(650) 332-8623The 6 Best Biometric Time Clock Systems for 2026
Looking for a biometric time clock for your construction business? We’ve reviewed 6 of the best apps on the market to help you choose!
A biometric time clock verifies each clock-in with fingerprint or facial recognition, giving teams a secure and reliable way to track hours without relying on PINs or badges. It helps cut down on buddy punching, reduces payroll errors, and keeps attendance records consistent with very little manual cleanup.
Many businesses turn to biometrics when traditional time tracking starts creating more problems than it solves. If you manage crews across several locations or deal with frequent timesheet corrections, these tools make it easier to stay accurate and keep everyone accountable.
If you want a clear look at the strongest biometric options available today, here are the systems worth considering.
Top Biometric Time Clock Systems at a Glance
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|---|---|---|---|
Our score |
9.2 |
8.3 |
8.0 |
Best for |
Construction, field service, and property management businesses |
Webcam-based attendance tracking |
Retail employee shift logging |
Pricing |
Starts at $6 / mo. per user + $50 / mo. company base fee |
Starts at $5.49 / mo. per user + $19 base fee |
Starts at $2.99 / user per month |
What is a biometric time clock?
A biometric time clock records employee hours by confirming identity through a physical characteristic, most commonly a fingerprint or facial match. Because it verifies the person instead of a code or badge, it removes the guesswork that comes with PINs, swipe cards, or paper logs. This direct check helps prevent buddy punching and keeps time records far more accurate.
These clocks are often used by businesses with hourly teams, field crews, or workplaces where clean, verifiable records matter for payroll and compliance. By tying each punch to the correct employee, companies get clearer visibility into who’s working, where they’re working, and how many hours should be paid.
How a biometric time clock works
A biometric time clock starts with a quick setup where managers enroll each employee’s fingerprint or face so the system can recognize them. Once that’s done, workers simply scan at the start and end of their shifts, and the clock instantly records their time without needing a PIN or badge.
If your organization uses multiple devices, each scan syncs to the main dashboard so supervisors can see attendance in real time. Behind the scenes, the clock organizes each punch into a running timesheet and highlights anything that needs attention, such as missed scans or early departures.
The system can also pass approved hours directly into payroll or HR software, cutting out extra steps for office staff. Supervisors get a clear view of who’s working, while employees can check their own hours through the app, creating a smooth reporting flow from the jobsite to the back office.
Benefits of biometric time clocks
- Stops buddy punching: Verifies each worker directly, so no one can clock in for someone else
- Improves payroll accuracy: Captures exact in-and-out times without relying on handwritten logs or memory
- Reduces admin workload: Automatically organizes punches into timesheets, cutting down on manual corrections
- Strengthens compliance: Creates clear, verifiable attendance records that support labor audits and payroll reviews
- Gives managers real-time insights: Shows who is on-site and who is running late without needing constant check-ins
- Works across multiple locations: Keeps attendance consistent even when crews move between jobs or facilities
- Minimizes hardware misuse: Removes lost badges, forgotten PINs, and damaged cards from the equation
How much does a biometric time clock cost?
Most biometric time clocks fall into two pricing categories: a one-time cost for the physical device or a monthly subscription tied to the number of users.
Hardware-based clocks usually range from a few hundred to several hundred dollars per unit, while software plans may charge per employee or offer flat-rate tiers for small teams.
Some providers include basic onboarding in the price, while others charge extra for setup, training, or advanced reporting features. Free trials are common for software plans but not for physical devices.
Overall, the total cost depends on team size, the type of biometric hardware you choose, and whether you need integrations with payroll or HR systems.
What to look for in a biometric time clock
When evaluating biometric time clocks, begin with the foundational features that every reliable system should offer. These essentials ensure accurate punches, smooth daily use, and dependable records for payroll and compliance.
Key essentials to look for:
- Accurate identity verification: Consistent fingerprint or facial matching that works across different conditions
- Reliable punch capture: Fast scan times that prevent delays during busy shift changes
- Clear reporting tools: Timesheets and attendance data that are easy to review and export
- Secure data handling: Encryption and safe storage practices to protect employee information
After you’ve checked off the essentials, it’s worth exploring the extras that make everyday work smoother:
- Mobile or web access for remote approvals and quick checks
- Automated alerts that flag missed punches or late clock-ins
- Payroll or HR integrations that eliminate manual data entry
How to choose the best biometric time clock
Finding the best biometric time clock isn’t just about picking the newest device. It’s about matching the tool to the way your team really works, whether that’s in an office, a shop, or a jobsite where hands aren’t always clean.
- Choose a scanner that works with your workflow. Some teams clock in with clean hands at a front desk, while others start their day on a jobsite where fingerprints can be worn or dirty. Pick a scanner that fits the way your employees actually punch in.
- Confirm accuracy and consistency. Look for devices that scan quickly and reliably, especially when several employees need to clock in at the same time.
- Review reporting and payroll compatibility. Make sure timesheets export cleanly and integrate with your payroll system so you aren’t stuck fixing data later.
- Consider long-term upkeep. Biometric hardware needs occasional maintenance, so durability, support, and replacement costs all factor into the long-term value.
- Test the device on-site. Trying a clock in your actual workspace will tell you quickly whether employees can use it smoothly.
Final Thoughts
After working through the different biometric systems, it’s clear each option has its place, especially if you prefer dedicated hardware. But for teams that want accuracy without the upkeep or limitations of fingerprint devices, Workyard consistently delivered the smoothest and most reliable experience.
If you want a field-ready alternative that simplifies time tracking, try Workyard and see the difference firsthand with a free trial.
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!
Biometric time clocks are physical hardware devices that use biological traits like fingerprints or facial features to track employee attendance. As such, they are not typically available for free.
If you’re specifically interested in biometric time clocks, purchase hardware devices from manufacturers. Weigh the pros and cons, including accuracy, security, and potential legal considerations.
The process typically works as follows:
- Enrollment: Employees provide a sample of their biometric data (e.g., fingerprint, facial scan), securely stored in the system’s database.
- Authentication: When clocking in or out, employees present their biometric trait to the device (e.g., placing their finger on a scanner or facing a camera).
- Matching: The system compares the presented biometric sample with the stored data.
- Verification: The employee’s identity is verified if the sample matches the stored data.
- Time recording: The system records the employee’s clock-in or clock-out time in the database.
These biometric methods offer increased accuracy and security compared to traditional time-tracking systems. They are challenging to manipulate and require the physical presence of the employee. They also eliminate issues like buddy punching and lost ID cards, making them an increasingly popular choice for workforce management.
Biometric time clocks can be safe for employee privacy, but it depends on how the system collects and stores data. Fingerprint and facial-scan devices typically create and save biometric identifiers, which may trigger stricter compliance requirements under certain state laws. Businesses must follow proper consent, storage, and retention rules to keep that information protected.
If you want the accountability benefits without managing sensitive biometric files, Workyard offers a safer alternative. Instead of storing fingerprints or facial geometry, Workyard uses simple photo verification to confirm identity. This approach prevents buddy punching while avoiding the legal and security concerns tied to true biometric data.
Traditional biometric systems aren’t built with remote or mobile workers in mind. Because they rely on fixed hardware for fingerprint or facial scans, employees need to be physically present at the device, which doesn’t fit the reality of crews who travel between jobsites or start work in the field.
For teams that need more flexibility, there are tools that offer the same level of accountability without requiring a physical scanner. Workyard is one example, using photo verification and GPS to confirm identities from a mobile app or tablet kiosk, making it a better fit for crews who aren’t tied to a single location.