"Time is money" goes the saying. Yet, contrary to what many small business owners assume, the integration of a time clock solution in your business doesn't have to be a complex and costly project. Find out what the top time clock apps are and why.

Table of contents
  1. What to Look For in a Free Online Time Clock App
  2. Top 9 Free Online Time Clock Solutions
  3. What is a free online time clock for employees? 
  4. How does a free online time clock for employees work? 
  5. Why should I use a free online time clock?
  6. How much does a free online time clock cost? 
  7. Frequently Asked Questions About Free Online Time Clock Apps
  8. Free Online Time Clocks - The Future of Tracking Time

Time theft is one of the biggest problems facing businesses today, costing businesses millions of dollars yearly. Using punch cards leaves your company vulnerable to buddy punching, employees working unapproved overtime, and even employees altering their timesheets. Aside from the money lost due to time theft, human error also costs your company both time and money. Manually logging employee hours for payroll takes time every week and the errors made can be costly.

By law, businesses are required to keep 3 years of employee pay records on file. The simplest way to do this is by using a digital solution. Embracing the tech era will save your business time and money and ensure you stay compliant with government regulations.

We have done the research so you don't have to, and have found the 9 best completely free online time clocks for small to large businesses. These time clock apps make managing employee hours a breeze, from GPS tracking to scheduling to payroll.

Top Picks:

1. Connecteam – Best all-around time clock tool

2. ClockInEasy – Best for freelancers

3. OnTheClock – Best for small teams

Accurately track and manage employee hours completely FREE!

Try Connecteam's Time Clock for free – no credit card required!

What to Look For in a Free Online Time Clock App

  • Automatic time tracking: Track and manage employee time with the ability to track time spent on specific projects, locations, or tasks
  • Geofencing: Only allow employees to clock in and out of pre-set locations eliminating buddy punching and time theft.
  • Timesheet management: Admins should be able to edit timesheets and employees can request changes to their timesheets with admin approval
  • Notifications and reminders: Employees should get notifications reminding them of upcoming shifts to reduce no-shows and help employees arrive on time.
  • Reporting: Being able to clearly see who is spending time on what tasks and projects helps identify if there is any wasted time and how your team can be more efficient
  • Third-party integrations: The free time clock app you use should seamlessly integrate with your chosen payroll software
  • Ease of use: There should be little to no learning curve for employees, they should be able to use the app from day one.

Top 9 Free Online Time Clock Solutions

Connecteam

The Connecteam free online time clock app is our first choice due to its excellent user experience and robust features. The online time clock has built-in GPS, letting you know where employees are clocking in from. It also includes Breadcrumbs technology, which collects random location points to help managers have a general understanding of where their employees are while clocked in. You can access the app from any mobile device or desktop, add notes to a shift, lock the timesheet for the day, all while on the go!

With Connecteam, say goodbye to time theft and buddy punching because employees can only clock in on-site within their scheduled hours and specific timeframes. Use the kiosk app with a unique passcode or fingerprint to sign in. It doesn't end there. With its in-app chat, communication from the field has never been easier. Perform automated payroll processes, and view export current and past timesheets to Connecteam's Quickbooks Online or Gusto integration for easy and 100% accurate payroll. You gain hours back and put those saved dollars back into your piggy bank because there are no payroll mistakes with this free online time clock. Connecteam even has the ability to gain reports and insights on how your funds are spent.

This all-in-one online time clock has everything you need, with advanced scheduling, task management, training, and much more. You won't be looking for any other app because Connecteam does it all!

For whom?

Connecteam is the number one online time clock for remote and deskless teams for all-size businesses. Connecteam is used by thousands of businesses and more than 90 industries are reaping the benefits. From construction, retail, cleaning, nursing, field services, and so many more.

Key Features

  • Time clock with GPS

  • Breadcrumbs to track employees' general whereabouts

  • Time clock chat

  • Overtime settings

  • Easily export timesheets to your preferred format

  • Sick and vacation day management

  • Automated payroll processing

  • Time clock limitations

  • Easy to export timesheets

Pros & Cons

  • Affordable for any size business

  • Set up in less than 15 minutes

  • Excellent customer service

  • Free plan only for up to 10 users

Pricing

  • Premium plans start at $29/month for up to 30 users

  • Free Trial: 14-day free trial

  • Free plan: For up to 10 users, without limitations

Connecteam – No.1 Time Clock App!

Employees can clock in and out, request time off, sign in from the set location using GPS, view current and past timesheets, and so much more!

Start For Free!

free employee timesheet app

ClockInEasy

ClockInEasy free online time clock app
Courtesy of ClockInEasy

ClockInEasy is a cloud-based time-tracking and timesheet solution with a free version that lets you add one user. It also includes timesheets, labor compliance, GPS tracking, and payroll management. The dashboard is super useful for gathering reports of hours worked. Some users have reported that the tablet version isn't the easiest to use, however.

For whom?

Mainly sole proprietorship to contractors, ClockInEasy is suitable for all businesses.

Key Features

  • Automated timekeeping

  • Calculation overtime

  • Easy to manage payroll

  • Messaging feature

  • Online free time clock

Pros & Cons

  • Simple to clock in and out from the warehouse

  • No need for instructions so simple to use

  • Saves time

  • The app can crash sometimes

Pricing

  • Starting at $200/month for up to 30 users

  • Free Trial: Yes

  • Free Plan: Yes

OnTheClock

OnTheClock
Courtesy on On The Clock

OnTheClock is a web-based time tracking solution that has a free version for businesses and allows you to add up to two employees. It offers GPS tracking, geofencing, payroll reporting, leave management, and project costing functionalities. Although the reporting feature isn't as functional as users would like.

For whom?

For all-size businesses to track their employee's hours and to assist with payroll.

Key Features

  • Biometric recognition

  • Database for employees

  • Free online time clock

  • Messenger

  • Accessible via mobile device

Pros & Cons

  • Great for small businesses

  • No training is required, easy to use

  • Customer service could be more professional

Pricing

  • Starting at $145/month for 50 users

  • Free Trial: Yes

  • Free Plan: Yes, for up to 2 employees

Homebase

Homebase free online time clock app
Courtesy of Homebase

Homebase is a cloud-based employee time-tracking solution that offers a free version. You can track all the employees working at a location with GPS functionality. Plus, you can track paid and unpaid breaks and if relevant, tips. The features in the free version include employee scheduling, online free time clock, recruiting, and reporting.

For whom?

Works well for restaurants, cafes, nonprofits, salons, gyms, and many more who require an online time clock.

Key Features

  • Automatic free online time clock

  • Newsfeed

  • Company handbook

  • Easy onboarding

  • Automated scheduling

Pros & Cons

  • Scheduling and attendance tracking are easy

  • Employees can easily switch shifts with each other via the app

  • Correcting clock in and outs can be difficult

Pricing

  • Starting at $35/month per location

  • Free Trial: Yes

  • Free Plan: Yes

Time Clock Wizard

Time Clock Wizard free time clock online
Courtesy of Time Clock Wizard

Time Clock Wizard is a cloud-based time clock software that lets managers add employees, track hours worked and leave time, and calculate salaries accordingly. With the free version, you can add up to three users and you have access to the employee time-tracking functionality. The free plan also includes an email support option.

For Whom?

For all-size companies, especially community service, educational establishments, non-profit organizations, etc.

Key Features

  • Free online time clock

  • Easy shift swap

  • Vacation and sick day tracking

  • Online punch card

  • Employee database

Pros & Cons

  • A really good set of features

  • Good customer service

  • A bit pricey

Pricing

  • $39.95/month for up to 30 users

  • Free Trial: No

  • Free Plan: Yes

Time Doctor

Time Doctor App free time clock online
Courtesy of Time Doctor

Time Doctor assists advanced time tracking capabilities provides you the analytics to enhances productivity. Time doctor can be integrated with several other tools. In addition, Time Doctor's online free time clock offers other metrics to help improve the workday.

For whom?

Good software for small to medium businesses and large corporations with deskless, office, or remote employees.

Key Features

  • Free online time clock

  • Reporting

  • Manage tasks

  • Expense tracking

  • Client management

Pros & Cons

  • Easy to set up

  • Helps allocate where time was spent and for which project

  • Too many notifications

Pricing

  • Starting at $350/month for 50 users

  • Free Trial: Yes, 30-day

  • Free Plan: No

ClockIt

clockit free online time clock for employees
Courtesy of ClockIt

ClockIt is a cloud-based free online time clock that allows you to monitor one of several locations from one app. ClockIt can be accessed from mobile and desktop. With built-in GPS, you always know where your employees are, and so many more features.

For whom?

A good fit for small to medium-sized businesses and is really useful for companies looking to track time and attendance.

Key Features

  • Calculates overtime

  • Easy to manage payroll

  • Distribute shifts effortlessly

  • Employee database

  • Free online time clock

Pros & Cons

  • Enhances productivity

  • Helps with payroll

  • Can be difficult to get hold of customer service

Pricing

  • Starting at $99/month for up to 30 users

  • Free Trial: Yes

  • Free Plan: Yes

Wrike

wrike online time clock software interface

Wrike's software automates daily processes. With Kanban boards, Gantt charts, free online time tracking, and much more. Wrike provides updates in real-time along with reports regarding performance. Wrike is fully integrated with several applications.

For whom?

Suitable for medium to large-size companies that assist teamwork with its custom workflows. Wrike's aim is to reduce emails and help make each project more efficient.

Key Features

  • Budget management

  • Resource allocation

  • Free online time clock

  • Workflow management

  • Manage events

Pros & Cons

  • Task management is very useful

  • Easy to set up

  • A bit pricey

Pricing

  • Starting at $490/month for 50 users

  • Free Trial: Yes

  • Free Plan: Yes

Quickbooks Time

quickbooks time clock app interface

QuickBooks Time works with tools such as QuickBooks Online, Xero, and MYOB. The app allows you to use the free online time clock to track time, manage tasks, collaborate together, etc.

For whom?

QuickBooks offers its platform to all-size teams looking to track time and manage tasks more effectively. From sole traders to large companies, there's something for everyone.

Key Features

  • Notifications

  • Messaging

  • Offline time tracking

  • Mobile access

  • Automated timekeeping

Pros & Cons

  • Great that now employees can access via mobile

  • Assisted with making payroll a smooth process

  • Customer service could be better

Pricing

  • Starting at $410/month for 50 users

  • Free Trial: Yes

  • Free Plan: Yes

Reviews (Capterra star-rating)

Pricing (for 50 users)

Free Trial

Free Plan

Yes, for up to 10 users.

4.8/5

$200/month

Yes

Yes

4.7/5

$145/month

Yes

Yes

4.6/5

$35/month

Yes

Yes

4.4/5

$40/month

No

Yes

4.5/5

$350/month

Yes

No

4.4/5

$99/month

Yes

Yes

4.2/5

$490/month

Yes

Yes

4.7/5

$410/month

Yes

Yes

Reviews (Capterra star-rating)

Pricing (for 50 users)

Free Trial

Free Plan

Yes, for up to 10 users.

Reviews (Capterra star-rating)

4.8/5

Pricing (for 50 users)

$200/month

Reviews (Capterra star-rating)

4.7/5

Pricing (for 50 users)

$145/month

Reviews (Capterra star-rating)

4.6/5

Pricing (for 50 users)

$35/month

Reviews (Capterra star-rating)

4.4/5

Pricing (for 50 users)

$40/month

Reviews (Capterra star-rating)

4.5/5

Pricing (for 50 users)

$350/month

Reviews (Capterra star-rating)

4.4/5

Pricing (for 50 users)

$99/month

Reviews (Capterra star-rating)

4.2/5

Pricing (for 50 users)

$490/month

Reviews (Capterra star-rating)

4.7/5

Pricing (for 50 users)

$410/month

What is a free online time clock for employees?

A free online time clock helps employers track employee hours digitally. Employees clock in and out through the app, eliminating the need for time cards. The best free online time clocks can track hours spent on specific projects, clients, or by location.

Using online time tracking software makes it so employees can clock in from anywhere using just their cell phone, perfect for employees on the go.

How does a free online time clock for employees work?

Free time clock apps make tracking employee hours easy and effortless. They simply clock in and out of their scheduled shift through the app. Once their hours are recorded, you can export the data for payroll, saving time and eliminating human error.

Automatic reminders can be sent to employees to eliminate no-shows and increase punctuality. If employees are late the admins will be notified. Geofencing allows you to create a specific location where employees can clock in and out of work to ensure the employees are where they say they are.

Increase compliance by including breaks, overtime, holiday pay, and daily limits using the time tracking software. Team members can even request paid time off, and absence requests, and submit changes to their availability through the time clock app.

Why should I use a free online time clock?

There are multiple benefits to using a free online time clock to track employee hours. Aside from the scheduling features, a free online time clock app promotes:

  • Effortless payroll: Once employee hours are logged, you just have to export the timesheets to your chosen payroll software. Not having to manually enter every employee's timesheet saves hours of time and eliminates the possibility of human error.
  • Government compliance: Use your time tracking software to stay up to date with regulated breaks, overtime pay, holiday pay, and daily hour limits.
  • Employee accountability: Get notified when employees are late to clocking in, don't show up for their shifts or stay late when overtime has not been approved. You can track where exactly your money is being spent, and employees can see how much time they've worked so they can calculate for themselves their exact paycheck.
  • Increased productivity: Use the reporting features to understand what your employees are spending time on and if you can increase efficiency anywhere.

How much does a free online time clock cost?

Free time clock software is, you guessed it, free!

Many free online time clocks are only free for one or two users and then require the paid version, but Connecteam is free for up to 10 users, meaning that small businesses are able to use the best free online time clock solution available.

Most time clock apps have a free version and a paid version. The paid versions usually have more features available for time tracking and offer helpful customer support should any issues arise. When looking at paid time clock apps, they generally range from $3 to $10 per employee per month. It adds up quickly if you have a large team, but luckily Connecteam offers very reasonable pricing for mid to large companies, starting at $29 per month for 30 users and only an additional $0.50 per additional user.

Frequently Asked Questions About Free Online Time Clock Apps

What is the benefit of a free online time clock?

In short? Everyone except Superman and Supergirl, as both can make the world spin backward and effectively stop time. From freelancers to contingents seasonal workers – pretty much anyone can benefit from improved time tracking capabilities. For managers, it's not just about knowing who showed up for work and how long they were there. Many of the available solutions offer features like geo-tracking, employee scheduling, vacation, and sick leave absence monitoring, and analysis of time spent performing specific tasks.

Is it useful for remote and deskless employees?

Yes, it is! For remote, mobile and deskless employee attendance management, online time clock solutions are especially useful and efficient. They're within reach of the employee anywhere with an internet connection, and they give real-time information for managers to keep track of productivity levels in their dispersed workforce. Even if you manage a small team of 10 employees or less, implementing a time clock solution still makes sense. Even if it's just to get rid of those annoying timesheets and excel spreadsheets.

Why should I digitize my timeclock?

Working with pen and paper can create problems you're not even aware of, plus it's a tedious task to take on yourself. With an online solution, you are presented with invaluable data and insights into how work time is used by your employees, so you can make well-informed strategic HR decisions.

Apart from just tracking the time, these security features are also necessary to avoid loss. The research performed by TSheets says that one in two employees has admitted for the time theft and 16 % have admitted for the buddy punching.

Plus when it comes to the payroll, a time clock online will reduce processing costs by a whopping 80%. How is that possible? By automating the work, you are reducing errors caused by manual labor. Let's remember that laws are constantly changing and are becoming complex, that's how a time clock online makes sense.

"Switching to an online method has taken away the chronic lateness of my employees and allowed me to build trust and accountability with them instead." Katie Shernan, Port Plum

Free Online Time Clocks – The Future of Tracking Time

Choosing an online time clock can seem a bit daunting at first. However, with all the knowledge you have gained trying out a free solution should be an easy transition. Once you have chosen the suitable application, you won't be questioning if you need one, you will be asking yourself, what else can we digitize?

Connecteam – Time Tracking Has Never Been Easier

Easily track employee's work hours and improve payroll process like never before. Manage your employees' work hours on jobs and projects (with a GPS time stamp), and collaborate effortlessly!

Learn More!

timesheets employee time clock app