliance should be built in, not added later.
Step 5: Evaluate mobile usability
Your crew will use the app on their phones — probably with gloves on and low signal. Test how fast it opens, how clear the screens are, and whether it still works offline. If it’s not simple for your crew, they won’t use it.
Step 6: Check integrations before committing
A strong system should work with your payroll and accounting tools, like QuickBooks or ADP. If it doesn’t, you’ll end up doing double data entry. Integrations save hours every pay period and prevent manual errors.
Step 7: Run a pilot before rollout
Don’t onboard your whole company at once. Try it with one crew for two weeks. Track how long it takes to clock in, approve timecards, and sync payroll. If it feels natural in the field, it will scale easily across every project.
Step 8: Measure support and training quality
Even the best software fails without good onboarding. Look for responsive support, short setup guides, and an easy way to train your crew. The faster they get comfortable, the sooner you’ll see value.
Step 9: Compare your top two and decide
Once you’ve tested your options, compare them based on accuracy, mobile experience, and how well they fit your current workflow. The best time tracking system isn’t the most complex — it’s the one your crew actually uses every day.
Switching to a new time tracking system can feel like one more thing on your plate, but with the right approach, it becomes one of the easiest upgrades you’ll ever make. The key is to make it simple, clear, and consistent from day one.
Start small and build confidence: Begin with one crew or one project before rolling it out company-wide. This gives you time to iron out small issues, test the mobile app in the field, and collect honest feedback from the people actually using it.
Be upfront with your team: Explain why you’re changing systems and how it helps them — not just you. Accurate hours mean faster, more reliable paychecks, fewer disputes, and proof of work for clients. When your crew sees the benefit, adoption comes naturally.
Create a clear policy: Write down simple rules for clocking in, breaks, and job codes. Consistency prevents confusion later and makes payroll easier to verify. Keep it short and post it where everyone can see it — in the trailer, the app, or both.
Train in minutes, not hours: Walk your team through the basics: how to clock in, change job codes, and check their hours. Most of today’s tools only take a few taps, so a quick hands-on demo at the start of a shift is all it takes.
Appoint a crew champion: Pick one foreman or supervisor to help others get comfortable with the app. Having a go-to person in the field cuts down on calls to the office and keeps everyone on track.
Monitor, then fine-tune: For the first few weeks, check reports regularly to spot missing punches or issues with syncing. Use that data to adjust your workflow — maybe set up geofencing or add a break reminder if needed.
Celebrate quick wins: When your first payroll runs smoothly or you catch an error before it costs you overtime, call it out. Showing your team that the system works builds trust and keeps them engaged.