Top 5 Options of Time Tracking Software Mac [Comparison Post]
In today’s fast-paced work environment, tracking time efficiently and accurately is more important than ever.
According to a survey conducted during the peak of this recession, 61.6% of employees who worked from home admitted to regularly browsing social media during work hours.
With the rise of digital tools and devices, Mac users now have a variety of options available to help them track their work hours and manage their time more effectively.
So, if your employees use Apple devices, it’s recommended to introduce them to the top time tracking software designed specifically for Mac.
These apps not only assist in tracking time spent on work projects but also provide valuable insights into how time is spent throughout the day.
Here is a quick snapshot of the best time tracking apps for Mac:
Let’s explore the top 5 time tracking software for Mac, their features, and how they can benefit businesses of all sizes.
We will also discuss why time tracking is important and how to choose the best time tracking software for Mac.
Why Is Time Tracking Software for Mac Important?
Whether you are a freelancer, a remote worker, or a business owner, time tracking software is essential to help you manage your time more effectively and optimize your workflow.
Here are some reasons why time tracking software for Mac is important:
1. Native Integration With Mac Software
Time tracking software designed specifically for Mac users can integrate with other apps, providing a seamless and efficient experience.
This makes tracking time and managing workflow easier without switching between different applications.
2. Improved Project Management
Time tracking software can help you manage unlimited projects with unlimited users more effectively by giving a clear overview of your time on each task.
This can help you prioritize tasks (i.e., task management), delegate work, and ensure you are on track to meet your deadlines.
3. Synchronization Across Devices
Many time tracking apps for Mac allow users to sync their time tracking data across devices, including iPhones and iPads.
This means that users can track their time on the go and access their data from any device.
4. Increased Accountability
Time tracking software can also help you stay accountable to yourself and your team.
By tracking your time, you can see how much work you are getting done and hold yourself accountable for meeting your goals.
5. Accurate Billing
If you are a freelancer or a consultant, accurate billing is crucial.
Time tracking software designed for Macs can help you track your billable hours and generate invoices, ensuring you are paid for your work.
Time Tracking For Mac | Top 5 Picks
Time tracking software is a valuable tool for anyone who wants to manage their time more effectively, and many options are available for Mac users.
Here are the top 5 time tracking software for Mac:
1. Buddy Punch
Buddy Punch is an excellent time tracking software that is specifically designed for Mac users.
It is a cloud-based software that allows employees to easily clock in and out of work, track their hours, and request time off.
This time clock software is intuitive and easy to navigate, making it simple for employees and managers.
Employees can punch in and out with just a few clicks, and managers can quickly view their team’s timesheets and make any necessary adjustments.
In the last 10-year journey since then, Buddy Punch has focused on the three critical aspects to ensure the best possible results for business owners.
- Employee Accountability: The primary objective was to improve employees’ ability to manage their time during work hours to boost productivity. Buddy Punch has a variety of features, including GPS Tracking, Geofencing, and Job Codes, which empower managers to maintain oversight, even when dealing with remote employees.
- Design Simplicity: Buddy Punch always focuses on making its platform and features as simple as possible, so it can be as flexible as required. With features such as One-Button Clocks Ins, Notifications, and Punch Rounding, anyone can use Buddy Punch regardless of their device (Mac, iPhone, iPad, etc.).
- Payroll Streaming: While precise timesheets are crucial, transferring data can be a hassle. With Buddy Punch, the payroll process is streamlined through seamless integrations, on-demand payroll reports, and automated time (overtime) calculations.
Try Buddy Punch For Free
| Note: If you’d rather get a hands-on feel for Buddy Punch, you can start a 14-day trial by signing up here. |
| Buddy Punch | Technical Details |
| Customer Type | Small Business Medium Business Large Enterprises |
| Deployment | Cloud-based |
| Support | Email Phone Chat FAQ |
| Devices Supported | Windows Android iPhone/iPad Mac Web-based |
Now, let’s go into how Buddy Punch’s features will help with your Mac time tracking.
Features of Buddy Punch
Buddy Punch is a powerful time tracking software that offers a range of features to help businesses manage their employees’ time and attendance.
Some of the key features of Buddy Punch include:
1. GPS Tracking
Buddy Punch’s GPS tracking is the perfect feature to ensure your remote workers stay on top of their work.
This feature lets managers track where employees are when they’re offsite. When a team member clocks in, their GPS location is marked on an interactive map.
You can view those GPS clock-ins individually or all together to get a visual overview of your team members’ locations.
2. Geofencing
Buddy Punch offers Geofencing, which is a set-and-forget feature that can improve employee accountability without your constant oversight.
It allows managers to set up virtual boundaries around a specific job location.
This ensures employees can only clock in or out when physically present within the defined area. If they attempt to record time outside a Geofence, they’ll receive an error notification and be denied.
Additionally, this feature is handy for businesses with remote workers, as it enables managers to keep track of their employees’ whereabouts and manage their time efficiently.
3. Job Codes
The Job Codes features, also known as Department Codes or Project Codes, let your employees track how much time they spend on specific jobs or working for specific companies throughout the workday.
With the Job Codes feature, managers can easily assign specific tasks to employees and monitor their progress in real-time.
This feature also simplifies the invoicing process, as managers can generate reports based on the Job Codes to bill clients accurately.
4. One Button Clock-In
Buddy Punch’s One Button Clock-in feature allows employees to easily clock in and out of work with just a single click.
This one-click feature is ideal for businesses with a large number of employees, as it streamlines the clocking-in process and reduces the likelihood of misunderstandings and errors.
Additionally, One Button Clock-In saves time for both managers and employees, enabling them to focus on more critical tasks.
5. Notifications
Buddy Punch also offers a notifications feature that brings simplicity to your workday as well as your employees.
It enables managers and employees to receive alerts and reminders regarding important events, such as shift changes, overtime limits, time card approval status changes, PTO changes, clock-ins and out, and missed punches.
These notification features can be customized based on user preferences, ensuring they receive only the most relevant information.
This feature will let entire teams focus on their work, knowing they’ll be notified if something needs their attention.
Each type of notification can be enabled or disabled.
6. Punch Rounding
Buddy Punch’s Punch Rounding feature allows you to round punches automatically to ensure accuracy.
You can round punches up, down, or to the nearest predetermined interval from 2 to 30 minutes.
This feature is most relevant to companies with many employees clocking in through the same device, such as if you set up Buddy Punch as a terminal or kiosk.
Punch Rounding helps minimize errors and discrepancies in employee timesheets, ensuring accurate payment for hours worked.
7. Payroll Integrations
Buddy Punch offers a Payroll Integration feature that seamlessly integrates with many of the most popular payroll software, making handling your billable hours, invoicing, and payments easy.
Some of the most popular payroll software include Zapier, QuickBooks, ADP, and more – click here to view the comprehensive list.
This eliminates the need for manual data entry and ensures that employee time entries and attendance information is accurately transferred to the payroll system.
8. Payroll Reports on Demand
Buddy Punch has numerous reporting features and options for business owners to review the data collected on their employees and their productivity.
The Payroll Reports feature includes employees’ names, hours, overtime, locations, calculations, accrued time off, and department.
This feature eliminates the need for manual data collection and report generation, allowing managers to quickly and easily generate the reports they need.
You can also review previous pay periods, showing trends and direction over time.
This information can be exported into Excel CSV or Adobe PDF format – another way digital time tracking beats manual time tracking.
9. Overtime Calculations
If you want to ensure you’re accurately calculating the hourly rates of your employees, Buddy Punch’s OT Calculations feature can help you manage those pesky and expensive overtime hours.
Choose from a dozen built-in overtime types, or reach out to the Buddy Punch team to add a specific version you need.
This also ensures that businesses comply with labor laws and regulations while simplifying the payroll process.
9. PTO Management
Buddy Punch offers a PTO Management feature that enables managers to easily manage and track employee time off, including vacation time, sick leave, and other types of paid time off.
This feature offers employees with transparency and control over their PTO usage, letting them request time off, view their remaining balance and monitor their PTO history.
It also streamlines the approval process for PTO requests, reducing the workload for managers and ensuring that employees receive timely responses.
10. Webcam Photos on Punch
Buddy Punch’s Webcam feature allows businesses to ensure accurate employee time tracking and deter time theft by capturing webcam photos of employees during clock-in and clock-out.
It provides visual proof of employee attendance and ensures that employees are physically present at their place of work when clocking in.
It also prevents buddy punching, where one employee clocks in on behalf of another, reducing the risk of payroll fraud and increasing payroll accuracy.
11. Time Card Approvals
The Time Card Approval feature allows managers to review and approve employee time cards before processing payroll.
This provides an added layer of oversight and control, ensuring employee timesheets are accurate and compliant with company policies and labor laws.
It also enables managers to quickly identify and resolve discrepancies or errors in employee time cards, reducing the risk of payroll mistakes and resulting in more accurate employee payments.
12. Multiple Punch and Login Options
Buddy Punch allows businesses to offer their workforce a range of convenient punch and login options.
It offers multiple options for employees to clock in and out, including web-based punching, mobile punching via the desktop app, mobile app, chrome extension, a unique PIN, facial recognition, biometric fingerprint, and physical time clocks that integrate smoothly with the software.
| Buddy Punch offers out-of-app benefits to consider as well: ● Buddy Punch has a Blog Section that is constantly updated with new information on business management. ● Its Help Doc center has articles that detail how to get the most out of Buddy Punch usage. ● Buddy Punch’s Customer Support is always available to answer questions via live chat. Speaking to customer support, they can also guide you through a one-on-one personalized demo of Buddy Punch if you are ready to dive even further. Book Your Guided Demo Here. |
| Pros | Cons |
| ● Easy to understand ● Multiple clock-in and out options ● Simple interface ● A standalone solution that is affordable | ● Didn’t find any |
Try Buddy Punch for Free
Ready to start a free trial?
No credit card required, all features included.
If you feel that Buddy Punch might be the time tracking app for Mac your business needs, you can sign up for a free trial, and if you feel like it’s adding value to your business’s workflow, you can opt for the paid plans.
You can also book a one-on-one demo or view a pre-recorded demo video. If you like what you see, you can download the Buddy Punch’s Mac app via your app store or use the web app.
2. Harvest
Harvest is a powerful and intuitive time tracking tool for Mac users that simplifies the process of logging billable hours, tracking projects, and managing invoices.
It is designed to help users streamline their workflow, increase productivity, and improve their bottom line.
This software is also customizable, allowing users to create their own categories and tags to track time in the best way.
With Harvest, users can track time on specific projects, tasks, or clients and easily switch between them as needed. This is particularly useful for professionals who work on multiple projects simultaneously and need to track their time accurately.
Harvest integrates with popular project management tools like Asana, Trello, and Basecamp, making tracking time on specific tasks and projects easy.
It also integrates with accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero, simplifying the process of generating invoices and tracking payments.
| Harvest | Technical Details |
| Customer Type | Small Business Medium Business Large Enterprises Freelancers |
| Deployment | Cloud-based |
| Support | Email Chat |
| Devices Supported | Windows Android iPhone/iPad Mac Web-based |
Harvest is an easy-to-use time tracker that comes with a variety of features, including:
- Time Tracking
- Reports & Analysis
- Invoicing & Payments
- Integrations (Slack, Dropbox, PayPal, etc.)
- Chrome Extension for Menu Bars
Harvest also includes an extremely limited free plan if you work with a very small team.
| Pros | Cons |
| ● Simple and flexible app ● Easily team management and scheduling ● Includes invoicing and expensing | ● Lack of sales tax integration ● A bit expensive |
Free Trial
Businesses can take advantage of Harvest’s 30-day free trial period to explore all its features and functionalities before purchasing via their lucrative pricing plans.
3. Clockify
Clockify is a popular time tracking option that is particularly well-suited for Mac users.
With its easy-to-use interface, flexible pricing, and a range of powerful features, Clockify is an excellent choice for any looking to manage their time more efficiently.
This software can be used to track time on specific projects or jobs and for general time management purposes. It can also track billable and non-billable hours, making it ideal for both teams and freelancers.
It offers a variety of integrations with the browser extension. Clockify also provides a Pomodoro timer, idle time detection, and offline mood that are only available for Mac.
Clockify is also highly customizable. Users can create custom categories and tags to track their time in the best way for them.
| Clockify | Technical Details |
| Customer Type | Individuals Freelancers Small Business Medium Business Large Enterprises |
| Deployment | Cloud-based |
| Support | Phone Online |
| Devices Supported | Android iPhone/iPad Mac Web-based Linux |
It offers a wide range of features, and some include:
- Time Tracker
- TimeSheet
- Scheduling
- Invoicing
- Time Off Management
- Pomodoro Timer
- Screenshots
Additionally, Clockify boasts being able to track time on Macs even if users are offline.
| Pros | Cons |
| ● Integrated time management ● Offers team chat features with real-time messaging ● The Pro version includes GPS tracking | ● Does not offer shift scheduling tools ● Lacks integration with payroll providers |
Free Trial
Clockify provides a 7-day free trial period for users to try out its features and determine if it meets their needs before committing to a purchase.
4. Hubstaff
Hubstaff is another popular time tracking software that has gained a following among Mac users.
The software is designed to help businesses increase productivity and streamline workflows by providing a range of features that simplify the process of tracking time, managing projects, and paying employees.
The software uses a range of tools, including GPS tracking and employee monitoring, to track time accurately without requiring manual input.
The software allows managers to track time on specific tasks and projects and provides a range of tools for managing deadlines, assigning tasks, and collaborating with team members.
Hubstaff also offers a range of integrations with other productivity tools, including project management tools like Asana, Trello, and Jira, as well as accounting software like QuickBooks and Xero.
Hubstaff also offers a mobile app for iOS and Android, allowing users to track time on the go.
| Hubstaff | Technical Details |
| Customer Type | Freelancers Small Business Medium Business Large Enterprises |
| Deployment | Cloud-based |
| Support | Email Phone Chat FAQ Forum |
| Devices Supported | Windows Android iPhone/iPad Mac Web-based |
Hubstaff is an excellent time tracking software for Mac users, offering a range of features. Some of them include:
- Online Time Reporting
- Employee Productivity Monitoring
- Employee Scheduling
- Automated Payroll & Invoicing
- GPS Location Tracking
| Pros | Cons |
| ● Perfect screenshot and keystroke capturing and monitoring ● Excellent tracking features for remote workers ● Easy to schedule shifts ● Geolocation ● Helps businesses stay within budget | ● Mobile apps can be hard to use ● Reporting issues ● Lacks flexibility |
Free Trial
Like Buddy Punch, you can try Hubstaff through their 14-day free trial, with no credit card required.
5. Timeular
Timeular is a time tracking application for Mac that promotes a more rewarding work life.
With Timeular, you can set goals and track your progress toward achieving them. This is especially helpful for people who want to improve their productivity and efficiency at work.
Once time is tracked using the Timeular Tracker, it is automatically synced with the Timeular app on the user’s Mac computer.
This software provides a detailed breakdown of time spent across different activities or projects, allowing users to identify areas where they may be wasting time or could be more productive.
This data can also be exported to other tools, such as spreadsheets or project management software, making it easy to integrate with other workflows.
| Timeular | Technical Details |
| Customer Type | Freelancers Small Business Medium Business Large Enterprises |
| Deployment | Cloud-based |
| Support | Phone Chat Knowledge Base |
| Devices Supported | Windows Android iPhone/iPad Mac Web-based |
Timeular offers many features to help users track their time, optimize their productivity, and improve their work-life balance. These features include:
- Team Tracking
- Sharable Time Reports
- Keyboard Shortcuts
- Integrations and API
- And More
| Pros | Cons |
| ● Easy to use ● Versatile ● Detailed reporting ● User-friendly interface ● Designed specifically for Mac users | ● Mobile apps can sometimes face some glitches ● A bit expensive |
Free Trial
Timeular offers a 7-day free trial that doesn’t require users to provide any credit card information.
How to Choose The Best Time Tracking Software For Mac? Buying Guide
Choosing the best time tracking software for Mac can be daunting, given the wide variety of available options.
Here are some factors to consider while selecting time tracking software for Mac:
1. Features
The first thing to consider when choosing time tracking software is its features.
Look for software that provides accurate time tracking, detailed reporting, analytics, and customizable tags or categories that help you organize your time.
2. Ease of Use
The software should be intuitive, with a friendly user interface and simple navigation.
The ideal software should have a well-designed and easy-to-use interface with clear instructions and support to help you get started quickly and easily.
3. Compatibility
Look for software that’s designed specifically for Mac and integrates well with other Mac apps and workflows.
Consider whether you need software that can be used on mobile devices as well or whether desktop-based software will suffice.
4. Integration
The software should be able to integrate with other tools and platforms to streamline your workflow.
Consider whether the software can be integrated with your existing project management or team collaboration tools.
5. Mobile Accessibility
Consider whether you need software that can also be used on mobile devices.
If you’re constantly on the go, then it’s essential to have a mobile app that allows you to track time on the move.
6. Security
Ensure that the software provider offers secure access and data protection. The software should have encryption and other security measures in place to protect your data.
7. Reporting
Look for software that offers detailed reporting and analytics to help you gain insights into how you spend your time.
The ideal software should offer visual data representations to help you understand your time better.
8. Customization
The software should allow for customizing tags, categories, and reports. The ability to customize the software to fit your needs is essential to make the most out of your time tracking software.
9. Customer Support
Look for software that provides responsive customer support through online documentation, live chat, or phone support. Good customer support is essential if you run into any issues with the software.
10. Pricing
Consider your budget and look for software with good features, ease of use, and affordability.
Look for software that offers a free trial or a money-back guarantee so that you can test the software before making a decision.
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How Time Tracking Software Work?
There are various methods that are employed by time trackers to provide you with an insight into your productivity and hours worked. The following are the most important ones:
1. Traditional Timer-based Time Tracking Apps
The traditional time tracking app involves a manual approach that requires the user to start and stop timers while working.
While this method allows for a more hands-on experience, it has its downside. One of the challenges is that the user must remember to toggle the timers when switching between tasks, and failing to do so can result in inaccuracies in the timesheets.
This, in turn, can lead to readjustments that may only have a 67% accuracy, which can impact the user’s productivity analysis and project billing.
2. Automatic Time Tracking Apps
These apps utilize intelligent tracking software to generate detailed reports that provide insights into how you spend your working hours or working time.
Automatic time tracking apps run continuously in the background on your Mac, creating a comprehensive digital record of your time spent on activities such as meetings, emails, software tools, websites, and more.
However, it’s essential to remember that automatic time trackers monitor all of your activities and often transmit your data over the internet for analysis.
This can raise concerns about privacy issues and potential violations of company policies.
It’s crucial to read the app’s privacy policy and ensure you’re comfortable with the data being collected and transmitted before using automatic time tracking software.
3. Sample-based Time Tracking Apps
Instead of continuous tracking, some time tracking apps use a randomized sampling method to estimate how you spend your time.
These apps collect a statistically significant number of random samples throughout the day to accurately estimate your productivity.
The frequency of samples can be adjusted to increase accuracy.
This method is optimal as it eliminates the need to toggle timers when switching between tasks, and it does not involve screen monitoring, which can raise privacy concerns.
Finding the Best Time Tracking App for Mac
Even though we have narrowed down the options to select a few MacOS time trackers, there is still some work to be done to determine which ones will work best for your business.
So, it is recommended to take a close look at the feature offered and the overall goal of the developers before you commit.
For instance, if your business heavily uses Slack during office hours, you might find that Buddy Punch’s integration is perfect for you.
If you’re working on a budget and don’t mind having advanced features locked away, Clockify is a great free option as a Mac time tracker.
But, if what you ultimately want is a flexible time tracking tool that’s easy for your team members to use, has plenty of powerful features that can be enabled or disabled at will, and a customer support team that’s ready to support you as you grow, then you really can’t go wrong with Buddy Punch.
Try Buddy Punch for Free
Ready to give Buddy Punch a try?
For free trial, no credit card required.
If you feel that Buddy Punch could be time tracking software for Macs you need, you can sign up for a free trial here.
You can also book a one-on-one demo, or view a pre-recorded demo video.
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