2025’s Top Remote Employee Monitoring Software Picks Reviewed
10 Best Remote Employee Monitoring Software Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 24 tools reviewed.
Get free help from our HR software advisors to find your match.
Managing remote teams can feel like a constant challenge, from tracking productivity to ensuring accountability without micromanaging. If you're struggling to maintain visibility over your team’s work and need a tool to streamline this process, you're not alone.
With so many remote employee monitoring tools available, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. Ideally, you want a solution to track productivity, boost accountability, and manage workloads for your hybrid team, but which option is best?
In this article, I’ll guide you through the top options to help you optimize your team’s performance and time management.
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Best Remote Employee Monitoring Software: Pricing Comparison Chart
This comparison chart summarizes pricing details for my top remote employee monitoring software selections to help you find the best online monitoring software for your budget and remote team needs.
| Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best for employee monitoring with GPS tracking capabilities | 14-day free trial + free plan available | From $29/month (for up to 30 users, billed annually) + $0.5/user/month for each additional user | Website | |
| 2 | Best for employee productivity monitoring | 7-day free trial | From $8/user/month | Website | |
| 3 | Best for monitoring employee activities | 14-day free trial + 30 day money back guarantee | From $4/user/month | Website | |
| 4 | Best for monitoring employees in regulated environments | Free demo available | From $25/user/month | Website | |
| 5 | Best for monitoring keystrokes | 10 days free trial | From $5/user/month | Website | |
| 6 | Best for improving email response time | 14-day free trial | From $15/user/month | Website | |
| 7 | Best for employee monitoring with proactive alerts | Free demo available | From $25/user/month (5 user minimum) | Website | |
| 8 | Best for ensuring remote employee complianc | Free trial available | From $7.99/user/month | Website | |
| 9 | Best for employee monitoring with automatic backup | 15 days free trial | From $79.95/user/month | Website | |
| 10 | Best for AI-powered productivity reports | Free trial available | From $3.99/user/month | Website |
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HiThrive
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6 -
Guru
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6 -
Absorb LMS
Visit WebsiteThis is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6
Best Remote Employee Monitoring Software Reviews
Here’s a brief description of each remote employee monitoring software that showcases each system’s best use case, their noteworthy features, and some pros & cons. I’ve also included screenshots to give you a snapshot of their user interface too.
Best for employee monitoring with GPS tracking capabilities
Connecteam is a comprehensive employee management app that allows you to control various aspects of your business within a single platform, from scheduling and task management to employee monitoring and engagement.
Why I picked Connecteam: The app offers a comprehensive solution for monitoring remote employees, with features such as GPS tracking, geofencing, time tracking, and task management. It allows managers to track employee locations during work hours, monitor task completion, and communicate with team members through a secure platform.
Connecteam also provides options for managing employee breaks and overtime and storing company policies within the app. Overall, the app is designed to support remote employee autonomy while giving managers the ability to oversee operations and ensure compliance with labor laws.
Connecteam Standout Features and Integrations
Features include GPS location tracking, live maps, forms and checklists for real-time updates from the field, instant notifications, a centralized dashboard, and private and group messaging capabilities.
Integrations include Gusto, Quickbooks, Xero, and Paychex.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- GPS location tracking
- Automatic reporting feature
- All-in-one software for employee management
Cons:
- Features are limited on basic plans
- Limited integrations
Insightful helps you manage team members wherever they are, delivering actionable data insights into productivity and employee time management.
Why I picked Insightful: This tool offers comprehensive employee monitoring and computer activity tracking, showing you how employees and freelancers use time, apps, and websites. Periodic or rules-based screenshots provide proof that employees are doing their work as expected during the day. Employees work is automatically tracked based on activity.
You can add projects and tasks, assign employees, and ensure that work is being done. Precise project budgeting keeps your finances on track and eliminates guesswork. Project insight reports help you stay on top of progress and ensure that every second is counted.
Insightful Standout Features and Integrations
Features include employee monitoring, activity tracking, remote work management, automatic time tracking, automatic screenshots, verified attendance, proof of work, employee engagement, and project budgeting.
Integrations are possible through the Insightful developer portal and Insightful API.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Works quietly in the background
- Light on system resources
- Easy to mark unproductive apps
Cons:
- Limited number of screenshots
- More integration options needed
Intelogos is a workforce analytics and AI performance management tool that uses artificial intelligence to provide businesses with insights into their employees' performance and productivity.
Why I picked Intelogos: I like that the platform allows employers to track and analyze employee performance, productivity, and behavior through AI technology, helping them ensure that remote employees are staying on task and meeting expectations.
The software also provides detailed workforce analytics, time tracking, and personalized data for career growth, as well as features for burnout prevention and privacy. Overall, Intelogos aims to help employers effectively monitor and manage their remote employees while fostering a positive and supportive team culture.
Intelogos Standout Features and Integrations
Features include real-time monitoring, attendance, activity tracking, comprehensive analytics, monitoring app and website usage, AI-based performance suggestions, task manager integrations, and customizable reports.
Integrations include Office 365, Zoom, Jira, Slack, Google Workspace, and more.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Keeps data private
- Real-time monitoring capabilities
- AI-driven analytics and suggestions
Cons:
- Limited integration with other tools
- Limited customization options
Veriato is a workforce behavior analytics company that gives you the tools you need to manage remote or hybrid employee productivity.
Why I picked Veriato: Veriato helps you manage remote teams effectively, highlighting unproductive employees and optimizing efficiency across the team. The software is ideal for dealing with complex corporate and regulatory compliance requirements in industries such as healthcare, legal, and financial services.
Veriato makes it easier to run audits and stay compliant, with real-time alerts, customizable reporting, and dashboards. You can track how many minutes an employee’s computer was active or idle during the day, monitor chats, and take automatic screenshots. It’s also easy to set flexible start and finish times and decide when tracking starts or ends.
Veriato Standout Features and Integrations
Monitoring features include email & chat monitoring, web & app tracking, automatic screenshots, idle & active time-tracking, network activity, file & document tracking, fully-customizable settings, reports, an employee monitoring system, and real-time alerts.
Integrations with Veriato are available through Zapier.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Descriptive reporting
- Can be customized extensively
- Comprehensive overview of activity
Cons:
- Needs better screenshot archives
- Takes time to set up
Apploye is a comprehensive remote employee monitoring software designed to help businesses efficiently manage and monitor their remote workforce. It offers a robust suite of tools for tracking time, monitoring productivity, and managing tasks.
Why I picked Apploye: I like its intuitive interface and advanced time-tracking capability, which allows employers to monitor the exact hours worked by their remote employees. This feature includes both manual and automatic time-tracking options, providing flexibility and accuracy in recording work hours. Additionally, Apploye's screenshot monitoring feature enables employers to capture screenshots of employees' screens at regular intervals.
I also like its real-time activity tracking and productivity measurement features. These features allow employers to monitor keystrokes, mouse movements, and application usage, providing a comprehensive view of employee activity during work hours. The productivity measurement tools can categorize activities as productive or non-productive, helping businesses identify areas for improvement and optimize workflows. And the best part? Apploye offers reasonable per-user pricing for businesses of all sizes.
Apploye Standout Features and Integrations
Features include screenshots, apps and URL tracking, activity tracking, clock in and out, project management and budgeting, task management, invoicing and billing, detailed reports and analytics, idle time detection, and manual time entry.
Integrations include ClickUp, Trello, and Asana.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Works on a wide range of devices
- Detailed reporting features
- Offers offline synchronization
Cons:
- Screenshot tool may make some employees uncomfortable
- May take time to learn the platform
EmailAnalytics gives you visibility into daily email activity and unlocks insights into how your team members respond to email inquiries.
Why I picked EmailAnalytics: This tool shows your sales team’s email activity in an email analytics dashboard, so you can see how many emails are sent and received each day. You get insights into how many people your team corresponds with and the number of spam complaints received. You can also drill down into any metric to get further information.
It’s easy to see who sends the most emails, which clients team members respond to, and the average response time for each recipient. You can also check how many unread emails are in each person’s inbox or how many are labeled ‘important.’ The system also analyzes emails by time of day, so you can see when people are most active.
EmailAnalytics Standout Features and Integrations
Features include emails sent & received, email traffic by day of the week, top senders & recipients, traffic by hour of the day, email response time, and team management.
Integrations include Gmail, HubSpot, and Outlook.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Comprehensive email insights
- Gives complete team reports
- No software to install
Cons:
- Designed for sales teams only
- Only tracks email
Interguard helps you monitor remote and work-from-home employees, keeping your business safe and productive wherever your team members are located.
Why I picked InterGuard: This software application will alert you if employees break rules, such as by exporting your customer list from your CRM. You can also go beyond monitoring and set up policies to block sensitive data from being sent by email, uploaded to the cloud, or copied to an external storage device. If employees are suspected of committing fraud or theft, you can lock down their computers remotely.
The software also monitors employee productivity to ensure you get the best value on your investment. It helps you eliminate distractions and keep projects on track. You can also track the time spent on a project and identify potential delays that slow work down.
InterGuard Standout Features and Integrations
Features include email monitoring, website blocking, chat monitoring, file tracking, screenshot taking, cell phone monitoring, keystroke logging, insider threat detection, and active time tracking.
Integrations are available through Zapier.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Runs in the background
- Keyword capture
- Easy to set up
Cons:
- Dated interface
- Reports are not intuitive
Controlio is a scalable cloud solution that helps organizations of all sizes monitor employee productivity from anywhere.
Why I picked Controlio: This solution offers a dashboard available from any device in any location, with all data fully encrypted. It can be deployed on-premises to meet HIPAA and GDPR requirements. The client software is completely invisible to the end user.
Controlio automatically tracks productive and distracting activities, calculating a productivity score for individual users and departments. You can control user behavior, get alerts, and track keystrokes, idle periods, and other data. Managers can also watch users live and see what apps they’re using.
Controlio Standout Features and Integrations
Features include productivity monitoring, user behavior management, live view, screen recording, app & web usage, compliance monitoring, on-premises deployment, and stealth mode.
Integrations are available through Zapier.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Easy-to-understand dashboard
- End-to-end encryption
- Advanced features for compliance monitoring
Cons:
- No native integrations
- Only available for PCs
iMonitor Employee Activity Monitor is an all-in-one, centralized employee computer monitoring software solution, designed primarily for enterprises, education orgs, and governments.
Why I picked iMonitor EAM: This tool automatically detects and tracks inappropriate behavior such as copying, deleting, or sending sensitive documents. Smart rules and real-time alerts identify employee fraud and help with data loss prevention. The software is capable of backing up all employee files automatically to ensure data security. Rules can be set to encrypt confidential files and eliminate the risk of a data breach.
iMonitor EAM also monitors and controls user activity, filtering websites and apps to reduce non-work related activity in the workplace. It provides regular employee productivity reports showing the applications used, websites visited, keystrokes made, and active working time.
iMonitor EAM Standout Features and Integrations
Features include screen snapshots, websites visited, emails sent, chats initiated, documents opened, devices used, and documents printed.
Integrations are available through Zapier.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Strong data security
- Suitable for enterprise organizations
- Well-established application
Cons:
- Outdated interface
- Sometimes conflicts with anti-virus software
WebWork Time Tracker is a tool that helps you monitor your remote team's work. It tracks work productivity and automatically captures periodic screenshots to provide visual proof of employee activity during work.
Why I picked WebWork Time Tracker: I like the platform's ability to take regular screenshots of your team's work, giving you a clear picture of their activities. It helps ensure accountability and lets you verify that tasks are being done as expected. This is especially useful for managing remote employees, as it provides a visual record of their work.
Another helpful feature is its AI-powered productivity monitoring. WebWork measures your team's activity levels, app usage, and productivity metrics. This information helps you understand how your team works and identify areas where they can be more efficient.
WebWork Time Tracker Standout Features and Integrations
Features include app and web tracking, real-time monitoring, shift scheduling, billable hours tracking, project budgeting, invoicing, timesheets, member role management, leave management, employee GPS tracking, work-life balance monitoring, detailed reporting, and customizable settings.
Integrations include Asana, Slack, Deel, GitHub, ClickUp, Trello, and Jira.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Attendance and leave management features
- Real-time monitoring
- Accurate time tracking and detailed productivity reports
Cons:
- Reporting tools could benefit from more customization options
- The leave balancing feature could be improved
Other Remote Employee Monitoring Software
Here are a few more worthwhile options that didn’t make the best remote employee monitoring software list:
- Teramind
For advanced user behavior analytics
- Monitask
For employee monitoring with customizable settings
- Timely
Remote employee monitoring software for background time tracking
- DeskTime
Remote management software for non-intrusive employee monitoring
- Hubstaff
For a combined time-tracking and employee productivity tool
- Time Doctor
For employee monitoring software with extensive integrations
- ActivTrak
For balancing employee productivity and well being
- Kickidler
Remote employee monitoring software for visual monitoring tools
- RescueTime
Remote employee monitoring software for winning back unproductive time
- Syteca
Remote employee monitoring software for auditing employee activity
- CleverControl
Remote employee monitoring software for tracking messenger communications
- ActiveOps WorkiQ
Remote employee monitoring software for remote workforce intelligence
- WE Controlio
Remote employee monitoring software for productivity analytics
- ControlUp
Remote employee monitoring software for digital work experience management
Related HR Software Reviews
If you still haven't found what you're looking for here, check out these other related tools that we've tested and evaluated:
- HR Software
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- Recruiting Software
- Employer of Record Services
- Applicant Tracking Systems
- Workforce Management Software
Selection Criteria for Remote Employee Monitoring Software
Selecting the right remote employee monitoring software requires a deep dive into the specific functionalities that align with your unique needs. My approach to choosing the best tools for this list is grounded in extensive research into these systems and how they can address common pain points related to tracking and assessing the productivity of remote workforces.
Here's a summary of the selection criteria I used to create this list:
Core Remote Employee Monitoring Software Functionalities (25% of total score): Some employee monitoring systems track employee time by monitoring employee work, while others are focused on measuring employee performance. To be considered for inclusion in this list, each solution had to support the following use cases first:
- Time tracking to understand work habits and verify hours worked
- Monitoring websites and applications for productivity versus time theft
- Capturing screenshots for task engagement verification
- Tools to manage tasks to ensure team alignment and deadline adherence
- The ability to generate real-time reports for quick decision-making as well as more in-depth analyses
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score): To help me uncover the best remote employee monitoring software, I also took note of any unique features, including:
- Innovations in privacy controls that balance monitoring with respect for employee privacy
- Advanced analytics for deeper insights into productivity trends
- Customizable alert systems for proactive management, including insider threat detection
- Enhanced data security measures to protect sensitive information from breaches or improper use
- Integration capabilities with other business tools for a seamless workflow
Usability (10% of total score): To evaluate the usability of each monitoring system, I considered the following:
- An intuitive user interface and user-friendly design that simplifies navigation and complex information
- Clear and concise dashboard layouts for at-a-glance insights
- Role-based access control that's straightforward to configure
- Systems that offer cross-device compatibility, including versions for Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS devices
Customer Onboarding (10% of total score): To get a sense of each software provider's customer onboarding process, I considered the following factors:
- Quick setup processes and clear guidance for first-time users
- The availability of training materials such as videos or interactive tutorials
- Support systems like chatbots and webinars to guide new users through the initial learning curve
- Support for implementing the new software discreetly from an IT perspective
Customer Support (10% of total score): To evaluate the level of customer support each vendor offered, I considered the following:
- The availability of multiple support channels, including email, phone, and chat
- The existence of a self-service knowledge base, FAQ repository, or other self-help resources to speed up troubleshooting
- The overall quality, responsiveness, and helpfulness of the support team during customer onboarding and post-purchase, as inferred from customer reviews
Value for Price (10% of total score): To gauge the value of each software, I considered the following factors:
- The availability of free trials or demos to test the software before purchasing
- Transparent pricing models that clearly explain which payroll features are included at each level, with no additional hidden costs for training or set-up
- Tiered pricing plans that cater to different business sizes, from small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) up to enterprise-level organizations
Customer Reviews (10% of total score): Evaluating customer reviews is the final element of my selection process, which helps me understand how well a product performs in the hands of real users. Here are the factors I considered:
- Whether a product has consistently high ratings across multiple review platforms, indicating a broad level of user satisfaction
- Specific praises, criticisms, or trends in customer feedback that indicate the software's strengths or areas for improvement
- Whether customer feedback specifically mentions issues with ease of use, customer support responsiveness, or lacking features
By using this assessment framework, I was able to identify the remote employee monitoring software that goes beyond basic requirements to offer additional value through unique features, intuitive usability, smooth onboarding, effective support, and overall value for price.
How to Choose Remote Employee Monitoring Software
Remote management and monitoring software can help you keep tabs on your employee's computer-based activities, ensuring they stay productive and on task. To help you figure out which remote employee monitoring software best fits your needs, keep the following points in mind:
- What challenges are you trying to overcome? Identifying your current challenges can guide you to select software with the features and functionalities you need to address them. For example, if you're trying to gain visibility into your team's productivity, you may want to opt for a system that tracks computer activity. If security and data breaches are your biggest concern, you should strive for a system that includes threat detection monitoring, etc.
- What outcomes are important and how will you measure success? Being clear on your desired outcomes upfront is crucial to avoid wasting valuable time. Are you trying to improve productivity and time management for specific teams or gain more insight into how long certain tasks take? Keeping your ultimate goals top of mind will help you choose software that delivers the benefits you need, without getting distracted by fancy but unnecessary features.
- Who are your primary user groups? Consider who will use the software and how many licenses you'll need. For remote employee monitoring software, you'll probably want to restrict access to your managers, plus special access for your HR administrators and IT support staff. Once that's clear, it's also useful to list the needs of your different user groups to ensure they're all met.
- What software integrations do you need? Search for monitoring software that integrates with key systems you're already using, such as time-tracking systems or work operating systems like Microsoft Office 365 or Google Workspace.
- Would the monitoring software work with your existing workflows? Consider the software selection alongside your existing workflows and systems. Would the remote monitoring tool operate quietly in the background, or would it intrude into your employee's day-to-day activities?
Remember, every business is different — don’t assume that a remote employee monitoring system will work for your organization just because it's popular. Instead, focus on your specific problems so you can find a solution that directly solves your issues.
Trends in Remote Employee Monitoring Software for 2025
As organizations continue to adapt to remote and hybrid work models, the technology underpinning remote employee monitoring software has advanced to meet these needs. Here are several key trends that are shaping the future of remote employee monitoring software:
Evolving and In-Demand Features
- Enhanced Privacy Controls: There's a clear trend towards more sophisticated privacy controls, balancing the need for monitoring with respecting employee privacy. Tools are introducing features that allow employees to pause monitoring or work in a privacy mode during breaks, addressing privacy concerns and regulatory compliance.
- Comprehensive Time Tracking: Time tracking remains a core feature, with enhancements that allow for more granular tracking of tasks and projects. This feature is crucial for billing, payroll, and assessing productivity at the individual and team levels.
- User Activity Monitoring: Monitoring the active use of applications and websites is highly demanded to ensure that work hours are focused on productive tasks. This feature has evolved to provide more nuanced data, distinguishing between productive and non-productive activity.
Unique and Unusual Features
- Emotion Recognition Technology: One of the most novel developing features is the use of AI-driven emotion recognition technology to gauge employee morale and engagement through their interactions with the software. While innovative, this trend raises questions about privacy and the accuracy of such measures.
- Predictive Analytics: Leveraging AI to predict potential productivity dips and employee burnout before they happen is another cutting-edge feature. This proactive approach aims to help managers intervene early, promoting a healthier work-life balance and preventing burnout.
Features Declining in Importance
- Screenshot Capture: While still used, the demand for continuous screenshot capture is declining. Companies are seeking less intrusive methods to ensure productivity, reflecting a growing emphasis on trust and autonomy in the remote workplace.
- Keystroke Logging: Once a common feature, keystroke logging is becoming less popular and even removed in some software updates. This shift is due to privacy concerns and the recognition that high keystroke counts do not necessarily correlate with high productivity.
These trends reflect a broader shift towards creating a more balanced, respectful, and efficient remote work environment. As these tools continue to evolve, they are becoming more sophisticated in how they track and analyze productivity, emphasizing employee well-being and privacy alongside organizational needs.
HR professionals seeking to implement or update their remote monitoring tools should consider these trends to ensure they choose software that aligns with modern work practices and ethics.
What is Remote Employee Monitoring Software?
Employee monitoring software is a type of tool that enables employers to track and monitor their employees' activities and behavior while working, usually in a remote or virtual environment. You can use it for the following purposes:
- gain visibility into staff activity during work hours
- track specific tasks employees are working on
- assess how effective staff are with their time (time per task)
- monitor activity levels via mouse movements and keyboard strokes
- record which websites or apps are used
- detect possible data breaches or insider threats
- take periodic screenshots or view live feeds of employee screens.
The resulting data can help increase team productivity by making employees more accountable for their time and promoting better time management practices. It can also help managers make better data-driven decisions about employee performance and workload distribution, and prevent security breaches by monitoring compliance and how sensitive company data is handled.
Looking for a more thorough explanation? Read our deep dive into how employee monitoring software works.
Features of Remote Employee Monitoring Software
Remote employee monitoring software helps managers track and assess the performance of their teams. Identifying the right features in such software can significantly enhance your ability to manage your team efficiently. Here are the most important features to look for:
- Time Tracking: This feature allows you to see how much time employees spend on tasks, which is essential for understanding individual work habits and identifying areas where efficiency can be improved. Employees can either log their work hours using timesheets to clock in and out or rely on the software's automatic time tracking based on user activity.
- User Activity Monitoring: This feature assesses computer activity such as keyboard and mouse usage levels (called keystroke logging) to gauge productivity. High activity levels often correlate with high productivity, making this feature valuable for evaluating employee engagement with their tasks.
- Screenshot Capture & Screen Recording: By periodically taking screenshots of an employee's screen, this feature offers a glimpse into their work process and computer activity. It helps in verifying task engagement and ensuring that work hours are used productively.
- Website and Application Monitoring: This refers to tracking any websites or apps employees use during work hours to uncover potential distractions. This insight is crucial for addressing productivity leaks and enforcing company policies on internet use.
- Productivity Monitoring & Task Tracking: Productivity tracking usually factors into account things like active and idle time and other behavior analytics. Software that offers integrated task management makes it easier to track progress on specific initiatives, aligning team efforts and ensuring that deadlines are met.
- Reporting and Analytics: Most remote employee monitoring software provides detailed reports on employee productivity, workloads, work time, and other key metrics. This aids in identifying trends, bottlenecks, and areas requiring immediate attention.
- Security Features: Balancing monitoring with privacy is crucial. The software should have safeguards in place to keep sensitive information secure and maintain legality on employee privacy.
- Hybrid Functionality: The software should allow you to monitor both team members working from home as well as on-premise employees, ensuring the same level of scrutiny is applied fairly to all employees, regardless of location.
- Insider Threat Detection: If your company deals with a high level of sensitive information, the software can help you detect and assess insider threat risks. It does this by monitoring for large amounts of downloaded files, or files copied to external drives, such as a USB.
- Mobile App: Having the software installed on employee mobile devices can facilitate geofencing and tracking application usage. You can also set alerts to monitor for specific activities, such as accessing certain websites, to help promptly address productivity issues.
Selecting remote employee monitoring software with these key features will give you a comprehensive toolkit for assessing and enhancing your team's productivity. In addition to helping you identify areas for improvement, it can also help you optimize your workflows and uncover successes worth celebrating.
Benefits of Remote Employee Monitoring Software
Remote employee monitoring software can help organizations both enhance operational efficiency and deepen employee engagement in their tasks. By implementing the best remote employee monitoring software for your needs, you can expect to gain the following benefits:
- Improved Time Management & Productivity: Remote employee monitoring software provides insights into how employees spend their work hours, enabling managers to identify and address inefficiencies. This visibility can help managers reallocate resources and tasks more effectively, while also deepening employees' awareness of how they spend their time, boosting overall productivity.
- Increased Transparency: With real-time insights into work activities, remote employee monitoring software fosters an environment of transparency within remote teams. This openness builds trust between managers and employees, which is crucial for remote work dynamics.
- Enhanced Security: Monitoring software can also play a critical role in securing sensitive company data. By overseeing access to information and applications, organizations can mitigate the risk of data breaches and ensure compliance with data protection regulations.
- Cost Efficiency: By identifying underperforming areas and optimizing resource allocation, the software contributes to cost savings. Reduced wasted time and improved operational efficiency directly impact the bottom line positively.
- Data-Driven Employee Development: Through tracking performance and productivity trends, the software provides valuable feedback for employee development. This feedback can be used to tailor training programs, set personalized goals, and support career growth within the organization.
As you can see, adopting remote employee monitoring software offers a strategic advantage in managing remote teams effectively. It can help you use workforce analytics to enhance operational efficiency and productivity, while also improving security and reducing overhead costs.
Costs & Pricing for Remote Employee Monitoring Software
Employee monitoring tools are designed to help organizations track and assess the productivity of their remote workforce, offering a range of features from time tracking to detailed productivity analytics. The pricing and plan options vary widely, catering to different sizes of businesses and their specific needs.
Understanding the common pricing structures and what each plan typically includes will help you make an informed decision that aligns with your organization's requirements and budget.
Plan Comparison Table for Remote Employee Monitoring Software
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free* | $0 | Basic time tracking, limited screenshot capture, and activity level monitoring for a small number of users |
| Basic | $5-10 per user/month | Time tracking, screenshot capture, activity level monitoring, basic reporting, and a limited number of users |
| Standard | $10-20 per user/month | Website and application monitoring, project and task management, real-time reporting, user activity alerts, and integration capabilities |
| Premium | $20-30 per user/month | Advanced analytics, enhanced privacy controls, unlimited users, customizable reports, and priority customer support |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | All Premium features plus advanced security measures, full customization, personal account manager, and onboarding assistance |
*Based on my research, free plans generally aren't available. However many providers do offer a free trial.
When deciding on the best plan for you, consider your immediate and future needs. I recommend requesting a free trial to test a product before you commit, but a paid plan will always offer more advanced features to effectively monitor and enhance your team's productivity. Always weigh the cost against the potential return on investment in terms of improved efficiency and productivity.
Frequently Asked Questions
People often ask me about the best way to manage remote teams and how to improve the employee experience. Here are answers to the most common questions:
What are the benefits of remote employee monitoring?
One of the benefits associated with tracking your remote workers is reassurance that your teams are being productive and staying focused on the right tasks. Using these types of tools can provide peace of mind to business owners who may be hesitant to move to a remote or hybrid workforce. These software solutions can also help avoid data loss by keeping records of what employees are doing on their devices.
If employees are aware that they’re being monitored, there’s a potential that it could boost productivity. However, it’s important to keep in mind that trust is usually a crucial factor in employee engagement and satisfaction levels. Using employee monitoring software can damage the trust employees feel at work, which could ultimately lead to a negative impact on productivity.
What are the risks of monitoring remote employees?
Tracking employee activity comes with certain risks. It’s important to be aware of employee privacy and legalities around monitoring their work. Not only that, but if the monitoring is hidden from employees and they find out, it risks damaging the employer-employee relationship and established trust.
The current allegations against Apple for unlawful employee monitoring are a perfect example of this. After several years of research into employee complaints, the US National Labor Relations board has claimed that Apple instituted unlawful rules around employee’s use of Slack, and even went as far as to fire employees who spoke negatively about the company through the platform. Apple, of course, denies the allegations, but the case will be heard by an administrative judge in February 2025 either way.
As this example shows, it’s important to tread lightly when it comes to employee monitoring and the actions you take with the data you gather. Ultimately, you want the benefits to outweigh the potential risks associated with keeping a close eye on remote employees.
How do these software ensure employee privacy?
Privacy is safeguarded through features like customizable transparency levels, where employees are informed about what’s being monitored and have access to their own data. These software solutions often focus on productivity metrics rather than invasive surveillance, emphasizing task completion over minute-by-minute tracking. Encryption and secure data handling practices ensure sensitive information is protected. It’s a delicate balance between monitoring for efficiency and respecting personal boundaries, requiring clear communication and policies to navigate effectively.
What impact do these tools have on employee morale?
The impact of remote employee monitoring tools on morale varies. Used thoughtfully, they can boost morale by recognizing achievements and providing clear performance metrics, fostering a culture of transparency and fairness. However, if implemented without clear communication or consideration for privacy, they can lead to feelings of mistrust and surveillance, negatively affecting morale.
It’s crucial for organizations to strike a balance, ensuring the tools are used to support employees’ growth and productivity rather than solely for oversight. Engaging employees in the implementation process and focusing on positive outcomes can help mitigate potential downsides.
How can you detect employee monitoring software?
Detecting employee monitoring software can be difficult as it is designed to be stealthy and invisible to the employee. However, some signs of monitoring software can include a decrease in system performance or unusual network activity, the presence of unknown or suspicious processes in the task manager, or the appearance of pop-up notifications or warnings on the employee’s computer.
Does your employer have to tell you if your computer is being monitored?
The answer to this question depends on the laws and regulations in your specific country or state. In general, employers may be legally required to inform their employees if they are being monitored, but the specific requirements can vary. You should consult with an employment lawyer or legal expert in your jurisdiction to determine your rights and obligations.
Are there ways to trick employee monitoring software?
It is not ethical or legal to try to trick employee monitoring software. However, some employees may try to bypass monitoring by using external devices, such as a separate computer or smartphone, or by using software tools designed to prevent monitoring or mask activity. This is not recommended, as it can result in disciplinary action or termination of employment.
How do these tools integrate with existing HR systems?
Remote employee monitoring tools are typically designed with integration capabilities to smoothly blend into existing HR systems. They commonly offer APIs and plug-and-play features that allow for seamless data transfer between systems, such as time tracking, performance management, and payroll services.
These integrations enable HR professionals to maintain a unified system for employee management, consolidating data for easier access, analysis, and reporting. The focus is on minimizing disruption to current workflows while enhancing the organization’s ability to manage remote teams effectively.
Build Stronger Teams
Using the recommendations in this article, you can build stronger remote teams that are both productive and efficient. If you’d like a few more options to consider, take a look at our list of the best employee monitoring software too.
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New technology is making it possible to build effective remote teams like never before. So be ready to take advantage of the opportunities to take your organization to the next level.