Inaccurate timesheets can sink your bottom line, leading to payroll leakage, compliance risks, and razor-thin margins. As a construction business owner or operations manager, you need a reliable way to track employees’ hours accurately. Enter modern time-tracking apps, equipped with GPS trails, pay rules, approvals, and integrations that solve these costly problems.
This guide evaluates the top employee time-tracking apps for 2025, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses to help you make an informed decision.
Bottom Line Up Front
- Best for GPS-Precise Tracking: Workyard
- Best for Agencies: Toggl Track
- Best Budget Pick: Clockify
- Best for QuickBooks Users: QuickBooks Time
How We Evaluated Time-Tracking Apps
To determine the best time-tracking apps, we considered several criteria:
- Accuracy: Evaluated GPS/geofence fidelity.
- Ease of Use: Mobile and kiosk functionality.
- Approval Workflows: Streamlined processes for managers.
- Compliance: Pay rules, scheduling, and overtime management.
- Reporting & Job-Costing: Ability to generate valuable analytics.
- Integrations: Payroll and accounting software compatibility.
- Admin Controls and Data Export: Features that simplify management.
- Pricing Transparency: Clear cost structures.
- Implementation Speed and Support: Quick onboarding and assistance.
Our evaluation included pricing verification, documentation reviews, setup tests, and user feedback.
Quick Comparison of Top Time-Tracking Apps
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Software
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Best For
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Pricing (from)
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Key Features
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Pros
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Cons
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Rating (/5)
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Workyard
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Field crews with GPS & job costing
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From $6/user + $50 base (annual); free trial
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GPS clock, geofencing, job codes
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GPS accuracy, construction-ready UX
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Requires base fee
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4.5
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Toggl Track
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Agencies needing timers & reports
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Free (≤5 users); Starter $9/user/mo
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One-click timers, reports
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Fast onboarding, clean UX
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Limited native GPS
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4.2
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Clockify
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SMBs needing approvals
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Free core; Standard $5.49/seat/mo (annual)
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Timesheets, approvals, invoices
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Very low cost; unlimited users on free
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Advanced features require paid tiers
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4.3
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QuickBooks Time
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QuickBooks users
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Base + $/user; trial available
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GPS, kiosk, scheduling
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Tight QB integration
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Base fee can add up
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4.1
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Workyard: Best for GPS-Accurate Field Time & Job Costing
Workyard Key Features
Workyard is designed specifically for construction teams, offering precise GPS time tracking and real-time location trails. With features like geofenced clock-ins, you can ensure your employees are working at the right locations, significantly reducing time theft. Other key features include:
- Job Codes: Accurate job costing for better profitability.
- Mobile and Kiosk Clock-Ins: Flexibility for field and office workers.
- Payroll Exports: Seamlessly sync timecards to payroll systems for faster processing.
How to Use Workyard for GPS Tracking
- Set Up Geofences: Specify job site boundaries.
- Why it matters: Instantly notifies when employees clock in/out.
- Enable Auto Clock Rules: Automatically clock in employees when they enter a site.
- Why it matters: Reduces manual entry errors.
- Monitor Timesheets: Review and adjust in real-time.
- Why it matters: Minimize payroll disputes.
Workyard Pricing
Workyard operates on a per-user pricing model, starting from $6/user/month plus a $50/month company base fee. This creates a predictable cost structure that scales with your company's size.
Workyard Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Highly accurate GPS tracking.
- Intuitive interface built for field use.
- Reduces timesheet disputes.
- Comprehensive job costing tools.
Cons:
- Monthly base fee.
- Primarily designed for field teams, not pure desk workers.
Who Should Use Workyard
Workyard is perfect for construction companies and field services with 5 to 500 field staff, especially those needing precise payroll and job-costing workflows.
User Testimonial: “Workyard has transformed how we manage time tracking. No more guesswork—just accurate data.” — Jake T., Project Manager.
Toggl Track: Best for Agencies & Knowledge Work
Toggl Track is ideal for agencies and knowledge workers who need easy timer-based tracking.
Toggl Track Key Features
- Built-in Timers: Start and stop timers with a single click.
- Reporting: Generate detailed reports to track billable hours.
Step-by-Step for Starting a Timer in Toggl:
- Select a Project: Choose from your list of active projects.
- Click the Start Button: Begin tracking time.
- Stop When Done: Click the stop button to finalize your entry.
Pros:
- Fast onboarding.
- Minimal administrative friction.
Cons:
- Limited native GPS capabilities.
Clockify: Best Budget Pick for Growing SMBs
Clockify offers a budget-friendly solution with unlimited users on its free plan.
Clokify Key Features
- Timesheets: Easy to manage for all employees.
- Approval Workflows: Streamlining timesheet approvals.
Approval Flow Walk-Through:
- Submit Timesheet: Employees submit their hours for approval.
- Review: Managers can quickly review and approve or request changes.
Pros:
- Very affordable.
- Unlimited users on a free plan.
Cons:
- Advanced features are only available in paid tiers.
QuickBooks Time: Best for QuickBooks-Centric Payroll
QuickBooks Time is closely integrated with the QuickBooks ecosystem, making it ideal for teams already using this software.
QuickBooks Time Key Features
- Scheduling and PTO: Manage both effectively alongside time tracking.
- GPS and Kiosk: For accurate clock-ins.
Pros:
- Seamlessly integrates with QuickBooks.
- Strong scheduling features.
Cons:
How to Choose
When choosing a time-tracking app, consider your team dynamics:
- Field Teams vs. Desk Teams: If you're managing field crews, go for GPS capabilities.
- Budget & Use Cases: Weigh features against costs important for your business.
Pricing Guide
Time-tracking apps often use different pricing models:
- Per-User Fees:
- Base Fee Plus Per-User:
- Free Tiers:
Trends in Time Tracking
- AI Implementation: For auto-categorizing time entries.
- Compliance Automation: Ensuring that break and overtime rules are automatically enforced.
Time-Tracking Apps FAQs
Q: How secure is GPS tracking?
A: Most apps ensure data privacy and user permissions are respected.
Q: Can my team access timesheets offline?
A: Solutions like Workyard allow offline clocking, syncing data once back online.
Q: How can inaccurate timesheets impact my construction business?
Inaccurate timesheets can inflate labor costs, create payroll disputes, and make job-costing unreliable, which ultimately erodes your margins and cash flow.
Q: What should I look for in a time-tracking solution for field crews?
Focus on GPS accuracy, geofencing, simple mobile clock-ins, clear approval workflows, and strong reporting so you can trust your labor data and price jobs correctly.
Conclusion & Next Steps
Choosing the right time-tracking app can significantly enhance your business operations. For precision and job costing, try a 14-day free trial today and see the impact for yourself.