The ten finest time clocks for small companies in 2023
Small companies usually have razor-thin revenue margins. They’ll’t afford to lose cash to inaccurate timekeeping…
Small companies usually 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 develop.
That’s in all probability why you’re contemplating a time clock to report hours, generate timesheets for payroll, and clock in your group seamlessly.
However to guard your backside line, you want software program that does every thing you want and fits your price range. In any other case, you could as properly spare your self the effort and persist with punch clocks.
We’ve in contrast a few of the finest time clocks for small companies to place you on the quick observe to discovering the fitting one. Plus, we’ve included a guidelines for important options, a step-by-step information on purchase the software program, and a listing of frequent errors to keep away from.
Key options to search for in time clock software program
Earlier than you evaluate time clocks, it’s vital to have a listing of must-have options. That approach you recognize what you need to be on the lookout for and also you gained’t get sidetracked by pointless add-ons that drive the fee up.
- Time monitoring and attendance: Save time and scale back the chance of errors by routinely 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 cell app. Affirm their location and arrival time with out inconveniencing them otherwise you.
- A cell 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 information right into a separate accounting program. Combine software program to routinely convert your group’s hours into wages shortly and precisely.
- Reminders and alerts: Keep away from additional prices by setting notifications when workers are approaching time beyond regulation or you’ve gotten a possible compliance difficulty.
- Reporting and analytics: Get an outline of your labor prices and workers hours so you recognize whether or not you’re sticking to your price range.
High 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 price + $6/month per energetic worker |
✓ — telephone, chat, and e-mail | ✓ — and selection of 11 integrations | Chat instruments
Compliance alerts Sturdy free plan Notifications and reminders Labor value controls |
 |
Plans vary from free to $4 per consumer | ✓ — chat and e-mail | ✗ — however integrates with Gusto and ADP | Monitoring instruments in native time
Labor value controls |
 |
Plans vary from free to $357 | ✓ — telephone and e-mail | ✗ — however integrates with Gusto and Quickbooks | GPS location tracker
Process monitoring |
 |
Plans vary from $2.50 per consumer to $8 per consumer | ✓ — 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 consumer | ✓ — telephone, chat, and e-mail | ✗ — however selection of 25 integrations | Process administration
Versatile weekly plan |
 |
Pricing not available | ✓ — telephone, chat, and e-mail | ✓ — however no integrations | Compliance alerts
Labor value controls Notifications and reminders |
 |
Plans vary from $20 plus $8 per worker to $40 plus $10 per worker | ✓ — telephone, chat, and e-mail | ✓ — by way of integration with Quickbooks Payroll or a selection of | GPS location tracker
Process administration Mileage monitoring |
 |
Plans vary from $7 to $20 per consumer | ✓ — telephone, chat, and e-mail | ✓ — and integrations with ADP and Payroll | Display recording
Distraction alerts |
 |
Plans vary from free to $15.98 per consumer | ✓ — telephone, chat, and e-mail | ✗ — however integrations potential by way of Zapier | Billable and nonbillable hours
Process administration |
 |
Plans vary from $16 plus $7 per consumer to $30 plus $9 per consumer | ✓ — telephone, 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 straightforward, fast, and extra correct than ever
High options
In contrast to a lot of its rivals, Homebase has an especially strong free plan. It contains important scheduling, time monitoring, and communication instruments. Which means you possibly can create a schedule, ship it to your workers, and observe their hours with out paying a cent.
The communication software additionally integrates with the scheduling and time monitoring software program. So, you possibly can ship reminders about shifts, contact your group shortly about no-shows, and organize covers straight from the platform.
However the principle draw of Homebase’s time clock is the array of options that allow you to handle your workers. The GPS time clock verifies every worker’s location so there’s no threat of buddy punching. It’s also possible to set labor value controls to forestall early clock-in and routinely clock workers out. Then you possibly can keep away from expensive compliance points with time beyond regulation and missed break alerts for the entire group.
Execs and cons
One professional that differentiates Homebase from the competitors is its payroll administration choices. Homebase is without doubt one of the few time monitoring apps with built-in accounting instruments so you possibly can transfer seamlessly from producing timesheets to paying your workers. However we additionally provide a variety of payroll integrations so you possibly can choose from widespread instruments like Gusto or ADP as properly.
One other approach Homebase stands out is pricing. Homebase presents 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 disadvantage is Homebase doesn’t have a location monitoring system. Though you possibly can confirm the place your staff are once they test in, you possibly can’t observe them as they transfer. This implies you possibly can’t monitor touring groups as simply as you possibly can 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 go away administration.
- All-in-one for $99.95 which incorporates HR instruments like assist creating time without work insurance policies. You could have the choice of a 14-day free trial for this plan.
Homebase payroll is on a separate account that’s $39 per 30 days plus $6 per worker.
2. Sling
Supply: https://getsling.com/employee-time-clock/
Caption: Sling is a user-friendly time monitoring system that permits you to monitor companies in several timezones
High options
Monitoring hours throughout areas in several time zones may be difficult as a result of there’s the next probability of getting confused. If this occurs, you may report the flawed hours and pay your workers incorrectly. Sling sidesteps this difficulty by letting you monitor every website in its native time which makes it a great possibility for worldwide companies.
Execs and cons
The principle benefit of Sling is its ease of use. Prospects have praised the software program for its intuitiveness and ease.
Nevertheless, Sling is much less versatile than another apps on this listing because it solely has scheduling and time monitoring options. If you happen to later want payroll, hiring, or HR instruments, you’ll need to obtain extra apps and juggle the totally different software program.
Pricing
Though Sling has a free plan, this solely contains scheduling and communication options — not time monitoring. Additionally they have a 14-day free trial.
Sling has two paid plans:
- Premium at $2 per consumer per 30 days which incorporates time monitoring, clock-in controls, and geofencing.
- Enterprise at $4 per consumer per 30 days so as to add on go away administration and reporting options.
3. Connecteam
Supply: https://connecteam.com/employee-time-clock-app/
Caption: Connecteam features a GPS tracker software that will help you precisely report touring employees
High 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 understanding. Connecteam’s GPS location tracker eliminates this difficulty by verifying the situation of distant employees on the go.
Execs and cons
Like Homebase, Connecteam has a sturdy free plan for as much as ten customers. This makes it a great possibility for very small groups with modest wants.
However when you exceed ten staff, Connecteam requires customers to make a number of upgrades to entry all its time monitoring instruments. For instance, the GPS location monitoring software is simply 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 primary time monitoring instruments and a 14-day free trial for limitless options. The paid plans are as follows:
- Primary for $29 which has timesheets, notifications, and GPS clock-in verification.
- Superior for $49 to get entry to computerized clock outs and geofencing.
- Knowledgeable for $99 so as to add the GPS location tracker and reporting instruments.
- Enterprise with a customized value for all these options and limitless time clocks and reviews.
4. When I Work
Supply: https://wheniwork.com/
Caption: After I Work combines its time monitoring instruments with a useful group messenger
High options
After I Work shares Homebase’s built-in messenger software. Which means you possibly can oversee hours and chat with staff about late arrivals or no arrivals in the identical place. If you happen to’re busy arranging cowl or confused over hours, this could simplify issues and scale back some stress.
Execs and cons
One professional of After I Work is their beneficiant admin restrict. If you might want to delegate time monitoring duties to different managers, you possibly can add as much as three to every account.
However one con is the dearth of telephone assist. Most small companies need assistance with set-up and technical points and these could also be more difficult if you need to 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 consumer per 30 days. However the one distinction for the time clock characteristic is that the upper value plan has customized attendance reviews.
5. Deputy
Supply: https://www.deputy.com/features/employee-time-clock
Caption: Deputy’s job administration instruments allow you to test productiveness in addition to attendance
High options
In some industries, you could lose cash resulting from low productiveness in addition to time theft. As an illustration, your cleansing or development crew might take longer than mandatory to complete a job. Deputy’s job administration characteristic helps you to observe attendance and output with its mixed job administration and time clock instruments. All you need to do is assign a guidelines to every worker and also you obtain a notification as soon as they’ve completed.
Execs and cons
Though Deputy largely 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 supreme for busy managers with no spare time to be taught new tech.
Pricing
Deputy costs $3.50 per consumer per 30 days for the plan with its time monitoring options however you possibly can check them at no cost in its 31-day trial. You need to pay additional for scheduling instruments.
6. Fourth (previously HotSchedules)
Supply: https://www.g2.com/products/hotschedules/reviews
Caption: Fourth helps you to hold detailed observe of workers to forestall labor price range and compliance points
High options
Preserving observe of hours and charges for tipped workers may be difficult. However for those who don’t keep on prime of it, you could find yourself by chance paying workers beneath minimal wage and incurring fines. Fourth’s compliance instruments allow you to monitor suggestions and keep compliant.
Execs and cons
Fourth is without doubt one of the few platforms on our listing with built-in payroll. Which means you possibly can transfer seamlessly between time monitoring and paying your workers as an alternative of fixing apps.
The draw back is Fourth solely integrates with its personal payroll software. If you happen to’re glad along with your present accounting software program, this implies unnecessarily overhauling your system.
Pricing
Fourth’s costs are usually 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 straightforward to trace offsite progress
High options
Just like Connecteam, Quickbooks has a cell workforce monitoring system. Customers can obtain updates about their groups’ areas all through the day alongside images and job updates. That makes it supreme for managers who need a clear image of their distant employees’ progress.
Execs and cons
The mix of Quickbooks’ monitoring and job administration instruments makes it a great choose for touring development 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 might 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 30 days and $8 per worker for primary scheduling, time monitoring, and the ‘who’s working’ software.
- Time elite at $40 per 30 days and $10 per worker for geofencing and venture 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 helps you to display seize your staff’ work in addition to observe their hours
High options
When staff use a pc for work, it’s straightforward to develop a foul behavior of checking social media or different time-wasting web sites. Time Physician helps your group 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 exterior of firm time to guard your group’s privateness.
Execs and cons
The upside of Time Physician is the vary of integrations. There are over 70 apps for every thing from job administration to accounting and communication.
However the draw back is Time Physician focuses on office-based work so it will not be appropriate for companies with staff on their toes. For instance, for those who run a store, restaurant, or salon, you could 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:
- Primary at $7 per consumer for easy time monitoring and job administration instruments.
- Commonplace at $10 per consumer so as to add payroll and integrations.
- Premium at $20 per consumer for shopper log-ins and video display captures.
Time Physician additionally presents 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 shoppers
High options
While you present a service, you don’t wish to invoice the shopper for admin duties and workers conferences. Clockify helps you to differentiate between billable and nonbillable hours simply so you recognize precisely how a lot to cost shoppers. That makes Clockify a terrific possibility for graphic design and advertising groups.
Execs and cons
Like Homebase, Clockify has a flexible free plan which incorporates time monitoring, timesheets, and a cell app for workers.
However like Time Physician, Clockify targets office-based work and isn’t the most suitable choice for eating places, outlets, and comparable companies. That’s as a result of if you might want to develop as what you are promoting 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:
- Primary at $4.99 per consumer to entry instruments like break administration and pins for kiosks.
- Commonplace at $6.99 per consumer for go away administration and reminders.
- Professional at $9.99 per consumer so as to add screenshots, analytics, and geofencing.
- Enterprise at $14.99 per consumer which is for bigger companies and features a customized subdomain.
10. ClockShark
Supply: https://www.clockshark.com/tour/employee-time-tracking-app
Caption: ClockShark helps you to write questions for employees to reply once they clock out from their shifts
High options
One attention-grabbing characteristic 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 illustration, you may ask what number of workers are on shift to test for no-shows or test important inventory ranges to be sure to’re not operating low.
Execs and cons
ClockShark customers report the software program is intuitive and simple 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 value. It additionally costs per worker on prime of the bottom price which suggests the extra staff you rent, the higher your prices.
Pricing
Clock Shark has two paid month-to-month plans:
- Commonplace 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.
It’s also possible to check their options with a 14-day free trial.
Tips on how to purchase time clock software program
Now you’ve gotten extra details about the perfect time clocks available on the market, you might want to know choose the fitting one and implement it. Right here’s our step-by-step information:
- Determine what you are promoting wants: Take into account your business and the everyday challenges you face. Do you’ve gotten store employees who overlook to clock in? Or distant crews who don’t precisely report their mileage? This can allow you to resolve 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 per week. Then you definitely’ll have a greater concept of how every software program will match into what you are promoting.
- Get suggestions and consider: Ask your workers for his or her opinions. As an illustration, they might dislike the sound of a biometric time clock that data their physique measurements. Their view will allow you to make a extra knowledgeable choice about which app to get.
- Practice your group: 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 will probably be extra prone to bear in mind to go away earlier than the time clock routinely clocks them out.
- Constantly mirror and replace: As what you are promoting is prone to change, your time clock ought to too. Preserve accumulating suggestions, checking what new options the app has to supply, and re-evaluating your wants. If you happen to 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
When you’re selecting your new time clock, lots can go flawed. Listed below are some frequent issues for you to pay attention to:
- No integrations along with your present system: Little question what you are promoting already makes use of software program like payroll or POS. Except you wish to revamp your system, make sure that your new time clock works seamlessly with these apps.
- Inadequate buyer assist: As a small enterprise supervisor, you could not have the tech know-how or the time to be taught new software program. That’s when your time clock’s buyer assist group ought to step in and allow you to with set-up and any technical points.
- Unaffordable prices: Worth plans ought to swimsuit what you are promoting. If you happen to’ve bought a really small group, take into account a price per worker. And for those who’re rising, pricing per location can stop your prices from spiraling as you rent extra folks.
- Lack of scalability: Time clocks must develop alongside what you are promoting so they need to have upgrades to allow you to add options as you want them.
Why Homebase is the perfect 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 permits you to pay for precisely what you want so that you don’t find yourself overspending.
If you happen to’re in sure industries, that is perhaps Quickbooks Time or Clockify. Touring employees like repairmen and supply crews might profit from Quickbooks’ GPS location monitoring system. Whereas Clockify helps managers at workplace areas hold test of their staff’ productiveness ranges.
However whenever you’re on the lookout for strong, all-around software program that covers all of your wants, the finest 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 possibly can observe time simply and precisely with out including duties to your workload or paying out of pocket.
