(650) 332-8623The 6 Best Time Tracker Devices for 2026
Looking for a time tracker device for your construction business? We’ve reviewed 6 of the best apps on the market to help you!
A time tracker device might seem simple. But in construction, it does far more heavy lifting than most people realize.
What really sets these tools apart is how well they keep up with crew movement, changing sites, and the constant flow of work. The best ones record hours accurately without depending on memory or last-minute edits.
Here are the time tracker devices I recommend for teams that need reliable, jobsite-ready time tracking.
Top Time Tracker Devices at a Glance
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|---|---|---|---|
Our score |
9.3 |
7.7 |
7.5 |
Best for |
Simplified time tracking with unmatched GPS-powered accuracy |
Ease of use |
Basic free time tracker for teams |
Pricing |
Starts at $6/month per user + $50 company base fee |
Starts at $9.34/user per month |
Starts at $6.99/user per month |
What is a time tracker device?
A time tracker device is a tool that logs work hours automatically, giving teams a clear record of when tasks start, pause, and end. It can be a physical gadget, a mobile app, or a GPS-enabled tool that captures time in real time instead of relying on manual entries.
These devices help teams streamline payroll, reduce errors, and stay aligned with labor rules. They also give managers a clearer view of where time goes throughout the day, making it easier to plan schedules, control labor costs, and keep projects running without unnecessary delays.
How a time tracker device works
A time tracker device works by capturing work hours the moment they happen. An admin usually starts by setting up projects, assigning team members, and defining how time should be logged. From there, workers clock in using an app, web browser, or physical tracker, and the device records their hours automatically as they switch tasks or move between locations.
The system updates in real time, giving managers a live view of who’s on the clock and where time is being spent, similar to what you’d expect from modern employee timesheet app tools.
Automations handle things like missed-punch reminders, break rules, or syncing hours to payroll. At the end of the day, everything is organized into clean timesheets and summaries that feed directly into payroll, invoicing, or reporting tools.
Benefits of a time tracker device
- Accurate payroll every time: Hours are captured as they happen, so paychecks aren’t based on estimates or memory.
- Less time correcting mistakes: Digital logs reduce the back-and-forth normally spent fixing missed punches or unclear timesheets.
- Clearer insight into daily work: Live visibility shows who’s working, what they’re working on, and how the day is progressing
- Better control of labor costs: Tracking hours per task or project helps identify overruns before they become expensive problems.
- Stronger accountability: Verified entries make it easier to manage attendance, prevent buddy-punching, and keep records clean.
- Smoother handoff to payroll and billing: Data exports or integrations help close pay cycles faster and keep invoices accurate.
How much does a time tracker device cost?
Pricing for time tracker devices varies widely, but most software-based tools follow a per-user subscription model, usually landing between $5 and $20 per user each month. App-based tools usually follow the same pricing structure you’ll see in most time clock apps for small business, with costs scaling based on features and team size.
Some platforms also offer free plans for solo users or basic teams, along with free trials so you can test features before committing. Devices that include physical hardware often come with a one-time purchase cost in addition to the software fee.
The total price typically depends on your team size, required features, and whether you need extras like GPS tracking or advanced reporting.
What to look for in a time tracker device
A good time tracker device should make your day simpler, not be another tool you need to babysit. The right one captures hours accurately, keeps teams organized, and removes the small headaches that slow work down.
Focus first on the essentials that every dependable time tracker should deliver:
- Accurate hour tracking so payroll isn’t built on estimates
- Simple clock-in options that work on mobile, desktop, or a physical device
- Real-time updates so managers see who’s working and when
- Clear, exportable reports for payroll, invoicing, or timesheet reviews
After confirming the basics, look for extra features that make similar tools feel very different in everyday use:
- GPS or geofencing for crews that move between sites
- Task-level and project-level tracking for better cost control
- Integrations with payroll, accounting, or scheduling apps to reduce manual work
- Automations like reminders, break rules, or overtime alerts that run quietly in the background
How to choose the best time tracker device
Choosing the right time tracker device starts with understanding how your team actually works day to day. Use these steps to narrow in on the best fit:
- Map out your workflows: List where time is being lost (missed clock-ins, inaccurate timesheets, manual approvals, etc.) and choose devices that solve those exact issues.
- Match features to your environment: Field crews may need GPS stamps or geofencing, while desk-based teams might prefer a simple timer or task-level tracker. Pick tools that fit your setting, not just your budget.
- Test the clock-in experience: Try demos or free trials to see how natural it feels to track time on mobile, desktop, or a physical device. Any friction here becomes a daily frustration.
- Check for integrations: Make sure the device syncs cleanly with payroll, invoicing, or project-management tools so you don’t rely on manual data transfers.
- Compare long-term value: Weigh subscription costs, hardware fees, and support quality against how much accuracy and time savings you’ll gain.
Many teams narrow down options by comparing the best apps for tracking work hours to see which ones fit their workflow.
Final Thoughts
Across these devices, each brings something useful—whether it’s simplicity, creativity, or a hands-on workflow. But if you need consistent accuracy, GPS detail, and a system that genuinely supports field crews, Workyard stands out immediately. It’s the only option here that solves the full problem, not just parts of it.
Try Workyard today and see why it’s built for real-world teams.
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!
For most teams, the best real-time GPS tracking device is one that verifies worker locations accurately, updates throughout the day, and ties every movement back to the right job. Workyard is the top option for this, thanks to its precise GPS tracking, live location map, and automatic mileage and trip logging.
Unlike simple trackers that only record check-in points, Workyard captures routes, stopovers, and jobsite changes in real time. This makes it especially useful for construction and field-service crews who need verified hours, cleaner payroll, and a reliable record of where work actually happened.
Other devices can handle basic GPS functions, but Workyard consistently delivers the most detailed, real-time visibility for teams on the move.
If you need a completely free option, Clockify offers one of the more usable free plans. It’s enough for simple time tracking with basic timers, weekly logs, and mobile access. For freelancers or very small teams with straightforward needs, it can cover the basics without cost.
However, free tools come with limits, especially around accuracy, automation, and oversight. Teams that need GPS verification, job-level tracking, or more reliable daily reporting will usually outgrow what a free plan can provide, so it’s worth comparing free tools with more robust platforms before deciding.
The best time tracker device for work depends on the type of tasks your team handles. For simple, desk-based tracking, tools like Clockify or TimeBuzzer can cover basic timers and weekly timesheets. Hardware-based options such as TimeFlip2 or Adafruit appeal more to users who prefer a tactile workflow.
For teams that need something more reliable day to day, especially those working across multiple locations, Workyard is often the stronger choice because of its accurate GPS tracking, verified time logs, and clear visibility into where work is happening. It goes beyond simple timers and gives managers the real-time insight most workplaces eventually need.