Time Tracking · Researched comparison

Best Mobile Time Tracking Software for Field Service Teams

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The short answer

Hubstaff is the top pick for field service teams, because GPS tracking, geofences, and payroll sit on one record at $4.99 per user per month billed annually. Its mobile app clocks staff in at the job site, works offline, and syncs hours when the signal returns, so crews in the field keep an accurate record without office software.

On this page

Key takeaways

  • Hubstaff leads for field service teams because GPS, geofences, and payroll sit on one record at $4.99 per user per month billed annually.
  • Buddy Punch suits field crews that need photo verification and offline punches, at $4.99 per user per month with GPS as an add-on.
  • Clockify suits small field teams that want a free start, with unlimited tracking for up to 5 users and a mobile kiosk for shared devices.
  • Time Doctor suits field teams that also need screenshots and activity data for office staff, at $6.67 per user per month billed annually.
  • Check offline mode and GPS before you buy, because field crews often work where the signal is weak.

Comparison

How these compare
ToolBest forPrice rangeFree plan
HubstaffGPS, geofences, and payroll for field crews$4.99 per user/month (billed annually)Free trial (14 days)
Buddy PunchPhoto verification and offline punches for field staff$4.99 per user/month (billed annually)Free trial (14 days)
ClockifyA free start with a mobile kiosk for field teams$3.99 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
TrackingTimeA free plan with no user cap for field teams$4.50 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
Time DoctorScreenshots and activity data for mixed field and office teams$6.67 per user/month (billed annually)Free trial (14 days)
DeskTimeAutomatic tracking and productivity reports$6.42 per user/month (billed annually)Free trial (14 days)
Toggl TrackFast timers and clean client reports$9 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
HarvestField teams that bill clients and want invoicing built in$9 per user/month (billed annually)Yes

How we choose

We compared vendor pricing pages, product documentation, and feature lists for mobile time tracking tools that suit field service teams, and we checked GPS, offline mode, and starting prices on each vendor site. This guide was prepared by the Taskreports Editorial Team. We reviewed published prices and plan details rather than claiming hands-on use, and we favored tools with a mobile app that works offline, GPS or location records, a usable free plan or trial, a clear starting price, and clean billing for client work. We left out tools that hide prices or that lack a mobile app for field staff.

Our full method

The shortlist

★ Best overall

Hubstaff

Best for GPS, geofences, and payroll for field crews

  • GPS tracking and geofences for job sites
  • payroll built from tracked time
Price$4.99 per user/month (billed annually)
See Hubstaff pricing

Hubstaff suits a field service team that needs to know where each person clocked in. GPS tracking records the location of every punch, and geofences limit clock-ins to approved job sites, so a manager can see that staff were on site. The mobile app works offline and syncs when the signal returns, and screenshots and activity levels cover office staff on the same record. Payroll turns tracked hours into pay figures, and scheduling and time off sit beside tracking.

Starter costs $4.99 per user per month billed annually and covers time tracking, screenshots, activity levels, and limited reports. Higher plans add payroll, scheduling, and client invoicing. There is no free plan, only a 14 day trial, so a field service team should trial Hubstaff with one crew before it commits. Check the GPS and geofence settings before rollout, because staff should know what the tool records.

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

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: hubstaff.com

Watch out for

  • No free plan, only a 14 day trial
  • activity monitoring can feel heavy for office teams
2

Buddy Punch

Best for Photo verification and offline punches for field staff
$4.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Buddy Punch suits a field service team that needs a simple time clock with proof of who punched in. Staff clock in from a phone, tablet, or shared kiosk, and webcam photos on punches verify identity at clock-in. GPS coordinates record where each punch happened, and geofences limit punches to approved sites on higher plans. Offline mode lets staff punch without a signal and syncs when the connection returns, which matters on job sites with weak coverage.

Starter costs $4.99 per user per month and covers the punch clock, overtime calculations, time off tracking, and mobile apps. Pro costs $6.99 per user per month and adds geofences, QR code scanning, and kiosk punches. Real-time GPS tracking costs $2 per user per month as an add-on. There is no free plan, only a free trial. Check the add-on costs before you buy, because GPS and scheduling sit outside the base price.

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

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: buddypunch.com

What we like

  • Webcam photos on punches verify identity
  • offline mode syncs when the signal returns

Watch out for

  • No free plan, only a free trial
  • GPS tracking costs $2 per user per month extra
3

Clockify

Best for A free start with a mobile kiosk for field teams
$3.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Clockify suits a small field team that wants to start tracking hours without a monthly bill. The mobile app runs a timer on each phone, and kiosk mode turns a shared tablet into a clock-in station with QR codes. Time can be entered by hand in a weekly timesheet, and projects, clients, and tags keep hours organised by job. Reports show hours by person, project, and client, and exports go to CSV, Excel, and PDF for payroll and invoicing.

Basic costs $3.99 per user per month billed annually and adds time off, invoicing, timesheet approval, and manager roles. Pro costs $7.99 per user per month billed annually and adds location tracking, scheduling, and forecasting. The free plan covers up to 5 users, so a field team of 6 needs Basic. Check the location tracking limits before you buy, because GPS sits on the Pro plan.

Price: $3.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: clockify.me

What we like

  • Free plan with unlimited tracking for up to 5 users
  • kiosk mode for shared devices

Watch out for

  • No GPS tracking on the free plan
  • location tracking sits on the Pro plan
4

TrackingTime

Best for A free plan with no user cap for field teams
$4.50 per user/month (billed annually)

TrackingTime suits a field team that wants a free plan without a user cap. The free plan covers unlimited users, projects, tasks, and clients, which is rare at this price point. Timers run on web, desktop, and mobile, and AutoTrack records time in apps and sites so hours are not lost when someone forgets to start a timer. Shared reports and a team calendar give a manager a clear view of who worked on what each week.

Starter costs $4.50 per user per month billed annually and adds saved reports, automatic weekly reports, schedules, and calendar integration. Pro costs $6.50 per user per month billed annually and adds billing rates, invoicing, timesheet approval, and time off. A field team can stay on the free plan while it learns the tool, then move to Starter when it needs branded reports. Check whether GPS matters before you choose, because TrackingTime does not offer it.

Price: $4.50 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Yes

Website: trackingtime.co

What we like

  • Free plan with unlimited users, projects, and tasks
  • mobile app with AutoTrack

Watch out for

  • No GPS tracking or geofences
  • billing and invoicing need the Pro plan
5

Time Doctor

Best for Screenshots and activity data for mixed field and office teams
$6.67 per user/month (billed annually)

Time Doctor suits a field service team that also has office staff and needs one record for both. Screenshots and activity levels show which apps and sites office staff used, and the timer runs on web, desktop, and mobile. Payroll reports turn tracked time into pay figures, and project tracking shows hours by client and job. The focus is on accountability, which helps when part of the team works in the field and part works at a desk.

Basic costs $6.67 per user per month billed annually and adds screenshots, activity tracking, and payroll reports. Standard costs $11.67 per user per month billed annually and adds more integrations and deeper reporting. There is no free plan, only a 14 day trial, so a field service team should trial Time Doctor with one crew before committing. Check the mobile app offline limits before you buy, because field staff need tracking that works without a signal.

Price: $6.67 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: timedoctor.com

What we like

  • Screenshots and activity levels for remote work
  • payroll reports from tracked time

Watch out for

  • No free plan, only a 14 day trial
  • no GPS tracking or geofences for field staff
6

DeskTime

Best for Automatic tracking and productivity reports
$6.42 per user/month (billed annually)

DeskTime suits a field service team that wants tracking to happen on its own. The desktop app records app and site use automatically, then sorts time into productive and unproductive categories. The mobile app covers staff who work away from a desk, and idle time detection marks breaks. Reports show hours by person, project, and day, and the admin dashboard gives a manager a clear view of team capacity.

Pro costs $6.42 per user per month billed annually and covers automatic tracking, productivity calculations, and calendar integration. Premium costs $9.17 per user per month billed annually and adds screenshots, integrations, and shift scheduling. There is no free plan, only a 14 day trial. Check whether GPS matters before you choose, because DeskTime does not track job site locations.

Price: $6.42 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: desktime.com

What we like

  • Automatic tracking with productivity calculations
  • mobile time tracking on Android and iOS

Watch out for

  • No free plan, only a 14 day trial
  • no GPS tracking or geofences for field staff
7

Toggl Track

Best for Fast timers and clean client reports
$9 per user/month (billed annually)

Toggl Track suits a field service team that wants time tracking to feel light. The timer starts in one click on web, desktop, mobile, and in the browser extension, and calendar events can turn into time entries. Tasks and boards help a field team plan work, and summary reports break hours down by project, client, member, and tag. The design stays simple, which helps a team adopt the tool without a long training session.

Starter costs $9 per user per month billed annually and adds billable rates, team reports, and timeline views. Premium costs $16 per user per month billed annually and adds labor costs, profitability reports, and timesheet approvals. The free plan covers a limited number of users with manual timers and personal reports. Check whether GPS matters before you choose, because Toggl Track does not record job site locations.

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

Free plan: Yes

Website: toggl.com

What we like

  • Fast one click timers with calendar integration
  • clean summary reports by project and client

Watch out for

  • No GPS tracking or geofences
  • billable rates need the Starter plan
8

Harvest

Best for Field teams that bill clients and want invoicing built in
$9 per user/month (billed annually)

Harvest suits a field service team that bills clients by the hour and wants invoicing on the same record as time tracking. One click timers and weekly timesheets capture hours, and the mobile app lets staff log time from the job site. Expense tracking logs receipts beside time, and invoices are built from tracked hours. Project estimates show hours and cost before work starts, and the Forecast integration adds resource planning for crews.

Teams costs $9 per seat per month billed annually and covers unlimited seats, projects, and clients, with invoicing and expense tracking. Enterprise costs $14 per seat per month billed annually and adds profitability reporting, timesheet approval, and single sign-on. The free plan covers 1 seat and 2 projects, so it suits a solo user more than a team. Check the Flex usage fees for active projects and clients, because they sit on top of the seat price.

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

Free plan: Yes

Website: getharvest.com

What we like

  • Invoicing and expense tracking built in
  • Forecast integration for resource planning

Watch out for

  • Free plan covers 1 seat and 2 projects only
  • no GPS tracking or geofences

What to check before you buy

Check offline mode first, because field crews often work where the signal is weak. Hubstaff and Buddy Punch both sync punches when the connection returns, while some tools need a live connection. Next, check GPS and geofences, because a manager who needs proof of site visits should pick a tool that records locations, and check whether GPS costs extra, as it does on Buddy Punch. Check photo verification and kiosk options for shared devices, and check the monthly price as well as the annual price, because the annual figure is lower.

FAQ

Is there a free mobile time tracking tool for field service teams?

Yes. Clockify offers a free plan with unlimited tracking for up to 5 users and a mobile kiosk for shared devices, and TrackingTime offers a free plan with unlimited users, projects, and tasks. Both run on Android and iOS. A free plan suits a small field team that is starting out, but check the user cap and whether GPS sits on a higher tier.

What is the best mobile time tracking software for field service teams?

Hubstaff is the best fit for most field service teams, because GPS, geofences, and payroll sit on one record at $4.99 per user per month billed annually. Buddy Punch is a strong second choice when the team needs photo verification and offline punches. Clockify is the best free start for a small field team that does not need GPS.

Do field service teams need GPS tracking?

GPS helps when a manager needs proof that staff were on site, and when billing depends on time spent at a client location. Hubstaff and Buddy Punch both record punch locations, and Hubstaff adds geofences. Clockify adds location tracking on the Pro plan. Tell the team what the tool records before rollout, and check local rules on location tracking first.

Can field staff clock in without a signal?

Yes, on the right tool. Hubstaff and Buddy Punch both offer offline mode, so staff can punch in without a connection and sync when the signal returns. Clockify and Toggl Track need a connection for some features, so check offline support before you buy if crews work in basements, rural sites, or buildings with weak coverage.

How long does it take to set up mobile time tracking for a field team?

Most teams can start in a day. Create a workspace, add projects and job sites, invite the crew, and install the mobile app on each phone. Hubstaff and Buddy Punch need extra time for GPS, geofences, and photo rules. Run a trial with one crew for two weeks before you roll the tool out to everyone.

Sources we checked

How we score

Need the method behind these picks?

We publish the criteria and the weights, so you can disagree with them.

Hubstaff#1 PICK
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