Top 8 Best Time Tracking Software in 2026

Ever wonder how many billable hours slip through the cracks each week? Or how much time your team actually spends on specific projects? 

That's where the best time tracking software comes in. The right tool helps you accurately track employee hours, automate payroll calculations, stay compliant with labor laws, and see exactly where your team's time goes. 

In this guide, we've reviewed the 8 best time tracking software for 2026 based on current pricing, verified features from official sources, and real use cases for small businesses.

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TL;DR: Best Time Tracking Software at a Glance

Here's our shortlist of the best employee time tracking software for different business needs:

1. Homebase — Best for retail & hourly teams
2. Clockify — Best free time tracking software
3. Toggl Track — Best for freelancers & small teams
4. QuickBooks Time — Best for QuickBooks users
5. Deputy — Best for compliance-focused businesses
6. Harvest — Best for invoicing & client billing
7. Connecteam — Best for field & remote teams
8. Wrike — Best for project-based time tracking

8 Reviews of the Best Time Tracking Software

1. Homebase — Best Time Tracking Software for Retail & Hourly Teams

Homebase combines time tracking, employee scheduling, and payroll in one platform built specifically for hourly workforces in retail, restaurants, healthcare, and service businesses.

Best for: Small businesses with hourly employees who need scheduling, time tracking, and payroll in one place

Key features:

• Multiple clock-in options including mobile app, time clock kiosk, and GPS-enabled tracking
• Photo verification and GPS location confirmation prevent buddy punching
• Automatic break and overtime tracking with compliance alerts
• Built-in scheduling with shift trades, open shift claiming, and availability tracking
• Direct payroll processing or exports to QuickBooks, Gusto, and other payroll providers
• Labor cost tracking against sales forecasts

Pros:

• Free plan for up to 10 employees includes core time tracking and scheduling
• All-in-one solution eliminates need for multiple tools
• Industry-specific features for retail, restaurant, and healthcare compliance

Cons:

• More features than needed if you only want basic time tracking
• Built primarily for hourly teams rather than salaried project work

Pricing: Free for up to 10 employees. Paid plans start at $24.95 per month per location. Includes payroll processing options starting at $99.95 per month per location.

Ideal for: Retail stores, restaurants, healthcare clinics, salons, and any small business with 1-100 hourly employees across multiple locations.

“Before Homebase I was manually tallying up my team's work hours and entering them into payroll, crossing my fingers I hadn't made any mistakes. Now our entire team logs in and out quickly and easily with the Homebase app. Time tracking for small businesses doesn't get better (or more affordable) than this!” — Kathleen Smith, Founder, Smiling Tree Toys

2. Clockify — Best Free Time Tracking Software

Clockify offers unlimited time tracking for unlimited users on its free plan, making it the most generous free option for teams that need basic time tracking without billing restrictions.

Best for: Startups, freelancers, and budget-conscious teams who need reliable time tracking at no cost

Key features:

• Unlimited time tracking for unlimited users on free plan
• Timer, timesheet, and kiosk modes for flexible time entry
• Project and task tracking with billable rates
• Basic reporting on detailed and summary views
• Paid plans add invoicing, time off tracking, GPS tracking, and scheduling

Pros:

• Truly unlimited free plan with no user restrictions
• Works across web, desktop, and mobile with offline tracking
• Simple interface with minimal learning curve

Cons:

• Invoicing requires paid plan (starts at $5.49/user/month)
• Advanced features like scheduling and GPS limited to higher tiers
• Customer support prioritizes paid users

Pricing: Free forever for unlimited users. Paid plans: Basic ($3.99/user/month), Standard ($5.49/user/month), Pro ($7.99/user/month), Enterprise ($11.99/user/month).

Ideal for: Freelancers, startups, small nonprofits, and any team that needs solid time tracking functionality without monthly fees.

3. Toggl Track — Best Time Tracking Software for Freelancers & Small Teams

Toggl Track focuses on making time tracking effortless with one-click timers, automatic tracking suggestions, and clean reports that help freelancers and small teams understand where their time actually goes.

Best for: Freelancers, consultants, and small teams (under 50 people) who bill clients hourly

Key features:

• One-click time tracking with desktop, web, and mobile apps
• Automated time tracking suggestions based on calendar events and app usage
• Project budgets and alerts when approaching time or cost limits
• Profitability reporting comparing billable rates to labor costs
• 100+ tool integrations including Asana, Jira, and QuickBooks

Pros:

• Free plan supports up to 5 users with core time tracking
• Intuitive interface requires almost no training
• Strong mobile apps with offline capability

Cons:

• Invoicing features less robust than dedicated billing tools
• Per-user pricing adds up quickly for larger teams
• Limited scheduling functionality

Pricing: Free for up to 5 users. Starter plan $9/user/month, Premium plan $18/user/month. 30-day free trial available on paid plans.

Ideal for: Freelancers, creative agencies, consultants, and small professional services teams that need accurate time tracking and client billing.

4. QuickBooks Time — Best for QuickBooks Users

QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets) offers seamless integration with QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Payroll, making it the natural choice for businesses already using Intuit's accounting ecosystem.

Best for: Businesses already using QuickBooks who want time tracking that syncs automatically with their accounting and payroll

Key features:

• One-click sync with QuickBooks Online for invoicing and payroll
• GPS tracking and geofencing for mobile and field teams
• Photo capture at clock-in to prevent time theft
• Scheduling tools with drag-and-drop interface
• Overtime alerts and project cost tracking

Pros:

• Seamless QuickBooks integration eliminates double-entry
• Strong mobile features including offline clock-ins
• Excellent for construction and field service businesses

Cons:

• Requires active QuickBooks Online subscription
• Base fee plus per-user pricing more expensive than competitors
• Limited features for non-QuickBooks users

Pricing: Premium plan: $20/month base fee plus $8/user/month. Elite plan: $40/month base fee plus $10/user/month. 30-day free trial available. QuickBooks Online subscription required.

Ideal for: Small to mid-sized businesses with 5-50 employees already using QuickBooks Online, especially in construction, field service, and professional services.

5. Deputy — Best for Compliance-Focused Businesses

Deputy specializes in helping businesses stay compliant with federal, state, and local labor laws through automated break rules, overtime tracking, and detailed audit trails.

Best for: Multi-location businesses that need strong compliance features and detailed labor law enforcement

Key features:

• Active Attestation alerts managers when employees work overtime or miss breaks
• Automated compliance with federal, state, and local break and overtime rules
• Detailed audit trails and timecard edit history
• Real-time attendance tracking across multiple locations
• Shift scheduling with automatic conflict detection

Pros:

• Industry-leading compliance automation
• Clean mobile app interface
• Works well for businesses with 10-500 employees

Cons:

• Cannot book last-minute unavailability after schedules are published
• Limited iOS functionality compared to web app
• Customization options more restrictive than competitors

Pricing: Scheduling and Time & Attendance plans at $3.50/user/month. Premium plan with advanced reporting at $4.90/user/month. 31-day free trial for all plans.

Ideal for: Multi-location retail, restaurant, and healthcare businesses that prioritize labor law compliance and need strong audit capabilities.

6. Harvest — Best for Invoicing & Client Billing

Harvest combines time tracking with automated invoicing and expense tracking, making it perfect for freelancers and agencies who need to track billable hours and get paid faster.

Best for: Freelancers, consultants, and agencies that bill clients by the hour and need professional invoicing

Key features:

• One-click invoice creation from tracked time entries
• Online payment processing with Stripe and PayPal integration
• Project budgets with alerts at 75%, 90%, and 100% thresholds
• Expense tracking with receipt uploads
• Profitability reporting comparing revenue to labor costs

Pros:

• Seamless workflow from time tracking to client payment
• Clean, intuitive interface with minimal learning curve
• Strong integrations with Asana, QuickBooks, and other business tools

Cons:

• More expensive than basic time trackers for teams over 10 people
• Limited scheduling functionality
• Mobile app less feature-rich than desktop

Pricing: Free for 1 user with 2 active projects. Pro plan $12/user/month (billed annually). Premium plan $14/user/month (billed annually). 30-day free trial available. 20% discount for annual billing.

Ideal for: Freelancers, creative agencies, consultants, and professional services firms that need integrated time tracking and client billing.

7. Connecteam — Best for Field & Remote Teams

Connecteam offers GPS-enabled time tracking with geofencing capabilities, making it ideal for businesses with employees working across multiple job sites or remote locations.

Best for: Construction, field service, and businesses with mobile employees who work at different locations

Key features:

• GPS tracking and geofencing ensures employees clock in at correct locations
• Geofence alerts when employees enter or leave job sites
• Photo capture at clock-in for accountability
• Job site and project tracking
• Built-in team messaging and task management

Pros:

• Strong GPS and location-based features
• All-in-one platform includes communication and task management
• User-friendly mobile-first interface

Cons:

• Cannot assign different roles and pay rates to same employee
• Upgrading to access new features requires plan change
• Setup can be complex for smaller teams with simple needs

Pricing: Varies based on features needed. Plans range from $35 to $119 per month for small teams. Free trial available.

Ideal for: Construction companies, field service businesses, property management, and any company with employees working at multiple locations.

8. Wrike — Best for Project-Based Time Tracking

Wrike combines project management with time tracking, making it the right choice for teams that need to track time alongside tasks, dependencies, and project milestones.

Best for: Project-based teams that need time tracking integrated with robust project management tools

Key features:

• Time tracking integrated directly into project tasks
• Gantt charts and timeline views for project planning
• Customizable workflows and approval processes
• Resource management and workload balancing
• Advanced reporting and analytics

Pros:

• Powerful project management features beyond just time tracking
• Flexible enough to adapt to different team workflows
• Good for teams of 20-200 people

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve than dedicated time trackers
• Can feel overly complex for teams that only need time tracking
• Higher price point than simple time tracking tools

Pricing: Free for basic task management. Team plan $9.80/user/month for 2-25 users. Business plan $24.80/user/month for up to 200 users. 14-day free trial available.

Ideal for: Marketing agencies, software development teams, and professional services firms that need project management and time tracking in one platform.

What to Look for When Choosing Time Tracking Software

The right time tracking software should fit how your team actually works—not force you to change everything to match the tool. Here's what actually matters when you're comparing options:

Core Time Tracking Methods

Your team isn't one-size-fits-all, so your time tracking shouldn't be either. Look for tools that let people clock in the way that makes sense for their job:

• Mobile apps for teams always on their phones (because let's be honest, that's everyone)
• Kiosk mode when you need a shared iPad at the front counter
• GPS tracking so you know field teams arrived at the job site safely
• Manual entry for project work where you log hours after the fact

The tech-savvy teenager working your Saturday shift and the manager who just got their first smartphone? They both need to clock in without calling you for help.

Overtime, Breaks & Compliance

Nobody wants a surprise visit from the Department of Labor. Look for software that keeps you compliant without making you a legal expert:

• Automatic overtime tracking that knows your state's rules (yes, California is different)
• Break reminders so you're not the one playing break police
• Alerts before overtime hits instead of discovering it on Friday afternoon
• Audit-ready records for when disputes happen (and they will)

If you're in retail, restaurants, or healthcare, you know labor law violations aren't cheap. The right software spots problems before they become penalties.

Payroll & Accounting Integrations

Stop manually entering hours into your payroll system. Seriously, there's a better way:

• Direct sync with QuickBooks, Gusto, ADP, or Paychex
• One-click export when you're ready to run payroll
• Built-in payroll if you want everything in one place (psst…Homebase can run payroll in under 15 minutes, even if you're managing multiple locations)
• Multiple pay rates for employees who work different roles
• Tip tracking that keeps everyone honest and the IRS happy

The best setup? Time tracking that talks to your payroll system so you never touch a calculator on Sunday night.

Scheduling Features

Great time tracking software also handles scheduling—because why use two tools when one does the job?

• Templates so you're not building schedules from scratch every week
• Shift swaps your team can handle themselves (stop being the scheduling referee)
• Open shift claiming for last-minute coverage without phone tag
• Availability tracking that respects school schedules and second jobs
• Instant notifications so nobody can say "I didn't know I was working"

When your schedule and time clock work together, you spend less time managing and more time actually running your business.

Reporting & Approvals

Good reporting tells you where your labor dollars go—so you can make smarter decisions instead of just guessing:

• Labor cost breakdowns by department, role, or location
• Manager approvals before payroll runs (spread the responsibility around)
• Edit history for when someone swears they clocked out at 5pm
• Custom exports because every accountant wants data formatted differently
• Real-time dashboards showing who's working right now

The difference between knowing your labor cost percentage and hoping it's okay? That's the difference between profitable months and surprise losses.

Stop Losing Time—Start Tracking It

Look, time tracking doesn't have to be complicated. The right tool just works—no more Sunday night timesheet panic, no more "I forgot to clock out" excuses, no more scrambling before payroll.

Ready to stop the timesheet chaos? Homebase gives you free time tracking and scheduling for up to 10 employees. Here's what you get:

• Time tracking that actually works (your team will use it without complaining)
• Scheduling that takes minutes, not hours
• Payroll you can run in under 15 minutes
• Everything in one place instead of juggling three different tools

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Try Homebase free and see why 100,000+ small businesses trust us for time tracking, scheduling, and team management.

“Before we switched to Homebase I was tabulating hours from a manual punch clock. Now, our staff appreciates the ability to track their hours in a few clicks. We love Homebase!” — Soma Franks, Co-owner, Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen

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FAQs About Time Tracking Software

What is the best employee time tracking software?

The best employee time tracking software depends on what your team actually needs:

• Homebase works great for retail and hourly teams who want scheduling and payroll in one place
• Toggl Track is perfect for freelancers billing clients by the hour
• QuickBooks Time makes sense if you're already living in QuickBooks
• Clockify gives you unlimited free tracking when budget matters most

What's the best free time tracking software?

The best free time tracking software is Clockify—unlimited users, unlimited tracking, no strings attached. Homebase comes in second with free time tracking and scheduling for up to 10 employees. Toggl Track works well for small teams under 5 people. Pick based on what else you need: Clockify for pure time tracking, Homebase for scheduling, Toggl for invoicing features.

Does time tracking software handle overtime automatically?

Yes, time tracking software handles overtime automatically when you set it up right. Tools like Homebase, Deputy, and QuickBooks Time calculate overtime based on your state's rules (including California's daily overtime). They'll alert you before someone hits overtime thresholds instead of surprising you on payday. This automation prevents compliance headaches and keeps labor costs predictable.

What's the difference between time tracking and time & attendance software?

Time tracking software records hours worked by project or client—mainly for billing and productivity. Time and attendance software focuses on when employees clock in and out, tracks absences, and enforces compliance with break policies. Most modern tools (like Homebase) combine both, so you get time tracking for payroll plus attendance monitoring for compliance.

How much does time tracking software cost?

Time tracking software costs anywhere from free to $20+ per user monthly. Clockify is free forever. For mid-tier paid options, Homebase Essentials runs $24 monthly for unlimited employees. Premium tools like QuickBooks Time charge a base fee ($20-40 monthly) plus per-user costs ($8-10). Your actual cost depends on team size and which features you need—scheduling, GPS, payroll integration.

Can time tracking software integrate with payroll?

Yes, time tracking software integrates with payroll—that's the whole point. QuickBooks Time syncs directly with QuickBooks Payroll. Homebase either runs payroll built-in or exports to Gusto, QuickBooks, and ADP with one click. Clockify, Toggl, and Harvest all export timesheets to major payroll systems. Integration means no more manual entry and fewer payroll mistakes.