We bet you’re going to be upset once you find out how much your company is losing from employee time theft.
Well, buddy punching, cyberslacking, and other time-wasting practices are costing businesses $11 billion every year—that’s according to a QuickBooks survey.
The truth is this problem can be alleviated by using a time clock app. In fact, a briefing paper from The Economist revealed that 73% of companies were satisfied with the results of automating business processes, including time tracking.
The global time tracking software market size is projected to reach $5,312 million by 2030. That’s quite a growth, but it also means that your options for time clock apps can be overwhelming.
Don’t worry because this article will help you choose the best clock for work.
1. Traqq
If you want to maximize productivity while logging your team’s billable hours, then you’ll need a time tracking app like Traqq. This program has a full suite of employee monitoring tools that promote efficiency in local and remote teams.
Blurred Screenshots
Automated screenshots are already a common feature of time clock apps. However, Traqq takes it a step further by taking 10-second video recordings of a user’s desktop. Even so, the tool promotes ethical monitoring by blurring the images to protect your employee’s privacy. The goal here is to give managers an idea of what a person is doing at a given time—not to spy on them.
App and URL Monitoring
As we’ve mentioned, time theft is a serious issue for many companies. You can ensure that every minute paid is a minute worked by using Traqq’s time clock app and URL monitoring feature. The program reports the top ten programs that a person uses along with the websites they visit.
Platforms:
- macOS
- Windows
- Web browsers
Notable Features:
- Smart alerts and notifications
- Idle time tracking
- Offline employee monitoring
- Automated and blurred screenshots
- Comprehensive productivity and time log reports
Pricing:
- Premium Starter – $0 for up to three seats (comes with all Premium features)
- Premium Teams – $6 per seat, per month
- Enterprise – contact the sales team to get a customized plan for teams of over 100 people
What Users Have to Say:
✅ “I choose Traqq because of the features it offers over the other alternatives: automated work time tracking, a very user-friendly software and simple UI, and free forever. It’s the perfect tool for freelancers like myself.”
❌ “Even though it was a simple experience, I feel the software is loaded with many features, which could be a bit too much, but again, this is entirely personal; I think this would work well for companies with many employees.”
2. Homebase
If you prefer using a cloud-based clock-in app, Homebase can be a great option. Your team can log time via their web browser, phone, or tablet. Also, since it uses a PIN-based entry, employees don’t have to memorize usernames and passwords.
Platforms:
- Android
- iOS
- Web browsers
Notable Features:
- Billable and non-billable break tracking
- GPS-based time entries
- Offline time tracking
Pricing
- Essentials – $14 per location, per month
- Plus – $35 per location, per month
- All in One – $70 per location, per month
What Users Have to Say:
✅ “We decided to go for Homebase because it mostly resembled what I was doing in a spreadsheet before. The timeclock is rather solid, and we have set up a dedicated tablet to clock in and out.”
❌ “Some of the features are a little on the expensive side when purchasing plans, but mostly because of our exchange rate.”
3. OnTheClock
Now, for advanced time clocking in and out features, you won’t be disappointed with OnTheClock. Aside from recording billable time, it also supports geofencing and GPS tracking. So, if you’re working with a highly mobile team, you can use OnTheClock to allow employees to clock in from specific locations.
Platforms:
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- iOS
- Web browsers
Notable Features:
- Payroll system integration
- Detailed project reports
- Geofencing and GPS tracking
Pricing:
- Up to 2 employees – $0 per month
- 3-10 employees – $3 per user, per month
- 11-25 employees – $2.95 per user, per month
- 26-50 employees – $2.90 per user, per month
- 51-100 employees – $2.85 per user, per month
- 101-200 employees – $2.80 per user, per month
- 201-300 employees – $2.75 per user, per month
- 301-400 employees – $2.70 per user, per month
- 401+ – contact the sales team for custom pricing
What Users Have to Say:
✅ “What I like most about this software is the dashboard on a laptop or computer and the mobile app is very easy to use. Payroll is 100% easier to manage with this time clock app.”
❌ “We’ve had to remove and re-add employees because their username/password combo randomly no longer works. No idea why it’s happened.”
4. Replicon
You can finally say goodbye to paper time cards and Excel timesheets because Replicon automates the process for you. Its dashboard functions as a centralized hub for billing clients, running payroll, and even reimbursing expenses. Indeed, it offers an easy way to manage employee time and attendance.
Platforms:
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- Chromebook
- Android
- iOS
- Web browsers
Notable Features:
- Customizable attendance status based on worker role
- Accurate data on business costs
- Accessible support team
Pricing:
- Small – $30 per month for up to five users
- Medium – Packages start from $8 per user, per month
- Large – Packages start from $8 per user, per month
What Users Have to Say:
✅ “Replicon’s interface is clean and friendly and ease of scheduling takes less time which is a better choice compared to manual timesheets we used to pass around every day. The time clock app is exactly what it needs to be as it provides a great deal of flexibility that allows easy matching of time spent on projects against budgeted hours.”
❌ “In the mobile app, getting it to retain a new project code seems impossible. And it doesn’t integrate with your Outlook calendar, so after a time off request is approved, you still have to manually update your calendar.”
5. QuickBooks Time
Formerly known as TSheets, QuickBooks Time offers a time clocking solution for teams that switch locations or tasks regularly. The app allows users to clock in and out via mobile phones, computers, or even text messages. What’s more, it works offline and automatically syncs the time tracking data once the user has a network connection.
Platforms:
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- iOS
- Web browsers
Notable Features:
- Integration with the entire accounting suite of QuickBooks
- Detailed time card reports
- Attendance and scheduling features
Pricing:
- Elite – $20 per month + $10 per user, per month
- Premium – $10 per month + $8 per user, per month
What Users Have to Say:
✅ “It’s simple to use, understand, and obtain help with. Having access to the reports is essential, and they can be done fast. Changes may be made fast and correctly when necessary.”
❌ “The scheduling module is a bit lacking for some of my clients. This is why some of my clients have gone with a different solution.”
6. Hubstaff
Hubstaff is also a time clock app, but it comes with other features like project management and GPS tracking. So, no matter where your employees are, they can clock in via their mobile devices. It’s an on-the-go clock for work that also tracks the productivity of individuals.
Platforms:
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- Android
- iOS
- Web browsers
Notable Features:
- GPS tracking
- Automated screenshots
- Payroll and project management
Pricing:
- Desk Free – $0 for one user with feature limitations
- Desk Starter – $7 per user, per month with one integration
- Desk Pro – $10 per user, per month with unlimited integrations and more advanced features
- Enterprise – contact the sales team for custom pricing
What Users Have to Say:
✅ “Easy to use and it can show you various dashboards. It gives you an idea of what hours you are more efficient so you can better plan your time.”
❌ “More than once the system has not allowed users to clock in their time and it has to be manually input by management. Also, the time tracking cannot be customized to your payout schedule.”
7. When I Work
When I Work is one of the best time clock apps that comes with employee scheduling features. Smaller teams can use it for free, but it is also quite popular in hotels, retail stores, healthcare facilities, and even colleges. It supports Android and iOS devices, allowing employees on the go to clock in wherever they’re assigned.
Platforms:
- Android
- iOS
- Web browsers
Notable Features:
- Fixed time intervals
- Notifications for employees clocking out
- Integration with payroll programs like ADP and QuickBooks
Pricing:
- Small Business – $4 per user
- Enterprise – contact the sales team for custom pricing
What Users Have to Say:
✅ “The ease of creating a schedule, distributing it, and letting staff handle their shift swaps or drops have completely empowered our team. The best feature is the ‘history’ button so that you know where it all began when shifts start with one employee and end with another.”
❌ “Sometimes the Internet connection will impact the ability to access the system. Even when the Internet is excellent, I’ve encountered issues with “asap” access, but eventually, it comes through.”
8. Clockify
Clockify is more of a time clock app for managers who want to know how their employees are spending their time. The detailed reports show them which activities, projects, or clients are taking up most of their team’s time. This way, they can manage tasks better and focus efforts on more important matters.
Platforms:
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- Chromebook
- iOS
- Android
- Web browsers
Notable Features:
- Manual entries for employees who forget to use the timer
- Time and progress reviews
- Features for blocking backdated time adjustments
Pricing:
- Free plan – Unlimited users
- Basic plan – $4.99 per user, per month
- Standard plan – $6.99 per user, per month
- Pro plan – $9.99 per user, per month
- Enterprise plan – $14.99 per user, per month
What Users Have to Say:
✅ “You can do all the calculations within the app and it helps in billing and invoicing. Best of all, the basic features that you need are all included in its free version.”
❌ “For me, the only downsides have occurred after user error. If you forget to start or stop the timer, it’s rather difficult to edit your time within the app.”
9. ClockIt
ClockIt is another time clock app that specializes in attendance monitoring. Because the program has geofencing capabilities, users can punch in via their mobile device from a manager-approved location. Even if employees are traveling, their managers can still get real-time attendance insights.
Platforms:
- Android
- iOS
- Web browsers
Notable Features:
- GPS tracking and geofencing
- Responsive support team
- User-friendly interface that makes it a great option for smaller teams
Pricing:
- XS – $29 per month for up to ten users
- S – $49 per month for up to 20 users
- M – $99 per month for up to 50 users
- L – $199 per month for up to 100 users
What Users Have to Say:
✅ “Very simple timekeeping software that’s cloud-based and easy to access from anywhere you can get internet access.”
❌ “The time correction request system is a little clunky. It is difficult to understand, and as an administrator, it doesn’t seem to be possible to submit a correction for an employee without him/her requesting it first.”
10. Time Doctor
Do you prefer time clock apps that are easily customizable? Time Doctor allows you to configure the employee monitoring features and capture screenshots only when necessary. What’s more, it’s scalable, making it a great option for smaller teams and even enterprises.
Platforms:
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
- Web browsers
Notable Features:
- Smart alerts for distracting sites like Facebook
- Notifications for time spent away from the device
- More than 50 integrations
What Users Have to Say:
✅ “I have given Time Doctor 10 out of 10 as I simply love it. We have been using it for more than 4 years and it has proved to be a great tool to manage the in-house and remote employees.”
❌ “Sometimes the App gives unnecessary alerts concerned with unrelated websites. For example, social media sites: When users opened Twitter or Facebook pages, the app notified these sites as non-productive sites, despite the fact that the user was doing communications and media PR.”
Time Tracker | Capterra User Rating | Free Users | Upgrade Cost |
Traqq | 5 | 3 (with access to all Premium featutes) | $6 per user, per month |
Homebase | 4.6 | Unlimited | $14 per location, per month |
OnTheClock | 4.7 | 2 | $3 per user, per month |
Replicon | 4.5 | None | $30 per month |
QuickBooks Time | 4.7 | None | $20 per month |
Hubstaff | 4.6 | 1 | $7 per user, per month |
When I Work | 4.5 | None | $4 per user |
Clockify | 4.7 | Unlimited | $4.99 per user per month |
ClockIt | 4.4 | None | $29 for up to ten users |
Time Doctor | 4.5 | None | $7 per user, per month |
What Makes a Great Time Clock App?
We understand how challenging it is to keep accurate records of work time and attendance. According to a 2021 Workforce.com survey, over half of U.S. companies complain about errors in their manual attendance management system. Indeed, investing in a reliable time clock app is crucial in improving business processes.
Now, how do you choose a great clock for work? Here are some factors to consider:
- Automated time tracking – A time clock app is supposed to make timekeeping easier. So, employees shouldn’t be manually entering their tasks into the program to start tracking time. The tool should automatically log time for projects.
- Manual time entries – Employees can forget to switch a tracker on or off. So, the time clock app should allow them to make manual adjustments.
- Comprehensive reports – Basic timekeeping features are useful, but some tools go the extra mile by tracking productivity. Aside from generating reports about logged time, the app should also collect data about how employees spend their work hours.
The Benefits of Using Time Clock Apps
Of course, saving money is one of the biggest reasons why companies switch to time clock apps. However, it brings a host of other benefits, including:
- Curbing time theft – According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, about 75% of employees commit time theft. This problem can be eliminated by using a time clock app. By automating the process, workers cannot perform “buddy punching” or even add minutes to their total billable time.
- Boosting productivity – These days, many time clock apps come with employee monitoring features. For instance, Traqq records activity levels based on mouse clicks and keyboard movements. It also ensures that employees aren’t wasting time by sending alerts if they’re idle while the tracker is running.
- Complying with labor regulations – The Fair Labor Standards Act stipulates that companies must keep an accurate record of their employees’ work hours, pay rate, and other details.
Reclaim Lost Time Now!
While choosing a time clock app can be an overwhelming process, your efforts and investment will definitely pay off. Just perform your due diligence and after using the system, you will notice a boost in productivity and reduced operational expenses.