8 best time and attendance software platforms for 2025

Running payroll should be straightforward: employees clock in, clock out, you approve their hours, and everyone gets paid accurately. But if you're still using spreadsheets, paper timecards, or disconnected systems, you know it's rarely that simple.

Someone forgets to clock out. Another employee clocks in 20 minutes early every day. Overtime creeps up without warning. You spend hours reconciling timesheets with schedules, fixing errors, and hoping you didn't miss something that will cause problems during payroll processing.

Then there are the compliance headaches. Different states have different overtime rules. Break requirements vary by location. One miscalculation can lead to wage and hour violations that cost far more than the original error.

Time and attendance software solves these problems by automating hourly tracking, enforcing compliance rules, and connecting time data directly to payroll. The right system eliminates manual work, prevents costly errors, and gives you confidence that employees are paid correctly for every hour worked.

After researching platforms, reviewing user feedback, and examining how each system handles real-world time tracking challenges, I've identified the best time & attendance software that actually delivers on their promises.

Turn timesheets into accurate payroll

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Quick comparison: Best time and attendance software at a glance

Methodology: How I chose the best time and attendance system

Finding time and attendance software that actually solves problems requires looking past marketing claims to understand how these systems perform in workplace situations.

• Core time tracking problems: I started by identifying the core problems businesses face with time tracking: payroll mistakes from manual data entry, compliance violations due to incorrect overtime calculations, time theft from buddy punching or early clock-ins, and wasted hours reconciling timesheets with schedules. The best solutions address these specific pain points rather than just offering generic time tracking.

• Employee clock-in experience: Each platform was tested for how easily workers can clock in from their phones, whether the interface requires extensive training, and if employees get clear feedback about their hours and time-off balances. 

• Manager approval workflows: For managers and administrators, the focus was on timesheet approval processes, attendance reporting capabilities, and how much manual oversight each system requires. The best platforms surface exceptions automatically rather than forcing managers to hunt for problems.

• Payroll integration quality: I also examined how well each solution connects with payroll systems. Does time data sync automatically, or do you export CSV files and hope nothing breaks? Can the system handle complex pay rules like shift differentials, multiple pay rates, or location-based wage differences? Integration quality matters more than integration quantity.

• Labor cost reporting depth: Beyond basic timesheets, businesses need insights into labor costs, overtime trends, and employee attendance patterns. The review assessed whether platforms provide detailed reports that help control costs and make staffing decisions, or just export raw data that requires additional analysis.

The 8 best time and attendance solutions

1. Rippling

When you track time in Rippling, you're working within a platform that already knows everything about your employees: their roles, departments, locations, employment status, and pay rates. This employee context enables time tracking capabilities that standalone systems can't match.

The platform automatically enforces federal, state, and local labor laws based on where each employee works. When someone in California clocks in, Rippling applies California's meal break requirements and overtime rules. When someone in Texas clocks in, different rules apply automatically. You don't configure this manually or update it when regulations change; the system maintains compliance as laws evolve.

Why it stands out: Rippling's time and attendance software excels at eliminating the coordination gaps that typically plague HR teams. The features are genuinely sophisticated. 

The platform comes with a scheduling tool that helps managers build compliant shifts while minimizing overtime. Automations can be set up to handle overtime approvals, send reminders for meal breaks, or flag unapproved hours ahead of payroll — so errors and delays don’t creep in at the last minute.

What’s more, Rippling’s “job costing” feature prompts employees to assign hours to different categories whenever applicable. For instance, a restaurant worker who splits time between waiting and bartending can assign hours to either job dimension. This ensures businesses know how their time is allocated and can more accurately calculate labor costs across different job functions. 

And all these time-tracking features are just the tip of the Rippling iceberg. With employee data as your single source of truth, the all-in-one platform automates processes across HR (onboarding, benefits administration, performance reviews), IT (app provisioning, device management, security monitoring), and Finance (expense reimbursements, corporate cards, bill pay) — saving hours of time on busywork and freeing up brainspace for strategic projects. 

Where it falls short: Rippling's comprehensive capabilities can feel overwhelming initially, especially if you're coming from a simple time clock solution. The platform does so much that it takes time to explore all the features and understand how to leverage them fully. However, customer support and implementation resources are available to help you get up to speed.

Is it right for you? Rippling is ideal if you want time and attendance deeply integrated with your broader HR operations. It's particularly valuable for growing companies that need automated compliance across multiple locations, organizations tired of manually reconciling time data with payroll, or businesses that want rich analytics connecting time tracking with labor costs and business performance.

Feature snapshot

Track hours without the hassle

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2. Clockify

Clockify is a time-tracking and invoicing platform that helps employees log and manage their time and allows businesses to monitor progress of projects and quickly bill clients.

The platform provides multiple ways to track time: a simple timer you start and stop as you work, manual timesheet entry for logging hours after the fact, a calendar view for blocking out time, and even an auto tracker that records time spent in different applications. All of these methods are available in the free plan.

Why it stands out: Clockify positions itself as a popular free time tracker, offering unlimited time tracking for unlimited users at no cost. This free-forever model makes it accessible for individuals, freelancers, and small teams who need basic time tracking without financial commitment.

Where it falls short: While Clockify excels at basic time tracking, it lacks the deep HR and payroll integrations that platforms like Rippling offer. You can export timesheets to process payroll, but there's no automated sync that prevents errors and eliminates manual work. Also Clockify is also primarily a time tracking tool rather than a comprehensive workforce management solution. So if you need more advanced features, you'll need to supplement Clockify with additional tools.

Is it right for you? Clockify works well for freelancers, small teams, or businesses with straightforward time tracking needs and limited budgets. It works if you primarily need basic hour tracking without complex compliance or payroll automation.

Feature snapshot

3. Hubstaff

Hubstaff provides time tracking designed specifically for remote, field, and distributed teams. The platform goes beyond simple hour tracking to include productivity monitoring features like screenshots, activity levels, and application usage tracking.

This makes Hubstaff useful for businesses that need visibility into how remote employees spend their time, not just how many hours they work. The platform is built around the assumption that managers can't physically see their teams, so it provides digital ways to maintain accountability.

Why it stands out: Hubstaff's productivity tracking features set it apart from basic time clocks. When enabled, the platform captures screenshots at regular intervals, tracks activity levels based on keyboard and mouse usage, and logs which applications and URLs employees use.

Where it falls short: The productivity monitoring features, while powerful, aren't appropriate for every workplace. Some employees find screenshots and activity monitoring invasive, and implementing these features requires careful communication about privacy and trust. 

Is it right for you? Hubstaff works for remote teams, agencies, and field service businesses that need visibility into how distributed workers spend their time. It works if you bill clients based on hours worked and need to prove time spent on projects, or if you manage field teams and need GPS tracking to verify job site attendance.

Feature snapshot

4. OnTheClock

OnTheClock delivers basic time tracking without the complexity of enterprise platforms. The software focuses on doing a few things well: tracking employee hours, calculating overtime, managing PTO, and executing payroll.

This simplicity makes OnTheClock accessible for small businesses that don't have dedicated HR staff or complex workforce management needs.

Why it stands out: The platform handles the basics well. Employees can clock in and out from web browsers, mobile apps, or a kiosk mode on a shared device. GPS punch recording logs the exact location of each clock-in and clock-out, helping prevent time theft and verify that employees are on-site. OnTheClock also offers an optional payroll add-on at $6 per employee per month (plus $40 base fee) that integrates timecards and PTO.

Where it falls short: OnTheClock is designed for simplicity, which means it lacks many advanced features that larger or more complex organizations need. Features like biometric time clocking require additional hardware (fingerprint readers start at less than $100) and cost an extra $0.50 per employee per month. Text messaging for alerts costs $2 per month plus $0.01 per message sent. These add-ons can increase your total cost.

Is it right for you? OnTheClock is ideal for small businesses with straightforward time tracking needs and limited budgets.

Feature snapshot

5. Connecteam

Connecteam is another time-tracking solution that helps businesses accurately monitor employees’ work hours and manage schedules. It takes a mobile-first approach to workforce management, designed for deskless and frontline teams. 

The platform recognizes that retail workers, field service technicians, construction crews, and healthcare staff don't sit at desks all day, so it prioritizes mobile experiences. The time clock is part of Connecteam's Operations Hub, which also includes scheduling, forms and checklists, and task management.

Why it stands out: With Connecteam's mobile app, employees can clock in and out with a few taps, see their schedules, request time off, swap shifts, complete forms, and communicate with managers from their phones. Notably, Connecteam offers a completely free plan for businesses with 10 or fewer users.

Where it falls short: Connecteam's pricing structure can be confusing because features are split across different "Hubs" (Operations, Communications, and HR & Skills). If you want time tracking plus employee training or document management, you'll probably need to subscribe to multiple hubs, increasing costs. Also, while the platform handles time tracking and scheduling well, it doesn't offer the deep payroll integration or automated compliance features that platforms like Rippling provides. 

Is it right for you? Connecteam is helpful if your workers primarily use mobile devices, you need strong geofencing and GPS tracking for field teams, or you want a solution that includes time tracking, scheduling, and team communication.

Feature snapshot

6. Deputy

Deputy combines employee scheduling with time and attendance tracking, recognizing that these functions work better when integrated. The platform is particularly strong for shift-based businesses like restaurants, retail stores, hotels, and healthcare facilities.

When scheduling and time tracking live on the same platform, Deputy can compare scheduled hours against actual hours worked, identify attendance patterns, and help managers optimize labor costs based on real data rather than guesswork.

Why it stands out: Deputy's scheduling capabilities include demand forecasting that predicts staffing needs based on historical sales data and other factors. Auto-scheduling uses these forecasts to generate schedules that attempt to match labor supply with anticipated demand.

Break compliance tracking monitors how long employees have been working and flags when they're required to take breaks under labor laws. This helps managers stay compliant without manually tracking each employee's shift length.

Where it falls short: While Deputy handles time tracking and scheduling, it's not a comprehensive HR platform. You'll still need separate systems for payroll processing (though Deputy integrates with many payroll providers), benefits administration, performance management, and other HR functions.

Is it right for you? If you need to optimize labor costs by matching staffing to demand or want tight integration between scheduling and time tracking, Deputy can be quite useful.

Feature snapshot

7. QuickBooks Time

QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets) is built for businesses already using QuickBooks for accounting or payroll. The deep integration between time tracking and QuickBooks makes it valuable for companies invested in the Intuit ecosystem.

When time tracking data flows automatically into your accounting system, you eliminate manual data entry, reduce errors, and get more accurate project costing and invoicing.

Why it stands out: The integration with QuickBooks Online works smoothly. Approved hours sync to QuickBooks for payroll processing or client invoicing. Project time gets allocated to customers and jobs, making it easier to bill accurately and track project profitability. The mobile app allows employees to track time, view schedules, request time off, and submit timesheets from their phones. 

Where it falls short: A QuickBooks Online account is required to use QuickBooks Time. If your business relies on different accounting software, this tool may not be a good fit since its strongest features only work inside the QuickBooks ecosystem.

Is it right for you? QuickBooks Time makes sense if you already use QuickBooks Online for accounting or payroll and want time tracking integration, or have project-based work where tracking time by customer and job is essential.

Feature snapshot

8. When I Work

When I Work combines employee scheduling, time tracking, and team messaging in an affordable package designed for small businesses and teams. The platform is particularly popular with restaurants, retail stores, and other shift-based businesses.

Why it stands out: The pricing is straightforward and budget-friendly. Single location businesses pay $2.50 per user per month, while multi-location businesses pay $5 per user per month. Both plans include scheduling, time tracking, and team messaging, making it a basic workforce management solution at a low price point. The platform also offers a partnership offering 6 free months of Rippling services for new When I Work customers.

Where it falls short: There's no automated compliance enforcement beyond basic overtime tracking, no sophisticated workforce analytics, and limited customization compared to enterprise platforms. When I Work also doesn't provide native payroll processing. You can export timesheets to payroll providers like Rippling, but there's no built-in payroll solutions.

Is it right for you? When I Work is ideal for small shift-based businesses with tight budgets. It's a good choice if you need scheduling, time tracking, and team communication in one affordable package.

Feature snapshot

Main features to look for in time and attendance software

Which specific features help companies make the most out of time and attendance software? The capabilities below set solutions apart.

Real-time tracking

Real-time visibility into who's working, who's late, and who's approaching overtime helps you make better decisions throughout the day rather than discovering problems after the pay period ends. Look for platforms that update attendance dashboards as employees clock in and out, send alerts for missed clock-ins or forgotten clock-outs, and show overtime accumulation before it becomes a costly surprise.

Time-off requests and approvals

Streamlined time-off management reduces the email back-and-forth that wastes managers' time and frustrates employees. Employees should be able to request time off through the same app they use to clock in, see their available balances before making requests, and get quick responses from managers.

Absence and leave management

Comprehensive leave tracking goes beyond simple PTO balances. The platform should handle different leave types (vacation, sick leave, personal days, parental leave), automatically accrue time-off balances based on your policies, comply with local and federal leave laws, and maintain audit trails for compliance purposes.

Monitor employee time allocation

Understanding where employee time goes helps you improve productivity and project management. Look for systems that let you track time by project, customer, job site, or task, compare estimated time against actual time for better future planning, identify which activities consume the most resources, and allocate labor costs accurately.

Rippling: The ultimate solution for employee time and attendance tracking

Most time and attendance platforms treat time tracking as an isolated function. Rippling takes a different approach by making time tracking part of a unified system that manages every aspect of the entire employee lifecycle.

This unified approach comes to life through features that tie time tracking directly to compliance, payroll, reporting, and automation:

Automated compliance across locations

Rippling automatically enforces federal, state, and local labor laws based on each employee's work location. When someone clocks in, the system applies the right overtime rules, break requirements, and wage standards without manual configuration. As regulations change or employees move between locations, compliance updates automatically.

Seamless payroll integration

Approved time flows directly into Rippling Payroll with no manual data entry, no rekeying information, and no reconciliation spreadsheets. The payroll system sees exactly how many hours each employee worked, what rates apply, which hours count as overtime, and what deductions to withhold. This integration eliminates the errors that plague businesses using separate time tracking and payroll systems. 

Real-time workforce visibility

Rippling's dashboards show you exactly what's happening with your workforce. You can see who's currently clocked in, who's late, who's approaching overtime, and what your labor costs look like for the day or week. You can drill down by department, location, or any other employee attribute to understand patterns and make informed decisions.

Powerful automation with Workflow Studio

Rippling's Workflow Studio lets you build custom automations around time and attendance. For example, you can automatically notify managers when employees are approaching overtime, send reminders to employees who forgot to clock out, enforce mandatory breaks after employees work a certain number of hours, or flag unusual attendance patterns for review. These workflows reduce the manual monitoring that consumes managers' time while ensuring policies are consistently enforced.

Comprehensive reporting

With over 150 customizable report templates, you can analyze your time and attendance data from every angle. You can track employee attendance trends by department, monitor overtime patterns, understand how schedule changes affect labor costs, compare budgeted hours against actual hours, or identify employees with attendance issues. The reports connect time data with other HR information, letting you correlate attendance with performance, turnover, engagement, or any other metric you track.

Scalable for growth

Whether you're managing 50 employees or 5,000, Rippling's unified data model provides consistent capabilities. You won't outgrow the system or need to migrate to enterprise software as your business expands. The same platform that handles basic time tracking for a small team also supports complex global operations with multiple entities, currencies, and compliance requirements.

Frequently asked questions