Time clock software for 2023

Aug 10, 2023

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.