They say “time is money,” and that’s never been truer than for small businesses. And when you can accurately track employee hours, it’s easier to stick to your labor budget and turn a profit.

That might be one of the reasons you’re looking at Mobile time Clock apps. But as you’ve probably discovered from a quick Google search, there are dozens of them on the market in 2023. So, how do you figure out which one’s best for you?

To help you find the right option for your small business, we compare the top mobile time clocks based on their best use cases, key features, and pricing. 

Key features to look for in mobile time clock apps

Choosing a mobile time clock can be overwhelming when you’re not sure what you’re looking for. So, let’s outline the features the best apps have before we start our detailed comparison. That way, you’ll have a clearer idea of what you want and, almost as importantly, what you don’t:

• Time and attendance tracking: The best mobile time clocks accurately record arrival and departure times, breaks, and total hours worked. But they still allow adjustments — for example, if employees are late due to unexpected bad weather.
• GPS capabilities: Most modern time clocks depend on GPS technology to verify each team member’s location when they sign into work. It’s more reliable than traditional punch clock methods and less invasive than using biometric data, like fingerprints or face scans. It also enables teams to clock in and out at remote work locations.
• Labor cost controls: As well as accurately recording hours, time clocks can save business owners money by preventing early arrivals and late departures. They’ll stop employees from clocking in before a certain time and automatically sign them out when their shift finishes.
• Alerts and reminders: Many top time tracking apps have push notifications that prompt team members to keep to their scheduled hours. That way, there’s less risk of them forgetting about a shift or working longer than planned. Managers and owners can also receive alerts for late arrivals and no shows so they can look for cover immediately.
• Compliance tools: Avoid unexpected fines by staying compliant with labor laws in your state. Some, like Homebase, prompt employees to take breaks and inform you when a team member is approaching overtime. Then, you can raise their pay rate to your state requirements or reassign their extra hours.
• Leave management: As well as hours worked, businesses also need to monitor staff leave. So, choose a tool that lets you collect vacation requests, approve them, and check each employee’s personal time off (PTO) balance. 
• Reporting and analytics: With all the data they collect, mobile time clock apps should be able to give you helpful insights into overtime levels, labor costs, and absenteeism rates.
• Payroll management: To save you from having to enter all your timesheet data into another software solution manually, your app of choice should include built-in, full-service payroll features or connect with popular payroll platforms.
• Integrations: Small businesses often depend on a variety of tools, so your app of choice should let you connect with a range of other popular apps.
• Compatible with a variety of devices: It’s unlikely all your employees have the same type of smartphone. Owing to that, choose a platform that works on most mobile devices. 

Our top pick for mobile time clocks in 2023 (+ the rest compared)

If you’re looking for an app that combines affordability, ease of use, and versatility, that’s Homebase. Our time clock tool is free for up to 20 employees, and we include many of our time tracking features in our lowest-cost plan. 

Our customers also praise our platform because of its simple navigation and intuitive design. That means you can trust your team will be able to pick up and use the app without any training or issues.

But of course, Homebase isn’t the best solution for everyone. If you mostly work with contractors, they’ll likely manage their own time. In that case, an app like Harvest that has a free plan and manual time tracker may be more suitable for you. And if you run a business outside of the US, you may need Timesheet Mobile’s EU compliance controls to stay on top of relevant labor regulations.

1. Homebase: Best all-in-one solution
2. QuickBooks Time: Best for mobile teams
3. Harvest: Best for freelancers
4. When I Work: Best for multiple administrators
5. Sling: Best for time zone differences
6. Timesheet Mobile: Best for small EU businesses
7. Connecteam: Best for range of businesses

Comparison chart: Top 7 mobile time clock apps in 2023

Time clock	Pricing	App Store rating	Notable features
Homebase	Plans range from free to $99.95 per location per month. Users can save 20% by committing to the annual plan.	4.8	• Free time tracking and timesheets tools • Geofencing • GPS time clock • Options for kiosk and photo capture clock ins • Leave management • Labor cost controls • Compliance tools • Reminders and notifications
Quickbooks Time	There are two plans at $20 plus $8 per employee per month and $40 plus $10 per employee per month.	4.6	• GPS time clock • Geofencing • Location and mileage tracking • Project progress tracking
Harvest	Choice of a free plan for one user or $12 per employee per month.	3.8	• Manual timer • Expense management • Project and team insights
WhenIWork	Choice of plans at $4 per employee per month or $8 per employee per month.	4.8	• GPS time clock • Time and attendance reports • Labor cost controls • Timesheet rounding
Sling	Prices range from free to $4 per employee per month.	4.7	• GPS time clock • Labor cost controls • Time and attendance reports
Timesheet Mobile	Prices start at $14 per month plus $3.49 per employee.	4.4	• GPS time clock • Geofencing • Project checklists • EU compliance controls
Connecteam	Plans range from free to $297 per month.	4.7	• GPS time clock • Geofencing • Task management

A breakdown of the 7 best mobile time clock apps

Now you’ve seen the time clock apps we included on this list at a quick glance, let’s explore them in more detail.

1. Homebase: Best all-in-one solution

Homebase is an all-in-one HR app with a variety of time tracking features to help you stick to your labor budget. Our time clock tool lets employees sign into work from anywhere and provides management with multiple verification options, like GPS, photo capture, and PIN codes. Homebase can also remind team members about their shifts and automatically clock them out of work to make sure they’re only working their scheduled hours. All this makes our platform an excellent choice for budget-conscious small businesses. 

Top features

• Free time tracking and timesheet features
• GPS time clock to verify staff’s locations upon arrival and departure
• Geofencing capabilities to create clock in points for offsite workers
• Time kiosks available for tablets, computers, and point of sale (POS) terminals
• Option for photo capture during sign ins for an extra layer of verification
• Compliance tools, like alerts for missed breaks and overtime
• Labor cost controls to prevent early clock ins and automate clock outs
• Staff reminders about upcoming shifts
• Built-in payroll management and a range of integrations

Pros and cons

With our free plan and competitive rates, Homebase is one of the most affordable options on our list. Our flexible pricing also means you’re likely to find a plan that fits your budget.

But don’t think we sacrifice functionality for cost — Homebase has a versatile range of time tracking features, from our GPS time clock to labor cost controls and leave management. 

One drawback to Homebase is our lack of tools specifically geared to office workers. Because our platform is designed for small businesses and hourly work, we don’t offer a desktop time tracker or browser monitor like some competing apps do.

Pricing

Homebase offers four plans, and they all include our free mobile app. You can also take 20% off with a yearly commitment:

• Free for up to 20 employees at one business location. Includes basic time tracking and scheduling tools, as well as employee management features like messaging, point-of-sale (POS) integrations, and access to email support.

• Essentials for $24.95 per month per business location for everything in Free, plus advanced time tracking and scheduling, team communication features, payroll integrations, performance tracking, and access to live support.

• Plus for $59.95 per month per business location for everything in Essentials, plus hiring tools, retention and performance tracking, time off controls, and departments and permissions.

• All-in-one for $99.95 per month per business location for everything in Plus, plus HR and compliance, new hire onboarding, labor cost controls, and business insights.

Payroll is available as a separate add-on for $39.95 per month plus $6 per employee. 

2. QuickBooks Time: Best for mobile teams

QuickBooks Time’s time and location tracking tools make it a good choice for traveling work crews, like technicians and delivery drivers. You can track each employee’s mileage and check their locations throughout the day. That means you can verify nobody’s making too many unnecessary pit stops or taking longer routes on purpose. 

Top features

• GPS time clock to verify staff locations on arrival
• Geofencing to let employees sign into their shifts at offsite locations 
• Location and mileage tracking to monitor travel times and routes
• Project progress tracking to ensure teams complete all their tasks by the expected deadlines

Pros and cons

QuickBooks Time is an Intuit product, so it can easily connect to its wider range of products and integrations. You can choose from categories as diverse as shipping, benefits, and customer relationship management (CRM).

But many small businesses may not have the budget for QuickBooks Time. The flat rate for all the time tracking features is $40, which is higher than many competing apps. On top of that, there’s a charge per employee. 

Pricing

There are two QuickBooks Time plans that also come with a 30-day free trial:

• Time Premium at $20 per month plus $8 per employee, which includes the time clock and leave management.

• Time Elite at $40 per month plus $10 per employee for everything in Time Premium, as well as geofencing and mileage tracking features.

3. Harvest: Best for freelancers

Harvest’s manual timer makes it a good option for small businesses that work with freelancers. You can ask contractors to download the free app and send you a report of their time. Or, for more oversight and control, opt for the paid plan and compare how much time each person spends on their tasks. That means it’ll be easier to spot when there’s a problem with a client or an employee that’s slowing a project down.  

Top features

• Manual timer for desktop and mobile
• Expense management, which helps you invoice clients based on billable time
• Data insights into how much time employees or teams spend on projects

Pros and cons

If you’re collaborating with freelancers or contractors, you can’t dictate their working hours, but you still need a record of their time to bill clients correctly. Harvest’s manual timer lets staff track their own hours and report them so it’s easier to prepare accurate invoices for clients.

But Harvest only has a manual time tracker, which makes it less suitable for small businesses with regular employees. Without the accuracy of a GPS time clock, you risk potentially losing money to buddy punching and staff misreporting their hours.

Pricing

Harvest has a free plan and a paid plan that costs $12 per employee per month. They have the same features, but the difference is the free plan limits you to one user and two projects, whereas the paid plan is unlimited.

4. When I Work: Best for multiple administrators

Compared to other mobile time clock apps, When I Work offers a relatively simple set of scheduling and time tracking features. But the platform includes all the essentials for accurate time and attendance records, like the GPS time clock and early clock in prevention. Plus, it has attendance and labor distribution reports to help you spot absenteeism and under or overstaffing. 

Top features

• GPS time clock to check staff locations upon arrival
• Time and attendance reports to gauge individual and overall business performance
• Timesheet rounding to bring time entries up to the closest five or fifteen-minute mark

Pros and cons

Many mobile time clock apps only allow one admin user for the lower-cost plans, but When I Work offers three. That means you can delegate some of your scheduling and time tracking tasks to other managers without sharing login details.

However, When I Work doesn’t include other essential features you may need. The app only has scheduling and time tracking tools and comes with a limited range of integrations with other business software solutions. 

Pricing

When I Work offers two paid plans for $4 and $8 per employee per month. The only notable extra time tracking feature in the higher-cost plan is the custom attendance reports.

5. Sling: Best for different time zones

Sling is a mobile time clock app with additional scheduling and task management features. It’s noteworthy for its time zone management capabilities, which let you schedule and track shifts in local time for all your employees. That way, if you have teams in other countries, you’re less likely to get confused about when they worked and pay them incorrectly.

Top features

• GPS time clock for accurately recording employee working hours
• Controls to stop staff from clocking in early and clocking out late
• Reports on no shows, sick days, and late arrivals to help recognize trends 

Pros and cons

Priced at $2 per employee per month, Sling is an affordable app for very small teams. 

But like When I Work, Sling doesn’t have a full range of HR features like payroll or recruiting tools. Also, it only has integrations with Gusto and ADP, so businesses that use other accounting software may have to switch or deal with entering their timesheet data manually.

Pricing

Sling offers three plans:

• Free for unlimited employees and business locations. However, this plan doesn’t include any time tracking features.

• Premium at $2 per employee per month, which has a GPS time clock, labor cost controls, and geofencing.

• Business at $4 per employee per month for all the reporting features.

6. Timesheet Mobile: Best for small EU businesses

If you run a business in any of the EU member states, Timesheet Mobile may be for you. It’s one of the few apps that offers compliance tools for businesses outside the US so they can avoid penalties. All you have to do is enable the feature, and you’ll get alerts when your business is about to violate strict EU regulations, like working more than 48 hours a week. 

Top features

• GPS time clock to check each employee’s location at the start of their shifts
• Geofencing to let staff clock in and out of work at remote locations
• Project checklists that send administrators notifications as teams complete tasks
• Tools to make sure European businesses stay compliant with EU directives

Pros and cons

Many EU businesses have employees and locations in different countries. Timesheet Mobile’s time tracking and compliance controls make it easier to ensure they follow applicable regulations, like checking staff take their mandated breaks. Then, the language support and chat features help you contact anyone involved in a potential labor law violation to request they stop working or take a break.

The problem is Timesheet Mobile’s paid plans may be restrictive for some small teams. You have to choose between paying per punch — which can add up quickly — or paying per employee at higher rates than other apps.

Pricing

There are several Timesheet Mobile paid plans:

• Basics at $14 per month plus $3.49 per employee for unlimited clock ins, which includes geofencing, leave management, and break reminders.

• Per Punch at $29.99 per month plus 15 cents per punch for everything in the Basics plan, plus overtime alerts and team messaging.

• Small Business at $29.99 per month plus $9.95 per employee for unlimited clock ins and the same features as the Per Punch plan.

• Medium Business at $149 per month plus $2.49 per employee for unlimited punches. This also shares all the Per Punch plan features.

7. Connecteam: Best for range of business tools

Connecteam is an employee management and engagement app with time tracking features. So, you can boost your team’s performance by helping them improve their attendance and develop their skills with courses, quizzes, and surveys. While Connecteam has an array of features, it’s worth noting that the platform lacks payroll, which means you have to depend on integrations.

Top features

• GPS time clock to confirm employees’ arrival times
• Geofencing to let teams clock in and out of work offsite
• Task management to track job progress

Pros and cons

If you’ve got ten or fewer employees, you can take advantage of Connecteam’s free plan, which includes a range of basic time tracking features.

But if you manage a larger team, you may not appreciate all the upgrades you’re required to make to access all of Connecteam’s essential tools. You have to subscribe to the most expensive plan to use all the time tracking features — but there’s still a limit on the number of reports and time clocks per location you can use.

Pricing

Connecteam has five plans available:

• Free for up to ten users with all the basic features.

• Basic for $29 per month, which includes timesheets, notifications, and the GPS time clock.

• Advanced for $49, which has everything in Basic, plus clock in controls and geofencing.

• Expert for $99, which has all the features from the previous two plans, plus the GPS tracker and reporting tools.

• Enterprise with custom pricing, which has all the features from the other plans.

There’s also the option of a 14-day free trial.

How to buy time clock software

Now you’ve got all the information you need about mobile time clock apps, it’s time to make a decision. Let’s go through the process step-by-step so you can be sure you’ve picked the right solution for your business:

• Identify your needs: Every workplace has unique challenges based on its size, industry, and team. For example, restaurant workers often have split shifts, so it’s easiest for them to use tools that accommodate multiple clock ins per day. Once you pinpoint your needs, it’ll be simple to spot an app that caters to them.
• Do your own research: If you do business in a niche market, you may wish to read some extra reviews and comparisons to see which features you really need. For instance, some healthcare companies have unique challenges, like scheduling unusual shift patterns and assigning workers to be on call. So, they may require an app with special capabilities to differentiate and track these different types of hours.
• Test the app: Once you’ve narrowed down your list, sign up for different free plans or demos and use them for a week or two to determine whether the apps meet your expectations. 
• Ask for feedback: If staff have trouble using your platform of choice, you won’t reap all the benefits. So, ask your team about their needs and preferences. This is especially important when you have disabled employees who may need the option to use a kiosk so they can see the screen and press the icons more easily.
• Train team members: For the best chance of successful implementation, show employees how to download and use the new app. Where appropriate, link them to videos, perform test runs, and field their questions.
• Regularly review and update: Routinely check your mobile time clock app still meets your needs without stretching your budget. You may find you need to change or upgrade your plan. 

Common pitfalls to avoid when buying time clock software

As you introduce a new app to your business, ensure the process goes smoothly and minimize stress by watching out for the following issues:

• Insufficient customer support: As a small business manager, you may not have a lot of technological expertise. Make sure the app you choose provides the level of support you need with the initial setup and any potential implementation or troubleshooting challenges further down the line.
• Limited scalability: If you plan to expand your business, choose an app that will be able to grow with you. Check whether it has features for larger teams, multiple business locations, and any additional services you may want to introduce. Also, avoid software that charges per employee because the extra costs as your workforce grows may disrupt your cash flow and cut into your budget for expansion.
• Lack of integrations with existing software: Get a platform that integrates with your current systems or you’ll have to manually enter timesheet data in all your apps. This extra task may cancel out any time additional technology saves you in the first place.
• Inflexible payment plans: As your needs change, the features you want to use may shift as well. Excellent time clock software should have an array of different plans, so you can easily expand or reduce the tools you pay for as you go.

How Homebase makes time tracking a breeze

As a small business manager, you want to pay employees for their time while protecting your bottom line. But it might seem impossible to record hours accurately without micromanaging your team or being everywhere at once.

That’s where Homebase comes in.

Our mobile time clock app lets team members effortlessly clock in and out via GPS as they arrive to work. If they’re late or don’t show up, managers will immediately receive a notification via the mobile app. That means you won’t have to ask staff any awkward questions or stay on the premises to know they’ve turned up to work. And our affordable rates and per-location pricing scheme mean you won’t cancel out all the funds you save by preventing labor leakage.

**The information above is based on our research on mobile time clock apps. All user feedback referenced in the text has been sourced from independent software review platforms, such as G2 and Capterra, in April 2023.

The post The 7 best mobile time clocks for small businesses in 2023 appeared first on Homebase.