Tracking the location and tasks of your on-site employees can be overwhelming and inefficient without the right field employee tracking app. If you have field staff working for you, knowing where they are is crucial. However, you wouldn’t shadow them all the way. Would you? You need a digital partner that can do that and much more for you.
Did you know that approximately 60% of employees work on-site or in the field nowadays? That’s a significant amount. Thus, tracking all of them can be a headache. Plus, you don’t want to micromanage or breach privacy either. The correct app for tracking field employees is your answer.
We did extensive research for you to bring you all the useful insights you need to get started accruing your field employee tracking with the right application. There’s a lot to cover today, including the software we use to track our on-site staff. With that out of our way, let’s get right into it.
What is a Field Employee Tracking App?
Apps to track field employees are the most ethical digital tools for you to track your field employees. Depending on your requirements, some apps will provide you with real-time location tracking, ensuring that you always know where your team members are. On the other hand, if you only need basic functionality, some applications provide basic location tracking to ensure that employees precisely clock in and out of job sites.
Read Also: Top 15 Best QuickBooks Time Alternatives in 2025
How Does a Field Employee Tracking App Work?
Moreover, other business apps, such as time management and employee scheduling software solutions, also provide GPS-based tracking. So, what makes field activity tracker apps so special? That’s because the apps also provide other useful features, such as task management and in-app communication.
The way field employee tracking apps work is by utilizing the GPS capabilities on the employees’ phones. All they have to do is keep the GPS open, and the app will do all the tracking in the background. Furthermore, a good thing is that the applications consume little to no battery:
- Most applications show employees’ real-time locations, letting you know where they are across the workday.
- Another great thing about GPS employee tracking apps is the geofencing feature, which lets you set virtual boundaries around the job sites. This:
- Makes employee clocking automatic
- Tracks the time employees spend on projects
- Alerts you in case an employee (s) don’t show up during their scheduled shift.
12 Key Features of Field Employee Tracking Apps
Other than location tracking, there are also many other useful features of GPS employee tracking apps that might be useful for you. We have mentioned 12 of these key functionalities below.
1. Employee Location Tracking
The first feature is the obvious one. The app will track where your employees are at a given time. Either in real-time or fixed time, based on your requirements and the application’s capabilities.
2. Route History
Best for accurate, fair, and timely reimbursements. The employee location tracking app will also provide you with an option to view the route history. Furthermore, the feature is configurable, letting you set the number of entries up to which you want to view the destinations.
3. One-Click SOS Button
If you have field employees, you are concerned about their safety. This one-click SOS button feature is a handy option in case your field employees are unsafe. What it does is alert the managers in case of any mishappenings.
4. Integrations
The best modern field employee tracking apps even work in conjunction with the other apps and tools you use. This saves you time as you don’t have to switch between various apps for completing essential processes. For example, integration with the payroll software automates payroll processing, making it more accurate.
5. Automated Time & Attendance Tracking
The best employee destination monitoring apps also provide the automated time and attendance tracking feature. What it does is generate accurate work-time utilization reports based on the hours your employees spend on each job site.
6. Notifications & Alerts
Based on your configurations, you can also get notifications and alerts regarding how your employees clock in and complete their shifts. For example, you can set the application to send an alert for potential overtime.
7. Communication
The app also provides you and your employees with built-in communication features such as quick messages, which keep the workflow going smoothly. For example, you can quickly update your employees on an urgent route change.
8. Analytics & Reports (Route & Time-Based)
Based on the routes and time spent on job sites, you will also get analytics and reports. What this does is let you analyze the efficiency of your employees and make data-driven decisions to skyrocket productivity.
9. Task Management
Now, this is a handy functionality of the employee location monitoring apps. Since creating tasks from your office and sharing them with your field employees can get you occupied, the app allows you to directly create and share location-based tasks, saving you a lot of time.
10. Security
Keeping employee data and other confidential information secure is also essential. Your GPS-based location app also provides you with many tools and functionalities to ensure the prevention of data leaks and breaches.
11. Offline Functionality
Any inside or outside reason, such as electricity cuts, can disable the internet. That wouldn’t stop your field employee tracking app from working. It will still track employee location in the background and provide other features.
12. Distance & Expense Tracking
Field employees can incur a heavy loss for you if they are intentionally taking long routes to reach job sites or doing anything that’s not allowed. Fortunately, the distance and expense tracking feature ensures that this doesn’t happen.
5 Steps to Select the Right Field Employee Tracking App in 2025
As we mentioned before or not, if you are choosing a field employee tracking app for your business, then you are selecting the best one. However, due to so many options available, it can be overwhelming. Plus, you also have other essential work on your hands:
1. Look for the Core Features
First, you need to identify the basic functionalities you need. The features you choose must be enough to track employee location & time.
- Real-time location tracking
- Time tracking
- Attendance tracking
2. Select Usability Features
The next thing you would want from the employee time and location tracking app you finalize is that it must be:
- Easy to use
- Cost-effective
- Customizable
- Provides you with a free trial and/or demo
3. Select Other Essential Features
Now that you have finalized the basic and usability features, here are some other features you might want your field employee tracking app to have.
- Employee scheduling
- Employee time clock
- Team communication
- Notifications & alerts
4. Research & Test
Based on all the feature requirements, you need to now make a shortlist of the best apps for tracking staff location. Once that’s done, you need to test which ones will work as per your needs. Here’s what you can do:
- Read genuine reviews
- Ask around the ones who are already using the apps from your list
5. Finalize
Now, all you have to do is cross off all the employee location apps from your list that are even marginally different from your needs and/or cost more than your budget.
Top 10 Field Employee Tracking Apps in 2025
If you don’t have the R&D teams, time, and resources to research the best field staff location monitoring app as per your needs, then don’t worry. We have made a shortlist for you. We have included an overview, the most affordable paid plan, key features, and user ratings for each tool to ensure you make a wise choice.
- DeskTrack
- Connecteam
- Clockify
- Buddy Punch
- QuickBooks Time
- Hubstaff
- OnTheClock
- eBility
- Jibble
- dayTrack
1. DeskTrack
DeskTrack provides you with the best software and application to precisely track every second your employees spend at job sites. Based on GPS and geofencing, it provides you with real-time data regarding where your employees are and even what they are doing.
Key Features:
- Geofencing & GPS-based location tracking
- Integrations
- Task management
- Analytics & Reports
- Time tracking with data analytics
- One-click SOS button
| Most Affordable Paid Plan | User Rating |
| $5.99/user/month | 5/5 |
2. Connecteam
This all-in-one option for businesses is good for internal communication and location, and time tracking. We recommend it for your on-site and remote teams.
Key Features:
- Real-time GPS tracking
- Geofenced time clock
- Time clock tracker
| Most Affordable Paid Plan | User Rating |
| $29/month | 4.6/5 |
3. Clockify
Clockify provides you with simple yet effective features to track the time and location of your employees. What it’s known for, though, is the minimalistic user interface, making the app easy to use.
Key Features:
- Idle time detection
- GPS location tracking
- Dashboard to view productivity trends
| Most Affordable Paid Plan | User Rating |
| $5.49/user/month | 4.8/5 |
4. Buddy Punch
Buddy Punch is one of the top time tracking software solutions on our list. Not only does it have a user-friendly interface, but your employees can also clock in and/or out right from the job site. Plus, you can monitor the work hours of your employees from anywhere.
Key Features:
- Punch rounding
- Employee scheduling
- Multi login methods
| Most Affordable Paid Plan | User Rating |
| $4.49/user/month + $19/month base fee | 4.8/5 |
5. QuickBooks Time
If you use QuickBooks for payroll and accounting, then you will easily adapt to QuickBooks Time. What we love about it is the geofencing feature, which makes it easy to locate your field service teams in real-time, making it easy to identify project time.
Key Features:
- Time clock with GPS
- Employee scheduling
- Mileage tracking
| Most Affordable Paid Plan | User Rating |
| $2/month + $8/user/month | 4.7/5 |
6. Hubstaff
Hubstaff is primarily a workforce management software solution with a plethora of features to go around. You will find it very useful if you have remote and field employees. Although it’s known for its employee monitoring features, the GPS and geofencing time trackers are also noteworthy.
Key Features:
- No-show and late employee alerts
- Online time reporting
- Site-based time tracking
| Most Affordable Paid Plan | User Rating |
| $4.99/user/month | 4.6/5 |
7. OnTheClock
Another employee time tracking and activity monitoring software on our list is OnTheClock. Its user-friendly administrator dashboard and simple time clock are what make it a good choice. Plus, you also get a biometric clock, which reduces time theft.
Key Features:
- Employee scheduling
- GPS-enabled time clock
- Customizable PTO calendar
| Most Affordable Paid Plan | User Rating |
| $4/user/month + $5/month base fee | 4.7/5 |
8. eBility
This cloud-based time tracking software solution is one of the best for making time management, client billing, and project management more effective. Plus, it’s cost-effective, easy to set up and use, and provides automatic time tracking.
Key Features:
- Live location tracking
- GPS and geofencing
- Client invoicing
| Most Affordable Paid Plan | User Rating |
| $9.60/user/month | 4.4/5 |
9. Jibble
Jibble is a well-known employee time tracking and attendance management software solution for businesses of all sizes. What we like about it is the user-friendly interface and the free forever plan that still provides a lot more features than you would expect.
Key Features:
- Timesheet app
- Attendance tracker
- Project time tracker
| Most Affordable Paid Plan | User Rating |
| Quote on contact | 4.9/5 |
10. dayTrack
dayTrack is one of the best apps for tracking sales employees and managing the field workforce. Primarily, it focuses on providing you with an overview of your on-site teams. However, its other features are also useful.
Key Features:
- Authentic reporting
- Attendance
- Contacts
| Most Affordable Paid Plan | User Rating |
| $5.90/user/month | 4.5/5 |
11 Benefits of Field Employee Tracking Apps for Businesses
Utilizing the right field employee monitoring app for your business provides you with many advantages over your competitors. Below, we have compiled 11 of them.
1. Improved Productivity
Using the right field workforce tracking app ensures improved work productivity for your organization. This is due to you making the right data-driven decisions to optimize routes and work-time utilization.
2. Improved Time Management
With the right location tracking application, you also get awesome features to track, manage, and ensure that you get the maximum output within the limited time you have.
3. Better Task Management
Since you and your field employees can directly manage tasks from the app, it makes it much convenient and less time-consuming. It reduces expenses and improves employee efficiency.
4. Enhanced Transparency
Since you know where your employees are, it clears all confusion, and there is no micromanagement. Plus, you can quickly convey any updates to your employees from anywhere to ensure 100% clarity at all times.
5. Attendance Tracking
Other than location tracking, attendance tracking also becomes more accurate with the right field staff monitoring software. Since employees can clock in and out of the job sites, it makes it more convenient for you and your employees.
6. Performance Evaluation
Based on all the detailed insights you get, it becomes easy for you to evaluate whether your employees are working as per your expectations or not. You will easily know who needs more training and who needs to be discontinued.
7. Better Resource Allocation
Again, based on the useful insights you get, you can also optimize where to send which employees to ensure more client satisfaction due to enhanced resource management.
8. Improved Compliance & Accountability
Your field employees will comply with your work policies and become more responsible and accountable. Why? Because you know where they are, their routes, and even their work-time utilization.
9. Reduced Costs
Due to optimized routes and work-time utilization, you also save various expenses. You can use these costs saved to expand your business and/or provide your employees with better incentives.
10. Fieldwork Support
Since your field employee tracking software can directly connect with all the other apps and tools you use, it ensures advanced fieldwork support, including on-site training and/or virtual communication.
11. Accurate Payrolls
From reimbursements to salaries, if you have the location and time data right, then all of this will be accurate. For the same, you will utilize the best field staff location tracker app.
5 Sectors Where Field Employee Tracking Apps Are Needed in 2025
As per our expertise and experience, businesses in all industries worldwide will benefit from using the right field staff monitoring app. However, it’s a must-have for organizations in these 5 sectors.
1. Delivery & Logistics
The route tracking and route history features let you ensure that your delivery and logistics drivers deliver the products on time. It ensures that delays are reduced and efficiency is increased.
2. Marketing & Sales Teams
Your sales and marketing teams also have to go to job sites to work from time to time. To optimize their efficiency, you need the real-time location and time tracking features of the app.
3. Field Service & Utility Businesses
Field services and utility businesses have a significant use for the real-time location tracking feature of the employee destination monitoring app. It helps organizations boost efficiency and productivity via streamlining routes.
4. Home Visits & Healthcare
Home visiting nurses and related healthcare professionals will become more efficient at utilizing their time. That’s because you can track and streamline the time they spend at each location from anywhere with real-time data.
5. Construction
The route tracking feature is useful for monitoring construction workers as they go from one site to another. Plus, it also streamlines payroll processing, as you know how much time they have spent on each field.
Read Also: All You Need to Know About the 30 Types of Project Management Software
5 Challenges Regarding Implementing Field Employee Tracking Apps
Implementing the right field employee tracking app in your organization won’t be a smooth sail. There will be some challenges, which you might have to tackle first:
1. Privacy Concerns
The first thing is that even if you are installing the app on organization-provided phones, there are still concerns about confidential data being leaked or read by the application.
2. Employee Training & Adoption
You know the employee mindset, ‘live and let live’. Right? So, when you teach them to properly use the location tracker app, there will be training and adoption issues. What you need to do is blend this into their schedule.
3. Compliance Regulations & Data Security
Various compliance regulations restrict the field employee tracking apps from accessing specific data. The same thing applies to the app you use. If yours is not complying with these data security rules, you can face legal action.
4. Device Compatibility & Battery Drain
Another issue is that if you haven’t implemented the best field staff monitoring application, then you can face the issue of battery drain. Plus, the device compatibility might not be flexible enough as per your multi-device infrastructure.
5. Network Connectivity Issues
Some field employee tracking apps might also come with network connectivity issues. So, you need to be careful as to which application you finalize. Otherwise, you will only waste time and money.
How to Implement & Optimize Your Field Employee Tracking App?
Ready to implement the right field staff monitoring app in your organization? Here are a few expert (we) recommended tips for you:
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Plan according to your organizational needs and select the correct app to track field staff. |
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Ensure that your employees agree to being monitored first. When they know about the app’s benefits, they will be more willing. |
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Ensure that your employees are always up to date with the app’s usage and that you get enough ongoing support whenever you need it. |
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To ensure consistent productivity boosts, you also need to measure performance and RoI that the field employee tracking app is providing you. |
4 Future Trends in Field Employee Tracking: Beyond 2025
Field employee tracking is not the same anymore. The apps in this category have become more advanced and future-forward with the latest upgrades. Here are the 5 trends that we find very interesting.
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Machine learning and AI are everywhere. Field staff location monitoring apps included. It has made the applications more intelligent with predictive analytics. |
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Integrating IoT technology in field employee monitoring will ensure added accuracy and improved app-to-app communication. Plus, the distance from which you can monitor field staff also increases. |
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AR technology in field employee tracking makes employee training much safer. For example, pilots can be trained to experience the field without even going there. |
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Since data security is the biggest concern these days, the emphasis on improving biometric authentication has also increased. |
Conclusion
Now, we hope that you have wrapped your head around field employee tracking apps and the benefits organizations and businesses worldwide get from using them. As a final word, we can say that tracking the location and time of field employees can be overwhelming and inefficient. You can’t use micromanagement or breach their privacy either. Instead, what you need is to use the right employee time and location tracking app to get precise data on the efficiency of your employees. This way, you can ethically skyrocket the efficiency of your on-site employees. However, what if you need more? We recommend using DeskTrack.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. How to Track an Employee in the Field?
Ans. There are 2 ways to accurately do it.
- Use a mobile time tracking app.
- Use a location tracking app.
Q. What is a Field Employee Tracking App?
Ans. Apps to track field employees are the most ethical solutions for you to monitor your field employees. Depending on your requirements, some apps will provide you with real-time location tracking, ensuring that you always know where your team members are. On the other hand, if you only need basic functionality, some applications provide basic location tracking to ensure that employees precisely clock in and out of job sites.
Q. How Does an Employee Location Tracking App Work?
Ans. The way field employee tracking apps work is by utilizing the GPS capabilities on the employees’ phones. All they have to do is keep the GPS open, and the app will do all the tracking in the background. Furthermore, a good thing is that the applications consume little to no battery.
Q. What are the Benefits of Using an Employee Location Tracking App?
Ans. Here’s what you will experience.
- Improved Productivity
- Improved Time Management
- Better Task Management
- Enhanced Transparency
- Attendance Tracking
- Performance Evaluation
- Better Resource Allocation
- Improved Compliance & Accountability
- Reduced Costs
- Fieldwork Support
- Accurate Payrolls
Q. What is the Best App for Keeping Track of Field Employees?
Ans. Here are your top 10 options for the same.
- DeskTrack
- Connecteam
- Clockify
- Buddy Punch
- QuickBooks Time
- Hubstaff
- OnTheClock
- eBility
- Jibble
- dayTrack
