(650) 332-8623The 8 Best Time Clock Apps for Small Business in 2026
We compared 8 time clock apps for small teams on GPS verification, payroll export, free plans and real cost, with 2026 pricing and ratings.
Quick answer
Workyard is the best overall time clock app for small business: GPS-verified clock-ins with polygon geofences, an iPad kiosk with photo verification, job and cost code tracking, and payroll export to Gusto, ADP RUN and QuickBooks Online. Plans start at $6 per user / month, billed annually.
Best runners-up: busybusy for a free start with GPS time tracking (free plan; Pro is $9.99 per user/month billed annually, plus a $40 admin license), and QuickBooks Time for teams already running QuickBooks Online ($20/month plus $10 per user; QuickBooks Online required). For single-location teams, Homebase (free for 1 location with up to 10 workers) or Clockify (free for up to 5 users) is the lower-cost pick.
Disclosure: Workyard, the company publishing this review, also makes one of the products reviewed here. We compared each tool using the same criteria: field verification, payroll handoff, pricing and user reviews. See our review methodology.
Contractors can lose office time resolving missing punches and checking disputed hours. In a Workyard analysis of contractor sales calls, hour padding and time theft appeared among the recorded pain points. The findings describe concerns raised in sales conversations, not a representative survey of contractors.
Timecard corrections were another recurring concern before payroll. GPS verification and approved timesheets can help contractors reduce both problems by improving the accuracy of hours sent to payroll. That’s the core job of construction time tracking software.
These eight time clock apps cover construction crews working across jobsites as well as small businesses managing shifts at a fixed location. For construction-only picks, see the best construction time clock apps.
What's changed in this update (November 2026)
- Added ClockShark, QuickBooks Time and busybusy; moved When I Work, ezClocker and ClockIt to other apps to consider.
- Added a Quick answer, a starting-price comparison and a “Choose X if” table.
- Updated pricing for Workyard, Connecteam, Buddy Punch and Clockify, including Clockify’s new 5-user free plan cap.
- Corrected how Workyard geofencing works: auto clock-in on the Autopilot plan, auto-trimmed clock-outs and no auto clock-out.
- Added G2 ratings for every app and refreshed all app store, Capterra and G2 scores (October and November 2026).
List of the best time clock apps for small business
| App | GPS + geofencing | Photo clock-in | Offline | Payroll export | Free plan | Starting price |
| Workyard | GPS every 5 minutes while clocked in; polygon geofences | Photo kiosk | Offline punches sync | Gusto, ADP RUN, QBO | No (14-day trial) | $6 per user / month, billed annually |
| ClockShark | GPS tracking; jobsite geofence reminders | Kiosk PIN + facial recognition | Yes; syncs on reconnection | QuickBooks, ADP, Xero; other integrations vary | No (free trial) | $42/month plus $9.50 per user; 3-year contract |
| QuickBooks Time | GPS while clocked in; geofence reminders on Elite | Kiosk photo capture; administrator enables required photos | Yes; mobile time entries sync after reconnection | QuickBooks Online sync; historic CSV export (may require support enablement) | No (free trial) | $20/month plus $10 per user |
| busybusy | GPS, geofence on-site verification and location reminders | Clock-in photo verification; AI PPE Scan on Premium only | Yes; offline punches sync after reconnection | Payroll reports and export; confirm provider-specific integration | Yes, unlimited users | $9.99 per user/month (annual) plus $40 admin license |
| Connecteam | GPS; geofences, with plan limits | Kiosk selfie before clock-in (Expert plan) | No; standard mobile, kiosk and desktop clocks require internet | Timesheet and payroll exports; scheduled email reports on Expert+ | Yes, up to 10 users | $29/month for the first 30 users (annual) |
| Buddy Punch | GPS on punches; geofencing on Pro | Optional punch photos (web/mobile) | Mobile offline punches; Pro/Advanced only | Excel or configured payroll-provider export | No (14-day trial) | $4.99 per user/month (annual) plus $19/month base |
| Homebase | GPS clock-in and location verification (Essentials) | Photo captured at clock-in; plan restrictions to verify | Yes; iOS and Android time clocks | Timesheet exports to supported payroll providers | Yes, 1 location up to 10 workers | $24 per location/month (annual) |
| Clockify | GPS tracking on Pro | Kiosk photo capture (Pro+) | Yes; mobile and desktop sync on reconnection | Report exports: PDF (Free); CSV/Excel (Basic+); not a direct payroll integration | Yes, up to 5 users | $3.99 per user/month (annual) |
How we chose
We compared documented GPS and geofencing, photo clock-in, offline time capture, payroll handoffs, pricing for small teams, and published user reviews. We did not independently test every app; feature availability depends on plan and settings.
How to choose the best time clock app for small business
Choose a time clock based on how workers clock in, how managers review hours, and what payroll needs to receive.
- Verification where the work happens. A GPS-stamped punch records the phone’s reported location when someone clocks in or out; it doesn’t prove the worker stayed on site all shift. If crews move between job sites, look for geofences and a record of when each worker arrived and left.
- The path to payroll. Confirm a named integration with your payroll provider and an approval step before export. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Fact Sheet #21 explains employers’ hours-worked recordkeeping duties.
- Real cost at your headcount. Base fees weigh heavily on small teams. At the listed annual-billing rate, five Buddy Punch Starter users cost $43.95 per month including the $19 base fee. ClockShark also requires a three-year contract.
- Whether crews will use it. Check the field app’s store rating, not just Capterra. A shared kiosk works better for shop crews who start together and don’t want the app on personal phones.
What is the best time tracking software for small construction businesses?
Choose Workyard for small construction crews across job sites that need GPS-verified hours, job and cost code tracking, and supported payroll exports. busybusy is the strongest free start, and QuickBooks Time fits contractors already running QuickBooks Online. Look for GPS clock-in with geofences, job and cost code tracking, an approval step before payroll, and a named payroll integration. Workyard’s polygon geofences fit irregular job sites, and approved hours export with job details to Gusto, ADP RUN or QuickBooks Online. ClockShark suits simple crew job costing but requires a three-year contract. Connecteam and Buddy Punch fit mixed office and field teams that need flexible punch methods more than cost codes.
| Choose this app | If you need |
| Workyard | Verified hours for crews across job sites |
| busybusy or Clockify | A free start (Clockify for 5 or fewer users) |
| QuickBooks Time | Hours that land directly in QuickBooks Online |
| Homebase | Shift scheduling at a single location |
| Buddy Punch | A shared kiosk with PIN, QR or webcam punches |
| Connecteam | Time clock plus chat and forms for deskless teams |
8 of the best time clock apps for small business
The profiles below draw on vendor product and help documentation, published pricing and review-site feedback. Features and payroll handoffs can vary by subscription and configuration.
1. Workyard – Best overall
Workyard is a Construction Operations Platform for specialty contractors and self-performing general contractors determined to grow without sacrificing job control or margins. If your crew works across job sites, you get GPS-verified hours coded to the right job before payroll runs.
You also stop retyping time. The vice president of a Georgia electrical contractor said they “hated entering data manually” before Workyard. Their team now approves daily time cards and sends them to QuickBooks. She estimated that more accurate time reporting could save her 10-person team at least $10,000 in payroll costs a year, based on her own calculation. This is a customer estimate, not independently measured savings.
Features
- GPS clock-in with polygon or circular geofences
- Location updates every 5 minutes while clocked in
- Auto clock-in at geofence entry and auto-trimmed clock-outs (Autopilot)
- Shared iPad time clock kiosk with photo clock-in verification
- Foreman crew clock-in with supervisor time cards
- Time card edits with an audit trail and approval before export
- Job and cost code tracking for labor costs
Workyard + payroll integrations
Approved Workyard hours can be prepared for supported payroll and accounting exports, with mappings and supported fields depending on the destination and setup. Workyard lists native integrations with payroll, accounting and ERP systems, including Sage, QuickBooks, ADP, Gusto and Paychex. See the full time tracking integrations list.
The documented Gusto export supports Regular, Overtime and Double Time hours for W-2 workers by pay period. ADP RUN has a separate supported workflow for W-2 and 1099 workers. QuickBooks Online export mappings depend on setup.
Time-card corrections and payroll re-entry create extra office work for contractors. Workyard’s sales-call research recorded both as recurring concerns; these observations are not population-wide estimates.
The office manager at a family-run sunroom installer in upstate New York put it simply: “With Workyard, I get the answers I need in minutes.”
GPS verification and geofencing
On the Autopilot plan, Workyard’s GPS time clock can clock workers in when they enter a job site geofence. Auto clock-in needs continuous location tracking. There’s no auto clock-out; instead, Workyard trims a late clock-out to the last geofence the worker left.
Crews can clock in, take breaks and clock out with no signal. GPS points keep recording and are stored on the phone. Managers can’t see live location or the time card until the phone reconnects, then the stored location data uploads automatically.
The president of a commercial repair and remodeling contractor framed it this way: technology “was never about micromanaging my team,” but about understanding where time was spent.
Pricing
- Plans start at $6 per user / month, billed annually.
- 14-day free trial with no credit card required.
- Kiosk, photo clock-in and geofence clock-in restrictions start on Pro; auto clock-in and auto-trim need Autopilot.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| GPS location every 5 minutes while clocked inPolygon geofences for irregular job sitesOffline punches and breaks sync after reconnectionHours export with job and cost codes | No free plan; trial onlyGeofence automation requires the Autopilot planSetup takes time for multi-site crews |
Ratings
Ratings below come from the App Store, Google Play, Capterra and G2 (October and November 2026).
| App Store | Google Play | Capterra | G2 |
| ⭐ 4.0 (244) | ⭐ 3.9 (264) | ⭐ 4.7 (103) | ⭐ 4.8 (56) |
Workyard is best for contractors managing crews across jobsites who need schedules, GPS-supported time records, cost codes, and review before payroll. Try Workyard for free.
2. ClockShark – Best for simple crew job costing
ClockShark focuses on crew clock-ins, GPS tracking and job-level labor tracking. It may suit contractors who want a time clock tied to jobs without a broader operations suite.
Ratings vary between mobile app stores and software review sites. ClockShark holds 4.7 on Capterra but 2.8 on its newer iOS app listing, and reviewers mention glitches editing jobs on mobile with weak signal. Every plan carries a three-year contract.
Features
- GPS clock-in with geofence reminders
- Job and cost code tracking
- QuickBooks integration; verify Desktop version compatibility
- Third-party payroll destinations require separate compatibility verification
- Overtime rules and payroll settings
- Crew scheduling tied to jobs
- Task Checklists and JobReady briefs on both plans
- Mileage, PTO and shift compliance forms on Pro
Pricing
- Standard: $42/month plus $9.50 per user
- Pro: $63/month plus $11.50 per user
- Three-year contract on all plans
- A 5-person crew on Standard costs $89.50 a month
- Pro adds mileage, PTO and shift compliance forms
- Free trial available
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Simple clock-in flow for field crewsQuickBooks integration; confirm Desktop version supportTask checklists included on both plansJob-level labor tracking for single crews | Three-year contract on every plan$42 base fee before any usersLow iOS app rating (2.8)Mileage and PTO require the Pro plan |
Ratings
Ratings below come from the App Store, Google Play, Capterra and G2 (October and November 2026).
| App Store | Google Play | Capterra | G2 |
| ⭐ 2.8 (96) | ⭐ 3.4 (134) | ⭐ 4.7 (1,915) | ⭐ 4.6 (382) |
ClockShark is best for single-crew contractors who want straightforward job costing and can commit to a three-year term. If you use QuickBooks Desktop, confirm compatibility with your specific version and contract before choosing ClockShark. See our ClockShark review or the Workyard vs. ClockShark comparison.
3. QuickBooks Time – Best for QuickBooks Online users
QuickBooks Time is most useful for businesses already using QuickBooks Online. For QuickBooks Online accounts, recorded hours can move into the relevant payroll or invoicing workflow without manually re-entering a timesheet.
Field crews should check two limitations. QuickBooks Time requires a QuickBooks Online account. Payroll-item mapping and export behavior depend on the connected subscription and settings; confirm the required workflow before buying. Contractors in Workyard’s sales calls also describe geofence radius limits that don’t fit large or irregular job sites.
Features
- GPS tracking in the QuickBooks Workforce app
- Geofence reminders to clock in and out on Elite
- Job and customer coding into QuickBooks
- Timesheet approval dashboard before payroll
- Time flows to QuickBooks Payroll and invoices
- Third-party payroll destinations require separate compatibility verification
- Mileage, estimates vs. actuals and signatures on Elite
Pricing
- Premium: $20/month plus $10 per user
- Elite: $40/month plus $12 per user
- QuickBooks Online subscription required
- A 5-person crew on Premium costs $70 a month, plus QuickBooks Online
- Both plans use the same Workforce mobile app
- Elite adds mileage tracking, project estimates vs. actuals and signatures
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Hours flow straight into QuickBooks OnlineWorkforce app rated 4.6 on 199K reviewsEstimates vs. actuals on EliteTimesheet approvals before payroll | Requires a QuickBooks Online subscriptionBase fee on every planGeofence radius limits on large sitesMileage tracking requires Elite |
Ratings
Ratings below come from the App Store, Google Play, Capterra and G2 (October and November 2026).
| App Store | Google Play | Capterra | G2 |
| ⭐ 4.6 (199K) | ⭐ 4.7 (69.4K) | ⭐ 4.7 (7,026) | ⭐ 4.5 (1,450) |
QuickBooks Time is best for small businesses already running payroll in QuickBooks Online. If you don’t use QuickBooks Online, a standalone time clock app for small business will cost less in total. See our QuickBooks Time review or the Workyard vs. QuickBooks Time comparison.
4. busybusy – Best free GPS time clock for small crews
busybusy offers a free GPS time clock for field crews, with no published user cap. It covers clock-in and clock-out, GPS, breaks, location reminders and digital timecard signatures, with no cap on users.
Paid plans add a $40 administrator license to the per-user rate. App store reviewers also complain about location tracking when off the clock, and busybusy geofences are circles rather than custom shapes.
Features
- Free plan with GPS clock-in and timecard signatures
- Kiosk facial recognition on eligible paid plans; punch-photo capture needs verification
- Supervisor tools for crew clock-in on Pro
- Scheduling, photos and notes on Pro
- Job costing with cost codes and equipment tracking
- Work Orders for assigning and documenting jobs
- Daily reports and progress tracking on Premium
Pricing
- Free: $0, unlimited users
- Pro: $9.99 per user/month billed annually, or $11.99 monthly
- Premium: $14.99 per user/month billed annually, or $17.99 monthly
- $40 admin license on paid plans (first user included)
- Premium adds documents, daily reports, progress tracking and team messaging
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Free plan includes GPS for unlimited usersEquipment tracking alongside timeKiosk facial recognition on eligible paid plansWork Orders added in October 2026 | $40 admin license on paid plansCircle-only geofencesOff-clock tracking complaints in reviewsMonthly billing costs $2 more per user |
Ratings
Ratings below come from the App Store, Google Play, Capterra and G2 (October and November 2026).
| App Store | Google Play | Capterra | G2 |
| ⭐ 4.0 (929) | ⭐ 4.1 (665) | ⭐ 4.5 (442) | ⭐ 4.8 (161) |
busybusy is best for small crews that want GPS time tracking at no cost before committing to a paid plan. As a free small business time clock, it covers more field basics than the free plans from Clockify or Homebase. See our busybusy review or the Workyard vs. busybusy comparison.
5. Connecteam – Best all-in-one app for deskless teams
Connecteam suits deskless teams that need scheduling, forms and communication alongside a time clock. Its Operations Hub bundles the time clock with scheduling, forms and checklists, and its chat and training tools sit in separate hubs.
Connecteam documents geofence-based automatic clock-out on Expert and higher Operations Hub tiers. App store reviewers flag occasional location errors. Its September 2026 updates added shift swaps and automatic paid-break endings.
Features
- GPS time clock with geofences; limits depend on Operations Hub tier
- Auto clock-out at geofence exit on Expert and up
- Timesheets with overtime and pay rules
- Shift scheduling with swaps
- Forms and checklists in the Operations Hub
- Automatic paid-break ending (September 2026)
- Exports to QuickBooks, Gusto and Paychex Flex
- Free plan for up to 10 users
Pricing
- Free: up to 10 users
- Basic: $29/month billed annually, or $35 monthly, for the first 30 users
- Advanced: $49/month billed annually, or $59 monthly
- Expert: $99/month billed annually, or $119 monthly
- Extra users are priced per hub
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Free plan for teams of up to 10Geofence auto clock-out on Expert and higherChat, forms and scheduling in one app | Each hub is priced separatelyGeofence limits vary by Operations Hub planLocation errors noted in app reviewsBuilt for shift work more than job costing |
Ratings
Ratings below come from the App Store, Google Play, Capterra and G2 (October and November 2026).
| App Store | Google Play | Capterra | G2 |
| ⭐ 4.9 (62K) | ⭐ 4.8 (30.7K) | ⭐ 4.6 (5,320) | ⭐ 4.6 (3,506) |
Connecteam is best for deskless shift teams that want the time clock, chat and forms in one app. Field crews that need job and cost code tracking will find Workyard or ClockShark a closer fit. See our Connecteam review or the Workyard vs. Connecteam comparison.
6. Buddy Punch – Best for flexible punch methods
Buddy Punch offers several clock-in methods for mixed office and field teams. Workers can use a phone with GPS, a PIN on a shared kiosk, a QR code or a webcam photo, which suits mixed teams of office and field staff.
The $19 monthly base fee raises the total cost for small teams. Five workers on Starter cost $43.95 a month billed annually. Geofencing, QR and webcam punches start on Pro, and real-time GPS is a $2 per user add-on.
Features
- GPS on punches and job tracking on every plan
- Geofencing, QR codes and PIN kiosk on Pro
- Webcam photo on punches on Pro
- Time off tracking, alerts and reminders on every plan
- Real-time GPS add-on, included on Advanced
- Payroll integrations plus an optional payroll add-on
Pricing
- Starter: $4.99 per user/month billed annually, or $5.99 monthly
- Pro: $6.99 per user/month billed annually, or $7.99 monthly
- Advanced: $12.99 per user/month billed annually, or $13.99 monthly
- $19/month base fee on every plan
- Buddy Punch Payroll add-on: $49/month plus $8 per user
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| PIN, QR, webcam and GPS punch optionsLow per-user price on StarterApp Store rating of 4.9 on 761 reviewsUnlimited free administrators | $19 base fee on every planGeofencing starts on ProReal-time GPS costs extra below Advanced |
Ratings
Ratings below come from the App Store, Google Play, Capterra and G2 (October and November 2026).
| App Store | Google Play | Capterra | G2 |
| ⭐ 4.9 (761) | ⭐ 4.4 (451) | ⭐ 4.8 (1,144) | ⭐ 4.8 (420) |
Buddy Punch is best for small businesses that need several punch methods on one account. It also works as an online time clock for small business offices where some staff punch in from a desktop browser. See our Buddy Punch review or the Workyard vs. Buddy Punch comparison.
7. Homebase – Best for single-location shift teams
Homebase focuses on hourly shift teams at a single store, cafe or shop. Paid plans price per location with unlimited workers, so a 25-person team at one site pays the same as a 5-person team.
That per-location pricing can be less suitable for crews working across multiple sites. Every extra location adds a full plan fee, and GPS time tracking starts on Essentials. Reviewers on Capterra mention occasional location accuracy issues.
Features
- Free Basic plan for 1 location and up to 10 workers
- Time clock on phones, tablets and POS devices
- GPS time tracking and late alerts on Essentials
- Shift scheduling with templates and reminders
- Team messaging and shift notes
- Hiring and onboarding tools
- Payroll add-on, or export to Gusto and QuickBooks Online Payroll
Pricing
- Basic: free for 1 location, up to 10 workers
- Essentials: $24 per location/month billed annually, or $30 monthly
- Plus: $56 per location/month billed annually, or $70 monthly
- All-in-One: $96 per location/month billed annually, or $120 monthly
- Payroll add-on: $49/month plus $6 per paid worker
- Paid plans include unlimited workers per location
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Free plan for one small locationUnlimited workers on paid plansScheduling and time clock in one app | Each location adds a full plan feeGPS starts on the paid Essentials planPayroll costs extra on every planBuilt for shifts, not job cost codes |
Ratings
Ratings below come from the App Store, Google Play, Capterra and G2 (October and November 2026).
| App Store | Google Play | Capterra | G2 |
| ⭐ 4.8 (97K) | ⭐ 4.2 (24.9K) | ⭐ 4.6 (1,159) | ⭐ 4.6 (659) |
Homebase is best for single-location shift teams in retail, food service or a shop. For a one-site small business time clock, its free Basic plan is hard to beat. See our Homebase review or the Workyard vs. Homebase comparison.
8. Clockify – Best for small-team project timers
Clockify focuses on project timers, timesheets and billable-hour reporting. Workers start a timer, tag a project or client, and managers review detailed reports, which fits small service teams that bill by the hour.
Clockify’s free plan changed in April 2026. It now caps at five users, and kiosk mode moved to paid plans. GPS tracking sits on Pro, and there is no geofence-based clock-in.
Features
- Timer and timesheet time tracking
- Browser, desktop and mobile apps
- PDF report export on Free, subject to reporting limits
- Free plan for up to 5 users
- Kiosk PIN clock-in on Basic
- Approvals, time off and invoicing on Standard
- GPS tracking, scheduling and expenses on Pro
Pricing
- Free: up to 5 users
- Basic: $3.99 per user/month billed annually, or $4.99 monthly
- Standard: $5.49 per user/month billed annually, or $6.99 monthly
- Pro: $7.99 per user/month billed annually, or $9.99 monthly
- Enterprise: $11.99 per user/month billed annually, or $14.99 monthly
- Kiosk mode and expanded report exports require paid plans; PDF exports are available on Free
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Free plan for teams of 5 or fewerLow per-user price on paid plansDetailed project and client reportsUnlimited projects on the free plan | Free plan capped at 5 users since April 2026GPS tracking requires the Pro planNo geofence-based clock-inKiosk mode requires a paid plan |
Ratings
Ratings below come from the App Store, Google Play, Capterra and G2 (October and November 2026).
| App Store | Google Play | Capterra | G2 |
| ⭐ 4.6 (4.6K) | ⭐ 4.5 (3.04K) | ⭐ 4.8 (9,268) | ⭐ 4.5 (205) |
Clockify is best for teams of five or fewer tracking billable project hours. Because it runs in a browser, it also works as an online time clock for small business teams at desks. See our Clockify review or the Workyard vs. Clockify comparison.
Other time clock apps to consider
These three can still work as a time clock app for small business teams, but they ranked below our top eight for field crews.
When I Work pairs a time clock with shift scheduling for hourly retail and hospitality teams. See our When I Work review.
ezClocker is a simple mobile time clock with GPS-tagged punches and flat pricing by team size, which may suit very small teams moving from paper time cards.
ClockIt combines attendance tracking, geofencing and help desk tools, though app store reviews flag clock-in issues. See our ClockIt review.
Final recommendation
Choose Workyard when field crews need GPS-verified hours assigned to jobs and cost codes before payroll. Choose busybusy for a free GPS time clock, or QuickBooks Time if your team already uses QuickBooks Online.
References
- 1
U.S. Department of Labor. Fact Sheet #21: Recordkeeping Requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/21-flsa-recordkeeping
- 2
U.S. Department of Labor. Fact Sheet #22: Hours Worked Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/22-flsa-hours-worked
- 3
ClockShark. Pricing (verified October 2026): Standard $42/mo base + $9.50/user, Pro $63/mo base + $11.50/user, three-year contract on all plans. https://www.clockshark.com/pricing/
- 4
QuickBooks Time. Pricing (verified October 2026): Premium $20/mo base + $10/user, Elite $40/mo base + $12/user, QuickBooks Online required. https://quickbooks.intuit.com/time-tracking/pricing/
- 5
busybusy. Pricing (verified October 2026): Free; Pro $9.99/user annual or $11.99 monthly; Premium $14.99/user annual or $17.99 monthly; $40 admin license. https://busybusy.com/price/
- 6
Connecteam. Pricing (verified October 2026): Basic $29/$35, Advanced $49/$59, Expert $99/$119 per month for the first 30 users (annual/monthly). https://connecteam.com/pricing/
- 7
Buddy Punch. Pricing (verified November 2026): Starter $4.99, Pro $6.99, Advanced $12.99 per user/month billed annually, plus $19/month base fee. https://buddypunch.com/pricing/
- 8
Homebase. Pricing (verified November 2026): Basic free for 1 location up to 10 workers; Essentials $24/$30, Plus $56/$70, All-in-One $96/$120 per location/month (annual/monthly). https://www.joinhomebase.com/pricing
- 9
Clockify. Pricing (verified November 2026): Free up to 5 users; Basic $3.99, Standard $5.49, Pro $7.99, Enterprise $11.99 per user/month billed annually. https://clockify.me/pricing
A simple time clock for a small business is an app that lets workers clock in and out on a phone, tablet or browser, then turns those punches into timesheets a manager can approve and send to payroll, without the setup time or feature load of a full scheduling and HR suite.
Good simple options include Workyard for field crews, busybusy’s free plan, and Homebase for one location. Look for an approval screen and a direct payroll export; those features can reduce manual corrections and re-entry when configured correctly.
The best free time clock app for small business crews in the field is busybusy, because its free plan includes GPS clock-in, breaks and timecard signatures for unlimited users. Clockify is free for up to five users, and Homebase is free for one location with up to 10 workers.
Watch the limits on each free plan. Connecteam is also free for up to 10 users. Clockify’s free plan supports PDF exports, while kiosk and expanded export options require paid plans, and Homebase adds GPS only on paid plans.
Small businesses with hourly workers spread across locations benefit most from a time clock app, especially contractors in roofing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, landscaping and cleaning. Their crews start at different job sites, so paper timesheets and texted hours leave the office guessing about real arrival and departure times.
Single-location shops, restaurants and retail stores also benefit, mainly from shift scheduling and break tracking. For them, a per-location app like Homebase often costs less than per-user field apps.
Yes, most time clock apps integrate with payroll systems such as Gusto, ADP RUN, QuickBooks Online and Paychex, sending approved hours to payroll so the office stops retyping timesheets. The depth of each integration varies, so confirm which pay types, worker types and job codes actually transfer before you buy.
Workyard’s Gusto export sends Regular, Overtime and Double Time hours for W-2 workers by pay period. QuickBooks Online receives hours with job details attached, and field mappings depend on your setup.
Workyard works offline in remote areas: crews can clock in, take breaks and clock out without signal, and the app keeps recording GPS points on the phone. When the phone reconnects, the stored time and location data uploads automatically, although managers should review the synced time card and location data once connectivity returns.
Managers can’t see a worker’s live location or time card during the offline window. That’s normal for offline time clocks, so check the time card after the crew returns to coverage.
The top time clock apps for contractors are Workyard, ClockShark, QuickBooks Time and busybusy. Workyard combines polygon geofences and GPS-verified hours with job and cost code tracking and payroll preparation. Compare other vendors’ plan limits and total costs against your actual workflow.
ClockShark suits single-crew job costing, QuickBooks Time fits QuickBooks Online shops, and busybusy offers a free plan. Our construction time clock apps roundup covers construction-only picks.
A time clock app for small business typically costs $4 to $12 per user each month, and some apps add a monthly base fee of $19 to $63. Free plans exist from busybusy, Clockify, Connecteam and Homebase, but each one limits users, locations or features such as GPS tracking.
For a 5-person crew, base fees matter most. Buddy Punch Starter comes to $43.95 a month billed annually, while Workyard starts at $6 per user / month, billed annually.
Yes, some time clock apps clock workers in automatically when they enter a job site geofence. Workyard does this on its Autopilot plan, using continuous location tracking to detect arrival, and records an auto clock-in alert on the time card so managers can see the time was started by the app.
Workyard doesn’t clock workers out automatically. It trims a late clock-out to the last geofence the worker left. Connecteam offers geofence auto clock-out on Expert and higher tiers.
Workyard records location activity for time cards while workers are clocked in. When automatic geofence clock-in is enabled, continuous location permission is needed to detect arrival before the shift starts. Its worker guidance says it records no location history while workers are clocked out, and break locations aren’t shown on time cards. Contractors should explain these settings before enabling automatic clock-in.
Practices vary across apps, and reviewers of some apps report location checks while off the clock. Ask each vendor exactly when location is collected and who can see it.
