The 7 Best Small Business Scheduling Apps for 2024

Here’s a grim statistic: The construction industry has the highest failure rate among small businesses in the U.S. 

Project delays are often the culprits, and project managers must have the right toolset to prevent them from dragging the whole team down. 

Specifically, managers need scheduling software to quickly rearrange, remove, or revise schedules after each setback, ensuring small tasks won’t easily slip through the cracks.

The scheduling needs of small businesses can vary greatly depending on the industry, size, and specific requirements of the organization. To help small business owners navigate the crowded landscape of scheduling apps, we’ve reviewed seven of the best options for 2024. Our analysis covers key features like ease of use, time tracking accuracy, scheduling capabilities, job tracking, and integrations – providing a comprehensive comparison to help you find the right scheduling solution for your small business.

Let’s look at the best small business scheduling apps so you can start overcoming scheduling headaches, no matter the size of your business.

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Top Picks

EDITOR’S NOTE: We created Workyard – the first app reviewed here – to address issues we encountered while struggling to track and manage construction payrolls for over 700 workers in over 50 construction businesses. We built the Workyard app from the ground up to support construction companies like yours, with industry-essential features like the industry’s most accurate time clock app with GPS and geofencing, intuitive contractor scheduling, construction cost tracking tools, and more.

Learn more about how Workyard works on our main website, or sign up for a 14-day free trial today to see what Workyard can do for your business.

Scoring

Key Features

• Simplified task scheduler with real-time notifications

• GPS-enabled time and location tracking

• Built-in job progress tracking and job costing

• Automated workforce compliance

• Integrations with construction-friendly business apps

Highlights

Complex projects have multiple moving parts, and one missed target can set them back weeks or even months, suffocating a business already operating on a razor-thin margin. 

Workyard mitigates the payroll-related risks of running a construction business by tightening control over labor costs. Its simple, calendar-style scheduling software helps coordinate the efforts of all workers, eliminating overlaps or gaps.

Workyard also boasts a GPS-enabled time clock app for construction, which combats time theft by automatically clocking in employees when they arrive at the job site and trimming their clock-out times to the last geofenced site visited.

Meanwhile, Workyard’s job-tracking software follows projects from start to finish, tallying every dollar spent on labor costs in between. 

With all these time-saving features, Workyard can help teams accomplish tasks according to their look-ahead schedule. Let’s go over some of its key features.

Intuitive Task Scheduling with Real-Time Notifications

Workyard helps you keep tabs on everything with its construction scheduling software. The visual calendar makes it easier to track scheduling errors, overlaps, or gaps on the spot and fix them accordingly. 

Zoom out by setting the calendar in monthly viewing mode, and you’ll get an overview of all scheduled tasks for the current month. Alternatively, you can zoom in to either weekly or daily viewing mode to get a breakdown of all tasks assigned to each worker.

Workyard’s scheduling software

Scheduling a new task is as easy as clicking on any date on the calendar. You can assign it to any worker or a construction team, set its time frame, and define the project location. Each newly scheduled task also automatically triggers Workyard’s notification system, so everyone involved will get email or app alerts immediately.

Workyard’s scheduling software takes away the pain of manual scheduling by helping you:

• Reschedule tasks instantly through the drag-and-drop calendar
• Duplicate tasks in one click
• Easily review and approve workers’ time off requests
• Assign color-coded custom labels to tasks
• Automatically repeat recurring tasks on the calendar
• Designate a task watcher to oversee task completion
• Create checklists so workers know exactly what to do
• Attach photos or other documents relevant to the tasks 
• View the task scheduler in calendar or task list mode
• Edit scheduled tasks in bulk

Accurate GPS Location and Time Tracking

Never let slackers hold up the entire project by making sure workers complete their tasks as scheduled. With Workyard’s GPS time clock, field workers can clock in or out using the mobile app, helping managers track their productivity even if they’re miles away from the head office. 

You can set up geofencing rules so workers can only clock in within or near the defined project location. This eliminates early clock-ins and saves on unnecessary labor costs. 

Workyard’s GPS time clock

Unlike other time-tracking apps, Workyard can track a worker’s location with pinpoint accuracy. It keeps track of every location workers visit during their shifts, going beyond geofenced job sites with a best-in-class GPS tracker. 

Workyard’s GPS tracking system ensures no time is wasted by:

• Automatically clocking in workers when they enter a geofenced job site
• Tracking driving time, routes, and mileage for easier reimbursement
• Syncing time clock entries with timesheet for easier payroll processing
• Providing bulk editing of workers’ time cards  
• Setting up time clock alerts 
• Providing views of workers’ whereabouts in real time through a map-based location tracker
• Specifying the times when the worker can only clock in/out 
• Respecting employee privacy by tracking time and location only when workers are clocked in

Meticulous Job Tracking and Costing

Workyard’s job progress tracking software prevents budget overruns by ensuring workers complete tasks on time and on budget. 

For every scheduled task, field workers and their supervisors can exchange information without leaving the app. Workers can take pictures, check off items on the checklist assigned to them, or attach receipts to the task notes so managers can get real-time updates on the task’s progress. All information is saved to the cloud, so you’re always ready to provide proof in case of client disputes.

Workyard’s job progress and cost tracking

With Workyard’s construction cost tracking software, you can also set up cost codes to have a granular view of how labor costs are spent on each project. 

Workers can tag each task to a project and cost code before clocking in. Meanwhile, Workyard calculates the cost of completing the task in the background, giving you an idea of which task got the biggest or smallest slice of the labor budget pie.

Time clock entries sync with the timesheet in real time, so managers can quickly review the job costing report and make data-driven decisions right away. 

Automatic Workforce Compliance

Thanks to Workyard’s built-in labor compliance, you can promote transparency across the board and prevent labor disputes from weighing down your business. 

Workyard has built-in compliance with FLSA recordkeeping requirements. The app is designed to safeguard your business against potential future lawsuits. 

Workyard’s built-in labor compliance

Workyard incorporates labor compliance into its system through:

• Easy employee access to time card entries
• Instant worker notifications when time cards are adjusted 
• GPS time logs showing where workers went during their shifts and when
• Clear break reminders 
• Built-in compliance with federal, state, and local labor regulations

Construction-Friendly Integrations

Supercharge Workyard’s construction workforce capabilities by connecting it with popular business apps.

Workyard integrations

You can activate native integrations (e.g., QuickBooks Online and Desktop) for basic functions like accounting and payroll in a snap. 

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can also leverage Workyard’s REST API to connect Workyard with either existing systems or any other business software of your choice.

Reviews

Field workers using mobile apps find great benefits from Workyard’s time clock, which automatically clocks an employee in or out. Admins and supervisors, on the other hand, find the reports extremely useful in helping them formulate goals and make important business decisions.

The iOS user below loves Workyard’s automatic clock-in/out feature, which enables workers to still get paid accurately despite forgetting to use Workyard’s time clock.

Accurate employee time cards ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
One of the biggest problems we have is that our employees forget to clock in when they arrive on site. Workyard allowed us to set the addresses for all of our job sites so that when an employee arrives to the project Workyard uses GPS to capture their actual arrival time. If they forgot to clock in and do it say an hour later we have that audit trail to compare to. We can see that they arrived on site at 7 AM vs an 8:15 AM clock in. Our workers love it because when they forget to clock in it’s almost always an honest mistake. This way they feel confident their time card is going to be accurate and they’ll get paid what they deserve.

The Android user below finds Workyard effective in tracking workers’ time and calculating labor costs. It gives construction professionals the data they need to keep project expenses under control.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
Great for keeping track of employee hours. Even better than that I can get reports on the labor costs for each of my projects without any extra effort!

The Capterra user review below finds Workyard a “little expensive,” but its time-saving features balance it out.

Due West Construction Workyard review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 
Overall: The team from work yard is very helpful and always available to assist.

Pros: The ease of set up and use on the daily for our employees. The time saving for our administration team.

Cons: Little expensive but the time we are saving is off setting the cost.

Pricing

Save time with Workyard’s drag-and-drop scheduler

See How

Scoring

Key Features

• Drag-and-drop shift scheduler

• Time clock that works on any device

• Group messaging tool

• Integrated payroll system

Highlights

When I Work helps make shift-based workplaces a little less chaotic with its straightforward scheduling tool. 

An auto-assign feature is also available, helping business owners or managers instantly create shift schedules in one go. Employees can set their availability so they’re only assigned schedules on days when they’re free.

In case they have already been assigned schedules but won’t make it to their shifts, When I Work allows them to easily find co-workers with whom to trade schedules.

When I Work scheduling

When I Work offers a great scheduling solution for restaurant or retail businesses, but the features aren’t robust enough to handle teams that are not tied to a fixed location. 

The mobile app experience also needs a lot of refining. The time clock doesn’t sync with the timesheet in real time, making it challenging for managers to make on-the-spot scheduling or dispatching decisions.

Reviews

Many web and mobile app users find the When I Work scheduling software beneficial.

However, some users also complain about the app’s lack of intuitiveness, zeroing in on features that don’t work exactly as they should, like the in-app messaging tool Workchat.

Aside from notification issues, the iOS user below points out one particular feature that is not immediately evident unless the user fully explores the When I Work settings. This lack of intuitiveness opens many potential blind spots for users, making scheduling with the app more complicated than it should have been.

Good Ideas…could be more intuitive and informative ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

I generally don’t have problems with app. The only thing is when changes are made to my schedule by my employer I don’t get any kind of notifications. If there is a setting for this I haven’t found it. That’s not to say it doesn’t exist but It’s not something that I was prompted to set up. Also it wasn’t completely apparent that I needed to indicate that I wanted my availability to “repeat”. Otherwise what it does essentially is prompt you to list your availability for the following week, but it never prompts you to list your availability beyond that first week. If it weren’t for an incident where I had gotten scheduled for a Sunday which I thought I had indicated I was “unavailable” for but in reality I only listed my preference for any given day for the first week only.

(Click here for more When I Work iOS reviews)

The Android user below shares a more positive experience in using the When I Work app, noting how the app makes it easy to view and confirm upcoming shifts.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Great for clocking in/out and taking your lunch break. Handy reminders 😁 for upcoming shifts. Easy to confirm your availability for shifts.

(Click here for more When I Work Android reviews)

The Capterra user review below shares the team’s positive experience in using When I Work, dampened by the faulty in-app messaging feature.

Great for hourly staff ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pros: Employees find it easy to use. Admin uses it daily

Cons: Workchat is often faulty. Our manager (Android user) is so frustrated and has contacted support over 10 times.

(Click here for more When I Work Capterra reviews)

Pricing

Scoring

Key Features

• Drag-and-drop scheduling calendar

• Single-shift or weekly shift templates

• Auto-scheduling for faster shift creation

• Instant scheduling notifications

Highlights

Connecteam’s sleek, intuitive, calendar-style scheduler is designed to help managers save a lot of time creating and organizing employee shifts.

The Job Schedule enables employees to set their availability ahead of time, while shift templates make it effortless to create or repeat schedules using recently saved schedule formats. 

Connecteam scheduling

In addition to its job scheduler, Connecteam provides teams with other tools to manage their deskless employees wherever they are. Its time clock has geofencing rules, so workers are notified each time they forget to clock in.

A basic job tracking feature is also available, making it easy to assign tasks and monitor their progress at a glance. 

Connecteam is free for small businesses with up to 10 employees, but pricing increases steeply as the business grows beyond 30 members. 

Connecteam’s mobile app is also not offline-ready, making it a poor time-tracking solution for construction crews often assigned to areas with little or no reception. 

Reviews

Connecteam tracks the time of non-desk employees from diverse industries like healthcare, retail, and construction. While it’s easier to use Connecteam as an office manager, field workers often encounter issues with using the app due to missing features.

As of this writing, the app has attracted the following numbers:

The iOS user below believes Connecteam has the potential to be a great all-around app for small businesses. Unfortunately, technical flaws like the poor user interface and repeating schedules you can’t edit in bulk are holding it back.

Could be great, but not quite there yet ⭐⭐

1. The “My availability” feature needs work. I have recurring times when I’m unavailable, so I toggled the “Repeat availability preferences” button on and set it to repeat until a date one year later. I later needed to edit the time, but there is no way to edit the whole batch of dates. The only way to edit is to go through all 52 dates and change each one individually. This is extremely time consuming and frustrating.

2. The single week view/layout is not intuitive. The “week summary” does not match the dates shown above and below it and there is nothing indicating which month the displayed week is in. This is super confusing.

(Click here for more Connecteam iOS reviews)

The Android user below apparently wasn’t happy with how Connecteam handled her concerns. Things could have turned out differently if Connecteam had a dedicated phone support team to address customer issues promptly. 

⭐

The customer service is such a WASTE OF TIME. I signed up yesterday, I spent more time on chatting with he customer service because they do not understand the problem. They send a video and I tell that I have done that already. My problem is the same. They have zero listening skills!!!! They are well trained like bots on what the perfect response is to a question never stated. It’s ridiculous how a company let this happen to their product and sabotage their growth!! So sad!!

(Click here for more Connecteam Android reviews)

Office employees on Capterra, like the person below, mostly have glowing reviews over Connecteam’s ease of use. However, this is not always the case for field workers who aren’t accustomed to using an app in their jobs.

Little Police Department gets a Big help ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pros: Connecteam was easy to set up and deploy. The changes and improvements that came over the last year and a half or so were timely and (with 1 exception that was only an issue for about a month) improved the value of the program greatly.

Cons: There is a bit of a learning curve for people who are not used to using an app for scheduling ( I still have officers calling me to make changes on the schedule they have permission to do). There are some training videos now, but initially it was a “learn as you go” program. I still don’t know all the uses that the features we pay for can do.

(Click here for more Connecteam Capterra reviews)

Pricing

Scoring

Key Features

• Shareable scheduling link

• Seamless syncing with Google Calendar

• Multiple meeting types to choose from

• All-in-one client management tool

Highlights

HoneyBook is in the same scheduling category as Calendly, but definitely not in the same league. 

While Calendly doesn’t dare step out of its appointment scheduling zone, HoneyBook has successfully created a client management platform where users can also send invoices, sign contracts, capture leads, and more. 

With HoneyBook, scheduling is a breeze. Simply choose a date when you’re available, share your meeting link, and let your client book an appointment. You’re also in control of the meeting type (choose among phone, video, or in-person), time buffers, and branding.

HoneyBook scheduling

Syncing HoneyBook’s scheduler with Google Calendar is also recommended so you can instantly display your available schedule and never worry about double bookings. 

However, HoneyBook doesn’t come with a suite of productivity tracking features, which would have bolstered its scheduling software. The time tracker isn’t equipped with a time clock, so tracking time spent on doing tasks relies on manual data entry and the person’s honesty.

HoneyBook’s task management system is likewise too basic. It only shows users what tasks are due and when. It lacks even a simple notification system, so whoever is assigned the task won’t receive any alerts about task updates or changes. 

 

Reviews

HoneyBook users love the app’s approach to client management, but its lack of solid customer support keeps it from providing a more positive user experience. Let’s see what some users have to say about HoneyBook.

The iOS user below was frustrated with HoneyBook’s chat support, which took 3 days to finally attend to her concerns.

Need to improve to keep paying members active ⭐⭐

The worst part is their customer service. They do not put priority on things when need to be fix, and when you are running a business and clients are waiting for you to fix the problem with their contract, or other technical issues it looks bad on your part as a business that it takes so long. They only have customer service over chat, and conversation that could have taken 10 minutes turned into 3 days because the company has no urgency for customer support.

(Click here for more HoneyBook iOS reviews)

DespiteHoneyBook’s limitations, the Android user below loves using the app for its intended purpose.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I love having this app at my fingertips to work with clients! it’s not able to do everything that you can do on the site, but it’s a great option!

(Click here for more HoneyBook Android reviews)

The Capterra user review below appreciates how the app helped with specific aspects of his business but is disappointed with the lack of customer support.

Good ⭐⭐⭐

Pros: it helps me efficiently manage my finances in my business, and its integration with other softwares that i use is quite good.

Cons: the tech support behind them is very poor and sometimes find it difficult to efficiently manage my business.

(Click here for more HoneyBook Capterra reviews)

Pricing

Scoring

Key Features

• Drag-and-drop scheduling calendar

• Time clock with notifications

• Labor cost tracker

• Manager-approved shift swapping

Highlights

Sling’s scheduling software has the typical drag-and-drop functionality that makes rescheduling or duplicating shifts as easy as pie. 

Shift swapping is also a built-in feature, with specific rules managers can set to customize how the team handles it. You can allow employees to exchange shifts with anybody or only with those assigned to the same location and shift. Permission settings can also be adjusted so the shift swapper can either do it with or without the manager’s approval. 

Sling scheduling

While Sling doesn’t lag in terms of features, its overall presentation leaves a lot to be desired.

The scheduling calendar displays all options by default, making it look like a confusing hodgepodge of texts too overwhelming for any first-time user. You can refine the filters so it only shows what you want to see, but this gives a negative impression right off the bat. 

Onboarding is likewise not as seamless as I would have liked. There’s a floating checklist you need to cross off as you go through the onboarding process, making it difficult to read text or click buttons hiding behind it.

Reviews

Sling’s simple yet efficient scheduling tool pleases most users. However, negative experiences with its user interface (both on its web and mobile apps) provide an opportunity for Sling to improve its product.

Sling’s scheduling software is complemented by a time clock for simple employee time tracking. The iOS user below uses the app to manage a cleaning business, and the features apparently meet his expectations.

Great app for small business ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We are domestic cleaning businesses and this app is very helpful for us to make the schedule and clocking in and out. Thank you!

(Click here for more Sling iOS reviews)

The Android user below uses Sling’s app to select from the list of available shifts before clocking in. Unfortunately, she was met with lackluster results.

⭐⭐⭐

I like the app but with my android I can’t see the available shifts. That is very frustrating since I could miss an opportunity for more hours. No one with an iPhone seems to have this issue. It would be perfect for me, if not for this. I wish it would be fixed.

(Click here for more Sling Android reviews)

While the Capterra review below started with positive words for Sling’s basic scheduling features, it ended with honest feedback pointing out Sling’s weaknesses, which are also evident on its web app.

Sling is wonderful! ⭐⭐⭐

Pros: This software is very helpful for scheduling, tracking time punches, and reporting. Especially when integrated with Toast, Sling is excellent! The mobile functionality of Sling is also incredibly important and useful.

Cons: The user interface in the mobile app leaves a bit to be desired.”

(Click here for more Sling Capterra reviews)

Pricing

Scoring

Key Features

• Shareable link for quick scheduling

• Automated scheduling workflows

• Team-based scheduling

Highlights

Calendly is best for quick scheduling of one-on-one or group appointments.

Users can quickly set up their availability or sync the app with Google Calendar (or other calendar apps of their choice) so their customers can only book on days when they have no prior commitments. 

With Calendly, users can instantly create a scheduling link and share it with their customers through the website, social media, email newsletter, or wherever they are online.

Calendly scheduling

You can choose what type of meeting you’re going to hold, set up a workflow to automatically send reminders, and easily send meeting invitations in your global invitees’ own time zones. 

Calendly specializes in appointment scheduling, making it an ideal choice for booking demos, consultations, and team meetings.

Construction and field service businesses can likewise use it for the above-mentioned purposes, but Calendly isn’t robust enough to handle more complicated scheduling demands.

Reviews

Users across different platforms love Calendly’s simplicity in solving their appointment scheduling pain points.

However, many reviews also point out that the lack of customization options and poor customer service are holding Calendly back.

The lack of customer phone support makes it difficult to address urgent issues (like the one the iOS user below experienced) promptly.

Terrible customer service ⭐

Their customer service is absolutely awful, reached out to them a few weeks ago explaining that I no longer had access to a work email that my account used to sign up and asked for them to help me with access so I could cancel my subscription which came out of my personal credit card, no answer…..I’ve followed up 2 times since with billing and customer service and STILL have not heard back. They also make it extremely hard to cancel and delete your acct. just scamming people out of money.

(Click here for more Calendly iOS reviews)

While the Android user below loves using Calendly, she also didn’t forget to suggest a feature that would have made her experience so much better.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Phenomenal, but I would love it if you all would had a search function in the scheduled event’s sections. At times, I really need to go back and search for people I’ve met with, and without a search function, it makes it difficult.

(Click here for more Calendly Android reviews)

Capterra user reviews often provide a detailed breakdown of an app’s shortcomings. The user review below is no exception.

Missing features, sneaky billing for empty seats ⭐⭐

There are dozens of other tools out there that provide this same functionality, and Calendly makes zero effort to come out on top. Deal breakers include 1. not being able to edit availability or any other settings for one-off meetings after you click the button (can’t count how many times I had to start over from scratch); 2. not relaying the chosen event title to the calendar event; 3. forcing this dumb question “please share anything that will help us prepare” for one-off events, which creates extra work for our clients and makes them think we’re not listening; 4. inability to set turnaround for one-off events (so client can book it 20 minutes before the start time); among other flaws.

(Click here for more Calendly Capterra reviews)

Pricing

Scoring

Key Features

• Brandable booking page

• Drag-and-drop page builder

• Automatic SMS reminders

• Integration with Google Calendar

Highlights

For people who’ve outgrown simple appointment scheduling software (like Calendly), Book Like A Boss can be a great alternative. The app’s name is a dead giveaway to its core offering: a brandable booking page builder for freelancers and small businesses. 

Book Like A Boss doesn’t sell itself as a scheduling app. Instead, it positions itself as the all-in-one solution for turning visitors into paid bookings. The app comes with a drag-and-drop builder that makes it easy to create your own branded booking page without coding.

Book LIke A Boss scheduling

Book Like A Boss also integrates with your personal calendar. This “blacks out” dates and times in which you have prior commitments, allowing you to take bookings from customers only when you want to. 

The app offers user-friendly tools to help you create booking pages from scratch. Use it to build an appointment booking page or sell digital products and services. 

Reviews

Book Like A Boss is a booking page builder with zero presence in the App Store or Google Play Store. A representative confirmed through chat that it’s currently limited to the web app, but the company behind it has plans to launch a mobile app in the future.

While Book Like A Boss offers more features than Calendly, the person below points out the limited customization options to change the aesthetics of the booking page builder.

A good way to manage appointments ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overall: I have used BLAB for more than 5 years. I do like the product and it has improved over the years. We mostly use the product to manage scheduling consultations.

Pros: I like that it is easy to use and implement. It is user friendly and we are able to implement quickly.

Cons: Configuring the booking pages are difficult. There are some functional issues that make it difficult to work with. You cannot change the layout of the pages and the reminders.

(Click here for more Book Like A Boss Capterra reviews)

Pricing

Final Thoughts

Fixed schedules are virtually unheard of in the construction industry. Many things can go wrong quickly, prolonging project timelines and increasing the likelihood of budget overruns. 

A great small business scheduling app lets you focus on what you can control. Use it to quickly adjust schedules on the fly after project setbacks or leverage other workforce management features to address scheduling conflicts along the way.

Workyard helped the restoration company Accord Group save hundreds of manpower hours by letting the app’s pinpoint-accurate location tracker determine the best place and time to schedule or dispatch jobs. 

You can also stop manual scheduling errors from eating away at your company’s dwindling labor budget. Learn more about Workyard’s robust features specifically built for construction, or sign up for the 14-day free trial period to start testing them at your own pace. 

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!

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