Biometric time clocks require employees to punch (or clock) in and out of work using facial, fingerprint, and/or palm recognition technology. The main reason employers use biometric time clocks is to eliminate “buddy punching” and time theft.
Buddy punching refers to the process of one employee clocking in for another. In most cases, this is to ensure an absent or late employee gets paid for hours they didn’t complete. With a biometric time clock, this becomes near impossible. The only way for one employee to clock in for another would be to use their eyeball or fingertip. Seems pretty extreme, right?
In addition to reducing time theft, biometric time clocks improve security. They ensure that only employees with security clearance can enter and exit a building.
So, what are the best biometric time clocks for tracking time and attendance? We’ve listed our top 10 devices for 2023 below.
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Top 10 Biometric Time Clocks
1
Best biometric time clock alternative
18 reviews
Although biometric time clocks can eliminate buddy punching and time theft, they can be viewed by employees as invasive and unhygienic. For example, asking someone to place their fingertip on a device to enter a building puts their health at risk, especially in a post-pandemic world.
So if you don’t want to deal with the trouble that biometric time clocks bring to the table, Workyard’s time-tracking app is worth consideration.
Forget fingerprint time clocks for verification. When an employee wants to clock into Workyard’s time-tracking app, we’ll send a unique passcode to their personal smartphone. We’ll also give you their real-time GPS coordinates so you know exactly where they are and what they’re doing.
With Workyard, you get all the benefits of a biometric time clock without harming or offending employees.
Key Features
Best Suited For
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Healthcare
- Time tracking
- Real-time GPS tracking
- Reminders & Alerts
- Clock-In Clock-Out
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
Explore & try out Workyard for 14 days.
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2
Biometric time clock with infrared thermal temperature detection
Crown Security Products’ suite of biometric time clocks allow you to track time and attendance with ease. Using Crown’s facial recognition time clocks, employees can experience touch-free time tracking that’s safe and accurate. How? The system utilizes infrared thermal temperature detection technology to identify employees and alert employers if something seems wrong.
Key Features
- Infrared thermal technology
- Built-in wifi
- USB input
- Artificial intelligence
Best Suited For
- Healthcare
- Hospitality
- Retail
- Fingerprint time clock
- Facial recognition
- Time tracking
- Clock-in clock-out
Pricing
- Facepro Facial Recognition Time Clock – $829
- FaceDepth Facial Recognition Time Clock – $1,049
- Facepro IRT Facial Recognition Time Clock w/ Temperature Detection – $1,495
3
Biometric time clock with a touch-free palm scanner
Allied Time’s suite of biometric time clocks allow you to seamlessly track time and attendance. Allied Time’s facial recognition time clocks utilize a built-in camera lens that scans up to 60 features and dimensions of an employee’s face, making it super efficient and hygienic. Their palm scan technology works in a similar way, utilizing near-infrared wavelengths to identify veins in an employee’s palm.
Key Features
- Palm scan technology
- Alerts & reminders
- Built-in wifi
- Reporting
- Payroll integrations
Best Suited For
- Healthcare
- Manufacturing
- Healthcare
- Construction
- Fingerprint time clock
- Time tracking
- Reminders & alerts
- Clock-in clock-out
Pricing
- CB4100 TOUCH-FREE Badge + Biometric time clock system with Online Reporting – $199
- CB4000 Biometric time clock system with Online Reporting – $239
4
All-in-one biometric time clock
72 reviews
ClockIt integrates with many industry standard biometric time clocks for small-to-medium sized businesses. Based on your needs and budget, you have the option to choose from a fingerprint time clock, RFID (smart card) time clock, pin time clock, or facial recognition time clock.
Quickly clock in using a fingerprint, swipe card, pin number, or facial recognition scan. Then, keep track of your work hours, breaks, lunch, and overtime. Easily generate reports and complete payroll processing in minutes.
Key Features
- Fingerprint
- RFID
- Pin
- Facial recognition
- Time tracking
- Overtime tracking
- Payroll & reporting
Best Suited For
- Healthcare
- Construction
- Hospitality
- Retail
- Manufacturing
- Fingerprint time clock
- Facial recognition
- Pin entry
- Smart card
- Time tracking
- Clock-in clock-out
Pricing
- ClockIt – $2.99 per user per month
- X990 FP+RFID Wifi (biometric time clock add-on) – $500
5
Best for facial recognition
This facial recognition biometric time clock is an affordable, touch-free alternative to fingerprint or hand readers. Employees can simply look at a wall-mounted terminal in order to clock in or out. The screen uses dual cameras to create a 3D image, preventing an employee from ‘cheating the system’ with a 2D image such as a photograph. This biometric time clock is so accurate that it can even distinguish between identical twins.
Key Features
- 3D facial recognition
- Dual infrared sensor technology
- Fast (< 1 second) facial recognition
Best Suited For
- Healthcare
- Hospitality
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Retail
- Facial recognition
- Pin entry
- Smart card reader
- Clock-in clock-out
Pricing
- Unknown
6
Biometric time clock with keypad
Pyramid’s biometric time clock accurately reads fingerprint data to instantly identify employees and record punches. It also features a keypad to enable supervisor-approved pin number entry. Having a biometric time clock with a keypad also ensures employees can clock in and out regardless of height, disabilities, and/or injuries. With Pyramids biometric time clock, you can also run a host of different reports, including payroll, attendance, and punch reports.
Key Features
- Keypad functionality
- PIN
- Time card editing
- Payroll reports
Best Suited For
- Healthcare
- Hospitality
- Retail
- Clock-in clock-out
- Pin entry
- Fingerprint time clock
- Time tracking
Pricing
- Tteliteek Timetrax™ Elite Biometric Time Clock – $654
7
Integrated biometric time clock for poor internet connectivity
93 reviews
PayClock Online is a web-based time clock software that integrates with Lathem’s state-of-the-art biometric time clock. In less than 30 seconds, employees can clock in and out, even without an internet connection. Best of all, Lathem uses a silicon coating on its fingerprint time clock to ensure it can read a wide variety of fingerprints — rough, smooth, wet, and dry.
Key Features
- Offline capabilities
- Mobile time clock app
- Advanced fingerprint technology
- Fast and reliable
Best Suited For
- Healthcare
- Hospitality
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Retail
- Fingerprint time clock
- Pin entry
- Smart card
- Time tracking
- Clock-in clock-out
Pricing
- PayClock Online – Starts at $35 per month for 10 or fewer employees
- Lathem CT72 Fingerprint Online Time Clock for PayClock Online – $570
8
Biometric time clock for harsh conditions
18 reviews
From fingerprint time clocks to HandPunch biometric time clocks, AMG has it all. HandPunch biometric time clocks, also known as hand readers, use hand geometry technology to verify employees. These devices measure the size and shape of the hand but do not take fingerprints or palm prints. AMG also provides biometric time clocks geared toward the construction industry, including portable fingerprint readers that can withstand harsh conditions.
Key Features
- Hygienic touch-free solutions
- Durable & portable
- Hand geometry technology
- Affordable
Best Suited For
- Healthcare
- Hospitality
- Manufacturing
- Construction
- Retail
- Facial recognition
- Time tracking
- Clock-in clock-out
Pricing
- BS 922 Fingerprint Time Attendance System WiFi – $545
9
Best fingerprint time clock technology
12 reviews
EasyClocking gives employers an advanced way to track and manage employee time and attendance. Furthermore, EasyClocking biometric time clocks use safe and powerful fingerprint sensors, allowing employees to clock in and out of clean and messy environments alike.
EasyClocking fingerprint time clocks also feature simple yet powerful interfaces, providing employers with real-time data, such as total hours worked, overtime, sick days, and holidays.
Key Features
- Industrial grade sensor
- Advanced fingerprint technology
- Rugged & portable options
- Time tracking
- Job scheduling
- Payroll & reporting
Best Suited For
- Healthcare
- Hospitality
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Retail
- Fingerprint time clock
- Facial recognition
- Pin entry
- Smart card
- Time tracking
Pricing
- Xenio 700® Industrial Grade Fingerprint Time Clock – $1,950
10
Best biometric smart card time clock
For a cost-effective biometric time clock device, look no further than Timelogix. Timelogix’s biometric time clocks offer smart card and pin number functionality which eliminates buddy punching and time theft, while also saving you money. Best of all, Timelogix’s smart card biometric time clocks work in clean and harsh environments, making them suitable for a variety of businesses. Easily clock in and out, monitor employee movements, and export payroll reports from any device.
Key Features
- Mobile app
- Export to payroll
- Real-time tracking
- Time card editing
- Employee portal
- Reporting
Best Suited For
- Hospitality
- Manufacturing
- Retail
- Real-time GPS tracking
- Fingerprint time clock
- Smart card
- Time tracking
- Clock-in clock-out
Pricing
- Timelogix TL50 RFID Smart Card Time Clock – $199.99
- Timelogix TL50 HID Smart Card Time Clock – $499
- Timelogix TL50 MIFARE Smart Card Time Clock – $499
Top questions to ask when looking for a biometric time clock
There is no federal law in place regarding the use of biometric time clocks. However, several states have enacted their own laws to govern the use of biometric data in the workplace.
A policy that’s put in place by companies to stipulate the use of biometric time clock data in the workplace. Under the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA), companies must obtain informed consent from employees before collecting and storing biometric data. They must also notify employees that their information is being collected and explain how the data is being applied. Under BIPA, employers cannot sell, lease, trade, or profit from employees’ biometric information.
Not all biometric time clocks are inclusive of workers with disabilities. Biometric time clocks can be quite expensive. Biometric databases can be hacked, therefore, employers are putting the privacy of their employees at risk.