Question 1

What should I look for in a time clock app review before buying?

Accepted Answer

Focus on four criteria that separate payroll-ready tools from basic timers: payroll export format (does the app push approved hours directly into your payroll system or require manual re-entry?), GPS or geofence verification for multi-site teams, offline punch support for job sites with poor connectivity, and the specific fraud-prevention method (biometric, facial recognition, photo capture, or PIN only). Star ratings tell you about the user interface; these four criteria tell you whether the tool will survive a real pay period. See our time clock software evaluation checklist for a full scoring framework.

Question 2

Are third-party time clock app reviews reliable?

Accepted Answer

Reviews on G2 and Capterra are useful starting points, but read them with two biases in mind. First, recency bias: most reviewers post within 90 days of adoption, before they hit edge cases like overtime miscalculations or payroll export failures at scale. Second, role bias: many reviews come from administrators, not from the field workers or payroll staff who experience the tool differently. Cross-reference star ratings with specific complaint patterns, and ask any vendor for case references in your specific industry and environment before committing.

Question 3

What are the most common complaints about time clock software across all vendors?

Accepted Answer

Three complaint categories appear most frequently across G2 and Capterra reviews for time clock apps: missed or lost punches (the app fails to record a clock-in, especially on mobile), buddy punching or identity gaps (one employee clocks in for another because the tool lacks biometric or photo verification), and payroll export errors (approved hours don't map correctly to pay codes, overtime rules, or cost centers in the payroll system). If a vendor's review profile shows clusters in any of these three areas, dig deeper before committing. See buddy punching costs for more on the payroll impact.

Question 4

Is Kronos (UKG) worth it for small to mid-sized shift-based teams?

Accepted Answer

UKG Pro Workforce Management is an enterprise platform typically priced for organizations well above 200 employees. For small to mid-sized shift-based teams, the implementation complexity, contract minimums, and feature depth often exceed what's needed. If your team is under 200 employees and you need fast deployment with payroll integration, lighter-weight tools like EasyClocking by WorkEasy Software, Buddy Punch, or ClockShark are more common fits. See our EasyClocking vs UKG comparison for a detailed breakdown.

Question 5

Is Clockify a reliable app for tracking hourly employee time?

Accepted Answer

Clockify is reliable for basic time logging. Its free tier supports unlimited users, which makes it attractive for teams testing time tracking for the first time. Reliability concerns for hourly shift teams center on its dependence on manual entry (employees type start and stop times rather than punching in with biometric or GPS verification) and the absence of native geofence punch verification on the free plan. If your team needs verified, tamper-resistant time capture that flows into payroll, you will likely outgrow the free tier quickly.

Question 6

What are the pros and cons of Clockify?

Accepted Answer

Pro: the free plan supports unlimited users with basic time logging, project tracking, and reporting. Pro: clean interface with low learning curve. Con: no facial recognition, geofence punch, or biometric verification on the free tier, so there is no built-in protection against buddy punching. Con: advanced features like kiosk mode, GPS tracking, and custom exports require paid plans. For teams that need payroll-ready time capture with fraud prevention, the free tier is a starting point, not a destination.

Question 7

What are the disadvantages of Clockify for shift-based or construction teams?

Accepted Answer

Clockify was designed for project-based time logging, not shift-based field operations. Key disadvantages for construction and shift teams include: no offline punch sync on the free tier (a problem on job sites with dead zones), job-code tracking requires a paid plan, no built-in buddy-punch prevention through biometric or photo capture, and limited automated payroll push compared to purpose-built time and attendance tools. If your crews work across multiple job sites with variable connectivity, evaluate whether Clockify's architecture matches your constraints.

Question 8

Is Clockify worth it for a small business?

Accepted Answer

For basic time logging and project tracking, Clockify's free plan is a reasonable starting point for small businesses. However, businesses that need payroll export, kiosk mode, GPS verification, or job-code tracking will need paid tiers. Before committing, test whether the tool handles your specific payroll workflow: can you export approved hours in the format your payroll system accepts without manual re-entry? If not, the savings from a free plan disappear in payroll cleanup time.

Question 9

Is Clockify any good compared to paid alternatives?

Accepted Answer

Clockify holds strong general ratings on review platforms, and its free tier is hard to beat for simple time logging. Gaps emerge when you compare it to paid alternatives on fraud prevention (no biometric or facial recognition punch), automated payroll push (most paid tools offer direct API integrations with payroll systems), and offline reliability for field teams. If your priority is project-level time visibility, Clockify competes well. If your priority is payroll-ready, identity-verified time capture for hourly crews, paid tools close gaps that Clockify's architecture does not address.

Question 10

Is Buddy Punch a legitimate time clock app?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Buddy Punch is a registered U.S. company founded in 2013 with strong review profiles on Capterra. It offers GPS punch, facial recognition, and payroll integrations with QuickBooks, ADP, Gusto, and Paychex. It is a legitimate, widely used time clock app for small and mid-sized hourly teams. As with any vendor, request a trial or demo to verify it fits your specific payroll workflow and job-site conditions before signing a contract.

Question 11

What are the pros and cons of Buddy Punch?

Accepted Answer

Pro: facial recognition and GPS punch are available as fraud-prevention tools. Pro: native payroll integrations with QuickBooks, ADP, Gusto, and Paychex reduce manual export work. Con: pricing includes a per-user fee plus a monthly base fee, which adds up for larger hourly teams. Con: the platform is app-first, so teams wanting dedicated biometric hardware (fingerprint or facial recognition clocks on a shop floor or job-site trailer) may need to look at hardware-inclusive options like EasyClocking by WorkEasy Software. See our EasyClocking vs Buddy Punch comparison for a side-by-side.

Question 12

Does Buddy Punch integrate with payroll systems?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Buddy Punch integrates natively with QuickBooks, Gusto, Paychex, and ADP. It also supports CSV export for payroll systems without a direct integration. Approved timesheets can be pushed via direct API connection or downloaded as formatted files. Before buying, confirm that your specific payroll platform is supported and test the field mapping (departments, cost codes, overtime rules) to make sure approved hours land correctly without manual cleanup.

Question 13

Is Buddy Punch good for teams with multiple job sites?

Accepted Answer

Buddy Punch supports GPS punch and geofencing on paid plans, which helps verify that employees are clocking in from authorized locations. Job-code tracking is available for multi-site cost allocation. For teams with a handful of job sites and mobile-only clock-in needs, it is a reasonable fit. For teams that also need physical biometric time clocks at fixed locations (warehouses, manufacturing floors, job-site trailers), consider whether an app-only approach covers all your punch points or whether you need hardware and software together.

Question 14

What are the pros and cons of ClockShark for construction teams?

Accepted Answer

Pro: GPS breadcrumb tracking and job-code tracking are built for field crews who move between sites. Pro: kiosk mode allows a shared device at a job trailer for crew clock-ins. Con: no free tier, so even small crews face a monthly base fee plus a per-user fee. Con: ClockShark is app-based without dedicated biometric hardware, so buddy punching prevention relies on photo capture rather than fingerprint or facial recognition at a physical clock. For construction teams evaluating ClockShark against hardware-inclusive alternatives, see our EasyClocking vs ClockShark comparison.

Question 15

What is the best time clock app for construction job sites?

Accepted Answer

There is no single best app for every construction operation. The right choice depends on your crew size, connectivity conditions, payroll system, and whether you need physical clocks at fixed sites or mobile-only punch. ClockShark and EasyClocking by WorkEasy Software are two of the most frequently cited tools in construction contexts. Key differentiators to evaluate: offline punch capability (does the app capture time when cell service drops?), job-code depth (can you allocate hours to specific cost codes and projects?), and payroll integration (does approved time push into your payroll system without re-entry?).

Question 16

Can time clock apps work offline on job sites without reliable cell service?

Accepted Answer

Some can. EasyClocking by WorkEasy Software supports offline punch capture on biometric time clocks that sync when connectivity is restored, which is designed for job sites, warehouses, and other environments with unreliable network access. ClockShark also supports offline mobile punch-in with sync on reconnect. Clockify's offline mode is limited to paid tiers. Before selecting any tool, test the specific offline behavior: does it queue punches locally, preserve GPS data, and sync cleanly without creating duplicate or lost records? Not all apps handle this well.

Question 17

Is QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets) worth the money?

Accepted Answer

QuickBooks Time delivers the most value for teams already running QuickBooks payroll, because approved hours flow directly into the payroll system without export or re-entry. For teams on other payroll platforms (ADP, Paychex, Gusto), the integration advantage disappears and you are paying a premium for a connection you do not use. Evaluate whether the per-user cost is justified by the payroll workflow savings in your specific setup, or whether a less expensive tool with a direct integration to your payroll system delivers the same result.

Question 18

Is Homebase a good app for hourly team scheduling and time tracking?

Accepted Answer

Yes, for single-location small businesses. Homebase's free plan covers one location with unlimited employees, combining scheduling, time tracking, and basic team messaging. For multi-location teams or those needing biometric fraud prevention, the free tier's limitations show quickly. The payroll add-on carries a per-location fee, so costs scale with your footprint. Homebase is strongest as a scheduling-first tool for restaurants, retail, and single-site service businesses; for industrial, construction, or multi-site operations, evaluate whether its time-capture depth and payroll integration match your needs.

Question 19

Is Jibble any good for tracking time across multiple locations?

Accepted Answer

Jibble's free tier supports unlimited users with facial recognition punch-in, which is uncommon at no cost. GPS geofencing is available on paid plans. For small teams testing identity-verified time capture across a few locations, Jibble is worth evaluating. Limitations include a smaller integration ecosystem compared to more established tools and less depth in construction-specific features like job-code tracking and certified payroll support. If your multi-location operation requires hardware time clocks, payroll-system integrations, and offline punch capability, compare Jibble against platforms that bundle hardware and software.

Question 20

What is TimeClock Plus and is it reliable for shift-based teams?

Accepted Answer

TimeClock Plus (TCP) is a time and attendance platform used heavily in healthcare, government, and education. It is reliable for large organizations with complex scheduling and compliance requirements. For small to mid-sized shift-based teams, TCP's implementation complexity and pricing structure may be more than needed. If you are under a few hundred employees and looking for fast deployment with payroll integration, lighter-weight alternatives from vendors like EasyClocking by WorkEasy Software, Buddy Punch, or Homebase are typically faster to deploy and better matched to SMB budgets.

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