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Most buyers should pick Buddy Punch.
Choose When I Work for cheaper scheduling-first teams: its Essentials plan starts at $2.50/user/month and includes scheduling and messaging. Choose Buddy Punch if you need time, attendance, PTO and payroll-oriented reporting in one system; its plans start at $4.99/user/month billed annually, but add a $19 monthly base fee and some features cost extra. Neither has a free plan; both list a 14-day trial. When I Work’s time tracking is a separately priced add-on, and its price is not published.
01Side by side
| Buddy Punch | When I Work | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | From $4.99/user/month annually | From $2.50/user/month; time tracking costs extra |
| Free plan | No; 14-day trial | No; 14-day trial |
| Best for | Time, attendance, PTO and payroll support | Hourly teams prioritizing scheduling and messaging |
| Core strength | Clocking, GPS, PTO and payroll reports | Scheduling, messaging and labor planning |
| Learning curve | Ease-of-use score: 7/10 | Ease-of-use score: 6.5/10 |
| Integrations/data | Payroll integrations and formatted reports | API and webhooks on Premium |
| Team/seat costs | $4.99–$12.99/user annually + $19 monthly base | $2.50–$8/user monthly; time tracking price unpublished |
| Support | Review score: 5/10 | Review score: 5/10 |
Buddy Punch Choose Buddy Punch if
- Choose Buddy Punch if time tracking and attendance are core requirements.
- Choose Buddy Punch if you need PTO tracking alongside time records.
- Choose Buddy Punch if payroll reports or integrations matter.
When I Work Choose When I Work if
- Choose When I Work if scheduling and messaging are your priorities.
- Choose When I Work if its lower entry price fits your budget.
- Choose When I Work if Premium API access or webhooks are useful.
02Pricing compared
When I Work is cheaper to start: Essentials is $2.50 per user per month and includes scheduling and team messaging. Pro is $5, and Premium is $8. Enterprise pricing is custom. Annual billing is offered, but annual prices are not published. Time Tracking & Attendance is a separately priced add-on, and its price is not published.
Buddy Punch’s annual rates are $4.99, $6.99, and $12.99 per user per month for Starter, Pro, and Advanced; monthly rates are $5.99, $7.99, and $13.99. Each plan also has a $19 monthly base fee. Scheduling costs $1 per user per month on Starter, while Real-Time GPS and Advanced Reporting cost extra unless you choose Advanced. Both products have a 14-day trial and no free plan. Compare the total with add-ons before choosing.
03Features and depth
When I Work is the more scheduling-led option. Its Essentials plan includes auto scheduling, multi-week and multi-location schedules, templates, and team messaging. Pro adds scheduling rules, role permissions, custom reporting, and time-zone controls; Premium adds API keys, webhooks, and SAML/SSO. Its time tracking and attendance are a separate add-on, with pricing not published. The feature set also includes shift swaps, time-off requests, GPS clock-ins, and labor forecasting.
Buddy Punch combines time tracking, attendance, schedules, and PTO tracking, with timesheets and payroll reporting. Starter includes GPS on punches and time-off tracking. Pro adds scheduling, offline mode, and basic geofencing; Advanced includes Real-Time GPS and Advanced Reporting. Scheduling can be added to Starter for $1 per user per month. Buddy Punch also lists payroll integrations and a built-in payroll service, priced at $8 per user plus a $49 monthly base fee. If payroll-oriented reporting matters, Buddy Punch has the clearer fit; if shift planning and messaging come first, When I Work does.
04Ease of use and learning curve
Our review scores put Buddy Punch slightly ahead on ease of use: 7 out of 10 versus 6.5 for When I Work. That is a narrow difference, not proof that either product will be easier for your team.
The practical distinction is what you need to configure. Buddy Punch offers time, PTO, scheduling, geofencing, and payroll-related options, with some controls and reporting reserved for higher plans or paid add-ons. When I Work centers its workflow on schedules, shift changes, and messaging; adding time tracking means checking the separate add-on and its unpublished price. List your must-haves first, then confirm the plan covers them before migrating employee records or schedules.
Questions people ask
What is the best time card app?
It depends on whether you need a time clock alone or scheduling too. Buddy Punch combines time tracking, attendance, PTO, and payroll-oriented reporting, but its plans have a $19 monthly base fee. When I Work is cheaper for scheduling and messaging, while time tracking is a separately priced add-on.
Is it clock in or punch in?
Both phrases refer to recording the start of a work shift. Buddy Punch uses clock-in and clock-out language in its product description, and its plan details refer to GPS on punches. For a policy or interface, use the wording employees already understand and apply it consistently.
Can Buddy Punch track your location?
Yes. Buddy Punch lists GPS on punches in Starter and basic geofencing in Pro. Real-Time GPS is included with Advanced or available as a $2-per-user-per-month add-on. Its product description says location tracking applies while employees are on the clock; geofencing can prevent offsite punching.
Is When I Work app legit?
When I Work is described as workforce management software for hourly teams, with scheduling, team messaging, and a separately priced time-tracking add-on. The available product and pricing details do not establish security, reliability, or legal compliance, so confirm those requirements directly with the vendor before adopting it.