8 Best Time Clock Apps For Small Business In 2023

In this article, we list the 8 best time clock apps for small businesses that will help you save time and improve your payroll accuracy saving you hard dollars every week.
5/5
time clock app small business
Time Tracking Fundamentals
Understanding Labor Laws
GPS Tracking
Tracking More Than Time
Time Tracking Benefits
Choosing A System
Implementing A System
Time Tracking Fundamentals
Understanding Labor Laws
GPS Tracking
Tracking More Than Time
Time Tracking Benefits
Choosing A System
Implementing A System

Accurate Time Tracking Is So Much Easier With Workyard

Keeping track of your employee’s hours and attendance is a lot of work for small business owners. Even though your team might be small it’s crucial to ensure accurate time tracking and compliance with labor laws in your state.

Fortunately, time clock apps can help to streamline this process, allowing you to manage your employees more efficiently and accurately. Finding the best time clock app for small business might be difficult with so many alternatives available. 

In this post, we’ll look at some of the best time-tracking apps on the market, their features, and how they can help your business. We have you covered whether you need a simple time-tracking solution or a more complete employee management system.

Best Time Clock Apps For Small Business

1

Accurate time clock app built for small contractors

4.4/5

44 reviews

4.4/5

77 reviews

Workyard is a precise time clock app for small business owners that allows you to quickly track time with a GPS system built in for added transparency and even faster payroll processing via multiple integrations.

Workyard time tracking is powered by a GPS time clock app that uses real-time locations to track time for your employees on the field and in the office. With only a few taps in the Workyard app from whatever smart device your employees use, you can ensure that every minute worked is accounted for. Accurate time tracking can save you thousands of dollars on the payroll for each payment period, especially if you are currently usually a manual approach to tracking time.

When time is tracked with the Workyard time clock app, you can also easily tag time to specific projects and cost codes. Using the same Workyard app, you can simply review, modify, and approve employee time cards, as well as export everything for fast payroll processing, thanks to integrations with all of the major accounting and payroll services you are likely already using.

Robust GPS leverages the mobile devices your employees already have and use and ensures everything is tracked properly including mileage, travel time, breaks, and job site visits. This way you have a complete picture of your employee’s whereabouts and you have all the data you need for accurate and fast payroll processing.

In addition to time tracking, Workyard also provides built-in scheduling and task management so you can easily communicate exactly what needs be done with your workforce and track their work progress.

Even though the Workyard offers a plethora of options to track your employees and their work, your workers can start using the Workyard time clock app without the need to go through any training, and with just a couple of clicks log in and start tracking time right from their mobile phones. 

Key Features

Best Suited For

Pricing

  • Time Tracking – $6/mo per user + $50/mo company fee
  • Workforce Management – $13/mo per user + $50/mo company fee
  • Large Workforces – Custom pricing for organizations with more than 50 employees

2

Clockify

Free time clock app for small businesses

4.6/5

1.5K reviews

3.9/5

1.48K reviews

Clockify is a popular time clock app for small businesses, with both free and paid options available. 

It enables employees to organize projects and assignments, track time and attendance, and produce reports all from one platform. Clockify also integrates with popular programs like Trello, Asana, and Google Calendar, making it a versatile and adaptable solution for businesses of all sizes. Clockify is an excellent solution for small businesses searching for an affordable and dependable time clock app, thanks to its simple UI and user-friendly features. With added GPS tracking features you can have an accurate overview of your employee’s locations and easily manage remote teams.

Key Features

Best Suited For

Pricing

  • Free unlimited plan with the option to upgrade for more features
  • Basic – $ 3.99 per user/month
  • Standard – $ 5.49 per user/month 
  • Pro – $ 7.99 per user/month 
  • Enterprise – $ 11.99 per user/month

3

Homebase

Cloud-based time clock app for small businesses

4.8/5

39.6K reviews

4.4/5

‎17.2K reviews

Homebase is a cloud-based time clock app for small businesses that allows employers to log employee time and attendance data. Employees can clock in and out from anywhere because the app is available on both desktop and mobile devices.

With Homebase features, you can create and share employees’ schedules, and allow them to request any edits and time off through the same app. It’s also a centralized way to keep the team communication in one place and ensure everyone is on the same page with tasks and assignments, while simultaneously tracking time and easily clocking in and out from various locations. With added payroll integrations you can reduce the manual labor and hours spent on calculations by relying on one of many payroll and accounting integrations to do everything automatically for you.

Based on the pre-set schedules and pay rates you and your employees can use the Homebase app to forecast labor costs and better predict expenses and earnings.

Key Features

Best Suited For

Pricing

  • Free trial – 14 days 
  • ESSENTIALS – $20 / per month/per location
  • PLUS – $48 / per month / per location
  • ALL IN ONE – $80 / per month/per location

4

IdeaBlox

Simple to use employee time clock app

IdeaBlox is a simple time clock app that allows your employees to clock in with one click action, track hourly employees, and easily run payroll reports.

IdeaBlox is an app created to suit the needs of smaller businesses and teams, providing decent features that you actually need to track hours and manage payroll. One of the most popular IdeaBlox features is the one-click clock-in option where your employees can easily start the clock and automatically track all the hours worked. In addition, the IdeaBlox app automatically calculates work hours and overtime for any given pay period so you don’t have to deal with paperwork and timesheets. It’s also a great way to see who is working on the “In & Out Board” which allows you to see the employee attendance at a glance. On the other hand, your employees can use the same IdeaBlox app to request paid time off (PTO) and access the schedule ahead of time to suggest any modifications.

Key Features

Best Suited For

Pricing

  • 1-3 users $5 per month
  • 4-10 users $10 per month
  • 11-25 users $25 per month
  • 26-50 users $50 per month

5

Clock it

Online time clock app

4.7/5

99 reviews

2/5

76 reviews

The ClockIt time clock app is an online solution to track employee hours on any browser or through Android and iOS apps.

The ClockIt time-tracking app is a simple solution for small business owners that want to keep track of GPS locations and hours worked for every employee in the office or in remote locations. With added IP restrictions, photo capture, and geofencing it’s a viable solution for many teams including ones that are not in the same location. Within the same ClockIt app you can have a real-time attendance tracker and see which of your employees are working and where they are located. 

In addition to mentioned features, the ClockIt time app also provides you with early, late, and absent notifications, and additional customizable notification settings to get only the alerts that matter to you, your managers, and your employees.

Key Features

Best Suited For

Pricing

  • Free trial – 14 days
  • Monthly $2.99 per user
  • Annually $29.90 per user

6

When I Work

Easy-to-use & accurate time clock app

4.8/5

 23.5K reviews

4.7/5

56.2K reviews

When I Work is a robust and easy-to-use time clock app that can help you track employees’ hours, attendance, how much time employees spend on breaks, and time off requests from any device you choose.

With online solutions that the When I Work system offers you can turn any device into an employee time clock, and rely on additional security measures such as photo clock-in, GPS locations, and more for accurate time tracking. Tracked hours, breaks, and overtime is automatically generated into timesheets that are integrated directly with payroll systems you use such as ADP, QuickBooks, Gusto, and others. This way you can generate, export, and process the payroll faster and reduce errors or manual labor.

The When I Work app also offers scheduling and communication features to make your team management easier and integrates the schedule with the time clock to reduce labor costs and create a more predictable working environment for all of your employees.

Key Features

Best Suited For

Pricing

  • Free trial – 14 days 
  • Standard – $2.50 / user
  • Advanced – $6.00 / user

7

TimeTrakGO

Web-based time clock app with GPS

4.1/5

8 reviews

TimeTrakGo offers simple and web-based software solutions to create accurate time cards and save you a lot of time for editing and payroll exporting.

Among many features, the TimeTrakGo system offers one of the most popular ones, the “Project Hours” which automatically tracks and shows potential overtime before it even happens. This way you can save a lot of money by preventing overtime and additional expenses. In addition, the TimeTrakGo also offers unique graphical time cards where you can easily visualize and identify any mistakes with the customizable puzzle-like pieces and quickly go through timesheets before approving.

TimeTrakGo also integrates simple and interactive scheduling tools, and real-time reporting to monitor and control the labor reports or export them to Excel faster.

Key Features

Best Suited For

Pricing

  • TimeTrackGO – $3 per user per month
  • TimeTrackGO Plus – $4 per user per month + $20 per month base fee

8

Precise time tracking for small businesses

4.6/5

96.2K reviews

4.3/5

26.9K reviews

QuickBooks Time is one of the popular apps on the market to track time, deal with payroll, and get critical insights that can help your small business grow.

A plethora of features offered include project management tools, easy invoicing, GPS tracking, scheduling, and numerous integrations. QuickBooks Time also provides users with tablet-optimized punch clock apps that make it easy for employees in different industries to track time, clock in and out, and rely on the system to track everything automatically.

QuickBooks being one of the top systems on the market also leverages an extensive list of integrations that can make payroll calculations and processing much faster and easier. In addition, you can track your entire team or run individual employee job costing reports which might come in handy if you have a small business that needs close monitoring of expenses.

Key Features

Best Suited For

Pricing

  • Free trial – 30 days
  • Elite – $20/mo + $10 per user per month
  • Premium – $10/mo + $8 per user per month

Top questions to ask when looking for a small business time clock app

A reliable time clock app needs to have features a small business actually needs, and help owners stay organized and compliant with labor laws while simplifying payroll and time tracking processes.

Here are a couple of features to look out for if you want to get the most out of the time clock apps:

  • Clock-in and clock-out tracking – To easily track when the employees start and end their shifts
  • Break tracking – Ability to track employee breaks and meal times
  • GPS and geofencing – The ability to track employee location and create virtual borders around the workplace to ensure employees only clock in and leave when on the job
  • Scheduling – The capacity to create and oversee staff schedules, allocate shifts, and communicate schedule changes to personnel
  • Time-off requests – The option for employees to seek time off and for employers to accept or refuse such requests
  • Overtime tracking – Overtime tracking refers to the capability of tracking and calculating employee overtime hours
  • Payroll integration – This entails the ability to integrate with major payroll systems in order to streamline the payroll process
  • Reporting and analytics – The capacity to create reports and analyze data on employee time and attendance, labor expenses, and other vital indicators is referred to as reporting and analytics.

Usability and setting up time are very important when choosing the right time clock app for a small business. The right app needs little to no time to set up and start using on a daily basis and should be easy to implement with any team.

The majority of time clock apps are meant to be user-friendly and simple to set up, even for businesses that have little technical experience. When it comes to configuring a time clock app, most applications provide step-by-step instructions and tips to assist users in getting started. This might include tutorials, training materials, and support tools to help businesses get started. 

The app’s user interface can also have a big impact on how easy it is to use. Most time clock applications offer a clean user experience with simple menus and buttons for clocking in and out, scheduling, and other activities. Choosing a time clock app that your employees actually use is the most important factor to consider so always go for clean and user-friendly interfaces that are available on mobile phones for easier access.

The methods used to track time in time clock apps differ based on the app and the features it provides.

Each type of time tracking has advantages and downsides, and the optimal way for your business will be determined by your unique goals, preferences, and employees. Biometric time monitoring, for example, can provide enhanced security and accuracy, although manual entry may be more convenient for employees who do not have access to other tracking techniques.

Some of the most common time-tracking methods offered in time clock apps are:

  • Biometric time tracking – When an employee clocks in or out on a biometric time clock, their identity is verified by a biometric sensor, such as a fingerprint sensor or face recognition software.
  • GPS time tracking – When an employee clocks in or out, their precise position is recorded using the GPS functionality of their mobile device. This might be especially helpful for companies that have employees who work from home or who travel frequently.
  • Manual entry time tracking – Employees can manually enter their clock-in and clock-out hours using the software on their desktop or mobile device.
  • Barcode scanning time tracking – A barcode scanner is used in this way to track when personnel clock in and out. Employees can be given a barcode to scan upon arrival and departure.

Many small businesses have distinct pay structures and pay standards that might be challenging to handle manually so it’s crucial to find a time clock app to handle the majority of complex tasks automatically such as different pay rates, overtime, and other complex pay rules.

Time clock apps are designed to track employee work hours and can integrate with payroll software to automate employee wage calculation.

Most time clock apps let you configure pay rules and calculations depending on your individual requirements. You can, for example, define separate pay rates for different categories of employees, such as hourly vs salaried staff, and establish criteria for calculating overtime compensation depending on the number of hours worked.

Some time clock apps can additionally include further features to assist with the management of more complex pay regulations, such as shift differentials, bonuses, and commissions. These apps may also calculate and withhold taxes and other deductions based on your jurisdiction and the tax status of your employees.

This can help ensure that employees are fairly paid for their efforts while also assisting small businesses in complying with labor laws and regulations. Furthermore, having an app that can manage complicated pay regulations can assist enhance transparency and prevent conflicts between employees and employers.

Understanding a time clock app’s reporting and analytics capabilities can help small businesses in making data-driven decisions that will ultimately improve their operations. 

That is why it is essential to look into specific reports that are created and provided by the time-tracking app, such as productivity, attendance trends, and prospective areas for development. 

The majority of time clock applications have basic reporting functions that provide important information about employee work hours and attendance. Some time clock apps can also provide more extensive reporting and analytics options, such as custom reports, visualizations, and dashboards. These features can help you in understanding your labor expenses, identifying patterns, and making data-driven decisions. Furthermore, certain time clock apps may be integrated with payroll software to automatically calculate employee salaries and provide payroll reports, saving time and reducing mistakes.

The price of a time clock app varies depending on the features and capabilities provided, the number of employees you have, and the app’s pricing strategy. Some time clock applications charge a monthly flat fee, whereas others charge per employee or active user.

It’s important to evaluate the price-to-quality ratio and go for a time clock app that pays itself quickly by reducing labor costs and saving money in the long run. That’s why cheap options are often not a good idea because they don’t provide enough features to manage your small business and lack basic functions that can save you money.

Many time clock apps integrate with accounting or payroll software, which helps to speed the payroll process and limit the possibility of errors.

The particular integrations available will be determined by the time clock app you use and the accounting or payroll software you use or want to use. Some time clock apps integrate with a variety of accounting or payroll software, but others may have fewer integration options. Most of the time you can count on integrations with QuickBooks, Xero, ADP, Gusto, and others.

Employee time and attendance data can be automatically integrated into your payroll system by connecting your time clock app with your accounting or payroll software, eliminating the time and effort necessary to manually enter this information.

Before selecting a time clock app, it is critical to explore the integrations available. If you currently use accounting or payroll software, be sure that the time clock app you chose integrates with it to guarantee a smooth payroll process.

A time clock app’s level and quality of customer service might vary greatly. Some time clock apps merely provide email assistance, whilst others include phone support, live chat, and even specialized onboarding and training. 

It is critical to have access to dependable customer assistance while utilizing any product or technology, but this often comes with a cost as support is not a cheap feature. But it is especially critical for small businesses that may lack a specialized IT department or technical support employees to have reliable support. Knowing that dependable and responsive customer service is accessible can bring peace of mind and ensure that any difficulties or inquiries are resolved swiftly and effectively.

The majority of time clock apps are meant to be in compliance with labor regulations and guidelines. To guarantee compliance with local labor laws and regulations, use a time clock app that is particularly tailored to your location and industry.

When looking for time clock apps, check for ones that offer compliance features like:

  • Overtime calculations
  • Minimum wage
  • Record keeping
  • Break tracking
  • Geolocation tracking
  • Customizable pay rates

Using a compliant time clock app can help a small business in keeping precise and dependable records of employee time and attendance, which can be crucial in showing compliance in the case of an audit or legal issue.

To secure employee data and avoid time fraud, it is critical to select a time-tracking software with robust security features. When evaluating time clock apps, look for details regarding the app’s security features as well as any certifications or compliance requirements it could fulfill.

Employee data is sensitive information that must be secured against unauthorized access or use. A time clock app with insufficient security features can expose employee data to theft or misuse, resulting in financial loss or identity theft for impacted employees. Furthermore, time fraud is a widespread problem that can arise when employees falsify their time records or when others clock in or out for them illegally. A time clock app that lacks proper fraud protection mechanisms may allow time fraud to occur, resulting in severe financial loss for the business.

It’s important to look for security features such as:

  • User authentication
  • Geolocation tracking (GPS)
  • Audit logs
  • Encryption
  • Two-factor authentication

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References

Accurate Time Tracking Is So Much Easier With Workyard

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