The right attendance tracking software can simplify the entire process of tracking employee attendance by enabling you to record accurate work hours, review timesheets, manage time-off requests, and get everything in check for payroll – all with one single tool and with complete ease.
Manual employee attendance tracking is often stressful, messy, extremely time-consuming, and involves a lot of back and forth with your staff. Not to mention the room it leaves for costly payroll mistakes and employees to write down some extra minutes here and there.
Luckily, you can easily replace this unreliable approach with employee attendance tracking software and streamline the entire process – from recording precise work hours and time off to managing accurate timesheets and processing payroll. And the best part is that it doesn’t have to be expensive!
To help you find the attendance management software that best suits your company’s needs and budget, I’ve lined up the best options for 2024.
If you don’t have the time to read through our research, jump down to our quick comparison table.
Our Top Picks
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Best all-in-one attendance tracking software solution.
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Good for comparing time estimations with actual time entries.
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Good for basic time tracking.
Why trust us?
Our team of unbiased software reviewers follows strict editorial guidelines, and our methodology is clear and open to everyone.
See our complete methodology
33
Tools considered
22
Tools reviewed
9
Best tools
chosen
How I Chose the Best Attendance Tracking Software
When looking for a good attendance tracking software solution, keep an eye out for the following aspects and features:
- Ease of use: It’s easy to set up and offers an intuitive user experience.
- Customizability: It’s customizable to suit your team structures.
- Time clock: Through employee self-service, your employees can clock in and out from the platform to track attendance.
- GPS location tracking: You can track your employees’ whereabouts while on the job.
- Leave management: You can manage absences and time off requests from the platform.
- Authenticity verification: It allows you to ensure that your employee is indeed the person who is clocking in and out.
- Payroll management: It records attendance and work hours with complete accuracy onto a timesheet which you can then use toward processing payroll.
- Reporting & analytics: It gives a clear and customizable overview of data recorded in the system.
- Price: It is cost-friendly and suits your budget.
- Support: It comes with good customer support to help you with any issues.
The 9 Best Attendance Tracking Softwares of 2024
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Connecteam — Best: All-in-one attendance tracking software solution.
Key Features
Notifications & reminders
Payroll integration options
Pros
Intuitive and easy to use
All-in-one solution
Great customer support
Budget-friendly
Cons
Needs internet or wifi access to work
Connecteam’s all-in-one employee scheduling app provides all the tools you need to create and manage team schedules with complete ease and efficiency, even while on the go.
Why I chose Connecteam: Connecteam offers top-notch customer support, an intuitive user experience, and a highly customizable platform that can be adapted to suit your unique business needs.
Let’s take a look at some of the key features:
Intuitive drag-and-drop shift scheduler
Connecteam offers an intuitive drag-and-drog employee scheduler so you can create shifts and simply drag employees’ names to them. With the shift scheduler, you can automatically assign shifts based on employee qualifications, preferences, and availability.
You can also take advantage of scheduling templates to make the process even faster. Use Connecteam’s premade scheduling templates or customize your own however you need. You can also create and automatically assign recurring shifts.
Additionally, Connecteam has automatic shift conflict alerts that let you know immediately of any scheduling errors. This helps you reduce labor costs by avoiding double scheduling, assigning the wrong employee to a shift, or assigning an employee who’s scheduled for PTO.
Employees can request time off directly in the app, giving you a complete overview of who is working when to avoid scheduling conflicts.
Employee time clock tracks working hours to the second
With its fully automated employee time clock, team members can clock in and out from shifts and jobs with the click of a button using the mobile app. The app tracks employee attendance and lets managers know if someone doesn’t show up or if someone enters overtime.
Connecteam’s real time GPS tracker captures your employees’ location when they clock in, and you can use Connecteam’s real-time location tracking feature to see where your workers are while they’re on the clock. That way, you can be sure no one is getting paid for work when they aren’t actually working.
In addition, the geofence feature lets you draw digital borders around job sites to restrict clocking in and out from that particular are. You’ll receive a notification if a team member strays outside the work area and send employees reminders to be inside the geofence when clocking in and out.
But rest assured: Connecteam never records employees’ locations when they’re clocked out.
Automated timesheets streamline the payroll process
All recorded time is automatically organized onto digital timesheets for payroll. You can easily see and review all attendance data, such as total daily work hours, the number of hours worked during a payroll period, overtime, breaks, time off, and any irregularities.
When ready, you can simply export the timesheets directly to your payroll software, Excel, or use one of Connecteam’s payroll integrations: QuickBook, Gusto, Paychex, and Xero.
Communication tools allow you to check in with employees whenever you need
Connecteam has an online team chat feature that allows you to chat 1:1 with employees or create group chats. Employees can message you directly whenever they need with attendance-related questions or to get clarification on a specific policy. This avoids needless back and forth with email or text, and keeps all work-related communication in one place.
Teams of up to 10 people can get Connecteam’s employee scheduling software free for life, and the platform’s paid plan starts at just $29/month for up to 30 users.
Connecteam also offers a free for life plan – Get Started Now!
Pricing
Free-for-life plan availablePremium plans start at $29/month for 30 users
14-day free trial, no credit card required
Start your free trial -
ClickUp — Good for comparing time estimations with actual time entries
Key Features
- Detailed reports
- Flexible viewing of time entries
- Organized with category tags
- Editing available for incorrect time inputs
Pros
- Highlights the areas of bottleneck
- Syncs with over 1,000 applications
Cons
- Takes lots of time to learn the system
- Differentiating interface between mobile and desktop
ClickUp is a cloud-based attendance tracking software that aims to help you manage all of your work in one place.
Why I chose ClickUp: The attendance software is built to deliver services on three levels: track attendance, report your time, and offer guidance on how to better handle your time. When time is recorded, it can be tracked by day, week, month, or range you’ve created. It allows you to make time estimations to complete a project or task and compare it with real-time entries to give you a sense of how realistic your approaches to completing a project are.
Learn more about ClickUpPricing
Starts at $7/member/month Trial: No Free Plan: Yes
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Timely — Good for basic time tracking
Key Features
- New: suggests smarter/healthier work rates
- Easily tracks progress of specific tasks
- Efficiently tracks status of projects
- User privacy controls
Pros
- Undisrupted work process
- Trustworthy monitoring service
Cons
- Inflexible pricing plan
- Customer reviews: malfunctions a lot with 3rd party apps
Timely is an employee attendance tracking software that aims to help companies automate time tracking so that you and your team can focus on the work that matters.
Why I chose Timely: With Timely, you can track time for your employees and get a record of their daily work hours and performance. You can also track precise time spent on projects for billing purposes. The software offers insightful analytics, allowing individuals and teams to manage their time more effectively and increase productivity.
Timely will refer to your work hours and function as a basic time clock. However, it doesn’t go much further as an attendance-tracking software tool.
Learn more about TimelyPricing
Starts at $16/user/month, for 6-50 users Trial: Yes Free Plan: No
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Timecamp — Good for tracking time spent on projects
Key Features
- Self categorizes online app usage
- Profitability measurement per project
- Budget tracking
- One-click timesheet approvals
Pros
- Focused on team productivity, not just individual
- Completely automated time tracking
Cons
- Upgrades become pricey
- Tricky to back track
TimeCamp is an attendance tracking software that aims to help users manually or automatically track and measure time spent on their computer, as well as on projects and tasks.
Why I chose TimeCamp: The employee attendance tracking software tracks time while you and your team work and can stay focused on the job. As it clocks time from the background, you’re later given a visual of where time could have been better spent. The attendance management software also auto-fills your timesheets. Work hours on the computer are transformed into invoices to bill clients right away.
Learn more about TimecampPricing
Starts at $2.99/user/month Trial: Yes Free Plan: Yes
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Clockify — Good for tracking work hours across projects
Key Features
- Time and expenses tracking
- Billing attached to invoicing
- Cost in relation to project completion
- Detailed dashboard
Pros
- Quick set-up time
- Straightforward approach to attendance tracking
Cons
- Time stopper has no limit for moments you forget
- Doesn’t send reminders through notifications
Clockify’s employee attendance tracking software aims to help companies keep track of employee productivity, attendance, and billable hours with a simple time tracker and timesheet.
Why I chose Clockify: All users need to do to track attendance is log in to the attendance software and start the timer. They can also submit absence requests to their employers.
The attendance tracking software gives you a full overview of all billable and non-billable activities in the system. You can also view tracked time per individual, team, or project. It also shows who’s completed what and at what time.
Learn more about ClockifyPricing
Starts at $3.99/user/month Trial: Yes — For PRO features Free Plan: Yes
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Hubstaff — Good for viewing a breakdown of each employee's work hours
Key Features
- Tracks time offline
- Monitoring along with reports
- Automated time and attendance
- Time tracking choices: hour, project, task
Pros
- Geolocation GPS location tracking
- Time reports for better budget estimates
Cons
- Poor customer support
- Lack of 3rd party app integration
Hubstaff’s attendance tracking software aims to help businesses boost productivity by improving team, project, and time management.
Why I chose Hubstaff: The employee attendance tracking software allows you to track work hours manually or automatically. The system then automatically generates timesheets based on these time entries and gives you a breakdown of each employee’s hours by date, client, and project.
The attendance management software also allows you to review and approve employee time off requests and set up paid or unpaid time off policies. In addition, it sends you alerts when team members start late, finish early, or miss their shifts based on your created schedules.
Learn more about HubstaffPricing
Starts at $4.99/user/month, 2 users minimum Trial: Yes — 14-day Free Plan: Yes — For one user only
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RescueTime — Good for blocking online distractions during work hours
Available on
- Web
- Android
- Windows
- Mac
Key Features
- Focused goals
- Notification center to meet daily schedules
- Blocks sites that adversely affect productivity online
- Full activity shown on dashboard
Pros
- Comprehensive reports on productivity levels
- Keeps you motivated because time is utilized to the maximum
Cons
- Lacks single page views
- Very basic functionality
RescueTime is an attendance tracking software system that aims to empower you with an analysis of how your team spends their time to improve focus, productivity, and healthy work habits.
Why I chose RescueTime: RescueTime allows you to automatically track time and block distractions. It works by helping teams understand their time and identify websites and apps that cause distractions throughout the day. It then blocks these during optimal working times to increase focus and optimize your remote team’s work schedules.
Note that this software isn’t suitable for processing payroll or managing time off requests.
Learn more about RescueTimePricing
Starts at $9/month Trial: Yes — 14-day Free Plan: Yes — For time mamagement
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QuickBooks Time — Good for switching between jobs while on the clock
Key Features
- “Who’s working” feature to see employees clocked in
- Reports for project development
- Individual and time scheduling
- Timesheet Management
Pros
- Attendance kept on track with reminders
- Managers can approve shifts
Cons
- Extremely unhelpful customer support
- Customer review: often functionality errors
QuickBooks Time is an attendance tracking software that aims to help companies simplify their business and save an average of 4% on payroll costs.
Why I chose Quickbooks Time: Employees can clock in and out from jobs, register breaks, change between jobs, and add any timesheet details. The employee attendance tracking software has GPS time stamp capabilities and allows you to set up geofence boundaries to send employees automatic reminders to clock in and out.
It also includes an alert system that notifies and reminds employees to submit their clocked hours as a payroll solution.
Learn more about QuickBooks TimePricing
Starts at $20/month + $10/user/month Trial: Yes — 30-day Free Plan: No
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Jibble — Good for avoiding buddy punching with facial recognition
Key Features
- Speedy facial recognition for time clocking
- Office kiosk possibilities
- GPS for attendance check and location
- Works online and offline
Pros
- Completely erases buddy punching with AI set-up
- Projects and activities recorded in real-time
Cons
- Limited flexibility
- Payment is not associated with time
Jibble’s attendance management software aims to set a new time-tracking standard.
With it, your employees can track attendance from their mobile phones or an online kiosk. You can ensure they are in the right place at the right time with GPS tracking capabilities. The employee attendance tracking software also helps avoid buddy punching and time theft by having your employees take a selfie to identify themselves when clocking in and out.
The software also allows you to manage time off requests and link leave to work schedules.
Learn more about JibblePricing
Starts at $2.49/month + $2.49/user Trial: Yes Free Plan: Yes
Compare the Best Attendance Tracking Softwares
| Topic |
Start for free
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| Reviews |
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| Pricing |
Starts at just $29/month for the first 30 users
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Starts at $7/member/month
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Starts at $16/user/month, for 6-50 users
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Starts at $2.99/user/month
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Starts at $3.99/user/month
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Starts at $4.99/user/month, 2 users minimum
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Starts at $9/month
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Starts at $20/month + $10/user/month
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Starts at $2.49/month + $2.49/user
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| Free Trial |
yes
14-day
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no
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yes
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yes
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yes
For PRO features
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yes
14-day
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yes
14-day
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yes
30-day
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yes
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| Free Plan |
yes
Free Up to 10 users
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yes
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no
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yes
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yes
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yes
For one user only
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yes
For time mamagement
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no
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yes
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| Use cases |
Best: All-in-one attendance tracking software solution.
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Good for comparing time estimations with actual time entries
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Good for basic time tracking
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Good for tracking time spent on projects
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Good for tracking work hours across projects
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Good for viewing a breakdown of each employee's work hours
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Good for blocking online distractions during work hours
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Good for switching between jobs while on the clock
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Good for avoiding buddy punching with facial recognition
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| Available on |
Web, Android, Windows, Mac
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What is an Attendance Tracking Software?
Attendance tracking software allows business owners and managers to record employee work hours and the time they take off and document this information in an accurate attendance record. The tool can also include GPS services which allow you to ensure that your employees are exactly where they need to be while clocked in. As attendance tracking software is an automated tool, it removes human error from employee time tracking, recorded timesheets, and payroll processes.
How Does Attendance Tracking Software Work?
While each attendance management software solution works differently and offers varying sets of features, they generally allow users to clock in and out of work and admins to track attendance accordingly. You will have the ability to customize your settings to fit your needs and relevant policies. This will enable the attendance software to flag any irregularities, such as overtime.
Overall, once an employee arrives at their work destination, they can simply clock in using the attendance software and clock out when finished. Some employee attendance tracking software include GPS tracking capabilities. This allows you to track the location from which your employees clock in and out, or record their whereabouts while on the job.
Attendance software usually also includes a dashboard where you can see an overview of employee attendance, keep track of data in the system, and generate reports. All information is recorded on a timesheet that can be exported straight to your payroll program of choice.
What Are The Benefits of Attendance Tracking Software?
The main benefits of using attendance tracking software include:
Accurate payroll processing
Attendance tracking software ensures precise recording of employees’ work hours, leading to accurate and fair payroll processing.
Increased transparency
It provides a clear and transparent record of attendance, reducing misunderstandings and disputes over hours worked.
Flexibility in work schedules
This software often allows for more flexible scheduling, accommodating different work patterns and remote work scenarios.
Self-service access to information
Employees can easily access their attendance records, request time off, and view their leave balances, promoting a sense of autonomy and empowerment.
Improved work-life balance
By accurately tracking hours, employees are less likely to overwork, helping them maintain a healthier work-life balance.
Enhanced job satisfaction
Fair and transparent tracking can lead to increased job satisfaction, as employees feel their time and efforts are properly acknowledged.
Professional development insights
Attendance data can be used to identify patterns, such as frequent late arrivals or overtime, which can be addressed in professional development plans.
How Much Does Attendance Tracking Software Cost?
The pricing of attendance software largely differs per provider and often depends on the number of users and the feature package. It often ranges from $2-$10 per user per month. Particularly those that charge per user can get rather expensive if you’re working with a large team.
Note that high pricing does not necessarily equal a better user experience. Our number one pick, Connecteam, offers a completely free plan for small businesses with up to 10 employees and offers premium plans at a flat monthly rate of $29 for the first 30 employees.
>> Get started with Connecteam for free today! <<
FAQs
Does attendance tracking software invade employee privacy?
Attendance tracking software is a modern approach to employee surveillance, and because of that, it naturally brings about some skepticism. Is this going to overstep boundaries when it comes to privacy? Is this going to cause more problems than solve them?
There are many myths that come along for the ride, such as “employee monitoring is illegal.” I’m here to tell you that it’s not, however you do want to be sure that the software you choose is also mindful of what is and isn’t allowed specifically within monitoring.
For example, Connecteam follows these rules, is fully transparent about it all, and focuses on employee timekeeping best practices. The breadcrumbs feature shows just general pinpoints while the user is clocked in. This means that beyond the fact your employees are not tracked while off work hours, it also shows that with randomized pinpoint tracking, it’s just serving a purpose to show productivity instead of marketing themselves as a fully controlled monitor tool.
All of these surveillance tactics are highly beneficial to employees as well. If you are still hesitant, don’t hesitate to reach out to the customer support of your chosen attendance tracking software and ask further questions if interested.
Is there attendance tracking software that is free to download?
A free online attendance tracking software version does exist. In fact, sometimes this is a great way to first test the waters as to how it will grow into your company.
You have many options to choose from, and because of that, we recommend you go for one that provides a free trial period with not only full feature mobility but also one that includes a free-for-life version. Connecteam provides a fully comprehensive version of the attendance tracking software for a 14-day trial, with everything you need to the last detail, such as overtime calculations.
The Bottom Line On Attendance Tracking Software
I hope that at this point, you’ve come to realize that whatever sparked your search for a time attendance tracking software was actually a gift in disguise. The endless possibilities that come from attendance tracking software are beyond helpful to those desperately in need or just trying to keep up with the modern ways of business. Whether you’ve only started to notice money loss or you’re knee-deep into it and completely fed up, now there is a clear-cut solution with attendance tracking software.
With 9 different attendance tracking software suggestions to choose from, you can rest assured that at least one of them will mold well to your business
Amongst the many, we have found the Connecteam app to come in first not only because it hits so many of the popular pressure points, but also because it is designed in a way that leaves no stone unturned. With attention paid to both you, the business owner, and the employees just as well, you can be sure that this is an application worth investing in.