Final Verdict:
The 6 Best Time and Attendance Software for 2024

Written by Asim Qureshi
By Asim Qureshi, CEO Jibble

As a CEO of a time tracking software company I need to know what my competitors are up to. That means I’m often researching about and/or playing around with their products, you know, it’s part of the job. I also know which of our competitors are highly-regarded in the industry as people talk, word gets around. Here, I share some findings of my research or conversations, giving credit to those competitors where credit is due. I hope it helps you make the right decision…

Overview

As the workforce becomes more distributed and diverse, managing employee attendance has become a complex and time-consuming task. It’s not just about tracking when employees clock in and out anymore, but also managing leave requests, shift scheduling, and compliance with labor laws.

As a leading time and attendance software company, we understand the importance of choosing the right tool to manage your workforce effectively. That’s why we’ve researched and evaluated the top 6 time and attendance software options on the market to provide you with a comprehensive view of what’s available. Our team has gone to great lengths to ensure that our reviews are based on a thorough analysis of each software’s strengths and weaknesses, backed up by real-time testing and current users’ feedback.

Whether you’re looking for a cloud-based time and attendance software, a mobile app infused with GPS tracking for workers on the go, or an affordable and easy-to-use time and attendance option, we’ve highlighted each software very clearly. It’s just up to you to pick the right one that fits your unique needs.

Visual of time and attendance software

The definitive list

1. Jibble

Jibble is a feature-rich time and attendance software that streamlines the time and attendance tracking process for businesses of all sizes. With Jibble, employees can clock in and out from their smartphones or computers, and the software automatically calculates their working hours and generates reports for payroll purposes. Some of the key features of Jibble include real-time time tracking, geolocation tracking, integration with biometric devices, and leave management. Its mobile app allows users to mark attendance from anywhere and includes an offline mode for when users do not have internet access, which can be synced to the database later. Jibble is well-suited for businesses requiring employees to be on the move often, especially in areas with poor internet connection.

Jibble’s real-time reporting and tracking not only ensure that the data is up-to-date and error-free but also help in generating insightful reports that are vital when making important business decisions. It also gives employers a snapshot of the company’s performance. The software offers excellent customer support and different pricing plans, including a free version, catering to businesses of all sizes.

Sure, Jibble is our product, but independently it is actually the highest-rated app according to the aggregate of reviews on sites such as Capterra, GetApp, G2, App store, and Play store.

What Users Like

  • Free
  • Easy to use
  • Affordable price range
  • Great customer support
  • Feature-rich
  • Accurate and efficient 

What Users Don’t Like

  • Occasional glitches with the mobile app logging out

Key Features

  • Customization
  • Extensive reports and analysis
  • Facial recognition and GPS tracking
  • Automated timesheets and reports 
  • Automated alerts 
  • Mobile access

The obvious advantage that Jibble has is that it’s a free time and attendance software. Start using Jibble right now.

Jibble time and attendance software showing clock ins and clock outs

2. BuddyPunch

BuddyPunch is a cloud-based time and attendance software that helps businesses monitor attendance, employee schedules, and tasks assigned. Employees can only clock in with facial recognition, thus preventing the chance of an employee clocking in for someone else. Users can also limit who can clock in by using the geofences feature. 

Furthermore, BuddyPunch provides scheduling capabilities, allowing managers to schedule shifts, approve or deny time off requests, and set up automatic alerts and notifications. The software’s user-friendly design simplifies managing teams and keeping track of their activities. It also offers an easy, smooth experience with push notifications to keep employees informed. BuddyPunch’s significant features include department codes, integration with Zapier, automatic calculation of time off, customizable reporting, and easy-to-use multi-device punch-in options. 

What Users Like

  • Easy-to-use 
  • Smooth functioning web version
  • Facial recognition and geofencing

What Users Don’t Like

  • Complicated editing
  • Enterprise-only API
  • Slow loading time on androids
  • Difficulty with punching out 

Key Features

  • Department Codes
  • Zapier Integration
  • Facial recognition
  • Geofences

Why not check out our full, and of course completely honest, BuddyPunch review?

Buddypunch facial recognition system with timesheet

3. Deputy

Employee scheduling, timesheet management, and workplace communication are all made simpler with Deputy, an all-in-one time and attendance software. It enables employers to record attendance, create schedules, and track employee hours in real-time. If an employee cancels their shift, employers can cover the vacancy by sending a request to the next available staff employee and marking their attendance accordingly. 

The software has various features, including facial recognition and GPS tracking, along with timesheets and payroll integration. Its rostering capabilities allow employers to calculate wages automatically, schedule breaks and get extensive reports showing labor hours and profits. All of this combined makes it a 4-star rated time and attendance software. 

What Users Like

  • Economic price
  • Extensive reports
  • Mobile access

What Users Don’t Like

  • Not easy to use
  • Outdated user interface
  • Lack of customizations
  • Lack of functions in mobile app

Key Features

  • Real-time attendance tracking
  • Employee break compliance
  • Auto scheduling
  • Payroll integrations with HR and POS systems

Why not check out our full, and of course completely honest, Deputy review?

Attendance chart

4. DeskTime

DeskTime is a time and attendance software that assists organizations in optimizing team efficiency and project management. Users can track attendance and other daily activities like sick leaves, days off, and overtime. Managers can also check which apps and websites employees use and how much time they spend offline.

DeskTime is also highly user-friendly and accessible from any device with an internet connection, making it easy to track attendance from anywhere, at any time. It generates detailed reports about cost estimations and extensive project billing. With more features like a Pomodoro timer and private time, employers can remind employees not to overdo themselves while staying productive. 

What Users Like

  • Integration with multiple apps 
  • Automatic shift scheduling

What Users Don’t Like

  • Logs out automatically 
  • Inaccurate work hours recorded
  • New upgrades lack original features
  • Reports are not easy to understand
  • Crashes

Key Features

  • Pomodoro timer
  • Private time option
  • URL and app tracker
  • Project management

Why not check out our full, and of course completely honest, DeskTime review?

Attendance and absence tracker

5. QuickBooks Time

QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets) is a time and attendance software that combines scheduling and attendance tracking. The application has a clear advantage over rivals because its employee tracker is built-in with the widely used QuickBooks.

The software offers a web dashboard, mobile app, and time kiosk that enables real-time monitoring of employees and their actions from anywhere. Its GPS tracking and geofencing features ensure that attendance is authentic by preventing buddy punching and restricting clocking in to specific work locations. PTO tracking, team scheduling, time kiosk, project tracker, and API interaction with third-party applications are just a few other features of QuickBooks Time.

What Users Like

  • Real-time GPS tracking and geofencing 
  • Streamlined payroll management

What Users Don’t Like

  • Lack of simultaneous tracking for projects
  • Overpriced
  • Poor customer support
  • Faulty functionality after Intuit’s acquisition

Key Features

  • PTO tracking
  • Team scheduling
  • Time kiosk
  • Project tracker

Why not check out our full, and of course completely honest, QuickBooks Time review?

Time kiosk

6. ClockShark

ClockShark is a time and attendance software for businesses seeking to record attendance, track employee hours, run payroll, and understand job costs in a simplified way. The attendance is marked using the time clock, but it also has a “who’s working now” feature that shows the names of all employees currently clocked in, their task assignments, and their starting time. The time clock kiosk feature allows employers to set up a single device to clock in and out, thus saving time and preventing the possibility of buddy punching by enabling facial recognition.

ClockShark allows users to track time using multiple devices like mobile phones and desktops, create invoices, and accept payments online. ClockShark also integrates with leading apps such as QuickBooks, Sage 100 Contractor, Xero, and ADP.

What Users Like

  • Easy to setup and launch
  • ‘Who’s working now’ function

What Users Don’t Like

  • Can’t add passed time
  • Clunky mobile app
  • Limited adjustment of pay rate between tasks
  • Difficult to adding sick days 
  • Requires good internet connection

Key Features

  • Communication 
  • Job management
  • GPS tracking and geofencing
  • Employee scheduling app

Why not check out our full, and of course completely honest, ClockShark review?

ClockShark time and attendance app.