Time clock apps make it easier for employees to track their time worked and simplify payroll. We review the 10 best mobile time clock apps for 2024.
If your business has hourly employees, it’s critical to make sure you’re tracking time accurately. Employees expect to be paid for the time they work, and employers don’t want to waste money overpaying employees for idle time.
Mobile time clock apps simplify the process of tracking employees’ hours worked. Employees can punch in and out right from their smartphone with just a few taps. These apps also work no matter whether employees are in the office or in the field.
In this guide, we’ll review the 11 best time clock apps for 2024. We’ll also cover the key features of these apps so you can choose the best mobile time clock app for your business.
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 mobile time clock app
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Good for project management integrations
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Good for payroll integrations
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
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Tools considered
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Tools reviewed
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Best tools
chosen
What to Look For in a Time Clock App
The best mobile time clock apps are packed with features to not only track employees time worked, but also help you run your business more smoothly. Here are some of the key features to look for when choosing a mobile time clock app.
- Location-based tracking: If you have employees in the field, you want to know where they are when they’re clocking time. GPS-enabled time clock apps provide location data alongside time entries.
- Payroll integration: For many businesses, the point of time tracking is to get payroll right. Look for a time clock app that integrates seamlessly with your existing payroll software.
- Attendance tracking: In addition to tracking time worked, many clock apps also keep track of leave accruals, sick days, and more.
- Reporting: Supervisors need to know how many hours each employee has worked so they can schedule work appropriately and reduce labor costs. Look for apps that offer up-to-date reporting on employees’ hours.
The 10 Best Time Clock Apps of 2024
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Connecteam — Best for: All-in-one mobile time clock app
Connecteam is a mobile app time clock and so much more. With our app, employees can easily clock in and out with a tap. They can also assign time worked to specific projects, tasks or clients, making it easier to keep track of how to bill customers.
The Connecteam app also has built-in GPS functionality. That’s a huge advantage for businesses like construction companies and delivery services that have employees spread out in the field. Supervisors always know where employees are when they’re working.
The GPS functionality offers several additional features. You can set up geofences that automatically clock employees into and out of projects. You can also limit what locations employees can clock in or out from in order to eliminate time theft.
Approving timesheets is a breeze with Connecteam, too. Timesheets are auto-routed to supervisors for approval, making employee time tracking simple. Overtime and compliance issues are automatically flagged. If there’s ever a question, Connecteam doubles as an instant messaging app so supervisors and employees can chat about it.
Leave requests and attendance management are integrated into Connecteam, enabling employees to track their hours and time off all in one place. Connecteam is also one of the best staff scheduling apps. So, employees can view their upcoming shifts and clock in using a single app.
Connecteam automatically stores timecards and attendance records in the cloud. So, your business doesn’t have to think about legal compliance with record-keeping requirements.
When it comes time to run payroll, you can easily import timesheets from Connecteam into QuickBooks Online or Gusto. Since Connecteam keeps track of overtime, breaks, and paid time off (PTO), you can be confident that wages are calculated accurately for every employee.
All of Connecteam’s features are tied together with automatic reporting. Supervisors get real time updates on employee attendance for shifts and jobs, so you know right away if there’s a staffing problem. Managers can use Connecteam’s built-in report templates or create custom reports, then choose an interval for how frequently reports are produced.
Overall, we think Connecteam brings together all of the features businesses need to manage employees’ time. It’s simple for employees to use, offers a wide range of monitoring and approval tools for supervisors, and integrates seamlessly with your business’s payroll process.
Businesses with 10 or fewer employees can use Connecteam entirely for free. For larger businesses, paid plans starts at just $29 per month for up to 30 employees.
Connecteam also offers a free for life plan – Try Connecteam here!
Key Features
Leave and attendance management
Custom reporting with built-in templates
Pros
Supports location-based clock-ins using GPS
Create project-specific reports and alerts
Manage employees’ schedules and clock-ins with a single app
Free for businesses with 10 or fewer employees
Cons
Doesn’t automatically generate customer invoices
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 -
Timecamp — Best for: Project management integrations
While many employee time clock apps are geared towards time tracking for hourly employees or work on jobs in the field, TimeCamp is more designed for tracking time spent on computer-based projects. This platform makes it easy for in-office and remote employees to build up their own calendars with tasks assigned to them, then track the time they spend on those tasks.
What’s really great about TimeCamp is that it integrates with many popular team management apps. These include Asana, Trello, and Monday.com. Supervisors and teams can work collaboratively to assign tasks, then use TimeCamp to keep track of how much time each employee is contributing.
The time data that TimeCamp produces can be used for everything from invoicing clients to payroll to tracking employees’ productivity. This app offers plenty of built-in reporting tools to help managers analyze time data.
Key Features
- Track employee productivity
- Generate invoices for customers
- Manage time and attendance
- Straightforward timesheet approval
Pros
- Integrates with popular team management software
- Free plan supports unlimited users
Cons
- No GPS tracking features for employees in the field
- No built-in communication tools
Pricing
Starts at $2.99/user/month Trial: Yes Free Plan: Yes
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Buddy Punch — Good for: Payroll integrations
BuddyPunch focuses on making it as simple as possible to run payroll. This mobile app time clock tracks time and lets you set multiple rates for each employee for different projects, tasks, or bonus periods. It can also manage PTO, unpaid leave, and sick leave.
BuddyPunch automatically routes timesheets to managers for approval, then integrates with more than 10 popular payroll platforms. It takes just minutes to run payroll with QuickBooks, Paychex, Workday, Gusto, and more.
If you have employees in the field, BuddyPunch can also function as a GPS time clock app. Geofences help keep employees accountable. The software also uses facial recognition to ensure that when an employee punches in, it’s really them doing the clock-in.
Key Features
- Integrates with 10+ payroll providers
- Assign multiple pay rates to each employee
- Facial recognition to prevent time theft
- GPS-based clock-in reminders
Pros
- Very user-friendly mobile app
- Create geofences to monitor employees in the field
Cons
- Cannot generate invoices for customers
- No built-in communication tools
Pricing
Starts at $3.99/user/month + $19 base fee/month Trial: Yes — 14-day Free Plan: No
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Inch — Good for: Free time tracking
Available on
- Web
- Android
- Windows
- Mac
Inch is a flexible and easy-to-use mobile time clock app that can translate hours worked into invoices for your customers. With Inch, managers can set each employees’ rate for each job. Employees clock in and out using the app and assign their hours to a specific client or task. Inch then combines hours from each employee and generates an invoice that’s ready to send off to your customer.
Inch is GPS-enabled to help you manage employees in the field. You can set up geofences around job sites. If an employee enters or leaves a geofence without clocking in or out, they’ll receive a push notification reminding them to do so.
Perhaps the best thing about Inch is that it’s completely free to use. The platform has no paid plans and you can track time for an unlimited number of employees.
Key Features
- Create invoices for clients based on time worked
- Geofences remind employees to clock in and out
- Powerful built-in reporting tools
- Track location data alongside hours
Pros
- Supports employee scheduling in the same app
- Built-in instant messaging
Cons
- Doesn’t integrate with payroll software
- Cannot create multiple rates for billing clients and payroll
Pricing
Free Trial: No Free Plan: Yes
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Harvest — Good for: Task-based time tracking
Harvest is a simple platform for tracking the time employees spend on tasks or projects. Simply tap or click on a project and Harvest will start a timer. When an employee is finished working, they can tap or click to stop the timer.
While Harvest’s time clock feature is simple, this app offers an impressive reporting suite. Supervisors can track hours and budgets for each project and visualize which employees are being underutilized. Harvest also enables businesses to turn hours worked into a client invoice in seconds.
Harvest offers a wide variety of integrations. You can import tasks from project management software like Asana or process invoices using PayPal or Stripe. It also supports automated workflows through Zapier and IFTTT.
Key Features
- One-click time tracking
- Build client invoices based on hours worked
- Customizable reporting tools
- Wide range of integrations
Pros
- Track time across all devices
- Easily export data to Excel
Cons
- No GPS-based features for employees in the field
- Employees can only have one wage rate per project
Pricing
$10.8/user/month Trial: Yes — 30-day Free Plan: Yes — Up to 1 seat & 2 projects
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Clockify — Goof for: Tracking break time
Clockify is a do-it-all time tracking software that’s easy to use for both supervisors and employees. Supervisors can set up projects and templates to streamline time tracking. Employees then just have to tap or click a button to start tracking for the appropriate project.
One thing we especially like about Clockify is how it handles break time. The software offers a Pomodoro timer, which reminds employees to take breaks at set intervals. Clockify also enables employees to track non-billable hours spent on breaks. These tools make it easy for employers to ensure that they remain in compliance with labor laws.
Unfortunately, Clockify can get pricey for larger businesses, especially if you need advanced features like client invoicing and budget tracking. However, its ease of use makes it worth a look for businesses with just a handful of employees.
Key Features
- Create templates for new projects
- Pomodoro timer to encourage breaks
- Track non-billable hours
- Enables supervisors to lock timesheets
Pros
- Very user-friendly interface
- Wide range of software integrations
Cons
- Expensive for businesses with many employees
- Limited features for preventing time theft
Pricing
Starts at $3.99/user/month Trial: Yes — For PRO features Free Plan: Yes
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Timely — Good for: Managing multiple teams
Timely is one of the best mobile time clock apps for agencies or supervisors who need to manage multiple teams. With this software, you can set up time tracking for an unlimited number of teams, each with their own projects. Data from each team can be segregated or combined for reporting, giving supervisors a ton of flexibility.
Another great thing about this timesheet app is that the user interface is modern and seamless. Employees can drag and drop tasks from their calendar into categories to bill them to specific projects. Supervisors can create custom dashboards to keep an eye on what each of their teams are doing.
Timely integrates with most popular business software, including calendar apps like Google Calendar, payroll software like QuickBooks, and project management software like Asana. You can also create custom integrations using Zapier.
Key Features
- Track time across multiple independent teams
- Drag-and-drop task management
- Wide range of integrations
- Automatic timesheet reminders
Pros
- Can send dynamic reports to clients
- Very flexible reporting tools
Cons
- Does not generate invoices for clients
- No built-in employee scheduling tools
Pricing
Starts at $16/user/month, for 6-50 users Trial: Yes Free Plan: No
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QuickBooks Time — Good for: Businesses that use QuickBooks
If your business relies on QuickBooks for payroll and accounting, you can save a lot of integration headaches by using QuickBooks Time to track employees’ hours. Data from QuickBooks Time can be used to run payroll with QuickBooks in seconds and then appear as a properly categorized expense in your business accounts.
Even if your business doesn’t use QuickBooks, there are aspects of this software to like. It’s easy to use and offers overtime and compliance alerts for supervisors. It also includes GPS-based features like geofences to help manage employees in the field. In addition, QuickBooks Time enables you to schedule employees to shifts to help your business operate more smoothly.
Key Features
- Attendance and time off management
- Track project budgets
- Overtime and compliance alerts
- GPS-based time tracking reminders
Pros
- Seamless integration with other QuickBooks products
- Includes employee scheduling tools
Cons
- Very few integrations outside of QuickBooks
- App interface could be easier to use
Pricing
Starts at $20/month + $10/user/month Trial: Yes — 30-day Free Plan: No
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Hubstaff — Good for: Freelancers
We think Hubstaff is one of the top mobile time clock apps for freelancers. That’s in part because individual business owners can use this app completely free. It offers comprehensive time tracking features, including the ability to organize time by project or client.
Of course, Hubstaff also offers plenty of features for larger businesses. Businesses with employees in the field can set up geofences to automatically start and stop time clocks on mobile. Supervisors can also get a visual breakdown of how much time employees spend in transit or at particular job sites.
Hubstaff also supports payroll integration and customer invoicing. It’s a well-rounded platform with user-friendly mobile apps.
Key Features
- Organize time by project or client
- Geofences for automatic time tracking
- Payroll integrations
- Customizable reports
Pros
- Free for a single user
- Run payroll directly through Hubstaff
Cons
- Minimum 24 users for paid plans
- Timesheet approval costs extra
Pricing
Starts at $4.99/user/month, 2 users minimum Trial: Yes — 14-day Free Plan: Yes — For one user only
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Sling — Good for: On-premises time tracking
Sling is an employee scheduling software that includes a number of useful clock app features. It can turn any smartphone into a mobile time clock and offers geofencing to ensure that employees are where they’re supposed to be when clocking time.
One of the most unique things about this software is that it’s not just for enabling employees in the field to clock in and out. You can also use Sling to create a virtual punch clock in your office. So, every employee can clock in and out on the same terminal.
Sling offers integrations with payroll processors like Gusto. It also integrates with Square for invoicing clients for hours worked.
Key Features
- Create a central time clock terminal
- Payroll integrations
- Geofence-based controls on clocking in and out
- Employee scheduling tools
Pros
- Combines employee scheduling and time management
- Supports attendance and leave tracking
Cons
- Limited selection of payroll integrations
- Cannot edit timesheets on mobile
Pricing
Starts at $1.70/user/month Trial: Yes — 15-day trial Free Plan: Yes — Up to 50 users
Compare the Best Time Clock Apps
| Topic |
Start for free
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reviews |
  |
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N/A
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| Pricing |
Starts at just $29/month for the first 30 users
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Starts at $2.99/user/month
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Starts at $3.99/user/month + $19 base fee/month
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Free
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$10.8/user/month
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Starts at $3.99/user/month
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Starts at $16/user/month, for 6-50 users
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Starts at $20/month + $10/user/month
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Starts at $4.99/user/month, 2 users minimum
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Starts at $1.70/user/month
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| Free Trial |
yes
14-day
|
yes
|
yes
14-day
|
no
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yes
30-day
|
yes
For PRO features
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yes
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yes
30-day
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yes
14-day
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yes
15-day trial
|
| Free Plan |
yes
Free Up to 10 users
|
yes
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no
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yes
|
yes
Up to 1 seat & 2 projects
|
yes
|
no
|
no
|
yes
For one user only
|
yes
Up to 50 users
|
| Use cases |
Best for: All-in-one mobile time clock app
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Best for: Project management integrations
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Good for: Payroll integrations
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Good for: Free time tracking
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Good for: Task-based time tracking
|
Goof for: Tracking break time
|
Good for: Managing multiple teams
|
Good for: Businesses that use QuickBooks
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Good for: Freelancers
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Good for: On-premises time tracking
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| Available on |
Web, Android, Windows, Mac
|
What are Mobile Time Clock Apps?
Mobile time clock apps are platforms that enable employees to log the hours they work. They are designed to replace paper time cards. An employee can clock in when they arrive at a job or begin work on a project. When they’re finished or pause work for a break, they can clock out.
Mobile time clocks enable hourly employees to track their hours accurately and report them to their employer. They also enable supervisors to monitor employees’ hours so they know how much an employee has worked and whether they are nearing overtime.
Not sure which app to choose? Check out our comparison of the best time tracking apps for small businesses.
How Do Mobile Time Clock Apps Work?
Mobile time clock apps are as simple as the paper time cards they replace. An employee opens the app and clocks in, which often just requires a tap. When they’re done working, they can tap again to clock out.
Most time clock apps offer features for categorizing work. Employees who work on multiple projects may be able to clock in and out on each project. This helps managers understand how much time employees are spending on different tasks and makes it easier to bill customers for the hours spent on their projects.
Mobile time clocks collect employees’ time data in timesheets, which can be used to run payroll. Some time clocks for mobile devices also offer reporting and analytics tools to help supervisors understand how their employees are spending their time.
The Benefits of Mobile Time Clock Apps
Having time clocks on mobile phones can help businesses in several ways.
First, they ensure that employees—especially hourly employees—are tracking their time accurately. These apps turn any smartphone into a time clock, so employees can clock in and out no matter whether they’re at the office or in the field. Many apps also use employee scheduling data or GPS location data to remind employees to clock in when they start work.
This time data can be used to run payroll. Clock apps typically generate timesheets that can be reviewed by employees and managers. These timesheets can then be imported into a payroll software to run payroll in minutes.
Another benefit to mobile time clocks is that they make it easier to bill hours to customers and clients. Employees can clock in and out of specific projects, so supervisors know exactly how many hours are spent on a project across all employees. Some clock apps even enable businesses to invoice clients directly.
How Much Does a Mobile Time Clock App Cost?
Mobile time clock apps can be relatively inexpensive. In most cases, you can expect to pay between $1 and $10 per employee. For example, TimeCamp starts at $6.30 per user, per month. Some apps that include employee scheduling software or advanced payroll tools may be slightly more expensive.
There are also free time clock apps. Connecteam is free to use for businesses with 10 or fewer employees. If you need to track time for more than 10 employees, Connecteam starts at just $29 per month for up to 30 employees. This makes it one of the most cost-effective mobile time clock apps available right now.
FAQs
Is there a free app for tracking employee hours?
Connecteam enables you to track employees’ hours for free if your business has 10 or fewer employees. If you have more than 10 employees, Inch offers free time tracking for an unlimited number of users.
Can employees track time with their phones?
Yes, employees can track time with their phone using mobile clock apps. These apps enable employees to clock in and out on their smartphone. They ensure that time is tracked accurately and that hours worked are visible to both employees and employers.
Do time clock apps track your location?
Some time clock apps track location using GPS during employees’ work hours. Location tracking is used to ensure that employees are at a job site when clocking in. This data can also be used to remind employees to clock out when they leave a job site.
The Bottom Line On Time Clock App
Mobile time clock apps make it easier for employees and employers to track hours worked. They can simplify payroll and ensure that your company accurately bills your customers for the work you’ve done.
We think Connecteam is the best mobile time clock app for the majority of businesses. It enables employees to clock in and out with just a tap, helps supervisors and employees to communicate about work, and integrates with popular payroll platforms. Connecteam is free for small businesses with up to 10 employees and paid plans start at just $29 per month.