The 7 Best Time Tracking Software for Remote Employees

Let’s be honest – implementing time tracking for remote workers isn’t exactly what you dreamed of when you got into HR.

Between managing employee concerns, justifying investments to leadership, and trying to keep everyone productive (and happy), tracking hours might feel like just another headache waiting to happen.

But times have changed. Remote work is popular and trending.

And when you see companies struggle with remote work challenges – from managers drowning in manual timesheets to teams losing productivity through inefficient tracking – you quickly learn that the right time and employee monitoring solution can transform your remote workforce management from chaos to clarity.

We have examined most of the major time tracking options available (including some that had even the most patient HR managers pulling their hair out), from basic clock-in systems to comprehensive workforce management platforms.

Through extensive research and real-world implementation stories, we will share in this article what actually works for remote teams. No buzzwords or marketing fluff – just practical insights focused on what matters to you as HR professionals managing remote workforces.

The Winners

Too long to read? After lots of research and reviewing, these are our best recommendations for HR teams managing a remote workforce:

1. Buddy Punch: Best Overall Time Tracking Solution
2. Hubstaff: Most Flexible Employee Monitoring Tool
3. Insightful: Best for Automatic Time Tracking
4. Timely: Best for Agencies
5. TimeCamp: Best for Web Developers
6. Time Doctor: Best for Customer Support Teams
7. Clockify: Best Free Option

Key Takeaways

• Modern time tracking and employee monitoring software provides HR managers with concrete data to justify workforce decisions and demonstrate ROI to leadership, helping advance their strategic role in the organization.
• The article compares seven leading solutions—from comprehensive platforms like Buddy Punch and Hubstaff to specialized tools like Timely for agencies and Time Doctor for support teams—to help HR professionals select the option that best aligns with their organization’s needs and professional goals.
• Successful implementation requires careful attention to employee privacy concerns and clear communication strategies. This positions HR managers as thoughtful leaders who can balance workforce monitoring with employee trust.

Why Time Tracking for Remote Employees is Essential

Let’s face it – remote work isn’t going anywhere. While this flexibility is great for employees, it can give HR managers some serious headaches when tracking time and productivity. Don’t worry, you’re not alone in feeling this pressure.

Think about it: Your CEO wants to know if the remote work arrangement is actually working. Your finance team needs accurate billing for clients. And your department heads? They’re wondering if their teams are putting in the hours they claim.

Having solid time tracking data lets you confidently answer all these questions – and that’s the kind of thing that gets noticed in management meetings. (and makes you look like you know what you’re doing!)

Here’s what makes modern time tracking a game-changer:

• It gives you concrete data about employee productivity when leadership asks about remote team performance
• It helps you spot potential burnout before it becomes a PR nightmare (and shows you’re proactively managing employee wellbeing)
• It gives you hard data to justify additional headcount or resource requests
• It helps identify which teams might need extra training or support, showing you’re on top of professional development

The best part? When you implement a good time tracking system, you’re not just solving today’s problems – you’re positioning yourself as someone who thinks ahead. After all, nothing impresses leadership quite like having solid data to back up your workforce management decisions.

The Best Time Tracking Software for Remote Employees

1. Buddy Punch: Best Overall Time Tracking Solution

Remote teams choose Buddy Punch as their complete tracking solution because it masters basic time tracking and advanced remote work needs. This versatile platform stands out by combining essential features like simple clock-ins with sophisticated options for location verification, making it suitable for office workers, remote teams, and field staff.

Core Features Here’s what makes it the top all-around choice:

• Multiple time tracking methods (PIN, facial recognition, GPS)
• Single sign-on capabilities
• Advanced scheduling with overtime rules
• Comprehensive PTO management
• Mobile and desktop compatibility
• Robust reporting system
• Integration with major payroll systems
• Group and individual settings
• Multi-level permissions

What Makes It Great for Remote Teams: After seeing it excel across different work environments; here’s why it leads:

• Adapts to any work arrangement
• Scales from small to large teams
• Supports hybrid work models
• Handles complex schedules
• Offers detailed audit trails
• Enables seamless transitions
• Provides real accountability
• Maintains clear compliance

What’s Not So Great: Let’s be clear about the limitations:

• Higher initial investment
• Setup requires planning
• The learning curve for admins is a bit steep
• Some features need upgrades
• Mobile app could improve

Pricing: Starts at $4.49 per user monthly plus a $19 base fee, with Pro ($5.99/user) and Enterprise ($10.99/user) tiers available. Optional add-ons include payroll, scheduling, GPS tracking, and custom reporting features.

2. Hubstaff: Most Flexible Employee Monitoring Tool

If you are looking for unmatched control over your monitoring approach, Hubstaff is hard to beat. This adaptable platform includes an employee monitoring system with customizable tracking levels – from basic time logging to comprehensive activity monitoring. Its flexibility shines through customizable settings that adjust to different team cultures, roles, and privacy requirements.

Core Features: Here’s what makes it the most adaptable option:

• Adjustable screenshot frequency
• Optional activity level tracking
• Selective app monitoring
• Customizable tracking schedules
• Role-based privacy settings
• Flexible payment rules
• Multiple integration options
• Department-specific settings
• Varied reporting depths

What Makes It Great for Remote Teams: After seeing its versatility across organizations, here’s why it leads:

• Adapts to team preferences
• Changes as teams grow
• Supports mixed work styles
• Enables selective monitoring
• Balances trust with tracking
• Accommodates global teams
• Matches security needs
• Scales monitoring levels

What’s Not So Great:

• Premium features cost more
• Complex initial configuration
• Needs consistent internet
• Report setup takes time
• Basic free version

Pricing: Starts at $4.99 per seat monthly (2 seat minimum) with Starter plan, scaling through Grow ($7.50/seat), Team ($10/seat), and Enterprise ($25/seat) tiers. Optional add-ons available for enhanced features like Insights, Tasks, and Location tracking.

3. Insightful: Best for Automatic Time Tracking

If your team needs precise productivity data without manual input, then you may rely on Insightful’s automated approach. This employee monitoring platform stands out by capturing detailed work patterns automatically, giving remote managers accurate insights into distributed employee performance while eliminating the annoyance of manual time entry.

Core Features: Here’s what makes it the automatic tracking leader:

• Zero-touch time capture
• AI-driven work classification
• Remote activity monitoring
• Automated project mapping
• Smart productivity metrics
• Real-time performance data
• Intelligent idle detection
• Cross-platform tracking
• Automated status updates

What Makes It Great for Remote Teams: After seeing its impact on distributed teams, here’s why it excels:

• Eliminates manual tracking
• Measures remote productivity
• Creates accurate timesheets
• Spots remote work patterns
• Prevents burnout signs
• Maintains data accuracy
• Enables fair evaluations
• Supports flexible schedules

What’s Not So Great:

• Automation requires adjustment
• Limited offline support
• Detailed setup needed
• Higher tier costs
• Desktop emphasis only

Pricing: Starts at $6.40 per seat monthly (billed annually) for Productivity Management, with Time Tracking ($8/seat), Process Improvement ($12/seat), and custom Enterprise tiers available. Additional add-ons offered for enhanced monitoring features.

This pricing structure caters to larger organizations needing detailed productivity metrics.

4. Timely: Best for Agencies

If you are a remote agency team requiring precise billable hour tracking and project oversight, then you may embrace Timely’s intelligent approach. This AI-driven employee monitoring platform stands out at capturing time across distributed creative teams while maintaining clear client boundaries and accurate project tracking, making it perfect for agencies managing remote talent and multiple client relationships.

Core Features: Here’s what makes it essential for remote agency work:

• Remote activity monitoring
• Cross-timezone project tracking
• Virtual team collaboration tools
• Client-specific privacy settings
• Remote resource allocation
• Distributed team planning
• Automated time capture
• Remote work analytics
• Virtual team management

What Makes It Great for Remote Agencies: After seeing it perform in distributed settings, here’s why it excels:

• Tracks remote billable time
• Manages virtual teams
• Monitors project budgets
• Enables remote collaboration
• Supports global clients
• Maintains work boundaries
• Ensures billing accuracy
• Protects client privacy

What’s Not So Great:

• Premium pricing structure
• Remote planning costs more
• No remote payroll tools
• Weak offline support
• Complex feature set

Pricing: Starts at $9 per user monthly (billed yearly) for Starter plan, with Premium ($16/user), and Unlimited ($22/user) tiers available. Task management available as $5/user add-on. Enterprise solutions offered with custom pricing.

5. TimeCamp: Best for Web Developers

Remote development teams seeking seamless time tracking within their coding workflow can find a good solution in TimeCamp. This specialized platform works well at monitoring distributed development work, integrating directly with version control systems and development tools while providing clear insights into remote programming productivity.

Core Features: Here’s what sets it apart for remote dev teams:

• Remote Git activity tracking
• Virtual workspace monitoring
• Cross-platform code tracking
• Remote sprint management
• Distributed team analytics
• Remote milestone tracking
• Virtual standup support
• Remote billing automation
• Development API access

What Makes It Great for Remote Developers: After seeing it power distributed teams, here’s why it excels:

• Tracks remote coding time
• Monitors virtual sprints
• Enables remote collaboration
• Supports distributed teams
• Measures remote productivity
• Manages remote projects
• Syncs with dev platforms
• Ensures accurate billing

What’s Not So Great: Let’s be clear about the drawbacks:

• Remote access limitations
• Weak offline support
• Basic remote reports
• Integration costs
• Resource intensive

Pricing: Free plan available, with paid plans starting at $2.99 per user monthly (billed annually) or $3.99 month-to-month. Premium ($4.99/user), Ultimate ($7.99/user), and Enterprise ($11.99/user) tiers available for advanced features.

6. Time Doctor: Best for Customer Support Teams

If you are a remote support team requiring precise tracking of virtual customer interactions then we like Time Doctor as a good match. This specialized remote employee monitoring software does a good job at monitoring distributed support operations, ensuring consistent service levels across remote agents while providing clear visibility into virtual help desk performance.

Core Features: Here’s what makes it essential for remote support:

• Virtual activity tracking
• Remote interaction monitoring
• Distributed team scheduling
• Remote break management
• Secure screen monitoring
• Remote productivity metrics
• Virtual desk analytics
• Remote time allocation
• Global payroll support

What Makes It Great for Remote Support: After seeing it empower virtual support teams, here’s why it excels:

• Monitors remote responses
• Tracks virtual availability
• Manages global shifts
• Ensures quick responses
• Identifies remote blocks
• Supports global teams
• Connects support tools
• Maintains remote standards

What’s Not So Great: But its not perfect.

• Outdated remote interface
• Virtual monitoring gaps
• Complex remote setup
• Basic remote reports
• Premium pricing tier

Pricing: Starts at $5.90 per user monthly (billed annually) or $7 month-to-month for Basic plan, with Standard ($11.70/user), Premium ($16.70/user), and custom Enterprise tiers available.

7. Clockify: Best Free Option

Offsite teams who need cost-effective time tracking and employee monitoring can get good value in Clockify’s free tier. This no-cost option provides fundamental remote work tracking features without the financial barriers, making it a good fit for distributed teams starting their time-tracking journey or operating on limited budgets.

Core Features: Here’s what comes free for remote teams:

• Remote time tracking basics
• Virtual workspace management
• Remote calendar sync
• Distributed project tracking
• Remote team reporting
• Browser-based tracking
• Remote mobile access
• Virtual team oversight
• Cross-device support

What Makes It Great for Remote Teams: After seeing it enable distributed teams, here’s why it works:

• Tracks remote work simply
• Manages virtual projects
• Shows remote activities
• Creates distance reports
• Supports global teams
• Scales without cost
• Enables remote access
• Maintains free features

What’s Not So Great: There are a few remote trade-offs:

• Limited remote features
• Basic virtual controls
• Simple remote reports
• Manual time entry
• Few remote integrations

Pricing: A free plan with unlimited users and tracking is available, with paid plans starting at $3.99 per seat monthly (billed annually) or $4.99 monthly for Basic. Additional tiers include Standard ($5.49/seat), Pro ($7.99/seat), Enterprise ($11.99/seat), and Productivity Suite ($12.99/seat).

Choosing the Right Time Tracking Software

Choosing time tracking software is crucial for maximizing productivity and ensuring smooth operations. When evaluating options, consider these key factors:

Essential Features Worth Considering

• User Experience: Look for intuitive interfaces that encourage consistent use and quick adoption across teams. This saves valuable onboarding time and ensures steady participation.
• Automation Capabilities: Real-time data capture and automated reporting improve accuracy and save significant time on administrative tasks.
• Project Management Integration: Consider tools that include task management, assignment tracking, and workload prioritization features for efficient employee monitoring and fair task distribution.
• Customization Options: Flexible reporting and billing features help track progress, analyze time allocation, and stay within budget parameters.
• Technical Support: Evaluate the level and responsiveness of customer support to ensure issues are resolved efficiently with minimal disruption to operations.
• Security Standards: Strong encryption and data protection features safeguard sensitive employee information and protect against potential data breaches.

Does it have these performance tracking features?

• Individual and team productivity metrics for enhanced overall performance
• Workload balance monitoring for fair task distribution
• Resource allocation insights for optimal team efficiency
• Progress tracking capabilities for project management
• Employee monitoring features for maintaining productivity standards

Comparison at a Glance

Remember: The right solution should complement your existing processes while providing the insights needed for effective team management, enhanced productivity, and streamlined operations.

Rolling Out Time Tracking (Without Making Your Team Panic)

Getting time tracking right is all about smart implementation. Here’s how to make it happen smoothly:

1. Start With Clear Communication

No one likes surprises at work. Before launching any new system:

• Explain what’s in it for the team (more balanced workloads, faster response to overwork)
• Address the elephant in the room – yes, it’s tracking their time, but it’s not about micromanaging
• Share specific examples of how it will make their work life better
• Keep the door open for questions and concerns

2. Make Setup Simple

Save yourself future headaches by:

• Setting up both automatic and manual tracking options (because sometimes technology hiccups)
• Creating clear guidelines for clock-ins, task logging, and reviews
• Running quick training sessions (record them for future hires)
• Starting with a test group to work out the kinks

3. Handle Privacy Concerns Head-On

Build trust by being upfront about:

• What gets tracked and monitored (and what doesn’t)
• How data is protected
• Who can see what information
• How the data will be used

4. Put the Data to Work

Here’s where things get interesting:

• Watch for patterns in team productivity
• Spot bottlenecks before they become problems
• Use actual data to make decisions about workload distribution
• Share insights with the team regularly (it shows you’re using the data to help, not police)

5. Pro Tips

• Schedule regular check-ins to see how the system is working
• Be willing to adjust based on team feedback
• Keep celebrating wins and improvements the data reveals

Remember: Good implementation sets you up for long-term success. A little extra effort upfront prevents a lot of headaches down the road.

The Bottom Line

Let’s be honest: the best time tracking solution isn’t the one with the most features or the fanciest dashboard – it’s the one your team will use. After diving deep into these options and listening to HR managers in the trenches, here’s our straight-talk recommendation:

• Just starting with remote work? Buddy Punch. You mean business, simple enough to get everyone on board and robust enough to show leadership.
• Managing a large remote team? Hubstaff has the oversight features you need without feeling Big Brother-ish.
• Working with a tight budget? Clockify’s free plan will get you started without sacrificing essentials.
• Need serious productivity insights? Insightful will give you the data to back up your decisions.
• Already using QuickBooks? Their integration with TimeCamp could make your life much easier.

Remember, effective time tracking isn’t about monitoring every mouse click – it’s about supporting your team while getting the insights needed to make smart management decisions. Choose a tool that matches your needs, commit to a proper rollout, and I guarantee that three months from now, you’ll have data that makes your next leadership presentation shine.

Take it from someone who’s seen the before-and-after: getting this right now saves you countless headaches down the road. Your team gets the support they need, leadership gets the insights they want, and you? You get to be the person who made it all work seamlessly!

Frequently Asked Questions