Check out my top picks of GPS time clock apps that will allow you to track accurate employee work hours and enhance accountability wherever your staff is working from.
Recording accurate employee work hours can be a real pain, especially if you manage frontline and field teams. On top of that, manual timekeeping leaves lots of room for mistakes, forgotten clock-ins and outs, and even time theft.
Luckily, GPS time clocks allow you to record accurate work hours, boost accountability, and ensure your team is exactly where and when they need to be while on the clock. And that’s just the beginning of their benefits.
In this post, I’m going over the 8 best GPS time clock software solutions to help you find the perfect fit for your business.
The clock is ticking – let’s go!
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 GPS time clock app
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Good for tracking labor costs
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Good for recording job activity
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
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How I Chose the Best GPS Time Clocks
With so many GPS time clocks 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:
Important core features:
- GPS tracking: The app should accurately track the location and movement of your employees.
- Geofencing: You should be able to create virtual boundaries around specific work areas that limit where employees can clock in and out.
- Time tracking: GPS time clock apps should allow users to clock in and out of shifts and jobs to track work hours and record breaks.
I checked for usability features, such as:
- Ease of use: It’s easy to set up and offers an intuitive user experience.
- Customizability: It’s customizable to suit your team structures and business needs.
- Mobile compatibility: It works on various mobile devices, including iOS and Android.
- Price: It is cost-friendly and suits your budget.
- Support: It comes with good customer support to help you with any issues.
I also looked for other product features, like:
- Reporting: It provides detailed reports of employee work hours, locations, productivity, job costs, and other key metrics.
- Payroll integration: It integrates with various payroll software to streamline payroll processing.
The 8 Best GPS Time Clock Apps of 2024
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Connecteam — Best all-in-one GPS time clock app
Connecteam’s all-in-one GPS time clock allows you to accurately track your team’s work hours and location to ensure they’re on time and on-site while on the clock.
Why I chose Connecteam: Connecteam includes all the features and functions businesses with field workers need to manage their teams remotely.
Let’s take a look at some of the key features:
GPS tracking
The app offers a real time GPS tracker that allow you to ensure your employees are on time and exactly where they need to be when on the clock.
Clock in/out location stamps
Starting from the most basic level, clock-in/out location stamps allow you to log the exact location from which your employees clock in and out.Using the employee clock in app, businesses can ensure that employees are clocking in and out from the correct work location, thus enhancing the accuracy and reliability of attendance records.
Having a clear overview allows you to ensure your employees are at the right place at the right time when beginning and ending their shifts.
In addition, the system notifies you when employees clock in late or not at all and sends those individuals automated reminders.
You might be also interested in reading our in-depth review of the best clock in clock out available software
Geofencing
The geofence time clock allows you to set up a digital geofence around your workplaces to restrict the area where your employees can clock in and out. You can further set automatic alerts for when employees leave the geofence while on the clock.
This way, you can ensure your employees don’t clock in before entering and out after leaving their defined work area.
Bread crumbs
This live location tracking option lets you stay on top of your team’s whereabouts while on the clock. You can easily search the map for a specific employee or see the entire team at once.
This further gives you a clear visual of the routes your employees take and lets you ensure they’re where they need to be throughout the day.
Job-specific time tracking options
You have full control over what you want to track time for as an admin. This can, for instance, be time spent on specific jobs, locations, or clients.
From your admin dashboard, you can view how much time is put towards a specific project or client. This also gives you valuable insights into how your resources are allocated and is particularly useful for billing and invoicing.
Automated timesheets
All tracked hours are automatically organized on digital timesheets. These timesheets for payroll allow you to quickly see and review all logged data, such as total daily work hours, the number of hours worked during a payroll period, overtime, breaks, and time off. The system also flags any irregularities, allowing you to easily spot and correct potentially costly payroll mistakes.
In addition, you can apply different pay rates per employee and automatically calculate wages accordingly.
Employees can review their timesheets, request changes, and send in their approval before you process it for payroll, all from their mobile devices.
Time off management
Connecteam allows you to administer time off management and policies for any kind of absence – paid or unpaid – and handle employee time off requests accordingly.
The system can then automatically calculate and process the absence according to your defined policies, notify the relevant employee of their request status, and document 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: Quickbooks and Gusto. This allows you to skip the entire manual process, saving you valuable time and effort.
And so much more…
In addition, Connecteam is an exceptional employee management software with great customer support, an intuitive user experience, excellent employee management tools, and high customizability, allowing you to adjust the platform to suit your business needs.
Connecteam also offers a free for life plan – Get Started Now!
Key Features
Pros
Intuitive and easy to use
All-in-one solution
Great customer support
Budget-friendly
Cons
Needs internet or wifi access to work
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 -
Homebase — Good for tracking labor costs
Homebase’s GPS time clock software aims to help small businesses manage their work schedules, time clocks, payroll, HR, and more—so they can focus on their people.
Why I chose Homebase: This cloud-based app uses satellite GPS tracking to confirm exactly who is clocking in, when, and where. Admins can set clock-out reminders, calculate hours for payroll, and track hours, breaks, overtime, and paid time off.
To avoid time theft and buddy punching, Homebase allows you to verify clock-in locations, snap photos, and assign PINs. You can also track labor costs by hour, department, and role and get alerts when labor laws change at the state or federal level.
Learn more about HomebaseKey Features
- PIN clock in and out
- Late and absence alerts
- Messaging
- Labor costs tracking
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Limits early clock-ins
Cons
- Limited mobile capabilities
- Not budget friendly
Pricing
Starts at $20/location/month Trial: Yes — 14-day Free Plan: Yes — For a single location & up to 20 employees
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LaborSync — Good for recording job activity
Available on
Labor Sync is a GPS time clock app that aims to provide a ridiculously easy way to track your employees’ time and GPS location using mobile device.
Why I chose Labor Sync: Its GPS locator allows you to monitor your workforce’s time and location via their iOS and Android devices from anywhere. This way, you can save the time it takes to manage timekeeping manually and eliminate any discrepancies associated with inaccurate time recording.
I also like how you can identify how much time is being spent on specific jobs and activities. Easily compile team data through customizable reports and access the all the information you want. You can also filter through all information based on employee, job, and time frame.
Learn more about LaborSyncKey Features
- Live time tracking
- Messaging
- Job activity
- Payroll records
Pros
- Easy to use
- Available in multiple languages
Cons
- Prone to bugs
- Hard to set up
Pricing
Starts at $10/user/month Trial: Yes — 15-day Free Plan: No
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Jibble — Good for using face recognition
Jibble aims to be the new standard of time tracking software.
Why I chose Jibble: With this app, employees can clock in and out with GPS locations so that managers can always know where they are. As a manager, you can furthermore create geofence restrictions and generate location reports, further improving efficiency and employee safety.
Jibble also offers face recognition and customized PINs that require users to take a selfie and/or enter a personal PIN number to clock in and out.
Learn more about JibbleKey Features
- Geofencing
- GPS location reports
- Face recognition attendance
- Activity tracking
Pros
- Easy to use
- Good integration options
Cons
- Limited customizability
- Unintuitive user-experience
Pricing
Starts at $2.49/month + $2.49/user Trial: Yes Free Plan: Yes
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ClockShark — Good for tracking job completion times
Available on
- Web
- iOS
- Android
ClockShark’s time clock app GPS aims to provide software and service so good, it corrects the course of business, improves lives, and creates love.
Why I chose ClockShark: The software uses built-in GPS technology to show admins the exact locations of all employees and the sites they have worked at. This allows you to record the timesheet data needed for payroll and job costing so you can oversee what job was done, who did it, and how long it took to complete.
ClockShark offers multiple integration options with software that help automate administrative processes.
Learn more about ClockSharkKey Features
- Geofencing
- PTO management
- Internal communication
- Schedule sharing
Pros
- User-friendly
- Includes an offline mode
Cons
- Uses a significant amount of battery life
- Prone to bugs
Pricing
Starts at $20/month + $8/user/month Trial: Yes — 14-day Free Plan: No
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Buddy Punch — Good for customizing user verification
Buddy Punch GPS time tracking solution aims to offer businesses peace of mind with an online time clock that focuses on ease of use.
Why I chose Buddy Punch: I like that your team can punch in online or via the app using a username and password, 4-digit pin, QR code, or facial recognition.
As an admin, you can see who’s on the clock, view their GPS location, and limit where they can punch in/out. The system automatically generates reports ready for running payroll via one of Buddy punch’s payroll integrations.
Learn more about Buddy PunchKey Features
- Geofencing
- Overtime alerts
- Facial recognition
- Punch limiting
Pros
- Easy to use
- Quick accessibility
Cons
- Features could use refinement
- Limited reporting options
Pricing
Starts at $2.99/user/month + $19 base fee/month Trial: Yes Free Plan: No
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JustWorks Hours
JustWorks Hours — Good for setting overtime alerts
Available on
- Web
- iOS
- Android
JustWorks Hours is a GPS time clock software solution that aims to make timekeeping effortless for you and your team.
Why I chose JustWorks Hours: Your hourly employees or contractors can clock in and out from the office or on the go via their mobile phones, tablets, or laptops. The built-in GPS capability allows you to verify the locations they clock in and out. JustWorks Hours will enable you to create geofences, track projects, set overtime alerts, and generate detailed payroll reports.
Learn more about JustWorks HoursKey Features
- Geofencing
- Custom overtime and break rules
- Payroll integrations
- Time off tracking
Pros
- Robust reporting options
- Easy to navigate
Cons
- Limited notification options
- Prone to bugs
Pricing
Starts at $5/user/month + $20 additional monthly fee Trial: Yes — 30-day Free Plan: Yes
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QuickBooks Time — Good for tracking expenses
QuickBooks Time is a GPS time clock software solution that aims to help you manage projects and save up to 4% on payroll.
Why I chose Quickbooks Time: Users can change job codes, take breaks, and add timesheet details. As an admin, you can track, submit, and approve time from anywhere and know who’s working, what they’re working on, and what job they’re doing. QuickBooks further offers a payroll software solution.
Learn more about QuickBooks TimeKey Features
- Time and expense tracking
- Digital timesheets
- Time card options
- PTO tracker
Pros
- Good notification options
- Offers an offline mode
Cons
- Unintuitive user experience
- Prone to bugs
Pricing
Starts at $20/month + $10/user/month Trial: Yes — 30-day Free Plan: No
Compare the Best GPS Time Clock Apps
| Topic |
Start for free
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JustWorks Hours |
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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 $20/location/month
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Starts at $10/user/month
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Starts at $2.49/month + $2.49/user
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Starts at $20/month + $8/user/month
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Starts at $2.99/user/month + $19 base fee/month
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Starts at $5/user/month + $20 additional monthly fee
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Starts at $20/month + $10/user/month
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| Free Trial |
yes
14-day
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yes
14-day
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yes
15-day
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yes
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yes
14-day
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yes
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yes
30-day
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yes
30-day
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| Free Plan |
yes
Free Up to 10 users
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yes
For a single location & up to 20 employees
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no
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yes
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no
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no
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yes
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no
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| Use cases |
Best all-in-one GPS time clock app
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Good for tracking labor costs
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Good for recording job activity
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Good for using face recognition
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Good for tracking job completion times
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Good for customizing user verification
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Good for setting overtime alerts
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Good for tracking expenses
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| Available on |
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Web, iOS, Android
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Web, iOS, Android
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What Is a GPS Time Clock?
A GPS time clock is a digital solution that allows you to track your employees’ work hours and location while they’re clocked in. It often enables employees to clock in only when sharing their present location. This allows you to track work hours accurately, ensure your staff is in the right places, and prevent time theft.
GPS time tracking apps are often used in industries where remote work is common, such as construction, transportation, and field service management.
You can use collected data for payroll, billing, and project management purposes, making a GPS time tracker a valuable tool for businesses of all sizes.
How Do GPS Time Clocks Work?
GPS time tracking apps work by using the Global Positioning System (GPS) technology built into mobile devices to track the location and movement of employees while they work.
These apps typically require employees to download the app on their mobile devices and permit access to their live location data. It can then use this to record work hours and time spent on specific tasks or projects.
GPS time tracking apps may also offer geofencing, which allows you to define specific work zones and receive alerts when employees enter or leave these areas.
The app typically records data on a cloud-based server for you to access and use for payroll and billing. Some apps offer integration options with other systems, such as payroll software.
What Are the Benefits of a GPS Time Tracker?
The main benefits of using a GPS time clock app include that it helps:
- Enhance accuracy by allowing you to ensure that your employees are exactly where they need to be while on the clock, eliminating time theft and buddy punching. In addition, automating the time tracking process eliminates room for manual errors.
- Boost productivity by allowing you to monitor time spent on specific tasks or projects. This further helps identify areas where staff may need additional support or training.
- Provide real-time visibility by providing a live overview of your team’s location, allowing you to track progress and adjust as needed.
- Improve security by allowing you to ensure employees are where they’re supposed to be and work in secure locations, reducing the risk of security issues.
- Save costs by tracking employee time and activity accurately, reducing costly payroll errors and overpayments.
How Much Do GPS Time Clock Apps Cost?
The pricing of a time clock app with GPS capabilities largely differs per provider and often depends on the number of users and the feature package. It usually ranges from $4-$20 per month per user. 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 premium plans at a flat monthly rate of $29 for the first 30 employees.
FAQs
Is a GPS time clock app easy to use?
Yes, most GPS time clock apps are designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, with simple interfaces that make it easy for employers and employees to track and manage time.
Can a GPS time clock be used for payroll processing?
Many GPS time clock platforms offer seamless integration with payroll software, making it easy to accurately calculate employee pay and generate payroll reports.
What extra features can GPS time trackers provide my business?
Just because a software solution includes GPS time tracking capabilities doesn’t mean that’s all it can do. For example, your company might benefit from internal communication and task management features.
Instead of relying on various apps for different features, apps with additional capabilities allow you to track time, build shift schedules, communicate with employees, manage tasks, build training programs, and more.
The Bottom Line On GPS Time Clock App
GPS time tracking apps offer a reliable solution to streamline your timekeeping processes, track accurate work hours, and ensure your employees know exactly where and when they need to be on the clock. So no more buddy-punching, payroll errors, and uncertainties.
Best of all, it doesn’t have to be expensive! For a fair and affordable price, Connecteam offers all the GPS time clock capabilities you’d expect and more!