(650) 332-86237 Top Geofencing Time Tracking for Construction Projects for 2026
Discover the best geofencing time tracking apps for construction projects, with features, pricing, and top picks like Workyard and BusyBusy to improve payroll accuracy and jobsite efficiency.
One of the toughest operational problems construction teams face is keeping accurate labor records across multiple job sites. Inefficient paper timesheets, missed clock-ins/outs, and buddy-punching all add up to lost hours and payroll headaches.
Geofencing time tracking for construction solves these problems by creating virtual job site boundaries that automatically tag time, capture location breadcrumbs, and reduce disputes. The results are construction payroll accuracy, real-time construction site tracking, and less time wasted sorting out time records.
In this roundup, we’ll look at why geofencing is essential for construction teams. I’ll also review the following apps in terms of features, pricing, pros and cons, and use cases. Then I’ll rank each one based on specific criteria to help you choose the best geofencing time tracking solution for construction projects:
- Workyard
- BusyBusy
- ExakTime
- Connecteam
- ClockShark
- Hubstaff
- Buildertrend
Let’s take a closer look.
Best geofencing time tracking apps for construction at a glance
Brand | Time tracking | Geofencing accuracy (polygon support) | Offline mode | Use case | Starting price |
Workyard | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Multi-site contractors | Starts $6/user + $50 base |
busybusy | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | Equipment + crews | $11.99/user + $40 admin |
ExakTime | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | Rugged on-site time clocks | $9/user + base fee |
Connecteam | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | Frontline teams | Free tier / starts at $35/mo for 30 users |
ClockShark | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | Team communications | $9/user + $40 base |
Hubstaff | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | Productivity monitoring | Starts at $4.99/user (annual) |
Buildertrend | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Full PM for builders | Custom pricing |
How we evaluated our top picks for geofencing time tracking
We evaluated GPS time tracking products focused on construction workflows involving multi-site crews, long travel, offline use, payroll accuracy, and privacy. The criteria below reflect features essential for real job site use:
- GPS accuracy and background tracking: The app must reliably track location and provide detailed GPS breadcrumbs while running in the background.
- Geofence quality (polygon and circle with rule flexibility): Support for polygon geofences and customizable clock-in/out rules is preferred over limited circular zones.
- Automatic clock-in/out and anti-fraud controls: Location-triggered punches with photo/facial verification and supervisor overrides help prevent buddy-punching.
- Mileage and travel logging: Automatic recording of travel time and miles between sites reduces guesswork and improves mileage reimbursement.
- Offline reliability sync: The app should cache punches and GPS data offline, syncing when reconnected to maintain records from remote sites.
- Integrations with payroll/accounting/PM tools: Native or seamless exports to QuickBooks, ADP, Gusto, Sage, and others save time and avoid manual input errors.
- Pricing & free trial availability: Costs, including per-user fees, hardware, and trial options, impact practical value for small and mid-size contractors.
1. Workyard: Accurate geofencing time tracking app for construction
Workyard is a mobile-first time-tracking and crew management tool. It is built by construction professionals for construction professionals, geared toward contractors and construction teams who need reliable, location-verified payroll data.
Its geofencing and GPS tracking features are designed around construction project needs. Admins can draw job site boundaries, require employees to be on-site to clock in, and automatically assign the resulting time to the correct project. The platform also captures driving time and mileage between geofenced sites, documenting travel for payroll or reimbursement. These capabilities make Workyard especially useful for multi-site crews and for companies that need timesheets tied directly to physical site presence for audits, owner billing, or payroll defense.
Workyard heads the list thanks to its advantages:
- Built specifically for construction workflows (polygon geofences, travel/mileage, cost code allocation)
- Strong auto-assignment of time to projects based on precise GPS and geofence rules (reduces manual adjustments)
- Robust integrations with leading payroll and accounting systems
- Offline caching, photo verification and crew clocking features that fit construction crew needs
What are Workyard’s key features?
- Geofence-based automatic time and project assignment
- High-accuracy GPS time clock with automatic clock-in/out
- Automatic mileage and travel logging
- Customizable geofence clock rules and restrictions
- Crew scheduling and real-time crew location tracking
- Job tracking and labor cost analysis
- Payroll and accounting integrations
How much does Workyard cost?
Pricing tiers
- Starter: Starts at $6/month per user plus a $50 company base fee
- Pro: Starts at $13/month per user plus a $50 company base fee
Free Trial?
- Yes, a 14-day trial with no credit card required
What are the pros and cons of Workyard?
Pros | Cons |
– Strong geofence enforcement and auto clocking – Project auto-assignment by location – Designed for ease of use for field workers | – No free forever plan due to extensive GPS features – Workers need onboarding to address privacy concerns – GPS can impact device battery |
What are the use cases of Workyard?
Best for multi-site contractors who need accurate, GPS-verified time tied to on-site presence. Its advanced geofencing rules prevent clock-in/out off-site, keeping payroll accurate and labor costs uninflated.
Learn more about Workyard’s time clock app with GPS.
2. busybusy: Equipment tracking with location data
BusyBusy is a timekeeping and job-costing app aimed at contractors, site superintendents, and project managers. It offers geofencing, equipment tracking, and offline functionality. Busybusy’s “Required Onsite” feature ties clocking into a job’s boundary, making sure workers actually arrive on site before being paid.
I can use busybusy’s GPS breadcrumbs and attendance logs to create a clear audit trail for every punch. The app also supports equipment-level GPS tracking so heavy machinery can be assigned to job sites, preventing chargebacks or misallocated equipment hours.
What are busybusy’s key features?
- GPS breadcrumbing for clock-in/out verification
- Required onsite geofence enforcement
- Equipment GPS tracking per jobsite
- Offline time and location capture
- Daily scheduling and dispatch tools
How much does busybusy cost?
Pricing tiers
- Free: Free forever for basic features
- Pro: $11.99/user per month +$40 admin license
- Elite: $17.99 per user, per month, billed annually +$40 admin license
Free Trial?
- Yes, a 14-day free trial
What are the pros and cons of busybusy?
Pros | Cons |
– Offers equipment tracking – GPS breadcrumbs and push reminders – Free trial available | – Higher per-user cost and admin fee – Admin license complexity – Geofence issues when the project code is missing |
What are the use cases of busybusy?
Good for contractors who need to track both crew time and heavy equipment assignments by location. Its “Required Onsite” geofence rule gives team admins greater on-site supervision over both workers and equipment per jobsite.
3. ExakTime: Rugged, on-site time clocks for construction
ExakTime (part of Arcoro) is known for its rugged hardware options, detailed location reporting, and field-proven audit tools. The platform is suited best to contractors, union shops, and project owners who need authoritative proof of employees’ worked hours on jobsites.
ExakTime’s geofencing solution GeoTrakker continuously logs GPS breadcrumbs while employees are on the clock. It then pairs that data with MapView and Touch Detail reports for post-shift review.
I can use the system’s mandatory photo capture on clock-in/out to effectively stop buddy-punching and verify worker presence on-site. Crews can use rugged on-site time clocks. Alternatively, I can also clock the entire team on the app. Beyond location tracking, ExakTime supports meal break and time-off tracking, equipment tracking, and cost-code tracking for labor.
What are ExakTime’s key features?
- Geofence-enabled clocking with on/off-site validation
- GPS GeoTrakker breadcrumb tracking
- Touch Detail and MapView location reporting
- Photo ID verification for every punch
- Meal break and time-off tracking
How much does ExakTime cost?
Pricing tiers
- Essential: $9/mo. per user + monthly base fee
- Professional: Must contact sales for a custom quote
- Elite: Must contact sales for a custom quote
Free Trial?
- No, demo available
What are the pros and cons of ExakTime?
Pros | Cons |
– Photo ID on clock-in/out – Rugged clock and hardware options – Analytics and reporting | – Lacks mileage tracking – Custom pricing and potential hardware costs – No public free trial |
What are the use cases of ExakTime?
Best for construction projects needing rugged on-site time clocks. Its detailed GeoTrakker breadcrumb reports are favorable to unions and larger contractors.
4. Connecteam: Time-tracking and scheduling for frontline teams
Connecteam is a general workforce management platform offering time and attendance features to frontline teams across industries. In construction, it’s used by subcontractors and field supervisors who want scheduling, geofence enforcement, and communication in one app.
Connecteam makes it easy to set up geofences. I can define the fence radius (typically a few hundred meters) around a site. Employees can then only clock in or out when their device enters the predefined zone. As soon as a worker clocks in, Connecteam shows their location on a live map. I can see exactly when and where employees started their shift.
These features pair well with Connecteam’s other offerings, such as shift scheduling, PTO requests, and in-app communication.
What are Connecteam’s key features?
- Custom geofences for jobs and shifts
- Real-time attendance map with live locations
- Geofence alerts and approval workflows
- Shift scheduling and PTO tracking
- In-app chat and updates feed
How much does Connecteam cost?
Pricing tiers
- Small Business Plan: Free for life for up to 10 users
- Basic: $35/mo. for the first 30 users
- Advanced: $59/mo. for the first 30 users
- Expert: $119/mo. for the first 30 users
- Enterprise: Must contact sales for custom pricing
Free Trial?
- Yes, 14 days (no credit card required)
What are the pros and cons of Connecteam?
Pros | Cons |
– Easy-to-create geofence zones – Free for the first 30 users on the Small Business plan – Free trial available | – Advanced features available only on higher-priced plans – Less specialized for equipment tracking and construction – Per-user scaling raises monthly costs due to add-ons |
What are the use cases of Connecteam?
Best for small to midsize subcontractors who need scheduling and communication in one app. Connecteam delivers geofencing, PTO management, and in-app messaging for frontline teams.
5. ClockShark: Time tracking and team communication
ClockShark is a time-tracking and scheduling app designed for contractors and field crews looking for job-site verification tied to payroll systems. It’s ideal for general contractors, subcontractors, and construction foremen who want to combine scheduling/timekeeping with integrations into accounting and payroll platforms.
The app allows me to create jobsite geofences, get automatic reminders to clock in when an employee enters a site, and receive alerts about out-of-zone punches for quick reconciliation. The platform’s job-costing and timesheet exports are also supported by geofence-verified clock data, which I can move directly into payroll or QuickBooks. I also like ClockSharks’ built-in team messaging, which allows me to communicate instantly with workers without leaving the app.
What are ClockShark’s key features?
- Geofenced job sites with automatic punch reminders
- Clock-in/out geofence alerts and error prevention
- Built-in crew scheduling and shift visibility
- Photo and file attachments for jobs and time entries
- GPS tracking with live map view
How much does ClockShark cost?
Pricing tiers
- Standard: $9/mo. per user + $40 base fee
- Pro: $11/mo. per user + $60 base fee
Free Trial?
- Yes, 14-day trial
What are the pros and cons of ClockShark?
Pros | Cons |
– Geofencing with reminders – Integrates with payroll/QuickBooks – Offers a free trial for testing | – Advanced features may require a higher tier – Limited customization for clock-in/out rules – Device battery drain |
What are the use cases of ClockShark?
Best for teams needing a jobsite clock and scheduling tool with built-in team communications. Its ‘Conversations’ feature centralizes all communications related to jobs and customers within the platform.
6. Hubstaff: Time tracking and productivity monitoring
Hubstaff is a well-known workforce management and time-tracking platform offering GPS and geofencing features. However, it’s mainly focused on productivity-monitoring tools used in offices or remote work-from-home settings. The app offers scheduling, time-off tracking, attendance monitoring, and overtime management.
I can use Hubstaff’s geofencing capabilities to define job sites, automatically clock workers in and out based on entry/exit of those sites, and capture GPS breadcrumbs and routes while employees are on the clock. I can also turn tracked hours into invoices or feed them into accounting systems, something handy for firms that bill subcontractors or owners based on logged site time.
However, Hubstaff isn’t primarily serving construction companies. Its broader feature set (screenshots, app usage monitoring, and other productivity tools) can prove to be overkill for construction crews that only need simple GPS time verification.
What are Hubstaff’s key features?
- Geofenced job sites with automatic clock-in/out
- Real-time GPS tracking and route visibility
- Customizable reporting and audit tools
- Employee scheduling and time off management
- Productivity monitoring with screenshots and app/URL tracking
How much does Hubstaff cost?
Pricing tiers
- STARTER: Annual: $4.99/mo. per user; Monthly: $7.00/mo. per user
- GROW: Annual: $7.50/mo. per user; Monthly: $9.00/mo. per user
- TEAM: Annual: $10.00/mo. per user; Monthly: $12.00/mo. per user
- ENTERPRISE: Annual: $25.00/mo. per user; Monthly: $25.00/mo. per user
Free Trial?
- Yes, 14-day trial
What are the pros and cons of Hubstaff?
Pros | Cons |
– Low entry price for GPS-enabled tracking – Robust reporting and invoicing – Free trial available | – Feature set may exceed construction needs/not construction-first – Limited job costing capability – Users report mobile experience could be better |
What are the use cases of Hubstaff?
Suitable for teams that want low-cost GPS time tracking with productivity monitoring tools. The app supports geofenced clocks and reporting as well as invoicing.
7. Buildertrend: Full project management suite for builders
Buildertrend is a full construction management suite that combines project management, scheduling, budgeting, and time tracking. It’s designed for builders, remodelers, residential and commercial general contractors who want an all-in-one platform rather than a standalone time clock.
Buildertrend offers a GPS-tagged mobile time clock that ties punches to jobsites. The Time Clock feature incorporates geofencing, so I can know if crews are in the right location before logging hours. If an employee attempts to clock in from outside the geofenced area, the app will flag it for my review.
I noted that the platform is oriented towards larger firms; small contractors who only need geofencing and GPS time tracking might find it more than they need. If you’re looking at Buildertrend strictly as a geofence time clock app, be prepared for a fuller platform commitment with no free trial and custom pricing.
What are Buildertrend’s key features?
- Mobile GPS time clock with location tagging
- Geofencing to prevent off-site punching
- Offline time tracking with automatic sync
- Payroll integration with major providers
- Labor law compliance reporting
How much does Buildertrend cost?
Pricing tiers
- Custom Quote: Must contact sales for pricing
Free Trial?
- No
What are the pros and cons of Buildertrend?
Pros | Cons |
– Mobile GPS time clock with geofence verification – Unified project data – Good for project management | – Potentially over-featured & costly for time-tracking – No transparent pricing – Longer ramp-up given its many features |
What are the use cases of Buildertrend?
Best for builders who want an all-in-one platform with integrated project management features, CRM, and time tracking. The app delivers scheduling, budgeting, and compliance reports. However, the platform can be both over-featured and costly if you only need a reliable time clock solution.
Why geofencing time tracking apps matter for construction
Geofence time clock apps are essential to construction businesses because they tag worked hours to specific projects. They also eliminate manual time entry with its vulnerabilities to error and fraud. Its other benefits include:
- Automatic clock-in/out with photo or GPS verification prevents time theft
- Automated time assignment to the correct site ensures construction payroll accuracy
- Construction site tracking improves dispatch by visualizing crew locations on a live map
- Mileage and travel time capture keeps reimbursement error-free
- Mobile schedules, checklists, and alerts keep crews productive while on-site
- GPS-verified logs and time cards reduce payroll disputes and audit risks
These benefits ensure your construction project stays on schedule and within budget, while at the same time maintaining labor compliance with applicable regulations.
The Bottom Line
Geofencing time tracking is now a must for construction teams that want payroll accuracy, accountability, and real-time project visibility. In the course of my review, I’ve determined that Workyard is best overall for multi-site contractors needing polygon geofences, travel logging, and integrated job costing. Busybusy is ideal when equipment GPS tracking is required, while ExakTime excels where rugged hardware and audit trails are crucial.
If you want a construction-centered balance of GPS precision, advanced geofencing, and workforce management tools, Workyard is a strong first choice.
See how Workyard’s GPS time clock and geofencing solution can help your business, or sign up for a 14-day free trial today!
Geofencing time tracking in construction works by creating virtual boundaries around job sites using GPS or RFID technology. When workers with GPS-enabled devices enter or exit these geofenced zones, their clock-ins and clock-outs are automatically recorded, ensuring accurate and automated attendance tracking. This method eliminates manual errors, reduces time theft, and provides real-time visibility into workforce presence and labor costs. It also helps with compliance, safety monitoring, and efficient resource allocation on construction projects.
Key features include:
- Automatic clock-in/out triggered by entering or leaving the site boundary
- Accurate location-based verification of workers’ presence
- Real-time tracking and reporting of labor hours and employee whereabouts
- Reduction of time theft and buddy punching with location restrictions
- Generation of detailed timesheets for payroll and project management
This system greatly enhances accuracy, efficiency, and security in construction workforce time tracking.
Yes, geofencing time tracking significantly improves payroll accuracy in construction by automating the attendance process and reducing human errors. It ensures workers can only clock in and out within designated job site boundaries, which eliminates off-site clock-ins, buddy punching, and time theft. This GPS-based system integrates seamlessly with payroll and ERP systems, automatically categorizing hours worked by job codes and cost centers, thereby reducing payroll disputes and errors.
Contractors using geofencing report up to a 70% reduction in payroll processing time and improved job costing accuracy, as every labor hour is logged correctly and compliantly, helping avoid wage miscalculations and simplifying certified payroll reporting. Overall, it streamlines payroll, boosts efficiency, increases workforce accountability, and supports regulatory compliance.
If a worker forgets their phone or loses signal on a construction site, most geofencing time tracking apps are designed to handle these situations by allowing offline mode operation. The app will store the location and time data locally on the device and automatically sync it to the system once the signal is restored. Some systems also offer manual override or supervisor approval to log hours if the digital method fails.
However, losing a device or being without signal for extended periods may require manual reconciliation to ensure accurate payroll and compliance. Overall, while these limitations exist, modern geofencing solutions provide safeguards like offline data caching and administrative controls to minimize disruptions to time tracking accuracy and payroll processing.
Employee privacy in geofencing time tracking apps is carefully protected by limiting tracking strictly to work-related locations and times. Employees are only monitored when within designated job site boundaries—there is no continuous real-time GPS tracking outside of work hours or authorized areas. Location data is encrypted and securely stored, used solely for payroll accuracy and compliance purposes.
Additionally, geofencing systems often provide customizable privacy settings to comply with labor laws and company policies, ensuring that data collection is transparent and limited to what’s necessary. This approach balances accurate workforce management with respecting employee privacy rights.
The best geofencing app for construction job sites is often considered Workyard due to its comprehensive and user-friendly features tailored for the construction industry.
Workyard offers real-time GPS location tracking with both circular and polygon geofences, automatic clock-ins/outs based on location, mileage tracking for reimbursements, and customizable alerts for project oversight. It helps improve payroll accuracy, prevent time theft, and optimize resource management, with an intuitive interface for easy setup and management.
Other notable competitors include:
- Hubstaff: Provides detailed timesheets, GPS tracking, and productivity monitoring with robust project management integrations.
- ClockShark: Features job site scheduling, geofencing, and team communication tools for efficient site management.
- ExakTime: Known for its rugged on-site time clocks for verification of worker presence on construction project sites.
This mix of options gives construction companies flexibility to choose solutions based on size, complexity, and budget.