10 Best Time Tracking Software Shortlist
With so many different time tracking software solutions available, figuring out which is right for you is tough. You know you want to enhance productivity and provide insights into time allocation and workforce efficiency—but now need to figure out which tool is best. In this post, I'll help make your choice easy, sharing my personal experiences using dozens of different time tracking tools with teams of all sizes, with my picks of the best time tracking software overall.
What is Time Tracking Software?
Time tracking software is a digital tool used to record and analyze the time employees spend on various tasks and projects. It enables accurate tracking of work hours, facilitating efficient project management, payroll processing, and client billing. This software often includes features like start-stop timers, manual time entry, project and task categorization, and reporting capabilities.
The purpose is to identify productivity patterns, ensure fair workload distribution, and provide transparency in work processes. By using time tracking software, businesses can enhance productivity, streamline operations, and make informed decisions about time management and resource allocation.
Overviews of the 10 Best Time Tracking Software
Here’s a brief description of each top 10 time tracking software that highlights each system’s noteworthy features, and some pros & cons. Keep reading to find additional bonus picks at the bottom of the list.
Insightful
Best time tracking software for work-from-home teams
Insightful is a time tracking software that enables remote organizations to monitor the activity of their work-from-home employees.
Why I picked Insightful: Insightful helps you create projects, assign tasks to your team members, and then oversee their activity. The software collects data on which apps and websites your employees use while working, so you can identify productivity blockers and take appropriate action.
Insightful turns the data it collects into detailed reports. This enables you to make accurate assessments of how well your team performs and how much productive time it takes to complete a particular project.
Insightful Standout Features and Integrations
Features include real-time monitoring, time and attendance tracking, productivity tracking, apps and websites usage, activity tracking, project management software, and time logs.
Integrations include Asana, Google Docs, Google Hangouts, Jira, Skype, Slack, Trello, and others.
Pros
- Detailed knowledge base
- Real-time employee productivity tracking
- Enables you to define which apps or websites are productive and unproductive
Cons
- Can be intimidating for employees
- The software doesn’t allow employees to set their productivity at 100% when adding hours manually
Connecteam
Best time tracking software for contractors
Connecteam is a time tracking software that helps contractors keep track of their employees with GPS and geolocation.
Why I picked Connecteam: Connecteam makes it easy to understand how your team members spend their time while they’re away from the office. The solution allows you to find your entire team on a map of your area, so you have a clear visual of the routes they take and how they allocate their work time.
Connecteam sends you automated location reports so you’re always aware of where your team members are and what they’re doing. You can also communicate with employees via the built-in chat, so they can keep you updated on their progress.
Connecteam Standout Features and Integrations
Features include timesheets, payroll, GPS tracking, geofencing, PTO and overtime management, break management, employee monitoring, a kiosk app, and automatic reporting.
Integrations include Google Calendar, Gusto, QuickBooks Payroll, and others.
Pros
- Mobile app is simple to use, so employees with no tech background should be able to navigate it with ease
- In-app chat feature helps you stay on top of every work situation
- Automatic end-of-shift reports help your team save time
Cons
- The solution is flexible, so configuring it to your needs can be time-consuming
- The mobile app may lag when someone uploads a large image
Replicon
Best for unifying time and attendance, schedules, labor compliance, and pay
Replicon is a time tracking software that enables managers to create comprehensive time and productivity reports without difficulty.
Why I picked Replicon Time & Attendance: Replicon enables your employees to keep accurate time records with the help of AI. The software uses machine learning to create review-ready timesheets, minimizing the chances of getting inaccurate reports and increasing your visibility into your team’s productivity.
Replicon enables you to create complex workflows and assign tasks to your employees. You can track your staff’s time and progress in real time to make sure you stay within the project budget. The software creates detailed reports of your team’s activities, allowing you to keep your stakeholders or clients up-to-date with your work.
Replicon Standout Features and Integrations
Features include role-based controls, app and website usage tracking, AI-powered timesheets, overtime and PTO tracking, task management, a self-service portal, geofencing, and reporting.
Integrations include ADP, Google Calendar, Jira, Microsoft Dynamics, QuickBooks, Sage, Salesforce, SAP, Servicenow, Xero, and others.
Pros
- Allows you to manipulate data in multiple ways
- Customizable reports
- Activity tracking features
Cons
- Interface could be easier to navigate
- Advanced features may seem overwhelming for users who are not familiar with tech
ExakTime Time & Attendance
Best for teams of field employees
ExakTime Time & Attendance is a time tracking software-as-a-service (SaaS) product designed for field teams and employees working away from offices.
Why I picked ExakTime Time & Attendance: This platform has plenty of features that are specifically designed for businesses with mobile or remote workforces. It's not just a generic time tracking tool; it's built to handle the specific challenges of managing a mobile team. These features include its mobile app, which has a simple 'go' and 'stop' clock-in and clock-out system that automatically tracks where employees clock in and out from based on their GPS location.
Employees can use their own mobile device, or the sturdy, weatherproof time clocks provided by the company. These are handy for construction sites and other outdoor and rugged work environments. Administrators get a simple, clear overview of employee hours and locations, and can connect the system to their payroll platform and other essential HR tech solutions.
ExakTime Time & Attendance Standout Features and Integrations
Features include GPS tracking and timestamps, employee clock-in map, photo ID capture, multimedia field notes, overtime and certified payroll reports, break tracking, injury reporting, expense tracking, equipment tracking, and over 40 pre-built reports.
Integrations include Sage, QuickBook, Viewpoint, Foundation Software, ADP, Acumatica, ConstructionPayroll.com, MYOB, Paychex, and Workday, among others.
Pros
- Hardware provided for clocking in and out on-site
- GPS tracking included
- Connects with popular payroll platforms
Cons
- GPS only works if activated on the mobile device
- May not be suitable for office staff
TimeClock Plus
Best to monitor missed punches and long shift
TimeClock Plus is a time and attendance software designed to automate the time-keeping process so you can proactively manage your employees.
Why I picked TimeClock Plus: The software has many ways in which you employees can interact with the software. This can happen via a computer, phone, tablet, or even smartwatch. Therefore, clocking in and tracking hours are activities that become much easier to use and adopt.
TimeClock Plus Standout Features & Integrations
Features include the ability to track where everyone is via geofencing and geolocation. This will help you if you have a dispersed workforce. Also, its reporting features let you easily track and fix issues if one of your employees forgets to clock in on a certain day.
Integrations include over a hundred payroll solutions like ADP, BAI, Ascentis, Accra, Casamba, Cayenne, Ceridian, and Epicure. Also Quickbooks, Paychex, or even payroll modules from ERP systems like SAP, Sage, and NetSuite.
Pros
- Payroll integrations
- Has mobile features
- User friendly
Cons
- You have to go through a demo before buying
- Interface looks outdated
actiTIME
Best time tracking software for customizability
actiTIME is a digital project management tool that provides features for time tracking, project management, and work scope management. It is recognized for its flexible time tracking capabilities, which allow users to record hours spent on tasks with ease, catering to a variety of business types and sizes.
Why I Picked actiTIME: actiTIME's time tracking software offers a weekly timesheet format for logging hours, accommodating both billable and non-billable work, with options for tracking overtime and leave. The work scope management feature allows for the definition of projects and tasks, deadline setting, and time estimation, aiding in work organization. Team management tools enable task assignment and monitoring of team member performance and schedules.
actiTIME provides various deployment options, including cloud, on-premise, and hybrid models. This flexibility ensures that businesses of all types and sizes can choose a deployment method that best fits their IT infrastructure and data management policies.
actiTIME Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include weekly timesheets for manual time management, a calendar view, time-track comments, overtime calculation, locking feature for data security, approval workflows, notifications and reminders, and automated time tracking.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Outlook, GitHub, Jira, and Trello.
Pros
- Work scope management tools
- Choose cloud-based or self-hosted
- Offer a free plan
Cons
- Interface is basic
- Free version has limited functions
Homebase
Best time tracking software for reducing time theft via geofencing
Homebase offers user-friendly time-tracking software in addition to other modules for employee scheduling, team communication, onboarding, and payroll. Their time-tracking features are location-specific, meaning you'll always know where your employees are when they're clocking in and out.
Why I picked Homebase: I included Homebase in this list because, even though their software is easy to use, it still includes sophisticated features. For example, their time clock feature supports geofencing, ensuring that employees are clocking in and out only when they're at work, reducing time theft and errors. This is a useful feature for both hourly and salaried employees, making it a flexible solution for various business types.
Homebase Standout Features and Integrations
Standout features for Homebase include their automatic scheduling and shift management features, which go hand-in-hand with time-tracking. Managers can easily create custom schedules and assign shifts, as well as assign specific duties and responsibilities to each employee. In addition, Homebase includes tools to manage time and attendance, process vacation requests, track labor expenses, and monitor team performance.
Homebase also offers mobile apps for Android and iOS platforms which are essential for companies with mobile workers who need to track their work hours. Employees can easily clock in and out, check schedules, request time off, and receive smartphone notifications wherever they're located.
Integrations include ADP, Clover, Google, Lightspeed, Payanywhere, Paychex, Quickbooks, Shopify, Square, Toast, Upserve, Vend, and Wells Fargo.
Pros
- Mobile app is intuitive and easy-to-use
- An all-in-one work management platform
- Works for both hourly and salaried employees
Cons
- Payroll features are only available as an add-on
- Team communication not included in their free plan
QuickBooks Time
Best time tracking software for distributed small businesses
QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets) is a time tracking software that allows distributed small businesses to manage their employees’ work hours.
Why I picked Quickbooks Time: QuickBooks Time allows your employees to punch in from anywhere, whether they’re in an office or on the road. The solution shows you the location of your staff members when they start work, making it easy to manage on-location jobs.
QuickBooks Time tracks your employees’ GPS location and allows them to leave notes on their route to indicate their next steps, job progress, and so on. Managers can quickly check to see who is working where and draft reports based on that activity.
Quickbooks Time Standout Features and Integrations
Features include shift scheduling, team management, payroll, interactive reports, timesheet management, custom alerts, GPS tracking, and push notifications.
Integrations include ADP, Aero, Dropbox, Gusto, Justworks, Karbon, Patriot, PaymentEvolution, Square Payroll, SyncEzy, and others.
Pros
- Seamless QuickBooks Payroll integration
- Makes it easy to keep track of how much time each employee spends on a particular task
- Good reporting features
Cons
- GPS position can be faulty at times
- Doesn’t work offline - needs internet connectivity
Clockify
Best time tracking software for accessibility
Clockify is a time tracking solution that allows your team members to track time across multiple devices.
Why I picked Clockify: Clockify has a simple interface that’s friendly toward novice tech users. Your employees can access the time tracking tool via a dedicated desktop and Linux app, a Firefox or Chrome extension, an employee kiosk, or mobile apps for Android and iOS. Employees can switch from one device to another at any time without losing their progress.
Clockify allows team members to visualize their time and block activities. Managers can use activity templates to schedule the workload on a weekly basis, and employees receive reminders when their timesheets are due so they won’t forget to submit them.
Clockify Standout Features and Integrations
Features include activity templates, timesheet approval, automatic time reminders, a calendar, invoicing tools, workload management features, a Pomodoro timer, and expense tracking.
Integrations include Asana, ClickUp, GitHub, Google Workspace, Jira, Notion, Quickbooks, Salesforce, Trello, Zendesk, and others.
Pros
- Allows you to break down projects into segments and attribute time to each segment
- Detailed reports
- Free plan for unlimited users
Cons
- Jira integration doesn’t keep track of edits after the timesheets have been submitted
- It could do a better job of separating free time from productive time
Timely
Best time tracking software for automated timesheets
Timely is a time tracking software that helps employees keep accurate records of their billable time by using automation.
Why I picked Timely: Timely monitors how much time your employees spend in different work apps and organizes all that information into detailed timesheets. The app runs in the background, so your team members don’t have to worry about turning it on or off to record their work.
Timely automatically keeps the same color code for all the jobs your team does for a particular client. This makes it easy to aggregate the data from multiple employees, build reports, and accurately bill your clients.
Timely Standout Features and Integrations
Features include budget monitoring, project profitability tracking, website and app use time tracking, automation, and reporting.
Integrations include Asana, Azure AD, Basecamp, GitHub, Gmail, Google Calendar, Harvest, Jira, QuickBooks, Zapier, and others.
Pros
- Clean and simple interface
- Great at tracking billable time
- Builds helpful end-of-month and end-of-year reports
Cons
- Manually adding new entries could be easier
- Advanced features have a bit of a learning curve
The 10 Best Time Tracking Software Comparison Chart
Here’s a comparison chart that summarizes basic details about each of my top time tracking software selections. You can view pricing details and the availability of free trials or demos side-by-side to help you find the best software for your budget.
Tool | Trial Info | Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Insightful Best time tracking software for work-from-home teams | 7-day free trial | From $8/employee/month | Website |
2 | Connecteam Best time tracking software for contractors | 14-day free trial + free plan available | From $29/month for 30 users (paid annually) | Website |
3 | Replicon Best for unifying time and attendance, schedules, labor compliance, and pay | 14-day free trial | From $6/user/month | Website |
4 | ExakTime Time & Attendance Best for teams of field employees | Free demo available | From $9/employee/month + $50/month base fee | Website |
5 | TimeClock Plus Best to monitor missed punches and long shift | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website |
6 | actiTIME Best time tracking software for customizability | 30 days free trial | From $5/user/month | Website |
7 | Homebase Best time tracking software for reducing time theft via geofencing | Free plan available (unlimited employees) | From $20/month (payroll add-on is $6/user/month + $39/month) | Website |
8 | QuickBooks Time Best time tracking software for distributed small businesses | 30-day free trial | From $8/user/month + $10/month base fee | Website |
9 | Clockify Best time tracking software for accessibility | 7-day free trial + free plan available | From $4.99/user/month | Website |
10 | Timely Best time tracking software for automated timesheets | 14-day free trial | From $11/user/month | Website |
Other Options
Here are a few more worthwhile options that didn’t make the best time tracking software list. I didn't have room for a full review for each of these but they are still worthy of consideration:
- Toggl Track
Best time tracking software for simple time management
- Harvest
Best time tracking software for capacity monitoring
- Buddy Punch
Best time tracking software for flexible punch options
- ClockShark
Best time tracking software for remote teams
- Factorial
Best for creating timesheets to integrate with payroll
- Beebole
Best time tracking software for employee cost control
- ClickTime
Best time tracking software for goal tracking
- Timesheets.com
Best time tracking software for self-employed workers
- Jibble
Best time tracking software for small teams
- Time Doctor
Best time tracking software for hybrid teams
How I Selected the Best Time Tracking Software
Perhaps you're wondering how I selected the best time tracking software for this list? To build this top 10 list, I evaluated and compared a wide range of time tracking systems with positive user ratings.
After determining my long list of top choices, I further honed my list by using the selection criteria below to see how each platform stacked up against the next one. I also drew on my years of HR experience dealing with timesheet data to pinpoint the features that add a lot of value.
Selection Criteria
Here’s a short summary of the main selection and evaluation criteria I used to develop my list of the best time tracking software for this article:
Usability
Remote and hybrid work environments are more popular than ever, and companies are looking for solutions to oversee their out-of-office team members. However, not every remote worker has a technical background, so I looked for solutions that are easy to use.
Accurate Tracking
Even though time tracking tools offer multiple features, their main purpose is to make it easy for your team members to clock in and out and prepare accurate timesheets. I picked solutions that can help your team members keep track of every minute they spent working.
Mobile Accessibility
Being able to punch in and out from mobile devices is crucial for modern workers, especially for those who work in the field. I chose time tracking solutions that work well on mobile operating systems, such as iOS and Android, or that feature responsive websites.
Software Integrations
Your team members use multiple apps to deliver their work. I selected time tracking tools that integrate with popular business apps so you can easily incorporate them into your solution ecosystem.
Pricing
Time tracking solutions come at different price ranges, depending on the features they offer, their capabilities, and so on. I only selected solutions that offer a great return on your investment (ROI). Some options do have free plans to get you started, but paid plans will always give you a better ROI in the long term.
Time Tracking Software: Frequently Asked Questions
Time tracking software can help you reduce your workforce costs and increase your profitability. Here are some other facts you should know about these user-friendly software solutions.
What is time tracking software?
Time tracking software allows businesses to keep track of employee attendance and work hours. These solutions help managers identify how much time each individual spends on specific tasks, so they can understand their organization’s capacity and plan projects accordingly.
What key features are included with time tracking software?
Besides tracking time, the best time tracking software solutions also include some, if not most, of the following features:
- Shift scheduling
- Attendance tracking
- Project management
- Team management
- GPS tracking
- Geolocation
- Resource planning
- Resource forecasting
- Profitability tracking
- Employee monitoring
- Timesheet management
- Payroll
What are the benefits of using time tracking software?
The main benefits of using time tracking software are that it enables companies to improve their staff’s productivity, streamline their payroll process, and avoid errors in billing and invoicing.
Increase your profitability with time tracking software
Time tracking solutions can help you lower your workforce costs, improve employee productivity, and make your business more profitable. As Lakshmi Raj, cofounder and co-CEO of Replicon, said:
“Enterprises need to maximize employee productivity and get access to real-time, intelligent data insights to deliver better project outcomes, revenue per employee and project profitability. Plus, the organizational focus must shift from merely tracking billable hours to gaining insights that help boost productivity, resource utilization and customer satisfaction. This real-time visibility can help them deliver projects on time and within budget. Hence, enterprises must consider switching to AI-powered and cloud-based time-tracking solutions that enable them to respond rapidly to evolving market conditions.”
If you want to learn more about time tracking, check out the following related resources too:
- What is Time Tracking and How Can it Benefit You?
- How to Build an Energized and Productive Team (a podcast)
- Best Time Tracking Apps for Remote and Hybrid Teams.
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