Free online time clocks allow you to track your entire team’s hours so you can run payroll accurately. In this article, I’m going over the best free online time clocks for your business so you can make the best choice.
Free online time clocks are the easiest way to track employee hours, reduce payroll errors, and ensure compliance with labor laws.
Fortunately, I researched the best options on the market, so you don’t have to.
Here are the 8 best free online time clocks for small to large businesses that offer free plans. These time clock apps make managing employees much easier, from GPS tracking to scheduling to payroll.
Here’s a quick overview of my favorite free online time clocks:
If you don’t have the time to read through our research, jump down to our quick comparison table.
Our Top Picks
-
Best all-in-one time clock tool
-
-
Best for small teams
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
29
Tools considered
19
Tools reviewed
8
Best tools
chosen
How I Chose the Best Free Time Clock Apps
To give you a more specific look into how I narrowed down my list, these are the key functions and features I looked for when reviewing free online time clock apps:
Important core features:
With so many free time clock apps on the market, it took some time to test out the top contenders. I made sure that the apps on this list have the following core features:
- Accurate time clock: The time clock should record time accurately and allow for adjustments if necessary.
- Upgrade options: Since this list reviews free online time clocks, I wanted to choose apps that offer an option to upgrade to a paid version with more features.
- Compliance: The time clock system complies with labor laws and regulations relevant to your region or industry.
- Scheduling features: The app should include an employee scheduling tool so you can create schedules from the same application.
I checked for usability features, including:
- Mobile accessible: Many employees might need to clock in or out from their job sites. A good online time clock should offer mobile compatibility, including a dedicated app.
- Multiple clock-in methods: The app had to offer various clock-in methods, such as through a computer, mobile device, or even biometric methods like fingerprint scanning.
- Customizability: Depending on your business needs, you might want a free online time clock app that allows for custom settings, such as different pay rates, overtime calculations, or break times.
- Security: Each app is secure, uses encryption, and complies with relevant data protection regulations.
I also looked for other product features, like:
- Integration: If you’re using other software for payroll or project management, it’s beneficial if the time clock can integrate with those systems.
- Reporting features: Managers or business owners often need to generate reports and timesheets for payroll or for reviewing employee hours. The apps on this list offer easy-to-understand reporting tools.
- Notifications: A time clock app should send notifications to managers if employees forget to clock in or out, or if they’re approaching overtime.
- Audit trail: For transparency and accountability, it’s helpful if the system keeps a log of all changes made to time entries.
The 8 Best Free Online Time Clock Apps of 2024
-
Connecteam — Best all-in-one free online time clock
Connecteam is an all-in-one online employee time clock that allows you to track your team’s work hours and manage accurate timesheets with complete ease and efficiency, even while on the go. It offers a completely free online time clock for small businesses with up to 10 employees, too!
Why I chose Connecteam: Its time tracking capabilities go above and beyond with one-touch clock in & out, GPS tracking, job-specific time tracking options, automated timesheets, time off management, payroll integrations, and more.
To give you a clear understanding of these capabilities, we’ve detailed how you can use them to improve your workforce management below.
Mobile time clock with geofencing
GPS tracking capabilities in the app allow you to ensure that your employees are exactly where they need to be.
Depending on your preferred settings, you can log the exact location from which your employees clock in and out or track their real-time location the entire time they’re on the clock.
Additionally, you can set up a digital geofence around your workplace. If employees leave the area while on the clock, you will both automatically receive a notification.
Intuitive drag-and-drop shift scheduler
Connecteam offers an intuitive drag-and-drop scheduling tool that integrates directly with the mobile time clock. 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.
Take advantage of scheduling templates to make the process even faster or customize your own however you need.
Additionally, Connecteam has automatic shift conflict alerts that notifies you immediately of any scheduling errors. This helps reduce labor costs by avoiding double scheduling, assigning the wrong employee to a shift, or assigning an employee who’s scheduled for PTO.
Automated timesheets
All tracked hours are automatically organized on digital timesheets. All data, such as daily hours worked, hours worked during a payroll period, overtime, breaks, and time off, can be seen here easily. The system also flags any irregularities, allowing you to easily spot and correct potentially costly payroll errors.
Additionally, you can calculate work hours, breaks, and overtime automatically and apply different pay rates per employee or job.
Employees can review their timesheets, make changes, and approve them before payroll is processed.
Time off management
Connecteam allows you to easily set up and manage your company’s time off policies for any kind of absence – paid or unpaid – and handle employee time off requests accordingly.
The system automatically calculates and processes the absence according to your defined policies, notifies the relevant employee of their request status, and documents the process. This frees you from unnecessary back-and-forth, complicated manual calculation work, or scattered processes.
Payroll integrations
When ready, you can simply export the timesheets directly to your payroll software or use one of Connecteam’s payroll integrations: Gusto, QuickBooks Online, Paychex and Xero. This allows you to skip the entire manual process, saving you valuable time and effort.
Streamlined employee communication
Team communication is made simple with Connecteam’s in-app chat and employee updates features. Employees can message each other whenever they need to ask questions or get clarification, and you can reach out to any workers whether they are clock in or not. Employees will receive an automatic notification on their phones when they receive a message so they can be sure to respond ASAP.
Everything You Need in One App
Connecteam is the best online employee time clock for both large organizations and small business owners with frontline and non-desk employees. Connecteam also offers a free online time clock for businesses with up to 10 employees. This not only includes the mobile time clock, but all of the app’s features to manage your business and your employees on the go, including an employee scheduler, HR tools, in-app chat, and training tools.
I had people that we would just schedule for work and hope and pray that they show up. And now, we have an average of a 90-95% attendance rate.
Connecteam also offers a free for life plan – Get Started Now!
Key Features
Time clock chat
Automated payroll processing
Easy to export timesheets to your payroll system
Breadcrumbs GPS to track employees’ general whereabouts
Time off management (sick days, holidays, vacations, and more)
Time clock limitations
Pros
Affordable for any size business
Excellent customer service
Ready to use in less than 15 minutes
Absolutely free plan for up to 10 users
Cons
Needs internet or wifi access to work
Pricing
Free-for-life plan availablePremium plans start at $29/month for 30 users
Absolutely free, no credit card required
Create your FREE account -
QuickBooks Time — Good for large companies
QuickBooks Time, formerly known as TSheets, is a comprehensive online time clock solution designed to cater to the needs of businesses looking for efficient time tracking. With a variety of features, QuickBooks Time helps streamline time tracking and payroll.
Mobile time tracking with the QuickBooks Workforce App
Quickbooks’ mobile time clock is accessible through the QuickBooks Workforce app and allows employees to clock in and out from anywhere, using their smartphones.
Employees can also track their time against specific jobs or tasks, submit time-off requests, and view their schedules. GPS tracking is also available so you can rest assured that employees clock in and out of work from their correct work sites, adding an extra layer of verification for mobile time entries.
See Who’s Working feature
I really like the “See Who’s Working” feature, which provides a real-time view of who is currently clocked in for better workforce visibility and operational control. That way, if you need to assign a last-minute project or task, you have an instant snapshot of who is currently clocked in so you know who’s available to complete the assignment.
Manage multiple timesheets
Employees can record when they start and stop work, and note down their break times, too. The app then automatically tracks everyone’s hours in digital timesheets. Employees can add notes to explain what they worked on for better oversight and to make sure everyone gets paid accordingly. If needed, you can easily edit timesheets.
You can easily manage multiple timesheets simultaneously, which is particularly helpful if you have multiple teams and employees working in different locations and on different projects.
Quickbooks Time offers a free 30-day trial to test out the product before purchasing.
Integrations
- All Quickbooks Tools
- ADP
- Xero
- Myob
- SyncEzy
Key Features
- Notifications
- Offline time tracking
- Automated timekeeping
- Messaging
Pros
- Mobile access
- Multiple timesheet management
Cons
- Customer service could be better
- Steep learning curve
Pricing
Starts at $20/month + $10/user/month Trial: Yes — 30-day Free Plan: No
-
OnTheClock — Good for small teams
OnTheClock is an employee time tracking solution that has a free version with up to two employees.
Why I chose OnTheClock: It offers GPS tracking, geofencing, payroll reporting, leave management, and project costing functionalities. It also offers intuitive drag-and-drop scheduling to help you save time and a very user-friendly interface.
Online time clock
Employees can clock in and out of work using any device that has internet access. Like several other excellent time clock apps, OnTheClock offers GPS tracking and geofencing for mobile clock-ins for added assurance that employees are where they need to be when clocking in or out and while on the job.
Fingerprint scanning and photo clock-in verification
I like that OnTheClock offers several methods for employee verification when clocking in, like secure fingerprint-scanning and facial recognition. By using biometric data, it ensures that the right person is recording their work hours.
Automated timesheets
Automated timesheets streamline the payroll process by automatically generating timesheets based on employee clock-ins and clock-outs, eliminating the need for manual timesheet preparation.
You can review, edit, and approve timesheets directly within the app, making it simpler to manage employee hours and ensure accuracy in payroll calculations. The software also offers customizable settings to accommodate different payroll periods and overtime rules, catering to the specific needs of your individual business.
Time off tracking
The time off feature provides a straightforward system for employees to request time off and for you to approve or deny requests. The app allows employees to request multiple types of leave, including vacation, sick days, and personal time. The app provides both employees and managers a clear overview of available time off balances and upcoming absences. Once you accept a request, OnTheClock sends the employee a notification for instant verification.
Integrations
- Gusto
- ADP
- Quickbooks
- Gusto
- Paychex
- Paylocity
Key Features
- Biometric recognition
- Online mobile time clock
- Automated timesheets
- PTO management
Pros
- Great for small businesses
- Easy to use
Cons
- Customer service could be more professional
- Confusing reporting features
Pricing
Starts at $102/month Trial: Yes Free Plan: Yes — For up to 2 users
-
Homebase — Good for minimizing time theft
Homebase is a cloud-based online employee time clock that offers a free version.
Why I chose Homebase: It includes many employee management tools like scheduling, payroll, onboarding and training tools. You can track all employees’ locations with GPS as well as paid and unpaid breaks. The features in the free version include employee scheduling, online free time clock, recruiting, and reporting.
Key Features
- A free time clock online
- Company handbook
- Automated scheduling
- Newsfeed
Pros
- Easy to schedule and track attendance
- Employees can easily switch shifts with each other
Cons
- Correcting clock in and outs can be difficult
- Issues with fully removing former employees from the app
Pricing
Starts at $20/location/month Trial: Yes — 14-day Free Plan: Yes — For a single location & up to 20 employees
-
Time Doctor — Good for remote employees and field workers
Time Doctor’s advanced time-tracking capabilities provide analytical data to enhance your company’s productivity.
Why I chose Time Doctor: This online time clock software integrates with many other tools, including Asana, PayPal, and Slack. Time Doctor’s other features include attendance tracking, screen monitoring, and the ability to easily export timesheets.
Key Features
- Online time clock app
- Manage tasks
- Client management
- Expense tracking
Pros
- Timeline report is particularly useful
- Helps allocate time spent for each company project
Cons
- Too many notifications
- Synchronization between PC and mobile app needs improvement
Pricing
Starts at $5.9/user/month Trial: No Free Plan: No
-
Time Clock Wizard — Good for payroll reporting
With Time Clock Wizard, managers can add new employees easily, track hours worked, and calculate payroll reports.
Why I chose Time Clock Wizard: With Time Clock Wizard’s free online time clock, businesses can add up to three users per account and can access the employee time-tracking functionality. The free plan also includes an option for email support.
Key Features
- Free online time clock software
- Track attendance, including vacation and sick days.
- Easy shift swap
- Online punch card
Pros
- Streamlines the payroll process
- Very intuitive to use
Cons
- Users note the app can be glitchy
- No offline mode
Pricing
Starts at $19.95/month Trial: No Free Plan: Yes
-
ClockIt — Good for attendance tracking
ClockIt allows you to monitor one or several locations from a single app. This app’s built-in GPS feature lets you track employees’ time and location from anywhere.
Why I chose ClockIt: You can start using ClockIt from any internet-connected device, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, or desktop computers.
Key Features
- Calculates overtime
- Distribute shifts effortlessly
- Free time card calculator
- Easy to manage payroll reporting
Pros
- Enhances productivity
- Helps with payroll
Cons
- Can be difficult to get in touch with customer service
- Difficult to print reports
Pricing
Starts at $82.50/month Trial: Yes Free Plan: Yes
-
Wrike — Good for creating workflows
Wrike is a project management software solution with time-tracking capabilities.
Why I chose Wrike: This tool tracks employees’ working hours so managers can see how long they’ve spend on projects. Wrike also helps with payroll reporting by converting digital time cards into exportable data.
Key Features
- Budget management
- Project and task management
- Manage events
- Resource allocation
Pros
- Task management is very useful
- Easy to set up
Cons
- A bit pricey
- Difficult to compare project outcomes side by side
Pricing
Starts at $9.80/user/month, for 2-25 users Trial: Yes Free Plan: Yes
Compare the Best Free Online Time Clock Apps
Topic | Start for free | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reviews |
4.8
|
4.7
|
4.7
|
4.6
|
4.5
|
4.4
|
4.4
|
4.3
|
Pricing |
Premium plans start at just $29/month for the first 30 users
|
Starts at $20/month + $10/user/month
|
Starts at $102/month
|
Starts at $20/location/month
|
Starts at $5.9/user/month
|
Starts at $19.95/month
|
Starts at $82.50/month
|
Starts at $9.80/user/month, for 2-25 users
|
Free Trial |
yes
14-day
|
yes
30-day
|
yes
|
yes
14-day
|
no
|
no
|
yes
|
yes
|
Free Plan |
yes
Free Up to 10 users
|
no
|
yes
For up to 2 users
|
yes
For a single location & up to 20 employees
|
no
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
Use cases |
Best all-in-one free online time clock
|
Good for large companies
|
Good for small teams
|
Good for minimizing time theft
|
Good for remote employees and field workers
|
Good for payroll reporting
|
Good for attendance tracking
|
Good for creating workflows
|
Available on |
What is a Free Online Employee Time Clock?
Free online employee time clocks track and record employees’ working hours. Accessible from desktops or mobile devices, these apps allow employees to clock in and out electronically, ensuring their hours are logged accurately.
Online employee time clocks often offer features like reporting, scheduling, integration with payroll software, and mobile access, making it easier for employers to manage work hours and ensure everyone is paid properly.
How Do Online Employee Time Clocks Work?
Online employee time clocks work by allowing employees to log their work start and end times electronically from their mobile devices. Once an employee clocks in or out, the app records the timestamp and stores the data.
Managers and supervisors can then access this data to review work hours, generate reports, and integrate timesheets with payroll systems. Many of these online time clock apps also offer features like geofencing to ensure employees are clocking in and out from their job sites.
Benefits of Online Time Clocks
Accurate time-tracking
Digital time clocks reduce the risk of human error in recording work hours, ensuring employees are compensated correctly.
Efficiency
Automated time tracking streamlines the payroll process, reducing the time and effort required to calculate hours manually.
Real-time employee monitoring
Employers and managers can monitor attendance in real-time, allowing for immediate adjustments or decisions based on staffing needs. GPS technology helps ensure all workers are on their job sites when they’re meant to be.
Transparency and accountability
Digital records provide documentation of all clock-ins and clock-outs. This transparency can reduce disputes over hours worked and ensure both employees and employers have a clear understanding of work patterns and attendance.
Comprehensive reporting
Mobile time clocks often come with reporting tools, allowing for detailed analysis of work patterns, overtime, absences, helping businesses make better decisions using real data.
How Much Do Online Time Clocks Cost?
The cost of online time clocks varies widely based on features, scalability, and the provider. Some basic versions are available for free, but they may come with limitations in terms of users, features, or data storage. Mid-range solutions can range from $5 to $30 per user per month, while more comprehensive software with advanced features can cost even more.
Some providers offer flat monthly rates for businesses, regardless of the number of users. It’s essential to compare different providers and consider both the immediate and long-term needs of the business to determine the most cost-effective solution.
Fortunately, Connecteam offers a completely free plan for small businesses with up to 10 users, and paid plans start at only $29 a month! The app comes with not only a mobile time clock, but a whole range of features to manage your business from anywhere, including an employee scheduler, task management tools, HR features, and communication tools.
FAQs
How can I track employee hours for free?
To track employee hours for free, use a free online time clock. That way, you can create schedules from the app and employees can clock in and out of their shifts right from their mobile devices. Connecteam, for example, offers a completely free online time clock for businesses with up to 10 employees.
Are online time clocks useful for remote employees and field workers?
Yes, online time clocks are especially useful for remote employees and field workers. They provide a centralized and accessible system for tracking employee hours from any location, ensuring accurate and efficient timekeeping.
How do I have my employees clock in and out remotely?
To have your employees clock in and out remotely, you can utilize an online time clock that’s accessible from mobile devices. These apps allow workers to log their hours from any location so you can be sure that everyone’s hours are tracked accurately.
The Bottom Line On Free Online Time Clock App
Using an online time clock streamlines the process of tracking work hours, ensuring accuracy and transparency for both employers and employees. This digital solution not only modernizes workforce management but also creates trust and accountability in the workplace.