The best time clock app is the one your staff will use without fuss at the start and end of every shift, whether that's a tablet by the door, a phone with GPS on a job site, or a simple web clock. Here are ten apps in no particular order, several with free plans for small teams, with what each free option offers.
Paper timesheets and memory don't mix. Someone forgets to write down a break, someone rounds up, and by Friday the manager is guessing. A time clock app fixes the guessing, but only if it suits how your people work: a café team clocking in on one tablet needs something very different from a roofing crew spread across three sites.
Here are ten time clock apps, alphabetical and in no particular order. Every description comes from the maker's own website, re-checked today. I've noted the free plans where they exist, because a few are very generous for small teams, and the trials where they don't.
Time clock apps compared
Yes in the free plan column means the maker's site lists a free plan you can keep, sometimes limited by users or locations. Trial only means a time-limited trial with no ongoing free version.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buddy Punch | Employee time clock | Small teams needing GPS punches | Trial only |
| ClockShark | Field crew time tracking | Contractors and field service crews | Trial only |
| Connecteam | Employee app with time clock | Teams of up to 10 wanting free clock-in | Yes |
| Homebase | Time clock and scheduling | Hourly teams at a single location | Yes |
| Jibble | Free attendance tracker | Teams wanting unlimited free clock-ins | Yes |
| OnTheClock | Online time clock | Small firms adding payroll later | Trial only |
| Time Clock Wizard | Time clock and scheduling | Teams wanting simple free time tracking | Yes |
| TimeCamp | Timesheets and time tracking | Freelancers and small teams starting free | Yes |
| Timeero | GPS time and mileage tracking | Mobile teams tracking time and mileage | Trial only |
| Workyard | GPS time clock for crews | Construction and trades crews | Trial only |
Ten clock-in apps for hourly teams
Buddy Punch
Best for: Small teams wanting employee clock-in software with GPS punches, with a 14-day free trial on each plan.
ClockShark
Best for: Contractors and field service teams wanting time tracking and scheduling built for crews, tried through a 14-day trial or a demo.
Connecteam
Best for: Teams of up to 10 wanting a time clock, scheduling and team chat in one employee app, on a Small Business plan that's free for life.
Homebase
Best for: Hourly teams at one location wanting time clock and scheduling on a Basic plan at no charge, with unlimited employees.
Jibble
Best for: Teams of any size wanting time tracking and attendance free with unlimited users, as the maker states on its site.
OnTheClock
Best for: Small firms wanting an online time clock with scheduling and payroll add-ons, tried free for 30 days.
Time Clock Wizard
Best for: Teams wanting simple time tracking and scheduling on a free plan with unlimited users, plus a 14-day trial of the bigger plans.
TimeCamp
Best for: Freelancers and small teams wanting timesheets and time tracking on a free forever plan, with a trial of the bigger plans.
Timeero
Best for: Mobile teams wanting GPS time tracking and mileage in one app, with a free trial on every plan.
Workyard
Best for: Construction and trades crews wanting a GPS time clock for field teams, with a 14-day free trial and no credit card.
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How long US employers must keep time cards
This one is for US employers, and it's easy to overlook when you swap apps. The US Department of Labor's fact sheet on recordkeeping under the Fair Labor Standards Act says employers must keep payroll records for at least three years, and the records wage calculations are based on, such as time cards and piece work tickets, for two years.
The fact sheet has been around a while, but it's still the Department's page on the subject. What it means for you: a time clock app only helps with compliance if you can keep and export those time cards for at least two years. Before you choose, check how long each app holds old punches, and download a full export at least once a year, especially before you cancel.
GPS, kiosks or a phone in a pocket?
- Shared kiosk: a tablet by the door suits shops, cafés and warehouses with one site.
- Phone with GPS: suits crews moving between job sites. Tell staff clearly when location is recorded.
- Web clock: fine for office and remote staff who start and finish at a computer.
- All-in-one employee apps: add scheduling and team messages, handy if you'd otherwise juggle three apps.
Switching from paper timesheets in six steps
- Write down your break, overtime and rounding rules before you start a trial.
- Decide how people will clock in: shared tablet, their own phone or a computer.
- Run the app alongside paper for one full pay period and compare the totals.
- Show managers how to approve and correct punches, and who can edit what.
- Connect it to your payroll tool, or check the export opens cleanly in it.
- Retire the paper once a pay period matches, and keep the old sheets for the required period.
If you work alone and track client hours rather than shifts, my guide to time tracking for solo business owners is a better fit. And for the payroll side, see how payroll software helps keep good staff.
Do you make time clock apps? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a time clock app
Start with where your people are when a shift begins. One site and a team that shares a door suits a kiosk-style app, and several free plans cover that well. Crews spread across job sites need GPS clock-in on their own phones, and that's where the trial-led field tools earn their place.
Whichever you pick, run one pay period alongside your old method, and make sure you can export every punch. If you're a US employer, those time cards need to outlast the app.
Frequently asked questions
What is a time clock app?
It lets staff clock in and out on a phone, tablet or computer, and turns those punches into timesheets for payroll.
Is there a free time clock app?
Yes. Several apps offer free plans, often limited by the number of users or locations. Check the limit against your team size.
Can a time clock app track location?
Many can record GPS location at clock-in. Tell staff when and why location is recorded, and check local rules.
How long should I keep time cards?
In the US, the Department of Labor says time cards should be kept for two years and payroll records for at least three.
Will a time clock app connect to payroll?
Many do, either directly or through an export. Run one pay period as a test before relying on it.
Can staff clock in on a shared tablet?
Yes, many apps offer a kiosk mode with a PIN or photo for each person, which suits teams working from one site.
