The ten greatest time clocks for small companies in 2023
Small companies typically have razor-thin revenue margins. They’ll’t afford to lose cash to inaccurate timekeeping and inefficient processes or they’ll by no means be capable to increase.
That’s in all probability why you’re contemplating a time clock to document hours, generate timesheets for payroll, and clock in your staff seamlessly.
However to guard your backside line, you want software program that does every part you want and fits your price range. In any other case, it’s possible you’ll as nicely spare your self the trouble and persist with punch clocks.
We’ve in contrast a number of the greatest time clocks for small companies to place you on the quick observe to discovering the suitable one. Plus, we’ve included a guidelines for important options, a step-by-step information on find out how to purchase the software program, and an inventory of frequent errors to keep away from.
Key options to search for in time clock software program
Earlier than you examine time clocks, it’s vital to have an inventory of must-have options. That approach you realize what you ought to be searching for and also you gained’t get sidetracked by pointless add-ons that drive the associated fee up.
- Time monitoring and attendance: Save time and cut back the danger of errors by mechanically recording hours and changing them into time sheets.
- GPS clock-in verification: Ditch punch clocks and let staff clock out and in effortlessly with a cellular app. Verify their location and arrival time with out inconveniencing them otherwise you.
- A cellular app: Give staff free entry to a time clock app to clock in and obtain alerts about their shifts.
- Payroll integrations: Don’t waste time inputting timesheet knowledge right into a separate accounting program. Combine software program to mechanically convert your staff’s hours into wages shortly and precisely.
- Reminders and alerts: Keep away from further prices by setting notifications when workers are approaching extra time or you’ve gotten a possible compliance concern.
- Reporting and analytics: Get an summary of your labor prices and workers hours so you realize whether or not you’re sticking to your price range.
Prime 10 time clocks for small companies in 2023
| Title | Pricing (month-to-month) | Help | Payroll | Notable options |
 |
Plans vary from free to $99.95 per location
Homebase payroll prices $39/month base payment + $6/month per energetic worker |
✓ — cellphone, chat, and e-mail | ✓ — and selection of 11 integrations | Chat instruments
Compliance alerts Sturdy free plan Notifications and reminders Labor price controls |
 |
Plans vary from free to $4 per person | ✓ — chat and e-mail | ✗ — however integrates with Gusto and ADP | Monitoring instruments in native time
Labor price controls |
 |
Plans vary from free to $357 | ✓ — cellphone and e-mail | ✗ — however integrates with Gusto and Quickbooks | GPS location tracker
Activity monitoring |
 |
Plans vary from $2.50 per person to $8 per person | ✓ — chat and e-mail | ✗ — however selection of 8 integrations | Built-in communication instruments
Notifications and reminders |
 |
Plans vary from $3.50 to $4.90 per person | ✓ — cellphone, chat, and e-mail | ✗ — however selection of 25 integrations | Activity administration
Versatile weekly plan |
 |
Pricing not available | ✓ — cellphone, chat, and e-mail | ✓ — however no integrations | Compliance alerts
Labor price controls Notifications and reminders |
 |
Plans vary from $20 plus $8 per worker to $40 plus $10 per worker | ✓ — cellphone, chat, and e-mail | ✓ — through integration with Quickbooks Payroll or a selection of | GPS location tracker
Activity administration Mileage monitoring |
 |
Plans vary from $7 to $20 per person | ✓ — cellphone, chat, and e-mail | ✓ — and integrations with ADP and Payroll | Display screen recording
Distraction alerts |
 |
Plans vary from free to $15.98 per person | ✓ — cellphone, chat, and e-mail | ✗ — however integrations attainable through Zapier | Billable and nonbillable hours
Activity administration |
 |
Plans vary from $16 plus $7 per person to $30 plus $9 per person | ✓ — cellphone, chat, and e-mail | ✗ — however a selection of seven integrations | Customized clock out questions
Notifications and reminders |
1. Homebase
Supply: https://joinhomebase.com/
Caption: Homebase has a flexible vary of instruments to make time monitoring simple, fast, and extra correct than ever
Prime options
In contrast to a lot of its opponents, Homebase has a particularly sturdy free plan. It contains important scheduling, time monitoring, and communication instruments. Meaning you may create a schedule, ship it to your workers, and observe their hours with out paying a cent.
The communication instrument additionally integrates with the scheduling and time monitoring software program. So, you may ship reminders about shifts, contact your staff shortly about no-shows, and organize covers straight from the platform.
However the primary draw of Homebase’s time clock is the array of options that enable you to handle your workers. The GPS time clock verifies every worker’s location so there’s no danger of buddy punching. You can even set labor price controls to forestall early clock-in and mechanically clock workers out. Then you may keep away from pricey compliance points with extra time and missed break alerts for the entire staff.
Professionals and cons
One professional that differentiates Homebase from the competitors is its payroll administration choices. Homebase is among the few time monitoring apps with built-in accounting instruments so you may transfer seamlessly from producing timesheets to paying your workers. However we additionally supply a variety of payroll integrations so you may decide from well-liked instruments like Gusto or ADP as nicely.
One other approach Homebase stands out is pricing. Homebase provides important time monitoring instruments on the free account and most upgrades on the starter plans. As we additionally solely cost by location, it’s simpler to maintain your prices low in case your workers ranges fluctuate.
One downside is Homebase doesn’t have a location monitoring system. Though you may confirm the place your staff are once they test in, you may’t observe them as they transfer. This implies you may’t monitor touring groups as simply as you may with another time clocks.
Pricing
In addition to its free account, Homebase has three month-to-month paid plans:
- Necessities for $24.95 for GPS verification and efficiency administration.
- Plus for $59.95 so as to add depart administration.
- All-in-one for $99.95 which incorporates HR instruments like assist creating day off insurance policies. You’ve got the choice of a 14-day free trial for this plan.
Homebase payroll is on a separate account that’s $39 per thirty days plus $6 per worker.
2. Sling
Supply: https://getsling.com/employee-time-clock/
Caption: Sling is a user-friendly time monitoring system that allows you to monitor companies in several timezones
Prime options
Monitoring hours throughout areas in several time zones might be difficult as a result of there’s a better likelihood of getting confused. If this occurs, you may document the incorrect hours and pay your workers incorrectly. Sling sidesteps this concern by letting you monitor every web site in its native time which makes it a very good possibility for worldwide companies.
Professionals and cons
The primary benefit of Sling is its ease of use. Prospects have praised the software program for its intuitiveness and ease.
Nonetheless, Sling is much less versatile than another apps on this listing because it solely has scheduling and time monitoring options. When you later want payroll, hiring, or HR instruments, you’ll must obtain extra apps and juggle the completely different software program.
Pricing
Though Sling has a free plan, this solely contains scheduling and communication options — not time monitoring. In addition they have a 14-day free trial.
Sling has two paid plans:
- Premium at $2 per person per thirty days which incorporates time monitoring, clock-in controls, and geofencing.
- Enterprise at $4 per person per thirty days so as to add on depart administration and reporting options.
3. Connecteam
Supply: https://connecteam.com/employee-time-clock-app/
Caption: Connecteam features a GPS tracker instrument that will help you precisely document touring employees
Prime options
When you’ve gotten touring employees like supply crews or shifting groups, it may be exhausting to forestall time theft. Staff could possibly be taking unnecessarily lengthy routes or making too many pit stops with out you figuring out. Connecteam’s GPS location tracker eliminates this concern by verifying the placement of distant employees on the go.
Professionals and cons
Like Homebase, Connecteam has a sturdy free plan for as much as ten customers. This makes it a very good possibility for very small groups with modest wants.
However when you exceed ten staff, Connecteam requires customers to make plenty of upgrades to entry all its time monitoring instruments. For instance, the GPS location monitoring instrument is barely obtainable on the highest-cost plan. Different apps on this listing embrace extra options of their lowest-cost plans and could possibly be extra budget-friendly for small companies like yours.
Pricing
As talked about above, Connecteam has a free plan for as much as ten customers with fundamental time monitoring instruments and a 14-day free trial for limitless options. The paid plans are as follows:
- Fundamental for $29 which has timesheets, notifications, and GPS clock-in verification.
- Superior for $49 to get entry to automated clock outs and geofencing.
- Professional for $99 so as to add the GPS location tracker and reporting instruments.
- Enterprise with a customized worth for all these options and limitless time clocks and experiences.
4. When I Work
Supply: https://wheniwork.com/
Caption: After I Work combines its time monitoring instruments with a helpful staff messenger
Prime options
After I Work shares Homebase’s built-in messenger instrument. Meaning you may oversee hours and chat with staff about late arrivals or no arrivals in the identical place. When you’re busy arranging cowl or confused over hours, this could simplify issues and cut back some stress.
Professionals and cons
One professional of After I Work is their beneficiant admin restrict. If that you must delegate time monitoring duties to different managers, you may add as much as three to every account.
However one con is the dearth of cellphone assist. Most small companies need assistance with set-up and technical points and these could also be more difficult if you must depend on chat and e-mail. That’s very true for small groups that may’t dedicate a lot time to fixing IT issues.
Pricing
After I Work has two paid plans at $4 and $8 per person per thirty days. However the one distinction for the time clock function is that the upper price plan has customized attendance experiences.
5. Deputy
Supply: https://www.deputy.com/features/employee-time-clock
Caption: Deputy’s process administration instruments allow you to test productiveness in addition to attendance
Prime options
In some industries, it’s possible you’ll lose cash resulting from low productiveness in addition to time theft. As an example, your cleansing or building crew could take longer than essential to complete a job. Deputy’s process administration function enables you to observe attendance and output with its mixed process administration and time clock instruments. All you must do is assign a guidelines to every worker and also you obtain a notification as soon as they’ve completed.
Professionals and cons
Though Deputy principally focuses on scheduling and time monitoring, it boasts a variety of integrations. So, customers usually tend to discover the payroll integration that fits their wants from the choice.
One drawback is that Deputy isn’t user-friendly. Prospects say there’s a steep learning curve and complex features which isn’t superb for busy managers with no spare time to be taught new tech.
Pricing
Deputy fees $3.50 per person per thirty days for the plan with its time monitoring options however you may check them without spending a dime in its 31-day trial. It’s important to pay further for scheduling instruments.
6. Fourth (previously HotSchedules)
Supply: https://www.g2.com/products/hotschedules/reviews
Caption: Fourth enables you to maintain detailed observe of workers to forestall labor price range and compliance points
Prime options
Retaining observe of hours and charges for tipped workers might be difficult. However in the event you don’t keep on prime of it, it’s possible you’ll find yourself unintentionally paying workers beneath minimal wage and incurring fines. Fourth’s compliance instruments enable you to monitor ideas and keep compliant.
Professionals and cons
Fourth is among the few platforms on our listing with built-in payroll. Meaning you may transfer seamlessly between time monitoring and paying your workers as a substitute of adjusting apps.
The draw back is Fourth solely integrates with its personal payroll instrument. When you’re blissful together with your present accounting software program, this implies unnecessarily overhauling your system.
Pricing
Fourth’s costs should not available.
7. Quickbooks Time (previously TSheets)
Supply: https://quickbooks.intuit.com/time-tracking/kiosk/
Caption: Quickbooks Time’s monitoring and administration instruments make it simple to trace offsite progress
Prime options
Just like Connecteam, Quickbooks has a cellular workforce monitoring system. Customers can obtain updates about their groups’ areas all through the day alongside pictures and process updates. That makes it superb for managers who desire a clear image of their distant employees’ progress.
Professionals and cons
The mix of Quickbooks’ monitoring and process administration instruments makes it a very good decide for touring building and restore crews. Managers get a transparent image of how every job is progressing and what number of hours their groups are working even when they transfer between a number of websites in a day.
However the pricing could deter some customers. Quickbooks cost per location and worker which makes it much less cost-effective than different time monitoring apps.
Pricing
Quickbooks Time has two paid plans:
- Time premium at $20 per thirty days and $8 per worker for fundamental scheduling, time monitoring, and the ‘who’s working’ instrument.
- Time elite at $40 per thirty days and $10 per worker for geofencing and undertaking administration instruments.
There’s additionally the choice for a 30-day trial to check all of the options.
8. Time Doctor
Supply:https://www.timedoctor.com/employee-time-tracking
Caption: Time Physician enables you to display screen seize your staff’ work in addition to observe their hours
Prime options
When staff use a pc for work, it’s simple to develop a nasty behavior of checking social media or different time-wasting web sites. Time Physician helps your staff keep productive and reduces time theft by monitoring web site utilization and taking sporadic screenshots. However the app doesn’t observe something throughout breaks or outdoors of firm time to guard your staff’s privateness.
Professionals and cons
The upside of Time Physician is the vary of integrations. There are over 70 apps for every part from process administration to accounting and communication.
However the draw back is Time Physician focuses on office-based work so it is probably not appropriate for companies with staff on their toes. For instance, in the event you run a store, restaurant, or salon, it’s possible you’ll discover you’re paying for lots of pointless instruments or utilizing a system that’s too advanced on your wants.
Pricing
There are three month-to-month paid plans:
- Fundamental at $7 per person for easy time monitoring and process administration instruments.
- Customary at $10 per person so as to add payroll and integrations.
- Premium at $20 per person for shopper log-ins and video display screen captures.
Time Physician additionally provides a free trial for 14 days.
9. Clockify
Supply: https://clockify.me/feature-list#features-time-tracker
Caption: Clockify’s time monitoring helps you calculate how a lot to pay workers and the way a lot to invoice purchasers
Prime options
Once you present a service, you don’t need to invoice the shopper for admin duties and workers conferences. Clockify enables you to differentiate between billable and nonbillable hours simply so you realize precisely how a lot to cost purchasers. That makes Clockify a terrific possibility for graphic design and advertising and marketing groups.
Professionals and cons
Like Homebase, Clockify has a flexible free plan which incorporates time monitoring, timesheets, and a cellular app for workers.
However like Time Physician, Clockify targets office-based work and isn’t the best choice for eating places, retailers, and comparable companies. That’s as a result of if that you must develop as your corporation wants change, you’ll in all probability find yourself paying for pointless add-ons.
Pricing
Apart from its free account, Clockify has 4 month-to-month paid plans:
- Fundamental at $4.99 per person to entry instruments like break administration and pins for kiosks.
- Customary at $6.99 per person for depart administration and reminders.
- Professional at $9.99 per person so as to add screenshots, analytics, and geofencing.
- Enterprise at $14.99 per person which is for bigger companies and features a customized subdomain.
10. ClockShark
Supply: https://www.clockshark.com/tour/employee-time-tracking-app
Caption: ClockShark enables you to write questions for workers to reply once they clock out from their shifts
Prime options
One fascinating function of ClockShark is its customized clock-out questions. Admins can write questions for workers to reply on the finish of every shift and obtain a notification when there’s an surprising reply. As an example, you could possibly ask what number of workers are on shift to test for no-shows or test important inventory ranges to be sure you’re not operating low.
Professionals and cons
ClockShark customers report the software program is intuitive and straightforward to navigate. That’s important for busy managers who don’t have time to be taught and handle new software program.
However in comparison with different software program, ClockShark has a excessive beginning worth. It additionally fees per worker on prime of the bottom charge which suggests the extra staff you rent, the better your prices.
Pricing
Clock Shark has two paid month-to-month plans:
- Customary at $16 plus $7 per worker for time monitoring and GPS instruments.
- Professional at $30 plus $9 per worker so as to add departmental administration and clock-out questions.
You can even check their options with a 14-day free trial.
purchase time clock software program
Now you’ve gotten extra details about the very best time clocks available on the market, that you must know find out how to choose the suitable one and find out how to implement it. Right here’s our step-by-step information:
- Establish your corporation wants: Think about your trade and the standard challenges you face. Do you’ve gotten store employees who neglect to clock in? Or distant crews who don’t precisely document their mileage? This can enable you to determine which options are important, that are fascinating, and that are pointless.
- Analysis and check: Watch movies, reap the benefits of free trials, and even check run time clocks for every week. Then you definitely’ll have a greater concept of how every software program will match into your corporation.
- Get suggestions and consider: Ask your workers for his or her opinions. As an example, they might dislike the sound of a biometric time clock that information their physique measurements. Their view will enable you to make a extra knowledgeable determination about which app to get.
- Practice your staff: Conduct workshops and provides staff entry to tutorials. Then you definitely’ll have fewer teething pains within the preliminary weeks as everybody will get used to the app. For instance, staff can be extra more likely to bear in mind to go away earlier than the time clock mechanically clocks them out.
- Repeatedly replicate and replace: As your corporation is more likely to change, your time clock ought to too. Maintain accumulating suggestions, checking what new options the app has to supply, and re-evaluating your wants. When you outgrow the present model of your app, take into account an improve.
Frequent pitfalls to keep away from when shopping for time clock software program
Whilst you’re selecting your new time clock, quite a bit can go incorrect. Listed here are some frequent issues for you to concentrate on:
- No integrations together with your present system: Little doubt your corporation already makes use of software program like payroll or POS. Until you need to revamp your system, be certain that your new time clock works seamlessly with these apps.
- Inadequate buyer assist: As a small enterprise supervisor, it’s possible you’ll not have the tech know-how or the time to be taught new software program. That’s when your time clock’s buyer assist staff ought to step in and enable you to with set-up and any technical points.
- Unaffordable prices: Value plans ought to swimsuit your corporation. When you’ve acquired a really small staff, take into account a payment per worker. And in the event you’re rising, pricing per location can stop your prices from spiraling as you rent extra individuals.
- Lack of scalability: Time clocks must develop alongside your corporation so they need to have upgrades to allow you to add options as you want them.
Why Homebase is the very best time clock for small companies
Time clocks can shield your revenue margins by recording hours extra precisely. That’s why it’s vital to search out software program that allows you to pay for precisely what you want so that you don’t find yourself overspending.
When you’re in sure industries, that is perhaps Quickbooks Time or Clockify. Touring employees like repairmen and supply crews could profit from Quickbooks’ GPS location monitoring system. Whereas Clockify helps managers at workplace areas maintain test of their staff’ productiveness ranges.
However whenever you’re searching for sturdy, all-around software program that covers all of your wants, the greatest time clock for small companies is Homebase. The free account with flexibly priced upgrades makes it an reasonably priced possibility for very small and rising groups.
There’s additionally a variety of versatile time monitoring instruments to help you with duties from creating digital fences for off-site work to reminding staff to clock in. With their assist, you may observe time simply and precisely with out including duties to your workload or paying out of pocket.
