20 Best Time and Attendance Software for 2026 (Compared)

Accurate time tracking is foundational for any business managing hourly workers, remote teams, or distributed workforces. Without reliable attendance tracking, payroll errors accumulate, labor law compliance becomes risky, and administrative burden grows.

Modern time and attendance software has evolved far beyond physical punch clocks. Today's platforms offer mobile app clock-in, GPS tracking, biometric verification, and seamless payroll processing integrations. Small business owners and enterprise HR teams alike can access workforce management features that streamline timekeeping and save time on administrative work.

This guide covers what time and attendance systems do, compares 20 top platforms, and helps you choose the right solution for your business needs.

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What Is Time and Attendance Software?

Time and attendance software digitally records when employees clock-in and clock-out, tracks breaks, manages time-off requests, and calculates total work hours. These platforms replace manual timesheets and spreadsheets with automated time tracking that flows directly into payroll systems.

How Does Time and Attendance Software Work?

Employees clock in via mobile app, web browser, on-site kiosk, or biometric device. The software captures timestamps, applies overtime rules, tracks absences, and generates timesheets automatically. Integration with payroll software like QuickBooks, Gusto, ADP, or Paychex eliminates manual data transfer.

For companies hiring remote workers across multiple locations, time and attendance software provides consistent tracking regardless of where team members work.

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20 Best Time and Attendance Software for 2026

Connecteam

Connecteam delivers all-in-one workforce management for deskless and mobile teams. The mobile app enables one-touch clock in with GPS tracking and geofencing to verify employee location. Automated timesheets flow directly to payroll, while built-in employee scheduling and team communication keep operations running smoothly.

Best for: Small businesses with mobile or deskless workforces. 

Key features: GPS tracking, geofencing, automated timesheets, scheduling, kiosk mode. 

Pricing: Free for up to 10 users; paid plans from $29/month.

Rippling

Rippling unifies HR, IT, and time tracking in one platform. Its powerful automation engine connects time data with payroll processing, benefits, and device management. Workflow automation handles complex attendance policies without manual intervention.

Best for: Tech-forward companies wanting unified HR and IT management. 

Key features: Unified platform, workflow automation, payroll integration, compliance tools. 

Pricing: From $8/employee/month; modules priced separately.

Homebase

Homebase offers a genuinely useful free tier combining time clock, scheduling, and team communication. Employees clock in via mobile app, web browser, or tablet kiosk. The dashboard shows real-time attendance and labor costs with integrations to QuickBooks, Gusto, and ADP.

Best for: Retail, restaurants, and service businesses wanting free time tracking. 

Key features: Free time clock, scheduling tools, team messaging, payroll integrations. 

Pricing: Free basic plan; paid plans from $20/location/month.

Buddy Punch

Buddy Punch focuses on preventing time theft through multiple verification methods. Facial recognition, GPS tracking, IP address restrictions, and geolocation features ensure accurate time recordkeeping. Flexible clock-in options accommodate various work environments.

Best for: Businesses prioritizing buddy punching prevention. 

Key features: Facial recognition, GPS tracking, IP restrictions, geofencing, PTO tracking. 

Pricing: From $3.99/user/month + $19 base fee.

Clockify

Clockify provides unlimited free users with robust time tracking and reporting. Track work hours by project, client, or task. Detailed reports help managers understand where time goes. Kiosk mode supports shared devices for on-site clock-in.

Best for: Teams needing detailed time reporting and project tracking. 

Key features: Unlimited free users, project tracking, detailed reports, kiosk mode. 

Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans from $3.99/user/month.

Jibble

Jibble combines employee attendance tracking with facial recognition and project allocation. The free plan supports unlimited users with GPS tracking and biometric verification. Strong focus on preventing fraudulent time entries.

Best for: Teams wanting biometric verification with project tracking. 

Key features: Facial recognition, GPS tracking, project tracking, activity monitoring. 

Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans from $2.49/user/month.

QuickBooks Time

QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets) integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks accounting and payroll. GPS tracking shows where employees clock in, while mobile apps for iOS and Android enable tracking anywhere. Ideal for businesses already using QuickBooks.

Best for: Businesses using QuickBooks for accounting or payroll. 

Key features: QuickBooks integration, GPS tracking, mobile app, scheduling. 

Pricing: From $20/month base + $8/user/month.

When I Work

When I Work integrates scheduling and timekeeping into one platform. Create schedules, enable shift swapping, and track actual hours against scheduled hours. The time clock captures employee time with automatic timesheet generation.

Best for: Shift-based businesses needing scheduling with time tracking. 

Key features: Employee scheduling, integrated time clock, shift swapping, labor forecasting. 

Pricing: From $2.50/user/month.

Deel

Deel provides global workforce time tracking integrated with contractor and EOR services. Essential for companies managing international teams who need to understand the employer of record complete guide for compliant international hiring.

Best for: Companies with international contractors or employees. 

Key features: Global compliance, contractor management, automated payments, time tracking. 

Pricing: Contractors from $49/month; EOR from $599/employee/month.

Deputy

Deputy offers AI-powered scheduling alongside biometric time tracking. Facial recognition prevents buddy punching while break compliance features ensure labor laws adherence. Multi-location support provides visibility across job sites.

Best for: Businesses wanting AI scheduling with biometric verification. 

Key features: Facial recognition, AI scheduling, break tracking, multi-location support. 

Pricing: From $4.50/user/month.

Paychex Flex

Paychex integrates time and attendance with comprehensive payroll processing and HR services. Seamless connection between time tracking and payroll eliminates manual data transfer and reduces errors.

Best for: Businesses wanting bundled payroll and time tracking. 

Key features: Payroll integration, compliance tools, HR services, mobile app. 

Pricing: Quote-based.

ADP Workforce Now

ADP provides enterprise-grade time and attendance with deep payroll integration. Compliance tools, scheduling, and analytics support mid-sized to large organizations with complex workforce management needs.

Best for: Mid-sized to large companies using ADP for HR/payroll. 

Key features: ADP integration, compliance management, scheduling, analytics. 

Pricing: Quote-based.

Time Doctor

Time Doctor combines time tracking with productivity monitoring for remote teams. Screenshots, activity tracking, and productivity insights help managers understand how remote employees spend their time.

Best for: Remote teams wanting productivity monitoring. 

Key features: Time tracking, screenshots, activity monitoring, productivity reports. 

Pricing: From $7/user/month.

Hubstaff

Hubstaff tracks time for remote and field teams with GPS tracking, activity monitoring, and project budgeting. Location history shows where team members work throughout the day. Strong for distributed workforces.

Best for: Remote and field teams needing location tracking. 

Key features: GPS tracking, activity monitoring, screenshots, project budgets. 

Pricing: From $4.99/user/month.

OnTheClock

OnTheClock offers affordable employee time tracking with essential features. PTO tracking, fingerprint support, and payroll integrations cover core needs. The first two employees are free.

Best for: Budget-conscious small businesses. 

Key features: Affordable pricing, PTO tracking, fingerprint clock-in, payroll integration. 

Pricing: From $3.50/employee/month.

Agendrix

Agendrix serves service industries with scheduling and attendance management. Shift management, communication tools, and time tracking combine in one platform designed for hospitality and retail.

Best for: Service industries with complex scheduling. 

Key features: Scheduling, time clock, team communication, HR management. 

Pricing: From $3/user/month.

WebHR

WebHR provides complete HR suite including time tracking, recruiting, payroll, and performance management. Free for up to 5 employees, making it accessible for very small teams building their HR foundation.

Best for: Small businesses wanting complete HR with time tracking. 

Key features: HR management, time tracking, payroll, recruiting, onboarding. 

Pricing: Free for 5 employees; paid from $2/employee/month.

Justworks

Justworks bundles PEO services with integrated time tracking. Benefits administration, compliance, payroll, and attendance tracking combine for businesses wanting comprehensive workforce support.

Best for: Small businesses wanting PEO services with time tracking. 

Key features: PEO services, benefits, compliance, time tracking, payroll. 

Pricing: From $59/employee/month.

Sloneek

Sloneek focuses on European markets with GDPR-compliant HR and time tracking. Absence management, attendance tracking, and HR features serve companies with European team members.

Best for: Companies with European employees needing GDPR compliance. 

Key features: Time tracking, absence management, GDPR compliance, HR management. 

Pricing: From $4/user/month.

PurelyHR

PurelyHR offers modular HR tools including time tracking, leave management, and performance features. Select only the modules you need without paying for unnecessary functionality.

Best for: Organizations wanting modular HR tools. 

Key features: Modular pricing, time off tracking, timesheets, performance management. 

Pricing: From $5/user/month per module.

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Benefits of Time and Attendance Software

Improved Payroll Accuracy

Automated timesheets eliminate manual calculation errors. Software automatically calculates regular hours, overtime, and break deductions, ensuring employee hours translate correctly into paychecks.

Labor Law Compliance

Time and attendance systems create audit trails documenting hours worked, breaks taken, and overtime accrued. This recordkeeping protects businesses during labor law audits and employee disputes.

Reduced Time Theft

Features like biometric verification, geofencing, and photo capture prevent buddy punching and fraudulent entries. Even modest reductions in time theft often justify software costs entirely.

Administrative Time Savings

Automated time tracking and payroll integration reduce hours spent on manual data entry. Time saved on administration can focus on building strong culture with remote teams and strategic initiatives.

Real-Time Visibility

Dashboards show who's clocked in, current labor costs, and attendance patterns. This visibility helps managers make informed staffing decisions and address issues quickly.

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Key Features to Evaluate

Clock-In Methods

Consider which options suit your workforce: mobile app, web browser, on-site kiosk, biometric devices, or smartphone GPS. Ease of use increases employee adoption.

GPS Tracking and Geofencing

Essential for field workers and remote employees. Geolocation verifies employees are at approved job sites when clocking in. Consider privacy implications when implementing.

Payroll Integration

Check connections with your existing payroll software. Strong integration eliminates manual data transfer, missed punches corrections, and reduces payroll processing errors.

Self-Service Features

Employee portals for viewing time cards, submitting time-off requests, and checking PTO accruals reduce HR administrative burden. Self-service empowers employees while streamlining workflows.

Mobile Functionality

Mobile devices are essential for remote teams. iOS and Android apps with offline capability, notifications, and GPS tracking serve distributed workforces effectively.

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How to Choose Time and Attendance Software

Assess Your Workforce Type

Office employees need different features than field workers or remote teams. Match tool capabilities to how and where your employees actually work.

Evaluate Ease of Use

Complex systems reduce adoption. Test with actual employees before committing. The best time tracking solution is one people will actually use correctly.

Check Integration Requirements

Time and attendance software should connect with existing payroll systems and HR platforms. Poor integration creates manual work that negates efficiency gains.

Consider Scalability

Choose software that grows with your business. Understanding pricing tiers and feature limits prevents painful migrations later. Companies focused on talent retention need systems that support long-term growth.

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How Much Does Time and Attendance Software Cost?

Pricing Models

Most platforms charge per-user monthly, typically $2-10 per employee. Some add base fees. Enterprise solutions require custom quotes. Calculate total cost based on actual headcount.

Free Options

Connecteam, Clockify, Jibble, and Homebase offer genuine free tiers for small teams. Limitations on users or features typically apply, but free plans work well for basic business needs.

ROI Considerations

Reduced time theft, fewer payroll errors, and administrative time savings typically exceed software costs. Even preventing one hour of weekly time theft per employee justifies most pricing.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When do you need time and attendance software?

When manual tracking becomes error-prone, typically around 10-15 employees. Signs include payroll disputes, compliance concerns, or excessive administrative time on timekeeping.

What is biometric time and attendance software?

Software using physical characteristics like fingerprint or facial recognition to verify employee identity at clock-in, preventing buddy punching and ensuring accurate attendance management.

How does GPS work in time and attendance systems?

GPS captures employee location at clock-in. Geofencing restricts clock-ins to approved locations. Location history tracks field worker movements throughout the day.

Can this software handle remote employees?

Yes. Modern platforms support remote teams through mobile apps, GPS verification, and location-flexible policies. This capability is essential for distributed workforces.

Is there free time and attendance software?

Several platforms offer free tiers: Connecteam (10 users), Clockify (unlimited), Jibble (unlimited), and Homebase (basic features). Free plans work for small teams but may require upgrades as businesses grow.

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Accurate Time Tracking Matters. Building the Right Team Matters More.

Time and attendance software helps you track employee hours and manage labor costs. But the quality of your team determines whether you're tracking productive hours or managing underperformance.

If you're building a distributed team with LATAM talent, Lupa helps you find senior professionals who work autonomously and deliver results. Our methodology-driven approach focuses on long-term fit, not just filling seats.

What Lupa brings:

• Country-specific recruiting expertise across Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Brazil
• Structured evaluation for candidates who integrate seamlessly
• Quality-first approach to senior talent
• Understanding of how to make your talent acquisition strategy succeed

The benefits of hiring embedded teams for your startup extend beyond cost savings. You get professionals who contribute meaningfully from day one.

Time and attendance software tracks the hours your team works. Great recruiting ensures those hours create real value.

Book a discovery call to discuss your hiring goals.

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