Hourly employees start work. They take breaks and finish. A clock in and clock out app records those times. Owners and managers use the records to pay people correctly, track overtime, and spot late arrivals, early departures, and missed shifts.

This guide compares 10 apps. It covers how staff clock in, the checks that stop clocking in from the wrong place or for someone else, offline use, scheduling, time off, payroll connections, pricing, and G2 and Capterra ratings from November 2026.

We make one of the apps on this list, so Buddy Punch comes first. The other nine are listed by who they fit best, not ranked. Every app was judged on the same criteria from its own website and its G2 and Capterra ratings in November 2026. Every app, including ours, gets pros and cons.

Quick answer

• Best for hourly employees who work in more than one place: Buddy Punch, because every plan records GPS, and geofencing, a shared kiosk, and offline mode are on Pro and Advanced.
• Best free app for teams of 10 or fewer: Connecteam, because its free plan covers up to 10 users with all features.
• Best for a single restaurant or shop: Homebase, because it has a free plan for one location and up to 10 employees.
• Best free clock in app with no user limit: Jibble, because its free forever plan includes unlimited users, mobile and web clock-ins, and a kiosk.
• Best for businesses that already use QuickBooks Online: QuickBooks Time, because hours sync to QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Online Payroll.
• Best for construction and field crews: ClockShark, because it works offline and a foreman can clock in a whole crew.
• Best for restaurants: 7shifts, because only scheduled team members can clock in, and scheduling is its core product.

App	Best for	Free plan	Free trial	Starting price	G2	Capterra
Buddy Punch	Hourly teams that work in more than one place	No	14 days	$4.99/user/month + $19/month base fee (billed annually)	4.8 (412)	4.8 (1,136)
Connecteam	Free app for teams of 10 or fewer	Up to 10 users	14 days	$29/month for the first 30 users	4.6 (3,506)	4.6 (5,320)
Homebase	A single restaurant or shop	1 location, up to 10 employees	14 days	$30/location/month	4.6 (565)	4.6 (1,158)
Jibble	Free clock in app with no user limit	Unlimited users	Via the free plan	See Jibble’s site	4.5 (1,261)	4.8 (3,236)
QuickBooks Time	QuickBooks Online users	No	30 days	$20/month + per-user fee	4.5 (1,449)	4.7 (7,026)
When I Work	Teams that care most about scheduling	No	14 days	$2.50/user/month	4.4 (400)	4.5 (1,301)
Deputy	Retail and hospitality shift teams	No	Yes	$5/user/month ($30/month minimum)	4.5 (888)	4.6 (775)
Clockify	Teams of up to 5, or project time	Up to 5 users	Not listed	$3.99/user/month (billed annually)	4.5 (205)	4.7 (9,268)
ClockShark	Construction and field crews	No	14 days	See ClockShark’s site	4.6 (351)	4.7 (1,911)
7shifts	Restaurants	See 7shifts’ site	Yes	See 7shifts’ site	4.5 (130)	4.7 (1,212)

Ratings are out of 5. The number of reviews is in brackets. Those figures are from G2 and Capterra on November 3, 2026.

How we chose these apps

We used each app’s own website and its G2 and Capterra ratings in November 2026. The same criteria applied to every product, including Buddy Punch:

• How employees clock in (phone, web, shared tablet, POS)
• Checks that stop clocking in from the wrong place or for someone else
• Whether employees can clock in without internet
• Scheduling, time off, and payroll connections
• Clear pricing, plus a free plan or free trial
• Ratings on G2 and Capterra

We left out apps built mainly for tracking billable project hours on a computer. Freelancer and agency timers are in that group. They answer a different question than clocking hourly staff in and out.

Clock-in features compared

App	Shared tablet kiosk	Geofencing	Photo or face check	Works offline	Free plan
Buddy Punch	Yes (Pro and up)	Yes, blocks punches (Pro and up)	Webcam photo (Pro and up)	Yes, mobile app (Pro and up)	No
Connecteam	Yes, with PIN	Yes, can send outside punches for approval	Selfie on some clock-in methods	No	Up to 10 users
Homebase	Yes	Yes	Photo at clock in	Yes, per Homebase	1 location, up to 10 employees
Jibble	Yes	Offered (check plan)	Facial recognition (check plan)	Offered (check plan)	Unlimited users
QuickBooks Time	Yes	Reminders (Elite plan)	Optional face check on kiosk	Not listed	No
When I Work	Time clock terminal	Yes, mobile	Photo on iOS terminal	Not listed	No
Deputy	Yes	Yes	Face check on kiosk (Core and up)	Listed by Deputy	No
Clockify	Paid plans	Not listed	Kiosk photo (Pro and up)	Not listed	Up to 5 users
ClockShark	Crew Clock (foreman clocks in crew)	Reminders at job sites	Not listed	Yes	No
7shifts	Yes (7punches app)	Optional	Optional photo	Not listed	See 7shifts’ site

“Not listed” means we didn’t find it on the app’s own website in November 2026.

1. Buddy Punch – Best for hourly teams that work in more than one place

Clock-ins use the mobile app or the web app. Pro and Advanced add a shared kiosk with a PIN or QR code. GPS location is recorded on punches on every plan, and employees don’t need their own email address to get an account.

Geofencing that blocks punches outside a set area, a webcam photo on punch, the PIN kiosk, and QR codes are on Pro and Advanced. Real-time GPS tracking is a $2 per user per month add-on. It’s included in Advanced. Offline mode, new in October 2026 on Pro and Advanced, lets employees clock in and out and start and end breaks in the mobile app without internet. Punches sync when they’re back online. Geofence rules still apply.

Managers get overtime alerts. They can block early clock-ins and see attendance reports for late clock-ins, early clock-outs, and missed shifts. Time off tracking is on every plan. Scheduling is an add-on on Starter and included in Pro and Advanced. Hours go to payroll through payroll-ready reports, payroll integrations, or Buddy Punch’s own payroll add-on.

Pros

• GPS on punches on every plan, and employees don’t need their own email address
• 14-day free trial with no credit card, free admin accounts, and no contracts

Cons

• No free plan
• The $19 monthly base fee applies to every plan, and geofencing, the kiosk, and offline mode start on Pro

Pricing

Starter is $4.99 per user per month plus a $19 monthly base fee, billed annually ($5.99 per user billed monthly). Pro is $6.99 and Advanced is $12.99 per user per month, billed annually, plus the same base fee. View Buddy Punch’s current pricing.

2. Connecteam – Best free app for teams of 10 or fewer

NFC tags at job sites are one clock-in method. Staff can also use the mobile app, a shared tablet kiosk with a 4-digit PIN, or a desktop time clock. GPS is recorded on clock in, with a map for admins. Geofences of 500 to 2,500 feet can send punches from outside the area to a manager for approval. A selfie is required on some clock-in methods.

Employees can’t clock in or out without internet. Scheduling and time off are built in. There’s no built-in payroll, but Connecteam connects to QuickBooks Online, Gusto, Xero, Paychex Flex, ADP Workforce Now, and ADP Run.

Pros

• Free plan for up to 10 users with all features, plus a 14-day free trial with no credit card
• Mobile, PIN kiosk, desktop, or NFC tags for clock-in, with scheduling and time off built in

Cons

• Can’t clock in or out without internet
• No built-in payroll, and other hubs such as communication and HR are priced separately

Pricing

Free for up to 10 users. Paid time clock and scheduling (the Operations hub) starts at $29 per month for the first 30 users. View Connecteam’s current pricing.

3. Homebase – Best for a single restaurant or shop

Square, Toast, Clover, or Shopify. Those POS systems can take clock-ins, and so can a phone or tablet app, a web browser, or a tablet kiosk. Checks include a PIN for each employee, a photo at clock in, GPS, and geofencing. Homebase says its time clock keeps working if the internet goes down.

Scheduling is built in. Time off controls start on the Plus plan at $70 per location per month. Homebase Payroll is an add-on, and Homebase connects to QuickBooks Online on the Plus plan, ADP, and Gusto.

Pros

• Free plan for one location and up to 10 employees
• PIN, photo, GPS, and geofencing checks, plus POS clock-in

Cons

• Per-location pricing, so it climbs as you add locations
• Time off controls start on the Plus plan at $70 per location per month

Pricing

Free for one location and up to 10 employees. Paid plans start at $30 per location per month. View Homebase’s current pricing.

4. Jibble – Best free clock in app with no user limit

Employees clock in on the iOS and Android apps, the web, a desktop app, a Chrome extension, or a shared tablet in kiosk mode. Jibble offers facial recognition, GPS, geofencing, and an offline mode, so check which plan includes the ones you need.

No user limit. The free forever plan includes mobile and web clock-ins, basic timesheets, the kiosk, and Slack, Microsoft Teams, and QuickBooks integrations.

Pros

• Unlimited users on the free forever plan
• Phone, web, desktop, or shared tablet clock-in

Cons

• Facial recognition, geofencing, and offline mode are listed as Jibble features, so check which plan includes each

Pricing

View Jibble’s current pricing.

5. QuickBooks Time – Best for businesses that already use QuickBooks Online

Employees clock in on the mobile app, a web browser, or a shared tablet or computer kiosk, with optional facial recognition on the kiosk. GPS is recorded while employees are on the clock, and geofence reminders to clock in or out at a job site are on the Elite plan.

Scheduling is on every plan, and time off management is on Premium and Elite. Hours sync to QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Online Payroll, and there are 50+ other integrations. QuickBooks’ pricing page says a QuickBooks Online account is required.

Pros

• Hours sync to QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Online Payroll
• Scheduling on every plan and a 30-day free trial

Cons

• Needs a QuickBooks Online account, and there’s no free plan
• A monthly base fee plus a per-user fee, and geofence reminders only on Elite

Pricing

Premium starts at $20 per month plus a per-user fee. Elite starts at $40 per month plus a per-user fee. View QuickBooks Time’s current pricing.

6. When I Work – Best for teams that care most about scheduling

Staff enter their email or employee ID on a shared device set up as a time clock terminal. They can clock in on the mobile app. Or on a computer. Mobile geofences, accurate to about 100 meters, block punches outside the area. On computers it can check browser location or an approved IP address, and the iOS time clock terminal can take a photo at clock in.

Auto scheduling, open shifts, and shift swaps come with the built-in scheduling. Payroll integrations include ADP Run, ADP Workforce Now, Gusto, Paychex, QuickBooks Online, Rippling, and Square.

Pros

• Built-in scheduling with auto scheduling, open shifts, and shift swaps
• Low starting price per user

Cons

• No free plan
• Location checks accurate to about 100 meters, and photo clock-in only on the iOS terminal

Pricing

Starts at $2.50 per user per month, with a 14-day free trial. View When I Work’s current pricing.

7. Deputy – Best for retail and hospitality shift teams

Clock-in options include mobile, a kiosk, the web, a POS, a tablet, or a watch. Checks include geofencing, GPS, PINs, and QR codes. Facial recognition on the kiosk (face-unlock) is on the Core plan and up.

Deputy also lists an offline mode. Scheduling is built in, with auto scheduling on Core and Pro. Leave management and payroll integrations are on every plan, and Deputy Payroll is an add-on in the US.

Pros

• POS, tablet, and watch clock-in, among other methods
• Scheduling, leave management, and payroll integrations on every plan

Cons

• No free plan, a $30 minimum monthly spend, and managers count as paid users
• Annual plans can’t be downgraded mid-term

Pricing

Lite is $5, Core $6.50, and Pro $9 per user per month, with a $30 minimum monthly spend. View Deputy’s current pricing.

8. Clockify – Best for teams of up to 5, or time by project

Up to five users get unlimited time tracking and projects on Clockify’s free plan, but no kiosk, time off, scheduling, or GPS. Employees clock in on the mobile and desktop apps, the web, or a browser extension. A kiosk starts on the paid Basic plan.

Kiosk QR codes are on Standard and up. GPS and kiosk photo capture are on Pro and up. Time off is on Standard and up, scheduling is on Pro and up, and the QuickBooks integration is on Standard and up.

Pros

• Free plan for up to 5 users
• Paid plans start low, with no base fee

Cons

• Free plan has no kiosk, time off, scheduling, or GPS
• Owners and admins count as paid seats

Pricing

Free for up to 5 users. Paid plans start at $3.99 per user per month, billed annually, with no base fee. View Clockify’s current pricing.

9. ClockShark – Best for construction and field crews

A foreman can clock in a whole crew with Crew Clock. The mobile app GPS-stamps each punch. Web clock-in is there too. GPS is recorded on each punch and every 10 to 15 minutes while clocked in, and geofence reminders prompt crews to clock in and out at job sites.

ClockShark works offline. Clock-ins, breaks, and GPS sync when the phone reconnects. Scheduling is built in. Time off tracking is on the Pro plan only. Payroll integrations include QuickBooks, ADP, Gusto, and Paychex.

Pros

• Works offline, with GPS on each punch
• Crew Clock lets a foreman clock in a whole crew

Cons

• No free plan, and its pricing page says a three-year contract term applies to all plans
• Time off tracking on the Pro plan only

Pricing

View ClockShark’s current pricing.

10. 7shifts – Best for restaurants

Only scheduled team members can clock in. Staff use the 7punches app on a shared tablet or phone at the restaurant, or on their own phones with mobile punch, which may require a higher plan. Optional geofencing and an optional photo at clock in and out help stop one employee clocking in for another.

Scheduling is its core product. You can use 7shifts Payroll or keep your current payroll provider.

Pros

• Only scheduled team members can clock in
• Scheduling as the core product, with a free trial and no credit card

Cons

• Built for restaurants, so a weaker fit for other businesses
• Clocking in on employees’ own phones may require a higher plan

Pricing

View 7shifts’ current pricing.

Other apps we looked at

• Workyard is built for construction crews. See our list of the best construction time card apps.
• OnTheClock is another simple online time clock. See our comparison of OnTheClock alternatives.
• Apps that track billable project hours, such as freelancer and agency timers, are in our list of the best employee time tracking apps.

How to choose the right clock in and clock out app

• List your must-haves. Decide whether you need GPS, geofencing that blocks punches, a shared kiosk, offline clock-in, scheduling, time off, and a payroll connection. Then keep only the apps that include them on the plan you would buy.
• Price it for your team. Add up per-user fees, base fees (Buddy Punch $19 a month, QuickBooks Time from $20 a month), per-location pricing (Homebase from $30 per location), and minimums (Deputy $30 a month).
• Try it on a real shift. Start a free trial with a few employees so you can see how punches, kiosks, and GPS work before you roll it out.

Match the app to how and where your hourly staff work. Then confirm the plan and price on the app’s own site before you sign up.

Frequently asked questions

What is a clock in and clock out app?

Software that records when hourly employees start work, take breaks, and finish. That’s a clock in and clock out app. Managers use those times for payroll, overtime, and attendance. Staff usually clock in on a phone app, a web browser, or a shared tablet kiosk.

Is there a free clock in and clock out app?

Yes. Connecteam is free for up to 10 users with all features, and Homebase is free for one location and up to 10 employees. Clockify is free for up to five users with unlimited time tracking and projects, but no kiosk, time off, scheduling, or GPS. Jibble has a free forever plan with unlimited users that includes mobile and web clock-ins, basic timesheets, and a kiosk.

How do I stop employees from clocking in when they aren’t at work?

Use geofencing, GPS, photos, PINs, QR codes, or facial recognition, depending on the app and plan. Geofencing can block or flag a punch from outside a set area. Photos or face checks on a kiosk help stop one person clocking in for another. In Buddy Punch, geofences that block outside punches are on the Pro and Advanced plans.

Can employees clock in without an internet connection?

Some apps allow it. Buddy Punch has offline mode in its mobile app on Pro and Advanced. ClockShark works offline. Homebase says its time clock keeps working if the internet goes down. Connecteam can’t clock in or out without internet. Jibble and Deputy list an offline mode, so check the plan.

Can employees clock in on a shared tablet?

Yes. Shared tablet kiosks or terminals are available in Buddy Punch (Pro and Advanced, with a PIN or QR code), Connecteam, Homebase, Jibble, QuickBooks Time, Deputy, Clockify (paid plans), When I Work (time clock terminal), and 7shifts.

How much does a clock in and clock out app cost?

Connecteam, Homebase, Clockify, and Jibble have free plans with limits. Paid per-user prices in this guide run from $2.50 to about $13 per user per month. Watch for base fees (Buddy Punch $19, QuickBooks Time from $20), per-location pricing (Homebase from $30 per location), and minimums (Deputy $30 a month).

Which clock in and clock out app is best for a small business?

Team size, number of locations, and if you need a free plan, a kiosk, GPS, offline punches, or a payroll connection all factor in. Buddy Punch fits hourly employees who work in more than one place. Connecteam and Homebase fit teams of 10 or fewer that want a free plan. Jibble fits any size that wants free clock-ins with no user limit. QuickBooks Time fits businesses already on QuickBooks Online.