Quick Overview
- 1#1: QuickBooks Time - Cloud-based mobile time clock with GPS tracking, scheduling, and seamless QuickBooks payroll integration for small businesses.
- 2#2: Homebase - Free employee time clock and scheduling app with geofencing, PTO tracking, and team messaging for small teams.
- 3#3: Deputy - Robust time clock, scheduling, and compliance tool with GPS and labor costing for shift-based small businesses.
- 4#4: When I Work - Employee scheduling and time tracking software with shift trading, availability, and mobile clock-in features.
- 5#5: Clockify - Unlimited free time tracker with kiosk mode, timesheets, and reporting for small business teams.
- 6#6: Toggl Track - Intuitive time tracking app with pomodoro timer, project billing, and detailed reports for small businesses.
- 7#7: Hubstaff - Time clock with GPS, activity monitoring, invoicing, and payroll for remote and field small business workers.
- 8#8: OnTheClock - Affordable online time clock featuring facial recognition, GPS, photos, and QuickBooks syncing.
- 9#9: Jibble - Free GPS time tracking with biometric clock-in, reminders, and exportable timesheets for small teams.
- 10#10: Connecteam - All-in-one mobile app with time clock, scheduling, tasks, and communication for frontline small business workers.
Tools were rigorously evaluated based on core functionality (time tracking, scheduling, compliance), user experience, reliability, and overall value, ensuring they balance feature richness with practicality for small teams and solo operations.
Comparison Table
Managing employee hours effectively is vital for small business success; this comparison table explores top tools like QuickBooks Time, Homebase, Deputy, When I Work, Clockify, and more, equipping readers with insights to select software that aligns with their operational needs.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | QuickBooks Time Cloud-based mobile time clock with GPS tracking, scheduling, and seamless QuickBooks payroll integration for small businesses. | specialized | 9.4/10 | 9.6/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.1/10 |
| 2 | Homebase Free employee time clock and scheduling app with geofencing, PTO tracking, and team messaging for small teams. | specialized | 9.2/10 | 9.4/10 | 9.6/10 | 9.1/10 |
| 3 | Deputy Robust time clock, scheduling, and compliance tool with GPS and labor costing for shift-based small businesses. | specialized | 8.6/10 | 9.2/10 | 8.4/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 4 | When I Work Employee scheduling and time tracking software with shift trading, availability, and mobile clock-in features. | specialized | 8.4/10 | 8.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 5 | Clockify Unlimited free time tracker with kiosk mode, timesheets, and reporting for small business teams. | specialized | 9.0/10 | 8.7/10 | 9.5/10 | 9.8/10 |
| 6 | Toggl Track Intuitive time tracking app with pomodoro timer, project billing, and detailed reports for small businesses. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.0/10 | 9.5/10 | 8.5/10 |
| 7 | Hubstaff Time clock with GPS, activity monitoring, invoicing, and payroll for remote and field small business workers. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.7/10 | 7.8/10 | 8.0/10 |
| 8 | OnTheClock Affordable online time clock featuring facial recognition, GPS, photos, and QuickBooks syncing. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 8.8/10 | 9.0/10 |
| 9 | Jibble Free GPS time tracking with biometric clock-in, reminders, and exportable timesheets for small teams. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 9.8/10 |
| 10 | Connecteam All-in-one mobile app with time clock, scheduling, tasks, and communication for frontline small business workers. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.0/10 | 7.5/10 |
Cloud-based mobile time clock with GPS tracking, scheduling, and seamless QuickBooks payroll integration for small businesses.
Free employee time clock and scheduling app with geofencing, PTO tracking, and team messaging for small teams.
Robust time clock, scheduling, and compliance tool with GPS and labor costing for shift-based small businesses.
Employee scheduling and time tracking software with shift trading, availability, and mobile clock-in features.
Unlimited free time tracker with kiosk mode, timesheets, and reporting for small business teams.
Intuitive time tracking app with pomodoro timer, project billing, and detailed reports for small businesses.
Time clock with GPS, activity monitoring, invoicing, and payroll for remote and field small business workers.
Affordable online time clock featuring facial recognition, GPS, photos, and QuickBooks syncing.
Free GPS time tracking with biometric clock-in, reminders, and exportable timesheets for small teams.
All-in-one mobile app with time clock, scheduling, tasks, and communication for frontline small business workers.
QuickBooks Time
specializedCloud-based mobile time clock with GPS tracking, scheduling, and seamless QuickBooks payroll integration for small businesses.
Deep, automatic synchronization with QuickBooks for turning tracked time directly into payroll and invoices without manual entry
QuickBooks Time is a comprehensive time tracking and scheduling software tailored for small businesses, enabling accurate employee time clocking via mobile apps with GPS location verification and geofencing. It streamlines payroll by integrating seamlessly with QuickBooks Online and Desktop, automating timesheet approvals and invoicing based on tracked hours. Additional features include project tracking, scheduling, and reporting to help manage workforce productivity efficiently.
Pros
- Seamless integration with QuickBooks for automatic payroll and invoicing
- Robust GPS tracking and geofencing for accurate remote time clocking
- Intuitive mobile app with photo clock-in verification and real-time alerts
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly with more users and advanced features
- Some customization options require the higher Elite plan
- Steeper learning curve for businesses not using QuickBooks ecosystem
Best For
Small businesses in service industries like construction, landscaping, or field services that use QuickBooks and need precise time tracking tied directly to payroll.
Pricing
Free for one user; Premium starts at $20 base + $8/user/month (annual); Elite at $40 base + $10/user/month (annual), with add-ons available.
Homebase
specializedFree employee time clock and scheduling app with geofencing, PTO tracking, and team messaging for small teams.
GPS-powered time clock with geofencing and facial recognition to verify clock-ins and eliminate time theft.
Homebase is a comprehensive workforce management platform tailored for small businesses, featuring a robust mobile time clock with GPS geofencing and photo verification to prevent buddy punching and ensure accurate time tracking. It combines scheduling, shift trading, team messaging, payroll integrations with QuickBooks and Gusto, and hiring tools into one intuitive app. This makes it a go-to solution for managing hourly frontline workers in industries like retail, restaurants, and services.
Pros
- Free plan with unlimited employees and basic time tracking
- Highly intuitive mobile-first interface for employees and managers
- GPS time clock with geofencing and photo capture for compliance
Cons
- Advanced reporting and hiring features locked behind paid plans
- Per-location pricing can add up for multi-site businesses
- Customer support slower on free tier
Best For
Small businesses with hourly, shift-based teams in retail, hospitality, or services needing affordable time tracking and scheduling.
Pricing
Free for basic scheduling and time tracking; Essentials starts at $29.99/mo (annual billing) for 20 employees/location, with higher tiers up to $99.99/mo for advanced features.
Deputy
specializedRobust time clock, scheduling, and compliance tool with GPS and labor costing for shift-based small businesses.
Facial recognition clock-in combined with geofencing for highly accurate, fraud-resistant time tracking
Deputy is a robust workforce management platform designed for small businesses, offering advanced time clock features like mobile clock-in/out, kiosk mode, geofencing, and facial recognition to prevent buddy punching. It integrates time tracking seamlessly with scheduling, task management, and payroll exports, helping managers monitor labor costs and compliance in real-time. Ideal for shift-based operations, it provides employee self-service tools via a user-friendly mobile app, reducing administrative overhead.
Pros
- Comprehensive time clock with geofencing and facial recognition for accuracy
- Seamless integration of scheduling and time tracking to optimize shifts
- Strong mobile app supporting employee self-service and notifications
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly with team size and active users
- Steeper learning curve for full feature utilization
- Customer support can be slower for non-enterprise users
Best For
Small businesses in retail, hospitality, or field services with hourly shift workers needing integrated time tracking and scheduling.
Pricing
Starts at $3.50 per active user/month (billed annually) for basic plan; premium tiers from $5.25/user/month with advanced features like labor costing.
When I Work
specializedEmployee scheduling and time tracking software with shift trading, availability, and mobile clock-in features.
Geofenced mobile clock-in that verifies employee location to ensure accurate time tracking without extra hardware
When I Work is a mobile-first workforce management platform specializing in employee scheduling and time tracking for hourly teams. It enables small businesses to set schedules, allow employees to clock in/out via app or kiosk with geofencing for location verification, and generate timesheets for payroll. The software also supports shift trading, availability management, and labor cost reporting to streamline operations.
Pros
- Intuitive mobile app for quick clock in/out with geofencing to prevent buddy punching
- Seamless timesheet approvals and payroll integrations like QuickBooks
- Robust scheduling tools that complement time tracking for shift-based businesses
Cons
- Pricing scales with users and can get expensive for larger small teams
- Customer support response times can be slow for non-enterprise users
- Limited advanced time clock features like biometrics or facial recognition
Best For
Small businesses with hourly shift workers, such as retail or restaurants, needing integrated scheduling and basic time clock functionality.
Pricing
Free limited plan; paid plans start at $2/user/month (Basic) up to $4/user/month (Pro), billed annually.
Clockify
specializedUnlimited free time tracker with kiosk mode, timesheets, and reporting for small business teams.
Unlimited free users and projects with full time tracking capabilities
Clockify is a user-friendly time tracking software designed for small businesses to monitor employee hours via manual timers, timesheets, or a web-based kiosk mode. It excels in project-based tracking, offering unlimited users and projects on its free plan, along with customizable reports and export options. The tool integrates with popular apps like Google Workspace and QuickBooks, supporting remote and hybrid teams effectively.
Pros
- Unlimited users and projects on the free plan
- Intuitive interface with mobile apps and kiosk mode
- Robust reporting and one-click invoicing on paid plans
Cons
- Advanced features like expenses and scheduling require Pro upgrade
- No native geofencing or GPS tracking on free plan
- Limited customization options for kiosk on basic tier
Best For
Small businesses and startups with remote or project-based teams seeking free, scalable time tracking without per-user costs.
Pricing
Free plan with unlimited core features; Pro at $3.99/user/month (annual billing) for extras like invoicing and reminders.
Toggl Track
specializedIntuitive time tracking app with pomodoro timer, project billing, and detailed reports for small businesses.
Idle detection and timeline visualization for accurate, automatic time categorization
Toggl Track is a user-friendly time tracking software that enables small businesses to monitor employee hours via simple timers, manual entries, and project-based logging. It provides detailed reports, productivity insights, and integrations with tools like Slack, Google Workspace, and payroll systems for seamless workflow. Primarily designed for flexible time tracking rather than rigid clock-in/out punches, it's suitable for remote and project-oriented teams.
Pros
- Intuitive one-click timer for quick start/stop
- Robust reporting and analytics for billable hours
- Extensive integrations with 100+ apps
Cons
- Lacks advanced time clock features like geofencing or kiosk mode
- Team collaboration tools require paid plans
- Offline tracking limited without sync
Best For
Small businesses with remote or freelance teams focused on project-based time tracking and billing.
Pricing
Free plan for up to 5 users; Starter at $9/user/month, Premium at $18/user/month (billed annually).
Hubstaff
specializedTime clock with GPS, activity monitoring, invoicing, and payroll for remote and field small business workers.
Automated screenshots and activity rate tracking for visual proof of work
Hubstaff is a robust time tracking and employee monitoring software tailored for small businesses managing remote, hybrid, or field teams. It provides accurate time clock functionality through desktop apps, mobile punch-ins, web kiosks, and GPS tracking, alongside activity monitoring via keyboard/mouse usage and optional screenshots. The platform integrates payroll, scheduling, invoicing, and reporting to streamline workforce management and boost productivity accountability.
Pros
- Comprehensive time tracking options including kiosks, mobile apps, and GPS for flexible workforces
- Strong integrations with payroll (e.g., QuickBooks) and project tools for seamless operations
- Detailed productivity reports and activity levels for better oversight
Cons
- Screenshots and monitoring features raise privacy concerns for some teams
- Steep learning curve for full feature set and setup
- Pricing scales up quickly for small teams needing advanced options
Best For
Small businesses with remote or distributed teams requiring precise time tracking and productivity verification.
Pricing
Free for 1 user; paid plans start at $7/user/month (billed annually) for Starter, $10 for Grow, up to $20 for Enterprise.
OnTheClock
specializedAffordable online time clock featuring facial recognition, GPS, photos, and QuickBooks syncing.
GPS geofencing and photo verification on clock-in to ensure accurate, fraud-proof time tracking.
OnTheClock is a cloud-based time clock software tailored for small businesses, enabling employees to clock in and out via web, mobile app, or kiosk with features like GPS tracking and photo verification to prevent time theft. It includes scheduling, job costing, PTO management, and seamless integrations with payroll providers like QuickBooks and Gusto for streamlined reporting. The platform emphasizes accuracy and ease for teams with remote or field workers.
Pros
- Affordable pricing with a free plan for small teams
- Strong anti-fraud tools like GPS geofencing and photo capture
- Intuitive mobile app and quick setup
Cons
- Advanced reporting limited to higher tiers
- Occasional mobile app glitches reported by users
- Customer support response times can vary
Best For
Small businesses with remote, field, or hourly workers needing reliable GPS-verified time tracking on a budget.
Pricing
Free for 1 user; paid plans from $3.99/user/month (Basic) to $9.99/user/month (Premium), billed annually.
Jibble
specializedFree GPS time tracking with biometric clock-in, reminders, and exportable timesheets for small teams.
Free unlimited-user facial recognition time clocking
Jibble is a user-friendly time tracking and time clock software tailored for small businesses, enabling employees to clock in and out via mobile apps, web browsers, or kiosk mode. It includes robust features like GPS geofencing, photo verification, and facial recognition to ensure accurate time logging and prevent buddy punching. The platform provides timesheets, productivity tracking, and basic reporting, with seamless integrations for tools like Slack and Google Workspace.
Pros
- Completely free for unlimited users with core time clock features
- Advanced anti-fraud tools like facial recognition and GPS tracking
- Intuitive mobile and kiosk interfaces for quick setup
Cons
- Advanced reporting and approvals require paid Pro or Elite plans
- Integrations are solid but fewer than enterprise competitors
- Occasional mobile app glitches reported by some users
Best For
Small businesses with remote, field, or hourly workers seeking affordable, cheat-proof time tracking without per-user fees.
Pricing
Free forever for basics (unlimited users); Pro $2.49/user/mo (annual); Elite $4.99/user/mo (annual).
Connecteam
specializedAll-in-one mobile app with time clock, scheduling, tasks, and communication for frontline small business workers.
GPS geofencing that restricts clock-ins to approved job sites for precise location-based time tracking
Connecteam is a mobile-first employee management platform with strong time clock features designed for small businesses managing deskless or field-based teams. It allows employees to clock in/out via smartphone app with GPS verification, geofencing, and photo capture to ensure accuracy and prevent time theft. The software auto-generates timesheets, tracks breaks and overtime, and integrates with scheduling and payroll for streamlined operations.
Pros
- Intuitive mobile time clock with GPS geofencing and photo verification
- Automatic timesheet creation and easy payroll exports
- Seamless integration with scheduling and task management
Cons
- Pricing scales quickly with user count, less ideal for tiny teams
- Full time clock features require higher-tier plans
- Overkill for businesses needing only basic time tracking without extras
Best For
Small businesses with mobile or frontline workers seeking an all-in-one app for time tracking alongside communication and scheduling.
Pricing
Free for up to 10 users; Advanced plan $29/month for first 30 users ($0.50/additional); higher tiers from $59/month.
Conclusion
The reviewed small business time clock software present a range of solutions, from cloud-based integration to free tools, each tailored to specific needs. At the peak, QuickBooks Time leads with its seamless GPS tracking, scheduling, and payroll synergy, offering a comprehensive package. Homebase stands out as a standout free option with geofencing and team messaging, ideal for small teams, while Deputy excels with robust compliance and labor costing for shift-based operations. All provide strong value, ensuring a fit for diverse small business setups.
Don’t miss out on streamlining your business—try QuickBooks Time, the top choice, to simplify tracking, scheduling, and payroll, and experience enhanced efficiency.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison