Honest Buddy Punch Review 2026: Pros, Cons, Features & Pricing Breakdown

Key Takeaways

• ✔ Easy to use and ideal for basic time tracking: Buddy Punch offers a clean interface, quick setup, and scheduling tools that are included with Pro and Advanced or available as a paid Starter add-on.
• ✔ Limited features without upgrades: Some tools, including real-time GPS, offline punching, advanced reporting, and dedicated support, require specific plans or add-ons. Advanced reporting costs $2/user/month on Starter and Pro but is included with Advanced. Standard reports and chat/email support are available on all plans.
• ✔ Mobile app feels overly simple: The app felt sparse during my trial, although mobile timecards, scheduling, and time-off functions are supported when configured.
• ✔ Dedicated support requires Advanced: Chat and email support are included with all plans; Advanced adds dedicated support, but phone support is not offered.
• ✔ OnTheClock offers better value and flexibility: OnTheClock includes scheduling, PTO, and standard attendance controls at $5/month base plus $4 per active employee/month, with phone, chat, and email support and supported payroll connections.

Buddy Punch is a web-based time tracking and workforce management tool designed for businesses to record employee hours, manage schedules, and simplify payroll. It’s primarily geared toward small to medium-sized companies.

Verdict: Is Buddy Punch Worth It?

Score: 7/10

Buddy Punch is a clean, straightforward time tracking platform that does exactly what it claims: track hours, manage schedules, and help small to mid-sized businesses keep tabs on employee time. It’s web-based, easy to learn, and offers solid timecard functionality and scheduling on Pro and Advanced (or as a paid Starter add-on) without overwhelming users.

The platform is clearly built with traditional service businesses in mind — retail, hospitality, health care, education, and similar industries where shift scheduling and punch accuracy matter most. From a usability standpoint, Buddy Punch delivers a smooth onboarding experience, reliable mobile punching, and simple administrative controls.

That said, Buddy Punch begins to show its limits as operational needs grow. Some advanced functions cost more: real-time GPS is a paid add-on on Starter and Pro, scheduling costs extra on Starter, and advanced reporting costs $2/user/month on Starter and Pro, while dedicated support requires Advanced. Basic reporting, payroll integrations, and chat and email support are available across plans; full-service payroll costs extra. The tiered pricing can still add up as a business grows.

Overall, Buddy Punch is a competent time tracking solution for businesses with straightforward needs and predictable workflows. Businesses that need advanced features should compare the total cost of the right plan and add-ons before committing.

The following comprehensive review will score Buddy Punch from every angle and explain exactly how we landed at this rating. 

Pricing

Score: 5/10

Buddy Punch plans are available in three tiered options. Each has a $19 monthly base fee. Standard month-to-month rates are Starter $5.99/user, Pro $7.99/user, and Advanced $13.99/user. Starter includes time tracking, PTO, GPS coordinates recorded at punch events, standard reporting, payroll integrations, and chat/email support. Scheduling costs $1/user/month on Starter and is included with Pro and Advanced. Unlike punch-location stamps, real-time GPS can track an employee’s location throughout a shift when enabled; it costs $2/user/month on Starter and Pro and is included with Advanced. Pro adds offline punching, basic geofencing, webcam photos, PIN/QR kiosk options, and API access. Advanced includes advanced reporting without the $2/user/month add-on fee, plus single sign-on, higher API limits, dedicated support, and priority onboarding. 

The pricing is fairly steep when compared to other options, such as OnTheClock. The base fee of $19, without any employees added, doesn’t make it an easy choice. The per-user cost increases by tier, although chat and email support are included in every plan; Advanced adds dedicated support. Extended data retention is billed at $24/user/year (equivalent to $2/user/month) for six years of records. Advanced reporting costs $2/user/month on Starter and Pro and is included with Advanced. For 10 employees, Starter costs $78.90/month before optional services.

Getting Started on a Web Browser

My journey began with a visit to the Buddy Punch website (buddypunch.com) to create an account. There, I was greeted with the claim that Buddy Punch is “The Most Awarded Employee Time Clock Software.” Multiple badges from various websites tout a 4.8-star rating. 

I was offered a 14-day free trial upon activation and navigated a login screen that allowed me to sign in using a Google/Apple account or my email address. 

Upon starting a new account, I was prompted to enter my company name, identify my business type from a drop-down menu, input my time zone, and toggle the number of individuals my company employs. 

Then, I selected my pay frequency, the start of my pay period, how I heard about the solution, and my current job role. 

I then proceeded to identify my preferred employee punch-in method (username & password, four-digit pin, QR Code, etc.) and the type of devices my employees will be using (desktop/laptop, mobile, tablet, etc.). Overall, the process was smooth and simple. 

Getting Started on a Mobile App as an Employee

Downloading the mobile app took mere seconds, and the login screen offered generous options, including the ability to log in from Google or Apple, sign in with Face ID, scan a QR code, or use a pin code. Face ID is an authentication method for signing in on a compatible device, not a webcam photograph taken to verify an individual punch. The prompt may be switched to Spanish by toggling to the appropriate flag, which was yet another nice feature.  

Once I had logged in, I was prompted to punch in by tapping an easily identifiable, long red bar that covered most of the screen. 

Once I punched in, my time was confirmed and frozen for me to see at any time. A circle with a plus sign allowed me to "take a picture." The ability to visually document my punch location (or anything else I’d like to note) was a nice touch. A text box prompted me to include a note with my punch. 

The bottom of the screen offered me shortcuts to schedule and timecard icons. Clicking the schedule icon allowed me to preview my week's schedule (assuming one has been created), and the timecards icon displays punches by day. The dates of the current pay period are clearly listed in the top-left corner. 

A hamburger menu in the top left offered shortcuts to the timecards, schedule, settings, and notifications. A user may also easily log out from this menu.  

That was the layout I saw during my trial. Some location tools and other features require administrator setup or a qualifying plan, but mobile time-off requests, balances, and approvals are supported once configured. Pro and Advanced also offer administrator-enabled offline punching through the mobile app. Employees must sign in while connected and remain signed in; unsynced punches can be lost if they sign out offline. Punches sync when service returns, while web and PIN/QR kiosk punching require connectivity. The interface still felt almost too simple compared with alternative options.  

Getting Started on the Mobile App as an Admin

Immediately after logging in, a dashboard displayed which of my employees were in, and the times and days they punched in. 

Clickable tags allow me to see who’s out and today’s schedule as well. 

The same three icons (punch, schedule, timecards) populated the bottom of the screen. Time off was added once it was set up. The admin hamburger menu granted me a look at pending punch approvals, shifts by day, and any notifications. A user could also log out from this screen. 

The biggest difference between the admins and the employees lies in the settings tab. Admins have control over locations, department codes, positions, geofences, language, and more. 

Overall, the app was simple to navigate. Its black-and-white approach was sort of blah, and the lack of options limited the software's usability, especially for employees. 

Adding Employees

Score: 9/10

Next, I added employees by inputting their first and last names, email addresses, usernames, and passwords. After adding the employees, I was asked which features I was most interested in (punch time clock, scheduling, time off, job codes, GPS, alerts, etc.). 

Once that was done, a short video tutorial on time tracking and scheduling appeared. 

Overall, the experience was fairly quick and easy. I particularly enjoyed the tutorial videos at the end, which provided a helpful overview of the time tracking features and a personal, human-led interaction with the software. 

Clocking In

Score: 9/10

Clocking in is simple. As previously mentioned, the clock-in button is prominently featured in an elongated box near the bottom of the introductory screen on the mobile app. The same prominent control then becomes a punch-out button, allowing users to clock out using a similar process. Its appearance may vary by app version and punch status. 

Once clocked in, an employee can add a note simply by tapping and typing in the appropriate thread. 

Scheduling

Score: 9/10

After completing the sign-up process, I decided to create a schedule for my employees. This is where Buddy Punch shines. Scheduling is included with Pro and Advanced and can be added to Starter for $1/user/month. Making shifts was straightforward. I simply clicked on a date and added the punch times. 

I also had the option to set these shifts as recurring throughout the week. Once the schedule was in place, I could publish it to all employees or select a specific group.

Additionally, if my schedule remained the same, I could easily copy the template to the following week. There was also a feature that allowed me to add open shifts for employees to pick up. 

Overall, the scheduling process was simple yet comprehensive, offering useful features, such as template creation, open shifts, and selective publishing to employees. 

Timecards

Score: 8/10

Buddy Punch’s timecards were easy to use and very straightforward as well. There were no bells and whistles or complicated menus to navigate. The timecard view was clean and easy to read. Editing timecards was also very easy and user-friendly. Managers can add, edit, or delete time entries if someone forgot to punch in/out or if adjustments are needed. You can also add durations for specific dates and assign job codes if your organization uses them. 

Timecards can be approved, rejected, or reset for correction and locked to prevent further edits by employees. Employees see a “Submit for Approval” button when a timecard is ready. Once submitted, the timecard’s status becomes “Pending Approval.”

Customer Support

Score: 5/10

Support is a very important part of any time tracking company. Having a real person to talk with when I have a question about the system is crucial. The support during the trial was excellent; they provided clear instructions on how to operate the system and tried to assign me an onboarding agent to help me complete my account setup. Buddy Punch includes chat and email support on Starter, Pro, and Advanced. Its Advanced plan adds dedicated support, while telephone support is not offered. I could not compare response times across paid plans during my trial. 

On the web, clicking Support took me to a help center that allowed me to search for answers to a wide variety of questions. 

As I only had a 14-day trial, I could not evaluate ongoing paid-plan support quality. My 5/10 score reflects that limited firsthand test and the lack of phone support, not an absence of chat or email assistance on lower tiers. 

Chat

Score: 0/10

Buddy Punch does not offer a built-in employee-to-employee team messaging feature comparable to a dedicated workforce chat app. This score concerns internal team messaging, not the live chat available for customer support. 

Time Off

Score: 8/10

Time off may be set up by admins on a web browser. Inside the Time Off tab, admins can toggle time off on/off, choose whether to allow employees to view their time off calendar, and allow employee time off accruals.

Buddy Punch offers four types of time off: holiday, personal time, sick, and vacation. Each type may be edited, allowing users to change the name, abbreviation, whether to include time off in accruals, which employee is eligible for each category, whether an employee has been assigned time off, and whether the time off is paid or unpaid. 

Accrual rules can easily be set up for individual employees or the entire team, and blackout dates can be assigned as well. A company calendar option shows time off across the entire business. 

Account-level time-off policies can be set up through the web platform. Employees can request time off, review balances, and view time-off history on mobile; managers can review and respond to requests in the app. 

Payroll

Score: 8.5/10

Accessing the payroll option within the settings tab, I opened a landing page describing Buddy Punch’s payroll feature. The page advertised a setup process that takes 10 minutes and promoted the potential to save time and reduce costs. My 8.5/10 score reflects the payroll presentation and setup information I reviewed, not a completed payroll run or independently tested tax filings. 

Users are encouraged to schedule a demo or immediately add payroll to the account. Buddy Punch Payroll costs an additional $49/month base plus $8/user/month on top of a time tracking plan. For 10 employees on Starter, that is $207.90/month total ($78.90 for Starter time tracking and $129 for payroll), before other add-ons. 

A list of frequently asked questions covers the cost, how long it takes, when employees are paid, etc. 

The page explained payroll pricing and setup, but I did not process a live payroll during my review. Businesses considering the add-on should verify onboarding requirements, tax filing coverage, and the total subscription cost before enrolling. 

After signing up for Buddy Punch, the company's email outreach focused heavily on prompting immediate setup and employee activity.

I received nine emails within my first week. One, for example, was largely instructional, notifying me that my account setup is complete but that employee time tracking has not yet begun. It walked me through the next steps, starting with adding employees either individually or via a bulk upload template. The email included links to live walkthroughs and help articles and encouraged me to reach out to support or start a live chat if assistance is needed. The message clearly outlines a step-by-step path to getting employees to punch in and out.

A second email reinforced this same goal with a simpler, more condensed approach. It emphasized the importance of getting employees actively tracking time during the free trial and introduced a “15-minute Quick Start Guide.” This guide highlighted three core actions: adding employees, starting time tracking, and running reports for payroll. The email is short, direct, and signed by a cofounder, which adds a personal touch without being aggressive.

Overall, Buddy Punch’s onboarding emails are task-driven and utilitarian. They prioritize speed to activation, provide clear instructional resources, and repeatedly guide users toward the same outcome: adding employees and beginning time tracking as quickly as possible. While there were quite a few emails, the outreach is helpful and straightforward, though largely focused on setup mechanics rather than broader use cases or long-term value.

Buddy Punch Pros

1. Easy to Learn and Quick to Set Up: The onboarding process is straightforward, with guided setup steps and short tutorial videos that make it easy to get started.
2. Clean, User-Friendly Interface: Both the web platform and mobile app are simple to navigate, with minimal clutter and intuitive menus.
3. Flexible Punch-In Options: Employees can sign in with usernames and passwords or compatible-device Face ID; PIN and QR kiosk punching are available on Pro and Advanced. Face ID authenticates app sign-in rather than photographing each punch.
4. Reliable Mobile Time Tracking: The mobile app offers fast punch-ins, punch confirmations, punch notes, and optional photo attachments.
5. Strong Scheduling Features: On Pro and Advanced, scheduling includes recurring shifts, templates, open shifts, and selective publishing; Starter can add it for $1/user/month.
6. Straightforward Timecards: Timecards are easy to read and edit, with simple approval workflows and the ability to lock timecards after submission.
7. Customizable Time-Off Policies: Admins can create multiple time-off types, set accrual rules, assign blackout dates, and view a company-wide time-off calendar.
8. Admin Control Over Locations and Roles: Admins can manage locations, department codes, positions, geofences, and language settings from the admin dashboard.
9. Available Payroll Add-On: Buddy Punch offers an integrated payroll option for businesses that want time tracking and payroll in one system.
10. Free 14-Day Trial: Users can fully test the platform before committing.

Buddy Punch Cons

1. Pricing Can Get Expensive Quickly: A $19 monthly base fee applies before adding any employees, and per-user pricing increases by tier.
2. Key Features Locked Behind Higher Tiers or Add-Ons: Offline mobile punching requires Pro or Advanced; real-time GPS costs extra on Starter and Pro; advanced reporting costs $2/user/month on Starter and Pro but is included with Advanced; dedicated support requires Advanced, and six-year data retention costs $24/user/year on every plan.
3. No Phone Support: Chat and email are available on all plans, but dedicated support requires Advanced and phone support is not offered.
4. No Built-In Chat Feature: Buddy Punch does not currently offer an internal chat or messaging tool.
5. Time-Off Setup Requires Administration: Account-level policies require configuration, although employees can request time off and view balances on mobile and managers can handle approvals there.
6. Payroll Costs Add Up: Payroll adds $49/month base plus $8/user/month on top of the time tracking subscription, increasing overall costs.
7. Mobile App Feels Overly Basic: While easy to use, the black-and-white design and limited customization make the app feel somewhat restrictive.
8. Limited Scalability for Growing Teams: As operational needs expand, tiered pricing and paid add-ons may make Buddy Punch feel less flexible long-term.

User Feedback and Testimonials

In the original review research, Buddy Punch generally received positive feedback on several review platforms. The ratings below are historical snapshots, not newly verified November 2026 figures. It’s praised for its user-friendly interface, helpful scheduling/alerts, GPS tracking, and suitability for field/remote teams, but some users reported issues with the app not always registering punches, which caused discrepancies, like being clocked in for too long or missing punches.

For example, Capterra had a reported 4.8-star average when the reviews were originally gathered. One review from Mark B on Sept. 22, 2025, says, “It allows me to have a more accurate payroll with time breaks and exact punch-in/punch-out times.” 

On Google Play, where Buddy Punch had a reported 4.5-star rating when these reviews were originally gathered (not a current verified rating), D Bos wrote on Dec. 22, 2025, “Impressed with this app. We had been using another time tracking app at my company, but we'll be switching to Buddy Punch. BP's geofencing, GPS location, and time edit approvals work really well. They also have smart features like IP locking and punch schedule limiting. Both the app and website are intuitive and easy to use.”

On the Apple App Store, Buddy Punch had a reported 4.9-star rating out of 5 when these reviews were originally gathered (not a current verified rating). A few critical reviews do exist, including one from South Florida Catering, which was published on Jan. 15, 2024: “We have a business with about 75 employees that we pull from based on the size of our events. Having to inactivate them all and then reactivate every month led to errors and holdups when employees would clock in. The software would be better if it only charged for employees who actively punch in during a month, while letting us leave all of our employees active in the system. Also, we had a pattern with some employees with darker skin having problems with facial recognition. So, that was a bit embarrassing and led to the final decision to put everyone back on punch cards.”

Buddy Punch vs. OnTheClock

Final Thoughts

Buddy Punch is a solid option if your primary goal is simple time tracking with dependable scheduling tools on Pro or Advanced, or with scheduling added to Starter. It’s intuitive, easy to adopt, and performs well for teams that don’t require advanced automation or deep integrations. For smaller organizations with standard reporting needs and a stable workforce, it can get the job done.

The trade-off is cost: advanced reporting and real-time GPS cost $2/user/month each on Starter and Pro, while Advanced includes both and adds dedicated support. Other features may carry additional fees. Chat and email support remain available on every plan.

OnTheClock is built for businesses that want time tracking to work with them, not against their growth. It includes time tracking, scheduling, and PTO in its standard subscription, with full-service payroll available at an additional cost and requiring time tracking. Mobile and desktop features vary by role, permissions, and configuration.

Automation is where OnTheClock truly stands apart. With overtime calculations, overtime alerts, attendance controls, and optional full-service payroll processing, the platform can reduce manual work and help managers catch errors. Managers can review timecards and attendance records, while employees can access supported schedule and PTO information according to their permissions, cutting down on confusion and back-and-forth.

Support is another distinction. Buddy Punch offers chat and email on every plan but no phone support; OnTheClock includes phone, chat, and email support without a higher-tier upgrade.

OnTheClock time tracking costs $5/month base plus $4 per active employee/month, including scheduling, PTO, and customer support. Payroll exports and integrations vary by provider. Optional full-service payroll requires time tracking and adds $40/month base plus $6 per paid employee/month, with a standard one-time $250 onboarding fee.

Want to see how OnTheClock compares for your team? Try it free and explore the difference for yourself—no credit card required.