OnTheClock Review

• OnTheClock provides the best small business feature set in an easy-to-use platform.
• The software is free for the first two employees and affordable for businesses of all sizes.
• GPS technology shows where employees are when they clock in and out.
• This review is for business owners and managers who are considering OnTheClock for their time and attendance system.

Small, growing businesses often struggle with very limited budgets and need to be mindful of where they spend their money. As you hire your first employees, you will need an affordable and comprehensive timekeeping system that is easy to use and can scale with your business as it grows. We recommend OnTheClock as the best time and attendance software for small, growing businesses.

OnTheClock is one of the only time and attendance systems we reviewed that offer a free plan, and its 30-day free trial is longer than most competitors'. The cloud-based software can be accessed on a tablet, computer or smartphone, thus eliminating the need to purchase a physical time clock. Even though the system is low-cost, it doesn't skimp on features – the interface is intuitive and includes high-end features, such as GPS tracking, employee scheduling, payroll integration and paid-time-off (PTO) management. Users also gain access to free customer support, which can be especially useful for new users.

OnTheClock Editor's Score: 93/100

Why OnTheClock Is Best for Small, Growing Businesses

When looking for the best time and attendance solution for small, growing businesses, we sought a product that was low-cost, scalable and easy to use. OnTheClock is one of the most affordable time tracking solutions we analyzed, with plans costing less than $3 per employee per month. Additionally, OnTheClock plans can be upgraded or downgraded to meet your current staff size, which is necessary for small businesses that are expanding quickly.

OnTheClock has all of the standard features a small business needs in a time tracking solution, such as employee scheduling, time off management and project reporting. We liked that these tools enable you to manage all your time and attendance needs in one platform. It even has in-app messaging for your team to communicate, which is not a feature every competitor offers. OnTheClock can integrate with popular payroll platforms, so you can choose a payroll provider that works best for you and export your employee data into your payroll process.

Did you know? OnTheClock also supports invoicing and billing exports, which can be grouped and sorted by customers, projects and tasks.

As you continue to hire new employees, you should have a time clock platform that is easy for them to implement and use, and OnTheClock is intuitive. It offers several punch-in options (including biometric clocks, which are not offered by all competitors), so you can use whichever time clock best suits your growing business.

If you are looking for a time and attendance solution for a large, scaling business, check out our review of TCP by TimeClock Plus.

Source: OnTheClock

Pros

• OnTheClock is one of the most affordable time and attendance systems we evaluated.
• Plans can easily scale as your business grows.
• OnTheClock can integrate with popular payroll providers.
• Users can choose from several punch-in options (e.g., web browsers, mobile devices, kiosks, fingerprint biometrics).
• The software has in-app messaging.

Cons

• OnTheClock doesn't offer phone support on the weekends.
• Users need internet service to clock in with GPS tracking on the mobile app.

Usability

OnTheClock is an intuitive platform that is great for small businesses in a variety of industries, although it primarily caters to the following sectors: construction, insurance, medical, nonprofit, payroll, agriculture, childcare, consulting, entertainment, fitness, legal, government and retail.

OnTheClock is a web-based platform, so users can access it via their Windows or Mac computers, as well as from Android or Apple tablets or smartphones. We liked that OnTheClock also offers clocking in and out via biometric fingerprint scanning, kiosks and group punch stations, for those who want a clock-in system that is a little more advanced.

The software can be set up in minutes, and customization features can be modified right off the bat or whenever makes sense for your business. Another element that adds to the software's ease of use is the ability to integrate it with a variety of payroll providers, including QuickBooks, Gusto, ADP and Paychex. OnTheClock also has multiple payroll reporting formats, like Excel, CSV, PDF and print.

Features

Every OnTheClock plan comes with access to a comprehensive suite of time and attendance features. You can schedule employees, manage PTO requests, track employees' locations and projects, report on payroll and communicate with employees within the app.

Here are some of the services you can receive with OnTheClock:

Time Reporting

OnTheClock provides time and attendance tracking with all the bells and whistles. We especially liked that employees can track their time using fingerprint biometrics, a time clock kiosk, a web browser or a mobile time clock app. GPS locations show where employees are when they punch in and out, and geofencing prevents workers from signing in before they get to their job site. Managers can view a live GPS map of employee activity and see who is currently clocked in and out.

Although these features may seem complex, they can be set up easily in minutes. Businesses also have the flexibility to start small with simple web browser punching and then implement advanced features, like biometric punching, as needed (a feature not all competitors offer).

Source: OnTheClock

Employee Scheduling

Once your employees are in your OnTheClock system, you can easily schedule them with drag-and-drop functionality. All scheduling and time tracking features are included in each OnTheClock plan, regardless of the size of your firm. That means there are no limits on the number of departments, jobs, manager and administrator roles, or time entries per day. That flexibility can be especially helpful as your team grows.

The system lets you build schedules, automate breaks and send employee alerts and reminders. It allows managers to leave employee notes and adjust clock-in and clock-out times. We especially liked that employees can see their co-workers' schedules, which can be helpful when your employees need to get a shift covered.

Source: OnTheClock

PTO Management

Managing PTO can be a hassle, even for the smallest companies. However, OnTheClock makes it easy for employees and managers to track and manage PTO policies, accruals, allotments and requests. Employees can conveniently see how much PTO they've used and request additional PTO in the OnTheClock app, and their approved time off can be automatically streamlined into your payroll process, saving you time and effort. This is competitive with the industry standard.

Source: OnTheClock

Payroll and Project Reporting

OnTheClock offers reports for tips, overtime and payroll, including job and project costing. The software calculates timecards automatically, showing regular and overtime hours for all states, as well as PTO. This data is published on a timesheet report that you can export to your payroll system using Excel or a CSV file.

Communication

With OnTheClock, employees have access to communication features such as in-app messaging, which many competitors do not offer. Having the unique ability to converse with colleagues and managers within the time and attendance platform can improve overall organization and communication. Employees can also answer survey questions to measure productivity, well-being and safety. For example, you can use the COVID-screening survey to check staff members for coronavirus symptoms before they start work.

Source: OnTheClock

Cost                

OnTheClock is one of the few time and attendance solutions we reviewed that offer a free plan; it includes access for up to two employees. This free plan can be a great way for very small businesses to test out the software before their business grows. After that, the price range – $2.70 to $3 per employee per month – is still one of the lowest we evaluated, and each plan includes access to all OnTheClock features. If you have over 400 employees, you can contact the OnTheClock sales team for volume discounts; keep this in mind if your small business expands to more than 400 employees while using OnTheClock.

OnTheClock offers a free 30-day trial and doesn't require a contract. There are no add-on base fees, implementation charges or support fees, which is great for small businesses looking to adhere to a strict budget. Additionally, because it is a cloud-based solution, there's no initial investment or additional hardware required; your staff can simply clock in and out on their computer, tablet or mobile phone. The mobile app is free with every plan, so your employees have the freedom to clock in and out from any location, such as at home or from field service locations.

Key takeaway: OnTheClock is free for businesses with one or two employees. For businesses with three or more employees, the cost ranges from $2.70 to $3 per employee per month.

Setup

OnTheClock is easy to implement; the company claims a time clock setup time of about three minutes. You can start accessing the 30-day free trial by entering some basic contact information and adding employees. When you invite employees to the platform, each employee will receive an invitation via text and/or email with login instructions and their OnTheClock login credentials. 

You have the choice between setting up advanced settings immediately and delaying advanced setup until your business is ready. We liked having the ability to delay customization options; this is especially helpful for small businesses that want to get up and running quickly and then adjust customization as their business grows.

Admins can decide which devices employees can use to clock in and out and set up other time tracking restrictions. For example, customization options can include administrative controls, rules for when and where employees can clock in, time clock rounding rules, automatic meal or break-time deductions, holidays and pay periods. It supports all common pay periods – weekly, biweekly, semimonthly and monthly – as well as hourly and salaried employees.

After your employees are set up in the system, they can begin clocking in and out as needed. The software automatically fills in employee timesheets, and you can export them to payroll for processing.

Customer Service

OnTheClock offers free customer support via phone, email and web chat. Support hours on Monday through Friday are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. On weekends, a chatbot can respond to general inquiries, although phone and email are also monitored 24/7 for critical support. Having access to free customer support via an array of communication methods can be incredibly useful for small businesses that are still learning how to navigate the software as their business grows.

Drawbacks

One potential downside is that OnTheClock doesn't have phone support on the weekends. It does monitor its phone lines 24/7 for critical support, but general support over the phone is available only on weekdays. This can be a limitation for businesses that operate on nights and weekends and need immediate phone assistance during off-hours.

Another potential drawback is that employees need internet access to clock in or out at an off-site location using GPS. Some users have mentioned that they could not accurately check in with the GPS feature on the mobile app when they had spotty service, which can lead to inaccurate tracking and reporting. This may not be a dealbreaker, but it is something to keep in mind. If you are looking to track mobile workers specifically, check out our QuickBooks Time review. 

Methodology

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

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 vary among systems, businesses often use time and attendance systems to track employees' hours and locations, schedule shifts, manage paid time off, track job and project expenses, and communicate with team members.

FAQs

Is OnTheClock free?

Yes, OnTheClock offers free time and attendance plans for businesses with up to two employees. This is great for very small businesses that want a cost-effective time tracking option. If you have more than two employees, you can still access the software for free with a 30-day free trial. OnTheClock doesn't require contracts, so you can cancel anytime.

How do I use OnTheClock?

OnTheClock is easy to set up and quick to implement. To use OnTheClock to track employee time, create an OnTheClock account with your business information and settings requirements. After your account is set up, you can enter employee names and contact details to add them to the system. Your employees will be sent invitations to start accessing the software.

Employees can clock in and out via their approved devices (e.g., computers, phones, punch stations), and their time is automatically recorded in the system. Once managers review and approve employee hours, timecards can be exported or transferred to your payroll system.

Bottom Line

We recommend OnTheClock for …

• Small and growing businesses.
• Businesses that need a low-cost time and attendance solution.

We don't recommend OnTheClock for …

• Businesses that need phone support on the weekends.
• Large enterprises.