The Best Mobile Timesheet Apps for Small Business

Managing time cards shouldn't feel like solving a Rubik's cube blindfolded. If you're still tallying hours on paper calendars or crossing your fingers that you didn't mess up payroll calculations, you're not alone—but you're definitely working too hard.

Mobile timesheet apps turn any smartphone into a time clock, eliminating manual entry errors and giving you back hours each week. Whether you're managing a team of field technicians who clock in from job sites or restaurant staff juggling split shifts, the right app keeps everyone accountable without you having to babysit the process.

This guide breaks down the six best mobile timesheet apps for small businesses, what features actually matter, and how to choose the right one for your team. No more Sunday night spreadsheet panic attacks.

TL;DR: Best mobile timesheet apps for small business

• Homebase – Best all-in-one app combining time tracking, scheduling, payroll, and team messaging. Free plan available for small teams with GPS tracking, photo verification, and automatic overtime calculations.
• QuickBooks Time – Best for businesses already using QuickBooks accounting. Strong job costing features but requires paid subscription (around $20/month base + $8/user).
• actiTIME – Best for project-based tracking with detailed client billing and budget management. Starts at $6/user/month (billed yearly for 41-200 users).
• Timely – Best for passive time tracking that runs in the background without manual clock-ins. Ideal for knowledge workers starting around $8/user/month.
• Tick – Best for budget-conscious teams needing basic time tracking with project budget awareness. Check their site for current pricing.
• Time Doctor – Best for remote teams needing productivity monitoring alongside time tracking. Includes screenshots and activity tracking starting around $7/user/month.
• Bottom line: Most small businesses with hourly teams get the most value from Homebase because it combines time tracking with scheduling and payroll in one free app, eliminating the need to juggle multiple tools.

What is a mobile timesheet app?

A mobile timesheet app lets your team clock in and out using their smartphones instead of paper time cards or punch clocks. Think of it as a digital time clock that fits in everyone's pocket.

These apps track when employees start and end their shifts, log breaks, calculate hours worked, and where supported, export or integrate that data with payroll systems. No more deciphering messy handwriting or manually adding up hours on a calculator.

For hourly teams—especially those working in the field, across multiple locations, or with irregular schedules—mobile timesheet apps solve the "where did those two hours go?" mystery that hits every pay period. Your landscaping crew can clock in from the job site. Your retail team can track their hours from a shared tablet. Your restaurant staff can log tip amounts right from their phones.

The best part? You get real-time visibility into who's working, where they are, and what it's costing you—all without being physically present.

Key features to look for in a mobile timesheet app

Not all timesheet apps are created equal. Some are glorified calculators while others actually solve real problems. Here's what matters when you're evaluating options:

• Clock in/out with security features. Your app should offer unique employee PINs and photo verification to prevent buddy punching. Photo verification at clock-in adds another layer of accountability—you'll know exactly who clocked in and when.
• GPS tracking and geofencing. For field teams or multi-location businesses, GPS-enabled clock-ins show you where employees are when they start their shifts. Geofencing lets you set boundaries so staff can only clock in when they're actually at the work site.
• Automatic break and overtime tracking. The app should handle the math for you when configured—calculating regular hours, overtime, and breaks based on your configured rules. No more "dividing by 60" after an exhausting week.
• Mobile-first design. Your team needs an app that's actually easy to use on a phone screen, not a desktop interface crammed onto mobile. If you have field teams with limited connectivity, verify whether the app supports offline clock-in.
• Payroll system integration. Look for direct connections to QuickBooks, Gusto, or built-in payroll processing. One-click exports beat copy-pasting timesheet data any day of the week.
• Free plan or trial period. You shouldn't have to commit to a paid plan before seeing if the app works for your team. The best options offer robust free tiers or genuine trial periods.
• Compliance support. Federal, state, and city labor laws vary wildly. Your app should help you track hours, breaks, and overtime to support compliance with record-keeping regulations.

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The 6 best mobile timesheet apps for small business

1. Homebase: Best for all-in-one team management

Homebase combines time tracking with scheduling, payroll, team messaging, and HR tools in one mobile-first app. Your team clocks in using their phones with PIN or photo verification, and you get GPS location confirmation for field workers or multi-location teams.

The app automatically calculates hours, breaks, and overtime based on your configured rules. Alerts for missed clock-ins help reduce forgotten punches from affecting your payroll.

Time data flows directly into Homebase payroll or exports to QuickBooks and Gusto with one click. Your team can view their hours and earnings from their phones, which means fewer "when did I work last Tuesday?" interruptions.

• Best for: Small businesses with hourly teams who want time tracking, scheduling, and payroll in one place. Works especially well for restaurants, retail shops, medical offices, and service businesses juggling multiple roles and locations.
• Pricing: Free plan available for small teams; paid plans start at $20 per location/month. Check their site for current employee limits and features.

2. QuickBooks Time: Best for QuickBooks users

QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets) offers seamless integration with QuickBooks accounting software. The mobile app includes GPS tracking, geofencing, and photo verification at clock-in.

Employees can clock in from their phones, tablets, or computers. The app tracks time by job, project, or customer, which helps service businesses allocate labor costs accurately.

• Best for: Businesses already using QuickBooks who need detailed job costing and project tracking alongside basic time tracking.
• Pricing: Around $20/month base fee + $8 per user/month on the Premium plan (verify current pricing on their site).

3. actiTIME: Best for project tracking

actiTIME focuses on project-based time tracking with detailed reporting capabilities. The mobile app lets employees log hours against specific projects, tasks, and clients.

The interface emphasizes timesheet accuracy and project budgeting. You can track billable versus non-billable hours and generate client invoices based on tracked time.

• Best for: Consulting firms, agencies, and professional services businesses that bill clients by the hour and need detailed project reporting.
• Pricing: Starts at $6/user per month (billed yearly for 41-200 users); smaller teams may have different rates. Check their pricing page for your team size.

4. Timely: Best for passive time tracking

Timely automatically tracks how employees spend their time without requiring manual clock-ins. The app runs in the background, creating a private timeline of work activities.

• Employees review their automatically tracked time and submit it as timesheets. The system learns patterns over time to improve accuracy.
• Best for: Knowledge workers and creative teams who resist traditional time clocks but need accurate time tracking for billing or productivity analysis.
• Pricing: Starting around $8/user per month (billed annually) on the Starter plan.

5. Tick: Best for budget-focused teams

Tick provides straightforward time tracking with project budget management. The mobile app offers a clean interface for logging hours against projects and tasks.

Budget tracking shows how much time remains for each project, helping you avoid overruns. Simple reporting gives you visibility into where time goes without overwhelming complexity.

• Best for: Small teams and freelancers who need basic time tracking with budget awareness but don't require advanced features.
• Pricing: Refer to Tick's official site for current plan details and limits.

6. Time Doctor: Best for remote work

Time Doctor tracks time and monitors productivity for remote teams. The app includes screenshots, activity levels, and website/app tracking alongside basic time clock functionality.

Detailed reports show exactly how employees spend their work hours. Integration with project management tools helps connect time tracking to actual work output.

• Best for: Fully remote teams or businesses that need productivity monitoring alongside time tracking.
• Pricing: Starting around $7/user per month on the Basic plan.

How to choose the right mobile timesheet app for your business

Picking a timesheet app isn't about finding the one with the most features—it's about finding the one that solves your specific problems without creating new ones.

• Start with your biggest pain point. Are you spending hours calculating payroll? Choose an app with strong payroll integration or built-in processing. Do employees forget to clock out? Look for reminder features. Managing field workers? GPS tracking becomes non-negotiable.
• Consider your team's tech comfort level. "From the tech genius teen to the first-time smartphone grandparent," your app needs to work for everyone. Test the mobile interface with your least tech-savvy team member before committing.
• Match the app to your work environment. Restaurant staff juggling tips and split shifts need different features than plumbers working solo at customer sites. Field service businesses require GPS and geofencing. Retail stores benefit from shared device clock-ins with photo verification.
• Check integration requirements. If you already use QuickBooks, Gusto, or another payroll system, make sure your timesheet app connects directly. Exporting and importing spreadsheets defeats the purpose of going digital.
• Evaluate compliance needs. California break rules differ from Texas overtime laws. Your app should help you track the data needed to stay compliant with your state and local regulations.
• Test with a small group first. Start with one team or location before rolling out company-wide. You'll catch friction points early when they're easier to fix.

Real-world examples: How different industries use mobile timesheet apps

Mobile timesheet apps work differently depending on what type of business you run. Here's how real teams use them:

• Home service and repair teams. Plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians clock in from customer sites using GPS verification. Their office managers can see who's where in real-time and verify that technicians actually arrived at scheduled appointments. Multiple wage rates track different types of work—installation pays differently than repair calls.
• Retail shops. Store associates clock in on a shared tablet at the register using unique PINs and photo verification to prevent buddy punching. Reminder features help ensure compliance with labor laws during busy rushes when managers can't monitor everyone. Shift swap features let employees coordinate coverage without constant manager involvement.
• Restaurants and cafés. Servers and kitchen staff log their shifts and track tips in the same app. Split shift tracking handles the reality of working lunch and dinner with hours off in between. Team messaging coordinates last-minute shift changes when someone calls out sick before a weekend rush.
• Medical and veterinary offices. Clinic staff track hours across different roles—front desk, tech work, and administrative tasks—each with different pay rates. PTO tracking shows who has vacation time available before approving holiday requests. Scheduling integration ensures adequate coverage for patient appointments.

How to roll out a mobile timesheet app with your team

Getting your team to actually use a new timesheet app requires more than just announcing it exists.

• Start with the "why" before the "how." Explain that the app eliminates paycheck errors, gives them instant access to their hours, and stops the constant "did you clock in?" questions. When employees understand the personal benefits, they're more likely to embrace the change.
• Train on actual scenarios, not generic features. Walk through clocking in for their first shift, requesting time off, and checking their hours—the things they'll do every day. Skip the feature tour nobody remembers.
• Assign champions on each shift. Identify your tech-comfortable team members and make them the go-to help for their coworkers. This prevents you from answering the same question seventeen times.
• Address resistance head-on. Some employees worry that GPS tracking means you don't trust them or that time tracking is "too corporate." Be transparent about what data you're collecting and why. GPS confirms arrival for safety and accountability, not to micromanage lunch breaks.
• Monitor adoption in the first two weeks. Check who's clocking in correctly and who's still texting you their hours. Quick corrections prevent bad habits from forming.
• Celebrate early wins. When payroll runs smoother or someone successfully swaps a shift in the app, acknowledge it. Positive reinforcement beats nagging every time.

What happens if you don't switch to mobile timesheets?

Sticking with paper time cards or manual tracking creates problems that compound over time.

• Payroll errors cost you money and trust. Manual calculations lead to mistakes—sometimes you underpay employees (legal nightmare), sometimes you overpay (budget killer). Either way, your team stops trusting that they'll be paid correctly. Labor law disputes can cost tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees and penalties.
• Time theft eats your profits. Buddy punching—having a coworker clock you in when you're running late—is nearly impossible to catch with paper systems. Early clock-ins and forgotten clock-outs inflate your labor costs by percentages that add up to thousands of dollars annually.
• Compliance violations threaten your business. The U.S. Department of Labor frequently issues multi-million-dollar wage and hour penalties annually for violations. Forgotten breaks, miscalculated overtime, and inadequate record-keeping turn into expensive problems during audits.
• You waste hours every week on administrative busywork. Tallying time cards, calculating hours, entering data into payroll systems—it all takes time you could spend actually growing your business. Before switching to digital tracking, managers spent those Sunday nights with calculators instead of preparing for the week ahead.
• Your team can't see their own information. Without mobile access to schedules and hours, employees constantly interrupt you with questions. "When am I working?" "How many hours did I get last week?" "Did my time off request go through?" You become the bottleneck for information they should access themselves.

Mobile timesheet apps for small business FAQs

What is a mobile timesheet app?

A mobile timesheet app lets employees clock in and out using their smartphones instead of paper time cards or physical time clocks. The app tracks hours worked, calculates pay, and where supported, sends data to your payroll system automatically.

Are timesheet apps good for small businesses?

Yes. Mobile timesheet apps eliminate manual time calculations, reduce payroll errors, and give you real-time visibility into labor costs. Most managers save 5+ hours per week switching from paper timesheets to digital tracking.

What features should I prioritize in a timesheet app?

Focus on GPS tracking if you manage field teams, secure clock-in methods to prevent buddy punching, automatic overtime calculations, and direct payroll integration. Everything else is secondary to solving your specific pain points.

Can mobile timesheet apps reduce payroll errors?

Absolutely. Digital time tracking eliminates transcription errors from reading messy handwriting and removes calculation mistakes from manual math. Automatic overtime and break calculations ensure accuracy based on your configured rules.

How does GPS tracking work in timesheet apps?

GPS tracking captures the employee's location when they clock in or out. You can set geofences—virtual boundaries around job sites or store locations—that restrict clock-ins to specific areas. This prevents employees from clocking in from home or other unauthorized locations.

What's the best mobile timesheet app for Android?

Homebase works on both Android and iOS devices with full feature parity. Your team can download the app from Google Play or the Apple App Store and access the same time clock, schedule viewing, and messaging features regardless of their phone type.

Can I use a free timesheet app?

Yes. Homebase offers a free plan that includes time tracking, scheduling, team messaging, and basic hiring tools for small teams. Check their site for current employee limits and features. The free plan works for most small businesses without requiring a credit card or paid upgrade.

Why Homebase is the best mobile timesheet app for hourly teams

Homebase built our time tracking specifically for small businesses managing hourly workers—restaurants, retail shops, medical offices, and service businesses juggling multiple roles and unpredictable schedules.

Your team clocks in from their phones using secure PINs and photo verification. GPS tracking shows where field workers are when they start shifts. The app automatically calculates hours, breaks, and overtime based on your configured rules.

Time data flows directly into Homebase payroll for one-click processing, or exports to QuickBooks and Gusto. Your employees view their hours, check schedules, request time off, and swap shifts—all without texting you constantly.

The free plan includes time tracking, scheduling, team messaging, and hiring tools for small teams. No credit card required.

Ready to stop spending your Sunday nights with a calculator? Start tracking time with Homebase free today.