Best Attendance Tracking Software for Manufacturing Teams

Buddy Punch focuses on one problem and solves it well, which is making sure the person clocking in is really that employee. Staff punch in from a computer, phone or kiosk with a PIN, QR code or facial check, and managers can require a selfie at clock-in, set GPS and geofence rules, and get alerts for late arrivals or missed shifts. Punch rounding and automatic overtime calculations sit on every plan, so a plant does not need the top tier to get payroll-ready hours.

The Starter plan costs $4.99 per user per month on annual billing plus a $19 monthly base fee, which means a 20-person team pays about $119 a month. There is no free plan, only a 14-day trial. Scheduling costs $1 per user per month on Starter and is included on Pro, while real-time GPS is a $2 per user add-on. It will not run payroll, so pair it with a payroll tool, but for verified punches at the plant gate it is one of the strongest options here.

Price: $19 per month plus $4.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: buddypunch.com

Deputy is a scheduling and time tracking tool built for shift-based businesses, and it suits manufacturing teams that run rotating shifts with strict break and overtime rules. It combines rosters, a time clock with photo verification, and leave management in one app, with links to payroll providers that move hours straight into pay runs. Managers can set wage rules, break rules and overtime thresholds that match local labor law, and the system flags shifts that would breach them before they are published.

Staff clock in from a tablet kiosk or their phones, with GPS stamps and facial checks that cut down on early clock-ins by friends. The Lite plan costs $5 per user per month, Core costs $6.50 and adds auto-scheduling and demand forecasts, and Pro costs $9. There is no free plan, only a trial, and a $30 monthly minimum applies. Plants with many part-time shift workers should compare the per-user total with per-location tools such as Homebase, since the bill grows with every rostered worker.

Price: $5 per user/month

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: deputy.com

Fingercheck is an all-in-one payroll, time tracking, scheduling and HR platform built for hourly, mobile and deskless workforces, including manufacturing crews. Time tracking uses GPS-verified clock-ins to confirm staff are on-site at the moment of punch, and punches flow straight into payroll, so hours reach paychecks without retyping. The platform supports fingerprint and facial recognition on time clocks, and it handles scheduling, onboarding and benefits administration for teams that want one system.

The Time and Attendance plan costs $29 per month plus $7 per employee and covers time tracking, GPS clock-in, geofencing, scheduling and hardware support. Fingercheck 360 costs $79 per month plus $10 per employee and adds unlimited payroll runs, HR management and onboarding, while 360 Plus costs $129 plus $12 per employee. All three plans have a minimum spend equal to five employees. There is no free trial, so ask for a demo and a written quote before you commit.

Price: $29 per month plus $7 per employee/month

Free plan: No

Website: fingercheck.com

Connecteam is an all-in-one app for deskless teams, and it fits manufacturing plants that want scheduling, a time clock, task checklists and team chat without buying four tools. Staff get one mobile app for their schedule, clock-ins, shift notes and messages, which suits floor workers who never sit at a desk. The time clock supports GPS stamps and geofencing, and managers can attach forms such as safety checklists or machine checks to a shift, so the same app covers the daily routine as well as the hours.

The free plan covers up to 10 users with basic scheduling and time tracking, which suits a small plant. The Basic plan costs $29 per month for the first 30 users on annual billing, and higher tiers add automation and advanced reporting. Time tracking is solid for routine use, but plants that need job costing, rugged clocks or deep overtime rules will find more depth in ClockShark or ExakTime. Check which features sit on each tier before you buy, since several useful tools are add-ons.

Price: $29 per month for the first 30 users (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes, free plan for up to 10 users

Website: connecteam.com

Homebase is built for hourly teams, and it suits small manufacturing plants that need scheduling and attendance without a per-user bill. The Basic plan is free for one location and up to 10 employees, covering scheduling, a time clock and team messaging, which is enough for a small workshop to run without a monthly bill. Plans charge per location with unlimited employees, so a busy season with extra shift staff does not raise the scheduling bill. Essentials costs $24 per location per month on annual billing and adds advanced scheduling, advanced time tracking and alerts for missed punches.

The time clock works on a shared tablet or on staff phones, with photo capture and GPS stamps on higher tiers. Payroll is an add-on at $49 per month plus $6 per active employee, and hiring tools sit on the Plus plan at $56 per location per month on annual billing. Homebase has no GPS job costing or rugged jobsite clocks, so larger plants with field crews should compare ClockShark or ExakTime, but for a single small site it is the cheapest way to start.

Price: $24 per location/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes, free Basic plan for 1 location and up to 10 employees

Website: joinhomebase.com

ExakTime is now sold as Arcoro Time, and it has tracked construction and plant crews longer than most tools here, starting with rugged jobsite hardware. Staff clock in from phones, tablets or rugged clocks with GPS verification, geofencing and photo ID, and hours sync to more than 100 payroll, ERP and accounting systems. The platform also covers scheduling, PTO and compliance workflows on higher tiers, which suits plants that want time tracking linked to broader HR.

The Time Essential plan starts at $9 per employee per month on annual billing, with no published base fee. Time Professional starts at $11 and adds scheduling and PTO, while Time and Payroll starts at $19 per employee per month. An annual contract is required, and volume pricing starts at 200 workers. There is no free plan, but a 14-day free trial is offered on all three plans. Rugged clocks and key fobs are sold separately, so ask for the hardware cost in the quote.

Price: $9 per employee/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: exaktime.com

TimeClock Plus by TCP Software helps businesses manage workforce needs as they grow, and it suits multi-site manufacturing groups that need compliance depth. It covers time and attendance, PTO and leave management, attestation tracking, automated imports and configurable dashboards, with hardware time clocks that work on the plant floor. The platform links to payroll providers such as Paychex Flex and QuickBooks, and it supports multiple languages for diverse workforces.

Pricing is quote only: the vendor does not publish plans or prices online, so businesses schedule a personalized demo and consultation, during which TCP recommends a solution and provides a customized quote based on workforce size, deployment and features. There is no free trial, only a demo. Plants that want transparent pricing and a self-serve trial should compare ClockShark or Buddy Punch first, but groups that need attestation and compliance tooling may find the quote worth the sales process.

Price: quote only

Free plan: No

Website: timeclockplus.com