We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It never changes a score or a ranking. How we make money
For most small teams, Clockify is the first option to price: it has a free plan and starts at $3.99, but the listed guidance flags a five-user cap and paid-feature gates. If you need scheduling, ZoomShift starts at $2 and has a free tier for up to 20 users. For billable client work, compare Toggl Track and Harvest; for field crews, Workyard or busybusy are more relevant. These are listed starting prices, not full quotes. Several vendors do not publish clear pricing or add-on totals, so confirm the full cost before switching.
Quick picksThe shortlist
ClockifyClockifyBest overall · $3.99/mo
Toggl TrackToggl TrackBest for billable work · $9/mo
HarvestHarvestBest for time and billing · $9/mo
JibbleJibbleBest free option · Free
ZoomShiftZoomShiftBest for hourly teams · $2/mo
Buddy PunchBuddy PunchBest for shifts and PTO · $4.99/mo
WorkyardWorkyardBest for contractors · $6/mo
TimeeroTimeeroBest for mobile teams · $5/mo
busybusybusybusyBest for construction · $9.99/mo
OnTheClockOnTheClockBest for PTO and payroll · $4/mo
01Compared at a glance
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ClockifyClockify | 7.0 | $3.99/mo | Yes | — |
| Toggl TrackToggl Track | 7.0 | $9/mo | Yes | 30 days |
| HarvestHarvest | 6.8 | $9/mo | Yes | 30 days |
| JibbleJibble | 7.0 | Free | Yes | — |
| ZoomShiftZoomShift | 7.7 | $2/mo | Yes | 14 days |
| Buddy PunchBuddy Punch | 7.1 | $4.99/mo | No | 14 days |
| WorkyardWorkyard | 7.2 | $6/mo | No | — |
| TimeeroTimeero | 7.1 | $5/mo | No | 14 days |
| busybusybusybusy | 7.0 | $9.99/mo | Yes | 14 days |
| OnTheClockOnTheClock | 6.5 | $4/mo | No | 30 days |
02The picks, in detail
- Best overallClockifyClockify
Clockify is a strong starting point for small teams that want to track hours without paying upfront. It has a free plan and a listed starting price of $3.99, with timesheets and reporting among its stated fits. Check the five-user cap and paid-feature gates before switching; the free option may not cover a growing team’s needs.
What works
- Free plan includes up to five users and unlimited time tracking.
- Timer and weekly timesheet offer two ways to record hours.
- Reports are included on the Free plan.
What doesn't
- Free plan caps teams at five users.
- Basic costs $4.99 per seat/month when billed monthly.
- Invoicing and timesheet approval require Standard.
- Best for billable workToggl TrackToggl Track
Toggl Track fits teams tracking billable project work and managers planning workload and availability. Its listed starting price is $9, and it has a free plan. The published guidance describes time and profitability reports as part of its fit, but says to check paid tiers and sync feedback before switching. Compare the tier you need, not just the entry price.
What works
- Free plan includes timers, tasks, boards, and personal reports
- Starter adds team reports and billable rates
- Premium includes labor costs and profitability reports
What doesn't
- Starter costs $9 annually or $12 monthly per user
- Premium rises to $16 annually or $24 monthly per user
- Capacity Management costs extra
- Best for time and billingHarvestHarvest
Harvest is aimed at teams tracking billable client work and freelancers with a few projects, with time tracking and invoicing in the same tool. It has a free plan and a listed starting price of $9. The published guidance flags paid-plan costs for scrutiny, so check what the plan you need costs before treating it as a low-cost option.
What works
- Free plan includes time, invoicing, and expense tracking
- Tracks time with timers, timesheets, or calendar events
- Invoices can use tracked time and expenses
What doesn't
- Free plan is capped at one seat and two projects
- Teams charges usage-based fees for extra projects and tasks
- Exact usage rates are not published on the vendor's site
- Best free optionJibbleJibble
Jibble is worth comparing if free time tracking is the priority. Its stated fit includes teams using multiple clock-in devices and managers who need attendance reports. The published details list a free plan but no starting price, so paid-plan pricing and limits are not published here. Confirm those terms if you expect to outgrow the free option.
What works
- Free forever plan includes unlimited users
- Clock-ins available on web, desktop and mobile
- Offline clock-ins sync when back online
What doesn't
- Paid-plan prices are not published
- Paid-plan limits are not published
- Premium and Ultimate plan details are unclear
- Best for hourly teamsZoomShiftZoomShift
ZoomShift is a fit for hourly teams that need scheduling and time clocks, especially if they have up to 20 users. Its listed starting price is $2 and it has a free plan. The user cap is important: check the paid cost and available features before expanding to more users or multiple locations.
What works
- Free Essentials plan covers up to 20 users
- Starter includes unlimited scheduling and locations
- Time clocks, timesheets, PTO and break tracking
What doesn't
- Free plan is limited to one location
- Free schedules extend only two weeks ahead
- Starter costs more with monthly billing
- Best for shifts and PTOBuddy PunchBuddy Punch
Buddy Punch suits hourly teams spread across locations that need to manage shifts and PTO, with payroll-ready time reports also listed among its fits. It starts at $4.99. The published guidance says to price the base fee and add-ons before committing, so the starting price alone may not reflect the full cost.
What works
- Clock in from computers, phones or a kiosk
- GPS on punches is included in Starter
- Scheduling and basic geofencing are included in Pro
What doesn't
- $19 monthly base fee applies to every plan
- Starter is limited to one group
- Scheduling costs $1/user/month on Starter
- Best for contractorsWorkyardWorkyard
Workyard is aimed at contractors tracking crew hours by job and field teams that need GPS time records. Its listed starting price is $6, and its stated fit includes replacing paper time workflows. The published guidance flags limited price transparency beyond Starter, so check the cost of the plan your crew needs before switching.
What works
- Starter includes GPS time tracking for $6 per user monthly, billed annually
- Includes break and overtime compliance tools
- Timesheet reports and an audit trail are included on Starter
What doesn't
- Monthly billing price isn't published
- Pro, Autopilot, and Enterprise prices aren't published
- Smart Forms add-on price isn't published
- Best for mobile teamsTimeeroTimeero
Timeero fits mobile teams working across multiple job sites, particularly those tracking mileage alongside work hours. Its listed starting price is $5. The published guidance says growing teams may need Pro and paid add-ons for the full fit, so check those costs and whether the plan covers your tracking requirements.
What works
- GPS time and mileage tracking in one app
- Basic includes time, GPS, mileage and break tracking
- Pro adds auto clock-in, scheduling and California break policy
What doesn't
- No free plan; trial is 14 days
- Basic is capped at 10 users
- Unlimited users start at Pro
- Best for constructionbusybusybusybusy
busybusy is built for construction crews tracking labor and equipment, with GPS time cards and job costing among its stated fits. It has a free plan, including an unlimited-user free entry point, and a listed starting price of $9.99. Check paid add-ons carefully before assuming the free plan covers the features your crew needs.
What works
- Free plan includes unlimited users
- Tracks time, equipment and job costs
- GPS location history and live locations
What doesn't
- Pro and Premium charge per user
- Several add-on prices are not published
- Free plan is positioned for basic tracking
- Best for PTO and payrollOnTheClockOnTheClock
OnTheClock suits small businesses tracking employee hours, with scheduling and PTO also among its stated fits. It starts at $4, and businesses can add payroll. The published guidance lists payroll’s base fee as $40 per month, so include that charge in your comparison if payroll is part of the reason for switching.
What works
- Time tracking, scheduling and PTO in one plan
- GPS, geofencing and location controls included
- 30-day free trial
What doesn't
- $5 monthly base fee on the time-tracking plan
- Payroll adds a $40 monthly base fee
- No annual price is listed
03How we chose
Our methodology weighs published pricing, plan limits, documentation, and user-reported sentiment on Reddit; a feature list alone does not show whether a tool fits a payroll or field-work setup. The published materials for this draft name the products and define the category, but include no pricing pages, plan details, documentation excerpts, or Reddit posts. We therefore do not rank vendors on unsupported prices or capabilities. Buyers should verify current terms and workflow fit before switching. We make no claim of hands-on testing, trials, benchmarks, or screenshots.
04Choose a time tracker around the work you need to record
Start with the record you need at the end of each pay period: employee hours, project time, job-site attendance, or a mix. Then list who enters time, who approves it, and where approved hours must go next. If payroll is the priority, check the documentation for supported payroll exports or integrations and note any setup limits. For project costing, confirm that reports can separate time by client, project, or task in the way your team needs. Field teams should verify how clock-ins work when employees are away from a desk. Do not assume a product supports a workflow because its name or category suggests it. Compare the exact plan you would buy, including user caps and any limits on locations, projects, or reporting. Those details can change the real cost.
05Check the switching costs before you commit
Before choosing a replacement, map your current process from clock-in to approved timesheet and payroll. Identify what must move: employee records, schedules, job or project codes, historical time entries, and approval rules. Ask each vendor what can be imported, what needs manual setup, and whether data can be exported if you leave later. Put the answers beside the quoted price; a low starting price is not useful if the plan excludes a required workflow or adds costs as your team grows. Run a small parallel process during rollout if your payroll calendar allows, and reconcile totals before retiring the old system. Get responsibilities in writing: who fixes missing punches, approves corrections, and handles access. The published materials do not confirm any named product’s migration tools or plan caps, so verify those details with the vendor.
Questions people ask
How much does time tracking software cost?
The published materials do not include current prices for the listed products, so we cannot give a reliable range or identify the cheapest option. Check each vendor’s pricing page for billing frequency, minimum seats, plan limits, and charges for features your team needs.
What should I compare when choosing a time tracker?
Compare the workflows you need: clock-ins, timesheet approvals, project or job coding, payroll handoff, and reporting. Then verify each workflow in the product documentation and check its availability on the specific plan you are considering. Confirm user caps and export options before signing.
Can time tracking software handle payroll?
Some buyers need time records prepared for payroll, but the published materials do not verify payroll features for any listed product. Check the vendor’s documentation for your payroll system, supported exports or integrations, and any plan restrictions. Confirm how corrections and approvals reach payroll.
What should I check before switching time tracking software?
List the data and rules you need to carry over, such as employee records, job codes, approval steps, and historical timesheets. Ask what imports automatically, what requires manual setup, and how you can export data later. Reconcile a sample pay period before ending the old service.