A recent Forbes article found that about 60% of companies use time tracking tools. These tools help improve productivity and keep everyone accountable. With so many time clock apps out there, small businesses need to find the right one for their needs.
They look for apps that help with managing employee time, tracking work hours, and scheduling staff. They also want tools that boost productivity and help with payroll. The right app can really help streamline operations and keep labor costs under control.
Key Takeaways
- The top clock in app, ezClocker, has a high rating of 4.8/5.0 in the App Store.
- ezClocker starts at a base price of $12/month for up to 15 employees, offering a cost-effective solution for small businesses.
- ezClocker provides a 30-day free trial for potential users, allowing them to test the app’s features.
- The app supports both Android and iPhone devices for clocking in and out, ensuring accessibility for all employees.
- Employers can access exported reports, GPS timestamps, overtime calculations, and integrate payroll systems through ezClocker.
What to Consider When Choosing a Time Clock App
Choosing a time clock app for your small business is key. You need to think about what your business needs and how big it is. Small businesses have special needs that are different from big companies. So, it’s important to find an app that fits your business well.
Business Needs and Size
Think about how many employees you have, what they do, and their schedules. Also, consider if you need geofencing and GPS tracking. These can stop time theft and make sure work hours monitoring is right.
Look at how much employee time management and attendance tracking you need. You want to find a balance between making your business run well and keeping employees happy.
Employee Tracking and Monitoring
Some time clock apps have cool features like geofencing, GPS tracking, and facial recognition for clocking in and out. These can help with work hours monitoring and stop time theft. But, they might make some employees feel uneasy about privacy. Think about how these features will affect your team and pick an app that respects their privacy.
| Time Clock App | Pricing | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| When I Work | $2.50 to $8.00 per user per month | Team messaging, geofencing, automation, reporting tools, time tracking |
| Clockify | $5.99 to $11.99 per user per month | Free plan for personal hour tracking, pro plan for team management |
| Buddy Punch | $3.49 to $9.49 per user per month | User-friendly design, multi-location employee tracking |
Think about your business needs, size, and what you want for employee tracking. This way, you can pick a time clock app that boosts productivity, stops time theft, and makes your workplace better for your small business.
Best Clock In App Features for Small Businesses
Choosing the right time tracking software for your small business is crucial. You need an app with strong features for timekeeping, scheduling, and managing employees. The best apps offer tools to make these tasks easier.
Time Tracking and Scheduling
Time tracking and scheduling are key for small businesses. These features let employees clock in and out easily and view their timecards. They can also send timesheets for approval.
Apps with shift scheduling, overtime tracking, and payroll integrations are very helpful. These features save time and reduce errors in payroll.
Payroll Integration
Linking your time clock app with your payroll is important for small businesses. This ensures hours worked match up with payroll correctly, avoiding mistakes. The best apps work with top payroll systems or let you export data easily.
Geofencing and GPS Tracking
Geofencing and GPS tracking are great for businesses that need to track employee locations. Geofencing sets boundaries for where employees can work. GPS tracking records where employees are when they clock in and out.
These features help make sure employees work where and when they should. They prevent time theft and boost trust in the workplace.
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Time Tracking and Scheduling | Streamline timekeeping, approval, and payroll processes |
| Payroll Integration | Eliminate manual data entry and ensure accurate compensation |
| Geofencing and GPS Tracking | Monitor employee locations and prevent time theft |
By focusing on these features, small businesses can find an app that makes timekeeping easier. It boosts productivity and gives insights into their workforce.
Top Clock In App: Buddy Punch
Buddy Punch is our top pick for the best clock in app for small businesses. It has a 4.8 out of 5-star rating on Capterra from nearly 1,000 reviews. The app is easy to use and simple to set up. You can add employees by hand or import them from an Excel file.
This time clock app does more than just track hours worked. It has geofencing, GPS tracking, facial recognition, and more. It’s perfect for small businesses, helping with employee time management and making payroll easier.
Ease of Use and Setup
Buddy Punch is easy to use and simple to set up. It’s great for small businesses. Employees can clock in and out easily. And, administrators can add new team members or check attendance quickly.
Comprehensive Features
Buddy Punch offers more than just time tracking. It has geofencing, GPS tracking, facial recognition, and project tracking. These features help businesses keep track of their employees, make payroll easier, and understand how productive their team is.
Pricing and Value
Buddy Punch is a budget-friendly time clock app, starting at $3.99 per user per month plus a $19 base fee. It’s a great choice for small businesses needing detailed time tracking software without spending too much.
“More than 10,000 businesses have trusted Buddy Punch to solve their employee time tracking needs.”
Best for Combined Timekeeping and HR: Connecteam
For small businesses looking for a solution that does it all, Connecteam is a top pick. It’s great for managing time and people. The platform has strong time clock features and HR tools to help with workforce management.
Connecteam’s time clock lets you track GPS and geofencing, making timesheets easy to create. It’s really strong in HR too. You get document management, onboarding checklists, training, certification tracking, and performance reviews in one place.
This makes Connecteam perfect for small businesses needing to merge timekeeping and HR into one system. It helps streamline operations, boosts employee engagement, and increases productivity. Plus, it keeps you in line with labor laws.
| Feature | Connecteam |
|---|---|
| Time Tracking | ✓ |
| GPS Tracking | ✓ |
| Geofencing | ✓ |
| Automated Timesheets | ✓ |
| Document Management | ✓ |
| Onboarding Checklists | ✓ |
| Training Courses | ✓ |
| Certification Tracking | ✓ |
| Performance Reviews | ✓ |
Connecteam gives small businesses a simple way to handle time and HR tasks. It makes things more efficient and keeps employees happy.
Best for Productivity Tracking: Hubstaff
Hubstaff is a top choice for tracking how employees work. It’s more than just a time tracker. It has tools that help remote teams work better.
Productivity Monitoring Tools
Hubstaff tracks more than just time. It watches how active employees are, finds idle time, takes screenshots, and reports on app and website use. This info helps managers see how their team uses their time and find ways to do better.
For remote and hybrid teams, Hubstaff keeps everyone on track and accountable. It gives detailed info on what employees do and how engaged they are. This helps managers make smart choices and make their teams work better.
| Time Tracking Software | Pricing | Key Features | Capterra Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hubstaff | $7-$25 per user/month | Time tracking, productivity monitoring, employee activity tracking, GPS tracking, scheduling, reporting | 4.7/5 |
| Toggl | $10+ per user/month | Time tracking, reporting, project management, team management | 4.6/5 |
| Time Doctor | $7-$20 per user/month | Time tracking, productivity monitoring, project management, payroll, reporting | 4.5/5 |
| Timely | $11-$28 per user/month | Time tracking, team scheduling, AI-powered timesheets, project management | 4.7/5 |
Hubstaff’s tools help small businesses and remote teams work more efficiently. They make workflows better and increase productivity.
Best Accounting Software with Time Tracking: FreshBooks
For small businesses, FreshBooks is a great choice. It’s an all-in-one solution for accounting and tracking time. This platform has strong time tracking features built right into its accounting tools.
FreshBooks has a built-in timer for tracking time on client work. You can easily add this time to invoices. This feature is available on all FreshBooks plans, making it perfect for small businesses needing both accounting and time tracking in one place.
| Time Tracking Feature | FreshBooks | Clockify | Toggl |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time Entry Notes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Project and Client Tracking | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reporting and Analytics | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pricing | Starts at $6/month | Starts at $3.99/user/month | Starts at $9/user/month |
GetApp says 97% of FreshBooks users highly recommend it. You can try it for free for 30 days without needing a credit card. This lets small businesses check out its time tracking and accounting features to see if they fit.
“FreshBooks’ time tracking features are a game-changer for our small business. The ability to seamlessly integrate time-based billing into our invoicing process has streamlined our operations and improved our cash flow.”
If you want to make your accounting easier or help your team manage their time better, FreshBooks has you covered. It offers a full solution with strong accounting tools and time tracking features.
Best Clock In App for Project-Based Work: Harvest
Harvest is the top choice for businesses with project-based work. It has strong time tracking features and works well with tools like Asana, Trello, and Basecamp. This makes it easy for teams to track time and bill clients accurately.
Harvest lets you start and stop timers, log time manually, and see reports on tasks or projects. It’s known for its features for managing projects and sending invoices.
- Integrate with project management tools to sync tasks and track time against them
- Generate invoices directly from time tracked, making it easy to bill clients
- Capture expenses and attach them to invoices for complete financial records
- Customize invoice templates and branding to maintain a professional image
- Gain insights into project profitability with detailed reporting
Harvest is great for businesses offering consulting services, creative work, or any other project-based services. It simplifies tracking time, managing projects, and sending invoices. Its easy-to-use interface and powerful features are perfect for small businesses looking to boost productivity and profits.
best clock in app for small business
Choosing the right clock in app for your small business is important. You should look at ease of use, features, how well it integrates, and its cost. The top apps like Buddy Punch, Connecteam, Hubstaff, FreshBooks, and Harvest have different strengths for various business needs.
Features like time tracking and scheduling, payroll integration, and geofencing and GPS tracking are key. They help make your business run smoother. Apps with tools to monitor productivity, like Hubstaff, give you insights into how your team works.
It’s also vital to consider how easy an app is to use and set up. Small business owners are often busy and short on time. Apps like Buddy Punch and Connecteam are easy to use and quick to set up.
The best app for your business depends on what you need and like. Look at the features, how easy it is to use, and the cost. The apps mentioned in this article offer great solutions for managing employee time and improving productivity.
“The best clock in app for small businesses should strike the perfect balance between powerful features and user-friendly design.” – [Expert Name], Small Business Consultant
Scalable Time Tracking: Time Clock Wizard
As your small business grows, finding a scalable time tracking solution is key. Time Clock Wizard offers a flexible platform for your growing team. It has various pricing plans, including a free option, making it easy to scale up without breaking the bank.
Time Clock Wizard is known for its easy-to-use interface and many features. It helps manage employee time well. With real-time GPS tracking, automated timesheets, customizable alerts, and full-service payroll integration, it ensures accurate and efficient time tracking. It works well for both remote and in-office teams, adapting to your company’s needs.
Companies using Time Clock Wizard have seen less time spent on payroll, better team productivity, and better attendance tracking. Its scalable pricing and features make it a great choice for small businesses looking for a time tracking software that grows with their employee time management needs.
“Time Clock Wizard has been a game-changer for our growing business. The scalable features and user-friendly interface have helped us streamline our time tracking and payroll processes, allowing us to focus on what truly matters – driving our company’s success.”
When your small business grows, think about Time Clock Wizard as a flexible and scalable way to manage your workforce well and efficiently.
Top Mobile Clock In Apps
In today’s fast-paced work world, many people work from anywhere. That’s why mobile clock in/out and time tracking apps are key for businesses. They make it easy to keep track of work hours, simplify payroll, and manage the team better. Clockify and QuickBooks Time are two top apps that stand out.
Clockify
Clockify is a top choice for tracking work hours for both office and remote teams. It’s available on web, mobile, and even by phone. This makes it simple for employees to clock in and out from anywhere. Clockify offers free and paid plans and helps with tracking time for client work.
QuickBooks Time
QuickBooks Time, formerly TSheets, works well with QuickBooks accounting software. It’s perfect for businesses already using QuickBooks. The app has GPS tracking, easy clock-in/clock-out, and detailed reports. You can use it on mobile, web, or phone.
Clockify and QuickBooks Time are great for businesses with remote workers. They offer easy mobile access, lots of features, and smooth payroll integration. These apps make tracking time easier, improve team management, and boost work efficiency.
Biometric and Geofencing Considerations
Small businesses looking into time clock apps might find features like biometric time clocks and geofencing interesting. These technologies can boost security and control. But, it’s key to think about the good and the bad sides.
Biometric Time Clocks: Apps like Buddy Punch use facial recognition to stop time theft. But, biometric time clocks are not legal in every state. Some workers might see this as too much, leading to privacy worries and resistance.
Geofencing: This feature limits where workers can clock in and out. It can help with oversight but might cause privacy issues if not done right. Owners should weigh the pros and cons to keep employees happy and secure.
Choosing to use biometric or geofencing should be based on local laws, what employees think, and the business’s needs. By considering these factors, small business owners can pick an app that balances productivity, security, and employee happiness.
| Time Clock Feature | Average Cost | Potential Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|
| Punch card systems | Less than $250 | Prone to time theft, manual data entry |
| Magnetic swipe time clocks | Over $300 | Vulnerability to card sharing, maintenance costs |
| RFID time clocks | Around $100 | Potential for employee discomfort, setup complexity |
| PIN/password time clocks | $150 to $250 | Potential for forgotten passwords, security risks |
| Biometric time clocks | Few hundred to over $1,000 | Legal restrictions, employee privacy concerns |
| Online/mobile time clock apps | $3.50 to higher per user per month | Dependence on internet/mobile connectivity |
Conclusion
Choosing the right time tracking software is key for small businesses. It helps them track employee hours, manage costs, and make payroll easier. Apps like Buddy Punch, Connecteam, Hubstaff, FreshBooks, and Harvest offer different features for various business needs.
When picking a clock in app, think about what you need. Look at ease of use, functionality, integrations, and cost. With options like Paymo, Apploye, When I Work, Connecteam, and Everhour, small businesses have many choices. These apps are affordable, well-liked by users, and have strong features.
The right time clock app can boost your business’s productivity and cut down on paperwork. It also makes working better for your employees, which helps your business do well. By choosing the best app for your business, you can grow and serve your customers better in today’s digital world.
FAQ
What factors should I consider when choosing a time clock app for my small business?
When picking a time clock app, think about what your business needs and its size. Consider how much employee tracking you need. Also, look at the features like time tracking, scheduling, payroll integration, and geofencing/GPS tracking.
What are some of the best features to look for in a time clock app for small businesses?
Look for time clock apps that have strong time tracking and scheduling. They should also integrate with payroll and have features like geofencing and GPS to stop time theft.
Why is Buddy Punch considered one of the top time clock apps for small businesses?
Buddy Punch is easy to use and has lots of features like geofencing and facial recognition. It’s also affordable, making it a great choice for small businesses.
How does Connecteam differentiate itself as a time clock app for small businesses?
Connecteam is unique because it offers great time tracking and HR management tools. It’s an all-in-one platform for small businesses’ workforce needs.
What are the key benefits of using Hubstaff for time tracking in a small business?
Hubstaff is perfect for remote teams. It has advanced tracking features that show how employees spend their time at work.
How can FreshBooks and Harvest be used as time tracking solutions for small businesses?
FreshBooks has time tracking built right in and works with its accounting software. Harvest is great for project-based businesses to accurately bill clients.
Are there any legal or privacy considerations around advanced time tracking features like biometrics and geofencing?
Yes, small businesses should think about the pros and cons of biometric clocks and geofencing. These features might make some employees uncomfortable and have different laws in each state.