Greatest time clock software program

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The days of punch cards and physical timers are fading in the rearview mirror. Time clock software isn't just a less clunky alternative to the physical clock, however. This saves companies time, as there is no need to process individual cards. This makes it easier and more streamlined to manage remote employees and teams. It alleviates human error and prevents employees from trying to play the system. And it makes running payroll a breeze because all of the information is in the same place.

When you're ready to implement timer software for your business, our list of the top seven timer software options makes it easy to choose the best.

The top 7 time clock software options

Homebase – Best free software
ClockInEasy – the simplest solution
TimeClockPlus – Best for larger companies
uAttend – Best for smaller businesses
TSheets – Best for companies with large remote employees
ClockShark – Best for local businesses
7Shifts – Best for Food Service Companies

How to choose the best TCS for you

Finding the best time clock software can be a challenge, especially as most options offer similar basic features like clocking in and out, administrative controls, time tracking, and staff scheduling.

In order to choose the best software options, we looked at a few additional factors that make Time Clock software valuable.

Mobile access

Having access to your timer software on all of your employees' devices is a huge benefit. Lots of clock software options include iOS and Android apps that make clocking in and out smoother and easier – you don't have to dig out your laptop every time.

But not all software options have these apps, and some only include them in an upgraded plan or at a higher price.

Integration of payroll

Just having the software first will help your payroll process, but the best timer software packages will automatically integrate with your payroll software too. This eliminates the need for payroll clerks to manually enter information to match software data with employee hours. This process takes forever and carries the risk of human error.

To find the best timer software for you, make sure it integrates with the payroll software and tools you already use.

Geofencing and GPS tracking

While some remote work can be done at home, many of the work requires employees to do their work in specific locations. If you manage a largely mobile workforce or run a field service company, it is important that your employees cannot get on from their couches or on the way to work.

Geofencing and GPS tracking solve this problem by letting you assign specific areas your employees need to be in before they can clock in. If they are outside this area (geofence), the clocking in and clocking out functions will not work.

Project management tools

For many companies, getting in and out is just the beginning. The optimal timer software options go beyond these basics to include tools for managing the projects employees are working on once they are on the clock.

These tools can include tracking job progress and resources, assigning tasks, creating and managing schedules, approving overtime and time off, providing reports, and more.

Not every software option has all of these project management tools, but the best have at least some of them.

Industry-specific design

Finally, there are some industries with more specialized manpower and timing needs. While many timer software options work well across the board, some are designed specifically for these more specific industries – particularly the hospitality / hospitality and construction / field service industries. If your business is in an area with specific timer needs, you will want to find a software option designed for that area.

The different types of timer software

There are two main types of timer software: fully online or cloud-based, and those that combine software with physical clocks.

Software only options

These software options are trend-setting and optimized for companies that are ready to do everything online. They typically have extensive integration options with payroll software and other business tools, are accessible through multiple online platforms and mobile apps, and offer high-tech features like GPS tracking and geofencing. They are best suited for fully mobile / remote businesses and / or those who value being on the cutting edge of technological advancement and efficiency.

Software-physical hybrid options

Clock software packages that provide (and sometimes provide) integration with physical clocks are best suited for businesses that recognize the need to put things online but still have significant personal needs. With these options, your company can start or continue the transition from face-to-face to online, or increase the flexibility of having a physical presence in multiple locations, without having to revise or completely scrap the process in use. If you're not ready to do it all online just yet, this is the type of software package you want to look for.

# 1 – Homebase – Best free software

Homebase is a detailed time clock used by over 100,000 companies in dozen of industries. This is especially beneficial for businesses with many hourly employees, including health and wellness, beauty and style, food service, retail sales, and more.

Homebase offers some of the most common features of any time clock software. It includes access to computers, point of sale (POS) systems, and mobile devices, as well as integration with many payroll software tools. It records all hours, shifts, breaks, and overtime of employees, marks breaks and time outs that are overlooked, and records each employee's timesheet.

Additionally, it offers several features that go beyond the timer, including employee scheduling, industry compliance compliance, job posting, and application management.

All of this is part of Homebase's free software package. Yes, you read that right: with Homebase, everything listed above is completely free.

Homebase also offers updated paid packages that include high-level benefits such as employee onboarding, remote work management, leisure management, and health checkups. There are three options for these plans: $ 14 / month, $ 35 / month, and $ 70 / month (all per location).

However, if you're looking for a feature-rich free plan, Homebase's basic package is for you.

# 2 – ClockInEasy – Simplest solution

If “keep it simple” is your business mantra, ClockInEasy is the timer software for you. It's completely cloud-based so you don't have to worry about physical locations. The user interface is super accessible and straightforward, whether you're accessing it on your laptop, tablet, or via the mobile app.

ClockInEasy makes it easy to keep track of employee hours, including up-to-the-minute reports and one-click exports to payroll software. It also has a GPS-based clock-in function, unique PINs and biometric recognition for location-specific employees. Plus, it's surprisingly customizable for such a simple system.

Pricing is also easy. It's free for one employee – ideal for solo preneurs who need to track their project time. For up to 99 employees, it's $ 4 per month per employee. For 100+ users, contact ClockInEasy for a quote.

# 3 – TimeClockPlus – Best for large companies

TimeClockPlus is the larger company's software solution, especially if your company has multiple locations and / or hundreds of employees. It combines both physical timers and cloud-based software to ensure that every location has the support they need.

With TimeClockPlus you can optimize your large workforce. It includes detailed functions for employee planning with leave requests and overtime management, compliance with FMLA and other work standards, automated validation and geolocation as well as integration with over 300 different payroll tools and systems. It's also very customizable to meet your company's unique needs and goals.

TimeClockPlus offers three different software packages. The basic package, which contains all the important information for managing the timer, starts at USD 2.50 per month per employee. The mid-level plan, which includes all workforce planning, payroll integration, and other advanced features, starts at $ 5 per employee per month. The premium plan is fully customized and requires a quote.

TimeClockPlus also offers two months free of charge for its packages when you sign up for annual billing.

# 4 – uAttend – Best for smaller businesses

On the other hand, uAttend is the best choice if you have a smaller business or need a software solution that is highly flexible depending on the size of your workforce.

uAttend is a cloud-based all-in-one package for employee planning and time recording with mobile apps for iOS and Android. It offers physical clocks for businesses with personal needs, and all packages are designed to work with their physical clocks.

UAttend's main functions include PTO requests and management, overtime management, geofencing and GPS tracking, and payroll exports.

Probably the best feature, however, is uAttend's flexible pricing plan, which is based on your number of employees.

Up to 9 employees: $ 20 / month
10-19 employees: $ 34 / month
20-49 employees: $ 59 / month
50-99 employees: $ 94 / month
100+ employees: $ 119 / month

Note that these prices are flat rates and not per employee. This is one more thing that makes uAttend a top option for companies with smaller employees (or smaller software budgets!).

# 5 – TSheets – Best for companies with large remote employees

If 2020 taught us anything (other than how to wash our hands more), remote working may be the next big thing in pretty much every professional industry. If your company has a large number of full-time employees now (or before this year), TSheets are worth a look.

TSheets, manufactured by QuickBooks, is a timer system that offers both maximum flexibility for employees and optimal control for employers. Employees can check in here not only from laptops and mobile apps, but also by phone call, SMS and even Twitter. Employees can also track time on specific projects, see which of their colleagues are working, request time off, and view their schedules and timesheets. The TSheets app is also synced with iOS, Google and Outlook calendars.

For their part, employers can easily monitor employee locations throughout the working day using geotracking and geofencing. TSheets tracks the location of employees every ten minutes, as well as where they are when they are clocking in and out. Employers can easily restrict their employees' ability to clock in to work-related locations. The system offers the ability to set up alerts when employees get on and off.

TSheets has some limitations that other options on this list don't. The integration of payroll outside of QuickBooks is limited and does not work with physical timers. Fortunately, these are likely to be minor issues for many companies with wholly or mostly remote employees.

Tsheets also has more complicated pricing than some of the other software options on this list. It offers two packages with preset monthly prices for up to 50 users: one with a base fee of $ 20 and a user fee of $ 8 per employee, the other with a base fee of $ 40 and a user fee of $ 10 per employee. For companies with over 50 users, the pricing is adjusted and requires a quote.

# 6 – Clockshark – Best for companies with on-site employees

Remember that industry requirements are a major factor when considering timer software. Clockshark is a time clock that was developed for one industry: the field service. Whether your company is in construction, sales, franchise management or any other area, if you have employees who work all day in the field or on the go, Clockshark is designed specifically for you.

For starters, it has customized geofencing and GPS functions so you can easily keep track of your employees' time on construction sites. Plus, all of your employees' locations are recorded on an actual map, so you always know where they are and where they are going. You can also add stamp out request prompts to track breaks, injuries, travel time, and even reimbursements.

Clockshark works with desktop and mobile apps, syncs with most payroll software, and manages workforce planning and the PTO.

It offers three price levels:

Base Fee: USD 15 / month base fee plus USD 3 per employee per month
Standard: $ 25 / month base fee plus $ 6 per employee per month
Pro: $ 45 / month base fee plus $ 8 per employee per month

When you sign up for annual payment, you get two months free.

# 7 – 7shifts – Best for food service companies

7shifts is the second timer software on this list that is specially designed for a specific industry: the food service industry. Over 300,000 restaurants around the world use 7 shifts to manage their time clock requirements. Since shift and schedule management has an important priority in the restaurant area, 7shifts focuses heavily on this ability in addition to the timer functions.

7shifts has robust team communication and management tools, including employee scheduling, break and overtime management, employee announcements, shift-based feedback, KPI tracking, and more. It also integrates with POS systems and payroll software, and monitors trends in employee attendance. In combination with detailed reports and reliable timer functions, this software positions restaurants for optimized time recording.

There are also package pricing options that are both functional and a bit of fun:

Comp: free for 10 employees or less
Starter: $ 17.99 per location per month for 11 to 20 employees
Entrance: $ 39.99 per location per month, unlimited staff
The Works: $ 69.99 per site per month, unlimited employees

7Shifts also has a gourmet option that is fully customizable and requires a quote.

Conclusion

What is the best timer software?

Due to the various factors we have taken into account, we recommend Homebase. It has the most features at the lowest price and appeals to many different industries.

But of course there are many good options besides Homebase! If you are a restaurant owner or a construction manager, 7shifts and Clockshark are designed specifically for you and your business. Large companies will love TimeClockPlus, while smaller ones will appreciate uAttend. And ClockInEasy is our first choice for those who want something simple and uncomplicated.

Regardless of your needs, this list has an excellent time clock software option for you.