(650) 332-8623The 10 Best Punch Clock Apps for 2026: For Every Industry and Team Type
We reviewed 10 punch clock apps for 2026 across construction, remote, shift-based, and small-business use cases.
Quick Answer
Workyard is our top pick for construction and field crews. It combines GPS-verified clock-ins with job costing for that use case.
For every other team type, the right pick comes down to how you work. Clockify suits small teams that want free basic tracking. QuickBooks Time fits businesses already using QuickBooks. Buddy Punch focuses on punch verification. Connecteam fits deskless frontline teams. ClockShark suits construction teams that also invoice. Hubstaff fits remote and distributed teams. Homebase and When I Work are stronger for shift-based businesses. OnTheClock keeps costs low for small businesses.
Disclosure: Workyard, the company publishing this review, also makes one of the products reviewed here. Every tool below, including Workyard, was scored against the same criteria using our published review methodology.
Inaccurate punches, missed clock-ins, and padded hours cost businesses money every pay period. Cleaning up bad timesheets also creates extra payroll work. The right employee punch clock app can reduce that cleanup. It should capture reliable hours, feed payroll, and fit how your workforce actually clocks in.
This list covers 10 top-rated employee time clock apps across several team types. It includes free options, remote-team apps, shift-scheduling products, and lower-cost choices for small businesses.
Workyard is our top pick for construction and field crews. Its construction time tracking software combines GPS-verified clock-ins with job and cost-code tracking, so contractors can connect recorded hours to payroll and job costs.
What's new in this update (September 2026)
- Broadened the article from a construction-only comparison into a cross-industry punch clock app roundup covering every major team type
- Reorganized the comparison by use case and team type, rather than treating every brand against a single construction-first frame
- Expanded the brand lineup from 8 to 10, adding When I Work and OnTheClock
- Refreshed pricing, ratings, and feature claims for all 10 brands as of September 2026
- Added new Workyard capabilities released since our last update, including customizable overtime rules, expanded Time Assistant access for managers, and automatic Smart Forms triggers on geofence entry
List of best punch clock apps
| Brand | Punch verification | Scheduling | Payroll/accounting integrations | Starting price |
| Workyard | GPS + kiosk facial detection | Job-based, tied to cost codes | QuickBooks, ADP, Gusto, Paychex, Paylocity, Rippling | $6/user/month, Starter, billed annually |
| Clockify | PIN or manual entry (GPS on paid tiers) | Timeline scheduling on Pro and above | Native QuickBooks (Standard+); Zapier for others | Free; paid from $3.99/user/mo |
| QuickBooks Time | PIN/manual, GPS on all plans | Basic shift assignment | QuickBooks native, plus 50+ other accounting/payroll apps | $20 base + $10/user/mo |
| Buddy Punch | PIN, QR code, or photo | Included from Pro tier up | Close to 20 payroll integrations | $4.99/user/mo + $19 base |
| Connecteam | GPS clock-in/out on mobile | Shift scheduling + task assignment | Payroll export, fewer native syncs | $29/mo base (first 30 users) |
| ClockShark | GPS + kiosk PIN | Crew scheduling for job sites | QuickBooks, ADP, Gusto, Paychex | $42/mo + $9.50/user |
| Hubstaff | Login/activity-based, no photo/PIN | Scheduling with late/missed-shift alerts (Team tier and up) | Deep software and payroll integrations | $4.99/user/mo |
| Homebase | PIN, photo, or GPS/geofencing | Full drag-and-drop scheduling | Payroll add-on | Free (paid from $30/mo per location) |
| When I Work | Shift-matched clock-in | Auto-scheduling, shift swaps | Payroll export integrations | $2.50/user/mo |
| OnTheClock | PIN/photo, GPS-tagged | Drag-and-drop scheduling included | QuickBooks, Gusto, ADP, Paychex, Square Payroll, Thomson Reuters | $5 base + $4/user/mo |
How we chose
We evaluated each app for accuracy, ease of use, pricing transparency, integrations, and industry fit. We gave extra weight to punch verification and job or shift context. See our full review methodology for details.
How to choose the best punch clock app
The most reliable time clock app depends on your team’s structure, payroll process, and how workers clock in. Weigh these factors before choosing:
- Team location: Field-based crews need GPS or geofencing; office or remote staff may not.
- Payroll integrations: Confirm the app syncs cleanly with the payroll or accounting system you already use. See best time clock apps with Paycor integration.
- Punch verification: A punch-in clock app with photo, PIN, or facial recognition controls reduces buddy punching and time theft.
- Scheduling needs: Shift-based businesses benefit from apps that combine scheduling with the time clock app itself.
- Budget and team size: Per-user pricing, base fees, and flat “up to X users” tiers scale very differently.
What is a punch clock app?
A punch clock app lets workers clock in and out from a phone, computer, kiosk, or shared device instead of using a physical time clock. It records work start and stop times and may also capture the worker’s location or identity. Those records then feed timesheets, payroll, attendance, and labor reporting.
Punch clock apps are one type of time tracking software. The difference is focus. Punch clock apps center on attendance and verified work hours. Broader time tracking apps may also track projects, tasks, clients, billable work, or productivity.
- Punch clock apps: best for attendance, shift hours, payroll, and verified clock-ins.
- Broader time tracking apps: best for project time, tasks, billable hours, and productivity records.
- Field-focused punch clock apps: often add GPS, geofencing, photo, PIN, kiosk, or supervisor controls.
Best time tracking apps
The best time tracking app depends on what you need to record. Teams that mainly track project time or billable work may prefer a general time tracker such as Clockify. Remote teams may value Hubstaff’s activity and software integrations. Shift-based businesses may prefer Homebase or When I Work because scheduling and attendance sit together. Construction crews need a different setup when hours must be tied to jobs, cost codes, and field locations. Workyard fits that use case with GPS-verified time, job and cost-code tracking, and payroll-ready records. That distinction is why this roundup stays focused on punch clock apps even while answering the broader time tracking question.
10 of the best punch clock apps
Below is our full breakdown of all 10 apps, researched and refreshed for 2026, covering pricing, features, pros and cons, and ratings for each.
1. Workyard: Best overall for construction and field crews
Workyard is a Construction Operations Platform built for contractors. Its time tracking is designed for crews moving across jobs, where a clean time card also needs the right job, cost code, and location context. Owners and supervisors can see who is working, where the crew is, and how recorded hours map to job costs.
An administrative assistant at a commercial steel decking subcontractor managed time for 65 to 120 field workers. She said the company surpassed its projected $150,000 annual payroll savings within six weeks of full adoption.
“In six weeks, we actually over exceeded that $150,000 that we had originally estimated for an entire year.”
Features
- GPS-verified clock-ins and geofence-based punches
- Kiosk mode with facial detection
- Automated job and cost-code tagging
- Customizable overtime rules, so admins can set overtime thresholds per crew or jurisdiction instead of one flat company-wide rule
- Supervisor-led clock-in for entire crews
- Smart Forms that trigger automatically when a worker enters a geofenced job site, not just at clock-out
GPS-verified clock-ins and geofencing
Workyard’s time clock app with GPS records where and when a punch happened. Geofencing can also support location-based time workflows, giving contractors clearer records before time reaches payroll.
Kiosk and supervisor-led punching
For busy job sites, the time clock kiosk turns a shared tablet into a fixed punch station with facial detection. The supervisor-led time card app lets a foreman clock in an entire crew from one device. See our biometric time clock guide and time clock kiosk apps roundup for related setups.
Verified hours flow into QuickBooks, ADP, Gusto, Paychex, Paylocity, and Rippling, turning weekly payroll into a quick review for a back-office administrator. Time Assistant access now extends to managers, not just admins. This gives field supervisors another way to review crew time from their dashboard.
Pricing
- Free trial or free plan: Yes, a 14-day free trial.
- Starter: $6 per user / month, billed annually. Monthly billing also available.
- Pro, Autopilot, and Enterprise: Contact our sales team for pricing.
If you have 50+ users, speak to our sales team at workyard.com/contact-sales for a discounted quote.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Continuous GPS tracking of every punch | Built for field service, not office teams |
| Job and cost-code tagging on every clock-in | Not the cheapest given its automation depth |
| Kiosk facial detection reduces buddy punching | Some automation sits in higher tiers |
| Offline mode works without signal | Less useful for fully remote teams |
Ratings
These are Workyard’s current scores across major review platforms. They reflect feedback from people using the app in construction and field work.
| App Store | Google Play | Capterra | G2 |
| 4.0 ⭐(242 ratings) | 3.8 ⭐(256 ratings) | 4.7 ⭐(102 reviews) | 4.8 ⭐(52 reviews) |
Workyard is best for construction and field service businesses needing GPS-verified, job-tagged tracking.
See construction time clock apps or small business time clock apps for narrower options.
2. Clockify: Best free option for small teams
Clockify is a strong free punch clock option for very small teams. Its free tier supports up to five users with basic time tracking before a business moves to a paid plan.
Office-based staff can clock in from Clockify’s web timer, while field or shift workers use its mobile apps or a shared kiosk mode. Paid tiers add break tracking, approvals, GPS, and budget management. Clockify still lacks native geofencing, which matters more for field teams that need location-based punch controls.
Features
- Free basic time tracking for up to 5 users on web and mobile
- Timesheet reminders, edits, and approval workflows
- QuickBooks integration, plus Zapier for others
- Reporting dashboards and project budgeting
- Timeline-based scheduling and resource planning (Pro and above)
Pricing
- Free trial or free plan: Yes, for up to 5 users with unlimited basic time tracking
- Basic: $3.99 per user / month, billed annually. Monthly billing also available at $4.99
- Standard: $5.49 per user / month, billed annually. Monthly billing also available at $6.99
- Pro: $7.99 per user / month, billed annually. Monthly billing also available at $9.99
- Enterprise: $11.99 per user / month, billed annually. Monthly billing also available at $14.99
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Free forever for basic tracking | No native geofencing |
| Syncs with Google and Microsoft calendars | Limited payroll integrations beyond QuickBooks |
| Many project management integrations | Not built for multi-state or multi-timezone crews |
| Simple, low learning curve | Lacks industry-specific features for construction |
Ratings
Clockify scores well across every major review platform, with small teams and free-tier users driving most of the praise.
| App Store | Google Play | Capterra | G2 |
| 4.6 ⭐(4.4K ratings) | 4.5 ⭐(2.93K ratings) | 4.8 ⭐(9,268 reviews) | 4.5 ⭐(203 reviews) |
Clockify is best for small or early-stage teams that want a free time clock app before scaling up.
See our Clockify review, our Workyard vs Clockify comparison, or our Clockify alternatives guide.
3. QuickBooks Time: Best for teams already using QuickBooks
Already running QuickBooks Payroll or QuickBooks Online? QuickBooks Time is a natural fit, since timesheets sync directly with the accounting system many small businesses already use daily, without a separate export step.
Supervisors can punch crews in or out on their behalf and see live location during the shift. It’s a capable general-purpose employee time clock app. Construction teams may still need deeper job-costing workflows than QuickBooks Time provides by itself.
Features
- Location-based clock-in and clock-out
- Scheduling and shift management
- Leave and absence tracking
- Native sync to QuickBooks Payroll and Online, plus 50+ other accounting and payroll apps
Pricing
- Free trial or free plan: Yes, 30-day free trial
- Time Premium: $20 base fee per month (includes one admin), plus $10 per additional user per month.
- Time Elite: $40 base fee per month (includes one admin), plus $12 per additional user per month.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Deep native QuickBooks integration | Limited construction-specific job costing |
| Backed by Intuit’s support infrastructure | No built-in geofencing rules for clock-in windows |
| Straightforward onboarding | Base fee adds up for small teams |
| Mobile app works for field-based crews | Some users report sync/update issues |
Ratings
The App Store and Google Play scores below cover QuickBooks Workforce, the mobile app that powers QuickBooks Time on employees’ phones. A separate QuickBooks Time Kiosk app handles shared-device clock-ins for a whole crew.
| App Store | Google Play | Capterra | G2 |
| 4.6 ⭐(196K ratings) | 4.7 ⭐(67.5K ratings) | 4.7 ⭐(7,023 reviews) | 4.5 ⭐(1,449 reviews) |
QuickBooks Time is best for businesses already standardized on QuickBooks for payroll and accounting.
See our full QuickBooks Time review, our Workyard vs QuickBooks Time comparison, or our QuickBooks Time alternatives.
4. Buddy Punch: Best for simple setup and punch verification
Buddy Punch is an affordable, easy-to-deploy punch in clock app built around stopping time theft. Employees can clock in via mobile app, kiosk, or computer, with PIN, QR code, or photo verification available to confirm who is actually punching in.
GPS on punch, geofencing, and IP address locks add off-site punch controls for field or hybrid teams. Payroll data can move through nearly 20 integrations or a payroll add-on. That makes Buddy Punch a practical fit for teams focused on punch verification.
Features
- Photo-on-punch and facial recognition (iPad kiosk); PIN and QR-code punch-in available from the Pro tier up
- Face ID punch-in on iOS, included on all tiers
- GPS, geofencing, and IP address lock options
- Automatic overtime and regular-hours calculation
- Nearly 20 payroll integrations
- Drag-and-drop scheduling with recurring shifts and availability tracking; an add-on on Starter, included on Pro and Advanced
Pricing
- Starter: $19/month base fee plus $4.99 per user billed annually, or $5.99 per user billed month-to-month
- Pro: Same $19 base fee, $6.99/user annually ($7.99 billed monthly)
- Advanced: $19 base fee, $12.99/user annually ($13.99 billed monthly)
- Payroll add-on: $49 plus $8/user, on top of any plan
- Optional add-ons:
- Real-Time GPS: $2/user/month on Starter and Pro; included on Advanced
- Scheduling: $1/user/month on Starter; included on Pro and Advanced
- Data Retention: $2/user/month on any plan
- Onboarding/Offboarding/Tasks: $4/user/month on Starter and Pro; included on Advanced (coming soon)
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy for all employees to learn quickly | No mileage tracking |
| Strong US-based customer support | No offline punch capture below the Advanced tier |
| Multiple punch-verification methods | No free plan |
| Good value at its price point | Scheduling and GPS cost extra on Starter; only bundled free from Pro up |
Ratings
Buddy Punch scores in the high 4s across the review platforms listed here. Reviews often mention its setup process and US-based support.
| App Store | Google Play | Capterra | G2 |
| 4.9 ⭐(734 ratings) | 4.5 ⭐(432 ratings) | 4.8 ⭐(1,131 reviews) | 4.8 ⭐(404 reviews) |
Buddy Punch is best for businesses that want simple, verified punches. Its setup is aimed at both office staff and field crews.
See our full Buddy Punch review, Workyard vs Buddy Punch comparison, or Buddy Punch alternatives guide.
5. Connecteam: Best for deskless frontline teams
Connecteam combines time tracking, scheduling, task management, internal chat, and employee tools for deskless frontline teams across retail, hospitality, and field services.
Its task-based tracking, with sub-tasks and file attachments, gives managers overseeing multiple locations more context than a bare punch clock. The main limitation is that payroll is handled through integrations rather than native payroll processing.
Features
- Time clock app built for frontline, deskless employees, with GPS clock-in/out on mobile
- Scheduling for non-desk-based teams, with up to 10 geofence locations and full time clock customization on the Advanced tier, and unlimited geofences on Expert
- Task and project management with checklists, plus unlimited sub-jobs and API access on the Expert tier
- Internal chat, surveys, and employee directory, sold as a separate Communications Hub on the same tier ladder
- Time off, courses, and recognition tools, sold as a separate HR & Skills Hub on the same tier ladder
Pricing
Connecteam prices its Operations, Communications, and HR & Skills hubs separately; the figures below are for the Operations Hub, where the time clock and scheduling live.
- Free trial or free plan: 14-day free trial (full Expert access), plus a free plan for up to 10 users
- Basic: $29/month for 30 users ($0.8/user after), with GPS clock-in, payroll integration, and core scheduling.
- Advanced: $49/month for 30 users ($2.50/user after, adding full clock customization, auto clock-out, and up to 10 geofences.
- Expert: $99/month for 30 users ($4.20 user after), adding unlimited sub-jobs and geofences, up to 12 auto-assigned schedules, and API access.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing, adding unlimited time clocks and schedules, SSO/2FA, and biometric app lock.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Strong task-tracking alongside time clock | No native payroll processing |
| Cost-effective base pricing for growing teams | Per-user overage fees kick in past 30 users on every tier |
| HR and engagement tools built in | Communications and HR & Skills features are priced as separate hubs, not bundled in |
| Good for multi-location oversight | Geofencing capped at 10 locations below the Expert tier |
Ratings
Connecteam has strong ratings across the platforms listed here. Its App Store and Google Play listings also have large review volumes from mobile users.
| App Store | Google Play | Capterra | G2 |
| 4.9 ⭐(59K ratings) | 4.8 ⭐(29.4K ratings) | 4.6 ⭐(5,316 reviews) | 4.6 ⭐(3,506 reviews) |
Connecteam is best for deskless, frontline teams that want time tracking bundled with task management.
See our full Connecteam review, our Workyard vs Connecteam comparison, or our Connecteam alternatives guide.
6. ClockShark: Best for construction teams that also need invoicing workflows
ClockShark is built for construction and field service companies. It adds job and customer management around its punch clock for crews and office staff.
Its kiosk mode includes facial recognition to cut down on buddy punching, and built-in billing lets smaller service businesses invoice directly from the app. That combination fits teams that want time tracking and light invoicing together. Its construction operations scope is narrower than Workyard’s.
Features
- GPS time clock and geofencing
- Kiosk time clock with facial recognition
- Job costing and customer/job management
- Built-in invoicing and billing
Pricing
- Free trial or free plan: 14-day free trial with full Pro-plan features, no credit card required
- Standard: $42/month base plus $9.50/user/month
- Pro: $63/month base plus $11.50/user/month, adding PTO, advanced job costing, and compliance forms
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Built-in invoicing for field service work | Facial recognition limited to kiosk, not mobile |
| Kiosk mode suits large crews on one site | Cost escalates for larger teams |
| Simple job and customer management | Less flexibility over clock-in/out rules |
| Purpose-built for construction/field service | Mobile GPS accuracy issues reported after updates |
Ratings
ClockShark’s mobile app ratings trail its Capterra and G2 scores. Those review sites also cover job costing and office workflows, not only day-to-day mobile use.
| App Store | Google Play | Capterra | G2 |
| 3.0 ⭐(81 ratings) | 3.4 ⭐(113 reviews) | 4.7 ⭐(1,911 reviews) | 4.7 ⭐(344 reviews) |
ClockShark is best for construction and field service teams that want time tracking bundled with invoicing.
See our full ClockShark review, Workyard vs ClockShark comparison, and our ClockShark alternatives guide.
7. Hubstaff: Best for remote and distributed teams
Hubstaff is a general-purpose time clock app for remote and hybrid teams. It adds activity metrics, screenshots, and expense tracking to its core time tracking.
It carries some of the deepest software integrations on this list, spanning project management, finance, CRM, and helpdesk tools. Its screenshot-based oversight is better suited to desk-based work than field crews. For a scattered remote workforce, though, Hubstaff is a stronger fit.
Features
- Time tracking for remote, hybrid, and in-office teams
- Workforce analytics and project cost management
- Expense tracker for materials and supplies
- Offline mobile time capture
- Shift scheduling with automatic late, missed, and abandoned-shift alerts, along with time off, overtime, and work-break tracking, all gated to the Team tier and up
Pricing
- Free trial or free plan: 14-day free trial
- Starter: $4.99 per user / month, billed annually (2-user minimum). Basic time tracking and productivity tools.
- Grow: $7.50 per user / month, billed annually (2-user minimum). Adds advanced tools, reporting, and one integration.
- Team: $10 per user / month, billed annually (2-user minimum). Adds payments, scheduling, and unlimited integrations.
- Enterprise: $25 per user / month, billed annually. Adds custom setup, account provisioning, and dedicated support.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Strong distributed-team feature set | Activity screenshots feel intrusive to some field users |
| Deep integration library | Mobile tracking accuracy trails desktop |
| Expense tracking for materials-heavy teams | Slower support response reported |
| Offline capture for spotty-signal areas | Cost scales quickly for larger teams |
Ratings
Hubstaff’s ratings hold steady across App Store, Capterra, and G2, with its lower Google Play score the one real outlier on an otherwise consistent record.
| App Store | Google Play | Capterra | G2 |
| 4.5 ⭐(1.5K ratings) | 3.0 ⭐(948 reviews) | 4.5 ⭐(1,613 reviews) | 4.4 ⭐(2,311 reviews) |
Hubstaff is best for remote and distributed teams that need time tracking plus deep integrations.
See our full Hubstaff review or our Workyard vs Hubstaff comparison.
8. Homebase: Best for restaurants and shift-based businesses
Homebase is built for shift-based businesses such as restaurants and retail. It combines scheduling, GPS-enabled time tracking, HR tools, and payroll options in one app.
Its scheduling tools are the standout feature, and its payroll add-on runs in the same app without needing separate software bolted on. It’s less suited to teams that only need a basic punch clock. For shift-based businesses, its value comes from keeping hiring, scheduling, time tracking, and payroll work close together.
Features
- PIN, photo, or GPS/geofenced punch verification
- Scheduling, from basic shift building on the free plan to an AI-powered scheduling assistant on Plus and above
- Real-time team communication, from Essentials up
- HR and compliance tools on the All-in-One plan; payroll is a paid add-on available on any plan
Pricing
- Free trial or free plan: 14-day free trial of All-in-One, plus a free Basic plan for up to 10 employees at one location
- Essentials: $30 per location / month, unlimited employees. Adds advanced scheduling, advanced time tracking, and team communication.
- Plus: $70 per location / month, unlimited employees. Adds an AI-powered scheduling assistant, PTO and time-off controls, and departments and permissions.
- All-in-One: $120 per location / month, unlimited employees. Adds employee onboarding, labor cost management, and HR and compliance tools.
- Payroll add-on: $49/month base fee plus $6/month per employee paid, available on any plan.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Strong, easy-to-use scheduling tools | Time tracking is a minor part of a larger suite |
| Payroll add-on runs in the same app | Payroll costs extra on every plan |
| Free tier available for small teams | No dedicated project or job-costing tools |
| Good for high-turnover shift industries | Multi-location pricing isn’t published up front |
Ratings
Homebase’s App Store score stands out even against its own strong record elsewhere, with Google Play lagging slightly behind its iOS, Capterra, and G2 numbers.
| App Store | Google Play | Capterra | G2 |
| 4.9 ⭐(132 ratings) | 4.2 ⭐(24.7K ratings) | 4.6 ⭐(1,155 reviews) | 4.6 ⭐(597 reviews) |
Homebase is best for restaurants, retail, and other shift-based businesses that want scheduling and time tracking together.
See our full Homebase review or our Workyard vs Homebase comparison
9. When I Work: Best for hourly shift scheduling plus clock-in
When I Work is built around shift scheduling for hourly teams. Its time clock is tied to scheduled shifts, so workers clock in against the shift they were assigned.
Auto-scheduling, shift-swap requests, and labor forecasting make it popular with retail, hospitality, and healthcare employers managing rotating shifts across one or more locations. It has fewer standalone punch-verification methods than dedicated punch clock apps. It fits teams where shift coverage matters more than identity verification.
Features
- Auto-scheduling and shift-swap requests
- Time clock tied directly to scheduled shifts
- Labor cost forecasting and reporting
- Team messaging and availability management
- Payroll integrations, including a Rippling partnership
Pricing
- Free trial or free plan: 14-day free trial
- Essentials: $2.50 per user / month. Includes scheduling, team messaging, payroll and POS integrations, and multi-location scheduling.
- Pro: $5 per user / month. Adds advanced scheduling, scheduling rules, role permissions, labor sharing, and custom reporting. Premium: $8 per user / month, adding API access, webhooks, and SAML/SSO.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Strong shift-scheduling and swap tools | Lighter punch-verification methods than dedicated punch clock tools |
| Affordable per-user pricing | Not built for job costing or project-based billing |
| Labor forecasting for shift-heavy industries | Fewer field-service-specific integrations |
| Easy for hourly staff to learn quickly | Multi-location visibility costs double the single-location rate |
Ratings
When I Work’s mobile ratings lead its desktop-review scores, reflecting how much of its day-to-day use happens from a shift worker’s phone.
| App Store | Google Play | Capterra | G2 |
| 4.8 ⭐(57K ratings) | 4.7 ⭐(76.3K ratings) | 4.5 ⭐(1,300 reviews) | 4.4 ⭐(409 reviews) |
When I Work is best for hourly, shift-based employers that want scheduling and clock-in in one app.
See our full When I Work review or our Workyard vs When I Work comparison.
10. OnTheClock: Best budget option for small businesses
OnTheClock keeps its feature set focused on GPS-tagged punches, PTO tracking, scheduling, and payroll-ready reporting. Its pricing is aimed at small businesses.
It covers the core functions of an employee punch clock app without a large set of extra modules. That can make setup simpler for small teams. Scheduling and several payroll integrations are included in the base plan. That can matter for small businesses watching monthly software costs.
Features
- GPS-tagged mobile and web punches
- PTO and time-off tracking
- Drag-and-drop employee scheduling
- Payroll integrations with QuickBooks, Gusto, ADP, Paychex, Square Payroll, and Thomson Reuters
- Simple per-employee pricing
Pricing
- Free trial or free plan: 30-day free trial
- Time & Scheduling plan: $5 base fee per month, plus $4 per employee per month. Includes GPS/geofencing, scheduling, PTO tracking, and payroll integrations.
- Payroll add-on: $40 base fee per month, plus $6 per employee per month, with a $250 one-time onboarding fee. Adds unlimited payroll runs, W-2s and 1099s, and direct deposit.
- Enterprise: Custom pricing for businesses with 100+ employees.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Low per-employee cost | Fewer advanced features than larger platforms |
| Simple, fast setup | Limited job-costing depth for construction |
| Strong customer support ratings | Smaller integration library |
| GPS tagging included at base pricing | Less suited to multi-industry enterprises |
Ratings
OnTheClock’s Capterra score leads the pack, with reviewers there weighing in most on the value it delivers for its low per-employee cost.
| App Store | Google Play | Capterra | G2 |
| 4.3 ⭐(469 ratings) | 3.3 ⭐(694 ratings) | 4.7 ⭐(800 reviews) | 4.4 ⭐(279 reviews) |
OnTheClock is best for small businesses that want a reliable, low-cost punch clock app without extra bloat.
See our full OnTheClock review.
Final recommendation
For construction and field crews, Workyard is our top pick because it combines GPS-verified time with job and cost-code tracking. Starter begins at $6 per user per month, billed annually. Outside construction, the right choice depends on how the team works.
Clockify and OnTheClock suit smaller budgets. Homebase and When I Work fit shift-based businesses. Hubstaff is stronger for remote teams, while Connecteam fits deskless teams that also need scheduling and task management.
References
- 1
Clockify. Clockify Pricing. clockify.me/pricing
- 2
QuickBooks Time. QuickBooks Time Pricing. quickbooks.intuit.com/time-tracking/pricing
- 3
Buddy Punch. Buddy Punch Pricing. buddypunch.com/pricing
- 4
Connecteam. Connecteam Pricing. connecteam.com/pricing
- 5
ClockShark. ClockShark Pricing. clockshark.com/pricing
- 6
Hubstaff. Hubstaff Pricing. hubstaff.com/pricing
- 7
Homebase. Homebase Pricing. joinhomebase.com/pricing
- 8
Homebase. What Is Buddy Punching? joinhomebase.com/glossary/buddy-punching
- 9
When I Work. When I Work Pricing. wheniwork.com/pricing
- 10
OnTheClock. OnTheClock Pricing. ontheclock.com/pricing
Many punch clock apps verify a punch with more than a timestamp. Buddy Punch can use photo, PIN, QR code, GPS, geofencing, or IP controls. ClockShark supports GPS and kiosk verification. Workyard combines GPS-based time records with shared-device kiosk options for construction crews. The right method depends on the risk you need to control. Identity checks help reduce buddy punching, while GPS and geofencing help confirm that a worker was at the expected job or location.
Apps with location-based reminders, supervisor controls, or shared-device clock-in options are better suited to crews moving between job sites. Workyard gives construction teams GPS-backed time records and supervisor-led time entry, which can reduce the amount of end-of-week cleanup. Other products may use reminders, schedules, or geofences instead. Before choosing, check whether the app only sends reminders. Also check whether supervisors can correct missed time before payroll is processed. Offline support matters too when crews work in areas with weak cell service.
QuickBooks Time has the tightest connection because it is part of the Intuit ecosystem and syncs directly with QuickBooks products. Workyard also connects construction time records with QuickBooks, while Clockify offers a QuickBooks integration on eligible paid plans. Buddy Punch supports QuickBooks among its payroll and accounting connections. The important question is not only whether an integration exists. Check which plan includes it, what data moves between systems, and whether job, customer, or cost-code detail survives the transfer.
Several punch clock apps include alerts, approvals, or exception workflows for missing time. Homebase and Buddy Punch both provide attendance controls that can surface missed punches. Workyard gives construction teams review workflows around crew time before payroll, helping office staff catch incomplete records sooner. Break handling varies by product and plan, so do not assume every app automatically enforces local rules. Confirm whether the software records breaks, alerts managers about exceptions, and supports the policies your company actually uses.
Clockify is a strong free option for very small teams because its free plan supports up to five users and includes basic time tracking. Homebase also offers a free plan for one location with up to 10 employees. OnTheClock offers a free trial rather than an ongoing free plan. Free plans usually limit controls such as kiosk mode, GPS, approvals, scheduling, or integrations. Compare the limits against your actual workflow before choosing based on price alone.
Hubstaff is a strong fit for remote and distributed teams because it focuses on time tracking, activity data, and software integrations rather than job-site verification. When I Work can also fit hourly teams that need schedules and attendance in the same app. Connecteam is another option for distributed deskless teams. If workers are fully remote, GPS enforcement may matter less than project tracking, scheduling, approvals, and payroll connections. That is where broader time tracking apps can make more sense than field-focused punch clock software.
The best small-business option depends on team size and work pattern. Clockify works well for very small teams that want basic free tracking. OnTheClock keeps pricing simple for small businesses that need scheduling and payroll connections. Homebase fits restaurants and retailers that need shift scheduling as well as time tracking. When I Work is another strong choice for hourly teams. Construction companies should compare those options with a field-focused app if they also need GPS verification, job tracking, and cost-code detail.
Yes. The products in this roundup provide mobile access for Android and iPhone, although the exact app experience differs by vendor. Some products also support web clock-in or a shared kiosk. Mobile availability alone is not enough to judge fit. Check the current App Store and Google Play listings before choosing. Confirm the correct worker-facing app and the mobile features your team needs, such as GPS, offline capture, photo verification, schedules, or supervisor controls. Check recent mobile reviews too.
For multiple employees, the right time clock depends on whether workers share one location, move between job sites, or work across several shifts. Workyard and ClockShark are built around field crews and job locations. Homebase and When I Work fit shift-based teams. Connecteam can suit larger deskless teams that also need scheduling and task management. Shared kiosks can reduce the need for every worker to use a phone. Individual mobile punches can provide more location detail across multiple jobs.
Buddy punching is harder when a punch requires more than a username and password. Buddy Punch offers photo, PIN, QR code, GPS, geofencing, and IP controls. ClockShark provides GPS and kiosk-based verification. Workyard gives construction crews GPS-backed time records and kiosk options. No app can remove every form of time theft by itself. The strongest setup combines identity or location checks with clear policies and manager review. The clock-in method also needs to be practical for workers.
