Looking for the best clock in clock out apps? Then, you are on the correct page. Now, another question we must account for is, why do you need time clock apps? Consider this scenario. You walk into your office and see time and attendance sheets that require sorting. It’s a nightmare. Isn’t it?
However, in this era of a data-driven and technology-enabled work world, why would you still use pen and paper for attendance? It’s outdated, inaccurate, and whatnot. So, since we have a better alternative in the form of a clock in applications, we need to upgrade ourselves. Overall, using technology for work employee hours tracking will give you many benefits including accuracy and efficiency.
With that being said, in this blog, we will cover everything about clock in clock out apps. Today’s post includes an overview of time clock apps, their benefits, and more with the top 15 software options, which you can use right away.
What are Clock-in Clock-out Apps?
Apps for clock-ins are digital solutions for optimizing the traditional attendance tracking processes for businesses. These apps automate work-hour recording to simplify managing and enhancing various employee workflow aspects.
However, that’s not all. Most of the clock in clock out applications come with a kiosk feature available to all employees. It allows all your employees to punch in and out of the office without using outdated time cards calculator.
What Industries use Clock-in Clock-out Apps?
Are you wondering whether clock in clock out apps are right for you? Is the investment worth it? Yes, it is. Especially, if your business is in one of these industries, then you are in luck as these sectors benefit the most from time clocks and kiosks.
- Education
- Healthcare
- Retail
- Construction
- Restaurants
Moreover, clocks in applications simplify administrative work. Plus, they provide you with crucial data to help you identify work patterns and optimize expenses.
What If You Don’t Want Clock-in Clock-out Apps?
So, why did we even raise this question? Clock in clock out apps are great and all. However, what if it’s tough for you to wrap your head around how these work? Not to worry. There are a few alternative solutions that you can use instead.
1. Manual Clocks
For those who are from a non-tech background, it is the best alternative for clocking in and out. Usually, these involve manually logging in and out. Plus, you have to enter your arrival and departure times.
2. Punch Cards
Punch cards are the alternatives to clock in clock out apps, which require a card to operate. All you and your employees have to do is insert it into a reader upon arriving at the office and vice versa.
3. Digital Clocks
These alternatives to apps for clocking in and out are upgrades to punch cards. To use it, your employees can punch themselves in and out onto the timecard by either entering a PIN, scanning a QR, or swiping a magnetic stripe card.
4. Time Clock Software
These alternatives to clock in clock out apps are usually time trackers, which your employees can use on any device. Plus, these software applications also provide you with features including scheduling and timesheets.
5. Integrated Software
Integrated software does more than just mark employee attendance and track work hours. These are an integration of two or more software. For example, employee monitoring software with project management tools.
Why Do You Need Clock-in Clock-out Apps?
So far, we know that using clock in clock out apps accrue and make efficient attendance tracking. However, that’s not the only benefit of using such applications. With that being said, here are the benefits of using time clock apps.
1. Accuracy
Firstly, Using apps to track as your employee clocks in and clocks out will result in more accuracy in logging work hours. Since the app works with an intuitive feature base, it precisely tracks every hour down to the last second for no chance of inefficiency.
2. Accountability
When using the app for clocking in, you not only get an accurate log of work hours but also accountable and responsible employees. Plus, there is no room for buddy punching or false time entries either.
3. Security
A common case in most businesses is that employees often cover for each other by buddy punching. Doing so can also make it look like an employee worked more than usual. For example, false overtime can incur heavy losses for your company. However, using clock in clock out apps will provide more security, especially those requiring some authentication before access.
4. Bioprinting
Using clocks in applications also bioprints your employees’ behavior. How? Since the app also accurately records the time they spend on activities and work-related tasks, you will know the work performance levels of each employee, which helps in assessing and improving efficiency.
5. Saves Time
Clock in clock out apps accurately log the work hours of your employees. This saves valuable time, which you might have otherwise used to fix errors, inefficiencies, false time entries, sort timesheets, buddy punches, and whatnot.
6. Data-Driven Decision-Making
Using clock in and clock out technology has many advantages. One of them is data-driven decision-making. The information we are talking about here is accurate time values. Overall, using such data to make decisions will always give you a better output towards the success of your business.
7. Employee Empowerment
Using clock in clock out apps also empowers employees. How? With open communication. Sharing the work hours data with your employees can help them understand where they are faltering and can teach them to efficiently manage their time.
How to Choose the Best Clock-in Clock-out App in 2024?
Choosing the best clock in and out system monitoring software is simple once you know the steps. For 2024, there are various criteria, which you need to check before finalizing.
With that being said, here’s how we made our top 15 clock in clock out apps list, which we are about to discuss next.
- Look for the implementation process for the time clock app. The faster, the better.
- Ease of use is the key. That’s why we are choosing a work-hour clock app. Aren’t we? To simplify and accrue work hours tracking. However, if the app is not easy to use, cross it off from your shortlist immediately.
- It will be good if your work hours clock app can also provide you with some additional features including scheduling, time clock kiosk, and reporting.
- Since we are using multiple devices these days for work, the multi-platform support functionality is also crucial. For example, desktop, mobile, and web.
Top 15 Clock-in Clock-out Apps in 2024
So far, we learned that tracking time with apps for clocking in and out of work results in better time management and accuracy. However, every organization has its unique requirements. So, you can’t use the work-hour app, which your competitors are using. Instead, a better way is to choose the best-fit time clock app for your business.
- DeskTrack (best overall)
- Clockify (best for editable timesheets)
- Connecteam (the best one-touch app)
- Buddy Punch (best for data safety)
- TimeCamp (the best set of integrations)
- When I Work (best for shift workers)
- Time Clock Wizard (best for scheduling)
- Homebase (best app for communication and tracking)
- QuickBooks Time (best for managing payroll)
- Deputy (best for shift rotations management)
- Time Analytics (Simple time clock app)
- FindMyShift (punch in punch out app)
- Everhour (best for hassle-free integrations)
- Timely (best for small businesses)
- Time Tracker by eBillity (in-app work clock)
1. DeskTrack
DeskTrack is the best clock in clock out app in the industry. With its intuitive plethora of work hours tracking features including automated timesheets, timers, and seamless integration with biometric systems, there is no room for error or inefficiency.
Key Highlights:
- Real-time tracking and activity monitoring
- The most user-friendly interface.
How to Punch In and Out with DeskTrack?
You don’t have to punch in or out with the best clock in and out system of DeskTrack. Here’s how it works.
- As soon as the employee switches on their computer, DeskTrack starts tracking work hours. It stops with the system shutdown.
- It also calculates time deviation with integration with punch in/punch out times.
|
Initial Pricing |
Biggest Pro | Biggest Con |
| $5.99/user/month | Automated punch in and out |
None |
2. Clockify
Clockify is a free clock in clock out app, which businesses of all sizes use worldwide. Primarily, it focuses on improving work hours tracking and improving productivity with its features including a time clock kiosk.
Key Highlights:
- Detailed work hours calendar for accurate visualization
- Export team data in CSV or Excel format
How to Punch In and Out with Clockify?
This free app for clocking in and out makes punching in and out of work easy and simple. After you have registered with the app and added team members, here’s how you get started tracking work hours.
- A free time clock kiosk is available at the top of the timer.
- Your employees can use their PINs to punch in and out with the kiosk.
- All you have to do is name your kiosk, add team members, and set the PIN.
- Employees can also start and stop their break times with the app.
|
Initial Pricing |
Biggest Pro | Biggest Con |
| Free | Free and intuitive |
The free app lacks advanced features |
3. Connecteam
The next clock in clock out app on our list is Connecteam. What makes this one stand out is the versatility it provides with features such as a proprietary time kiosk. Furthermore, it can also help you with work management, scheduling, and creating forms and checklists.
Key Highlights:
- Breadcrumbs live tracking feature for tracking field employee movements
- Integration with QuickBooks online
How to Punch In and Out with Connecteam?
Using this clocking in software is the most convenient for employees as everything is managed by the administrators.
- Your employees need to first download the app via email invite.
- The next step is to click the start shift button.
- The app will do all the time tracking completely.
|
Initial Pricing |
Biggest Pro | Biggest Con |
| $29/month | Precise time tracking |
Lacks integrations |
4. Buddy Punch
Are you looking for a clock in clock out app with additional data security and safety? Then, Buddy Punch is the application you want. This one has got you covered with added features and functionalities such as face recognition. However, the login process is complicated.
Key Highlights:
- Universal PIN access through IP address locking for hassle-free punch in and out
- Different SSO options simplify the login process.
How to Punch In and Out with Buddy Punch?
To start tracking with this clock in the work app, you can either use your device if you are working from home, for which the invite is regulated through email invites. However, if you are an on-site employee, you will have to follow these steps.
- Enter the universal PIN code your organization provides you with.
- The app will authenticate you with security checks.
- Click the appropriate button.
|
Initial Pricing |
Biggest Pro | Biggest Con |
| $3.99/month | Face recognition |
Slightly complicated login process |
5. TimeCamp
TimeCamp is one of the best clock in clock out apps for seamless integrations. With its plethora of features, you can tap right into what your employees are working on, track overtime, create customizable reports, and much more.
Key Highlights:
- Flexible attendance tracking
- Users can suggest features and leave feedback
How to Punch In and Out with TimeCamp?
As soon as you have created an account for clock-ins and added your team members, they can start entering their start and stop work times.
- Access the timer from the timesheet view.
- Select the project or task you are working on and start the timer.
- The only drawback is that you will have to stop the timer and start it over again to record the break duration or create a new project named break.
|
Initial Pricing |
Biggest Pro | Biggest Con |
| $2.99/month | Seamless integrations |
The reporting feature doesn’t provide clear data visualization |
6. When I Work
If you are looking for versatile scheduling and time tracking from a single platform, then When I Work is one of the best clock in clock out apps for the job. With this app, it becomes simple for you to manage shift schedules, communicate with team members, and track real-time attendance.
Key Highlights:
- Simplifies exchanging shifts with colleagues with the swap feature (all you have to do is send a swap request and the app does the rest including notifying managers)
- Track time offs and transfer data to another system.
How to Punch In and Out with When I Work?
After registering with the app and adding team members, here’s how it works.
- Employees start their shift time directly from the app.
- If you wish to take a break, pause and resume the timer to record the duration. Manually adding break time is also possible if you forget to pause the timer.
- Similarly, an employee clocks out by stopping the timer.
|
Initial Pricing |
Biggest Pro | Biggest Con |
| $1.50/user/month | Versatile scheduling and time tracking |
The setup process is confusing, especially with recurring shift management |
Read more: 15 Best Legal Time Tracking Software for Lawyers
7. Time Clock Wizard
For keeping an accurate record of daily, weekly, and/or monthly schedules and scheduling, Time Clock Wizard is the clock in clock out app for you. Plus, it’s also one of the best apps for simplifying employee Scheduling management.
Key Highlights:
- The alarm feature reminds you to punch in and out
- 100% Automated payroll processing
How to Punch In and Out with a Time Clock Wizard?
First, you need to invite your team members to this software for clocking in. Then, once everyone has registered, here’s how it works.
- On-site members are assigned a punch in location with the photo capture feature.
- Remote workers use a shared workspace for the same.
- To start and stop tracking, tap the appropriate buttons.
- Employees can also conveniently start a break by tapping the button.
|
Initial Pricing |
Biggest Pro | Biggest Con |
| Free | Daily, weekly, and monthly schedules |
Can’t seamlessly integrate with Microsoft Excel |
8. Homebase
What makes this clock in clock out app stand out is its comprehensive features for team communication, collaboration, and time tracking. Plus, you can also use it to automate employee scheduling.
Key Highlights:
- Track time and communicate with team members on the same platform
- Manage everything from the dashboard
How to Punch In and Out with Homebase?
Here’s how you can get started with this clock in application.
- Before inviting your employees, you must ensure that you have allowed them to use their preferred device for this task.
- Once everyone has registered, they will get unique PINs.
- They will use this PIN to punch in/out, take breaks, or to be able to change their availability status.
|
Initial Pricing |
Biggest Pro | Biggest Con |
| Free | Team communication and time tracking in one platform |
Confusing user interface |
9. QuickBooks Time
QuickBooks Time from QuickBooks is a clock in clock out app best used for taxes and payroll management. Plus, the time tracking feature provides you with valuable insights into the work-time utilization of your employees.
Key Highlights:
- Online and offline time tracking
- Updated data security
How to Punch In and Out with Quickbooks Time?
The first requirement is to invite your team to this clock in and clock out app. Then, you can get started within a few steps.
- Install the kiosk.
- After naming it, it’s up to your employees to decide if they want to punch in with a photo ID or not. Then you need to add everyone to the Kiosk.
- Once that’s done, everyone will get a unique PIN.
- They will use this PIN to start/end their shift through the kiosk and take breaks.
|
Initial Pricing |
Biggest Pro | Biggest Con |
| $40/month | Best for taxes and payroll |
No kiosk for smartphone devices |
10. Deputy
Other than the fact that Deputy is available for all mobile and PC devices, it’s also one of the best clock in clock out apps for managing shift rotations. We recommend this one to businesses, who have worldwide employees.
Key Highlights:
- The news feed feature allows you to chat with team members and see what others have posted.
- Calculate pro-rata leave entitlement based on the hire date for new employees.
How to Punch In and Out with a Deputy?
After registering with the app for clocking in and out of work, you will have to invite your employees to use the software.
- Your employees can punch in and out either with their devices or an on-site system.
- This is possible either via PIN or face recognition.
- Click start shift to start tracking work hours. For punching out, you need to click the end shift button.
- For breaks, you will get the convenient start break button.
|
Initial Pricing |
Biggest Pro | Biggest Con |
| $6/month | Available for all mobile and PC devices |
Lacks features outside the USA |
11. Time Analytics
What we like about this clock in clock out app is the detailed analytics. You can base it on per employee, task, project, service line, or client. Plus, it also covers non-billable and billable time with real-time work-hour tracking.
Key Highlights:
- Simple, intuitive, and detailed timesheets
- Intuitive workflow logging
How to Punch In and Out with Time Analytics?
Tracking time with this clock out clock in software is easy. You can do the following with this application.
- Start the timer or manually add work hours.
- Mark activities as billable.
- Duplicate timers.
- Modify entered time data within active timers.
- Select weeks from the calendar for weekly work-hour data viewing.
- Accurate billing and reporting with time rounding.
- Streamline tracking for recurring tasks.
|
Initial Pricing |
Biggest Pro | Biggest Con |
| Free | Easy client, activity, project, and employee record-keeping |
Data exporting issues |
12. FindMyShift
The focus of this clock in clock out app is to simplify comparing employee hours with the set schedule.
Features including time-clocking, timesheets, shift reminders, real-time reporting, payroll, time-off management, and text messaging simplify workforce management.
Key Highlights:
- Easy online employee scheduling
- Punch in and out
How to Punch In and Out with FindMyShift?
There are two ways to use this tool for clocking in. You can start and end your shift either through the website or app. Plus, managers can also set up a time clock station by uploading a staff list and saving the account, which you have to open and activate. Your teams can then mark their attendance with a password or PIN. Other alternatives include.
- Visit the website and check the box for staff can clock in/out via the website from the settings.
- It will show a clock icon at the top of the website, which your teams need to click to punch in/out.
- To mark attendance with the app, employees need to use the QR code at the start and end of their workday.
|
Initial Pricing |
Biggest Pro | Biggest Con |
| Free for up to 5 employees | Easy to schedule and good functionality |
Lacks notifications for punching in and out at the start/end of shift |
13. Everhour
Everhour is a clock in clock out app, which is the best for hassle-free integrations. With its easy-to-use features, it becomes simple for you to track project budgets, set threshold alerts, and plan for resources.
Key Highlights:
- Time tracking
- Client invoicing
How to Punch In and Out with Everhour?
Starting and ending your shift with this clock in work app is simple. Here’s how the 4 ways of doing it work.
- Login to your account and punch in.
- Click the timer icon in the browser extension from where you can start your day.
- Enter your PIN to clock in/out, or take a break.
- You can also configure the software to clock your work hours based on your computer activity.
|
Initial Pricing |
Biggest Pro | Biggest Con |
| $10/user/month | Best team time management |
Inability to classify work hours by task |
14. Timely
Timely is a web-based platform and clock in clock out app for small to medium-sized organizations. Plus, we also recommend it to healthcare and beauty service providers. Moreover, this app works a little differently when it comes to starting and ending shifts. Instead of marking attendance, it tracks your various hours spent on tasks and projects.
Key Highlights:
- Seamless integrations
- Easy project status tracking
How to Punch In and Out with Timely?
Automatic tracking is also possible with the memory tracker. However, to track time with this clocking in software, employees have to follow just a few steps.
- After launching the mobile app, you need to tap the (+) button.
- Next, you have to select the project and task and adjust the settings.
- Tap start/end timer buttons to begin/end work-hour tracking.
|
Initial Pricing |
Biggest Pro | Biggest Con |
| $8/month | Simplicity and automation |
Microsoft teams are not 100% satisfied |
15. Time Tracker by eBillity
What makes this clock in clock out app stand out is the flexible work hours tracking options and customizable settings. What we like about the Time Tracker by eBillity is you can track work hours from any device, making it hassle-free for you to mark in and out when you are in a hurry.
Key Highlights:
- Employee time and attendance tracking and time approval
- GPS work-hour tracking
How to Punch In and Out with the Time Tracker by eBility?
Employees can do it in 2 ways with this clock in application. Either through the time card app or the kiosk.
- Employees can use a unique 4-digit PIN to start/end shifts and take breaks with the kiosk.
- Employees can also start/end shifts, take breaks, and get notifications when the break is ending, on due overtime, or double time with the time card app.
|
Initial Pricing |
Biggest Pro | Biggest Con |
| $16/month | Easy to use |
adding/deleting employees is confusing |
Why is DeskTrack the Best Clock-in Clock-out App in 2024?
DeskTrack is the best clock in clock out app in the industry. The fact that 100+ nations, 8K+ organizations, and 100K+ users worldwide prefer and use it, makes it the most trusted app for accruing the employee punch in/out task.
Furthermore, beyond a simple time clock app, DeskTrack is the most customizable and intuitive employee monitoring, time tracking, productivity monitoring, and project management integration with these key features.
- Seamless integrations with biometrics, payroll, and other tools and apps.
- The most accurate calculation of working and idle hours.
- Automated work hours tracking with intuitive timesheets and timers.
- Real-time online and offline activity monitoring.
- The most user-friendly interface and much more.
The Best Clock-in Clock-out Apps: Comparison 2024
In case you are in a rush and want a summary of the key points of the top 15 time clock applications for increasing 5% (which is a lot) employee productivity, here they are all together. It will surely help you choose the best-fit time clock app for your business.
| App | Initial Pricing | Biggest Pro | Biggest Con |
| DeskTrack | $5.99/user/month | Automated punch in and out | None |
| Clockify | Free | Free and intuitive | The free app lacks advanced features |
| Connecteam | $29/month | Precise time tracking | Lacks integrations |
| Buddy Punch | $3.99/month | Face recognition | Slightly complicated login process |
| TimeCamp | $2.99/month | Seamless integrations | The reporting feature doesn’t provide clear data visualization |
| When I Work | $1.50/user/month | Versatile scheduling and time tracking | The setup process is confusing, especially with recurring shift management |
| Time Clock Wizard | Free | Daily, weekly, and monthly schedules | Can’t seamlessly integrate with Microsoft Excel |
| Homebase | Free | Team communication and time tracking in one platform | Confusing user interface |
| QuickBooks Time | $40/month | Best for taxes and payroll | No kiosk for smartphone devices |
| Deputy | $6/month | Available for all mobile and PC devices | Lacks features outside the USA |
| Time Analytics | Free | Easy client, activity, project, and employee record keeping | Data exporting issues |
| FindMyShift | Free for up to 5 employees | Easy client, activity, project, and employee record-keeping | Data exporting issues |
| Everhour | $10/user/month | Best team time management | Inability to classify work hours by task |
| Timely | $8/month | Simplicity and automation | Microsoft teams are not 100% satisfied |
| Time Tracker by eBility | $16/month | Easy to use | adding/deleting employees is confusing |
Conclusion
We hope that now you have a clear understanding of clock in clock out apps and how they accrue tracking employee work hours. Using such a subset of time tracking software is a must for every business these days who wishes to improve accuracy and efficiency. Without using such applications, you will face many issues including errors, inefficiencies, false time entries, sort timesheets, buddy punches, and whatnot. So why take the trouble? Plus, using a time clock app is a much better alternative to using time cards. Not only that, but you will also experience more accuracy, employee productivity, security, accountability, employee empowerment, time-saving, improved data-driven decision-making, and accurate employee performance level records, leading to more success and growth. However, another question to ask is what if you need more than an app for punch in punch out? DeskTrack is the best all-in-one work-hour tracking software application for your organization.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What are Punch In Punch Out Apps?
Ans. Time clock apps are feature-rich tool packages that optimize attendance and work hours tracking for businesses. What they do is improve the efficiency and accuracy in recording employee time, which improves payroll and audit.
Q. What are the Benefits of Using Punch In Punch Out Apps?
Ans. Using the right time clock app for your business will provide you with these key benefits.
- Accuracy in tracking work hours
- More Accountability
- More Security
- Bioprinting
- Saves Time
- Data-Driven Decision-Making
- Employee Empowerment
Q. How Much Do Time Clock Apps Cost?
Ans. Many factors affect the cost of the time clock apps. However, on average, it can be as low as $2/month. Moreover, these aspects come into play when deciding the expense.
- Vendor reputation
- No. of employees in your organization
- No. of features in the app
- Payment modes and frequency.
- The pricing plans
Q. Which are the Best Time Clock Apps in the Industry?
Ans. To help you choose the best-fit app for your business, we shortlisted the best time clock apps below.
- DeskTrack
- Clockify
- Connecteam
- Buddy Punch
- TimeCamp
- When I Work
- Time Clock Wizard
- Homebase
- QuickBooks Time
- Deputy
- Time Analytics
- FindMyShift
- Everhour
- Timely
- Time Tracker by eBility
