Recently updated on August 23rd, 2022 at 11:55 am
Time is our most valuable resource, yet it is not the one we know best to manage. That’s why time clock software or time-management software is essential for everyone.
There is a lot of time clock software out there, and while some don’t cost much, they are still not free.
But we live in a world of the internet, where there are always alternatives. Cheaper, better, and sometimes wholly free options for almost any software out there exist, and you can find them if you put in the effort to see them.
Free, open-source software is one of the best things to happen in our modern world. Luckily for us, some time-clock software is both excellent open-source, so let us look at some of these options, shall we?
Top Free Open Source Time Clock Solutions:
- ClockIt
- CKZ Time Clock
- Open Time Clock
- Time Clock Wizard
- Time Clock MTS
- Time Trex
- SwiftTime
- Anuko Time Tracker
- Rachota
1- ClockIt
ClockIt is a web-based time and attendance tracker with punch-in and punch-out options and graph reporting capabilities.
ClockIt has a biometric reporting mode that gives specific times and has been reported to work well.
It has a convenient mobile version with even more features such as employee GPS tracking and route mapping.
ClockIt has a free plan with all the product’s features and supports up to three users. You will have to pay more, and pricing starts at $8/mo.
2- CKZ Time Clock
CKZ Time Clock is an excellent option for those looking for real-time employee monitoring. It is designed to help businesses manage attendance, vacation days, sick days, holidays, and payroll.
The free software gives you the features of payroll, time tracking, real-time employee monitoring, attendance, and overtime tracking. However, the free version is limited to three users only and doesn’t have any-in app security measures.
You will have to pay for more than three users and the system-level security functions, which start at $49.95.
Also worth noting is that this is not web-based software. It has to be installed on a device running Windows OS.
3- Open Time Clock
OpenTimeclock is an open-source, web-based time clock software. It has two versions, the free one with no limit on users and employees – unlike the previous options on this list – and includes clock-in/clock-out features, payroll calculation capabilities, and mobile access.
You also get Multiple shift tracking, location permissions and GPS Tracking, and a PTO request and approval system.
However, the free version doesn’t include the reporting features or web-camera functionality. To get those premium features, you will need to upgrade to the paid plan (called Standard Plan), setting you back $200 per year. With the paid version, you also get tech support, setup assistance, and a 24-hour customer service line.
Worth noting is that they promote their tech support as “free,” but it really isn’t, so you should consider this.
4- Time Clock Wizard
Time clock wizard is a free, open-source time clock and employee scheduling software. The company that made the software doesn’t make any money off it but rather by selling additional options like merchant accounts, web design, and small business loans.
However, they occasionally use the software’s dashboard for advertising their services, but we think this is fair enough.
Time Clock Wizard software is fully featured and includes timeclock features, timesheets, reimbursements, and time scheduling capabilities. The software can also notify employees by text and emails of any schedule changes.
The software also comes with payroll functionality. The payroll functionality allows customized payroll generation over time, and it includes reporting abilities as well.
Unfortunately, the newest version of the software is limited to only three users and doesn’t support a dedicated account manager or extended reporting features.
5- Time Clock MTS
Time Clock MTs is an open-source time-tracking and employee monitoring software. The software includes employee time-tracking, time-off requests, fingerprint time attendance, PTO requests, and reporting capabilities.
With Time Clock MTS, you can also get webcam images of employees when they clock in or clock out. Whether you go for the free or the paid version, you also get auto-setup and full security measures.
The software can be installed on Desktop computers (running Windows OS), and the free version gets you all the features included in the pro version but is limited to three users only. The paid version adds more comprehensive attendance reporting and in-app overtime calculations.
The good thing about the paid version, though, is that you only have to pay for it once, and it costs $99, which is relatively inexpensive (considering it is a one-time fee)
6- Time Trex
TimeTrex is open-source software that is suitable for a small business or even a mid-sized company. It has modules for employee scheduling and time and attendance tracking, including vacation and overtime tracking.
TimeTrex also includes payroll functionalities and can do payroll calculations, tax and benefit calculations, and direct deposit functionalities.
The software can be downloaded for free on any PC running Windows, Mac OS, or Linux OS.
With the free version of the software, you get the features of attendance-tracking, employee scheduling, and payroll. However, the free version doesn’t include invoicing features, HR document management, or Expense tracking capabilities. For those, you will have to go for the paid version.
7- SwiftTime by Soniga
Are you all about functionality, and looks don’t matter to you? Then you are going to love SwiftTime by Songia. This app features time tracking and punch-in/punch-out features.
The app allows employees to request time off within the app, and they can view their schedules.
SwiftTime keeps track of how much time off employees can have, and once they exceed the allowed time, it will not enable time-off requests so that it won’t exceed the limit.
With the free version, you get full time-tracking and Basic Timesheet reporting. However, the free version limits you to 15 users, and for more, you will have to go for a paid version.
The paid version is prettier, though, and has a modern UI. The paid version allows for more than 15 users and starts at $10/mo.
Worth noting is that Swift Time is compatible with PCs, Macs, Tablets, and Smartphones.
8- Anuko Time Tracker
Anuko TimeTracker is a web-based time tracking software that comes with project management capabilities. The solution is user-friendly and suitable for businesses of all sizes.
Anuko can be used to track working hours, and the solution can track the time spent by employees on certain projects and store its records where you can easily access them from any device, at any time, and from anywhere in the world.
Anuko is a good option for startups because of its features, ease of use, intuitive interface, reliability, and high-quality support.
The solution can be used from any device as long as it has an internet connection and a web browser that gives you access to the reports while you are out of the office. You can view these reports online or download them as spreadsheets to check them later. You can also have them sent straight to your e-mail inbox.
9- Rachota
Rachota is a Java-based time tracking tool that can be used on almost any device. One great feature about Rachota is that it’s a portable tool, which means you can freely carry it on a USB drive.
The solution comes with project and task management capabilities to make managing your business a bit easier. It also offers some customization options so it can fit your workflow best.
The solution is not automated, though; you need to set up your working hours and pause it manually when you are not working. When you are not working, the solution will count the time as ‘idle time.’
Rachota allows users to prioritize their tasks and will not allow you to start a low-priority task before finishing the most important tasks first. It also comes with private projects.
Rachota can also generate invoices and export them as Excel files (CSV) or HTML. One lacking feature is the ability to export the files in PDF, but Rachota could be a good fit with your startup if you can live with it.
Important Note
You should know that any software that runs on the computer clock can be tricked. A knowledgeable user can quickly change the computer’s clock settings, enabling him to clock in and out whenever he wants. That will fool the software into thinking they are clocking in and out on time.
However, there’s something you can do to secure yourself, which is to lock your computer’s date and time setting with an admin password so that other users can’t change it.
Conclusion
While free, open-source software may seem like a great idea, there are unexpected shortcomings. After all, the paid software costs money for a reason.
You should be careful about security and stability, but this is a debating point and can differ from one software to another. Hence, we recommend checking what each software user says before committing to any software.
If you are not comfortable with any of the options above, there are still plenty of excellent options for time-tracking and time management, some of which are free. You can find that most choices have some free trial or an open plan, which can do just fine for small businesses.
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