What is the best construction time tracking software in 2026?
Six apps ranked so a crew member clocks in from the jobsite in two taps, the hours land on the right job, and payroll gets them without retyping.
Counting hours is the easy part. The hard part is knowing which job they belong to, getting the foreman to approve them, and sending them to payroll and job costing without a Friday night of data entry. For a contractor who wants GPS and automatic clock-in built for the field, Workyard is our top pick. If your crew is 10 people or fewer, Connecteam is free. If your office already lives in QuickBooks, QuickBooks Time keeps everything in one place. And if you want GPS at a per-seat price, Clockify.
Some links may be affiliate links. The ranking is editorial: a sponsored spot is always labeled on its card, and no affiliate link changes a score.
The best construction time clock for your situation
Plans start at $6 per user per month, billed annually
Free for crews of 10 or fewerThen Basic at $29 a month for 30 users
GPS at a per-seat priceGPS from Pro, $7.99 per seat per month billed annually
Your books are in QuickBooksPremium $20 a month plus $10 per user
Free with no user limitFree forever plan, unlimited users
Your office already runs HubstaffFrom $4.99 per seat per month billed annually
6 construction time tracking apps compared
The "Jobsite control" column does the first sort. An app that records hours but cannot tie them to the site leaves you with the slowest part of the job: checking who was really where. Prices come from each vendor's official pricing page, in US dollars.
| Best for | Jobsite control | Free plan | Team size | Visit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Workyard | Field-first | GPS, arrival detection, auto clock-in by geofence | 4.3/5 | From $6/user/mo, annual | — | 5 to 50 field workers | Visit → |
| 2 | Connecteam | Free to 10 | Geofence for up to 10 sites on Advanced | 4.2/5 | $0; Basic $29/mo | ✓ | 2 to 30 people | Visit → |
| 3 | Clockify | Per seat | GPS from Pro, kiosk from Basic | 4.2/5 | Pro $7.99/seat/mo | ✓ | 2 to 25 people | Visit → |
| 4 | QuickBooks Time | QuickBooks shops | Geofencing in the Workforce Elite bundle | 4.0/5 | $20/mo + $10/user | — | 5 to 50 people | Visit → |
| 5 | Jibble | Free, unlimited | GPS and geofencing described | 3.7/5 | $0; paid on its page | ✓ | 2 to 50 people | Visit → |
| 6 | Hubstaff | Activity tracking | GPS and geofence auto clock-in | 2.9/5 | Starter $4.99/seat/mo | — | Teams already on Hubstaff | Visit → |
Prices shown by vendors in 2026, before tax. "Billed annually": monthly price on a yearly plan.
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How we compared and ranked
We started from a real contractor, not an office: 2 to 50 people in the field, several jobs running at once, a foreman who signs off on hours, and a bookkeeper who needs clean data for payroll and job costing. Our central test fits in one sentence: a worker clocks in from a phone in two taps, the hour lands on the right job, the foreman approves it, and payroll picks it up without retyping.
For each app, we read the official pricing page plan by plan: what is counted (user, seat, flat fee), which plan unlocks GPS, geofencing, approvals and exports, and what is sold as an add-on. Then we ran the numbers for two crews, 10 and 25 people. We also went through user reviews for the issues that show up on real sites: offline sync, GPS drift, forgotten clock-outs and support. An app with no readable official price is not ranked: we never publish a price we only saw on a review site.
- Jobsite hoursMobile clock-in, hours tagged to the job, foreman approval.Heaviest
- Payroll and job costingClean export to payroll and to your accounting software.Heavy
- Cost for 10 and 25 workersThe real monthly bill from the official price grid, not the entry price.Heavy
- Field conditionsGPS, geofencing, kiosk mode for crews without smartphones.Medium
- Trial and contractTrial length, card required or not, monthly or annual, contract length.Medium
- User feedbackThe complaints that keep coming back: sync, GPS accuracy, support.Light
Some links may be affiliate links. The ranking is editorial: a sponsored spot is always labeled on its card, and no affiliate link changes a score.
Workyard
Workyard is built for crews that move between jobsites. Its GPS tracking is designed to be precise enough to tell which job a worker is on, it detects arrivals on site, and its Autopilot feature clocks workers in and out automatically when they cross a geofence (a virtual fence drawn around the site). For a foreman, that means fewer forgotten clock-ins and fewer timesheets to fix on Friday.
Pricing starts at $6 per user per month, billed annually. For a crew of 10, that is $60 a month on the entry plan; for 25, $150. The features that matter most on a jobsite can sit on higher plans, so check which tier includes Autopilot and the payroll integrations you need before you commit. A 14-day trial, no card lets you run it on a live job.
The catch: automatic clock-in depends on location being switched on, and some crews push back on that. Explain clearly that location is used for time on site, not to follow people after hours. Some comparison sites mention an extra base fee on top of the per-user price; we did not see one on the official page, so ask for a written quote.
- Auto clock-in when a worker crosses the site geofence
- GPS designed to tell jobs apart
- Entry price per user, billed annually
- ✓Made for multi-site crews, not office staff
- ✓Fewer forgotten clock-ins thanks to Autopilot
- ✓14-day trial on a real job
- ✗Key field features may sit on higher plans
- ✗Only the entry price is shown up front
- ✗Crews need location switched on for auto clock-in
Our top pick for a contractor running several jobs at once. Start the trial on your busiest site, check the plan that includes Autopilot, and get the final per-user price in writing.
Connecteam
Connecteam is an app built for deskless teams, with the time clock at its core. Its pricing is what makes it stand out for a small contractor. Up to 10 users, it is free forever. Past that, Basic costs $29 a month billed annually ($35 monthly) for the first 30 users, then $0.80 per extra user.
Geofencing, which only lets workers clock in when they are on site, comes with Advanced at $49 a month billed annually, for up to 10 sites. Expert costs $99. A 25-person crew working on 4 jobs therefore pays $49 a month on Advanced, far below any per-user app at that size.
Two things to check during the 14-day trial, no card. Offline clock-in is not mentioned on the pricing page, so have someone clock in from a basement before you sign. And map the export to your payroll provider early: Connecteam records hours well, but job costing codes and prevailing wage details are your setup, not built-in.
- Free forever up to 10 users
- Flat price for the first 30 users
- Geofence per site from Advanced
- ✓Lowest paid flat price from 11 to 30 people
- ✓Simple app for crews who are not tech-savvy
- ✓Bill does not jump with every new hire
- ✗Offline mode not mentioned on the pricing page
- ✗Geofencing capped at 10 sites on Advanced
- ✗Job costing setup is on you
The best starting point for a crew still on paper timecards. Start free with your first 10 people, and move to Advanced only when you want to lock clock-ins to the jobsite.
Clockify
Clockify is a general time tracker that many office teams already use. It handles field time too, but you have to climb the price grid. Kiosk mode (a shared tablet where each worker clocks in with a PIN) comes with Basic at $3.99 per seat per month billed annually ($4.99 monthly). Timesheet approvals come with Standard at $5.49 billed annually. GPS location comes with Pro at $7.99 per seat per month billed annually ($9.99 monthly).
The math is simple: 10 workers on Pro cost $79.90 a month, 25 workers $199.75. Above about 20 people, a flat-price app like Connecteam ends up cheaper.
The limit for construction: Clockify is not built around construction payroll. You export hours and handle the rest elsewhere. Its real strength is project and client reporting, which helps if you bill time and materials work by the hour.
- GPS from Pro at $7.99 per seat
- Kiosk mode from Basic
- Free plan to get started
- ✓Detailed public price grid
- ✓Hours grouped by project and client
- ✓Handy for time and materials billing
- ✗GPS only from Pro
- ✗No construction-specific payroll features
- ✗Per-seat price climbs with crew size
A good fit if your office already runs Clockify and you want to add the field. For a contractor starting from scratch on the jobsite, a field-first app will save more time at payroll.
QuickBooks Time
QuickBooks Time is the time clock of the QuickBooks family. Its main advantage is obvious: if your bookkeeper already lives in QuickBooks, hours land where payroll and job costing happen, with no export file to fix.
The price combines a base fee and a per-user fee. Premium costs $20 a month plus $10 per user, Elite $40 plus $12 per user. For 10 workers, that is $120 a month on Premium or $160 on Elite; for 25, $270 or $340. Geofencing, which many contractors want, shows up on the pricing page in the Workforce Elite bundle at $134 a month plus $17 per employee. Read the plan details carefully: that jump is the main surprise.
The 30-day trial applies to the base fee. Use it to run a full pay period, including approvals by your foremen, before you add every worker.
- Hours flow straight into QuickBooks
- Base fee plus per-user pricing, all public
- 30-day trial
- ✓No export file between time and payroll
- ✓Familiar for QuickBooks bookkeepers
- ✓Long trial for a full pay period
- ✗Geofencing tied to the Workforce Elite bundle
- ✗Gets expensive with a large crew
- ✗Less useful if you do not use QuickBooks
The natural choice if QuickBooks is already your back office. If you are leaving QuickBooks, see our guide to switching from QuickBooks before you pick a time clock.
Jibble
Jibble is a mobile time clock whose free plan has no user limit. Depending on the plan, its pricing page describes GPS, geofencing, offline clock-in, facial recognition, kiosk mode and payroll exports. For a 30-person crew on paper timecards, it is the cheapest way onto phones.
User reviews are mixed. One reviewer switched from QuickBooks timesheets and calls the GPS absolutely necessary. Others report offline clock-ins that did not sync well, support that is hard to reach, and a higher price than their previous tool once they moved to paid. Test offline mode on a real site before rolling it out.
Jibble also ranks first on Google for this query with its own list. Read vendor lists for what they are: useful, but not neutral.
- Free with unlimited users
- GPS, geofencing and offline clock-in described
- Kiosk mode for crews without phones
- ✓Zero cost to start, even at 50 people
- ✓Quick to set up
- ✓Payroll export included in the description
- ✗Offline sync criticized in reviews
- ✗Support called hard to reach
- ✗Paid plan prices depend on your country
The right pick to move off paper without spending a dollar, as long as offline sync holds up on your jobsites.
Hubstaff
Hubstaff is first an activity tracker for remote teams: screenshots, activity levels, app tracking. It also has a mobile app with GPS clock-in and geofencing that clocks workers in and out automatically at a jobsite, which is why it shows up in construction lists.
Pricing runs from $4.99 (Starter) to $25 (Enterprise) per seat per month on annual billing, with Grow at $7.50 and Team at $10, and a 2-seat minimum on paid plans. Ten workers on Team cost $100 a month, 25 cost $250. GPS and some reports depend on the tier or on add-ons, so confirm the exact plan before signing.
Our 2.9 out of 5 score comes from our full review: repeated billing complaints (surprise renewals) and weak support. Users also report GPS and automatic clock-in failing inside some buildings, which hurts on a jobsite.
- Geofence auto clock-in at the jobsite
- Well-rated mobile apps
- Public per-seat pricing
- ✓Useful if the office already runs it
- ✓Geofencing so workers do not have to think about it
- ✓Plenty of integrations
- ✗Built for monitoring remote work
- ✗Repeated billing complaints
- ✗GPS issues reported inside some buildings
Not a first choice for construction. Keep it only if your office is already on Hubstaff, and read our full Hubstaff review first.
What does construction time tracking really cost?
The entry price means nothing until you know what is counted: a flat fee, each user, or both. We ran the numbers from the official price grids, per month, for two crew sizes.
A crew of 10
Most commonJibble and Connecteam stay at $0: Connecteam is free up to 10 users, Jibble has no user limit. Workyard starts at $60 a month ($6 × 10). Clockify Pro, for GPS, is $79.90. Hubstaff Team is $100. QuickBooks Time Premium is $120 ($20 + 10 × $10), Elite $160.
Tip: count the office person who approves time and runs payroll. Most per-user apps bill that seat too.
- Cheapest
- Connecteam or Jibble, $0
- Field-first
- Workyard, from $60
A crew of 25
GrowingJibble stays free. Connecteam moves to paid: Basic at $29 a month covers 30 users, and Advanced, with jobsite geofencing, costs $49. Workyard starts at $150. Clockify Pro reaches $199.75, Hubstaff Team $250. QuickBooks Time Premium costs $270 ($20 + 25 × $10), Elite $340.
Tip: at this size, the real cost is rework. If your bookkeeper spends a day each pay period fixing timesheets, the gap between the cheapest and the best-fitting app pays for itself fast. Time that day before you decide.
- Lowest flat price
- Connecteam Advanced, $49
- Per user
- Workyard, from $150
Hours are not enough: what payroll and job costing need
Most top-ranking lists talk about clocking in. On a construction business, a misfiled hour hurts your job costing more than a late clock-in. Here is what your app must hand over.
Hours tagged to the job
The basicsAn hour with no job attached is useless for job costing. Workyard ties hours to the site through GPS. Connecteam, Clockify and Jibble do it through a project or job you create for each site. QuickBooks Time ties them to customers and jobs in QuickBooks.
Tip: set up your job list before inviting the crew, with short names workers recognize.
- Automatic
- Workyard
Certified payroll on public jobs
US public workOn federally funded jobs, contractors submit certified payroll every week, usually on form WH-347, an optional template that satisfies the rules. Before you pick an app, ask the vendor in writing whether its export gives your payroll provider what it needs for that form. If it does not, you will rebuild it by hand every week.
- Form
- WH-347
Foreman approval
ControlThe foreman is the only one who knows if someone left early. A weekly approval avoids end-of-month disputes. Clockify includes approvals from Standard; check where they sit in the other plans during your trial.
- Rhythm
- Weekly
The export to payroll
Pay periodRun a test export during the trial and send it to your bookkeeper or payroll provider. An export that needs an hour of cleanup each period cancels most of the gain. If you are also choosing payroll, see our small business payroll software ranking.
- Test
- During the trial
The real risk: workers who forget to clock out
Vendors say it themselves: the first problem in the field is forgotten clock-ins and clock-outs. Reviews add two more: basements with no signal and GPS that drifts. Here is what works.
A kiosk for workers without a smartphone
CrewA tablet in the site trailer, where each worker clocks in with a PIN, solves the problem of crew members with no work phone or who refuse to install an app on their own. Clockify includes it from Basic, and Jibble describes it on its pricing page, depending on the plan.
- In
- Clockify, Jibble
Test offline mode in a basement
FieldThe complaint that comes back most in Jibble reviews: clock-ins made with no signal that do not sync well. During the trial, have someone clock in from an underground garage, then check the recorded time once they are back online.
- Test
- One offline clock-in
Do not trust GPS blindly
AccuracyOne ClockShark user describes a clock-in showing up 3 miles from the office. Hubstaff reviews mention location failing inside some buildings. Use location to flag an anomaly, never to dock pay automatically.
- Rule
- The foreman decides
Turn on end-of-day reminders
Forgotten punchesMost apps can notify a worker who has not clocked out. Switch it on from day one, and have foremen approve hours every week rather than at month end: mistakes get fixed while everyone still remembers the day.
- Approval
- Weekly
What makes a time tracking rollout fail, and what to check
Bad surprises come from the price grid, the contract and the field. Here is what to check before you sign.
The plan without the feature
Clockify has GPS only on Pro, Connecteam has geofencing only from Advanced, QuickBooks Time puts geofencing in the Workforce Elite bundle. The entry price is almost never your price.
Hidden prices
ClockShark does not show its prices on its pricing page. If a vendor will not publish a price, ask for a written quote with the renewal price.
Long contracts
ClockShark states a 3-year contract on all its plans. Read the term before you sign, and compare it with month-to-month options.
Location consent
State rules on employee location tracking differ. Tell workers in writing when location is recorded, and limit it to work hours.
Facial recognition
Some apps offer face checks at clock-in. Biometric data is regulated in several states: check your state's rules before you switch it on.
Annual billing
Annual prices are lower, but lock you in. Run two full pay periods on monthly billing before you commit for a year.
- Plan that includes GPS or geofencing
- Approval workflow for foremen
- Offline clock-in test passed
- Written location policy
- Contract length and renewal price
- Test export accepted by payroll
Other tools: quote-only or no readable price
These tools come up in every construction time tracking search. We do not rank them because we could not read an official price: we never publish a price seen only on a review site.
ClockShark: field time clock with a 3-year contract
Price on requestClockShark offers GPS, geofencing and integrations with QuickBooks, ADP, Gusto and Xero, with a 14-day trial, no card of its Pro plan. Its pricing page shows no prices and states a 3-year contract on all plans. Reviews mention GPS accuracy problems and no time-off tracking.
- Contract
- 3 years
busybusy: offline time and equipment
Price not readablebusybusy is known for offline clock-in and equipment tracking. We could not read its official pricing page in full, so we do not quote a price here: check it directly with the vendor.
- Price
- On its page
Procore: the full construction platform
QuoteProcore covers the whole project, timesheets included, on a quote. If you are leaving it, see our guide to switching from Procore.
- Price
- Quote
Buildertrend: for home builders and remodelers
QuoteBuildertrend includes time tracking inside a full project management suite. Pricing is on a quote. For the full category, see our construction management software ranking.
- Price
- Quote
Pick your next step based on what you need
Time tracking sits next to your project, estimating and payroll tools. Here are our other rankings for contractors.
Scheduling, daily logs, budgets
You need better estimatesBest construction estimating softwareQuote jobs faster and more accurately
You also run payrollBest small business payroll softwarePull hours in without retyping
You are weighing HubstaffHubstaff reviewOur full review, 2.9 out of 5
You are leaving ClockifySwitch from ClockifyAlternatives and migration
You are leaving QuickBooksSwitch from QuickBooksAlternatives and migration
Construction time tracking: frequently asked questions
Is there a free time tracking app for construction?
Yes. Connecteam is free up to 10 users and Jibble is free with no user limit. Both record hours on a phone; neither handles certified payroll or job costing on its own.
Can I track my employees' location with a time clock app?
Yes, but tell them in writing and limit tracking to work hours. Rules differ by state, so a short written policy signed by each worker is the safe default.
What is geofencing in a construction time clock?
A virtual fence drawn around a jobsite. The app only allows clock-in inside it, or clocks the worker in automatically when they arrive. Workyard does this with Autopilot; Connecteam includes it from Advanced for up to 10 sites.
How do crews clock in without cell service?
Pick an app that saves the punch offline and syncs it later, then test it in a basement during the trial. Reviews show sync does not always work: check the recorded time, not just that the punch exists.
Does every worker need a smartphone?
No. A kiosk, a shared tablet where each worker clocks in with a PIN, avoids forcing an app onto personal phones. Clockify includes it from Basic, and Jibble describes it on its pricing page, depending on the plan.
Does the time tracking app need to handle certified payroll?
Only if you work on federally funded jobs, where weekly certified payroll is required (form WH-347 is the Labor Department's optional template for it). In that case, ask the vendor in writing whether its export covers it before signing.
How much does construction time tracking cost for 15 workers?
From $0 to about $170 a month. Connecteam Basic is $29 a month for 15 people, Workyard starts at $90, Clockify Pro is $119.85, QuickBooks Time Premium $170 ($20 + 15 × $10). Add the office user if the app bills that seat.
Is Excel enough to track field hours?
For up to five workers on one or two jobs, often yes. Beyond that, the problem is collection, not the spreadsheet: timecards arrive late, incomplete or unreadable. A free app like Connecteam fixes collection without changing payroll.