Best Time Tracking Software for Staffing Agencies in 2026

The best time tracking software for staffing agencies helps managers collect employee hours across client sites, review attendance records, and prepare accurate information for payroll and client billing. Approved hours provide a common starting point, but pay rates, client billing rates, and approvals require separate review.

Staffing agencies collect hours from employees working at multiple client locations, often under different schedules and approval processes. Inaccurate records, client billing disputes, and payroll corrections can reduce margins and add administrative work. For example, if 25 employees each have six minutes of verified inaccurate paid time across 20 shifts in a month, that represents 50 hours, or $1,000 at $20/hour before employer payroll costs. Not every discrepancy is intentional time theft.

No single tool wins for every agency. Here are seven options, each matched to a specific staffing-agency need, starting with small teams.

What Staffing Agencies Actually Want From Time Tracking

Agencies need reviewable attendance records. When a client questions an invoice, approved timecards, schedules, client confirmations, and placement documentation can help reconcile disputed hours. That need shapes every other choice on this list.

They also want hours that move cleanly into pay and billing. A temp roster changes weekly, overtime piles up fast on long placements, and the same hour feeds two ledgers at once. GPS time tr and configured overtime alerts help managers review attendance before payroll and client billing are prepared. Employee wages and client invoices may use different rates and contractual rules.

And they want it cheap to scale. You add and drop workers constantly, so per-user pricing and quick onboarding matter more than a long feature sheet. The right pick shifts with whichever of these you feel most.

Quick Picks: The Best Time Tracking Software for Staffing Agencies at a Glance

• OnTheClock: Best for small staffing agencies

• Connecteam: Best for distributed field crews

• Deputy: Best for high-volume shift scheduling

• Jibble: Best free option for agencies

• Buddy Punch: Best for discouraging buddy punching

• When I Work: Best for last-minute coverage

• Hubstaff: Best for remote back-office teams

How We Evaluated the Best Time Tracking Software for Staffing Agencies

We evaluated each product using the OnTheClock Staffing Agency Checklist, which covers eight practical considerations for staffing agencies:

• Location controls: GPS punch records and configurable geofencing that help managers review where supported punches occurred.

• Punch verification: supported photo, PIN, and facial-recognition controls that can discourage unauthorized punches and support manager review.

• Mobile punching: a mobile or shared-device time clock that is practical for employees at different client locations.

• Overtime alerts: alerts that help managers monitor approaching configured overtime thresholds.

• Clean payroll export: approved time records exported or integrated with payroll, with client invoicing evaluated separately.

• Client billing visibility: job and location assignments that support billing reconciliation, with client rates and approvals handled separately.

• Scheduling and coverage: fast shift building and swaps for a roster that changes weekly.

• Total cost: the real base fee plus per-user math as you add and drop workers.

OnTheClock is a strong option for small staffing agencies because one time tracking plan includes GPS-related attendance controls, configurable geofencing, kiosk and mobile punching, scheduling, PTO, and overtime alerts at $5/month base + $4/employee/month. Specialized placement management, client approvals, and invoicing should be evaluated separately.

The Best Time Tracking Software for Staffing Agencies

Here are seven time tracking software options for staffing agencies, with a recommended choice for each situation. For each one, we cover whom it fits best, where it stands out, and where it may not be the right move.

1

OnTheClock: Best for Small Staffing Agencies

Available on: Web, iOS, Android

Why OnTheClock Is Best for Small Staffing Agencies

OnTheClock fits a small staffing agency collecting hourly worker time from different client locations. Picture a 20-person agency with employees assigned to warehouses and event sites. Managers need reviewable attendance records, reliable scheduling, and payroll-ready hours without a complicated workforce-management system. OnTheClock supports mobile punches, GPS-related attendance records on compatible devices, and timecard approvals.

Its time tracking plan combines attendance controls, scheduling, PTO, and overtime tools. GPS records, configurable geofencing, and IP restrictions help managers review and manage supported punch locations. Kiosk mode with a PIN can support shared devices where the client permits them. Overtime alerts monitor configured thresholds, and timecard reviews help resolve discrepancies before payroll. OnTheClock offers phone, live chat, and email support.

Why OnTheClock Is Different

Core time tracking, GPS-related attendance controls, scheduling, PTO, and overtime features are included at $5/month base + $4/employee/month. A 25-employee staffing agency pays $105/month for time tracking, before optional payroll. Full-service OnTheClock Payroll costs $40/month base + $6/employee/month, plus a one-time $250 implementation fee. Approved hours can also support job-cost and client-billing review; confirm how they move into your invoicing system.

It stays honest about the trade-off. Employees need a working internet connection to submit punches, so test connectivity at temporary or remote client locations. Specialized staffing, client-approval, and invoicing workflows may require other tools. OnTheClock provides payroll exports and integrations involving Gusto, QuickBooks, ADP, Paychex, and SurePayroll; available connection methods vary by provider.

Key Features

✓ GPS, geofencing, and IP punch controls

✓ Kiosk, mobile, and web punching

✓ Drag-and-drop scheduling and PTO

✓ Overtime alerts and timecard reviews

✓ Job costing and payroll integrations

Pros

✓ Attendance controls, scheduling, and PTO in one plan

✓ Predictable base and per-employee monthly pricing

✓ Phone, live chat, and email support

✓ Optional full-service payroll processing

✓ 30-day free trial, no credit card

Cons

✕ Punches need an internet or Wi-Fi connection

✕ Reporting is lighter than enterprise suites

✕ Client approvals and invoicing may require additional tools

Pricing

• 30-day free trial, no credit card
• $5/month base + $4/employee/month (see how OnTheClock pricing works)
• Optional full-service payroll: $40/month base + $6/employee/month; one-time $250 implementation fee

2

Connecteam: Best for Distributed Field Crews

Available on: Web, iOS, Android

Why Connecteam Is Best for Distributed Field Crews

Connecteam fits agencies managing distributed employees at warehouses and job sites. Its Operations hub includes GPS-related time tracking, scheduling, tasks, and forms; messaging and some people-management tools belong to separate Communications or HR hubs. That mix can help coordinate deskless teams, but agencies should price each required hub before subscribing.

Operations Basic includes GPS-enabled time clock features. Advanced adds time clock customization and up to 10 geofence sites; Expert supports unlimited geofence sites. The free Small Business plan supports up to 10 users; confirm its advanced location controls. Each paid Operations tier includes the first 30 users, with additional per-user charges. If you only need attendance, compare a simpler time clock before purchasing multiple hubs.

Key Features

✓ GPS-enabled time clock; geofencing varies by plan

✓ Scheduling, forms, and tasks in Operations; messaging in Communications

✓ Mobile-first deskless design

✓ Geofencing and location controls on eligible plans

Pros

✓ Time tracking and team tools across available hubs

✓ Free for up to 10 users

✓ Flat price for the first 30 users

✓ Mobile attendance and scheduling tools for field employees

Cons

✕ Advanced geofencing controls require higher tiers

✕ Teams with more than 10 users need a paid subscription

✕ Many modules can overwhelm a small office

Pricing

• Free Small Business plan for up to 10 users
• Operations Basic $35/month; Advanced $59/month; Expert $119/month for the first 30 users; extra users and separately purchased hubs cost more

3

Deputy: Best for High-Volume Shift Scheduling

Available on: Web, iOS, Android

Why Deputy Is Best for High-Volume Shift Scheduling

Deputy fits the agency that fills a wall of shifts every week. For agencies managing large rosters, auto-scheduling and demand forecasting can reduce manual scheduling work. Deputy builds shifts from your rules, fills open slots, and lets workers swap or claim coverage from the app. Its time clock then captures the punch against the schedule, so hours and shifts line up.

The honest cautions are tier and minimum. Lite starts at $5/user/month; Core adds advanced scheduling tools from $6.50/user/month, and Pro starts at $9/user/month. A $30 monthly minimum applies. Confirm facial-recognition kiosk and approval features for your chosen configuration. Larger rosters can make scheduling features more valuable. If you're weighing it against a flat-rate punch tool, read our Deputy alternatives breakdown.

Key Features

✓ Auto-scheduling and demand forecasting

✓ Time clock with geofencing

✓ Kiosk and facial-recognition options on eligible plans

✓ Shift swaps and open shifts

Pros

✓ Powerful scheduling for big rosters

✓ Scheduling rules and attendance tools support compliance workflows

✓ Free trial available

✓ Clean payroll and HR integrations

Cons

✕ Advanced scheduling and attendance vary by tier

✕ $30 monthly minimum spend

✕ More than a tiny agency needs

Pricing

• Free trial available
• Lite $5/user/month; Core $6.50/user/month; Pro $9/user/month; $30 monthly minimum

4

Jibble: Best Free Option for Agencies

Available on: Web, iOS, Android

Why Jibble Is the Best Free Option for Agencies

Jibble offers free time tracking for unlimited users, making it an option for budget-conscious staffing agencies. Its facial-recognition and GPS-related attendance tools can support manager punch reviews on eligible configurations. Confirm current free-plan geofencing limits and other restrictions before deploying it at multiple client sites.

The free plan covers basic attendance needs. Jibble now uses Essential, Growth, and Pro paid tiers, with advanced policies, leave-management options, geofencing, and integrations varying by configuration. Payroll processing requires a separate provider. Confirm paid subscription rates at checkout.

Key Features

✓ Free for unlimited users

✓ GPS-related attendance records and location options

✓ Facial-recognition punches on supported configurations

✓ Payroll and accounting exports

Pros

✓ Genuinely free for unlimited users

✓ Facial-recognition options support attendance reviews

✓ Simple, fast mobile punching

✓ Mobile and kiosk attendance options

Cons

✕ Payroll processing requires a separate provider

✕ Advanced policies depend on the paid plan

✕ Geofencing limits vary by subscription

Pricing

• Free forever for unlimited users
• Essential $3.49/user/month; Growth $5.99/user/month; Pro $10.99/user/month. Verify current rates at checkout

5

Buddy Punch: Best for Discouraging Buddy Punching

Available on: Web, iOS, Android

Why Buddy Punch Is Best for Discouraging Buddy Punching

Buddy Punch offers supported Face ID and webcam photo controls that can discourage unauthorized punches and help managers review attendance discrepancies. Webcam photos and PIN/kiosk punching are available on Pro and Advanced. Face ID options vary by configuration. Client-site devices and kiosk use should be approved by the host business before rollout.

A $19 monthly base fee applies on top of each plan's per-user rate. Starter costs $5.99/user/month; Pro $7.99; Advanced $13.99. Eligible Starter punches can record GPS coordinates; geofencing varies by plan or add-ons. Optional real-time GPS tracking costs $2/user/month on eligible plans, while Starter scheduling costs $1/user/month and is included on Pro and Advanced. Compare photo-punch time clocks before committing.

Key Features

✓ Supported Face ID controls and webcam photos on eligible plans

✓ GPS punch coordinates; geofencing options vary by tier

✓ Kiosk and mobile clock-in

✓ Payroll integrations and time reports

Pros

✓ Controls that can discourage buddy punching

✓ Simple, clean interface

✓ Low starting per-user price

✓ Attendance review tools on supported configurations

Cons

✕ $19 base fee hits small teams hardest

✕ Geofencing and kiosk features vary by plan

✕ Real-time GPS tracking is a paid add-on

Pricing

• 14-day free trial, no credit card
• Starter $5.99/user/month; Pro $7.99/user/month; Advanced $13.99/user/month; each plus a $19 monthly base fee

6

When I Work: Best for Last-Minute Coverage

Available on: Web, iOS, Android

Why When I Work Is Best for Last-Minute Coverage

When I Work fits the agency that lives on no-shows and same-day fills. OpenShifts and quick shift swaps let a manager post an open slot and let qualified workers grab it from their phones. When a temp drops at 6 a.m., you fill the client's shift before the doors open. For coverage speed, the scheduling tools shine.

When I Work offers Essentials at $2.50/user/month, Pro at $5/user/month, and Premium at $8/user/month. Scheduling, OpenShifts, shift swaps, and team messaging make it especially useful for agencies managing frequent coverage changes.

OpenShifts, shift swaps, and messaging can help fill unexpected client vacancies. Because the pricing page includes a Time Tracking & Attendance selection, confirm which attendance capabilities and monthly total apply to your selected plan.

Key Features

✓ OpenShifts and shift swapping

✓ Time and attendance options with plan-specific GPS controls

✓ Multi-location scheduling

✓ Team messaging built in

Pros

✓ Fast open-shift coverage

✓ Low base scheduling price

✓ 14-day free trial, no credit card

✓ Team messaging supports shift coordination

Cons

✕ Attendance availability and cost depend on configuration

✕ Built more around scheduling than payroll

✕ Confirm attendance and payroll features before buying

Pricing

• 14-day free trial, no credit card
• Essentials $2.50/user/month; Pro $5/user/month; Premium $8/user/month. Confirm Time Tracking & Attendance configuration at checkout

7

Hubstaff: Best for Remote Back-Office Teams

Available on: Web, iOS, Android

Why Hubstaff Is Best for Remote Back-Office Teams

Hubstaff fits agencies managing remote recruiters, data-entry placements, and support employees. It combines time records and activity-related reporting with project budgets and client invoicing capabilities. Agencies should confirm that client approval, contract rates, and invoicing workflows fit their placements before relying on those features.

Project budgeting and invoicing can be useful for remote office placements, although screenshot and activity monitoring may be more intrusive than some teams need. GPS-related features, scheduling, and location add-ons vary by configuration. Hubstaff has a two-seat minimum, including for a one-person subscription.

Key Features

✓ Time tracking with activity insight

✓ Project budgets and invoicing

✓ GPS-related job site records on supported configurations

✓ Scheduling and shift management

Pros

✓ Activity and time reports for supported desktop work

✓ Invoicing and project budgets built in

✓ Project budgets help monitor costs across client assignments

✓ 14-day free trial, no credit card

Cons

✕ Screenshots can feel like heavy monitoring

✕ Location controls and scheduling vary by configuration

✕ Two-seat minimum even for one user

Pricing

• 14-day free trial, no credit card
• Starter $7/user/month; Grow $9/user/month; Team $12/user/month; two-seat minimum. Confirm location add-ons

What's the Best Time Tracking Software for Staffing Agencies?

The best option depends on where your hours leak, not on the longest feature list. Start with one question: what breaks most often on payroll night?

• Need attendance controls, scheduling, PTO, and payroll-ready hours in one affordable plan? OnTheClock fits small staffing agencies.
• Place remote back-office employees? Hubstaff offers time reports, project budgets, and invoicing tools that should be checked against client contract requirements.
• Have no software budget yet? Jibble tracks unlimited workers for free.

Match the tool to your biggest problem, and the rest of the decision gets easier.

What Is Time Tracking Software for Staffing Agencies?

Time tracking software for staffing agencies collects employee hours across placements and provides reviewable digital timecards. On supported configurations, it also records location or job assignments for manager review. Client approvals may still be necessary.

GPS-related attendance records and configured overtime alerts can support payroll preparation. Approved hours are a shared starting point, but employee pay rates, client billing rates, contract terms, and invoicing require separate review.

Who Needs Time Tracking Software at a Staffing Agency?

Staffing agencies that employ hourly workers and reconcile time across client placements can benefit from digital time tracking. Even a small agency may save administrative time by collecting timecards, recording approvals, and reducing manual payroll corrections.

Temp agencies, light-industrial staffing, healthcare and home-care placement, event and hospitality crews, and security firms all qualify. If you're chasing punches by text on payday, you're the audience.

Why Staffing Agencies Rely on Time Tracking Software

Employees often work at client locations, and questions about timecards can affect payroll and client billing. Accurate, reviewable records can help reconcile disputes when combined with client approvals, placement records, and agreed contract terms.

Manual records can create payroll and invoicing discrepancies, while federal wage-and-hour rules require employers to maintain accurate records of compensable work time. The U.S. Department of Labor requires employers to keep complete and accurate time records under the FLSA recordkeeping rules. Digital time tracking helps organize those records and provides exports or integrations for scheduling and payroll.

Key Features Staffing Agency Time Tracking Software Should Have

Before you compare prices, make sure any tool covers the basics that staffing actually needs.

• GPS and geofencing: supported location records and configurable restrictions help managers review punch locations.

• Photo and identity controls: supported identity controls that can discourage buddy punching and support manager review.

• Mobile clock-in: a reliable phone punch for workers who never see your office.

• Overtime alerts: notifications for approaching applicable overtime thresholds.

• Clean payroll export: approved hours exported or integrated with payroll; verify client invoicing separately.

• Job and location tags: assignments that support job-cost reviews and client-billing reconciliation.

How to Choose the Right Time Tracking Software for Staffing Agencies

Step 1: Count your placements and active sites, then do the pricing math. Start with real numbers. Count the workers you place in a busy week and the client sites they cover, because per-user pricing decides your true cost, not the headline rate.

Run two quotes side by side. A 25-employee staffing agency pays $105/month for OnTheClock time tracking, before optional payroll. At $9/user/month, 25 Hubstaff Grow seats cost $225/month before applicable add-ons; the two-seat minimum does not add a separate fee for a 25-person team.

Now factor churn. Agencies frequently add and deactivate employees, so compare vendor billing for active, inactive, seasonal, and returning workers, including minimum seats and reactivation rules.

Step 2: Name the single problem that costs you most. Pick one. Disputed client hours, buddy punching, and payroll-night rework each point to a different tool, and chasing all three at once leads to an overbuilt plan you won't use.

Be honest about the dollars. If disputed hours delay client billing or require manual reconciliation, evaluate approval histories, employee assignments, and exportable time records. Photo and facial-recognition controls may help discourage unauthorized punches.

Write the top problem down before you demo anything. It keeps a slick sales call from selling you features that don't fix your leak.

Step 3: Match the punch method to where temps actually work. Field crews need a phone punch. A shared client location may benefit from a kiosk with a PIN or a mobile punch, depending on the client's device rules and employee access. An office placement may only need a web clock.

Many agencies combine mobile, shared-device, and web punches. OnTheClock, Connecteam, and Deputy offer supported punch methods; confirm availability, client device policies, and required subscriptions before rollout.

Test the punch on a cheap Android tablet or two before you roll it out. The device that fails at the loading dock is the one that creates the missed punch you're trying to prevent.

Step 4: Review GPS records and geofencing options for each client site. GPS-related records help managers review where supported punches occurred. Depending on product and configuration, a geofence may restrict punches or flag a location discrepancy; it does not independently prove compensable hours worked.

Confirm which tier unlocks it. OnTheClock includes configurable geofencing; Jibble, Deputy, and Hubstaff offer location controls with plan-specific restrictions or add-ons. Confirm exact entitlements and costs before comparing quotes.

Ask vendors for sample location records and approval histories. Compare them with schedules and client confirmation procedures rather than assuming GPS alone will resolve disputes.

Step 5: Configure overtime rules before your first payroll run. Overtime errors can create payroll corrections and compliance risks. Under the FLSA, covered nonexempt employees generally receive at least 1.5 times their regular rate for hours worked beyond 40 in an established workweek, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

Set the rules before payday, not after. A tool with daily and weekly overtime alerts, like OnTheClock, helps managers monitor thresholds and plan staffing while ensuring all compensable hours are paid, including hours disputed by a client.

Map your state rules too. Some states impose daily overtime or meal-and-rest-break requirements. Aggregate applicable hours across a worker's placements within the established workweek; do not calculate federal overtime for each client assignment separately. Staffing agencies and clients may be joint employers depending on the circumstances, so review applicable responsibilities and contracts.

Step 6: Confirm the payroll and invoicing export path. Trace one employee's hours from clock-in through timecard approval, payroll processing, and client invoicing. Verify how employee pay rates, client bill rates, overtime provisions, and client approvals are handled. Employees must be paid for all compensable work even if a client disputes an invoice.

Check the named integrations. OnTheClock supports payroll exports or integrations involving Gusto, QuickBooks, ADP, Paychex, and SurePayroll; available methods vary by provider. Hubstaff offers integrations involving QuickBooks, Gusto, PayPal, and Deel. Optional full-service OnTheClock Payroll costs $40/month base + $6/employee/month, plus a one-time $250 implementation fee. Confirm whether client approvals and invoicing are handled in separate systems.

Run a test export during the trial. A file that needs hand-editing every week is a hidden labor cost no demo will mention.

Step 7: Test the tool through a full pay period before you commit. A 14-day or 30-day trial only proves something if you run real punches through it. Test through a complete pay period when the trial permits. For shorter trials, request an extension or test payroll exports using sample data.

Watch the rough edges. Time how long approvals take, count the missed punches, and check whether the support team answers fast when a punch goes wrong on payday.

Then add up the true monthly cost using your real headcount and required add-ons. Choose a tool that produces accurate records and fits your approval and payroll workflow.

Tips for Implementing Time Tracking Software at Your Staffing Agency

• Onboard temps in batches. Send a one-page punch guide with the placement confirmation, so a new worker can clock in on day one without a call to your office.

• Set geofences per client site first. Configure geofences for eligible client locations, then test how the software handles punches inside and outside each area.

• Lock overtime and break rules early. Configure overtime, meal-break, and rest-break rules before payroll and review the applicable federal overtime standard alongside state and local requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions