(650) 332-8623The 7 Best Automated Time Trackers for 2026
Looking for an automated time tracker for your construction business? We’ve reviewed 7 of the best options on the market to help you!
An automated time tracker helps construction crews capture accurate hours, verify jobsite activity, and reduce the end-of-week cleanup that slows payroll.
Without a reliable system, even a small crew can lose hours to missed job switches, rounded time, and start/stop times recorded from memory.
In this guide, you’ll find the 7 best automated time trackers for 2026, with key features that matter in construction and field operations.
Top Automated Time Trackers at a Glance
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|---|---|---|---|
Our score |
9.3 |
8.2 |
8.2 |
Best for |
Contractors who need precise GPS time tracking across multiple jobsites |
Office and hybrid teams that want automatic desktop activity tracking |
Professional teams who want quiet, AI-assisted time capture |
Pricing |
Starts at $6/user/month, 14-day free trial |
$12/month for individuals, Team plans available, 14-day trial |
Starts at $9/user/month, 14-day trial |
What is an automated time tracker?
An automated time tracker records work hours without manual clock-ins or handwritten notes. It captures real activity (e.g., GPS movement, jobsite arrivals, or digital activity) and gives crews accurate hours without end-of-day guessing.
Construction crews use automated time tracking to reduce payroll errors, verify jobsite activity, and keep labor costs accurate.
Instead of workers guessing their hours at the end of the day, the software captures activity in real time through GPS, app usage, or device-based tracking.
Contractors, field teams, office staff, and service crews use automatic time tracking tools to cut down on errors, reduce payroll corrections, and keep job costs accurate.
How an automated time tracker works
An automated time tracker works by capturing real activity like GPS movement, jobsite arrivals, or computer usage through a mobile or desktop app. It builds a timeline of the day so supervisors can review and approve accurate hours.
Office teams have their computer activity tracked in the background, while field crews use a mobile app that records location-based movement, jobsite arrivals, and time spent on each task.
As work happens, the system logs each activity. Supervisors can see what was done, where crews worked, and how long each task took.
The result is a clear, accurate record of the workday that doesn’t rely on handwritten notes or end-of-day guessing.
Benefits of an automated time tracker
- Cuts down on admin work by recording hours automatically instead of relying on handwritten notes or end-of-day guesses.
- Reduces payroll mistakes because hours, locations, and tasks are captured in real time.
- Helps supervisors see how the day was spent, whether on a jobsite, on the road, or on a computer.
- Gives crews clearer schedules and fewer interruptions since the system tracks work in the background.
- Helps control labor costs by showing actual time spent on each project or phase.
- Makes reporting easier because hours flow directly into timesheets, payroll, or job costing tools.
- Improves accountability since time records are based on verified activity rather than memory.
How much does an automated time tracker cost?
Most automatic time tracking tools charge per user each month, with prices changing based on how much automation your team needs. Entry-level plans usually cover basic digital activity tracking, while higher tiers include features like scheduling, approvals, GPS logs, or integrations with payroll systems.
Many tools offer a free trial so you can test how well they fit your workflow before committing. Costs also depend on whether you’re paying monthly or yearly, how many people are on your team, and whether you need advanced reporting.
For growing crews, it’s important to compare plans side by side so you’re not paying for features you won’t use.
What to look for in an automated time tracker
When you compare automatic time tracking tools, start by focusing on the core elements that keep your hours accurate without adding extra work for your team.
Core features
- Accurate activity capture: The tool should record time based on real actions, whether that’s GPS movement, app usage, or jobsite visits. This prevents end-of-day guessing.
- Clear timelines: A simple view of what happened during the day helps supervisors verify hours quickly.
- Easy review and approvals: Managers should be able to correct entries, approve time, and sync records to payroll without extra steps.
- Secure data handling: Hours, locations, and activity logs must remain private and protected, especially for companies handling sensitive client work.
Nice-to-have features
- Integrations: Helpful for teams that want time data to flow into project management, accounting, or scheduling systems.
- Mobile access: Ideal when crews split time between the office and field.
- Productivity tools: Activity summaries, focus modes, or reminders can help office teams stay on task.
- Reporting: Extra value if you want insights into workload, project hours, or billing patterns.
How to choose the best automated time tracker
- Start with how your team works: Choose a tool that fits whether your hours come from computer work, jobsite activity, or a mix of both.
- Match the software to your daily workflow: Look for a tracker that records time the way your team actually moves through tasks and projects.
- Test the mobile and desktop experience: Make sure the app runs quietly in the background and doesn’t interrupt real work.
- Check how well the data connects to other systems: Pick a tool that sends hours directly to payroll, job costing, or project management without extra steps.
- Compare pricing based on team size and workload: Choose the plan that gives you accurate, reliable time records without paying for features you don’t need.
The Bottom Line
Automatic time tracking helps teams cut down on admin work and keep hours accurate, especially when projects move fast.
Most tools work well for office tasks, but crews in construction or field service need something built for the way they work. Workyard gives contractors reliable GPS-backed time tracking, clearer labor records, and faster payroll.
See how it improves daily coordination and job cost accuracy.
Our Scoring System Explained
Our 8-part scoring system was created to help you understand the potential value of any software we review simply and fairly.
We created it after reviewing dozens of software products, which we covered in depth, but without providing a direct and simple way for readers to compare products on their merits – without spending a lot of time looking through our articles for the information they needed to make an informed decision.
Every app we review will include Customer Support and Company scores, which we’ll explain in more detail below. Many of the factors reviewed in this article will also be consistent across most (or all) of our software reviews, with some differences:
The 8 factors assessed and their contribution to a product’s overall score may differ slightly from product to product based on various factors, such as the use case we’re reviewing for, the type of business these products are tailored to, and other considerations. However, all reviews will feature an 8-part score, weighted and combined to calculate each product’s overall score.
How We Score Software
All factors in our reviews are scored on a 10-point scale – technically 11 points – from 0-10. However, we only give products a score of 0 if it does not include an essential feature at all, and we try to avoid giving out 0 scores if a product can demonstrate any functionality in line with the specific factor being reviewed.
In general, the 0-10 range translates as:
- 9.0 – 10 – One of the absolute best in its category (amazing).
- 7.5 – 8.9 – Very good, but with some minor issues (very good).
- 6.0 – 7.4 – Mediocre performance with notable shortcomings (average).
- 3.0 – 5.9 – This feature is not ready for prime time (borderline).
- 1.0 – 2.9 – This feature actually makes its product worse (unacceptable).
- 0 – The product doesn’t include this important feature at all.
How We Calculate Overall Scores
The 8 factors reviewed are weighted based on an overall total of 100%:
- Ease of Use: 20%
- Time Tracking Accuracy: 20%
- Scheduling Features: 15%
- Job Tracking: 15%
- Integrations: 10%
- Customer Support: 15%
- Company: 5%
Methodology for Each Factor
Ease of Use
We evaluate a product’s ease of use based on three main considerations:
- How easy is it to set up this app?
- How easy is it for managers to use the backend dashboard?
- How easy is it for frontline workers to use the (mobile) app?
These three considerations cover the main ways you and your team would use the software being reviewed – when you first obtain it, when someone (a manager, executive, team leader, or similar role) needs to use it to manage people, money, data, and other things, and when workers you’re tracking use the app (usually a mobile version of the software designed for frontline and/or field team members) to clock in, clock out, record time worked, or address other day-to-day needs.
Time Tracking Accuracy
Every minute matters when you’re trying to control payroll costs. This factor accounts for various features and common needs in time-tracking apps, such as…
- How accurate or precise is its GPS tracking capability?
- How accurate – and how customizable – is its geofencing feature?
- How accurate is its travel and mileage tracking (if available)?
- Can it automatically clock workers in and out based on the above?
- Can you set and/or restrict rules for clocking in and out?
- Can the app continue tracking workers while offline?
- How easy is its mobile app and/or kiosk for frontline workers?
Scheduling Features
Many construction businesses prefer to manage as many aspects of employee labor activity as possible in a single app, which is why many time-tracking apps also include worker scheduling as a core feature.
When we consider a product’s scheduling features, we look at:
- Its dashboard customizability (daily, weekly, or monthly views).
- Its project-based scheduling and visibility.
- Its real-time updates and notifications for workers.
- Its real-time map views of worker locations for best-fit scheduling.
- Its recurring schedule (copies to subsequent weeks, etc.) functionality.
Job Tracking
This factor helps you understand if the software can also provide insight into specific projects, which is particularly handy when your business deals with many customers or clients who generally need shorter-term work. Effective job tracking typically also includes accurate job costing functionality for construction companies.
We assess several things when calculating a product’s job tracking score:
- Its project-based tracking for multiple projects per day/week/etc.
- Its ability to track multiple / many projects simultaneously.
- Its use of (and your ability to customize) construction cost codes.
- Any built-in job costing views.
- Any integrations for cost coding (QuickBooks etc.)
Integrations
No business can operate on a single app, which is why integrations with other apps and tools are such important aspects of modern business software.
To calculate a product’s integration score, we’ll examine:
- How many native integrations (the simplest connection) does it offer?
- How effective and easy-to-use are its integrations with payroll software?
- Does it have robust data import and export features?
Customer Support
Learning how to use a new app can be frustrating, even if it’s meant to be the most user-friendly app around. That’s why great customer support is so essential when considering which time-tracking app to use.
Customer support scores are calculated based on:
- Live support channels available (phone, email, chat, etc.).
- Live support hours (business hours only, 24/7, etc.).
- The strength of the product’s online help center and/or FAQs.
- What other users say about support in online reviews.
Company
A great company with a highly customer-friendly approach can often make up for shortcomings in their software products – at least up to a point.
When assessing this score, we’ll examine:
- Transparency (easy-to-find pricing, etc.)
- Trial period (duration, feature availability, credit card requirements, etc.).
- Subscription flexibility (contracts, required durations, etc.).
- Ease of cancellation or pausing subscriptions.
- Customer perceptions (online product reviews).
- Website (a minor consideration, but great companies tend to have great websites).
Any questions about our scoring system? Have any suggestions on how we could make it even better? Click here to send us your feedback – we’d love to hear from you!
Essential features of automated time trackers include:
- Automatic time tracking: Tracking time efficiently without manual intervention, accurately representing work completed and hours spent on different tasks.
- In-app notifications and quick reports: Providing real-time updates and quick reports to managers, ensuring transparency and accountability within remote teams.
- Project management: Integrating with project management tools to assign tasks, monitor work rates, and track project statuses, enhancing overall productivity and efficiency.
- Pattern recognition and AI: Using AI to analyze tracked activities and present visualizations of the day, helping users identify productive moments and optimize their workflow.
- Timesheet automation: Automating the process of timesheet calculation, eliminating manual errors, and ensuring accurate billing and invoicing.
- Integration with other tools: Integrating different tools and apps to streamline workflows, such as project management software, calendars, and other productivity tools.
- Reporting and insights: Providing detailed reports and insights on time usage, helping users identify areas for improvement, and optimizing their productivity.
- User-friendly interface: Offering a user-friendly interface allowing users to focus on their work without interruptions.
- Exceptional accuracy: Ensuring reduced errors and providing a clear picture of work completed and hours spent.
- Accountability and transparency: Enhancing accountability and transparency within teams by providing real-time updates and detailed reports on time usage.
Automated time trackers provide real-time data on how employees spend their work hours, highlighting inefficiencies and time-wasting activities. With detailed reports, managers can identify bottlenecks, optimize workflows, and set realistic deadlines. Employees benefit from better time management as they can see how their time is distributed. This transparency fosters accountability, leading to improved productivity and more focused work.
Yes, most automated time trackers prioritize data security by using encryption and compliance standards like GDPR or HIPAA. They typically allow administrators to customize privacy settings, ensuring sensitive data remains protected. Some tools anonymize user data or offer options to track time without capturing detailed activity, balancing productivity monitoring with employee privacy. Always review a tool’s security features before implementation.
Many automated time trackers offer integrations with popular business tools like project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello), accounting platforms (e.g., QuickBooks, Xero), and communication apps (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams). These integrations streamline workflows by syncing time-tracking data with other essential functions, such as task management, invoicing, and payroll, making it easier to manage projects and finances in one ecosystem.