TimeClock Plus Review

• TCP has three plans with monthly and annual pricing available, as well as several add-on features.
• TCP offers several time clock options, including web browsers, mobile clock apps, touchless badge readers, and biometric clocks.
• Most TCP users have the option of 24/7 support by phone, email, ticketing, and webchat.
• This review is for business owners and managers who are considering TCP by TimeClock Plus for their time and attendance system.

Scaling businesses often have expanding needs, and they need a time and attendance solution that is flexible enough to fit those needs. TCP by TimeClock Plus primarily serves midsize and large enterprises, and it is our choice as the best time and attendance solution for businesses that are ready to scale up. The company offers multiple plans, pay ranges, and customization options, which is great for businesses that intend to add to their plan as they scale. It also offers a variety of time clock hardware. Although some of these options can be expensive, you can easily start out with the web-based software on your company's computers or mobile devices, and then add on advanced time clock hardware as your needs grow. TCP also offers the option for 24/7 customer support, which can be an important feature for fast-scaling businesses.

TCP by TimeClock Plus Editor's Score: 92/100

Why TCP by TimeClock Plus Is Best for Scaling Businesses

The TCP software has several great qualities, but what really stands out above the competition is how customizable its plans are. Midsize and large businesses that are quickly scaling often have unique time and attendance needs that change as they grow. TCP by TimeClock Plus can match those needs with its plans that range from basic to advanced, with more than 10 add-on features available (depending on which plan you select), and you can scale your plan as needed.

Another thing that makes TCP stand out for scaling businesses is its variety of time clock options. Although its hardware can be on the pricey side, it's geared toward midsize and large businesses, which are more likely to afford it than small businesses with basic timekeeping needs. If needed, you can even start with a more basic punch-in option (e.g., web browser or mobile app), and then upgrade to more advanced hardware later on (e.g., biometric time clocks, PIN entry time clocks, touchless badge readers). TCP also offers thermal sensors, which we didn't see any of its competitors offer. These sensors help confirm your staff isn't sick when they clock in, which can be helpful to ensure your growing team stays safe and healthy.

Source: TimeClock Plus

Did you know? TCP's noninvasive thermal sensors are configured to help you maintain HIPAA and ADA compliance.

Pros

• TCP plans can be customized with a plethora of add-on features.
• The software is easily scalable to meet the needs of a growing organization.
• It offers several hardware and punch-in options.

Cons

• The hardware add-ons can be expensive.
• There are no free trials or free plans.

Usability

One aspect many large and fast-scaling businesses look for in a time and attendance system is the versatility to handle all of their timekeeping needs, especially as their teams grow. Having one platform that tracks when employees come and go, generates schedules, and manages paid time off can greatly simplify the timekeeping process – and TCP offers all of those features.

The software is extremely customizable, with several add-on features to choose from and the ability to integrate with hundreds of payroll and ERP providers. This enables you to build a solution that meets your exact timekeeping needs. We like that TCP also has a configurable dashboard that you can set up to match your software preferences. Although some of TCP's customizations have a bit of a learning curve, they simplify the overall usability of the software in the long run.

You can also add on the mobile app, which is available on iOS and Android devices. With this app, you and your team managers can review your dashboards, see which employees are currently working, and view and send messages to employees, regardless of location. Employees can use the app to clock in and out, change job and cost codes, review their hours, read messages from their managers, and approve their timecards. The mobile app uses GPS to record exactly where employees clock in and out from, in case you require them to work in certain locations.

Key takeaway: Only the Enterprise plan includes access to the TCP mobile app, but you can pay to add it on to another plan.

Features

TCP by TimeClock Plus has comprehensive features and add-on capabilities. Here are some of the services you can receive with TCP:

Time Tracking

TCP can help you automate employee time collection. Your team managers can view, approve, edit, and decline employee hours; they can also set "exceptions" for each employee (e.g., overtime, early clock-in or clock-out, short shift gaps, or missed breaks). Another feature we really like that can help scaling businesses maintain legal compliance is the ability to automate overtime management settings. For example, you can set overtime thresholds, make weighted overtime configurations, and set rules for comp time configurations. Managing time for a growing team can be tough, so the ability to automate these settings can be a big help, and not all competitors offer this level of automation.

Source: TimeClock Plus

If you have the TCP mobile app, you can set geofences for which locations employees are able to clock in and out from. Managers can also set GPS requirements and use the built-in GPS tracking to view where an employee punch took place. This feature is common in the industry, but it's especially helpful for scaling organizations to keep track of their mobile employees.

Tip: If you are managing a mobile workforce, you may want to also check out our review of QuickBooks Time. It caters to that type of time and attendance needs.

If your employees work various jobs and projects, you can use TCP's job code management and job-costing features to keep track of them. Tracking labor can help you manage your budget and staffing needs.

Hardware

TimeClock Plus can track employees' time in multiple ways. Employees can clock in and out by computer, mobile app, phone or time clock. You also have the choice of PIN entry, touchless badge readers, or biometric time clocks, which are advanced punch-in options that not every competitor offers. The biometric time clocks use fingerprint scans to ensure employees aren't clocking in and out for their peers.

Source: TimeClock Plus

One unique hardware option that TCP offers is a thermal sensor. This device can detect employee temperatures to ensure they are safe to work. We did not see this type of hardware offered by competitors, and it can be especially useful for fast-scaling businesses that want to maintain a safe and healthy workplace.

Tip: Although TCP time clocks can be expensive, you can easily start with the web-based clock and then add on advanced time clock hardware as your growing budget allows.

PTO Management

The options for handling employees' paid time off (PTO) are another benefit of this time and attendance system. Both the Professional and Enterprise plans track vacation and sick-time accruals. The Enterprise plan also includes advanced capabilities to track in-depth leave options like FMLA and leave calendars (Professional plan users can add on this ability). Managers can review, approve and deny employee PTO requests. This is on par with competitors.

Source: TimeClock Plus

Employee Scheduling

Managers can create, view, and edit individual schedules, and even complete weekly schedules for everyone in the company. Once created, schedules can be used to monitor and restrict when employees clock in and out, as well as to track late arrivals and absences. Some users have the ability to configure dynamic schedules, meaning employees can swap and drop shifts, and receive notifications. However, this function is only available as an add-on for the Enterprise plan, whereas most competitors offer some version of these shift-planning features in their standard plans.

Source: TimeClock Plus

One feature that TCP does offer that most competitors don't is shift differentials. This gives you the ability to create schedules with specific shifts that earn premium pay in addition to the employee's original pay. This helps you automate the proper pay for employees even in special circumstances.

Cost                

TCP by TimeClock Plus offers three time and attendance plans that range from basic to advanced. It also has several customization features that you can add on as needed, which is ideal for growing businesses with changing needs. We did not see this level of customization in many of its competitors. 

Monthly and annual pricing are both available, so you can find a payment plan that fits your needs. TCP offers a free demo, but it does not offer a free trial like many competitors do.

Here is a breakdown of each plan:

• The Time and Attendance Essentials plan costs a mere $2.50 per employee per month if you pay monthly, or $25 per employee per year if you pay annually. While this is one of the cheapest plans we've seen, it also has very limited features. You have the option to add on time clock devices and mobile apps for an extra fee.

• The Workforce Management Professional plan costs $5 per employee per month if you pay monthly, or $50 per employee per year if you pay annually. This is also on the cheaper side of the industry standard, and it includes many of the features a midsize business will need to start with. This plan is ideal for fast-growing businesses, because you have the option to add on several features as your needs expand. For example, you can add time clock devices, job costing, shift differential, advanced leave and overtime, annualized employee management, substitute management, 24/7 support, and mobile app access.

• If you have grown into a large enterprise with extensive time and attendance needs, you may want to consider the Workforce Management Enterprise It offers a plethora of advanced features and add-ons. Custom pricing is available for this plan based on your needs.

TCP also offers a selection of time clocks, but they can be rather expensive. You will need to contact TCP for a price quote on this hardware.

Tip: If you are a small growing business, check out our review of OnTheClock. This system is better suited for smaller businesses on a budget.

Setup

The process for setting up admins and employees in the system is pretty standard; however, you'll need to dedicate more time to it if you want to set up custom configurations. Because TCP offers so many customization and configuration options, the initial setup process can be more challenging than it is for other time and attendance software. Fortunately, TCP offers great customer support to help you navigate the configurations and overcome the steep learning curve.

Customer Service

Like many of the other companies we reviewed, TimeClock Plus offers a wealth of online resources. You can access a resource library, webinars, events, blogs, calculators and more on its website. These resources can be a great way to learn about TCP, and time and attendance solutions in general. If you are looking for direct support, you can reach customer service representatives by phone, email, ticketing and webchat.

Some TCP plans only provide customer support between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (CST), Monday through Friday. This type of business-hour support is industry standard. However, TCP takes customer support one step further for some users. Those with the Workforce Management Enterprise plan have access to 24/7 customer support – and those with the Workforce Management Professional plan can add on this feature. We were happy to see that TCP offers this option, because access to 24/7 support can be crucial to fast-scaling businesses that have questions outside of standard business hours.

Key takeaway: TimeClock Plus offers live customer support during business hours, but Enterprise users have access to 24/7 support by phone, email, ticketing, and webchat. Professional plan users can also add this option.

Drawbacks

One potential negative of TimeClock Plus is the cost of the hardware. The time clocks are very sophisticated, and they are also expensive. In fact, they're among the most expensive we found in our research of time and attendance systems.

Another downside is that TimeClock Plus doesn't offer a free trial like some of the other providers we examined do. However, if you are not satisfied with TCP for any reason, you can cancel your service within the first 30 days for a complete refund of the purchase price.

Methodology

We spent weeks researching and analyzing the best time and attendance systems to identify the top solutions on the market. We looked at features, pricing, integrations, usability, and customer support, and we even got hands-on experience with demos and product videos when possible. When looking for the best time and attendance solution for scaling businesses specifically, we prioritized features like scalability, usability, customization, employee scheduling, time tracking, time-off management, and punch-in options.

What Is a Time and Attendance System?

A time and attendance system is a digital solution that employees can use to clock in and out via web browsers, mobile apps, and tablet kiosks. Although the specific features and hardware that each system has may vary, businesses often use time and attendance systems to track employees' hours and locations, schedule employee shifts, manage paid time off, track job and project expenses, and communicate with team members.

FAQs

How does TimeClock Plus work?

Once you've set up your TimeClock Plus account and added employees to the system, your employees can use the software to clock in and out. TCP tracks the time an employee works when they clock in and out on a designated device (e.g., a computer, phone or time clock). Employees can also view their schedules, submit time-off requests, and track their jobs and projects. Managers can create employee schedules; review, approve, and deny employee hours and requests; track employee locations and overtime balances; and submit employee timecards for payroll.

Does TimeClock Plus track your location?

Yes, the TimeClock Plus mobile app can track your location if you clock in with a GPS-enabled smartphone. The GPS feature will track the coordinates of where an employee punches in and out, so managers can ensure their team members are working in their assigned locations. To take security one step further, employers can even set geofences so that employees are only able to clock in and out from specified locations.

Bottom Line

We recommend TCP by TimeClock Plus for …

• Midsize and large businesses.
• Fast-growing businesses.
• Businesses that want a custom time and attendance solution.

We don't recommend TCP by TimeClock Plus for …

• Very small businesses and startups.
• Businesses looking for low-cost time clock hardware.