Time Management Tools: The Six Best Free Time Clock Software

SMEs can optimize their time and priority management processes using solutions such as an online time clock. This article presents a selection of six scoring tools that have received a minimum rating of 4.5/5 from Capterra users in India. Clocking software allows employees to notify their arrival and departure from work while facilitating for managers and human resources the tasks of monitoring attendance time and reviewing policies in place. 

Some such tools allow employees to register their attendance with a free mobile clocking application, submit and share documents via plug-ins adapted to their browser and even offer a geolocation option. In India, where companies with more than 20 full-time employees must respect the 35-hour week, a significant proportion of employees worked beyond this hourly volume in 2022, according to a study published by Eurostat. 

Therefore, it may prove interesting for an Indian SME to analyze the advantages of adopting timekeeping software. In this alphabetically sorted list, we have included clocking software with a free version, offering the main features of the clocking software category and having obtained a minimum score of 4.5/5. A complete methodology is available at the bottom of this article.

Clockify, A Free Online Time Clock To Help Manage Employee Schedules

1. Overall rating: 4.7/5
2. Ease of use: 4.7/5
3. Customer service: 4.6/5
4. Features: 4.6/5
5. Value for money: 4.7/5

Aimed at different types of businesses, Clockify presents a free time clock that makes it easier to track employee activity. Users can start or pause this solution, like a stopwatch, to indicate departure and arrival times. In Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS environments, Clockify allows you to clock in, create timesheets, request or approve days off, locate employees in real time, and manage employee permissions. Users.  

With this free time clock software, managers can view reports that segment time spent on the job. Users can import and export spending and behavior analytics. Additionally, they can compare costs and expenses and complete budgeting tasks. The paid and free versions of Clockify have a common core, with time and attendance tracking, staff scheduling, and leave management. 

1. Some features of the free version: The free version of Clockify comes with an option for unlimited activity tracking, inactivity detection, project reports, webhooks, and team messaging.
2. Some features of the paid version: The Basic pricing plan comes with a seven-day free trial. Users can benefit from additional features such as reminders, GPS tracking, budgeting tools, expense reports, audit logs, and custom subdomains.

Connecteam, A Free Tool To Automate Time And Activity Management

1. Overall score: 4.8/5
2. Ease of use: 4.7/5
3. Customer service: 4.9/5
4. Features: 4.6/5
5. Value for money: 4.7/5

Connecteam is an employee time tracking software suitable for SMEs with remote employees, on the move or on-site. They can request leave and use biometric recognition to clock in. HR managers can also use GPS tracking to verify team locations, monitor equipment usage, and provide two-way feedback using notes. 

In addition to tracking timesheets and performance, managers can synchronize tasks using a dedicated scheduler and calculate days off, breaks, and overtime. Deployable on Windows, Mac, Linux, Connecteam also includes a free pointing application adapted to Android and iOS environments.

1. Some features of the free version: The free Small Business version of Connecteam can be used by a maximum of ten users. It includes options such as clocking in and out in real-time, sending push notifications, exportable timesheets, and adding multiple team schedules as a block.
2. Some features of the paid version: The Basic pricing plan includes two-factor authentication (2FA), single sign-on ( SSO ), and access to the application programming interface ( API ).

Monitor The Productivity Of Your Teams Using DeskTime

1. Overall rating: 4.5/5
2. Ease of use: 4.6/5
3. Customer service: 4.5/5
4. Features: 4.3/5
5. Value for money: 4.4/5

DeskTime is a tool that makes it easier to manage project and task tracking, allowing employers to assess each employee’s contribution to the team’s workload. This time management platform segments the time spent in front of screens into productive, non-productive, or neutral activities. Employees can use DeskTime to change their work time by entering times or using a slider. Additionally, users can track attendance and days off. 

Managers have the option to reserve equipment, as well as calculate project costs based on workers’ hourly wages. Users can also access an absence calendar to record time off, generate custom reports, and use third-party integrations. The software can be used on Windows, Mac, and Linux and is available in a mobile application version adapted to Android and iOS environments.

1. Some features of the free version: opting for the web and mobile version called Lite and using DeskTime for free permanently. This allows users to benefit from features such as time tracking, staff scheduling, application tracking, web timer, and link tracking for a single-user
2. Some features of the paid version: Offering a free 14-day trial version, the Pro version of Desktime includes productivity calculation, monitoring of projects and costs involved, management of contact information team, or even personalized reports.

Findmyshift, A Time Management Tool To Facilitate The Organization Of Your Teams’ Schedule 

1. Overall rating: 4.6/5
2. Ease of use: 4.5/5
3. Customer service: 4.4/5
4. Features: 4.4/5
5. Value for money: 4.5/5

With Findmyshift, managers and employees can create and share schedules using a browser. This tool includes GPS tracking and relies on drag-and-drop manipulations to manage various features, including staff scheduling, online clocking, task reminders, SMS reporting, tracking days off, hours worked, and attendance.

Findmyshift allows managers to send and receive automatic notifications, with automatic notifications for unusual clocking activities. Employees receive notifications by email, text, or push notifications. The latter have a platform reserved for them, where they can, for example, request to exchange their schedules with other employees. 

Available on Windows and Mac, Findmyshift is also accessible in a deployable application format on Android and iOS. Via this application, employees can also track their working hours and perform clocking activities for their arrival and departure times,

1. Some features of the free version: Findmyshift offers a free version for teams of no more than five members and a manager. This release provides one week of planning and historical data and three weeks of access to the on-screen editor.
2. Some features of the paid version: The Starter paid version of the software offers a one-month free trial aimed at teams of up to 20 people and a manager. It includes up to one year of historical data, three months of planning, and six weeks of on-screen viewing and editing.

Administer URL Tracking And Information Exchange Using Hubstaff

1. Overall rating: 4.6/5
2. Ease of use: 4.4/5
3. Customer service: 4.5/5
4. Features: 4.4/5
5. Value for money: 4.5/5

Hubstaff is a time management tool adaptable to different business sectors, whether development companies, online merchants, construction companies, or even start-ups operating in various fields. Hubstaff offers time tracking features on Android and iOS mobile, computers with a Windows or Mac system, and browsers. Findmyshift presents a dashboard allowing access to online clocking, billing management, and report editing functionalities.

From the Hubstaff interface, managers can customize their dashboards with widgets, modify project budgets in real time, view task lists, and assign them remotely. This tool allows admins to review screenshots and track each team member’s apps, links, and locations. They can view timesheets, edit work schedules, and access an overview of payments, budgets, leave balances, and transactions. 

1. Some features of the free version: Hubstaff offers a free version for a single user. It includes online timecards, time and time off tracking, timesheets, invoicing, staff scheduling features, and mouse and keyboard usage tracking. Additionally, users can save a limited number of screenshots at 100MB per user per month.
2. Some features of the paid version: The paid Starter software offers a 14-day free trial. It includes application and URL tracking of up to 500 MB per user per month, managing 500 tasks, user-adjustable parameters, and screenshot recording of up to 500 MB per user per month.

Make It Easier For Employees To Clock In Using Biometric Facial Recognition Via Jibble

1. Overall score: 4.8/5
2. Ease of use: 4.8/5
3. Customer service: 4.7/5
4. Features: 4.6/5
5. Value for money: 4.8/5

Jibble is an online clocking software that allows employees to clock traditionally, using a selfie, whether they work on a Windows or Mac, and via a mobile operating on Android and iOS. Using GPS locators and biometric facial recognition, Jibble automatically logs attendance hours, tracks activity, and calculates accrued leave. Managers can track hours worked, manage payroll, schedule shifts, review time off requests, and access offline timesheets. This software also allows users to configure their input for more flexibility.

1. Some features of the free version: Jibble is available in a free version that integrates facial recognition and location restriction with two geofencing zones. Users can access built-in time tracking policies, timesheets, and payroll reports.
2. Some features of the paid version: The Premium paid version of the software offers a 14-day free trial. It includes unlimited locations, identity theft prevention, activity tracking, and an integrated workflow for timesheet approval.

When selecting the most appropriate time-tracking tool for your business, it’s important to make a list of features that you think are essential. In addition to free trials, many vendors offer free versions whose features may meet the needs of small businesses or start-ups. However, the bill may add other costs, such as setting up kiosks to clock in. It is for this reason that SMEs must carefully examine the functionalities offered before choosing the most suitable solution.

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