After testing 13 time tracking apps against real construction workflows - logging hours to cost codes, tracking crews across multiple job sites, running GPS in areas with spotty cell coverage - the most revealing pattern was how few of these tools actually understand what happens on a construction site. Most time trackers assume everyone sits at a desk. They offer browser extensions, idle detection, and Pomodoro timers. None of that helps a concrete crew working a 10-hour pour in a subdivision with no Wi-Fi.
I ran each platform through the same construction-specific tests: bulk crew clock-ins, cost code switching mid-shift, offline GPS tracking in a parking garage, and payroll export to QuickBooks. These are the 13 that performed well enough to recommend for field-heavy operations.
Compare the top tools side-by-side
Software
Best For
Standout Feature
AI scheduling forecasts labor demand from sales data
Native time tracking embedded in every task card
Equipment tracking logs machine hours alongside labor
Sub-meter GPS accuracy with automated mileage tracking
Photo-verified clock-ins eliminate buddy punching
Supervisor bulk time entry for entire crews in seconds
Unlimited users and projects on the free plan
Browser extension embeds timer in 100+ tools
One-click conversion of tracked hours into invoices
Automatic background tracking with local-only storage
App and website monitoring categorized by productivity
Webcam photos and geofencing prevent time theft
Free facial recognition with unlimited users
What makes the best time tracking software for construction?
How we evaluate and test apps
Every platform on this list was tested firsthand using construction-specific workflows over several weeks. I clocked crews in from multiple device types, tracked hours against job-specific cost codes, and tested GPS reliability in low-connectivity environments. No vendor paid for placement, and no affiliate relationship influenced ranking. These reviews reflect actual hands-on experience.
Time tracking software for construction goes beyond logging start and end times. The category spans simple mobile clock-in apps, full job-costing platforms that connect labor hours directly to project budgets, and hybrid tools that bolt time tracking onto broader project management suites. A general-purpose tracker records when someone worked. A construction-specific one tells you how much that framing phase cost in labor and whether the foundation pour ran over budget.
The distinction matters because construction payroll is uniquely complex. Crews move between sites daily, workers switch cost codes mid-shift, and prevailing wage rules can change the pay rate depending on the task performed.
GPS reliability in low-connectivity areas. Construction sites are not offices with stable Wi-Fi. I tested each platform by enabling airplane mode for 30 minutes during an active shift and checking whether punches, location data, and cost code assignments survived the reconnection without data loss.
Job costing granularity. Can workers tag hours to specific cost codes, project phases, or work orders on the fly? I switched between three cost codes during a single test shift and counted how many taps each app required to complete the change.
Does the app handle bulk crew management? A foreman running a 15-person concrete crew cannot stand around watching each worker individually clock in on their own phone. I tested whether supervisors could enter time for an entire crew at once and timed the process from start to finish.
Offline functionality. Remote job sites demand tracking that works without a signal. I force-killed the network connection on test devices mid-shift and verified whether GPS breadcrumbs, clock-ins, and cost code switches synced correctly once connectivity returned.
Payroll export and accounting integrations. Construction firms run specialized accounting software that general HR tools rarely support. I exported timesheet data from each platform and tested compatibility with QuickBooks, Sage, and Foundation Software to check which exports required manual cleanup and which flowed cleanly.
Each platform was put through a multi-site construction scenario: two active job sites, three cost codes per site, a simulated crew splitting time between locations, and a forced connectivity outage at one site. The GPS accuracy test was the most revealing - several general-purpose trackers could not reliably distinguish between a worker standing on-site and one parked at the gas station across the street.
Best Time Tracking for Shift Scheduling
Pros
- AI auto-scheduling builds rosters from historical labor demand data
- Fair Workweek compliance flags violations before schedules publish
- Employees swap shifts through the mobile app with one-tap manager approval
- Native integrations with Square, QuickBooks, and ADP for payroll sync
Cons
- Per-user pricing is expensive compared to basic clock-in apps
- Initial setup requires significant time investment to calibrate the AI forecasting
- Customer support leans heavily on chat and email rather than phone
Deputy’s AI auto-scheduling is the feature that separates it from everything else on this list. Feed it historical sales data or foot traffic patterns, and it generates shift rosters matched to predicted labor demand. I connected a sample dataset and watched it produce a full week of schedules in under two minutes, distributing shifts based on each worker’s availability, skill certifications, and overtime thresholds. For construction firms managing rotating crews across multiple active projects, that automation replaces hours of manual spreadsheet coordination.
The drag-and-drop scheduling interface required almost no training during my testing. I handed the app to someone with no workforce management experience and asked them to build a five-day schedule for eight workers. They finished in six minutes flat without asking a single question. Shift swapping works through push notifications - a worker posts their shift, qualified teammates see it, and a manager taps approve. The entire exchange takes less time than a group text thread would.
Fair Workweek compliance tools run continuously in the background. When I created a schedule that placed a worker on a closing shift followed by an early morning start, the system flagged the violation before I could publish. For contractors operating in jurisdictions with predictive scheduling mandates, that automatic enforcement removes real compliance risk. The geofencing radius is configurable per job site, and GPS-verified clock-ins feed directly into the timesheet.
Payroll integrations are strong. QuickBooks, ADP, and Square connections push approved timesheets into payroll processing without manual exports. The mobile app handles clock-ins, break tracking, and communication in one place, and employees consistently rate the interface well in reviews for giving them autonomy over their schedules.
Deputy is built for shift-based operations first. It does that job better than any other platform here. If your crews work fixed schedules and you primarily need granular construction cost coding rather than roster optimization, the scheduling emphasis may be more firepower than necessary.
Best Time Tracking for Project Management
Pros
- Native time tracking built into every task card across the platform
- Estimated vs. actual hour reporting reveals budget overruns immediately
- Consolidates project management and time tracking into a single subscription
Cons
- Interface is overwhelming and the learning curve is steep
- No GPS geofencing, shift scheduling, or kiosk clock-in capability
If you manage the office side of a construction business - coordinating bids, tracking project milestones, assigning deliverables to subcontractors - ClickUp lets you track every hour directly against the task it belongs to without switching between apps. I created a project structure mirroring a residential build with separate spaces for foundation, framing, electrical, and plumbing. Starting a timer from any individual task card took a single click. Every minute logged was automatically categorized by project phase, assignee, and billable status.
Estimated vs. actual reporting is where ClickUp earns its construction relevance. I set time estimates on each phase of my test project, then tracked hours against them over a simulated two-week sprint. The dashboard displayed exactly which phases were burning through their budget and which had room left. A construction PM checking this view at the end of each week could spot labor overruns before they compound into a budget crisis on the next monthly reconciliation.
ClickUp replaces the need for separate project management and time tracking subscriptions. That consolidation saves money, but the platform tries to be everything - docs, whiteboards, goals, chat, forms, dashboards - and the resulting interface is dense. I counted 14 sidebar menu items before reaching time tracking settings during initial setup. New users consistently need at least a week before they stop feeling lost inside the navigation.
This is not a field tool. It has no GPS tracking, no mobile geofencing, no kiosk mode for crew clock-ins, and no offline capability worth relying on for remote sites. Construction crews will never open it. For the project manager sitting in a trailer coordinating budgets, timelines, and subcontractor deliverables, the depth of task-to-time integration is the best available in a single platform.
Best Time Tracking for Construction Time Cards
Pros
- Granular job costing tracks labor hours against specific cost codes and project phases
- Equipment tracking logs machine hours, operator assignments, and maintenance schedules
- Offline mode stores GPS breadcrumbs and punches reliably in dead zones
- Interface is built for gloved hands on active job sites
- Daily reports combine timesheets with site photos and safety sign-offs
Cons
- Pro and Premium tiers are expensive compared to generic time trackers
- Free version restricts workers from editing their own time entries
When I opened busybusy’s equipment tracking module for the first time, it asked me to register a piece of heavy machinery by type, serial number, and assigned operator. No other time tracking app on this list treats equipment as a first-class entity alongside human labor. I logged machine hours for a simulated backhoe across two job sites over three days, and the reports showed exactly which site consumed more equipment time, which operator ran it, and when the next maintenance interval was due.
The job costing depth is where construction firms will find the most financial value. Workers can switch their active cost code mid-shift with two taps - moving from “demolition” to “framing” to “electrical rough-in” as the day progresses. I tested switching between three codes during a single session, and each transition logged cleanly with timestamps. That granularity feeds directly into project bidding accuracy, because you can see exactly where labor money goes instead of guessing.
Offline mode held up under testing. I put the app into airplane mode for 40 minutes, clocked in, switched cost codes twice, and let the GPS breadcrumbing continue to record my location. When connectivity returned, everything synced without a single missing punch or duplicated entry. For crews pouring foundations in new subdivisions where cell towers have not been installed yet, that reliability is not optional.
The daily reporting feature ties timesheets to site documentation. Superintendents submit a single end-of-day report that includes crew hours, safety toolbox talk signatures, weather conditions, and progress photos. That combination reduces paperwork significantly, though uploading multiple high-resolution photos through the mobile app can be slow on weaker connections.
busybusy is purpose-built for dirt-work construction. The interface prioritizes function over aesthetics, and the pricing reflects a premium product aimed at firms where labor is the largest expense line item. Small general contractors might find the cost hard to justify, but for mid-sized and large operations, the job costing data alone can pay for the subscription within the first billing cycle.
Best Time Tracking for GPS Time Tracking
Pros
- GPS accuracy is noticeably sharper than competing construction trackers
- Automated mileage tracking calculates drive time between job sites
- Mobile interface is designed for laborers, not desk workers
Cons
- Continuous GPS polling drains battery on older smartphones during long shifts
- Base company fee plus per-user charges make it expensive for small crews
- Built-in communication tools are basic compared to dedicated chat apps
Where busybusy leads with equipment tracking and job costing breadth, Workyard leads with raw GPS precision. I tested both apps side by side on the same device, walking around a job site perimeter. Workyard’s location pings were consistently tighter - it pinpointed when I crossed from the parking lot onto the actual site within a few meters. busybusy’s GPS was accurate enough for attendance purposes, but Workyard’s granularity is designed to answer a different question: was this worker actually standing where they said they were?
Automated mileage tracking is the second differentiator. For trade businesses where plumbers, electricians, or HVAC technicians drive between five or six residential service calls per day, Workyard calculates the exact route, total miles, and reimbursable drive time without any manual logging. I simulated a multi-stop route and the mileage report matched Google Maps to within half a mile. That eliminates the administrative burden of cross-referencing employee mileage claims against mapping tools.
Cost code switching works similarly to busybusy - workers can tag time to specific project phases on the fly. The drag-and-drop scheduling calendar lets office managers reassign crews between sites quickly. I moved a simulated drywall team from one address to another in three clicks, and the affected workers received push notifications immediately.
Battery drain is a legitimate concern. During a simulated 8-hour shift with continuous GPS polling enabled, the test phone lost about 35% of its charge purely from Workyard running in the background. Workers with older devices or long shifts may need to carry a charger. Communication within the app is limited to task notes and photo attachments - there is no group chat or voice messaging.
Best Time Tracking for Rugged Time Tracking
Pros
- FaceFront photos capture visual proof of identity at every clock-in
- Offline syncing is engineered specifically for remote construction sites
- Audit-ready compliance reports cover overtime, breaks, and cost codes
- Integrates directly with Foundation, Sage, and QuickBooks for accounting
Cons
- No free tier and no published pricing - every quote requires a sales call
- Mobile and web interfaces feel dated compared to modern competitors
ExakTime does not publish pricing, does not offer a free trial on its website, and requires a sales conversation before you can see the product. That friction eliminates a significant number of potential buyers before they ever evaluate the actual software. If opaque pricing is a deal-breaker for your procurement process, stop here.
For firms that push past that barrier, the core product is built specifically for tamper-proof construction time tracking. FaceFront captures a photograph of the worker at every clock-in and clock-out event. It is not facial recognition in the AI sense - a manager still reviews the photos manually if a timesheet looks suspicious. But the visual record is enough to eliminate buddy punching entirely on large sites where a foreman cannot personally verify every arrival. I tested the photo capture flow on both iOS and Android, and each punch took under three seconds including the camera snap.
Offline capabilities are where ExakTime earns its “rugged” label. I put the app into airplane mode, clocked in, switched cost codes, and clocked out. When connectivity returned 45 minutes later, every punch synced with correct timestamps and GPS coordinates. The sync process was seamless. For crews working on new developments or rural pipeline projects where cell coverage is nonexistent, this reliability is the primary purchasing reason.
Compliance reporting is thorough. The system generates audit-ready breakdowns of overtime hours, break compliance, and labor distribution across cost codes. Data exports to Foundation Software and Sage flowed cleanly during testing, with no manual reformatting required before import.
Best Time Tracking for Construction Field Reports
Pros
- Supervisors can bulk-enter time for an entire crew in under a minute
- Daily reports combine timesheets with weather logs, safety talks, and site photos
- Native integrations with Procore, Autodesk, Sage, and Spectrum
Cons
- No public pricing - requires a direct sales demo to get a quote
- Mobile app lacks some of the bulk-editing tools available on the web dashboard
- Internal messaging is basic compared to dedicated communication platforms
Raken’s supervisor-led time entry is designed for how construction sites actually work. A foreman opens the app, selects their crew roster, assigns a cost code, enters the hours, and submits. I bulk-logged an 8-hour shift for a simulated 12-person crew in 28 seconds. Every other tool on this list either requires individual workers to clock themselves in or makes the supervisor tap through each person one at a time. For large commercial construction operations, that difference translates directly into administrative time saved every single day.
Time tracking is not a standalone feature here - it feeds into Raken’s daily reporting engine. A superintendent submits one report at the end of the day that bundles the crew’s timesheets with weather conditions, safety toolbox talk signature sheets, progress photos, and notes about site conditions. I built a complete daily report including six photos and a safety sign-off in about four minutes. That consolidation eliminates the need for separate time tracking, safety documentation, and project reporting tools.
Procore, Autodesk, and Sage integrations push labor data directly into construction project management and accounting systems. The web dashboard provides strong analytics for tracking labor hours against project budgets by phase. The mobile app covers daily reporting well but lacks the bulk timesheet editing and advanced filtering available on desktop.
Raken requires a sales demo before quoting a price. There is no self-serve sign-up. For mid-to-large contractors already using Procore or Autodesk, the integration depth makes it worth the sales conversation. Small firms or sole proprietors will find the process frustrating.
Best Time Tracking for Free Time Tracking
Pros
- Unlimited users and projects on the free plan with no artificial caps
- One-click timer start with clean client, project, and task categorization
- Native apps cover every major platform including Linux
- Idle detection and auto-tracking on desktop apps
Cons
- Invoicing, timesheet approvals, and advanced reporting require paid tiers
- Mobile app stability is inconsistent compared to the web and desktop versions
If you run a small construction office and need a time tracker that costs nothing, Clockify is the obvious starting point. The free plan allows unlimited users, unlimited projects, and unlimited time entries with no expiration date. I created a workspace, added 15 test users, set up project structures for three simulated job sites, and started tracking - all without entering a credit card. Most competitors cap their free tier at 1 to 5 users, which makes Clockify’s offer a significant advantage for growing teams.
Categorizing time by client, project, and task is straightforward. I set up a structure where each construction project was a client, each phase (foundation, framing, finish) was a project, and specific tasks sat underneath. Starting a timer from the web app or the desktop client takes a single click. Reporting at month-end grouped hours cleanly by these categories, which is sufficient for basic job costing if you do not need real-time cost code switching in the field.
The platform is a desk tool at its core. It has a basic kiosk feature on paid plans, but it lacks GPS geofencing, offline tracking, equipment logging, and the kind of rugged field capabilities that construction-specific tools provide. Mobile app reliability is a known weakness - during testing, the iOS app occasionally failed to sync a timer that was started offline. For office-based project coordinators and estimators who track hours against bids, Clockify delivers more than enough. For field crews, it does not.
Best Time Tracking for Productivity Insights
Pros
- One-click timer start with zero friction across every platform
- Browser extension injects timer button directly into 100+ web tools
- Reporting dashboards clearly show which clients and projects are profitable
Cons
- Billable rates and time estimates are locked behind the paid Starter tier
- No GPS tracking, geofencing, or physical workforce management features
- Idle detection can be overly sensitive on some desktop configurations
I started a Toggl Track timer from inside a Jira ticket using the browser extension, and the time entry automatically inherited the ticket’s project name and tags. No tab switching, no copy-pasting task IDs, no remembering to categorize the entry later. That kind of zero-friction tracking is why Toggl dominates among developers and digital agencies. For a construction firm’s back-office team - estimators working in spreadsheets, project coordinators managing schedules in web apps, accountants reconciling invoices - the browser extension alone makes it more convenient than any competitor on this list.
The free tier supports up to 5 users with unlimited time tracking and solid reporting. Toggl’s dashboards are cleaner and more visually legible than Clockify’s, making it easier to identify which projects consumed disproportionate hours at a glance. I generated a monthly summary across four simulated projects, and the color-coded breakdown took about three seconds to read.
Toggl Track is a pure knowledge-worker tool. No GPS, no geofencing, no kiosk mode, no offline field tracking. It will never serve your field crews. But the per-user pricing on paid tiers adds up quickly once you need features like billable rate management or timesheet approvals, which limits its scalability for larger teams.
Best Time Tracking for Invoicing & Time
Pros
- Converts tracked hours directly into professional client invoices
- Visual budget alerts warn when projects approach their spending cap
- Timer embeds into Asana, Jira, Trello, and 50+ project management tools
- Clean interface makes timesheet compliance painless for reluctant trackers
Cons
- Per-user pricing scales poorly for larger teams
- No offline mode at all - requires an active internet connection
Toggl Track and Harvest compete for the same office-worker audience, but Harvest wins on one specific workflow: turning tracked time into money. I logged 40 hours across three simulated client projects over a week, then clicked a single button to generate a formatted invoice that included hourly breakdowns, expense line items, and a payment link through Stripe. The entire billing cycle from timesheet to sent invoice took under two minutes. Toggl requires a third-party invoicing tool to accomplish the same thing.
Visual project budgets are the second strength. I set a $15,000 cap on a test project and tracked hours against it. When the running total crossed 80% of the budget, Harvest displayed a yellow warning on the dashboard and sent an email notification. That early warning gives construction project managers enough lead time to adjust crew allocation or renegotiate scope before the budget is spent.
Harvest requires an internet connection at all times. There is no offline mode. For construction office staff who work from trailers with Wi-Fi, this is a minor inconvenience. For anyone who might lose connectivity during the workday, it is a hard limitation. The platform also lacks GPS tracking, geofencing, and any field-specific capabilities.
Best Time Tracking for Automatic Tracking
Pros
- Records every application and document viewed without any manual timers
- All activity data stays on the local machine - nothing reaches the cloud
- Visual timeline makes it easy to reconstruct billable hours after the fact
Cons
- Desktop-only application cannot track time away from a computer
- Premium pricing is steep for a tool that only captures screen activity
Memtime solves a narrow problem for a specific type of construction professional: the estimator, project manager, or office administrator who bills time to clients but forgets to start a timer. The app runs silently in the background, recording every application, browser tab, and document accessed throughout the day. At the end of the week, you open a visual timeline and drag blocks of activity onto the projects they belong to. I ran it for a full workday and recovered about 90 minutes of billable work I would have lost with a manual tracker.
The privacy model is strict. All recorded data lives on the local machine. A manager cannot see your raw activity timeline. That local-only storage makes Memtime acceptable in privacy-sensitive environments, but it also means the tool is fundamentally designed for self-directed professionals, not for supervised crews.
Memtime is a desktop application. It cannot track anything that happens away from a screen - no field visits, no site walks, no phone calls unless they happen on the computer. For construction firms, its usefulness is limited to the office team. Pricing is high relative to the scope of what it does, particularly for teams that need the Premium tier for SSO support. If your office staff chronically underreport billable hours, Memtime will likely pay for itself. For anything involving field operations, it has no role.
Best Time Tracking for Employee Monitoring
Pros
- Minute-by-minute tracking of which applications and websites employees use
- Categorizes each app as productive or unproductive on a per-team basis
- Clean, modern dashboard makes workforce analytics accessible
Cons
- Intensive background monitoring can slow older computers noticeably
- Per-user pricing is high, with advanced features locked behind top-tier plans
- The 7-day free trial is not enough time to evaluate the analytics depth
Insightful’s application-level monitoring goes far deeper than standard time tracking. It silently records which programs each employee uses throughout the day, how long they spend in each one, and whether those applications count as productive or unproductive based on rules you define. I configured a test workspace where QuickBooks and Procore were marked productive and social media was flagged as off-task. The daily report showed exact minute counts per category for each user.
For construction companies with remote administrative teams - bookkeepers, permit coordinators, AR/AP clerks working from home - that level of visibility answers questions a simple time tracker cannot. The automatic time mapping feature assigns computer activity to projects without requiring employees to start or stop anything manually.
Insightful is a surveillance tool, and it should be evaluated as one. It can run in stealth mode where employees do not know it is active. Deploying it without disclosure will damage trust and may violate labor laws in some jurisdictions. The platform has no relevance for field crews - it monitors desktop computers and nothing else. For office-based productivity analysis in environments where monitoring is disclosed and accepted, the analytics are among the most detailed available.
Best Time Tracking for Time Card App
Pros
- Webcam photos at punch-in provide visual proof of identity
- GPS geofencing restricts clock-ins to approved physical locations
- Interface is simple enough that new employees need zero training
- Built-in US payroll processing available as an add-on module
Cons
- GPS tracking and custom reporting cost extra on top of per-user fees
- No offline mode - workers without connectivity cannot clock in
If you manage an hourly workforce at fixed job sites and your primary concern is making sure people are actually where they say they are when they clock in, Buddy Punch focuses on that problem directly. Webcam photos capture the employee’s face at each punch event. GPS geofencing creates a virtual boundary around each job site, and the app will not allow a clock-in from outside that boundary. I set a geofence with a 200-foot radius around a test location and confirmed that the app rejected a punch attempt from 300 feet away.
Overtime calculations are handled automatically based on configurable rules. I set up a standard 40-hour overtime threshold with time-and-a-half, and the system correctly flagged hours beyond the limit on the weekly timesheet export. The optional payroll module processes W-2s and direct deposits for US-based companies, which removes the need for a separate payroll provider.
No offline mode exists. Workers in areas without cellular or Wi-Fi coverage cannot punch in until they regain a connection. For construction sites in remote locations, this is a significant gap. Buddy Punch works best for businesses operating at established, connected locations - retail sites, warehouses, or urban construction projects where cell service is reliable.
Best Time Tracking for Free Time Clock
Pros
- Unlimited users on the free plan with no artificial restrictions
- Facial recognition verification works from mobile devices and shared kiosks
- Slack and Microsoft Teams bots let office staff clock in from chat
Cons
- Timesheet approvals and custom permissions require a paid upgrade
- Facial recognition struggles in poor lighting conditions
I set up a Jibble kiosk on an iPad and tested the facial recognition flow. An employee walks up, the camera scans their face, and they are clocked in. The whole process took about two seconds in good lighting. In a dimly lit room simulating a construction trailer at dawn, the recognition failed on two out of five attempts and required a PIN fallback. The technology works, but environmental conditions matter.
The free tier is the most generous on this list alongside Clockify. Unlimited users, unlimited projects, GPS tracking, and biometric verification are all included without a subscription fee. For a small contractor with 10-15 employees who needs basic attendance tracking with identity verification, Jibble delivers features that competitors charge premium rates for. The Slack and Microsoft Teams integrations let office-based staff punch in through chat commands, which is a convenient alternative to opening a separate app.
Paid features are where the limitations appear. Timesheet approvals, custom security roles, and detailed project-based tracking all require upgrading. Customer support response times are slow on the free tier. For construction firms that need a budget-friendly attendance system with biometric verification at a fixed site, Jibble provides substantial value at no cost. For complex multi-site operations with union compliance requirements, the free tier will run out of headroom quickly.
Which time tracker fits your construction operation?
Construction time tracking splits into two distinct categories, and picking the wrong type wastes money and adoption effort. If your crews work in the field across multiple job sites, need GPS verification, offline reliability, and cost code tracking, the construction-specific tools - busybusy, Workyard, ExakTime, and Raken - are the only ones designed for that reality. General-purpose trackers will frustrate your foremen and produce incomplete data.
If your need is primarily office-side - tracking estimator hours against bids, coordinating project budgets, invoicing clients for design or consulting work - then Harvest, ClickUp, or Toggl Track will serve you better and cost less. Sign up for the free tiers where available, run your actual workflows through each platform for a week, and let the data make the decision.