Last Reviewed: November 20th, 2024

Best Time Tracking Software Of 2024

What is Time Tracking Software?

Time tracking software is the ultimate time-saving tool for businesses drowning in manual timesheets. It tackles the inefficiencies and inaccuracies of paper-based systems, like forgotten entries and tedious calculations. Imagine replacing error-prone spreadsheets with a digital solution – a win for both employees and managers. This software automates time capture, allowing employees to track their hours by project, task, or client. Benefits include improved accuracy, better project budgeting, and streamlined payroll processing. Key features include start/stop timers, project and task categorization, and reporting functionalities. Emerging features focus on automatic time tracking through integrations with productivity tools and wearables. This is a win for any business that relies on understanding how time is spent, especially those with project-based work, remote teams, or complex billing structures. While user-friendly options exist, some require upfront costs and a change in habit for employees. Overall, time tracking software is a strategic investment that streamlines time management, boosts project visibility, and empowers data-driven decisions.

What Are The Key Benefits of Time Tracking Software?

  • Improved Accuracy
  • Simplified Payroll Processing
  • Better Project Budgeting
  • Enhanced Client Billing
  • Streamlined Time Tracking
  • Increased Productivity
  • Detailed Project Visibility
  • Boosted Team Accountability
  • Data-Driven Decision Making
  • Reduced Manual Errors
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Overall

Based on the latest available data collected by SelectHub for 91 solutions, we determined the following solutions are the best Time Tracking Software overall:

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Why We Picked TSheets

TSheets offers a strong suite of solutions for time-tracking and payroll management that most users find user-friendly and cost-efficient. Its wide range of features are highly customizable and can help users track both in-house and remote employees with their live locations, manage projects and payrolls and sync with QuickBooks for efficient accounting. Customer support is highly reliable and recommendable. However, the setup, onboarding and user interface can be cumbersome. Similarly, a few features such as calendar, time off and vacations can be improved further.

Pros & Cons

  • Cost: About 55% of the users who consider cost as an important deciding parameter, choose TSheets for its affordability.
  • Customer Support: TSheets offers highly reliable and responsive customer support, as recommended by nearly 87% of the users who mentioned customer support.
  • Geofencing: Geofencing makes it easier for users to track time and billable hours, even when working remotely or from the client site, as reported by about 82% of users who mention GPS functionality.
  • Payroll Management: Efficient payroll management is one of the strong traits of the software, as reported by 90% of users who mentioned payroll.
  • QuickBooks Integrations: Seamless integration with QuickBooks is reported by 60% of the users who use both TSheets and QuickBooks in their tech suite.
  • Time Tracking: The core functionality of the software, time tracking, is recommended by about 80% of users.
  • User Friendly: About 97% of users find TSheets easy to use on a daily basis and user friendly at end-user to admin-levels.
  • Calendar and Notifications: Nearly 100% of users who mentioned calendars and notifications reported that TSheets misses the mark with Calendar synchronization and notifications for clocking in and out.
  • Feature Overload Nearly 100% of users who mentioned software functionality reported that it has too many features, making the system overwhelming and causing data lags in core functionality.
  • Set Up and Onboarding: Setting up the software and onboarding new employees is confusing and difficult, according to 58% of users who mentioned that the process left a lot to be desired.
  • Time Off and Vacations: While TSheets does an excellent job in time tracking and payroll management, managing time off and vacations can lead to data errors and often need to be logged in manually, as reported by nearly 71% of users who mentioned the feature.
  • UI and Navigation: Approximately 67% of users who mention UI and navigation report that the software is clunky and hard to navigate.

Key Features

  • Mobile App: Get mobile and offline access to submit, track and approve time. View and manage multiple timesheets with the Crew app. Monitor employee locations through the “Who’s Working” feature. 
  • GPS and Geofencing: Get real-time GPS data of clocked-in employees, in compliance with DCAA and DOL standards. 
  • Scheduling: Develop schedules based on job, shift or task. Notify employees of published or changed schedules. Sync with popular calendar applications such as Microsoft Outlook, Apple iCal and Google Calendar. 
  • Time Clock Kiosk: Clock in and out with the time clock kiosk and any device with internet access. Set up a four-digit PIN, biometric facial recognition and photo capture to limit buddy punching. 
  • Alerts and Approvals: Get alerts for clock in and clock out timings as well as time submission for payroll purposes. Managers also get notified when employees fail to clock in or clock out at scheduled times. Set up pay rates and dates with Pay Rate Engine for overtime management. 
  • Smart Reporting: Develop customized reports for instant access. View timesheets based on customer, job or group. Segment employee hours by rate, regular hours and overtime hours in wage reports. Export payroll reports in Excel, PDF or CSV formats. 
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Why We Picked Paycom

Paycom users in the past year have expressed both enthusiasm and concerns about the software. Many praise its user-friendly interface, mobile app convenience, and comprehensive feature set, which includes payroll, HR, benefits administration, and talent management. Compared to competitors, users find Paycom to be more intuitive and integrated, streamlining HR processes and saving time. Additionally, customer service is often lauded as responsive and helpful. However, some drawbacks are also mentioned. Implementation can be complex and require significant initial effort. Pricing concerns surface, with Paycom perceived as costlier than some competitors. While offering a wider range of features, this may not be necessary for all businesses, leading to potential overpaying for unused functionalities. Overall, Paycom seems to be a powerful and user-friendly option for companies seeking a one-stop HR and payroll solution. However, its complexity and cost warrant careful consideration, especially for smaller businesses or those with simpler needs. Comparing features and pricing with competitors is crucial to ensure Paycom aligns with your specific requirements and budget.

Pros & Cons

  • User-Friendly: 85% of reviews mentioning the interface noted the platform has an intuitive layout, with all features organized and easy to locate.
  • Customer Service: Customer support is highly responsive, as asserted by 100% of reviews referencing it.
  • Employee Self-Services: All users referring to self-service observed that employees can easily upload documents, view information and track performance.
  • Performance Reviews: An open dialogue tool makes employee performance reviews more effective, as indicated by 70% of reviews mentioning this feature.
  • Use Anywhere: The mobile app is easy to use and has all desktop features available, as asserted by 100% reviews on this feature.
  • Customization: Customization for most features helps cater to a company’s unique requirements, as noted by all reviews on product customization.
  • Login Process: All reviews on the login process observed that employees need to log in every time they open the software, as there’s no password save feature.
  • Challenging Transition: Transitioning between the client and employee side is challenging and cumbersome, as users need to log in to both systems, according to all reviews on this aspect.
  • Learning Curve: All users reviewing learning noted that the platform has a steep learning curve, making adaptation difficult for new users.
  • Integration Capabilities: The system doesn't provide integration with major third-party platforms without using SFTP or API, as indicated by 100% of reviews on this feature.

Key Features

  • Applicant Tracking System (ATS): Build customizable databases to view relevant applicant information and track candidates as they move through the application process. Managers can search and sort applicants by information such as degree, specific skill sets, work history and more. 
  • Compensation Management: Define budgets, award bonuses and integrate with payroll to ensure that all employees receive fair compensation without overspending. 
  • Job Posting: Allows managers to post open positions to thousands of job boards. Managers can also rely on recruitment data to build reports to determine if their recruiting efforts are working. 
  • Payroll: Calculate taxes, process payroll, account for employee expenses and more, directly through the platform. Automate payroll processing, ensuring that employees are always paid the accurate amount at the correct time. 
  • Performance Management: Schedule and facilitate employee performance appraisals directly through the platform. 
  • Reporting: Leverage Paycom’s built-in analytics to generate reports on a variety of processes, including payroll, time and attendance, compensation and more. 
  • Scheduling: Create and edit employee schedules and approve requests for time off through the system’s calendar. Automate time tracking and integrate with payroll to streamline pay processing. 
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Why We Picked Paylocity

Paylocity is a user-friendly HCM solution that works well for SMBs and delivers an array of features such as payroll management, hiring and talent management in a unified suite. Self-service capabilities help employees access their information. Some users found issues with its payroll, tracking and timesheet capabilities, reducing accuracy and limiting what can be done. However, it offers an intuitive interface, with tools like onboarding and PTO that make tasks easier while speeding up processes. Businesses looking for an end-to-end system to manage HR functions should consider this as a good contender.

Pros & Cons

  • User-Friendly Interface: 60% of users suggested that the interface is user-friendly, with automated payroll and simplified workflows that make it easy to operate and monitor teams.
  • Unified Dashboard: Paylocity enables HRIS, payroll, timekeeping and admin-related tasks to be handled from a single location, according to 60% of users.
  • Performance Benefits: It eases task management for essential activities such as checking time off balances and paychecks, conducting goal assessments and achievements, performing year-end reviews, and more.
  • Easy PTO: It’s easy to use and implement in a day-to-day work routine, with 30% of users mentioning they can check staff availability before approving leaves.
  • Streamlined Onboarding: The onboarding process checks in candidates and sends paperwork before they start, making it 10%-20% easier for admin setup and paperwork completion according to users.
  • Support Team: Paylocity's support process is lengthy according to 30% of users, requiring a lot of back and forth to get an issue resolved, which usually takes days.
  • Cumbersome Payroll: The payroll module requires set up by different people and doesn’t function accurately according to 10% of users.
  • Timesheets: Tracking time is difficult, as Paylocity doesn’t update and capture time entries until a shift is completed.
  • System Logouts: Despite automation, additional verification is required when logging in, causing 10% of users to completely exit and then log in again.
  • Tracking: Tracking functionality doesn’t work well for all the features in the experience of 10%-20% of users.

Key Features

  • Payroll: Companies can simplify multiple financial tasks related to payroll with this feature. It automates payroll processes and takes care of tax compliance, expense reimbursements into paychecks, garnishment services and custom reports that derive whatever data that’s needed. It provides employees with the flexibility to access a portion of their earned wages when needed. 
  • Workforce Management: This feature helps eliminate the need for manual tracking of tasks, reduces administrative work and maintains accurate records of individual employees. The review forms can be customized to promote employees to set goals via an insight chart. 
  • Employee Self-Service: The software provides users with admin analytics, 24/7 secure access, enrollment and insurance access, and internal plans. This feature helps employees and employers to access, update, enroll and administer data respectively. 
  • Time and Labor Management: Workers can clock in and out via the mobile app, and managers can set geofencing rules that ensure accurate clock-punching. It also syncs with payroll automatically and allows managers to create and adjust schedules as needed, without manually correcting payroll data. 
  • Data Insights: The platform allows users to access demographic information, utilization, headcount, labor costs, position insights, turnover and retention. It also features real-time employee data, analytics for employment trends, strategic hiring and budgeting decisions, and programs to build a diverse workforce. 
  • Reports: The system comes with over 100 standard reports along with an ad hoc reporting tool. Users can schedule reports to automatically generate and track key reports with a favorites feature. 
  • Compensation Management: With this feature, administrators can configure settings such as the approval process and eligibility requirements. It also supports the customization of compensation plans to match organizational pay cycles. Company leaders gain a view into budgets and allocations, while managers can provide increases and view employee data like performance and pay history.  
  • Marketplace Integrations: Organizations can extend Paylocity’s capabilities to streamline the payroll regularity and HR data management across all policies. The solution connects with partner solutions in 20 categories, including single sign-on (SSO), ERP and a variety of HR-related functions. More than 300 integrations are available in the vendor marketplace. Data can flow into or out of Paylocity, or in both directions, depending on the integration. 
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Why We Picked Paycor

Paycor is a popular HR management software designed for both in-office and remote teams, as well as HR managers aiming to improve performance management. Suitable for small, medium, and large businesses across the United States, Paycor supports teams of 50 to 500 employees and can scale to accommodate organizations with up to 2,500 members.

Key features include personalized coaching, Smart Source recruiting, online learning and leader insights. Financial managers benefit from Paycor’s analytics tool, which helps with compensation planning, pay equity monitoring and trend analysis. The software also integrates with general ledger data and offers self-service options for employees to access pay stubs, history and tax forms.

Jumping on a live chat, I found Paycor's the most personable experience compared to competitors. I selected “just browsing” and received prompts for webinars, compliance checks, product info, and pricing. The only downside was there wasn't an option to start a new chat and the previous conversation kept reappearing even after refreshing.

The mobile app provides employees with easy access to their wages, flexible pay options and paycheck details from anywhere. They can view deductions and adjust federal and state tax withholdings directly through the app.

Users appreciate Paycor for its intuitive navigation, self-service features and employee recognition tools. However, some have experienced extended wait times for customer support and challenges with implementation, which sometimes require additional support team intervention.

Pricing for Paycor begins at $99 per user per month. A free trial is available for prospective users to evaluate the platform before committing.

I found Paycor’s platform pretty straightforward after trying it out, specifically when it came to managing compliance and employee details. I appreciate how the system highlights potential compliance issues and provides clickable warnings for detailed insights. For example, if there's a tax registration issue, I can quickly see specifics like the tax authority, client ID, and tax code, as well as the exact problem, such as a missing tax ID. The platform then guides me to a resolution page where I can easily add the necessary tax ID to fix the issue.

When it comes to managing employees, I found the “Manage People” section intuitive. I can filter employees by department, location, title, or status, including options like 3rd-party payable, Active, FMLA, Laid off, or on paid leave. To perform tasks such as assigning a new responsibility, I simply check the box next to the employee’s name. If an employee needs a specific form or document, checking their name is all it takes.

The homepage is handy for checking time-related information at a glance. I can see scheduled absences, approaching overtime, and current clock-in or break statuses without needing to dig through multiple screens.

For new hires, I can view their name, hire date, email and onboarding progress in one place. Clicking on their name provides access to important details for updates, such as tax information, compensation, and work schedule adjustments.

Sharing documents is simple with the “Bulk Actions” feature. I can select and send documents like the employee handbook, PTO policy, or exit interview questions by setting a date and clicking “share form(s).” I can also track the status of these documents in the Forms & Documents Tracking Center.

I like the drag-and-drop menu options for customizing my homepage. Managing my tasks is made easier with the “My Task” option, and viewing my available PTO balance and requesting time off are just a few clicks away. I can specify the dates and whether it’s a full or partial day leave, add any necessary notes for my supervisor, and submit the request easily.

Accessing and downloading my pay stubs and tax documents directly from the platform is convenient, and setting up direct deposit is straightforward. I can even split my paycheck between two accounts if needed, with one as the primary. Plus, I can check how many days are left until my next paycheck right from the homepage.

I'm a fan of the Recognition Center because it lets me view positive comments from colleagues and leave recognition for others.

Overall, Paycor’s platform has simplified many of my HR tasks and made the process more efficient.

Pros & Cons

  • Time Tracking: 86% of users like Paycor's time tracking feature for its simplicity and accessibility.
  • Payroll: 88% of users found payroll processing convenient and reliable, particularly when processing bi-weekly payroll.
  • Ease of Use and Navigation: 77% of users appreciate Paycor's intuitive platform, noting that it’s easy to use and navigate, which simplifies daily HR tasks.
  • Integration and Customization: The platform's ability to integrate various features and customize settings to meet specific needs is frequently highlighted as a strength.
  • Training Opportunities: Paycor offers a variety of training options, including online webinars, recorded sessions and certification courses, which users find beneficial.
  • Employee Recognition and Communication Tools: Features that support employee recognition and communication are well-regarded. Users find these tools effective in engaging and managing their workforce.
  • Onboarding: The onboarding feature is praised for its effectiveness in streamlining the new employee integration process.
  • Login Frustrations: Users note that the login process can be inconvenient as it adds an extra step to accessing information.
  • Customer Service: Some recent reviews cite difficulties with the support process, specifically over the phone with wait times.
  • Timecard Issue: A recent review notes experiencing a glitch with timecard integration, which impacted payroll processing.
  • Reporting: Users find the reporting features cumbersome and inconsistent. The complexity of reports and the lack of simplicity in generating them are notable pain points.
  • Integration With Third-Party Platforms: There are some minor issues with integrating Paycor with third-party platforms, such as benefits systems, which can lead to excessive delays and unresolved problems.

Key Features

  • Leader Insights: Just like report cards, give new managers a detailed look at their successes and areas for growth. Managers view the number of completed 1-on-1s, pay rate changes and recognition, supporting employee development and engagement.
  • Benefits Management: Centralize employee information and empower employees to self-enroll in benefits plans through the system. Gain high-level insights into maximizing employee benefits packages with analytics.
  • Compensation Management: Ensure workers are getting paid the correct amount based on experience, skillset, education, certifications, job title and performance (great for reducing turnover and boosting morale).
  • Career Development: Let everyone know when there’s an opportunity for advancement, develop goals that align with larger business objectives and reward high performers.
  • Learning Management and Development: Search for courses, take notes, provide feedback and access various learning tools from any internet-connected device.
  • Payroll Management: Enable easy access to pay stubs, history and tax forms without admin intervention. Ensure accurate payroll processing, calculations and deductions. Automate payroll calculations, tax withholdings and direct deposits, reducing manual entry errors.
  • Time and Attendance: Monitor employee hours and forecast labor costs using historical data. Clock in and out from Paycor's app. Manage time-off requests and resolve time clock errors.
  • Scheduling: Ensure peak productivity with real-time analytics. Manage leaves and sick days, ensuring there are enough people to get the job done when unexpected call-outs occur.
  • Reporting and Analytics: Combine HR, payroll and time data into a single report. Track, store and compile data to provide managers with insights into business practices.
  • Smart Sourcing: Use Paycor's AI smart sourcing to analyze job descriptions, focusing on key factors like responsibilities and experience to find the best candidates. Run targeted campaigns to attract and engage potential hires, speeding up your talent search.
  • Job Posting Assistance: Paycor has customizable templates and AI to take skills recruiters type in and turn them into job descriptions. The platform connects to various job sites, including Facebook and LinkedIn, letting managers see which employees share job postings.
  • Compliance: Paycor offers comprehensive compliance solutions, from application tracking and EEO/OFCCP compliance reporting to simplifying ACA requirements with detailed reports and employee eligibility tracking. They also have online resources on compliance updates and changes to state laws.
  • Performance Management: Ensure regular 1-on-1s, track goals and collect feedback. Use job assessments, role profiles, templates and role-based reviews.
  • Learning Management: Get self-paced tailored training and coaching. Employees and managers can take bite-size learning courses on key topics like compliance.
  • Pulse Surveys: Turn employee feedback into actionable improvements. Empower staff to share their experiences and identify needed changes to mitigate turnover.
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Why We Picked Zoho People

Zoho People is a good solution for growing companies as it supports businesses of all sizes and is easy to use. The ability to create and add custom modules, using tabs and forms, is a noteworthy functionality. The biggest drawback at this time is the absence of payroll and recruiting modules. It also suffers from bugs and has an under-featured mobile app. However, it’s time and performance management capabilities have a lot to offer. All in all, it’s a good value for the price with some great features and benefits, best for companies that don’t mind using third-party payroll and recruitment solutions.

Pros & Cons

  • Easy to Use: 64% of users who refer to the UI indicated that it’s user-friendly, which makes it easier for new users to adapt to the platform.
  • Customization: Great levels of customization, especially with forms, are available, according to 75% of reviews mentioning customization.
  • PTO and Timesheet: All reviewers who reference this element found that Zoho People is a good tool for managing PTO and timesheets for employees.
  • Performance Management: All reviewers who mention this feature stated that the tool allows managers to handle the performance of several employees individually, with specific reports for all critical metrics.
  • Inability to Edit: According to 100% of reviews referencing this feature, all editing is controlled by the administrator, preventing individuals from doing even basic edits such as for personal details.
  • System Bugs: 85% of users mentioning this aspect observed the presence of bugs, some of which affect essential features and cause the mobile app to crash.
  • Ineffective Mobile App: The mobile app doesn’t have all features of the web version, and it’s difficult to find details such as certificates and documents or upload new documents, according to 100% of reviews referring to the app.
  • Lacks Recruitment and Payroll: According to 80% of reviewers that mention this shortcoming, the lack of payroll and recruitment tools requires users to find another solution in addition to Zoho People, which can be cumbersome and unfeasible.

Key Features

  • Employee Database Management: Zoho People provides a central database for managing employee information. You can split people into groups, bulk add employees, and centralize records from different countries. It also includes an org tree and communication tools for group or department collaboration. Automatic syncing between the platform and other integrated systems ensures data accuracy and eliminates manual entry. 
  • Leave Management: The software allows you to customize leave management rules for simplified calculation of PTO, rollovers and more. It also supports a global workforce with configuration options for different regional holidays. Different views let employees quickly see their leave data and automatic scheduling tools allow you to convert absences into leaves for administrative purposes. 
  • Analytics: Reports and dashboards provide insights into every aspect of HR management. You can track metrics like turnover, hiring vs. attrition, growth rates, tasks, employee counts, time logs and more. 
  • Performance Management: The system supports feedback from multiple sources for more accurate assessments. It also facilitates review cycles where employees and managers can engage in 360-degree feedback. Tagging allows employees to show what skills they have, which you can then match with job requirements. Key Resulting Areas (KRAs), goal setting and tracking, and skills work together to reveal performance, and you can use competency ratings to evaluate employees. Finally, analysis and reporting tools reveal performance insights. 
  • Mobile App: Native apps for iOS and Android devices support all HR functions, giving users full capability anywhere. Many actions only require a single click to complete. 
  • Case Management: With this feature, your organization can handle all cases and requests created by employees. You can build categories and include documents such as FAQs and policies for easy access. Comment functionality within individual cases removes the need for email exchanges, and you can manage other case details directly from each case’s tab. 
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Why We Picked uAttend

uAttend is an affordable and user-friendly solution that tracks employee attendance and time. It maintains precise time logs, runs detailed reports and manages payroll efficiently through integration with well-known payroll systems. Users commend its excellent customer and technical support team as well. However, setting up the software and user interface can be inconvenient. Similarly, the fingerprint scanner, integrations and vacation/time off feature can be improved.

Pros & Cons

  • Cost: Nearly 79% of the users who mention cost as an important parameter choose uAttend for its affordability.
  • Payroll: Nearly 81% of users who referred to payroll rely on uAttend for efficient management.
  • Remote Employee Tracking: With pre-approved location hot-spots, up to 85% of users who mention tracking said the system can track employees who work remotely or are on-site
  • Reports: About 83 % of users who mention reports, commend the software for its ability to run reports on time cards and pay periods.
  • Support: Approximately 88% of users who talked about customer and tech support report quick turnaround times for redressal of issues.
  • Time Logs: Nearly 78% of users who mention time logs note that the software maintains time records down to the minute.
  • User Friendly: About 98% of users who mention user-friendliness recommend uAttend for its ease of usage.
  • Connectivity: Nearly 100% of users who mentioned connectivity noted that uAttend has regular connectivity issues at remote locations that lead to data errors.
  • Fingerprint Scanner: Nearly 64% of users who talk about the fingerprint scanner reported issues with the reader.
  • Integrations: According to 75% of users who referred to integrations, uAttend misses the mark with third-party integrations both in terms of quantity and quality.
  • Interface: As many as 69% of users who mention the interface are dissatisfied with the interface, reporting that it is hard to navigate through the software, and even the simplest of tasks take too much clicking around.
  • Setup and Configuration: Approximately 100% of users who talk about setup and configuration mention that the process is tedious and has little documentation to make it easier.
  • Vacations / Time Offs: Approximately 67% of users who mention vacation and time-off reports note that the feature is riddled with errors and glitches.

Key Features

  • Punch-in Capabilities:  Punch in onsite with fingerprint, facial recognition, RFID card reader or PIN. Monitor who’s on the clock from any connected device. 
  • Time Card Management:  Review, approve and tally digital time cards. Configure pay periods and create unlimited departments to group employees and manage integrated payroll processes. 
  • Data Export:  Calculate, review and approve employee hours. Export to leading payroll systems, such as ADP, Paychex and QuickBooks. 
  • Reports:  Track and review jobs to see relevant work details. Run reports on punches, time cards and pay periods. 
  • Employee Features:  Punch in and out via a smartphone, website or touch-tone dial device. Make time-off requests via the time clock or cloud. 
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Why We Picked Kronos Workforce Ready

Kronos Workforce Ready is suitable for businesses of all sizes and provides intuitive time tracking, scheduling and payroll features. Many reviewers felt that the software runs slow and is priced on the higher side compared to similar HR products. However, its timekeeping capabilities, mobile app and other features makes it a strong product overall and a good choice for companies looking for a one-stop HR solution.

Pros & Cons

  • Reliable Timekeeping: All reviewers who reference timekeeping felt that Kronos has met all their needs of a timekeeping solution, from timesheets to PTO to forecasting FTEs.
  • Payroll: 80% of users who mention payroll asserted that processing payroll is easy and its integration with HR, time and labor modules makes it efficient.
  • Easy to Use: All reviewers who mention usability stated Kronos Workforce Ready is easy to learn, with user-friendly time tracking, navigation and reporting.
  • Slow: The application freezes or slows down often, as stated by all reviewers who mention running the software.
  • Expensive: All reviewers who reference cost observed that the system’s maintenance and modifications lead to a high TCO.
  • Customer Service: 70% of reviewers who mention customer service complained of not receiving timely and proper assistance.

Key Features

  • Absence Management:  Kronos Workforce Ready’s scheduler allows managers to sort employees based on availability, seniority, skill set and more in order to build schedules, fill open shifts and adjust when there are unplanned absences. 
  • Compensation Administration:  With tools like Excel or the interface’s built-in worksheets, you can model compensation scenarios in order to assess budgets based on real-time data. The system’s time-off calendar can provide alerts and give managers visibility into employee time off. 
  • Employee Attestation:  Managers can send employees prompts to confirm that they’ve taken required breaks in order to stay compliant with relevant legislation and organizational regulations. These customizable prompts can be set to send automatically, and managers can choose to receive alerts when an employee misses a scheduled break. 
  • Employee Development:  System administrators can define training courses, schedule classes and assign employees to take the classes. Managers are able to monitor open seats and gain visibility into employee participation and performance within the courses. 
  • Job Acquisition:  Managers can create internal and external job requisitions and approve them automatically. This feature allows users to define the number of open positions within the organization, auto-populate and edit job descriptions, sort open positions, and view an applicant’s status. 
  • Onboarding:  The system allows administrators to generate an onboarding checklist to detail specific tasks and time frames to help managers track the onboarding process from start to finish. Automated alerts remind candidates to finish incomplete forms, enroll in benefits, complete orientations and more. 
  • Payroll Reporting:  The paycheck reporting feature provides a complete summary of payroll and a comparison of current and previous payroll periods. Managers can also view a 12-month breakdown of labor expenses to help inform future budget planning. 
  • Performance Management:  Kronos Workforce Ready delivers insight into employee performance, attendance, absence and productivity in order to provide objective reviews. Managers can use the “Merit Matrix” tool to award pay increases based on performance rating and pay grades. 
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Why We Picked ADP Vantage HCM

ADP Vantage HCM’s cloud-based toolset provides a robust HCM experience, from core HR to payroll to talent management, best-suited for midsize to large companies. Users indicated some of the features are difficult to navigate and that the mobile app lacks some functionality. There’s also a steep learning curve involved for new users. However, it can be a good option for those looking for a system with regular updates, great customization and accessibility.

Pros & Cons

  • Ease of Access: The fingerprint touch feature provides easy access to several tools anytime and anywhere, according to all users that mention this feature.
  • Customization: According to 75% of reviews mentioning customization, the software offers a lot of options to suit all business needs.
  • Comprehensive Tools: All reviewers who reference this element noted that ADP Vantage HCM is an all-in-one solution for HR, payroll, workforce management and employee onboarding
  • Regular Updates: According to 100% of reviews on this aspect, regular enhancements help improve functionality and fix issues.
  • Steep Learning Curve: 80% of reviews on this element suggested that the solution has a steep learning curve for new users, especially for managers.
  • Incomplete Mobile App: The mobile application lacks several features that are present on the desktop version, as indicated by all reviews mentioning the mobile app.
  • Unresponsive Customer Service: According to all reviews referencing this aspect, the customer service is slow and doesn’t have a dedicated service representative for clients.
  • Complicated Navigation: The navigation is clunky and complicated for several features, according to 80% of reviews mentioning navigation.

Key Features

  • Synchronized Employee Performance: Creates small snippets of ongoing dialogue, providing touchpoints that enable managers to track employee progress against assigned goals. 
  • Proactive Learning: Enables compliance training, employee certification and the skills required for specific positions. Posts, comments and vote functionalities promote an interactive learning experience for users. 
  • Pay-for-Performance: Creates and executes pay-for-performance strategies that help align compensation rewards with individual performance. 
  • Employee Benefits Administration: Employee benefit administration solutions simplify processes, raise employee engagement rates and help maintain the best talent pool possible. 
  • Group Health Insurance Policies: Provides access to ADPIA and its carrier partner’s health insurance benefits. Offers employees a medium to look up advice from experienced and licensed professionals. 
  • Business Insurance: Connect with licensed company insurance agents for instances such as general liability insurance, mandated worker’s compensation and more. 
  • Automated Time Tracking: Save time and effort while enhancing compliance and improving productivity by tracking the shift timings of employees. 
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Why We Picked isolved HCM

User reviews from the last year reveal a mixed bag for isolved's software. While many appreciate its strengths in payroll management and reporting, some have expressed concerns about its weaknesses in customer support and mobile app stability. A standout feature of isolved is its single-database platform, which streamlines HR and payroll functions, unlike some competitors that require juggling multiple modules. This integration is crucial for mid-sized businesses seeking to simplify their operations and improve data accuracy. However, isolved's Achilles' heel appears to be its customer support, with users reporting slower response times and occasional misinformation from representatives. This can be a dealbreaker for businesses that require timely assistance, especially during critical payroll cycles. While isolved excels in core HR and payroll functionalities, its limitations in areas like compensation management and the mobile app make it more suitable for mid-market companies (50-350 employees) with straightforward HR needs. Smaller businesses might find the platform overwhelming, while larger enterprises may require more robust features and customization options.

Think of isolved as a reliable workhorse – it gets the job done for essential tasks but might need a tune-up for a smoother ride.

Pros & Cons

  • Accessibility: About 67% of the users who mention accessibility note that isolved can be accessed from anywhere making it easier for users and admin to manage updates.
  • Ease of Use: isolved is lauded by nearly 91% of users who mention ease of usage as a key aspect of choosing the software.
  • Employee Lifecycle Management: Almost 94% of users who mention employee lifecycle management recommend isolved for its capabilities.
  • Employee Onboarding: isolved pays a lot of attention to the onboarding feature, making it easier for new clients and employees to adapt to the product, as reported by about 67% of users who mention onboarding.
  • Payroll and HR Management: Robust payroll management and its seamless synchronization with the HR management module are among the system’s positive traits, as reported by 87% of users who mentioned payroll.
  • UI and Navigation: Approximately 71% of users who mention UI and navigation note that the product has a clean intuitive UI and simplified navigation.
  • Customer Support: A difficult to reach customer support staff, delayed and inconsistent responses and unsatisfactory solutions are reported by 78% of users who mention customer support.
  • Customization: About 63% of users who mention customization note that while isolved offers lots of features and functionalities, it can not be customized to meet individual organization requirements.
  • Hardware and Time-Keeping: Nearly 100% of users who mention hardware and time-keeping notice consistent issues with the hardware and lapses in time-keeping are frequent.
  • New Product Releases: While isolved is constantly evolving to meet users’ needs and releases frequent product updates, approximately 73% of users note that new releases are often accompanied by bugs and crashes.
  • Reports: About 58% of users who mention the reporting feature note that reports are time-consuming and hard to customize, with limited functionality.

Key Features

  • Share & Perform: Utilize a range of tools via the Mojo application to stimulate improved culture and encourage employee engagement. Components include pulse surveys, 360-degree reviews, goal management, employee evaluation reports, a social feed, gamification elements like a leaderboard and points, collaboration features and more.  
  • Core HR: Manage common HR tasks such as employee record maintenance, employee training modules, performance reviews, attendance and payroll, company asset management and employee engagement and awards systems.  
  • isolved University: Administer employee training through dedicated learning management systems (LMS). Create learning paths with gamification, plan and reward certifications, upload content, assign courses, view reports, build quizzes and more. Upgrade to Learn Pro to access pre-built courses on a wide range of topics ranging from business skills to workplace safety.  
  • Benefits Administration: Provide benefits such as insurance plans to employees, adjust coverage based on life events, run cost analysis for comparing plans and integrate with carriers to ensure timely coverage updates.  
  • Payroll:  Leverage features like pay cards, direct deposit, garnishments, data security, configurable pay periods and support for tax filing. Generate summary reports for an overview.  
  • Time and Attendance: Collect and monitor time data from multiple locations, apply to required areas, and view pay periods on a daily or weekly basis. Tools include geofencing, comp time management and multiple collection options such as physical and virtual clocks, punch alert errors and scheduling. 
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Key Features

  • Easy Set-Up: TimeStation can be set-up easily within minutes without any hassles. Its signup process is simple and provides businesses the ability to print employee cards for their staff. Managers can go to its website to print employee cards. 
  • Fast Scan Technology: Its fast scan technology lets employees log in and out of their workplace within seconds. Each employee card contains a QR code that gets scanned while punching in and out of work. Employees can also clock their time using the 4-digit id number allocated to them if they forget to carry their employee cards. 
  • Advanced Reporting: TimeStation provides businesses access to multiple online reports to monitor employee attendance and calculate their pay. Companies can generate various reports like employee activity, employee details, department summary and more to get a peek into staff performance. It also allows managers to export reports into different formats so that they can be easily integrated with their organization’s payroll systems. 
  • Employee Self-Service Portal: It offers an employee self-service portal for staff to log in with their email id and review their professional activity. Using the portal, employees can also clock in and out of their offices, edit or create time stamps and run reports. However, business owners have the authority to decide which functionalities of the employee self-service portal are accessible to which employee. 
  • Offline Mode: TimeStation offers an offline mode to operate in areas with low bandwidth or zero internet connectivity. It lets employers monitor time and attendance even from a remote site. It synchronizes all data recorded in the device with MyTimeStation.com, once an internet connection becomes available. 
  • Multiple TimeStations: Employers have the flexibility to install it on various devices using their TimeStation application credentials. Linking multiple TimeStations to their businesses allows owners to track attendance and time across departments and locations. 
  • GPS Tagging and Security: TimeStation provides a GPS tagging facility for employers to monitor the geographical location of their staff’s clock in and out. It provides end-to-end security for an organization's data. Both its mobile application and website use industry-standard SSL encryption, which ensures that your data remains safe. 

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All Time Tracking Software (91 found)

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Paycom

by Paycom, Inc.
Paycom
Paycom is a cloud-based payroll management software designed to streamline payroll processing for businesses of all sizes. It automates tasks like calculating taxes, generating paychecks, and filing reports, saving time and reducing errors. Paycom is particularly well-suited for companies with complex payroll needs, such as those with multiple locations, international employees, or union contracts. Some of Paycom's key benefits include its ease of use, scalability, and compliance support. The software is known for its intuitive interface and comprehensive features, making it easy for both administrators and employees to navigate. Paycom can also be customized to meet the specific needs of different businesses, regardless of size or industry. Additionally, Paycom stays up-to-date on all tax and regulatory changes, ensuring that businesses are always in compliance. When compared to similar payroll products, Paycom generally receives positive reviews from users for its user-friendly interface, comprehensive features, and reliable customer support. However, it is also known to be one of the more expensive options on the market, with pricing based on the number of employees and the complexity of payroll needs. Pros Easy to use interface Comprehensive features Reliable customer support Scalable for businesses of all sizes Strong compliance support Cons Higher cost compared to competitors Complex pricing structure May require additional setup for complex needs Limited reporting customization options Not ideal for very small businesses
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
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Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android

Paycor

by Paycor, Inc.
Paycor
Best for: Employee engagement and document managementRanked at number two on our best HR software list, Paycor is a comprehensive, cloud-based HR system designed for businesses of all sizes that serve industries like healthcare, manufacturing, retail and technology.It supports key HR functions, including talent management, benefits administration, payroll processing and compliance, catering to teams ranging from a single employee to over 1,000.Paycor is a SelectHub award winner in employee onboarding and administration, self-service and performance management. It’s also in our top ten for applicant tracking and recruiting, benefits management, compensation management, and succession management.The platform’s mission is to empower leaders with easy-to-access resources and personalized experiences featuring customizable homepages and learning paths. Managers can gain valuable insights to evaluate performance, track wins and identify areas for improvement.Struggling with employee retention? Paycor helps by providing data on recognition frequency, promotion rates, pay adjustments and completed one-on-ones.For recruiters, Paycor offers tools to enhance job postings and streamline the hiring process, utilizing AI for smart candidate sourcing. Key features include performance management, applicant tracking, recruiting, benefits management, compensation management, employee engagement, onboarding and employee self-service.84% of users give it two thumbs up, noting its straightforward performance, payroll and scheduling management. In contrast, some have encountered complex reporting issues and occasional bugs following updates.Pricing starts at $99 per user per month, with a free trial available.To view other popular Paycor solutions, visit our Paycor company page.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
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TimeClock Plus

by TCP Software
TimeClock Plus
TimeClock Plus is a time and attendance solution for medium and large businesses that require comprehensive time tracking, particularly those with mobile workforces, dispersed teams or remote employees. It's ideal for teams seeking customization and 24/7 customer support. Tools like built-in biometric scanners and geofencing help prevent time theft while ensuring tracked time is accurate. Mobile access allows employees to clock in and out, submit time off, and request shift changes, reducing schedule conflicts, improving communication and enhancing overall productivity. User reviews commend TimeClock Plus for its responsive customer support, flexible time tracking and extensive customization. However, some users find the initial learning curve and report limitations. Interconnected features add complexity to the customization process. Users generally find TimeClock's pricing to be fair considering the variety of features and options for growth and scalability. Pricing starts at $2.50, and the structure is per month, per user. The cost will increase if the number of users does. Currently, there’s no free trial. If it's your first time trying the software, note cancellation deadlines to avoid unexpected fees. Pros User-friendly Responsive customer support Customizable Easy time tracking PTO tracking Cons Higher cost Limited reports Learning curve App glitches and slowness Complex implementation requiring customer support
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
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Time Doctor

by Time Doctor, LLC
Time Doctor
Time Doctor is a cloud-based time tracking and management solution that helps businesses monitor and improve workforce productivity. It offers features for time tracking, project management, and reporting, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes. Time Doctor's benefits include improved productivity, increased accountability, and improved workflow. The software provides detailed reports on how employees spend their time, allowing businesses to identify areas for improvement. Time Doctor also helps businesses hold employees accountable for their time by tracking how they spend their time and identifying employees who are not meeting expectations. Additionally, Time Doctor can help businesses improve workflow by providing a centralized view of all projects and tasks, allowing businesses to identify bottlenecks and make adjustments to improve efficiency. Time Doctor is priced on a per-user basis, and the cost varies depending on the number of users and the features selected. Some users have noted that the tool can be disruptive due to the frequency of idle alerts and screenshots, and some reviewers have mentioned feeling micromanaged by the tool. However, Time Doctor has overall positive reviews, with users praising its ability to improve productivity and accountability.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
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Buyer's Guide

Time Tracking Software Is All About Accurate Timesheets and Time Theft Prevention

Time Tracking Software BG Intro

Correcting missed time punches repeatedly leaves you stuck in a monotonous cycle worse than Groundhog Day. Luckily, time and attendance software simplifies time tracking, so you can worry less about repeat errors and keep your workflow moving.

Looking to ensure productivity with less in-office maintenance and accountability? Look no further! In this buyer’s guide, we’ll fill you in on the top time tracking solutions, key features and guiding questions for streamlining your search.

Executive Summary

  • Time tracking software reduces errors while accurately recording time spent at work and on specific tasks.
  • Benefits include better accessibility and productivity, reduced time theft and greater accuracy.
  • Key features include timesheets, automation, employee self-service, time tracking, reporting, scheduling, leave management and payroll integration.
  • The main trends for time tracking software are automation and AI features, real-time monitoring, time punch photo verification and geofencing technology.
  • Be sure to ask potential vendors any questions about the software before committing.
What This Guide Covers:

What Is Time Tracking Software?

Time tracking software is a time and attendance solution for recording hours worked, monitoring time spent on projects, conducting scheduling and managing time off. From freelance work to international enterprises, project and time tracking tools provide a better view of who’s working on what for better productivity and accountability.

Employee time tracking software centralizes timekeeping and hours logging, building a more accurate database of billable and nonbillable labor that’s deeper than punch-ins and punch-outs. Time tracking means investigating how employees spend their working hours, what projects are actively in progress and how efficient operations are.

Benefits

Time tracking tools help hold employees accountable while promoting productivity and profitability. Check out the other benefits of time tracking software below!

Time Tracking Software Benefits

Increase Accessibility

It shouldn’t surprise that this software's most important benefit is accessibility. Employees must be able to clock in and out and accurately log their hours, whether they’re at the office or working from home. Centralizing resources helps with accurate bookkeeping, finance management and labor law compliance, even for salaried workers that don’t rely on timesheets.

Intuitive punch clocks allow employees to track their hours worked in real-time. Additionally, providing timesheet alteration and correction for both employees and managers with infrastructure for checks and confirmation is pivotal for ensuring error-free, on-time payroll.

Boost Productivity

Time tracking software features activity tracking tools for boosting accountability, transparency and efficiency. A whopping 96% of remote businesses monitor employee activity in some fashion. While it’s a polarizing subject, activity tracking doesn’t have to carry a controversial connotation. Activity tracking can be as simple as employees logging their hours and projects, empowering management to decode business inefficiencies and improvement areas.

Streamline Project Management

There’s no denying the connection between time tracking and project management. Time tracking software boosts collaboration with project tracking, helping management evaluate performance and progress.

Intertwining project management with employee time management monitors worker performance and increases accurate billing, job cost tracking and overall operations intelligence. Seeing what’s gone right with project planning and detecting improvement opportunities leads to more informed decision-making. Employers can investigate and find solutions if projects take too long or cost too much.

Prevent Time Theft

If an employee intentionally clocks out 10 minutes late every day for a month, that's an extra five hours of unapproved time. Time theft proves a lack of accountability can be expensive for business owners. Fortunately, most time tracking software includes time theft prevention features.

Employee tracking apps and software allow companies to verify time punches with authentication tools like fingerprint or facial recognition requirements. A host of features devoted to tracking employee activities and increasing employee visibility make time tracking essential for some companies.

Enhance Reporting

What good is having all the information if you can’t interpret it? That’s where reporting comes in! Use dashboards, file reports or discrepancy flags suspicious timesheet entries. View trends, highlight productivity shortcomings and use reports to analyze expected and actual future projects expenses.

Improve Accuracy

If your team primarily works remotely, screenshots and keystroke logging are great tools for capturing accurate time punches. GPS tracking and offline capabilities add ideal flexibility, especially for remote teams, tracking time whenever, wherever. Most time tracking software also offers automation features, turning logged time into error-free timesheets.

Implementation Goals

Goal 1

Increase Accountability

Manually logging time subjects timesheets to human error. Timesheet errors increase payroll inaccuracies, leading to late or incorrect payments.

Discrepancies impact compliance and can create a hostile work experience. Time tracking automates timesheets, saving time, ensuring accuracy and fostering workplace accountability.

Goal 2

Enhance Communication

Schedule conflicts lead to repeat absences and missed deadlines. Time tracking software helps create reminders so employees know when they're scheduled, reducing the risk of missed time and productivity bottlenecks.

Goal 3

Monitor Productivity

Gauge productivity with insight into project progress, like hours spent closing a task. Keep tabs on how long each task takes, as well as projects as a whole, to see how accurate project estimates are and if there’s room for improvement.

View time spent on projects compared to previous estimates, streamlining project planning.

Goal 4

Automate Timesheets

Save your HR team time double-checking timesheets with automation. Automation reduces forgotten time entries, so HR employees don't have to chase employees down for time information.

Goal 5

Secure Data

Online or offline, know your data is safe with cloud-based platforms that secure important documents. Enhance accessibility to documents like timesheets, schedules and PTO balances without worrying about losing information.

Related Categories

Key Features & Functionality

Get the most out of your time tracking solution by viewing the key features and functionality below!

Timesheets

Manage timesheets at every step, from adding hours to conducting approvals. Print and export timesheets, monitor changes and detect missing or incorrect information for swift updates.

Timesheets can also show upcoming time off for pre-planning around vacation time.

Automation

Automate time tracking to view and optimize how employees spend their time at work. Automation tools reduce manual effort, save time and eliminate human errors.

Most time tracking software automates hours even when employees are offline, so as soon as the internet connection returns, data syncs to timesheets.

Employee Self-Service

Through one unified platform, employees can view their available PTO, request time off, view performance metrics, share questions about their time and view schedules.

Accessibility to critical resources and documents boosts workplace communication and overall productivity.

Time Tracking

Track time spent on tasks and general time punches in and out. Clock in on mobile apps, online or physical kiosks.

Added safety measures are available, like biometrics and GPS verification. Most platforms also provide reminders when it’s time to clock back in, leave for break or if employees are approaching overtime.

Reporting & Analytics

Get comprehensive insight into productivity and unused time. View logged hours, costs and progress, enabling informed decisions on future assignments and scheduling.

Payroll Integration

Manually adding data for payroll is time-consuming and makes it more susceptible to errors.

Integrate time and attendance with payroll so paper timesheets can be a thing of the past, with better recordkeeping and efficient payroll calculations.

Scheduling

Simplify scheduling by eliminating manual entry and opting for automated recurring schedules. Adjust schedules for vacation time or sick days and make shifts visible online, reducing schedule conflicts like no-shows.

Also, schedules can have important reminders like upcoming vacation days, enhancing leave management.

Task Management

Task and activity management helps organize and plan tasks. Use logged project time to make future roadmaps, monitor upcoming deadlines, set reminders and view progress.

A real-time view of team and individual progress helps you detect bottlenecks, ensure proper resource allocation and delegate assignments.

Advanced Features & Functionality

Time tracking software helps you stay on top of productivity and meet deadlines. Go beyond the basics of time and attendance tracking with our list of advanced features to look for.

Biometric Devices

Biometric devices like fingerprint readers and facial recognition verify employee identities and help prevent unauthorized users.

Ensure everyone is only getting paid for the time they actually work, and reduce time theft practices like buddy punching.

QR Codes

QR Codes simplify tracking time and boost efficiency by letting employees log in and out with a single scan. Adding QR codes saves time compared to manually adding information to timesheets.

QR codes also show real-time performance metrics like time spent wrapping up tasks and verifying work locations via GPS tags.

Mobile Mileage Tracking

Employers that reimburse drivers or allow employees to clock in when driving to work starts will enjoy the flexibility of mobile expense and mileage tracking. Users can enter mileage and costs using GPS to track distance automatically.

Save time and effort on manual calculations with automated mileage calculations based on tracked distance.

This feature also helps administrators and managers stay organized with less paperwork and mobile access to information.

Offline Time Tracking

Offline time tracking means you don't have to worry about losing track of your time or timesheet data if you lose your internet connection.

Offline time tracking continues to track time on your device, so time entries are always safe and sound. Once the connection is back online, time tracked automatically syncs to the cloud for accurate timekeeping.

Current & Upcoming Trends

Knowing what's up ahead is the key to a successful, productive business. Stay ahead of the pact and ensure an efficient workplace by checking out the following top trends for time tracking software.

Time Tracking Software Trends

AI and Automation

A whopping 64% of businesses predict AI will help boost their productivity. Automation also has massive potential for time tracking. Businesses save valuable time and resources by automating repetitive tasks like clocking in and out or generating reports. AI-automated task tracking helps managers identify unused time and allocate resources more effectively.

AI features also free up employees to focus on more important and strategic tasks, ultimately increasing productivity and improving overall performance. AI tools use algorithms to analyze productivity in real time, prioritizing tasks based on due dates or priority levels. Businesses use these insights to address potential issues and make improvements proactively.

Real-Time Monitoring

Real-time monitoring allows businesses to track employee activities and receive alerts for inefficiencies or bottlenecks, empowering managers to intervene and correct issues quickly so projects stay on track. Real-time monitoring also improves transparency by tracking employees' progress and helping staff understand their expectations.

While it’s important to monitor time and productivity, it’s equally important to do it in a way that doesn’t lead to employee burnout. Providing employees with tools that track their time automatically reduces stress from missed time punches and simplifies tracking task time for better time management.

Selfie Authentication

We don’t mean taking photos for new employee IDs with this trend. Taking a selfie when clocking in and out is a unique way of ensuring accountability with each time punch.

Time theft can cost your business billions. Authentication is pivotal for security and compliance. Saying cheese is a simple way of verifying your employees and preventing buddy punching. It’s particularly helpful for businesses with multiple departments working different hours or remote teams where it can be difficult to monitor employees.

Enhanced Flexibility With Geofencing

Geofencing lets you set virtual boundaries (or geofences) around specific locations, like the office building. The system notifies managers when employees enter or leave a geofence.

Geofencing helps ensure payroll and timesheet accuracy. It provides managers peace of mind knowing they’re paying for actual work hours whether they’re working from home, with a client or on the go.

Software Comparison Strategy

Like picking out a stylish new watch, there are various options when looking for new time tracking software. Choosing the best solution for your business can be difficult, especially with similar features.

You have your preferences, so a great place to start is by considering what your business needs most. How many employees will use the platform daily, how much training will they need, and how much training time can you provide? It’s also helpful to consider what your current time and attendance tracking method is lacking and how a new time-tracking solution could overcome shortcomings.

Another pivotal part is determining your vendor. Evaluate vendors by referencing online reviews, industry guides and recommendations from colleagues. Some vendors also provide free trials, so you can try it before fully committing. Also, consider reviewing our Lean Selection Methodology for further support during your search.

Cost & Pricing Considerations

While the saying goes that the best things in life are free, time tracking software is worth the investment. Most plans charge a yearly or monthly subscription fee or a one-time upfront cost. The majority of plans base the cost on the number of users.

Other factors that influence costs:

  • Data migration
  • Upgrades
  • Add-on features
  • Customization
  • On-site time kiosk set-up

Making a list is a great way to compare prices and find the best option within your budget.

Best Time Tracking Software

We know you’re not looking for the okay-est time and attendance software when it comes to your time tracking needs, and we’re here to ensure you don’t settle for less than the best! Check out our top choices below.

QuickBooks Time

QuickBooks Time is a cloud-based time and attendance system providing scheduling tools, time tracking and instant reporting. Turn on GPS location tracking for real-time updates on employee locations, customize alerts like clock-in errors and use auditing features to stay compliant with labor and contract regulations.

Remote teams can stay connected and access timesheets or schedules wherever, even without Wi-Fi or cell phone coverage through the mobile app. Keep an eye on productivity with project tracking, helping reduce missed due dates and detect unused time.

QuickBooks Time

Quickbooks Mobile Time Tracking. Source

Buddy Punch

Buddy Punch is an online time and attendance system for tracking employee hours, overtime and PTO. Whether your team works in the same place or spans the globe, everyone can conveniently clock in and out from any location using assigned job codes. Monitor time and attendance while protecting your budget by viewing overtime and adjusting weekly and monthly schedules as needed.

Simply drag-and-drop, and schedules are generated within minutes or copy previous schedules. Customize notifications so updates get sent to the entire staff or specific teams, ensuring everyone stays on the same page.

Buddy Punch

Buddy Punch PTO Calendar Preview.

Clockify

Clockify is a time and attendance solution with project management capabilities. Create timesheets, track the exact amount of time spent on projects and generate reports for future project planning. Monitor real-time activity statuses and see what’s being actively worked on or not yet assigned (preventing missed deadlines)

Track time on the go, even offline, through the mobile app. Data gets synced to the cloud once the internet connection is back on, so timesheets record everything and ease payroll processing. Drill down on specific projects, employees and teams, ensuring efficiency throughout the lifecycle of assignments.

Clockify

A Clockify project tracking module.

Jibble

Jibble is a time tracking solution for recording employee hours, keeping up with productivity and, of course, turning time data into accurate timesheets. It offers customizable modules for effective employee time tracking and quick views into productivity. Location tracking ensures employees only clock in from where they're supposed to be.

Employees can clock in and out in a single click on the app, and photo verification reduces buddy punching. You can tailor to your needs with options for configuring workflows, views and calculations.

Jibble

Jibble Timesheet.

Toggl

Toggl is a time tracking cloud-based software with project management capabilities. Go deeper than monitoring employee time, with activity tracking and custom dashboards for a more in-depth look at where projects are and what’s on everyone’s plate. The one-click timer feature is user-friendly and timers include reminders in case employees forget to start recording.

Set up billable rates by project, task or user for organized expenses. If internet outages happen, don’t worry about lost data. With offline time tracking, data syncs to timesheets once internet access is up and running again. Generate reports and streamline finding information or essential analytics with filters. It also has voice recognition for an extra layer of security.

Toggl

Record Activity Preview.

 

 

Questions To Ask Yourself

Like finding the right candidate for a job, asking questions is a vital part of the decision-making process. Use the following questions to support your search and lock down your perfect match.

  • What’s our budget?
  • Would we prefer a subscription or a one-time upfront payment?
  • How many employees will use the software regularly?
  • Will our employees need training?
  • How much training time is necessary?
  • What are the key time tracking pain points we are facing?
  • What must-have features do we need to address our pain points?
  • Do we have the resources to implement and maintain a new time tracking solution?
  • Do we need to support remote teams, and will it work with teams in multiple locations?

Time Tracking Software Key Questions

 

 

 

Questions To Ask Vendors

About the Software

  • Is the software customizable?
  • What data security features does the software include?
  • What integrations does the software offer?
  • Is this software compatible with my existing system?
  • How can the software’s capabilities benefit companies in my industry?
  • Does your system work offline?

About the Vendor

Now that you’ve asked yourself key questions, learn more about your potential vendor by asking:

  • Do you have industry-specific experience?
  • What training do you offer?
  • What customer support is provided?
  • What company sizes do you typically work with?
  • How long is onboarding typically?
  • What’s your product roadmap?

FAQs

How much do I need to monitor my employees?

It comes down to how much you trust your employees, if you care about high turnover rates and where you draw the line on employee privacy. It can be an uncomfortable but necessary question when determining the best solution for your organization.

Employee time tracking is all about increasing productivity and organization, regardless of the depth of employee monitoring. Employee monitoring can increase employee activity by at least 10%, but too much monitoring can come at the expense of trust. Trust has never been more important in the workplace, with loyalty and job satisfaction going hand in hand.

How flexible does my time tracking software need to be?

The more complicated your business is, the more likely you will need versatile software to handle different kinds of employees, projects and billing rates.

If your company is in contract work, projects will vary greatly, and your online time-tracking software needs to be able to wrangle those differences. In complicated organizations, versatility — and likely automation to handle the workload — is essential in employee tracking apps.

Next Steps

Untracked time means inaccurate payroll. Fortunately, time-tracking software records every minute spent at work, so your timesheets and payroll can look as good as the sunset in Santorini.

Say au revoir to scheduling conflicts, missed time punches and productivity bottlenecks by switching to a time tracking solution. If you’re ready to take the next step, check out our free comparison report to easily compare the best time and attendance leaders across dozens of features. Good luck!

Product Comparisons

Additional Resources

About The Contributors

The following expert team members are responsible for creating, reviewing, and fact checking the accuracy of this content.

Technical Content Writer
An Associate Editor at SelectHub, Christina George creates and edits articles spanning project management, CPQ, CRM, marketing automation and home health software. As a Bachelor of Arts graduate with a triple major in Economics, Political Science and Sociology, her aim is to bring an integrated and simplified approach to long-form technical content. Formerly a food writer, copywriter, and social media sleuth, she has a soft spot for a quality pun. When not crafting articles and editing buyer's guides, you can find her attempting to score goals on the football field, binge-watching Curb Your Enthusiasm, or re-reading Pride and Prejudice for the nth time.
Technical Content Writer
Ivy is a Technical Content Writer for SelectHub who primarily focuses on PSA, TAA and payroll content. Outside of work she focuses on creative writing in collaborative settings, where she crafts high fantasy worlds with her friends. She graduated as an Integrated Studies (English and Business) major from Brevard College in May 2019. She enjoys creature features, horror flicks and D and D campaigns.
Technical Content Writer
As a SelectHub Technical Writer, Olivia Edens loves helping readers navigate through the world of HR, payroll, field service, PSA, and time and attendance software. Olivia earned a B.A. in English from the University of Phoenix. When she's not researching or editing, she loves rewatching The Office, scootering around the city and taking her cat for a walk. Fun fact: In high school, she won an award for most ideas per minute.
Technical Research By Nithin Shetty
Senior Analyst
With experience in research and consulting going back to 2015, Nithin Shetty is an asset to SelectHub's research team. In his Senior Research Analyst role, he works on projects in categories like HR, CRM, EHR and ERP. He's also a big movie buff and sports fan. When he isn't watching his favorite film or game, he's usually volunteering his free time to causes like blood drives and environmental cleanup.
Technical Review By Jaisri Narasimman
Principal Analyst
A graduate of NTU Singapore, Jaisri Narasimman honed her data mining and curation skills during her post-graduate education, focusing on developing strategies to help businesses make the most of their data. In her role at SelectHub, her research spans categories like HR, CRM and EHR.
Edited By Joe Evans
Content Editor
Joe Evans is an Editor and Senior Market Analyst at SelectHub. A seasoned professional wordsmith, he has a bachelor's degree in journalism and electronic media and a decade of professional expertise in crafting top-tier digital content for niche online brands. He leads his small yet formidable team in producing helpful, compelling content in vital categories like HR, payroll, talent management, performance management, marketing automation home health, MES. When not editing and writing, he enjoys sports, quality time with family and dogs, and remains constantly in pursuit of something new and interesting to read or listen to.