Tracking employees’ time and performance is paramount to any business.

Whether you need to track a team working overseas or a few personnel working on-site, selecting the best time tracker can help your team or company run more efficiently.

Time theft is a severe issue that affects almost 92-percent of businesses, according to a survey by TSheets by Quickbooks. A Robert Half study also reported that the average American employee steals about 4.5 hours a week from their employers.

Aside from paying extra wages in exchange for unproductive hours, time theft can also affect the workplace as a whole. Your hardworking employees can also be tempted to practice time theft when they can get away with it, affecting output and customer service.

Even if your company uses timesheet papers for tracking, it doesn’t solve the problem entirely. For one, this outdated method can be rigged with dubious tactics such as buddy punching. Additionally, they can be inaccurate and hard to monitor.

If you too are asking yourself, ‘how can I track my employee’s time?’ using new technology, then this article is for you. Here we will discuss the best software and apps for tracking your employees’ time and managing their tasks and schedules.

13+ Best Employee Time Tracking Software Apps (Free and Paid)

Time tracking software is beneficial to many businesses whether their team works at a physical location or in a digital landscape. Some of the top sectors that have implemented time tracking are IT and Services, Computer Software, and Marketing and Advertising. Smaller businesses like diners, contractors, and even cleaning services can also benefit from this technology.

1. Coast

Coast is a well-rounded employee time tracker app that is easily accessible from your PC or mobile devices. Think of it as an online workspace where you can manage scheduling, team communications, workflows, checklists, and assign tasks.

The platform essentially combines task management and chatting so employees and clients can communicate in real-time and get essential feedback. The app also enables tracking of electronic assets, product lines, and overall equipment.

Moreover, Coast can replace text and emails for team communication. The platform also allows tracking of tasks and the progress made by the individual assigned to them. Overall, this is a fantastic app for companies or organizations that rely heavily on collaboration to get things done.

Key Features

* Mobile Access

* Task Management

* Forums and Discussions

* Real-Time Chat

* Third-Party Integrations

Pros

* Automated reminders whenever a shift is changed or published

* Excellent for keeping tabs on a project’s progress

* Easy to set up and beginner-friendly

* Accessible via desktop or through the mobile app

* Facilitates fast and open communication for the whole team

Cons

* It doesn’t have an auto-scheduling feature

* Can’t save schedule templates

* Only a few software can be integrated

Reviews

Capterra: 5/5

G2: 5/5

Google Play Store: 4.4/5

Apple Store: 4.7/5

Pricing

Starter- $4 per user per month

Plus- $8 per user per month

Professional- undisclosed, varies on a quotation

2. Clockshark

ClockShark is a time tracking, and scheduling tool pivoted for construction companies and the field service industry. It primarily focuses on geofencing and mobile GPS tracking. The software has detailed tracking options to record the output and completed tasks of the user.

Moreover, the app also has job costing and notes features that can help routine maintenance teams to report equipment costs and project progress. You can create custom schedules for team members, including one-time events and recurring ones. It also has a facial recognition tool that employees can use when clocking in a job site.

The app also has a GPS tracking feature to see your employees’ location in real-time. You can also manage payroll directly since it’s integrated with accounting solutions like Sage, ADP, and QuickBooks.

Key Features

* Production Cost Tracking

* Schedule Distribution

* Billable and Non-Billable Hours

* Overrun Reporting

* Routing and Status Tracking

Pros

* Easy to navigate interface

* Provides an in-depth tutorial

* Superb scheduling section

* Wonderful customer service

* Create reports with few simple steps

Cons

* GPS is not always accurate

* Can’t track prevailing wage

* Reports are not customizable

Reviews

Capterra: 4.7/5

G2: 4.5/5

Google Play Store: 3.2/5

Apple Store: 3.1/5

Pricing

Basic- $3 per user plus $15 Base Fee per month

Standard- $6 per user plus $25 Base Fee per month

Pro- $8 per user plus $45 Base fee per month

3. OnTheClock

OnTheClock is a web-based employee time tracking and attendance system that’s cloud-hosted. One of its best features is the ability to create schedules for your workers using a drag-and-drop function. Once you have started shifts, you can then add the corresponding employees.

Administrators and project managers also get automatic alerts related to the project’s real-time. For example, if an employee misses punching in their time, the app will notify you instantly. Employees can also request changes to their time cards and time-offs using the platform.

Employers can also place certain restrictions in terms of their worker’s clock in and clock out. They can designate a specific IP address or an exact location where their employees can log in. Their mobile app also doesn’t consume too much phone data when it’s turned on.

Key Features

* Calendar Management

* Mobile Time Tracking

* Timesheet Management

* Biometric Recognition

* Payroll Management

Pros

* Missed time punches can be corrected

* Easy to set up for the whole team

* Integration with QuickBooks and other similar tools

* User-friendly interface

* Timesheet entry takes a short amount of time

Cons

* It doesn’t track payroll for shift differentials

* Does not have printing options for audit logs

* The employee has control of the GPS feature

Reviews

Capterra

G2

Google Play Store

Apple Store

Pricing

1 to 2- Free

3 to 10- $3.00 per user per month

11 to 25- $2.95 per user per month

26 to 50- $2.90 per user per month

51 to 100- $2.85 per user per month

101 to 200- $2.80 per user per month

201 to 300- $2.75 per user per month

301 to 400- $2.70 per user per month

4. Hubstaff

Hubstaff is one of the more popular employee time tracking software today. It excels both in project management functions. The software has an extended oversight that gives you constant updates on what your team is working on. You can even manage your team’s schedule and payment on an employee-to-employee basis.

The software monitors your employees through multiple features such as screen and keyboard activity tracking. The dashboard gives you a complete overview of the hours worked by each employee and their most recent tasks. It can also generate data visualization for you to understand the productivity of your team quickly.

Much like other employee tracker apps, it also captures screenshots of their devices on a regular interval. Hubstaff also has Recurring Appointments, Routing, and Work Order Management features which are very useful for businesses in the service industry.

Key Features

* Project and activity tracking

* Real-time GPS tracker

* Idle time tracking

* Screen activity

* TImesheet management

Pros

* Multi-layered recording feature

* Constantly rolls out new updates

* Streamlined time tracking process

* Affordable pricing

* Built-in payment tracking

Cons

* Can’t set inactivity or breaks

* Complicated reporting

* A preset number of users

Reviews

Capterra: 4.6/5

G2: 4/5

Google Play Store: 3.5/5

Apple Store: 4.5/5

Pricing

Basic- $7 per user per month

Premium- $10 per user per month

Enterprise- $20 per user per month

5. WhenIWork

If you want to track your employee’s attendance, schedule, and time spent on a project, consider using WhenIWork. This software can also help you communicate with hourly employees without leaving the platform. It can help you manage teams on things like time scheduling and can even integrate your payroll provider.

When assigning tasks, you can simply drag and drop shifts to the person responsible. Employees are sent notifications on their new duties and any changes made by their client or project manager.

The software has a Geofencing feature that allows employees to clock in once they reach their job site. Employees can also view the number of hours they have worked anytime. WhenIWork also has labor forecasting and performance metrics, which can help you with your business decisions.

Key Features

* Self-service portal attendance

* Employee and contractor management

* Labor cost calculator

* Automatic time capture

* Overtime calculation

Pros

* Easy to use shift templates

* It has a chat feature for fast communication

* Easy to navigate thanks to the clean user interface

* Responsive customer support

* Shows worker availability

Cons

* It lacks a usage tutorial for beginners

* Users can’t see all schedules simultaneously

* The mobile app is different from the web platform

Reviews

Capterra: 4.5/5

G2: 4.5/5

Google Play Store: 4.5/5

Apple Store: 4.7/5

Pricing

Scheduling and Messaging- $2 per user

Scheduling and Messaging + Time and Attendance- $4 per user

6. Workpuls

Workpuls is a simple and intuitive employee time tracker with automation features that can improve and accelerate vital business processes. You can use this app to track your employees whether they are working remotely or in the office. This platform’s best feature is how easy it is to set up and use by any team or company.

You can also get a real-time overview of your employees’ websites and apps during their shifts. The software also generates productivity reports on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. The dashboard and its features can be customized to fit the work environment of your company.

The app works in the background after switching on its tracking feature. It captures screenshots from a fixed interval and lets managers know what their employees are working on. It also has offline tracking, payroll calculation and can generate productivity reports.

Key Features

* Browsing history

* Screen activity recording

* Collaboration tools

* Time zone tracking

* Overtime calculation

Pros

* Real-time, all-around employee tracking

* Creates organizational database

* Managers can set the project budget

* Has clock in and break widgets

* Can change priority deadline for every task

Cons

* It lacks a few features offered by its rivals

* Does not have a mobile app

* Missing some key API integrations

Reviews

Capterra: 4.8/5

G2: 4.5/5

Google Play Store: Not available

Apple Store: Not available

Pricing

Employee Monitoring- $4.80 per user per month

Time Tracking- $6.40 per user per month

Automatic Mapping- $12 per user per month

7. Timetric

Freelancers and small teams are the primary customers of Timetric. This time tracking app has a simple and user-friendly interface that allows project management mobility. You can also use it to see your workday or timeline, set rates on workers or projects, and even invoice your clients.

Timetric also allows integration with different online tools such as GitHub, Zendesk, and Visual Studio. Project managers can see the hours and costs associated with the completion of a project. You can export automated reports that can help you improve the productivity of the team.

This app also has an intuitive and fast platform that allows switching between timers and tasks almost seamlessly. Timetric also adds in your break and gets a snapshot of what is on your screen during those times. It also offers a freemium version and is in the middle of the pack in terms of pricing.

Key Features

* Easy to complete timesheets

* Automated reminders

* Project accounting

* Tag filters for grouping activities

* Timesheet export

Pros

* Shows pie chart overviews

* API integrations

* Allows switching between clients

* Easy to use with no software installation

* Has an Add a Break button

Cons

* Occasional crashes and bugs

* Updates sometimes roll out midday

* A bit pricey than its rivals

Reviews

Capterra: 4.5/5

G2: 4.5/5

Google Play Store: 3.5/5

Apple Store: 3.4/5

Pricing

Professional- $5 per month

Business- $7 per month

8. Timecamp

Much like other time tracking software, Timecamp’s primary purpose is to help increase worker productivity. The software is mainly used to track the time spent on computer activities by your workers. It can identify unproductive work and when a user is not focused on the task at hand.

Timecamp also has many integrations with other business software such as Xero and Quickbooks. You can also incorporate project management tools like Basecamp, Trello, and Asana. The app can work in the background to log time spent on tasks or projects and the apps or websites you visited.

It can also generate attendance reports and other analytical reports, which you can use to improve task delegation and workflow. It also has a Chrome extension for easy tracking when using the popular web browser.

Key Features

* Automatic time capture

* Multiple billing rates

* Contact database

* Online payments with multi-currency

* Collaboration tools and file sharing

Pros

* Excellent productivity tools for additional insights

* Easy to customize the preferred setup

* It runs in the background and does not disrupt work

* Very detailed reports and analytics

* It can be used on any device

Cons

* Occasional site crashes

* The user interface is not as intuitive

* Some mobile app synchronization errors

Reviews

Capterra: 4.7/5

G2: 4.5/5

Google Play Store: 3.9/5

Apple Store: 3.2/5

Pricing

Basic- $5.25 per user per month

Pro- $7.50 per user per month

9. eBility

eBility is an employee attendance and time tracking app that is used for many business applications. It can track your team’s productivity, billing, and payroll to automate some of your administrative roles. The suite also combines other features such as generating productivity data and tracking work-related expenses.

The time entries in the software are also synced regardless of the device you are using. eBility promises to be a good fit for businesses with a remote workforce. The admin or project manager can track logins, attendance, and the status of ongoing projects.

This software also has a customizable dashboard that can load up with different widgets specific to your business goals. You can also integrate it with other work management platforms such as Xero and Quickbooks.

Key Features

* Automatic time capture

* Employee scheduling

* Reporting and analytics

* Offline time tracking

* Billing and invoicing

Pros

* Easy to implement changes

* Quick time entry procedure

* Regular admin updates

* User-friendly layout

* Graphical representation of analytics

Cons

* Subpar customer support

* Some bugs and occasional errors

* Does not have pending payment reminders

Reviews

Capterra: 4.3/5

G2: 3.5/5

Google Play Store: 3.7/5

Apple Store: 4.6/5

Pricing

Time Tracker- $6 per month per user

Billing $10 per month per user

10. Boomr

Boomr is a workforce solution and time tracking software rolled into one. Like other employee trackers, it tracks their hours worked across any device, sends overtime alerts, and generates timesheet payroll reports.

It has a GPS feature and real-time messaging, making it perfect for service companies such as HVAC, construction, and home care. Compared with its competitors, Boomr offers a cheaper pricing scheme.

One of its best features is its robust mobile app, which automates account login and location tracking. The platform also has reimbursement management, vacation or leave search, and performance management.

Key Features

* Employee and performance management

* Reporting and analytics

* Online punch card

* Billing and Invoicing

* Mobile Access

Pros

* User-friendly software

* Manually edit employee shifts

* Allows logging in multiple shifts

* Easy clocking in/ out

* Outstanding customer support

Cons

* Lackluster alert notifications

* Occasional crashes

* Lacks in-app communication

Reviews

Capterra: 4.5/5

G2: 4.3/5

Google Play Store: 3.8/5

Apple Store: 4.6/5

Pricing

Base Fee- $20 unlimited employee timesheets

Standard- $5 per month per user plus a base fee

Business Fee- $9 per month per user plus a base fee

11. TSheets

TSheets is a well-rounded time tracking app which comes with a robust reporting engine. The platform is entirely customizable as you can integrate an application programming interface (API) to suit your team’s needs.

Business owners or team managers can view the in-app calendar by job or by employee. Moreover, the platform lets you see who’s online and doing their tasks through the “Who’s Working” widget. TSheets is also the only tie tracking software that’s embedded within QuickBooks.

The app has geofencing and GPS tracking, which helps you keep tabs on your employees’ geographic perimeter or location. TSheets can also add IP addresses to set the specific locations where people could work. It also has an option for a manual and automatic break.

Key Features

* Payroll and client invoicing

* Timesheet compliance

* Employee scheduling feature

* Real-time project tracking

* Unlimited customer support

Pros

* Auto-syncing with QuickBooks

* Easy to customized alerts

* Exceptional scheduling function

* Incorporated with popular accounting tools

* Excellent customer service

Cons

* A bit pricey compared to its rivals

* Some issues on Admin View

* It doesn’t have batch editing

Reviews

Capterra: 4.7/ 5

G2: 4.5/5

Google Play Store: 3.7/ 5

Apple Store: 4.5/5

Pricing

Starter: $8 a month per user

Premium” $20 per month

Elite: $40 per month

12. Harvest

Harvest is an affordable tracking system that companies can use to track their contractors, freelancers, and regular employees. The software can be integrated to work management tools like Basecamp, Trello, and Asana.

It’s an excellent tool for small businesses and individuals to do team management, invoicing, and checking expenses without leaving the platform. You can get a free plan that supports one account and two projects. The software can also generate reports from the timesheet data of your employees.

The dashboard gives you access to projects, tasks, and time worked with specific clients. You can also add notes for each category, which helps organize everything in one place. The app also sends a weekly report of your employees’ billable hours based on their workload and rates.

Key Features

* Easy to complete timesheets

* Billable time rate management

* Automated Reminders

* Integration with work management platforms

* Seamless transition between pages

Pros

* User friendly

* Simple pricing mechanics

* Excellent time tracking ability

* Seamless invoice payment

* Convenient mobile app

Cons

* Some discrepancy between the website and app

* Does not have sales tax integration

* Subpar phone customer support

Reviews

Capterra: 4.5/5

G2: 4.5/5

Google Play Store: 4.1/5

Apple Store: 4.3/5

Pricing

Free- 1 Seat, 2 Projects

Pro- $12 per seat per month; unlimited projects

13. Time Doctor

Time Doctor is a productivity tracking software that is marketed towards businesses with a remote working team. It’s a nifty tracking tool with plenty of features centered on preventing unproductive work from your employees.

The software sends desktop screenshots of workers so you can be updated on what they are currently working on. Its time tracking also records what web pages and apps your employees used during their shift.

Employers can also send their workers’ salaries directly through payment services like Payoneer, Transferwise, and Paypal without leaving the platform. The system automatically calculates the payment based on the hours worked by each employee and their rate.

Key Features

* Idle Time Tracking

* Mobile Time Tracking

* Employee Activity Checking

* Client Invoicing and Electronic Payments

* Productivity Analysis

Pros

* Mobile-friendly time tracking

* Seamless integration with other online tools

* Real-time overview of the tasks

* Powerful payroll time-tracking feature

* Has interactive and silent modes

Cons

* Additional users cost extra

* Outdated user interface

* The mobile app has limited features

Reviews

Capterra: 4.5/5

G2: 4.5/5

Google Play Store: 2.5/5

Apple Store: 3.3/5

Pricing

Basic- $39 for five users

Standard- $49 for 5 users

Premium- $99 for 5 users

What Is Employee Tracking Software?

Employee tracking software is any system that can track the time spent of employees when working with a particular task or achieving the desired output. These personnel tracking tools enable businesses to monitor the activities of their in-house or remote employees digitally. Many time tracking softwares also integrated other accounting tools for billing and payroll to streamline everything without leaving the platform.

Software companies often market them as productivity tools that promise to streamline better workflow and ultimately meet deadlines. The software can also track attendance, measure productivity, and collect proof of employees’ engagement in the workplace.

What Are the Benefits of Employee Time Tracking Software?

Less Administrative Work

The right personnel tracking app can free up most of your administrative duties that otherwise can render you infectious. By automating business-related tasks such as payroll, you can allocate a huge chunk of your time to other more critical areas of your business.

Track Individual and Team Productivity

Using a time tracking app can help employees and their teams stay on an ongoing project. By analyzing the app’s data, you can discover the reasons for delays or hiccups in a project. Hence, you can develop strategies to resolve such issues.

Improved Employee Insights

Time tracking apps can reveal your company’s best workers and those who tend to underperform. By digging through the data, you can implement changes to empower and support your workers to be more efficient.

Better Delegation of Tasks

By tracking the time spent by your employees on a project, you can assess who is efficient at specific tasks. Thus, you can quickly pivot to delegate tasks based on their strengths and weaknesses. This move can improve productivity and will help them meet deadlines.

Provides Transparency

Tracking software provides transparency from team members and can help managers track their progress. By automatically logging hours spent on a project, the system can keep team members accountable for their work.

What Should You Look For in Employee Time Tracking Software?

All the popular employee time tracking apps in the market have one thing in common— they can do more than just track time. Often, these products have several elements of built-in project management in them. Below are some of the features you may want to consider:

* Reporting: It’s important that the tracker also generates reports and analyses so you can make changes to their duties and schedules. Digging through the data can help you correct mistakes and prevent idle time.

* Scheduling: The app must have an easy-to-use scheduling mechanism, so everyone on the team is on the same page. It must also have alerts and notifications to be made aware of the deadlines and changes made by the project manager.

* Accounting: Another valuable feature of a time tracker to look out for is integrating accounting tools. Making a payroll and project cost report without leaving the platform can save you time and money.

* Value for Money: Find out if the features of a time tracker justify its price. Choose one that gives you the most bang for your buck while not compromising on its functionality and uptime.

How Does Employee Time Tracking Software Work?

Many time tracking software or apps has a dashboard with real-time data reporting. Employees usually have to install the software on their PC or browser before the employee’s time, and activity can be tracked and recorded. More mobile workers can also download the app, which has similar functionality.

Time tracking software falls into any of these three categories:

Time Tracker Model

Gives utmost importance to the time tracking function using a straightforward clock in and out plus a stopwatch function whenever a task starts and ends.

Timesheet Model

Uses a dashboard with real-time reporting of data which a project manager oversees. It often has a payroll system and other financial functions.

Project Management Model

Emphasizes task-based insights for data gathering and analysis centered on improving productivity.

Many of the employee time tracking software discussed on the list is a mixture of these three models.

Executive Summary

That’s it for the 13 best employee tracking software apps. All of these time trackers serve the same purpose of keeping a close tab on your workforce’s productivity. That said, each of these software comes with its unique selling points and pricing structure. Some of them even offer their platforms for free, albeit with limited functionality compared to paid accounts.

Coast app is great for companies and teams with members that need to collaborate constantly. Meanwhile, Time Doctor and Hubstaff are great for a remote team.