What is a mobile time clocking system?

Similar to traditional time clocking machines, mobile clock-in apps are used to record employees' hours worked, breaks, and overtime. However, mobile systems offer a host of additional benefits.

Thanks to their cloud-based nature, mobile apps can be implemented into a small business with minimal upfront costs. Unlike traditional clock-in machines, they don’t require professional installation. Employees can use their mobile devices to clock in from anywhere, enabling time tracking from remote locations.

What should you look for in a mobile clock-in app?

With hundreds of mobile timekeeping solutions available, it’s important to choose one that fits your business needs. Here are some key features to consider:

GPS Data or Geofencing: Ensure employees are clocking in from the right location by selecting an app with GPS tracking or geofencing capabilities. Geofencing blocks clock-ins outside designated areas, saving you the hassle of manually checking GPS logs and ensuring staff are clocking in where they're supposed to.
Biometric Features: Prevent buddy clock-ins by choosing an app with biometric authentication, such as facial recognition.
Job or Rota Management: Streamline operations by selecting an app that allows employees to view their shifts or assigned jobs and projects directly within the app.
Security and Privacy: Ensure the app complies with data protection regulations like GDPR, especially if employees are using their personal devices.
Cost: Balance affordability with essential features. Below, we’ve detailed the pricing for a business with 30 employees, focusing on the most commonly used features and tiers.

5 Best Time Clock Apps

1. TimeKeeper

Best for: Small businesses, remote workers, and temporary work sites.

TimeKeeper offers a versatile app that can be used on individual mobiles or in kiosk mode on a shared device such as a tablet. Employees can clock in via the app, web, or manually. Features include facial recognition, GPS stamping, and geofencing. Privacy is prioritised, as geolocation data is only recorded during clock-ins and outs - meaning no background tracking.

Pricing: £4 +VAT per employee per month. For 30 employees, the cost is £120 + VAT per month. Additional features like visitor tracking and instant messaging are available as add-ons.

2. Clockify

Best for: Individuals, creatives, and freelancers.

Clockify offers a free plan for basic time tracking, features like kiosk mode, GPS tracking, and overtime reporting are found in the Pro tier. It’s ideal for tracking time against multiple projects and calculating labor costs.

Pricing: $9.99 per user per month (billed monthly). For 30 employees, the cost is $299.70 per month.

3. Toggl Track

Best for: Small teams or freelancers with billable hours

Toggl Track is designed for businesses that need to track billable hours across multiple projects. It integrates with various tools and generates detailed reports.

Pricing: The Starter tier offers basic essentials for $10 per user, per month but you can expect to pay $20 per user per month for the Premium tier. For 30 employees on Premium, the cost is $600 per month (billed monthly).

4. Connecteam

Best for: Larger businesses and multi-nationals

Connecteam is packed with features, from time tracking to team messaging and company updates.

Pricing: There are 3 'hubs' each with 3-4 different price tiers. Hubs include operations, communications & HR&Skills, they each offer different features and cost $59 each per month for up to 30 users. For additional users, costs range from $1.90 to $3.80 per user per month. Depending on requirements, some businesses may find 1 or 2 hubs adequate, but it may be that. For comparison to features shown with other tools, pricing will be calculated for operations & communications hubs with 30 employees, the cost is $118 per month.

5. QuickBooks Workforce (QuickBooks Time)

Best for: QuickBooks accounting users

QuickBooks Workforce integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks for payroll management. It offers GPS tracking and job-based time tracking.

Pricing: £6 per user per month plus a £16 base fee for the Premium plan (this includes 1 admin). For 30 employees, the cost is £190 per month.

Conclusion

Choosing the right mobile clock-in app for your business depends on your specific needs, such as GPS tracking, biometric security, or integration with other tools. For small to medium businesses, TimeKeeper offers a cost-effective and feature-rich solution. Freelancers and creatives may prefer Clockify or Toggl Track, while larger businesses might benefit from Connecteam or QuickBooks Workforce.

By investing in the right app, you can streamline time tracking, improve accuracy, and save valuable time for both you and your team.

*details correct as of September 2025.