As a general contractor, tracking time and labor is crucial for monitoring productivity and costs across projects. Employee hours tracking is crucial for success in the construction business, especially considering narrow profit margins and tight budgets. So, knowing the best time tracking apps for contractors is essential.
Time tracking technology has gone through revolutionary changes over the years, particularly with the emergence of mobile apps that are designed to serve the particular needs of contractors. The best time clock apps now come with GPS-verified clock-ins, automatic timesheets, data integrations, powerful reporting, and more. This makes it easier for contractors to get real-time data from the field.
This article reveals the six best time tracking apps for contractors to consider using on their job sites in 2024. Key capabilities like geofencing, labor job costing, and custom reporting enable contractors to increase accuracy around labor reporting while avoiding common issues like time theft.
Key Time Tracking Features for General Contractors
Contractors shopping for time tracking software should look for apps that are easy to use for their employees, offer GPS and geo-fencing capabilities, time off, features to prevent overtime, and strong reporting. GPS time tracking validates when crews clock in at different jobsites, while geo-fencing blocks employees from clocking in/out outside certain areas. Powerful reporting provides labor cost insights. The right time tracking app can capture real-time data with the specific features contractors need.
Time Tracking Challenges Faced by Contractors
Contractors face numerous time tracking challenges. Some of these include tracking multiple crews across sites and integrating data with financial software. Construction projects often suffer from time theft as unmonitored employees inflate unworked hours. Multisite projects also risk productivity losses from inefficient workflows. Without live data, contractors struggle to control labor costs, which quickly erode profits when working on tight budgets. The best time tracking software picks below help construction business owners effortlessly track real-time man-hours while avoiding common time tracking pitfalls.
Best Time Tracking Apps for Contractors
These six time tracking software for contractors offer powerful features to help contractors manage time, boost productivity, and control labor costs across job sites. As a disclaimer, we have included our software in the list but gave plenty of other choices to pick from.
ezClocker
Feature
With a 4.8/5.0 rating in the App Store ezClocker easily ranks at the top of the list. ezClocker shines as an intuitive time tracking platform built to tackle contractors’ pain points. Instead of overwhelming users with fancy bells and whistles, ezClocker nails the core capabilities construction businesses need day-to-day.
Take ezClocker’s time tracking, for example. The ability to clock in and out via GPS-validated mobile apps keeps field teams honest while saving site managers headaches verifying hours manually. All it takes is opening the app and hitting a button – no excessive steps eating into time on busy jobs.
Also, ezClocker time tracking app for contractors makes scheduling, notifications, and labor cost reporting simple, eliminating the usual hassles. Furthermore, employers can assign adjustable permissions, allowing supervisors to view/edit timesheets from any device. No more chasing paper trails or losing invoices.
Furthermore, with ezClocker’s kiosk app, you can transform any tablet into a virtual punch clock. Workers clock in and out right from that device as a shared station.
Between smooth onboarding, unlimited customer support, and advanced security protocols, ezClocker simplifies time tracking so contractors can focus on the projects and clients keeping the lights on. ezClocker’s recently expanded features check all the boxes on contractors’ wishlists while maintaining that signature ease of use.
Pros
- This time card app has extremely easy-to-use interface and onboarding
- Affordable pricing tiers to support construction businesses of all sizes
- Location tracking prevents time theft
- Auto schedule sync across devices
- Job assignments, scheduling, and notification features
- Automated job labor calculations
- Unlimited customer support access
- Settings to prevent overtime.
Cons
- Lack of invoicing features.
Pricing: ezClocker basic package is $12/month for up to 15 employees. You pay the same $12 whether you have 2 or 15 workers and you can save 20% if you go with the yearly plan.
ezClocker offers a 30-day free trial.
Deputy
Feature
Deputy offers a comprehensive workforce management solution tailored for general contractors. Its intuitive scheduling tool streamlines employee roster creation. Hence, it helps reduce labor costs and optimize crew assignments across multiple job sites. The app’s time tracking feature captures accurate timesheet, automating complex pay calculations often encountered in construction projects. In addition, Deputy’s time clock app works on tablets, mobiles, or desktops, allowing easy clock-ins at various work locations. For an independent contractor managing large teams, the leave management system simplifies the tracking of time-off requests and staff availability. Deputy also includes labor compliance tools, which are crucial for navigating complex wage and hour laws in the construction industry.
Pros
- User-friendly interface, easy for employees to adopt
- Flexible time clock options for various work environments
- Labor compliance tools to help avoid costly violations
- Demand forecasting for optimized scheduling Integrations with payroll software, POS, and HR software
- Fair workweek features to manage complex scheduling laws
Cons
- Some advanced features may require higher-tier plans
Pricing: Deputy’s Premium plan is priced at $6 per user per month when billed monthly.
A 31-day free trial is available with no credit card required.
Sling
Feature
Sling is another great workforce management solution designed to simplify employee scheduling, time tracking, and team communication. Its user-friendly interface allows managers to create accurate schedules quickly, avoiding conflicts and double-bookings. Specifically, the app’s labor cost control features help businesses stay within budget by managing overtime and absenteeism. Sling’s integrated time clock enables employees to clock in/out via their phones, streamlining attendance tracking. The platform also facilitates efficient team communication through group and private messaging. For contractors, Sling offers multi-location management, GPS-based clock-in restrictions, and the ability to set wages per employee or position for accurate labor cost forecasting.
Pros
- Easy-to-use scheduling tools with conflict avoidance
- Integrated time tracking and communication features
- Labor cost forecasting and optimization
- Multi-location management capabilities
- Employee self-service for shift trades and availability updates
Cons
- Some advanced features may require paid plans
- It may have a learning curve for very small teams
Pricing: Sling starts at $2.00/user/month.
QuickBooks Time
Feature
QuickBooks Time, which can be accessed through QuickBooks Workforce app, is a fully inclusive time-keeping system custom-made for construction companies and contractors. It is tightly integrated with QuickBooks Online and Desktop, thus making payroll and accounting processes easier. The construction time tracking app also has its own GPS tracking that allows monitoring the location of the field crews in real-time, along with their team leads being able to clock members of the team directly from their mobile phone app, android or iphone. Managers can use the robust project tracking capabilities of the time-tracking software to analyze actual vs. estimated times for each project. QuickBooks Time also features a geofencing ability that reminds employees to clock in/out when they enter or leave job sites.
Pros
- Seamless integration with QuickBooks products
- Project tracking with budget alerts
- GPS tracking and geofencing for accurate on-site time recording
- Mobile app for easy basic time entries and schedule management
- Real-time reporting and payroll cost savings
Cons
- Some advanced features of this construction time clock app are only available in the Elite tier
Pricing: QuickBooks Time offers multiple tiers, including an Elite version with advanced features.
Workyard
Feature
In addition to the other apps, Workyard provides a wide-ranging workforce management solution for contractors. The GPS-enabled clocking system guarantees accurate timekeeping at job sites, simplifies payroll, and provides visibility of real-time labor costs. Thus, by simply enabling the job tracking feature, one can effortlessly monitor progress and collect data to optimize workflow. The time tracker has a job tracking feature that allows easy progress monitoring and data collection for workflow optimization. In addition to this, every submission of a time card comes automatically with labor cost capture, which is very important for project costing and billing purposes. Additionally, powerful reporting and dashboards offer the necessary insights that may be used to identify inefficiencies as well as enhance operations.
Pros
- Comprehensive solution with time tracking, scheduling, and job costing
- GPS-verified time clock for accurate payroll and job costing
- Real-time project progress and labor cost tracking
- Powerful scheduling tool with digital team calendar
- Extensive reporting and dashboard capabilities
- Labor compliance features
Cons
- It may be more complex for very small operations
- The pricing structure includes a company base fee in addition to per-user costs
Pricing: The Time Tracking plan is $6/month per user plus a $50/month base fee.
The Workforce Management plan is $13/month per user plus the same $50/month base fee.
Both plans come with a 14-day free trial.
Busy busy
Feature
Busybusy is a time-tracking app specifically designed for the construction industry and general contractors. Its user-friendly interface offers multiple clock-in options, including mobile and kiosk apps, catering to both construction workers and supervisors. The time management software excels in job costing, allowing data to be filtered by projects, employees, cost codes, equipment, and dates. Specifically, Busybusy’s GPS features include breadcrumbing, location-based reminders, and required on-site clock-ins, ensuring accurate time tracking across job sites. The app also offers robust equipment tracking, enabling contractors to monitor the location and usage of heavy machinery. Additionally, Busybusy provides customizable daily project reports, progress tracking, and advanced reporting tools for labor costs and budgets.
Pros
- This time tracking tool is tailored for construction industry needs
- it great for equipment tracking and management
- Multiple clock-in options for flexibility
- Customizable daily project reports
- GPS features for accurate on-site time tracking
- Budget tracking and labor cost analysis
Cons
- It may have more features than small contractors need
- Free plan available, but limited compared to paid options
Pricing: The Pro plan is priced at $9.99 per user.
A 14-day free trial is available with no credit card required.
Conclusion
Choosing the right time tracking app for general contractors can significantly impact project efficiency, labor cost management, and overall profitability. The six time tracking apps for construction reviewed – ezClocker, Workyard, Sling, Deputy, Busybusy, and QuickBooks Time – each offer unique features tailored to the construction industry’s needs.
When selecting a time card, contractors should consider their specific requirements, such as project complexity, team size, and integration needs. GPS-enabled clock-ins, geofencing, and scheduling are particularly valuable for managing dispersed job sites. Advanced reporting and job costing features can provide crucial insights for optimizing labor costs in real time and improving project estimates.
While some apps may seem feature-rich for smaller operations, the potential for scalability should be considered as your business grows. Many of these top time tracking apps offer free trials, allowing contractors to test their functionality in real-world scenarios before committing.
