Top 15 Time and Attendance Systems of 2025
In addition to time tracking, some of these time and attendance systems can also manage your payroll, benefits, and HR.
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Top time and attendance systems enable companies to record employee work hours, often through web-based punching and timesheets.
These solutions can accommodate all of your time-tracking needs, from generating employee schedules, managing time off requests and PTO, tracking hours for specific projects, and reporting on clock-in/out locations. Plus, some cover scheduling or payroll features, or can integrate with a system that does.
We know there are way too many of options out there, so we've done the hard work for you (researched, demoed, tested, and compared different vendors.) Check out our list below for the best employee time and attendance tracking software around.
In our relentless pursuit of the best time and attendance software, we thoroughly evaluated numerous tools against several vital criteria. We zeroed in on three main considerations; time-tracking, payroll software functionality (or integrations), and scheduling capabilities.
Our rigorous approach, which included conversations with dozens of users and HR & payroll experts, led us to curate this standout list of exceptional solutions.
- Time Tracking: The selected solutions go beyond the basics of time-off requests and PTO functionality. We prioritized vendors with advanced time-tracking features, such as GPS-enabled clock-ins, and customizable timesheets.
- Payroll Functionality (or Integrations): We sought out software options that include payroll functionality, or integrate with trusted payroll providers. The chosen solutions enable the automatic syncing of online time data with payroll, at the very least.
- Scheduling Capabilities: We focused on tools that include a robust scheduling module. The best time-tracking solutions should offer scheduling features such as shift planning, employee availability tracking, shift swapping, and scheduling templates.
To better understand our meticulous evaluation process, we encourage you to explore our post detailing how we curate the best HR tech.
Workable
TCP
Paylocity
Connecteam
Buddy Punch
When I Work
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Deel
Rippling
BambooHR
nettime solutions
Clockify
ZoomShift
Workable
We picked Workable for its refreshing simplicity and automation in time tracking. Setting up policies was easy, and we loved how employees could clock in and out right from their mobile app. The automated reminders and detailed reporting, especially the scheduled vs. actual hours comparison, also made a big difference in streamlining attendance management.
PROS
- Easy setup of time tracking policies with customizable rules for departments and teams.
- Employees can clock in and out via desktop or mobile app, with automated reminders to reduce missed punches.
- Reporting features make it easy to compare scheduled vs. actual hours worked and export data for payroll.
- Consistently introduces new features and enhancements to the product.
- User-friendly interface with minimal training required for HR teams and employees.
- You can post jobs with one click to over 200 sites. You also get access to access to Workable’s talent pool with over 400 million profiles.
- Workable has built-in cognitive and personality candidate assessment. The platform also has features for offer management, which means you can create offer letters and collect e-signatures without needing to use third-party tools
- You can reduce unconscious hiring bias with Workable’s anonymized screening feature. It helps you hide identifying candidate information from the sourced and applied stages of the hiring process.
CONS
- No native payroll tool and payroll integrations only available on highest-tier plan.
- Lacks GPS-enabled clock-in, making it less ideal for tracking remote or field workers.
- Designed primarily for white-collar teams, with limitations for industries requiring more complex workforce tracking.
- Workable doesn’t provide automated reference checking and onboarding features.
- Useful features such as candidate texting, video interviews, and assessments are not offered in any of Workable’’s plans and instead, sold separately.
- Several users complained about the reporting feature not being detailed or customizable enough, and that the candidate search function could use more filters.
Since Workable has primarily been known for its recruiting tools and HRIS, we were intrigued when they launched their time tracking feature in open beta for all HR customers in February 2025. Naturally, we wanted to see how well it handled time and attendance management, and we have to say, our experience wasn’t bad at all. The tool is still new but already shows a lot of promise.
Right from the start, setting up time tracking policies was straightforward. We could apply different rules for specific departments, teams, or locations without any confusion. Compared to the manual Excel and spreadsheet tracking we’ve used, this was a major upgrade. Employees could clock in and out easily using either the desktop or mobile app, and we especially appreciated the automated reminders, which helped reduce missed punches.
Perhaps the most valuable aspect of Workable’s time tracking is its reporting function. After running a test with a small team, we generated reports comparing scheduled vs. actual hours worked. The system made it easy to spot discrepancies—like employees forgetting to clock out—and allowed us to export the data for payroll processing. However, we quickly realized that Workable doesn’t offer native payroll functionality, and payroll integrations are only available on the highest-tier plan. For companies looking for a smooth payroll sync without upgrading, this could be a significant drawback.
We also tested the scheduling feature and found that while it worked well for white-collar teams, it had some limitations for more complex workforce needs. Assigning shifts and setting recurring schedules was simple, but the lack of a GPS-enabled clock-in feature makes it less ideal for tracking remote or field employees in industries like construction or manufacturing.
That said, it’s clear that Workable is focused on continuous improvement—just in the past few months, they’ve rolled out features like automatic calendar updates for booked time off and a time-off balance calculator, which we found useful for planning PTO more efficiently. Given this proactive approach, we wouldn’t be surprised if Workable secures a strong foothold in the time tracking space in the coming months.
30,000+ companies, including The Telegraph, Ogilvy, and Eurobank.
Workable's time and attendance tools are included in the platform’s HR bundle, whose price starts at $99 per month when billed annually. They also offer a free trial and bundle discounts.
Best For
If you're a growing SMB looking to combine your recruiting technology and HRIS, Workable's time tracking software is an excellent option.
TCP
Apart from providing all the bare necessities of time and attendance software, we love how TCP (formerly TimeClock Plus) takes it up a notch by helping you stay ahead of labor laws and ensuring that your data is secure.
PROS
CONS
TCP Software offers a reliable, flexible solution for timekeeping and compliance that we find well-suited to US-based businesses.
One of the standout features we discovered was the Default Rules and Conflicts Library. Setting up time tracking and scheduling rules was straightforward, with configurable defaults for maximum and minimum working hours, shift gaps, and consecutive workdays. TCP also allows for custom rules for teams with specific operational needs, which is good for unique schedules or specific labor requirements.
The Minor Work Rules feature deserves a mention for its practical application. During our test, we connected with a TCP customer in the food service industry to hear their experience with this feature. They loved it. “It simplified the way we tracked work schedules for minors based on age, school calendar, and legal guidelines,” they shared, “we feel reassured now that we can ensure compliance with labor laws around minor employees and avoid scheduling conflicts.”
TCP’s compliance tools don’t stop there. With state-specific break rules—like California’s strict meal break requirements—the platform automatically enforces compliant break schedules. This will be especially helpful for teams based on the state to see in action, as it eliminates the risks associated with labor violations and provides peace of mind in highly regulated environments.
TCP offers multiple options for time collection, including hardware clocks and mobile clocks with geofencing, which in our test, only allowed our tester to clock in and out when they’re in our designated work area.
While TCP’s compliance features are comprehensive, it’s hyperfocused on the US market, meaning it may not be the best fit for international companies. Also, we wouldn’t recommend this vendor if you’re looking for a plug-and-play time tracking system with in-minute deployment. TCP typically takes 30 to 60 days to implement.
Another thing worth noting is the recent price increase from $2.50 to $4 per user per month since our last review of the tool. Although TCP remains affordable for most small companies, it’s a factor for budget-conscious teams to keep in mind.
18,000+ companies, including Marriott, the University of Georgia, Texas Tech, and Kaiser Permanente.
TCP pricing starts at $4 per employee per month. A free trial is available post-demo.
Best For
US-based SMBs, especially those in healthcare, government, and education.
As an agency that employed independent contractors, salaried, and hourly employees, we used it to minimize the risk of incorrectly calculating hours using paper timesheets and Excel. The integration with ADP was very valuable. Instead of having to manually transfer the data from TimeClock Plus (TCP) to ADP, it saved the payroll manager and office admins significant time.
Before using it, we had several instances per pay period of human error (e.g., miscalculating hours, staff not recording their hours in a timely manner, misrepresenting hours worked), which were minimized significantly upon implementing TCP. Furthermore, when the Department of Health conducted the annual audit, it was far easier to produce accurate reporting than before implementing TCP.
- Employee Data Tracking & Cross-Syncing between TCP & ADP - In addition to hours worked transmitting to ADP, other employee data such as names and title changes were also automatically updated.
- Audit Reporting – Being a government entity, we were subject to surprise audits by the Department of Health. The ability to pull real-time employee data to cross-check with their records made the process much easier and served as a central database for employee information.
- Accountability Tracking – Prior to using TCP, we relied on employee self-reported hours. The reporting features helped managers gather accurate information about employee tardiness and absenteeism.
When the agency was smaller, we didn’t have many employees. We purchased it because it integrated well with our payroll software, which was ADP at the time. However, as the agency began to grow, the need for more sophisticated software became apparent. That's when we decided to purchase the software that integrated seamlessly with our existing payroll system.
Prior to this, we were using paper timesheets that needed to be signed by the supervisor, calculated by the office staff, and then entered manually into ADP. We utilized this program for approximately five years, and it proved to be incredibly helpful in automating some of the more transactional tasks related to payroll. This saved us time and reduced the risk of mistakes, allowing our office staff to focus more on other important tasks, thereby increasing overall productivity and efficiency within the agency.
- Therapists who travel to/from clients’ homes vs. working in the office sometimes forget to track their time using the mobile app. Also, tracking other time such as travel time and compensation for travel can be difficult using this system.
- Organizations without dedicated IT support may struggle with the implementation from an administrator level. The time and resources needed for training on how to configure the system can be a challenge, especially for smaller businesses.
- Mobile App Limitations – The desktop version is more robust than the mobile app. With most of the staff traveling to/from therapy sites, most use the mobile app, which can sometimes be challenging from an end-user perspective.
TimeClock Plus (TCP) is an excellent choice for smaller organizations due to its exclusive focus on time management and attendance. It's less complex than ADP Workforce Now, and its significantly lower cost makes it an attractive option, particularly for startups. Most importantly, when we compared the man-hours needed for manual entry against the cost of TCP, TCP's superior value was evident.
- Cost - Consider the investment of manual entry and potential errors in timekeeping vs. the cost of TCP.
- Remote/Off-Site User Adoption - As mentioned previously, a solid change-management program is needed to ensure users (especially those clocking in on the mobile device) are recording time accurately and timely.
- System Configuration – The time and training required to configure and maintain the system can be costly and does require the administrator to be somewhat tech-savvy.
The implementation of a mobile app version was incredibly helpful for off-site therapists working in clients’ homes. While not a critical element for timekeeping, being able to add additional employee details was helpful, especially during Department of Health audits.
Small to mid-sized non-profit/government organizations, businesses that operate both in-person and remotely, and service-based models. TCPs are helpful for these types of businesses because of the low cost, compliance, and regulatory tracking, and for businesses that operate in multiple locations, including virtual employees.
Service-based, smaller businesses, particularly those providing offsite services or therapies (such as habilitation and speech therapy), are ideal, especially for those with a small budget.
Paylocity
Paylocity’s Time & Attendance software simplifies workforce management with intuitive tools for tracking employee hours, enforcing attendance policies, and managing schedules. Its seamless integration with payroll and HR modules ensures businesses avoid redundant data entry and reduce errors.
PROS
- Multiple clock-in options, including a mobile app with geofencing.
- Both employers and employees commend Paylocity’s customer support for its helpfulness and professionalism.
- Automated alerts for missed punches and overtime.
- Scheduling tools that allow employees to claim open shifts.
- Provides strong value relative to other high-end payroll and workforce management solutions.
- The app is easy to use and handles essential payroll and time-tracking functions.
- Paylocity offers step-by-step onboarding assistance, making the transition smoother for new users.
- Paylocity’s customer support is highly rated for always being available to answer questions.
- Global payroll support for 100+ countries.
- Provides free and unlimited training modules on the website.
- Paylocity’s mobile app has a good UI and functionality
- The tool is easy to use for both employees and employers.
- Has 350+ pre-built integrations.
CONS
- Larger teams may find the reporting features less comprehensive than of competitors.
- Custom reports require external data manipulation.
- Customer support is available only in English, limiting accessibility for global teams.
- Smaller businesses may find Paylocity’s feature set more than they require for their workforce size.
- Response times for customer support can be inconsistent.
- Limited international functionality.
- Undisclosed pricing.
- It doesn’t have a free trial or free plan.
- Support is available in English only.
- It isn’t the best solution for remote teams looking for a tool to manage payroll and benefits for their contractors.
Paylocity’s Time & Attendance software is offered within a broader HCM tool. We’ve been writing about this company, one of the leaders in the space, for years now. That said, the recent development of their time and attendance modules made it beckoning for us to feature them on this page.
While perhaps the main benefit is that it integrates 100% with payroll and core HR if you’re already using Paylocity for those workflows, the time tracking tool’s ease of use is also quite notable. Diving into the module, we immediately noticed how easily it is to flow from one action to the other. Employees can clock in via a web portal, mobile app, or physical time clock, and managers receive automatic alerts for late punches and overtime risks.
Praise must also be made for the variety of methods they provide for time and attendance tracking. You can configure clocks within the employee’s platform, which is accessible via browser, web app, and mobile. They also offer a Kiosk Tablet, which can be preconfigured to be used physically at a location of your choice for employees to punch in at the start of their day.
Another standout feature was the shift scheduling tool. Employees could claim open shifts, reducing administrative burden. However, while scheduling worked well, we found that reporting was more limited compared to enterprise-grade alternatives. Custom reports often required exporting data to spreadsheets for further analysis.
Despite these drawbacks, Paylocity’s time-tracking software is a strong choice for mid-sized U.S. businesses looking for an integrated and user-friendly workforce management solution.
Paylocity is used by over 40,000 companies. Some notable names include Momentus, Watters, and Weigel’s.
Pricing is custom and depends on company needs.
Best For
Paylocity is best suited for mid-sized U.S.-based companies who’d favor keeping recruiting, core HR tools, time tracking, and payroll within the same tool.
Connecteam
Connecteam is one of the few vendors that offer robust GPS clock-ins and flexible job scheduling at such a competitive rate (or for free if your user count remains at or below 10).
PROS
- Great employee scheduling capabilities.
- Set clock-in and automatic clock-out times for shifts.
- GPS-enabled clock-ins to avoid time theft.
- Customizable automated timesheet exports.
- Job Insights for resource allocation details.
- Automated break deduction/calculation.
- One of the only fully-mobile HR tech tools for deskless workers
- Very adequately-priced for all it entails, SMB-friendly
- Quite open to feedback, having implemented user suggestions as features in the past.
CONS
- Limited payroll integration options.
- No phone support.
- In the communication hub, the app offers no confirmation that messages were sent and/or seen.
- Certain features that some teams consider essential, such as GPS-tracking, are only available in the higher-tier pricing plans.
If you want a robust location tracking feature in your time and attendance software, Connecteam could be the answer. Featuring Geofence, this platform enables employers to track employees' real-time location and limit where they can clock in and out.
Job scheduling is another aspect that Connecteam handles well. This tool covers shift planning, staff availability, and shift rescheduling. Plus, depending on what you need, it can work independently or be synced with the time tracking feature.
For example, for your hourly-paid workers, you can let the sync happen to make things easier for the workers to clock in directly from their shift and for you to track hours. On the other hand, keeping these two tools un-synced would make more sense for salaried workers whose time does not need to be tracked.
Connecteam doesn’t have its own payroll function, which is fine if the vendor has good integration capabilities. Unfortunately, the integration list is rather disappointing, with only four options. Furthermore, only those paying for the priciest plan gain API access.
Connecteam’s Help Center is timely and informative. Email support and live chat are also in good shape, with an average turnaround time of about 1 hour. Note, though, that there is no phone support and the only immediate support option, dedicated CSM, is limited to the Enterprise plan.
36,000+ organizations, including Edible, Mango, and Subway.
Connecteam is free for up to 10 users. Paid plans start at $29 per month and a 14-day free trial is available (no credit card info is required).
Best For
Great for multi-branch businesses that need to track employee time and attendance.
Buddy Punch
Buddy Punch goes beyond basic time and attendance tracking; it packs advanced features that enable companies to identify and record when, how, where and by whom time is being logged.
PROS
CONS
Buddy Punch is a cloud-based software solution that digitizes how companies track their employee’s attendance, time off, and overtime. With features such as webcam photo capture, facial recognition, GPS tracking, and IP address locks, Buddy Punch not only tells you when employee hours are logged, but also where and how those hours were logged.
The University of Michigan, The YMCA, Manpower Group, StateFarm
You can purchase Buddy Punch’s time tracking and scheduling modules separately or combine them should you need both. Do note that employee seats cannot be purchased separately but in scales. When billed annually, here’s how much Buddy Punch costs for a company with 10-14 employees:
- Time & Attendance: $39.99 per month
- Time & Attendance + Scheduling: $49.99 per month
- Enterprise: $64.99 per month
Best For
Buddy Punch can be used by companies of all sizes.
I use Buddy Punch at least twice a week to supervise payroll, and employee requests. In those sessions, I review all updates, approve requests and submit items for future discussion. The platform is a straightforward employee management system. Buddy Punch makes employee communication a more effective process. It also integrates easily to other services that my clients use.
The platform is straightforward and user friendly. It allows me to keep track of any employee requests. Its tracker for employee disciplinary issues is easy to follow. The system is great for payroll management.
I have used Buddy Punch to manage employees for clients since 2021. The service is a platform that allows employees to have hands-on access to necessary information like time off and payroll. My clients were looking for an option that enabled them to track expenses, manage employees, and maintain disciplinary information for each member of the team i.e. late arrivals. It has been an affordable alternative to other products for my clients (particularly small team startups). Buddy Punch simple interface allows the HR team to keep track of important changes when I need legal guidelines or employee related team management.
I don’t have any major complaints about the product outside of it being difficult to contact support. The software can be slow to update but it is more than worth the price. It can take extra time to manually upload data.
Buddy Punch is pretty great in comparison to some of its competitors. The service is affordable and user friendly. For about $60 per year, you know what you are getting and your expectations are often exceeded.
Do you need a product that is more AI focused? Are you rapidly expanding and will you have time to manually update information?
I have used Buddy Punch since 2021 and it has been a consistent service. They have improved the loading time.
Buddy Punch is good for small-medium sized organizations that are easing their way into effective HR. At a $60 annual price point, it is easy to manage and offers simple functionality but a great experience.
I would not recommend Buddy Punch to large companies or rapidly expanding businesses. If you want a more aesthetically pleasing service, there are other options.
When I Work
With its sleek user interface that enhances communication, When I Work focuses on decreasing labor costs and time spent on scheduling.
PROS
CONS
When I work is a simple to use scheduling and timekeeping platform that provides an easy way for managers to manage employee time and their staff. Time can be managed from their mobile app, or their desktop application. Known for its robust scheduling product, users can manage and view the entire staff schedule, setup time for staff to clock in and out, and alert staff via notifications. Employees can clock in and out and view their hours, or trade shifts with coworkers. This is a great platform for shift based or hourly workers.
Ben and Jerry’s, Harvard University, CVS Pharmacy, Verizon, Taco John’s.
- Small Business: This plan costs $4.00 per user per month and allows small businesses (with 100 employees or less) to schedule shifts, track time across multiple locations, and communicate all on a single platform.
- Enterprise: This plan is designed for large companies (between 100 to 10,000+ employees) and provides its users with access to When I Work’s full-featured platform to improve team coordination and efficiency.
Best For
Companies of all sizes across different industries looking to track and manage their employee’s working hours, attendance, shifts as well as improve communication.
We use the tool daily to manage day-to-day scheduling of employees, including approving or denying time off requests. It's also instrumental in planning large special events such as fundraisers or camp activities. Additionally, the When I Work app aids in payroll functions, making it an integral part of our operations.
I appreciate that the app has a clean interface and is easy to use, which our employees also seem to like.
Our organization has been using this tool for over 15 months to schedule per diem employees, who are hired as needed. Previously, there was a significant inefficiency in coordinating between management and gig workers, particularly in contacting workers promptly. This platform allows temp workers to schedule themselves at any time of day, effectively resolving the issue and streamlining the scheduling process for gig workers.
Currently, there’s nothing specific that I dislike about the tool.
While there are competitors like UKG and Q-Genda that offer similar services, this tool stands out for our particular needs.
Consider whether you employ many temporary workers and if your workforce is tech-savvy enough to utilize mobile technology effectively. These factors are crucial in determining the suitability of this tool for your organization.
To my understanding, the services provided by this tool have not undergone significant changes since their inception.
This tool is highly effective for small organizations that rely heavily on part-time or temporary workers.
This tool is versatile enough to be beneficial for all types of organizations.
Deel
Deel is a global payroll system that incorporates a basic time and attendance module into its offering. Notably, it can adjust to regional public holidays and schedules completely automatically.
PROS
- One of Deel’s key benefits is its customer support. They offer 24-hour in-app assistance, and users can access localized payroll professionals in their regions.
- Generate invoices automatically for both the company and contractor/employee.
- Incorporate employee virtual hangouts within the platform.
- Enhance engagement with pulse surveys through Slack integration.
- Organize employee responses on a segmented dashboard for improved insights.
- Excellent 24/7 customer service with fast onboarding (2-3 days) and local payroll experts in each jurisdiction.
- Deel HR is free for companies of all sizes.
- Seamless integration with platforms like QuickBooks, BambooHR, and Greenhouse, plus custom integration options.
- User-friendly, self-service features enable quick setup; identity verification often takes under 24 hours.
- Automated invoices simplify payments, provided they're in English.
CONS
- Currently lacks performance management functionalities.
- Lacks goal tracking and OKRs integration.
- Does not offer built-in coaching capabilities.
- Premium offerings from Deel, such as onboarding automation, are only offered as add-ons.
- Flexibility in altering contracts or service agreements is restricted; adjustments usually necessitate addendums.
- A $5 payout fee is applicable for each transaction.
- Invoice generation seems restricted to English only.
- Key features like onboarding automation are add-ons, which may increase costs.
- Limited flexibility in modifying contracts or service agreements; changes often require an addendum.
- Invoices cannot be generated in languages other than English.
Deel has embraced a global, remote-first approach that's woven throughout the product in subtle ways. Of course, this is evident in their basic time and attendance module. This part of the tool automates the tracking of public holidays, time off, and expenses for employees regardless of where they are in the world.
We’ve been familiar with Deel since late 2020 and were happy to see this addition to their tool shortly thereafter. It makes a lot of sense for international teams to count with a time and attendance tool that automatically syncs with the local calendar for each employee. This way, you can account for public holidays in each jurisdiction and respect the local employee leave regulations. From what we saw in a demo, employees can submit requests and get them approved with only a couple of clicks.
As we’ve stated in other reviews of Deel, their evolution from addressing global payroll to offering robust employee experience software is remarkable.
Deel serves over 10,000 customers, including big names like Nike, Shopify, Dropbox, Notion, Reddit, and Airtable. They also have a strong contingent of SMBs and start-ups in their client roster.
Best For
Deel’s infrastructure can support businesses at any size, from one to 10,000+ employees. They even offer some free services for companies under 200 employees. While their current focus is SMBs that are growing and want to explore different global markets and talent pools, there is also a large market for mid-market and enterprise companies.
Paychex
An all-in-one platform, Paychex Flex integrates its time attendance software with payroll and HR, giving you access to your company and employee information in one single place.
PROS
- Timecard processing can be fully automated.
- Integrates well with benefits providers like Benetrac for benefits management.
- User-friendly interface for reviewing W2s and paystubs.
CONS
- Limited third-party integrations.
- Some users reported slow app login.
- Less modern looking compared to competitors.
Paychex Flex offers a time and attendance platform that helps businesses save time and improve accuracy with online timekeeping, time clocks, and integrated payroll. They have many flexible options based on how you track time, providing a solution that is easily integrated and mobile for users. This is a great all-in-one solution for very small businesses, who need guidance on the time and attendance side of things.
ESET, Funnelbox Inc., Smile Cafe, H.Y.P.E. Counseling Services, ASG, Pet Partners.
Paychex’s pricing isn’t listed on their website. However, you may reach out to their sales team for an estimate according to the size and scope of your operation.
Best For
Companies of all sizes looking for an all-in-one solution for payroll, time and attendance, benefits, and more.
The tool was used every time a new employee joined. However, the company did not utilize the direct deposit services provided by Paychex. All the required details were filled manually by the new employee on paper, and then HR manually entered the information into Paychex.
Payroll checks were mailed out every pay period. This manual process increased the chances of errors. During separations, the last paycheck had to be collected from the office after returning company property, which was inconvenient for both HR and employees.
Paychex is easy to use. It provides the option to run payroll through checks, which is helpful for certain organizations. The customer service provided by Paychex is reliable.
The company purchased the Paychex subscription before I joined, and I used it for about a month. Paychex was chosen because it was user-friendly for employees. The company operated in the security services industry, so it was crucial for the HRIS used for payroll management to be easy to navigate, especially for employees who were not technically advanced. Paychex addressed this need effectively by offering a simple interface.
The tax options in the Paychex app are not clearly explained, making it difficult for HR to assist new employees. I later learned about Paychex's history of data breaches, which raised concerns. The app does not allow screenshots, which can be inconvenient, though this feature has its advantages from a security perspective.
For a company in the security services industry, Paychex worked adequately. However, I would prefer a system that supports direct deposits and online separation processes, which might also be available in Paychex but were not used by the company.
Consider whether your company is comfortable with manually entering employee information and mailing checks. If employees are tech-savvy, you may want to explore additional features. Pricing should also be taken into account, especially for companies with expansion plans or budget constraints.
I haven’t used it long enough to comment on its evolution.
This tool is suitable for companies that prefer paying employees via checks. Few apps support this feature as smoothly as Paychex does. It is also a good option for users who are not particularly tech-savvy and do not require advanced features.
It might not be a good fit for companies with limited budgets or those seeking a fully automated payroll and HRIS system.
Rippling
Workflow automation has long been Rippling’s signature, and it’s well showcased in the vendor’s time and attendance product.
PROS
- One platform for performance, payroll, time and attendance, and more.
- In-app policy non-compliance alerts with one-click solutions.
- Ability to set security restrictions to prevent timecard fraud.
- Excellent workflow automation features.
- Self-service capabilities included.
- All-in-one platform for employee management + PEO services offered, and even a suite of other IT products
- With 500 integrations, it’s very likely that they integrate with other key tools from your tech stack.
- Operates globally with any currency
- Workflow automation
- Analytics opportunities
- Provides a holistic view of company outflows—headcount costs included
CONS
- Requires annual subscription. No free plan (a free trial is occasionally available, though).
- The mobile app offers core functionalities, but some advanced features and administrative tasks are only doable on the web platform.
- Additional charges may apply for phone support, depending on the plan.
- Total buy-in to Rippling is essential
- Very SMB-oriented, in case you’re a larger company.
- New features tend to be buggy in ways that tech teams are not accustomed to fixing
Being a diverse, distributed team ourselves, we understand how hard it is to keep up with the ever-changing labor regulations and laws. This was why we were immediately drawn to Rippling’s automated policies upon testing them. Regardless of whether your workers are based in the U.S. or abroad, the system will automatically inform you if your policies are not in compliance with local regulations and the needed actions to resolve these issues.
As expected from a high-tech startup, Rippling’s automation capabilities extend beyond compliance. With this tool, you can create custom rules for alerts and notifications concerning meal breaks, shift endings, early clock-outs, overtime, approvals, and even cost control.
For teams with onsite, deskless workers, Rippling’s Time and Attendance tracking tool supports scheduling and allows employers to limit the geolocation where employees can clock in and out. And, if you’re considering not just the time and attendance but also the payroll product from Rippling, there's more good news: All approved hours in the time and attendance will auto-sync with payroll. Plus, you can even review time cards right inside each pay run.
A fair warning, though. Rippling is not for those on a tight budget, as the platform pricing is on the higher end, on an annual basis, and comes with no free option like Connecteam. But they do sometimes have short-term free trials which you may want to keep an eye out for.
16,000+ companies, including Dwell, Superhuman, and Expensify.
Rippling offers quote-based pricing, with a starting cost of $8 per month for each user.
Best For
Companies who prioritize automation and customization in their time and attendance software.
We use Rippling for all HR processes - hiring, onboarding, training, time and attendance, etc. We also use the pulse tool for surveys of our employees. We have built workflows to support onboarding and schedule management when someone takes time off. It's a daily tool for us.
Rippling is quite comprehensive and has more functionality than other HRIS I have used, such as the pulse/survey tool right within the platform. It also integrates with Slack, so notifications and reports can be sent there. I like the workflow options as well, which allow you to set things up to launch when certain conditions are met, e.g. send an onboarding survey a month after start date.
We are a relatively new company and did not have an HRIS in place. After looking at a few we opted for Rippling because of the functionality it offered as well as integrations and automations. We have been using it for about 9 months.
Rippling has been around for a few years but it feels like they are still working out some bugs. There are certain things that just don't work the way you'd expect. We have recently implemented their global payroll app for our Canadian employees and it doesn't do things like break out vacation time, etc. It has a reporting function but it's a bit hard to get exactly what you're looking for and the charts that it creates don't always display information in the most relevant way.
Rippling is quite user-friendly in terms of interface. It has more functionality than others I've used and they're doing a great job figuring out how to incorporate integrations to make it really useful.
It's very good for US employees but is missing a few features for global payroll at this time. Best to understand how all modules are priced so you know what's worth implementing and don't end up paying for functions you don't use.
Rippling has taken suggestions when we've found things that could be improved or added (TBD if those things are implemented). They have added some features in the last few months so definitely seem to be continuing to grow the platform.
HR teams, I think it would be good for organizations with over 50 employees
Very small organizations, those primarily based outside the US
BambooHR
Extremely user friendly and full of HR features, Bamboo HR can help you save considerable amounts of time spent on time tracking. Automatic reminders, fast clock-in-clock-out for employees, one-click timesheet approval for managers.
PROS
- Time tracking capabilities, though offered as a separate module, are precise and easy to use.
- BambooHR’s multiple tiers and custom pricing models are good for diverse business needs, ensuring cost-effectiveness and scalability.
- With an intuitive and user-friendly interface, BambooHR provides a straightforward tool that can be easily navigated and utilized by HR pros of all levels.
- Integrates with several payroll and accounting systems, providing a streamlined process for U.S.-based employees to ensure efficient and error-free payroll management.
- Flexible packaging and custom pricing is the way they roll. You can pick out one or two packages and pick other modules as add-ons based on your needs.
- Very simple and straightforward tool, easy to use.
CONS
- Options for non-U.S. employees are limited, which may pose challenges for multinational companies.
- Customer support availability is restricted to U.S. business hours, potentially causing delays and difficulties for businesses operating in different time zones.
- Time tracking is offered only as an add-on, and the same goes for some advanced scheduling features.
- The reporting and analytics capabilities for time tracking data are somewhat limited in BambooHR, which may hinder in-depth analysis and insights for workforce management.
- Payroll is only available for US-based employees
- Customer support is only offered during US business hours.
- Some modules like time tracking, performance management, and surveys are only available as add-ons.
BambooHR is a cloud-based SaaS HR platform for all types of businesses. They automate many of the HR functions, and can help make HR tasks simple and fast. As an add-on, they offer a robust time and attendance platform, which includes a clock-in/clock-out functionality, timesheets and paid time off tracking. Bamboo HR’s easy to use platform is great for those that are looking to track project hours for salaried employees, or utilize a platform for hourly workers.
Among the 20,000+ companies that use BambooHR, you’d find names like Quora, Universal Group, Reddit, Asana, Change.org, University of Maryland, Grammarly, Stance, Postmates, Wistia, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and ZipRecruiter.
Pricing is not disclosed upfront, but they do offer a free trial of their all-in-one software and then go out of their way to find a version that will suit you. Before they come up with a personalized quote that will align with your budget, however, they are also likely to extend your free trial upon request or even give you a free demo of the advanced features.
Best For
BambooHR is ideal for companies seeking a highly customizable HR product with flexible pricing options. Its popularity is particularly evident among teams that operate partially or fully remotely, as BambooHR efficiently addresses the need for effective time and attendance management in such environments.
UKG
UKG Ready (formerly Kronos) enables efficiency by simplifying routine time and attendance tasks. It also helps HR professionals improve compliance and mitigate risk with automatic updates.
PROS
- Vast experience in people tech with UKG Pro HR solution.
- Comprehensive toolset with UKG Pro for HRMS and UKG Ready for workforce management.
- Administrators have the power to configure user group visibility within the system.
- The Ultimate Community provides on-demand information and fosters connections among UKG Pro users.
- Includes an iOS app and an Android app.
- Super robust product, packing years of experience with HCM and Workforce Management technology
- Since they offer UKG Pro for HRMS and UKG Ready for workforce management, you could arrive at a combination of products that suits many of your HR needs from the same set of tools.
CONS
- May lack a unique selling point or specific focus for niche businesses.
- The Android app has some bugs when logging in and accessing timecards.
- Relatively expensive, particularly for teams with limited budgets.
- Broad range of solutions may not suit those seeking a few specific use cases.
- Compared to newer tools, UKG Pro and UKG Ready tend to miss a unique selling point or a specific focus on a certain type of business. While they work great for bigger companies in all sorts of industries, very niche operations might have a hard time adapting to the tool.
- Similarly, UKG offers many solutions under one umbrella, so it's not the best fit if you're looking for only a handful of specific use cases.
Formerly known as Kronos, UKG Ready stands out as a well-established time and attendance tool for its ability to streamline routine tasks and enhance compliance for HR professionals. It aims to drive efficiencies and mitigate risks with its automatic updates and simplified processes.
One highlight is the ease of configurability for administrators who need to assign user group visibility within the system. This level of control allows organizations to tailor permission— a big plus for teams looking to maintain solid data security.
The abundance of features can make navigation overwhelming. However, the Ultimate Community has been a valuable resource as we explored UKG. We were able to access vendor and user-made product instructions by browsing previous conversations and asking other users for their product knowledge.
We also appreciate that UKG provides an iOS and an Android app that enhances accessibility and convenience for employees, especially ones that usually work onsite. However, logging in and accessing timecards on the app isn’t always easy and occasional bugs prove to be a source of frustration.
The price range for UKG Ready is out of reach for teams with limited budgets. Since the software doesn’t publish its pricing, it's crucial to get on a demo with sales to weigh the cost against your organization's specific needs.
Tesla, Marriott, Yamaha, Aramark, Puma, Sony Music, Samsung.
- Not available on the website. Typically based on a per-employee-per-month model, with options for annual or monthly billing.
- Our research indicates that licenses for UKG Pro begin at around $600.00 per year for every 5 users.
- For detailed pricing information and a personalized quote, contact a sales representative at UKG Pro.
Best For
UKG Pro can be a sound option for companies in many different industries looking to track the hours and attendance of both salaried and hourly employees in the Americas, EMEA, and Asia/Pacific.
My department uses several of the UKG Modules. Starting with employee onboarding, all of our new team members go through online onboarding. With a large hourly workforce, we use the employee timekeeping system, which feeds to HRIS and payroll. We also use Benefits Prime for benefits enrollment. This past year, we used Employee Voice/Perception for our annual engagement survey, and we use the LMS for deploying training to our 1300+ employees.
UKG is ideal for complex organizations with multiple entities; payroll can be done with the click of a button. UKG is also optimal for organizations with complicated reporting structures, including dual reporting and multi-location reporting. Lastly, UKG is investing heavily in connecting all of their systems to create a seamless user experience.
My organization selected UKG as our HCM when comparing it against all mid-market products on the market. As a rapidly growing company via acquisition, our primary reason for selecting UKG was that we needed an HCM that allowed us to set up new component companies, new states, and new PTO and benefits plans independently without having to engage a UKG consultant.
The enterprise version of the UKG product allows us the flexibility to move as quickly as our business development team welcomes new partners into the fold. My team of HRIS and payroll experts leads the majority of the setup. We also selected UKG due to its focus on R&D and staying ahead of industry trends. With their robust network of partners, even if they aren't able to accommodate our needs directly, they have prebuilt integrations with many of the best boutique HR applications.
Three years after selecting them, I continue to be pleased with how our implementation and ongoing build-out of the system has gone.
As with all large organizations, getting in touch with customer service can be challenging, i.e., getting issues to the right department to be solved. Second, I wish that UKG Talk was fully integrated with UKG Pro so that our employees would have one interface. Third, I wish the text message functionality was more versatile.
UKG can handle complexity better than most of the other systems that I have used. The only platform that would compare would be Workday, but that's materially more expensive than UKG.
When making this investment, leaders should consider the size and complexity of their organization and have a good handle on all of their system requirements. Knowing how the company will grow or shrink is also important in determining whether UKG is the right price point for the company's trajectory.
For the three years that my team has used UKG, we have seen them invest in several areas. First, they are working to connect disparate modules on the backend to ease the user experience. Second, they have launched new systems in response to generational changes in the workplace. Third, in response to customer feedback, they have overhauled their approach to account management and customer care.
UKG is best for US-based companies with a minimum of 500 employees.
UKG likely would not be the best fit for a large global organization.
nettime solutions
stratustime by nettime solutions integrates well with hundred of devices, payroll systems, and HR platforms. Use this simple software to scale your business in a seamless way.
PROS
CONS
nettime solution’s stratustime is a time and attendance platform that is cloud based and helps companies increase efficiency and make informed workplace decisions. Employees can clock in and out, and request time off. Admins and managers can view dashboards that have labor cost, and wag requirement information. It can also be integrated with many various payroll platforms. This is a great solution for small businesses, at just $4 per month per employee.
University of Pennsylvania, HomeExchange.com, Bossier Parish Library.
The pricing of nettime solutions’ plans and services isn’t listed on their website. Contact their sales team for a price quote.
Best For
Companies looking for a time and attendance software with compensatory time tracking and geofencing capabilities.
Clockify
Clockify allows you to not only track hours but also apps and websites to later create time entries. Clockify's features are wide ranging – you can track time, get graphical reports, set hourly rates. And best of all, it's free.
PROS
- Clockify offers unlimited time tracking for free, for any number of projects.
- Users have praised the software’s ease of use. There really isn’t any hardcore learning required to get a hand of it.
- Open API functionality for custom solutions
- The product is available on all mobile devices (android, iPhone), desktop (windows, mac, linux), and as a web app.
CONS
- Basic project management features. You can only create assign and sort. No deep features like visualization (kanban boards, gantt chart, etc.) or scheduling to maximize team capacity.
- It can get glitchy when the internet connection times out.
Clockify is a simplified, free time tracking timesheet application that allows companies to track team hours and projects. It allows users to keep track of employees timesheets, billable hours, and schedules, as well as generate reports. Clockify integrates with several different technology platforms, such as Jira and Asana, which is a great solution for those looking for a simple solution that is efficient and easy to use.
Atlassian, Google, Amazon, HP, Cisco, IBM, American Express.
Clockify has a free plan that accommodates an unlimited number of users, as well as unlimited hour tracking, projects, and reports. Besides the free offering, Clockify also 4 paid plans that cost as follows when billed annually:
- Basic: This plan costs $3.99 per user per month.
- Standard: This plan costs $5.49 per user per month.
- Pro: This plan costs $7.99 per user per month.
- Enterprise: This plan costs $11.99 per user per month.
Best For
Companies of all sizes as well as individuals looking for an easy-to-use, affordable and multi-access time tracking solution.
We use Clockify to bill clients and to pay our consultants who track their time on the app. It connects with our payroll solution, Gusto. I use it daily to track my own time and use the reporting tools monthly to bill clients. However, we also remind clients when they are at 50% of their allotted hours, 75% and then at 100% so I also use the tool during these times to inform them of these milestones. I also use the tracker to gauge the amount of time it takes other independent contractors to complete specific tasks so that we can average this for future projects.
I enjoy the Chrome extension and its ease of use. I like the reports function which makes it easy to bill clients. I like the ability to break down client billing by task.
I have used Clockify for almost two years. The pricing plans are easy to follow and we had no issues when implementing this time tracker at my agency. It allows us to precisely bill clients and pay our consultants. We decided to purchase this tool because having multiple independent contractors invoice us individually was becoming time consuming but also didn’t capture the details we needed to bill our clients. We couldn’t accurately describe to them what was being worked on: for example, if we billed 10 hours, were tasks involved and how did we ensure contractors weren’t duplicating efforts.
I have no cons
Compared to other time trackers, Clockify is easier to learn
People should consider the price per user as this is how pricing plans are set up- it may not be cost-effective for a very large organization
The addition of a calendar integration to automatically track time without having to start/stop the tracker has been extremely useful
Small to Medium sized organization
A large organization
ZoomShift
Designed for hourly employees, ZoomShift has helped 20,000+ small businesses in saving time and money. ZoomShift is incredibly user friendly; It lets you easily make schedule, add staff, and view the summary of each hour.
PROS
- Manage staff scheduling on the move
- Color-coded schedules
- Forecast labor costs and hours with ease
CONS
- Updates too often for an employee scheduling software, which some customers may find confusing
- Some reports indicates that the tool tends to crashes and disconnects from the server
- Accidentally deleted shifts cannot be retrieved
ZoomShift is an employee scheduling software designed for hourly employees. It allows for better time management so that milestones can be easily viewed and you schedule work in minutes. Employees can clock-in for assigned shifts using the web time clock or mobile time clock and management can edit timesheets on the fly from the free iOS and Android apps.
ZoomShift will help you to keep your team on the same page, you can invite your team to check their schedule and manage their availability. The drag and drop schedule builder makes it extremely easy for you to create your schedule. You also have the option to share the schedule via text, email to remind your team and keep them updated.
Plus, the app communication features allows for real-time discussion between team members to increase productivity, and improve the quality of work.
Ace Hardware, Amazon, Holiday Inn, Walgreens, ClearWater Outdoor.
- Starter: This plan costs $2 per active user per month and is ideal for growing organizations that just want to time track and schedule shifts.
- Premium: This plan costs $4 per active user per month and is ideal for organizations of any size that want extended, workforce management features.
- Enterprise: This plan is custom tailored for large businesses or franchises with complex needs. Contact ZoomShift’s sales team for pricing.
Best For
Companies across different industries looking to track and manage their employee’s working hours, attendance, as well as shifts.
Zoom is used for our organization's virtual meetings on a daily basis. We use Zoom for internal and external communication. It is very reliable for calls, meetings, calendar reminders and even call queues. Zoom has allowed us to continue to work in a hybrid work environment with limited interruptions.
I like that the Zoom platform is user-friendly and easily accessible through web or mobile apps. The reminders of upcoming meetings are extremely helpful for when I am zoned in and lose track of time. It has also provided us with the flexibility needed to remain hybrid and collaborate internally and externally.
Prior to 2019 we only used Zoom for virtual meetings. At the end of 2019 we transitioned to the full platform. When we transitioned we were looking for a more structured platform for our growing organization. We wanted something that was user-friendly for our staff and would allow us to communicate effectively. It worked out great going into the pandemic and already having a virtual plan.
One con to Zoom is the inability to fax directly from the platform. They have created an integration, but this requires an add-on feature that I believe is separate from the platform itself. Another con which is outside of their control is that it is internet based and if you don’t have good service your call/meeting may get dropped. (this is outside of their control)
Compared to the platform we previously used, zoom has more features and is easier to use. Being able to have our phone system and meeting platforms combined provides ease for our staff. Our staff can now use one app versus two which is what they were previously doing. Zoom also continues to come out with more features that are extremely helpful. Most recently the AI feature that provides a read-out from recorded meetings.
Think about the needs of your company and the budget. Consider the growth you are expecting within the year you are purchasing so you can get the proper amount of licenses.
There have been updates to the platform that have added more features. These added features have allowed us to save time on some of our processes. The AI features that are being added are truly showing that we can save time and be efficient as well as effective.
Zoom is a good platform for any size organization. When we first began using the platform we had 25 staff members and we now have 55. Zoom is able to grow with you to meet your needs.
I don’t know an organization that Zoom would not be a good fit for. It continues to evolve and take customer feedback to improve the platform. The only reason I would see it not being a good fit is if the company can’t afford it. In which they offer discounts to lower the cost for you.
QuickBooks Time
QuickBooks Time comes with a plethora of features; track time, build employee schedules, use geofencing technology, connect to your favorite accounting or payroll software, and gain business insights with real-time, interactive reports.
PROS
- Quickbooks boasts frequent promotional offers, occasionally providing discounts of up to 50%.
- Personalized customer service approach, with scheduled call options that receive positive feedback for courteous and tailored issue resolutions.
- Streamlined central clock-in/clock-out system for core work locations.
- This product offers promotions and discounts (up to 50%) from time to time.
- Their customer service is personalized. You get to reach them by scheduling a call and customers have commended the courteous, tailored responses to issues they have.
- Consolidated clock in/clock out system for central work locations.
CONS
- Some users have reported occasional delays in GPS technology updating current locations, displaying prior employee locations rather than live updates.
- There are limited customer support contact options. You usually have to schedule calls for assistance.
- The GPS technology is slow to catch up on current locations at times. Instead of live updates, the software shows the employee’s previous locations.
- While their customer support is very helpful, they don’t provide many options for you to contact them. You can only schedule a call.
Formally known as TSheets, QuickBooks Time is a time and attendance solution. It allows users to ducky review and employee time, process payroll, or recreate invoices in an accessible way. QuickBooks Time keeps a timesheet for each employee and allows them to clock in via a mobile device, or manually add time within the platform. QuickBooks Time is great for companies that are looking for accessibility, and those that are looking for additional time tracking features such as time-tracking and geofencing.
- Premium: The Premium plan packs all the necessary features for you to easily track time & attendance for your workforce, no matter where they work. This plan costs $20 a month for one admin user, + $8 per additional user per month.
- Elite: The Premium plan packs everything in the Premium plan plus additional features for project management and collaboration. This plan costs $40 a month for one admin user, + $10 per additional user per month.
Best For
Any company looking for a robust time and attendance tracking solution.
We primarily use QuickBooks Time for tracking our internal team’s time and our consultants’ time for client work and projects. By tracking our external project and client work in such a detailed way, we can capture and summarize each individual's deliverables at the end of each month.
In addition, we track our internal processes related to business development for projects and services. This helps us understand where our productivity lies. It also allows us to measure how long tasks take, so we can use the data from time tracking to help with price costing for business development projects for client usage and consultation.
You can create custom reports to fit the needs of project and client costing. QuickBooks Time is user-friendly—our team has a wide range of technology users, and it is intuitive for everyone. It offers full customization in how you set up projects, customers, client bases, and groups to fit your billing and reporting needs.
Our organization first looked into QuickBooks Time because we needed a solution where we could house all of our project- and retainer-based time. We are a management consulting firm, and it's critical for serving our clients well that we accurately report and categorize our time.
We have clients on retainer, and we also have clients with whom we do only project-based work. It is crucial in these situations to have a system that links the time we spend working with a client and/or project, with the option of adding layers of categorization. Additionally, we needed a system that allowed us to take detailed notes.
QuickBooks Time can be set up in almost any configuration you need for this type of work. As an administrator, you can determine how it makes the most sense to set up your client categories and project-based work. You can do it differently or the same for every client or project. You may only work with internal clients, but this solution would work just as well for external clients.
QuickBooks Time allows for accurate time tracking—either to the minute clocking in and out or clocking durations of time. It has mobile accessibility for those who work in the field or remotely. One of my favorite features is the ability to integrate with payroll and accounting systems, which reduces the risk of inaccurate reporting.
Speaking of reporting, the ability to get customized reports on hours, project or client-specific data, and overtime is valuable. All these features help with job costing, invoicing, and productivity analysis. While we don't currently use this feature, the system also allows users to create and share employee schedules.
After one year of using the system, I have found it incredibly user-friendly and easy to navigate.
There are too many clicks involved when selecting categories and subcategories to align your working time. Sometimes, instead of a whole page changing when navigating, a box or separate page pops up. I would prefer a single screen for navigation. It would be helpful if employees received an alert when they forget to clock out at the end of their shift. As an administrator, I get an alert, but to my knowledge, employees do not.
QuickBooks Time is user-friendly and intuitive. In my opinion, it sits in the middle of the pack. There aren't any extraordinary features that set it apart, but there also aren't any major drawbacks.
You should have an idea of how you want to handle time costing before purchasing this type of tool. A clear understanding of how you will report on your time and use the data for reporting will help you identify the necessary features and where you can be flexible. Knowing how to break down internal and external clients is also essential, as is understanding how you want to tie time tracking to specific customers.
Yes, I feel they may be slightly behind in proactive innovation, but they're certainly not at the back of the pack.
QuickBooks Time is great for consulting firms and users who need to track time for specific projects or workflows.
Nothing comes to mind for this question.
Benefits of Time and Attendance Software
There are many benefits to using a time and attendance platform. We’ve listed some of these below.
- Increased accuracy and efficiency: Time and Attendance software can help improve overall efficiency and productivity. Within a single database, you’ll only have to enter employee information once, which will flow through various stages of your employee lifecycle, which can reduce the need for importing and exporting data.
- Access to a wider pool of talent: Implementing consistent time tracking best practices will make it easier to hire outside of your usual talent pool as remote workers can now be managed more efficiently. When used in combination with services like EOR companies, time and attendance software can help you build a global presence with relatively little effort.
- Automate your processes: Many systems have alerts and notifications that can proactively give employees reminders when employees are nearing overtime. This can notify managers for those in hourly shifts or positions that they need to better address overtime, or better manage their schedule. There can also be alerts that show when an employee has clocked in or out for the day.
- Improved bottom line: when you are using a modem platform, work hours are recorded in real time, which decreases opportunity for manual error. They can also cut down on time theft and things like buddy punching, which help improve your bottom line.
- Avoid tax, payroll and compliance issues: having a time and attendance platform that can help ensure that employees are being paid properly, and decrease any potential issues from a tax or compliance standpoint. Many benefits, such as vacation and overtime are tied to hours worked helps also ensure HR efficiency and compliance.
- Track projects and tasks: some platforms let users track hours for specific tasks or projects, which can be helpful for those that are looking to bill clients for specific tasks, specifically those in the corporate world - such as consultants and lawyers.
- Improve employee engagement and visibility: with time and attendance platforms, you can give your employees access to their schedules through an online profile or sometimes even a mobile app. Your staff should be able to check their own schedule, view the schedule of coworkers or view available PTO time. Many platforms also allow employees to submit time off requests, which will then route directly to a manager. This can empower employees to have control over their own schedule, and increase engagement with any platform.
- Better scheduling: managers can view, build and access employees schedules to ensure there is coverage across the board. With a time and attendance platform you can start to enforce your attendance policy, and log the hours that your staff works (whether they are hourly or salaried). With robust analytics and reporting, this also makes it easy to assign shifts and cut down on employee issues of absenteeism.
- Reporting and analytics are your fingertips: real-time reporting helps you review and monitor your staff attendance. You can have easy access to schedules, see who is in your office or on the floor, and know who is off. This is beneficial for those that are managing shift based schedules or creating future schedules.
General Advice For Buying the Best Time and Attendance Platforms
Here's our best general advice when it comes to buying time and attendance platforms:
- Best in class vs. all-in-one: there are many products out there - some that deliver only time tracking and employee attendance solutions, while others may provide an all-in-one solution that offers a full comprehensive HRIS suite. This should be taken into consideration prior to purchasing any solution (i.e. do you want a standalone time and attendance platform that can integrate with your Payroll or HRIS system, or are you looking for an all-in-one product that offers payroll, time and attendance). Depending on your preference, this may dictate your decision.
- Identify employee processes: prior to buying a Time and Attendance platform it’s helpful to have your processes clearly outlined. You should have a clear understanding on what the approval process is for time, how are employees keeping track of time, etc. If you know who is involved in the approval process, this will make it easier to identify a product that fits your needs.
- Think about compliance: there are many aspects of employee and employer law that come into play on an everyday basis. It’s good to look for a solution that can address some of these compliance needs (such as overtime alerts) to help prevent any unnecessary lawsuits.
Time and Attendance Software Pricing Models
Here are the different pricing models you can expect to see from various Time and Attendance Systems. Many companies have different pricing structures depending on what the product offers. We’ve broken out some of the various options below:
- Employees/User: Many companies charge on a monthly basis per user. For example, if you have 20 employees, you may pay a fee X employee X per month.
- By Month: Many platforms have a monthly pricing model which includes a general base fee, plus a cost per employee. Some companies may also offer a flat fee.
- Annually: There are some companies that bill on an annual basis for a subscription.
Pro Tip: Know which companies charge for integrations and those that don’t. For example, some companies may charge for a direct integration or an API with a payroll platform.
Pro Tip 2: Many Time and Attendance companies offer discounts as part of their pricing model.
Pro Tip 3: Most software companies will require at least a one-year contract, although some may offer month-to-month. Ask this up front, so you know what you are committing to.
Overall Cost
Time and Attendance systems can cost anywhere between $240 – $1,600 for a monthly subscription, depending on the number of employees and the product suite. This also varies off of the time tracking services, integrations, and any hardware associated.
Time and Attendance system can be very affordable with some of the basics.
What to budget:
Small companies can opt into a basic time tracking system for a small investment of $1000 or less. For companies with less than 25 employees, basic time clocks or a timekeeping platform can be implemented for around $500 to $750 (with implementation fees included). For more complex software and additional hardware, this could run from $2000 - $4000 for companies with around 25 to 150 employees.
Mid market - enterprise: For larger companies, they can expect to pay anywhere from $10,000 - $100,000 depending on the customization and need. This depends on employee count and total location count. Implementation fees can cost anywhere from $300 - $500, with hardware costing an additional $500 to $1,000 that can be purchased or rented for a monthly fee.
Key Time & Attendance Features
There are many Time and Attendance systems out there, many which have basic features, while some offer more complex features that may cater to your business. The best platforms will have all of the bells and whistles that will make it a smooth transition for you and your employees.
The following capabilities are important features to look for when vetting various companies.
- Clocking in and out: This is a must have for time and attendance - employees must be able to track time, clock in, record breaks, and clock out when the workday is done. This can be done using either card readers, pins, or personalized employee numbers. Devices for clocking in and clocking out can be at a punch station (tablet), on a computer or a mobile device.
- Timesheets: any basic timekeeping software should have an electronic timesheets within the software that includes all time entries for the corresponding pay period. These can be found on a dashboard, or on an individual’s profile.
- Leave management: leave or time off management is a key aspect of time and attendance. There should be some standard level of time off tracking, such as having employees taking a half day, tracking sick time, or being able to add this onto timesheets.
- Time accruals: some time and attendance platforms will allow you to set up time off policies and automatically accrue work hours on employee profiles based on rules that are setup on the back end. This is important for employees to view how much time they have available and can take off for any associated vacation or sick time.
- Reporting: creating and maintaining records is key for any time and attendance platform, and key for any HR activities within an organization. There should be basic reports, such as a total number of hours, overtime, and time off for employees, as well as data exports to CSV and excel.
- Mobile/cloud based: a cloud based solution is key because it allows you and your staff to access your timekeeping platform anywhere. This often includes a browser integration, which means a device can be used to punch in without an app. Mobile and cloud support can help those that are remote time tracking and clocking hours.
- Employee profiles: employees should be able to login on their browser or the application in order to view time, clock in and out, view attendance records, and schedules. This also encourages employees to take ownership for their own schedules.
- Manager dashboard: most platforms offer some version of a dashboard that is accessible for managers to approve time or time recorded for the week or pay period. The dashboard may include employees that report to them, or those that are in their location. This often includes some search functionality for managers to view profiles, and check hours for those that report to them.
- Scheduling: having an option to schedule employee shifts is key for an efficient time and attendance tracking solution. This may include assigning employees shifts, or creating an electronic schedule that employees can view.
Nice-to-haves:
- Biometric attendance: this is great for those with a large workforce, and those that have clock in and clock out functionality. This helps reduce the risk of fraud by using employee fingerprints or a personal identification number to authenticate clock in and clock out.
- Alerts: most platforms will have automated alerts that inform recipients of missed punches, or those that are approaching overtime.
- Integrations w/ calendars: many platforms that have some type of scheduling functionality also offer integrations with google, outlook and more.
- Overtime tracking: many platforms have overtime settings, which is crucial for tracking hourly employees. These settings will allow you to set a work week for the corresponding overtime requirements, such as overtime for a 40 hour week, overtime on a daily basis.
- Payroll integration: some time and attendance platforms offer payroll within the platform, or offer the ability to integrate into an external payroll solution. There should be some level of an integration that will pull through directly into your payroll processing dashboard. This may cost extra, but will save lots of time and effort.
- Timeclock devices: some platforms offer tablets and devices to punch in and out of. For those that are looking for a punch station, these devices can oftentimes be installed by the company on site.
Questions To Ask Time and Attendance Vendors On Demos
Here are several questions we think every HR/Management team should should be asking vendors while on demos:
- Can you clock in and out on a tablet or mobile device?
- Do you need an installer to add?
- What types of internet browsers does this run on?
- Can you export data to payroll/HRIS?
- Can you export data and run reports?
- How does clocking and clocking out work? What data do employees need to have when clocking in and out (i.e. employee number)?
- Is payroll included?
- Do you have an open API?
- What types of reporting functionality do you have?
- Do you have different types of security permissions based on roles?
- How do you approve time?
- Can employees access via an App? Is there mobile functionality?
- Are there any workflows or alerts?
- What types of security do you have in your system?
- Are there additional costs and setup fees per location?
- Does your platform require that we install anything?
- Can any custom PTO policies be tracked or set up?
- Are PTO accruals automated?
- Can you track tips?
- Is there a timesheet dashboard to view hours?
- Does the system include daily, weekly, and seventh day overtime?
- Can the system handle hourly and salaried employees?
- Does the system include the reports you require?
- Does the system include public holidays?
- Can the system handle sick and vacation accruals?
- Can the Administrator add, edit, and delete employee time punches?
- Can employees view their own timecard?
- Can employees request time off from within the system?
- Can the system round employee time punches?
There are many different types of customization within various platforms. It’s important that you ask questions up front based on your needs. Make sure you find a software that meets your needs efficiently, whether you need something focused on time and attendance solely, or need a platform that includes this functionality, and additional HR tools.
Common Terms to Know:
Here are some common terms to know when looking for a Time and Attendance platform.
- Overtime Tracking: overtime tracking is a must for all time and attendance platforms, typically this allows you to track any hours outside of the standard overtime rules and regulations by state.
- Flexible Pay Periods: This allows you to customize pay periods start and end time (i.e. Monday - Sunday).
- 24 Hour Shift: For employees that are able to work time periods of longer than 24 hours without being required to clock in or out.
- Shift Swap Features: employees can switch shifts through a timekeeping platform (great for hourly employees).
- Badge Terminal Systems: when a system uses badges or cards for access in order to clock in and out.
- Alerts and notifications: this refers to notifications or alerts around policies, or reminders on when schedules have changed or it’s time to clock in and out (these may vary across each software platform).
- Managing permissions: this allows you to restrict and access various areas of the platform based on the role.
- Timecard: this displays the attendance for each employee, as well as the details on time clocked in and time clocked out.
- Geofencing: tracking employees’s location via GPS and only allowing them to clock in from a specific area
- Group clock-ins: the ability for multiple employees to punch in using one device
- Time clock kiosk or tablet: this is a designated tablet that acts as a time clock device for punching in and out.
- Hardware: refers to the electronic equipment you may need to get your time tracking system up and running, including clock-in devices like barcode or biometric scanners. This is not always necessary if you aren’t tracking hours of employees on site.
- Software: this includes all of the cloud based functionality for time and attendance, such as the ability to record, organize and store employee hours.
Buying considerations for Time and Attendance Platforms
As you look to begin buying a time and attendance system, you should be asking the following questions: 1) how many employees will you be tracking 2) how many locations will you need this for 3) do you have internet functionality at these locations? 4) what features do you absolutely need? 5) how are you currently collecting data for employee time? Do you use punch clocks, swipe cards, or biometric cards?
- Integration and ongoing maintenance: Do you have in-house IT staff or will you need complete support from the vendor? Though integration is largely a concern for PC-based systems only, there may be browser, mobile, or other configuration issues with a web-based system as well.
- Number of locations and employees: As noted above, you should know how many locations and employees you are going to need to be tracking time for. If you are going to need installation in several different locations, there may be additional integration or installation costs for each location.
- Growth and expansion: Is your company looking to grow or expand in the next couple of years? The platform you end up going should be one that allows you to expand and grow your business easily. Some may need to account for seasonal or temporary employees, which may require additional tracking needs. Many of these platforms have cost on a per employee basis, so you should understand or have a good idea of how many employees you will need to track or will you will require timekeeping needs for.
- Ease of use: it’s important to have a time and attendance platform that is intuitive and easy to use, so your employees can use it without any confusion. User experience should be an important part of the buying criteria.
- Cost: you will need to plan and estimate whether or not each software fits your budget. Most of these platforms are charged on a per employee per month basis, so if you are looking to grow or expand to many locations within the next year or two, this could impact your overall cost.
- Free trial or a freemium version: in order to see what is a good fit for you, you can try a free trial or look for those that offer one. Many offer a free trial for 10-15 days, allowing you to play around in the product without fully committing to a contract.
- Support and resources: when your entire staff will be using a software product, you know that things may and can go wrong. Choosing a software that has a good support team, and good resources on an ongoing basis should be a focus and part of the buying criteria.
Time and Attendance Software FAQs
What is time and attendance software?
Time and attendance software is designed to be a virtual punch card for your employees, where both employer and employees can keep track of hours worked.
Why should you use time and attendance software?
You should use a time and attendance software because it increases accuracy and efficiency, improves your bottom line, automates processes, avoids compliance issues, tracks projects and tasks, improves engagement, and provides reporting and analytics.
What features do time and attendance software provide?
Key features of time and attendance software include clocking in and out, timesheet creation, leave management, time accruals, reporting, mobile apps, employee profiles, manager dashboards and scheduling, alerts, and integration with calendars.
Upcoming Trends
There are many trends that are on the horizon, and are good to note when looking at a time and attendance software. Some significant trends are:
- Mobile devices: most companies do have a mobile app, which allows employees to clock in and out on a mobile device.
- Cloud based systems: these are becoming more and more commonplace for software companies. The benefit is that it allows employees to record and monitor time through devices they are already familiar with. It also allows for data to be captured and recorded in real time, with both managers and employees being able to make adjustments as needed.
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