10 greatest geofencing time clocks in 2023
19 min read
Geofencing time clocks are time clocks — however higher — and might prevent money and time.
Geofencing makes use of GPS (or comparable) in order that staff can solely verify in and take a look at after they’re bodily in the precise location on the proper time.
Which means that they allow you to preserve observe of workers even for those who’re distant, or have a big workforce in a number of places. You may see how many individuals are on-site, stop time theft (the place staff verify in even when they haven’t arrived), and precisely calculate pay based mostly on hours.
However selecting the best instrument generally is a mission. There are a ton of choices on the market, every have completely different options, and a few include different instruments that you could be or might not want. Evaluating and contrasting them can really feel like a full-time job in itself.
We all know you simply need to discover the precise instrument that does what you want and get again to work.
In order that’s why on this publish, we’re masking:
- The important thing options to search for in geofencing time clocks
- Our prime 10 shift geofencing time clocks** (and our decide for the very best all-in-one possibility)
- What to think about when shopping for a geofencing time clock
- And customary pitfalls to keep away from when utilizing the instrument, to get optimum outcomes.
Key options to search for in geofencing time clocks
We advocate on the lookout for the next options when selecting a geofencing time clock instrument for your enterprise.
- Geofencing know-how — After all, geofencing time clocks will need to have dependable geofencing know-how inbuilt, so you may precisely observe worker location and time. Staff can solely clock in when they’re bodily in the precise place, making certain exact pay and hour calculation.
- Integration with payroll software program — Now you’ve tracked employee hours precisely, you may translate these hours to pay. A instrument that integrates seamlessly with payroll software program streamlines your payroll processing and helps you guarantee correct pay.
- Cellular accessibility — A core a part of any geofencing instrument, you want your time clock to work on cell units in order that staff can clock out and in from any location, with minimal problem.
- Actual-time monitoring — A part of utilizing geofencing to trace time is about seeing the place staff are at any time. You’ll need to search for a instrument that permits this, to permit supervisors to observe worker hours, and observe attendance in actual time.
- Reporting and analytics — This allows you to observe and analyze worker time and attendance information, so you may acquire larger insights into your staff’ work and conduct, and precisely perceive their patterns, hours, and pay necessities.
Our prime decide for geofencing time clocks in 2023 (+ the remainder ranked)
With its complete set of options designed for small companies and hourly workers, we imagine that Homebase is among the greatest geofencing time clock instruments on the market. It presents geofencing and has an all-in-one dashboard to handle different duties like payroll, PTO, scheduling, HR and compliance, onboarding and hiring, and group happiness.
However no instrument is ideal, and there are others obtainable that might work higher for your enterprise, relying on what you want. Let’s have a look.
- Finest all-in-one resolution: Homebase
- Finest for eating places: 7shifts
- Finest for simplicity: After I Work
- Finest for ease of use: Deputy
- Finest for payroll integration: Quickbooks Time (Tsheets)
- Finest for multiple-location companies: Sling
- Finest for building companies: ExakTime
- Finest for cell groups: Timesheet Cellular
- Finest for time-saving automation: Buddy Punch
- Finest for bigger corporations: Hubstaff
Comparability chart: High 10 geofencing time clock apps in 2023
A breakdown of the ten greatest geofencing time clocks
1. Finest all-in-one resolution: Homebase
Supply: JoinHomebase.com
Caption: Homebase’s geofencing monitoring instrument works on virtually all cell units
Homebase is an all-in-one group administration and communication system that features a geofencing time clock as simply considered one of its instruments to make time clocking, monitoring, and payroll simpler. Appropriate with virtually any cell gadget, the time clock makes use of GPS.
It additionally sends automated alerts and messages to assist affirm that workers are the place they must be, ensure nobody forgets to clock out, and assist managers keep away from pricey or unlawful additional time. It additionally integrates with payroll for super-streamlined funds and extra correct hourly time monitoring.
High options
- Geofencing monitoring with GPS and photographs, to trace hours, breaks, additional time, and PTO.
- Cellular app suitable with iOS and Android.
- Distinctive worker PINs to make sure correct monitoring for everybody.
- Alerts for late clock-ins or forgotten clock-outs.
- Constructed-in messaging and reminders.
- Labor price monitoring, and good monitoring of labor vs gross sales.
- Correct timesheets and payroll integration for straightforward hours-worked-to-pay calculations.
- On the spot conversion of timesheets into payroll wages and correct tax funds.
Professionals and cons
The geofencing time clock instrument integrates seamlessly right into a wider suite of helpful instruments. Customers say that it’s straightforward for workers to make use of “every single day”, with a “clean design” and features that are “akin to far more costly software program.”
Nevertheless, it might provide extra instruments that you simply want in case you are on the lookout for a easy time clock solely.
Pricing
- Free. Time clock and timesheets for one location and limitless staff.
- Necessities. $20 monthly per location. All the pieces included within the Free plan, plus group communication, efficiency monitoring, and distant instruments.
- Plus. $48 monthly per location. All the pieces in Necessities, plus labor budgeting and PTO instruments.
- All-in-one. $80 monthly per location. All the pieces in Plus, in addition to new rent onboarding, and HR & compliance.
2. Finest for eating places: 7shifts
Supply: 7shifts.com
Caption: 7Shifts makes use of a variety of instruments to make sure correct geofencing
7shifts presents a spread of highly effective instruments, and is designed for hourly staff within the restaurant business. Its cell time-clocking functionality is included within the “schedule” a part of its platform and goals to make labor compliance and scheduling simpler, all whereas decreasing the danger of time theft and pay errors.
High options
- Geofencing and photograph choices to make sure your group is current.
- Cellular time clock app for on-the-go monitoring.
- Time clocking works even with out Wi-Fi.
- Editable punches and timesheets to make sure correct funds.
- Set guidelines like solely enabling scheduled workers to clock in, which saves on unbudgeted hours.
- Monitor breaks and PTO.
- Automated alerts for no-shows, break reminders, and additional time — to guard staff and keep away from additional bills.
- Hyperlink to payroll and timesheets for correct and straightforward pay.
- Audits and experiences for an at-a-glance overview of workers exercise.
Professionals and cons
It presents a variety of highly effective instruments for group administration, and customers reward the “ease of use” and “streamlined reporting”, and notably like its communication instruments.
Nevertheless, it was created for the restaurant sector, so will not be the only option for different industries.
Pricing
- Comp: Free, for one location and as much as 30 staff. Consists of time clock, and scheduling.
- Entrée: $29.99 monthly per location, for as much as 30 staff, All the pieces from the Comp plan plus templates, budgeting, and time without work monitoring.
- The Works: $69.99 monthly per location, for limitless staff. All the pieces from the Entrée plan, plus payroll integration and state-based compliance instruments.
- Gourmand: $135 monthly per location. All the pieces in The Works, plus onboarding, labor forecasting, and nearer assist.
7shifts additionally presents a free 14-day trial.
3. Finest for simplicity: When I Work
Supply: WhenIwork.com
Caption: After I Work has easy group communication instruments to assist handle hours and PTO
After I Work lets staff observe time with any gadget, and manages when staff can or can’t tackle new shifts. It lets them request PTO, tracks shift information, and automates alerts.
For managers, it lets you use timesheets to run payroll, through integrations with fashionable payroll suppliers.
High options
- Works on virtually any cell or desktop gadget.
- Connects time clocking with pay guidelines and scheduling, to make sure correct hours.
- Sends automated alerts to keep away from additional time or labor compliance regulation breaches.
- Lets staff talk and handle their very own shifts.
- Tracks and coordinates PTO, breaks, and total attendance.
- Integrates with payroll instruments.
Professionals and cons
After I Work is straightforward, with a number of simple options that work properly. Reviewers say that it’s “straightforward to navigate” with a “easy and stylish” design, “agility”, and the flexibility to provide workers entry to their work schedule and guidelines within the “palm of their hand.”
In distinction, it doesn’t provide as many options as some all-in-one instruments — for instance, payroll can solely be executed through an built-in, separate instrument.
Pricing
- Commonplace: $4 per person monthly. Consists of time and attendance instruments, and scheduling.
- Superior: $8 per person monthly. Consists of superior scheduling with extra dynamic and customizable options, plus time and attendance instruments.
4. Finest for ease of use: Deputy
Supply: Deputy.com
Caption: Deputy has a color-coded, brilliant interface that helps make it straightforward to make use of
Deputy’s time clock app goals to make payroll as correct as attainable, and likewise helps employers be sure that solely workers who’re scheduled to work accomplish that. Its color-coded interface makes monitoring time straightforward, and it makes use of each GPS and facial verification to make sure location-accurate punching in.
High options
- Hours and breaks recorded through the identical app.
- Works on a cellphone, pill, or pc.
- Makes use of GPS for location stamps or touch-free face verification.
- Robotically creates correct timesheets that managers can export simply.
- Permits labor regulation compliance and retains correct information.
- Touchless choices (voice instructions and facial recognition) for cleaner workplaces and quicker monitoring.
- Alerts workers and managers when breaks are due.
Professionals and cons
It features a vary of modern options like touchless clock-ins, and is intuitive to make use of. Prospects especially like “the straightforwardness of the applying” and “how easy it is to navigate”, plus its ease in dealing with “multiple location options.”
Nevertheless, to entry all instruments together with time clocking you’ll want to be on the dearer plans.
Pricing
- Starter: Free, for 100 shifts monthly.
- Time & Attendance: $3.50 per person monthly. Scheduling with attendance monitoring, and timesheet administration, however no automation, reporting, SMS alerts; and fewer group communication instruments.
- Premium: $4.90 per person monthly. All scheduling, time, attendance, and reporting instruments.
- Enterprise: Worth on request. For companies with 250+ staff. All the pieces in Premium, plus customized options.
Deputy additionally presents a free 31-day trial.
5. Finest for payroll integration: Quickbooks Time (Tsheets)
Supply: Quickbooks.intuit.com/
Caption: Quickbooks Time makes use of GPS as a part of its geofencing time clock instruments
From the payroll and invoicing firm of the identical title, Quickbooks Time (previously often called Tsheets) lets managers observe time precisely. It goals to make payroll painless and consists of dashboards designed to indicate who’s working and when at a look. It additionally prioritizes correct reporting.
High options
- Works instantly inside Quickbooks, a serious plus for those who already use that software program.
- Cellular app for straightforward on-the-go use.
- Generates separate job and worker codes to assist make extra exact experiences.
- Makes use of GPS for geofencing monitoring.
- Screens additional time and sends customizable alerts.
- Syncs with Quickbooks and creates correct timesheets to run environment friendly payroll and invoicing.
- Affords limitless assist through chat or cellphone.
Professionals and cons
A serious professional is that it syncs with Quickbooks’ current highly effective software program and consists of many must-have options. Customers say that it’s “handy and straightforward to make use of”, with extra useful features like “the flexibility so as to add notes if you clock in to simply observe tasks,” and retains “all of our timekeeping wants in a single app.”
Nevertheless, it’s not supreme for those who don’t use or want the remainder of Quickbooks’ software program.
Pricing
- Premium. $8 per person monthly + $20 base price monthly. Limitless customers.
- Elite. $10 per person monthly +$40 base price monthly. Limitless customers.
6. Finest for multiple-location companies: Sling
Supply: Getsling.com
Caption: Sling’s time clock instrument works on almost any smartphone
Sling’s time clock instrument is a part of a wider suite of options that additionally consists of job administration, labor price monitoring, labor compliance, and group communication. It additionally helps you handle a number of work places with ease and allows you to observe and optimize labor prices.
High options
- Works on any cellphone.
- Lets employers export timesheets for straightforward payroll operating.
- Schedule monitoring for a number of places from a single dashboard.
- Retains observe of worker breaks and displays additional time.
- Workforce communication instruments to make sure everybody is aware of the place they must be, and when.
- Permits you to optimize labor prices and hyperlink schedules for the very best use of worker hours.
- Activity administration to allow workers to work successfully.
Professionals and cons
Sling is designed for every type of industries that depend on hourly groups. Many customers stated that they like how it syncs immediately between units, and “increases efficiency.”
On the draw back, you’ll want to improve to Premium for cell time monitoring. Plus, some customers say the app has “glitches”, and others say that they’ve discovered the platform to be sluggish.
Pricing
- Primary: Free. Consists of shift scheduling and time-off requests, however no cell time monitoring.
- Premium: $1.70 per person monthly. All the pieces in Primary, plus instruments for cell time monitoring, and optimizing labor prices.
- Enterprise: $3.40 per person monthly. All the pieces in Premium, plus information and experiences.
7. Finest for building companies: ExakTime
Supply: Exaktime.com
Caption: ExakTime lets staff use their cellphone to check-in, or an on-site gadget designed for building environments
ExakTime is a cloud-based time clock that’s designed particularly for building companies and busy staff who’re continuously on the transfer. It really works whether or not you’ve one web site or many extra, and is meant primarily to assist corporations handle labor prices and observe attendance whereas in a busy atmosphere.
High options
- Simple clock-in and clock-out interface that makes use of “Go” and “Cease” for super-simple monitoring.
- Makes use of GPS and photographs for clocking in.
- Ensures worker id with ID photographs.
- Syncs to the cloud and worker units for safe backups.
- Works on virtually any smartphone gadget.
- Staff can use an app or an on-site gadget designed particularly for building websites.
- Integrates with payroll processors.
Professionals and cons
ExakTime has a super-simple interface designed for use in busy, fast-paced environments. Customers say that the “GPS is useful” and that the payroll characteristic is dependable, “user-friendly, and environment friendly.”
In distinction, it’s designed primarily for the development business, so will not be supreme for different workplaces.
Pricing
- $8 monthly per person (paid yearly), plus $50/month base price. Consists of GPS, photograph ID, wage monitoring, experiences, additional time alerts, and limitless US assist.
8. Finest for cell groups: Timesheet Mobile
Supply: Timesheetmobile.com/
Caption: Timesheet Cellular sends alerts to workers after they’re leaving a piece location
As its title suggests, Timesheet Cellular is designed particularly for the cell workforce, and presents geofencing time monitoring together with scheduling, timesheets and experiences, group messaging, and alerts. It additionally lets staff handle PTO and sick days, and presents job administration checklists to make shifts extra environment friendly.
High options
- Geofencing throughout scheduled hours.
- Timesheet reporting for fast payroll processing and labor costing.
- Drag and drop scheduling for jobs and staff, with immediate notifications
- EU working time compliance legal guidelines included in its authorized part.
- Undertaking checklists for job administration throughout every shift.
- Automated alerts for additional time reminders, working time violations, or late arrivals.
- Workforce messaging to let workers talk, and make clear directions between websites. Help for 4 languages.
- Break day and trip schedule administration.
- Integrations with invoicing and payroll platforms.
Professionals and cons
Timesheet Cellular consists of EU working time compliance legal guidelines, so a great possibility for Europe-based companies. Prospects additionally praise how it lets staff “observe working hours remotely, which suggests anytime and anyplace”, extra effectively than different timesheet instruments, whereas others notably just like the stay chat assist.
Nevertheless, it’s primarily designed for cell workforces, so it might not work if your enterprise is extra ‘on-site’.
Pricing
Timesheet Cellular calculates its pricing relying on the variety of staff that use it, and whether or not they clock out and in a number of occasions a day.
For instance, for 10 staff:
- Fundamentals: From $16.25 monthly for 3 months. Consists of cell app and geofencing.
- Per Punch Plan: $48 monthly for 3 months. Consists of Fundamentals, plus payroll integrations and additional time warnings. Not really useful for employees who punch out and in a number of occasions per day.
- Small Enterprise: $64.80 monthly for 3 months. Consists of Fundamentals, plus payroll integrations and additional time warnings.
- Medium Enterprise: $87 monthly for 3 months. Consists of Fundamentals, plus payroll integrations and additional time warnings. Beneficial for corporations with 15 or extra staff.
After three months, Fundamentals rises to $3.49 per worker for limitless punches + $14.99 firm subscription. Per Punch rises to fifteen cents per punch + $29.99 firm subscription.
Small Enterprise rises to $9.95 per worker for limitless punches + $29.99 firm subscription. Medium Enterprise rises to $2.49 per worker for limitless punches + $149 firm subscription.
9. Finest for time-saving automation: Buddy Punch
Supply: Buddypunch.com
Caption: Buddy Punch makes it straightforward to create correct time playing cards for every worker
Buddy Punch goals to simplify monitoring, regardless of the place workers are working. Its automation saves hours of labor in reviewing, checking, and verifying worker timesheets earlier than processing payroll. It additionally goals to create correct experiences and sheets through digital punching out and in.
High options
- Makes use of GPS and picture monitoring.
- Works on cell and pc.
- Robotically tracks paid and unpaid time without work and sick go away.
- Creates customizable experiences to make payroll operating simpler.
- Screens distant staff through IP addresses to make sure they’re working.
- Integrates with payroll suppliers, and presents its personal payroll processor, Buddy Punch Payroll.
- Sends notifications to customers mechanically.
- On-line chat assist.
Professionals and cons
Buddy Punch is straightforward and straightforward to make use of, with photographs and color-coded dashboards. Prospects like “how fast it’s to punch in and punch out”, its capacity to “allow remote check-ins”, and the way straightforward to navigate it’s.
On the draw back, it requires additional software program Buddy Punch Payroll if you wish to run payroll on the identical platform.
Pricing
- Commonplace: $2.99 per person monthly billed yearly (or $3.49 if billed month-to-month) +$19 base price monthly, together with cell apps, GPS, payroll integrations, reporting, and break planning.
- Professional: $3.99 per person/month billed yearly (or $4.49 if billed month-to-month) +$19 base price monthly. All the pieces in Commonplace, plus worker scheduling, templates, and early or late reporting.
- Enterprise: Worth on request. All Professional options, plus API entry.
Buddy Punch additionally presents a free trial.
10. Finest for bigger corporations: Hubstaff
Supply: Hubstaff.com
Caption: Hubstaff has a variety of instruments and offers detailed information reporting
Hubstaff is a strong worker and workforce administration platform, which incorporates time monitoring as a part of its toolset. It makes use of GPS for cell geofencing, in addition to worker monitoring features like screenshots and photographs. It additionally has payroll, invoicing, and scheduling instruments.
High options
- GPS geofencing and customizable job websites.
- Time monitoring and reporting for correct timesheets throughout units.
- Time clock app for particular purchasers and tasks.
- Activity administration instruments for additional productiveness.
- Payroll monitoring and invoicing inside the similar dashboard.
- Productiveness and hourly information monitoring.
- Help for agile workplaces together with dash planning and digital standups.
Professionals and cons
Hubstaff is a fully-fledged, highly effective platform for bigger corporations. Customers say they like the way it saves time in comparison with guide time monitoring, and the way it improves the “efficiency of the work group”.
Nevertheless, it might provide extra instruments than you want, relying in your firm dimension and necessities.
Pricing
- Desk Free: Free for one person. Embrace time monitoring and timesheets.
- Desk Starter: $5.83 per person monthly. Begins at $140. Consists of two customers. All the pieces from the Free plan, plus experiences, 24-hour assist, and one integration.
- Desk Professional: $8.33 per person monthly. Begins at $200. Consists of two customers. All the pieces in Starter, plus time without work instruments, mission budgets, restricted API, and expense monitoring.
- Enterprise: Worth on request. All the pieces in Professional, plus extra insights, increased limits on API, concierge set-up and VIP assist, compliance instruments, and limitless job websites.
Hubstaff additionally presents a 14-day free trial.
What to think about when shopping for geofencing time clock software program
There’s no such factor as a single “greatest” platform: all of it is determined by what you want. Right here’s what to consider when shopping for geofencing time clock software program, to verify it’s proper to your group.
- Decide your enterprise’s time and attendance monitoring wants — Take into account precisely what you’re on the lookout for in relation to monitoring time. Do you’ve a number of places? Plenty of workers? What time monitoring and payroll duties are you presently spending probably the most money and time on?
- Analysis and evaluate obtainable choices — Evaluate and distinction choices, and make a shortlist. Any of the choices we’ve listed may work, however solely you realize which works greatest for your enterprise. Evaluate options, take into account how a lot assist you want, and take a look at your price range.
- Take into account the price and pricing choices — We don’t advocate selecting a platform based mostly on price alone; a low-priced instrument should still be a waste of time or cash if it doesn’t do what you want. As an alternative, take into account worth. Take a look at how a lot money and time you could possibly save in the long term.
- Consider the software program’s buyer assist and safety measures — Buyer assist is essential when shopping for a brand new instrument, particularly for those who’re not fairly certain precisely easy methods to use it, or have a bigger group to coach. Examine the assistance pages and assist choices before you purchase, for greatest outcomes.
- Decide and arrange the software program — When you’ve made a shortlist, decide the very best instrument and join. Many instruments provide a free possibility or trial, so you may take a look at if it delivers. The most effective platforms will even provide important onboarding assist, so that you’ll by no means be left confused or caught.
Widespread pitfalls to keep away from when utilizing geofencing time clock software program
Even the very best software program may fall quick if it’s not getting used accurately. Listed below are some pitfalls to keep away from, so you may get your platform operating optimally.
- Not correctly establishing worker data — Not filling in your entire staff’ data accurately can result in errors in relation to monitoring time, and calculating pay. For greatest outcomes, ensure worker data is correctly arrange.
- Not repeatedly reviewing and updating geofencing boundaries — Preserving your boundaries updated signifies that geofencing will work correctly, and also you’ll have up-to-date information of worker places and correct check-ins and outs.
- Not correctly coaching staff on the software program — If workers don’t know easy methods to use the time clock correctly, this can possible trigger main points with right monitoring. There’s a studying curve with any software program, however serving to workers use it properly will guarantee probably the most correct outcomes.
- Not repeatedly backing up information — Having common backups of information and digital information helps to guard your enterprise in case of technical difficulties or hacking. It additionally permits you to get again in your ft simply within the uncommon occasion that your time clock know-how fails you.
Geofencing time clocks: Location is simply the beginning
Geofencing time clocks are a should for any enterprise proprietor who must preserve observe of workers remotely, or needs to be sure that the hourly-paid wages staff obtain are as correct as attainable.
Geofencing ensures that workers are the place they are saying they’re, avoids pricey and unlawful additional time, and saves you main time and stress translating hours on the bottom into correct wages (together with suggestions, PTO, and breaks).
With so many transferring elements, it is sensible to make use of a digital, geofencing time clock to streamline the method — moderately than attempting to do every thing manually, or utilizing an advanced stack of separate instruments.
When on the lookout for a geofencing time clock, you possible need to take into account key options together with dependable geofencing know-how, integration with payroll instruments, real-time monitoring, a cell app, and insightful reporting capabilities.
Homebase focuses on providing a geofencing time clock that not solely tracks precisely and integrates with payroll (and at no cost too!), but in addition connects simply with a set of different features that small companies have to thrive. These embody group communication, scheduling, hiring, HR, and group happiness.
So you may time clock with ease, calculate pay precisely, and save money and time on additional time and guide scheduling too — all inside the similar platform.
References
**The knowledge above is predicated on our analysis on geofencing time clock instruments. All person suggestions referenced within the textual content has been sourced from impartial software program assessment platforms, akin to G2 and Capterra, in February 2023.
