Say goodbye to employee time theft and human errors on timesheets. Take a look at the best time clock apps to help you manage your employees’ working hours.
Growing your business while closely monitoring employee behavior and activity can get overwhelming quickly. While you don’t want to turn into a dictator, you do want to make sure that everyone is on the same page regarding work hours. In order to do this, you need a reliable online time clock app.
Time clock apps help track working hours and provide several additional benefits. Here are the best time clock apps available, along with key features and the pros and cons of each one.
What To Look For in a Free Online Time Clock App
There’s no shortage of time clock apps to consider. And while that’s a positive point to finding the right one for you, having many choices makes it hard to decide — unless you know what to look for. Check out these key features when deciding on a free clock-in, clock-out app:
- Geofencing: Employees must be within the geofenced area to clock in and out to avoid any buddy punching or time theft.
- Timesheet management: Admins have access to all digital timesheets and can edit, deny, or approve edits made by team members.
- Automatic time tracking: Every employee-tracked hour is automatically logged into the platform and kept on file for your records.
The Best 5 Free Online Time Clock Apps of 2023
1. Clockineasy — Best for Sole Proprietors
The Clockineasy free version is a great option for freelancers, self-employed, and solo entrepreneurs. Only one person can use the account at a time, so it’s not ideal for larger teams. The app lets you track working hours from your computer or mobile device.
You can also assign a monetary value to each hour tracked to get an accurate job and project cost report. With flexibility in mind, you can make informed changes to your process if projects run over budget.
The enhanced facial recognition login feature ensures complete privacy and protection while using the app. No one else can log into your account, even with your password.
There won’t be as many customized options with the free version of Clockineasy. If you have a team of contractors or freelancers working under you, it will be hard to round up or down their time punches. Only paid versions of this app come with dedicated support and account managers if you run into trouble and need additional help.
Key Features
- Simple to manage payroll
- Free online time clock
- Automated timekeeping
- Overtime calculations
- Messaging capabilities
Pros
- Saves time
- Easy clock in and clock out
- User-friendly
Cons
- The app sometimes crashes
- Lacks advanced features for larger businesses
2. Connecteam — Best for All-Inclusive Features
The Connecteam app stands out for its robust features that help you manage everyday operations. With the GPS breadcrumb technology, this app tracks the exact location of up to 10 employees when they clock in and throughout their entire work shift.
Geofencing restricts employees from clocking in and out unless they are in a specified area. The app works on desktop or mobile devices, so you can check on your employees from any device and location worldwide.
If you use online business tools, such as Quickbooks or Gusto, then you can integrate the Connecteam app with your current workflow. You’ll streamline your payroll processing efforts to save time and minimize mistakes.
Once you’ve used Connecteam for a few weeks, you can review up to three detailed reports every month. Find out who is collecting overtime, missed shifts, or any other information you need to manage your staff.
Key Features
- GPS time clock
- Time off requests management
- Time clock chat
- Overtime settings
- Simple export of timesheets to your payroll system
- Breadcrumb GPS to track employees’ location
Pros
- Ready for use in under 15 minutes
- Free plan for life — up to 10 users
- Affordable for all business sizes
- Top-rated customer service
Cons
- Additional integrations in progress
3. OnTheClock — Best for Small Businesses
OnTheClock is another cloud-based app you can access from anywhere and on any device. All features, including GPS tracking and employee geofencing abilities, are free to businesses with up to two employees.
The payroll features set this app apart from others. Full payroll reporting gives you a glance at your expected budget and has project cost functionality. That means you can assign a monetary value to tracked hours, providing you with real-time updates on project budgets.
Another helpful feature is the drag-and-drop scheduler. Instead of manually inputting every single shift per week, the tool makes it easy to select a shift and drag it exactly where you want it. If employees need time off, the app also keeps track of leave requests and lets you manage them from one location.
Key Features
- Employee database
- Messenger
- Free time-tracking software
- Mobile device access
Pros
- User-friendly
- Ideal for small businesses
Cons
- Customer service lacks professionalism
4. Homebase — Best for Businesses With One Location
Homebase is an all-in-one HR solution for teams. The app comes with time tracking and digital timesheets. Employees use the app to clock in and out, making organizing your employee’s time punches much more efficient.
You’ll also be able to schedule your employee’s time shifts and save timesheets for up to 90 days. This will save you time from having to manually schedule each shift and readjust for any changes.
The free version comes with only one location tracked but includes unlimited employees, making it ideal for small- and medium-sized businesses with multiple employees at a solitary site. You get direct messaging capabilities with the app, too, so you and your team members can communicate about projects in real time.
While paid versions have a lot of bells and whistles, the free version works well for businesses with one location that just need basic scheduling and time-tracking capabilities. You’ll have support via email and the help center with this software.
Key Features
- Time tracking
- Schedule and availability
- Point of sale integration
- Basic support
Pros
- Shift scheduling templates
- Easy to manage attendance
Cons
- Difficulties removing former employees from the app
- Challenges with correcting clock in and out mistakes
5. Time Clock Wizard — Best for Security Features
Unlimited users can access Time Clock Wizard’s free version, but most features are included in premium plans. This is a budget-saver app for teams but without as much functionality as other free-version apps.
Despite limited features in the free version, you get the same security and reliability found in Time Clock Wizard’s paid options. Activity on the app is updated in real time, and your data is safe with military-grade encryption backed up by multiple servers.
There is phone, chat, and email support to help you find an answer to any problem with the app. You can also track remote employees using Time Clock Wizard, so managing a hybrid or remote working staff can be hassle-free.
Key Features
- Top-rated security
- Remote employee tracking
- Unlimited users
- Completely web-based
Pros
- No software to install
- Supportive customer service
Cons
- A steep learning curve is required to use the platform
- Limited features compared to its paid versions
What Is a Free Online Time Clock for Employees?
You use an online time clock to track your employees working hours. It helps you know exactly when an employee starts and stops working, as well as other information like vacation days or sick days. With this information at your fingertips, you can easily calculate payroll accurately while managing project budgets and timelines.
The apps on this list all have free and paid versions available. While some have limited features on their free versions, they make up for what they lack by providing excellent security or customer support. Others offer more comprehensive tools to help your business organize employee working hours.
What Are the Benefits of a Free Online Time Clock App?
The idea of no additional cost for useful online business tools sounds good to any employer. And you’ll reap many additional benefits when using a time clock app.
Human error is reduced when you digitally track attendance records, missed shifts, and requests off. Also, the apps improve accountability within your team. When employees accurately report their working hours, excuses disappear for improper time punches, coming in late, or trying to leave early.
