Best Employee Time Clocks for Employers in 2021

Personal time clocks have been around for decades and are now more sophisticated than ever. As the industry adapts to new technology, employers should be wary of which employee time clock their company invests in.

Beyond work start and finish times, employee time clocks assist monitor when workers are working or on break. Employee time clocks that function for various locations, incorporate face recognition technology, and give customizable reports are the best. Employees may also clock in and out using time clock software that is accessible through a website or app.

These digital time clocks provide more complex capabilities including GPS-based clock-ins, configurable reports, and the ability to assign time to particular projects and activities, as well as enhanced time tracking flexibility. We looked at both kinds of employee time clocks in this tutorial, comparing their simplicity of use and time monitoring capabilities.

How Did We Assess Employee Time Clocks?

We looked at critical features including time recording choices, break periods, paid-time-off (PTO) monitoring, and reporting tools, in addition to affordability and simplicity of use. After that, we gave each one a score based on the following criteria:

20% of the Total Points

Timekeeping and attendance features

20% of the Total Points

We looked to determine whether the service offered a free plan as well as clear pricing for its premium levels. We also took into account the cost of paid memberships, awarding bonus points to companies that cost $10 or less per employee each month.

20% of the Total Points

Exportable time data, numerous time clock kinds, breaks, PTO monitoring, and administrator alerts are all included in the finest employee time clock. Access to mobile applications and a self-service site are also advantageous.

20% of the Total Points

Geofencing, geolocation monitoring, and several clock-in/out choices (including fingerprint, badge, and pin code) are just a few of the key features we examined. We also looked at whether the program might be used to set up approvals and restrict early time-ins.

20% of the Total Points

It’s critical to have an intuitive and simple-to-use time clock and time tracking software. We also searched for live phone assistance, training, rapid system installs, and integration possibilities with payroll, point-of-sale (POS), and scheduling systems.

10% of the Total Points

We looked at reviews on third-party sites like G2 and Capterra written by real people.

Given its versatility and inexpensive cost, we chose Homebase as the best online time clock based on our review criteria. With its free plan, you may monitor the time entries of an infinite number of employees—as long as they all work in the same place. It also includes an online scheduler and important recruiting tools that make it simple to advertise positions and keep track of applications.

Homebase

For Small Businesses, the Best Overall Online Employee Time Clock

PROS

• Online time clock applications, attendance monitoring, staff scheduling, job advertising, and applicant tracking are all included in the free plan.
• An interface that is simple to use
• Can manage an infinite number of staff.

CONS

• Paid options feature geolocation monitoring, geofencing, PTO accrual tracking, and overtime notifications.
• From time to time, the software is slow.

Total Points 4.60 OUT OF 5

Homebase is best for businesses with just one physical location that want a feature-rich online time clock to assist decrease scheduling mistakes and streamline payroll processing. It offers free employee time clock software and applications that operate on computer kiosks, tablets, and cellphones.

It not only allows you to generate staff schedules and time entries, but it also provides free tools for team communication, job advertising, and application monitoring. Premium features such as geofencing, overtime and late employee notifications, early clock-in prevention, and auto-scheduling are available if you upgrade to a paid membership.

Pricing

• A plan that is completely free: Time tracking, employee scheduling, job listings, application tracking, employee timesheets, software connection with leading payroll and POS systems, team chat, and standard breaks and overtime settings for your state are all included in the basic tier.
• Plans with a fee: Additional features include geolocation tracking, geofencing, onboarding tools, online document storage, PTO accruals, and balance tracking, and automated text reminders to employees for clock-outs and schedules. Three options (Essentials, Plus, and All-in-One) with monthly fees ranging from $19.90 to $99.95 per location; includes additional features like geolocation tracking, geofencing, onboarding tools, online document storage, PTO accruals and balance tracking, and automated text reminders to employees
• Job posting boosts (starting at $79 per post) and access to “HR Pro” counselors and resources ($99 per month; free if you subscribe to the All-in-One plan) are available as add-ons.

Features

• Employee time clock: Time clock applications (for desktops, tablets, and smartphones) that offer PIN code clock-ins/outs; screening questions for workers clocking in; geofencing and geolocation monitoring features are only available in subscription plans.
• Time and attendance: Online timesheets that automatically detect missed staff breaks and clock-outs; early clock-ins limit feature; and, with a monthly subscription, reminders for late personnel and those nearing overtime.
• Employee scheduling: Online schedule builder with drag-and-drop functionality, schedule templates, open shifts, shift swaps, PTO requests, shift preferences, and schedule availability management; automatic standard breaks and state overtime settings; auto-scheduling and schedule confirmations; automated shift and attendance-related SMS reminders to employees with a paid plan; automated shift and attendance-related SMS reminders to employees with a paid plan; automated shift and attendance-related SMS reminders to employees with a paid plan; automated shift and attendance-
• Hiring: Free job posting, applicant monitoring, and online application screening questions; enhances your job postings (starts at $79 per post).
• HR and compliance: A suite of HR solutions for managing employee onboarding and compliance, including electronic signatures, new hire onboarding, online document storage, labor law alerts, advanced compliance support, an HR resource library, and access to HR advisers—features that are only available in premium tiers.
• Company announcements, read receipts, and a feature to add instructions or notes to employee schedules are available with a paid plan; team messaging: Built-in messenger to send individual and group messages, including team announcements and employee shift feedback; company announcements, read receipts, and a feature to add instructions or notes to employee schedules are available with a paid plan.
• Apps for mobile devices (iOS and Android): While on the move, the app displays the employee’s real hours worked and predicted profits; it also allows them to build work plans, request and accept shift exchanges, and submit PTO requests.
• Customer care is accessible by email 24 hours a day, seven days a week from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., as well as live phone and online chat services on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST)
• Integration of third-party software

Timelogix

Best for manufacturing companies or warehouses in need of a biometric time clock that may be mounted on the wall

PROS

• User-friendly
• It offers limitless service and data storage, as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee on its time clock and software solutions.
• For monitoring the attendance of field staff, offers both physical time clocks and smartphone applications with geolocation features.

CONS

• Options for integration are limited.
• Occasionally, there are system issues.
• Customer service might be slow to respond at times.

Total Points

3.65 OUT OF 5

Timelogix provides wall-mounted devices with flexible clock-in/out choices for firms who prefer a physical employee time clock over a digital app. It accepts a variety of time entry methods, including smart badge cards, fingerprint scans, face recognition, and PIN numbers.

Timelogix is a cloud-based time and attendance system that incorporates staff scheduling, online timesheet editing, an employee portal, and mobile applications with GPS clocking features, in addition to traditional employee time clocks. It can also manage an infinite number of administrators and locations. You also receive limitless support and data hosting, which is a fantastic benefit.

The Timelogix TL200 is an excellent choice if you want a moderately cost employee time clock with a smart card, fingerprint biometrics, and PIN code time collection features. You must, however, pay a one-time price to acquire the device as well as monthly fees to utilize Timelogix’s cloud-based system.

Pricing

• Timelogix TL200 physical time clock costs $349.99; other Timelogix staff clocks cost $249.99 to $999.99.
• Software for tracking time and attendance
  • $14 per month for 1–10 workers
  • $28 per month for 11–20 staff
  • $39 per month for 21–30 staff
  • $50 per month for 31–40 workers
  • $60 per month for 41–50 workers
  • Contact Timelogix for a unique quotation if you have more than 50 workers.

Features

• Employee time clock: physical time clocks that may be installed on the wall; online time clock applications that run on mobile devices and include geolocation capabilities; Wi-Fi built-in, as well as a mechanism that stores time entries in internal memory if the internet goes down and delivers all data to the program once the connection is restored.
• Employee time inputs in real-time; edit tools for electronic employee timesheets; configurable overtime kinds, PTO entitlements, and time clock notifications that show when workers clock in and out.
• Create employee shifts; control “out of shift” time; functionality that enables you to approve or reject additional minutes that your employees worked before and beyond their allocated shifts.
• Apps for mobile devices (iOS and Android): Geo punches is a tool that allows you to monitor your employees’ clock-in and out locations. It displays the chronological sequence of their geo punches and allows you to see the addresses of each clock-in/out transaction.
• Customer service is available via phone and live chat on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Integration of third-party software: Integration with popular payroll providers such as ADP, Paychex, and QuickBooks

uJR2000 uAttend

Best for restaurant and hospitality businesses

PROS

• Has a self-guided setup wizard that is plug-and-play.
• Employees may keep track of their tasks right from the time clock.
• The monthly package provides limitless data storage and CSV file data exports, as well as two-time clocks.

CONS

• Options for integration are limited.; connects only with QuickBooks Desktop
• Its monthly membership is more costly (fees start at $22 per month for up to nine workers).
• Time clock and mobile app issues occur from time to time.

Total Points 3.35 OUT OF 5

Employee time clocks with numerous clock-in/out options are available from uAttend. Staff can monitor work and request department transfers straight from the unit, which is ideal for businesses that allocate employees to several departments during the day or pay period.

Its JR2000 time clock can record time via a PIN number, biometric fingerprint scans, or RFID card taps. It also features built-in Wi-Fi, allowing for smooth data transfers from the time clock to uAttend’s cloud-based software.

What’s great about the uJR2000 uAttend is that it has a wide interface with a touch-screen display, allowing you and your employees to easily see time clock details and system controls—from setting up time zones to starting and ending break times.

You can connect the uJR2000 uAttend to the internet via Wi-Fi and LAN.

Pricing

• The JR2000 physical time clock costs $179, whereas other uAttend time clocks cost $299 or $399.
• Software for tracking time and attendance: Access to the software requires a cloud account subscription that covers two-time clocks, one system administrator, unlimited data storage, and unlimited CSV file data exports. The fees are based on the number of employees you have.
  • $22 per month for 1–9 workers
  • $37 per month for 10–19 staff
  • $65 per month for 20–49 workers
  • Employees between 50 and 99: $99 per month
  • Employees with 100 or more: $129 per month
• Add-ons include a cloud account for extra time clocks ($10 per month); additional system administrators ($6 per month); and data exports in formats other than CSV ($5 per month).

Features

• Employee time clock: PIN code, RFID ID, and fingerprint clock-ins/outs; offline mode keeps time punches in the clock and transfers data to the clock’s cloud-based software once the internet connection is restored.
• PTO management with online requests and approvals; warnings when an employee is approaching overtime; time card management; department transfer capability that allows you to monitor employee transfers, including the department they moved to, the job they accomplished, and the length of time they were there.
• Employee scheduling: Create shifts and allocate workers by position using an online schedule builder with a point-and-click interface; schedule templates; employee break time-in/out limits
• Apps for mobile devices (iOS and Android): Remote employees may clock in and out with geolocation monitoring, as well as seek PTO and department transfers. Tips and costs may be added by workers for reporting and payroll purposes. time cards to see and modify
• uAttend offers email and live phone assistance to its customers.
• Integration of third-party software: Offers direct integration with QuickBooks Desktop

TotalPass P600 Icon Time

It’s best for small businesses that want to grow.

PROS

• For a basic cost, a 50-employee capacity is possible.
• There are no recurring monthly costs.
• Real-time viewing of missing punches

CONS

• The time clock does not enable biometric fingerprint scans and there is no mobile app available.

Total Points

3.08 OUT OF 5

With TotalPass P600 Icon Time, you get a proximity time clock that can handle up to 500 employees. This makes it an ideal solution for small businesses with plans to scale. Apart from on-site time tracking, it has a web punch functionality that lets your employees clock in/out from tablets, smartphones, and computers—provided an internet connection is available.

Unlike Timelogix and uAttend, you don’t need to download and install a timekeeping system in order to make the time clockwork. TotalPass P600 Icon Time has a basic time tracking software built right into the unit. In addition, you don’t have to pay monthly fees to use the system. You only need to purchase the unit, plus optional add-ons for proximity cards, web punch licenses, and customer support.

While the TotalPass timekeeping software is included in the clock, it may also be accessed through a web browser from any device.

Pricing

• The TotalPass P600 employee time clock costs $399 and comes with five web punch licenses, 15 proximity badge cards, and a capacity of up to 50 employees (expandable to 500). Other Icon Time employee time clocks range in price from $179 to $2,609.
• Basic Software for tracking time and attendance: No monthly fees
• Add-ons: Web punches ($99 for five licenses); proximity badges ($39.99 and $59.99 for ten and twenty cards, respectively); TotalPass P600 “care pack” ($180 per year, per time clock), which includes software updates, remote login assistance and troubleshooting, time clock repairs, and unlimited phone and email support.

Features

• Employee time clock: PIN code clock-ins/outs, RFID/proximity badge card taps, and web punches with geolocation monitoring are all supported. Secure data transfers to and from the clock are ensured using SSL encryption. Built-in Wi-Fi with Ethernet and USB connection options; automatic backups
• Time and attendance: Review and approve timesheets via a web browser; up to 99 department codes may be handled; PTO accruals monitoring; customizable email alerts for overtime and clock-in/out notifications; staff productivity tracking for tips, piece counts, and task numbers
• Customer service: New customers get 30-days of free phone and email assistance; after that, you must buy a support pack ($180 per year, restricted to one TotalPass P600 time clock). in order to get client assistance
• Integration of third-party software: Compatible with most payroll software such as QuickBooks, Paychex, Paylocity, ADP Workforce Now, Paycom, and SurePayroll

CB4000 Allied Time

Best for companies that want many biometric time tracking options and have a high level of security.

PROS

• Up to five clock-in/out, choices are supported by the time clock (including palm scans)
• Its cloud-based timekeeping software comes with a 30-day free trial.
• Free setup, unlimited software updates, lifetime support, and clock replacement are all included in the monthly subscription.

CONS

• Its time clock is pricey.
• Time clock glitches on occasion; fingerprint scans are sometimes rejected.
• RFID badge cards are an added expense.

Total Points

3.00 OUT OF 5

If you’re looking for a web-based time tracking solution that can verify and identify employee palm scans, then the CB4000 Allied Time biometric time clock is the right tool for you. Aside from palm scans, it accepts clock-in/out entries via fingerprint, facial recognition, PIN code, and RFID badge card taps.

Similar to the TotalPass P600 Icon Time, this time clock doesn’t require any software installation. However, you have to pay a monthly fee in order to access its cloud-based timekeeping system. For new clients, you can use the system for free for 30-days.

The CB4000 Allied Time has built-in Wi-Fi, but you use your existing LAN to connect it to the internet.

Pricing

• The CB4000 with a touch-screen interface for monitoring time records and choosing tasks costs $239, while the touch-free version costs $199; other Allied Time time clocks range in price from $139 to $219.
• Software for tracking time and attendance: 30-day free trial for new clients; monthly subscription includes system access, free setup, data storage and backups, unlimited software upgrades, lifetime support, and lifetime clock replacement. The fees are based on the number of employees you have.
  • $20 per month for 1–9 workers
  • $30 per month for 10–19 staff
  • $40 per month for 20–49 workers
  • $60 per month for 50–99 workers
  • $100 per month for 100–250 workers (plus $20 each additional 50 if headcount exceeds 250).
• Extra CB4000 time clocks in use per account ($10 per month for each device); RFID badge cards ($24.99 per pack of 10) are available as add-ons.

Features

• Employee time clock: PIN code, RFID ID, palm scan, fingerprint, and face recognition (for mobile app) clock-ins/outs; optional keypad clocking; touch-screen version can monitor up to 20 jobs
• Regular time and overtime monitoring (based on daily and weekly OT requirements, including California OT laws); different pay hour categories supported.
• For Android users, there is a mobile app that you may download. Remote employees may clock in and out using face recognition and geolocation monitoring, as well as see time cards while on the road.
• Allied Time provides live phone assistance to its customers.
• Payroll integration: Has built-in CSV exporting for convenient payroll integration.

Conclusion

All of the alternatives discussed in this tutorial would be appropriate for a small company. They may assist company owners and HR departments in effectively managing employee time and attendance. Homebase is our top option for employee time clocks because it offers a free online time clock that includes timekeeping, scheduling, and recruiting features to single-location enterprises.