Pricing Features Clocks Blog Contact LOGIN Start Trial

Time clock software for 2023

Aug 10, 2023

Time Clock Software

If you are looking for time clock software to track employees, there can be a lot to consider. In this article we'll narrow down the typical questions people ask, dispel myths you might be reading, and list over 40 of our most worthy competitors.

To start, be aware that those claiming the top 10 list (or any other number) of time clocks or time clock software products should be taken with a grain of salt... there is no such list. Instead, authors write lists ranked by commissions earned, or by products being promoted... which we think is misleading.

But that said, we will admit bias. We offer Webtimeclock, a time clock software system with optional payroll... a great choice for most businesses. But to be as transparent as possible, we list all our competitors below.

Our twist is to show you everything... every time clock software system in alphabetical order. This way you can see what's available, how much it costs, and what might be right for you. If we left anyone off the list, it is either because we are not aware of them, or they offer time clock software as a secondary feature (i.e. payroll companies).

Here is what we will cover.
  • Typical questions
  • Web-based time clock software
  • Time clock software with no monthly fee
  • Free time clock software


What is time clock software?

Software that records the start time and end time of an activity, it's really that simple. What matters is how it's accessed, features, and price.

What also matters is the "purpose" of using time clock software. Typically, time clock software is used to track employee hours for payroll, however it can also be used for tracking billable hours, or attendance tracking.

For this article, we will focus on time clock software that tracks employee time for payroll, just like any typical employee time clock. We'll also focus on time clock software for small business, but with some enterprise solutions mixed in.

Does time clock software require a monthly fee?

Most do, but not all. These days, software is developed using web technologies, it gives you the advantage of accessing from anywhere, not just your PC. Web-based software vendors require a monthly fee to maintain infrastructure, upgrades, and support.

However, if you prefer time clock software with no monthly fee, there are still a few remaining holdouts listed below.

Is time clock software offered for free?

Some vendors offer free plans, so we assume the answer is yes, but with limitations of course. The potential upside for you is no cost, the upside for the vendor is your marketing information, that's the tradeoff. If you are okay with scaled down services, vendors trying to upsell you, and vendors selling your marketing information, then maybe it makes sense.

Outside of that, most web-based systems offer free trials. We don't consider that to be free software... just free to use for a limited time.

Does time clock software work with fingerprint time clocks?

Only a select few. Look for the words "optional time clock hardware", that will tell you if the vendor integrates with time clock hardware or not. We recommend facial recognition over fingerprint technology.

Can time clock software be installed on my phone?

Most subscription-based time clock software systems include the ability to use mobile phones. Either using a phone's browser, or by installing an app. For something simpler, there are a few standalone time clock apps... check your app store to learn more.

Web-based time clock software


BambooHR

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $99/month
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Small business needing outsourced HR. Their time clock software seems to be a secondary feature below HR functions.


BigTime

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: No
  • Approx. price: $20/user/month for their lowest plan
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Project time tracking. Pricing is probably high for tracking payroll hours alone.


Buddy Punch

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $4/user/month + $19 base fee
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Small business employee time tracking.


Calamari

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $2.5/user/month with a $25/month minimum
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Small business employee time tracking. Located in Poland.


Clockify

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: Yes
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $6.99/user/month
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Time tracking. Clockify does offer free time tracking, however it is not appropriate for tracking payroll hours. The price above reflects their monthly Standard plan which includes overtime calculation.


ClockShark

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $8/user/month + $20 base fee
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Service and construction companies with remote employees. Price is higher if you need to track PTO.


CloudBiometry

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $20/month for up to 9 employees
  • Optional time clock hardware: Yes
  • Best for: Simple time tracking needs. The company admits features are basic.


Connecteam

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: Yes
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $35/month for their Basic plan
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Employee scheduling with basic time tracking. Their free plan is not appropriate for tracking payroll hours. They do have several upgrades available, such as HR and team communications, but pricing could get high.


Easy Time Clock

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $1/company/month + $2/employee/month
  • Optional time clock hardware: Yes
  • Best for: Basic employee time tracking for payroll.


eBillity

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $9/user/month + $15/month base fee
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Employee time tracking and scheduling. The price is higher if you need their project tracking features.


eTimesheets

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $5/user/month
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Web based time sheets. Includes an option for employees to clock in/out


ExakTime

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $9/user/month billed annually + $50/month base fee
  • Optional time clock hardware: Yes
  • Best for: Service and construction companies with remote employees. Price is higher if you need scheduling.


Homebase

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: Yes
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $24.95/month/location
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Restaurants with scheduling needs. Price doubles if you need PTO and department tracking. As expected, their free version is very limited. They do offer payroll services, but pricing is added on top of what you already pay.


IdeaBlox

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $5/month for up to 3 users
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Simple time tracking with fewer features, but lower price.


ITCS - Webclock

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $3/user/month
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Employee time tracking for payroll.


On The Clock

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: Yes
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $3.50/employee/month
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Employee time tracking for payroll. Their free version is limited to 2 employees.


Payclock Online

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $35/month for 10 or less employees
  • Optional time clock hardware: Yes
  • Best for: Employee time tracking for payroll. Originally, Payclock was PC based software, but that is no longer offered.


QuickBooks Time

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $8/user/month + $20/month base fee
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Service and construction companies with remote employees. Price is higher if you need project tracking or geofencing. Formerly named TSheets.


Replicon

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $12/user/month
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Enterprise level time tracking and workforce management.


7Shifts

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: Yes
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $34.99/month/location
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Employee scheduling and time tracking for restaurants. Their free version will not work for payroll time tracking.


Sling

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: Yes
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $4/user/month
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Employee scheduling and basic time tracking. Their free version does not include time tracking.


Synerion

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: No
  • Approx. price: $2.95/employee/month
  • Optional time clock hardware: Yes
  • Best for: Employee time tracking for payroll.


Timeclock Plus

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $5/user/month
  • Optional time clock hardware: Yes
  • Best for: Employee time tracking for payroll.


Time Clock Wizard

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: Yes
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $54.95/month for up to 50 users
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Employee time tracking for payroll. They offer plan for less, but it is very limited. They also als offer a free plan, however it has almost zero features.


Time Doctor

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $10/user/month
  • Optional time clock hardware: Yes
  • Best for: Employee time tracking for payroll.


Timedox

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $29.90/month for up to 10 users
  • Optional time clock hardware: Yes
  • Best for: Employee time tracking for payroll.


TimeGuaridan Hosted

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $25/month for up to 9 employees
  • Optional time clock hardware: Yes
  • Best for: Employee time tracking for payroll. TimeGuardian also offers a PC version of their time clock software.


Timelogix

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $30/month for up to 10 employees
  • Optional time clock hardware: Yes
  • Best for: Employee time tracking for payroll.


Timemoto

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $1.49/user/month with a minimum of $14.90/month
  • Optional time clock hardware: Yes
  • Best for: Basic employee time tracking for payroll with minimum features.


Timesheets.com

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $5.50/user/month
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Employee time sheets for payroll. Their system may not be appropriate for tracking hourly employees.


TimeTrakGo

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $4/user/month + $20/month base fee
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Employee time tracking for payroll.


Truein

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $3/user/month + $20/month base fee
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Contractors with remote employees.


uAttend

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: No
  • Approx. price: $25/month for up to 9 employees
  • Optional time clock hardware: Yes
  • Best for: Employee time tracking for payroll.


Webtimeclock

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $3/person/month
  • Optional time clock hardware: Yes
  • Best for: Any small business with hourly and salary employees. All-in-one platform offers employee time tracking with optional full-service payroll.


When I Work

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $4/person/month
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Employee scheduling with basic time tracking.


Time clock software with no monthly fee


Computime101 by Compumatic Time Recorder

  • Type: PC only
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: No
  • Approx. price: $260/one time (Includes software and time clock hardware)
  • Optional time clock hardware: Yes
  • Best for: Tracking employee time for payroll. Installs on your Windows PC. License allows up to 25 employees, but can be upgraded.


Shopclock

  • Type: PC only
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: No
  • Approx. price: $119.99/year for a single computer for up to 5 employees
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Tracking employee time for payroll. Installs on your Windows PC. Requires a yearly license fee. Price is higher if you need software available to more than one computer or need more employees.


TimeclockMTS

  • Type: PC only
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $99/one time, for a single computer
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Tracking employee time for payroll. Installs on your Windows PC. Price is higher if you need access to multiple computers. Support is free only for one year.


TimeClockWindow

  • Type: PC only
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $59.95/one time, for a single computer or server
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Tracking employee time for payroll. Installs on your Windows PC. Online forum support only, dedicated support is not available.


TimeDrop by LotHill

  • Type: PC only
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $39/one time, for a single computer
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Tracking employee time for payroll. Installs on your Windows PC. Support is free for the first 30 days, after 30 days support is $25/month


TimeGuardian by Amano

  • Type: PC only
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: No
  • Approx. price: $450/one time, includes software and PIN/Badge time clock
  • Optional time clock hardware: Yes
  • Best for: Tracking employee time for payroll. Installs on your Windows PC with a 100 employee license. Support is free for the first 30 days, after 30 days support agreements are available.


TimeTrax by Pyramid Time Systems

  • Type: PC only
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: No
  • Approx. price: $435/one time, includes software and Badge time clock
  • Optional time clock hardware: Yes
  • Best for: Tracking employee time for payroll. Installs on your Windows PC with a 50 employee license. Support is free for the first 30 days, after 30 days support agreements are available.


Virtual TimeClock by Redcort

  • Type: Mac and PC
  • Free version: No
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $295/one time with unlimited employees for single computer
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Tracking employee time for payroll. Installs on your Mac or Windows PC with unlimited employees. Support is free fro the first 30 days. Yearly support plans available for $95/year. Price is higher if you need access to multiple computers.


Free time clock software


The following vendors claim to have free versions, however we can't say if their time clock software will be sufficient or in compliance with payroll regulations. If tracking time for payroll, we recommend consulting with your accountant first.

Clockify

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: Yes
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $6.99/user/month
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Time tracking. Clockify does offer free time tracking, however it is not appropriate for tracking payroll hours. The price above reflects their monthly Standard plan which includes overtime calculation.


Connecteam

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: Yes
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $35/month for their Basic plan
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Employee scheduling with basic time tracking. Their free plan is not appropriate for tracking payroll hours. They do have several upgrades available, such as HR and team communications, but pricing could get high.


Homebase

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: Yes
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $24.95/month/location
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Restaurants with scheduling needs. Price doubles if you need PTO and department tracking. As expected, their free version is very limited. They do offer payroll services, but pricing is added on top of what you already pay.


On The Clock

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: Yes
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $3.50/employee/month
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Employee time tracking for payroll. Their free version is limited to 2 employees.


7Shifts

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: Yes
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $34.99/month/location
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Employee scheduling and time tracking for restaurants. Their free version will not work for payroll time tracking.


Sling

  • Type: Web
  • Free version: Yes
  • Free trial: Yes
  • Approx. price: $4/user/month
  • Optional time clock hardware: No
  • Best for: Employee scheduling and basic time tracking. Their free version does not include time tracking.



Please subscribe to our RSS Feed