Time Tracking · Researched comparison

Best Overtime Tracking Software for Manufacturing Teams

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The short answer

Deputy is the top pick for manufacturing teams because it applies overtime rules, shift differentials, and break rules automatically at $5 per user per month. Buddy Punch adds kiosk clock-ins for the shop floor, while Hubstaff suits plants that also want activity data and job costing.

On this page

Key takeaways

  • Deputy leads for manufacturing with automatic overtime rules, shift differentials, and scheduling at $5 per user per month billed annually.
  • Buddy Punch fits shop floors with kiosk clock-ins, facial recognition, and overtime alerts for $19 per month plus $4.99 per user.
  • Clockify is the cheapest entry at $3.99 per user per month, but its overtime handling is simpler than Deputy or Buddy Punch.
  • OnTheClock and When I Work cover small plants that need basic overtime totals and shift scheduling at low cost.
  • Check your state overtime rules before you buy, because daily and weekly thresholds differ by location.

Comparison

How these compare
ToolBest forPrice rangeFree plan
DeputyOvertime rules with scheduling$5 per user/month (billed annually)Free trial (31 days)
Buddy PunchShop-floor kiosk clock-ins$19 per month plus $4.99 per user/monthFree trial (14 days)
HubstaffOvertime plus activity and job costing$4.99 per user/month (billed annually)Free trial (14 days)
OnTheClockSmall plants needing simple overtime$5 per month plus $4 per user/monthFree trial (30 days)
ClockifyBudget overtime totals$3.99 per user/month (billed annually)Yes
Time DoctorOvertime with productivity data$6.67 per user/month (billed annually)Free trial (14 days)
HomebaseSmall teams with scheduling$24 per location/monthYes
When I WorkShift scheduling with overtime totals$2.50 per user/monthFree trial (14 days)

How we choose

We reviewed the vendor pricing pages, feature pages, and help docs for each tool listed here, and we compared them on overtime rule handling, kiosk and mobile clock-ins, alerts, scheduling, and payroll links. We compared starting prices on annual billing and noted free plans and trial lengths from the vendor pages. We did not claim hands-on testing, and we left out tools whose pricing pages hide the entry price or whose overtime features were only a minor add-on.

Our full method

The shortlist

★ Best overall

Deputy

Best for Overtime rules with scheduling

  • Automatic overtime rules
  • shift differentials
  • strong scheduling
Price$5 per user/month (billed annually)
See Deputy pricing

Deputy applies overtime rules as hours are logged, so a shift that crosses a daily or weekly threshold is flagged at once instead of being found at payroll time. Shift differentials for nights and weekends are built into the schedule, and break rules can deduct unpaid meal breaks automatically. Managers see overtime building during the week and can move a shift or call in cover before the cost grows.

The scheduling tool publishes rosters to the mobile app, and staff can swap shifts with manager approval. Clock-ins can be verified by location, and timesheets export to payroll tools such as QuickBooks and Gusto. The Lite plan at $5 per user per month covers scheduling and time tracking, while Pro adds leave management and more integrations. The main limit is that the deepest payroll and compliance reports sit on higher tiers.

Price: $5 per user/month (billed annually)

Free plan: Free trial (31 days)

Website: deputy.com

Watch out for

  • No free plan
  • advanced payroll links need higher plans
2

Buddy Punch

Best for Shop-floor kiosk clock-ins
$19 per month plus $4.99 per user/month

Buddy Punch is built for workplaces where staff clock in on a shared device, and its kiosk mode with facial recognition stops buddy punching on the shop floor. Overtime rules calculate daily, weekly, and custom thresholds, and managers get alerts when an employee approaches overtime, so they can adjust the roster before the extra hours land. The interface is simple enough for staff who rarely use software, which matters on a busy production floor.

Punch rounding, break tracking, and time-off requests are included, and the app runs on iOS, Android, and any browser. Payroll exports cover QuickBooks, Gusto, and ADP, and GPS can confirm clock-in location for off-site crews. Reporting is lighter than Deputy, with fewer custom report options, but for a plant that needs reliable kiosk clock-ins and clear overtime totals, Buddy Punch covers the core job well.

Price: $19 per month plus $4.99 per user/month

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: buddypunch.com

What we like

  • Kiosk with facial recognition
  • overtime alerts
  • simple interface

Watch out for

  • No free plan
  • reporting is lighter than Deputy
3

Hubstaff

Best for Overtime plus activity and job costing
$4.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Hubstaff tracks hours against schedules and flags overtime as it accrues, with limits that managers can set per employee or team. Time is tied to jobs and tasks, so a plant can see how much overtime each production line or order absorbed, which helps with costing and quoting. GPS clock-ins and geofencing suit plants with yard crews or off-site install teams, and the desktop app records activity levels for office and support staff.

Payroll integrations with QuickBooks, Gusto, and Deel move approved hours into pay runs, and budgets warn when a job nears its planned hours. The activity screenshots and monitoring features need a clear policy with staff, since they can feel intrusive if introduced without explanation. For a plant that wants overtime control plus job costing in one tool, Hubstaff is strong value at $4.99 per user per month.

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

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: hubstaff.com

What we like

  • Overtime tracking
  • job costing
  • payroll integrations

Watch out for

  • No free plan
  • activity monitoring needs staff buy-in
4

OnTheClock

Best for Small plants needing simple overtime
$5 per month plus $4 per user/month

OnTheClock keeps overtime tracking simple: it calculates daily and weekly overtime from clock-ins, applies rounding rules, and shows managers a running total for each employee. Staff clock in from a web browser, mobile app, or fingerprint device, and managers can set punch restrictions by location or IP address. Time-off requests and basic scheduling sit in the same tool, so a small plant can run the whole attendance flow without extra software.

The low price suits small teams: $5 per month plus $4 per user puts a ten-person plant at $45 a month. Payroll exports cover QuickBooks and common payroll tools, and reports show hours by employee, department, and pay period. The interface is plain compared with Deputy or Hubstaff, and the reporting options are fewer, but the overtime math is reliable and the setup takes under an hour.

Price: $5 per month plus $4 per user/month

Free plan: Free trial (30 days)

Website: ontheclock.com

What we like

  • Low base price
  • overtime calculations
  • simple setup

Watch out for

  • No free plan
  • interface looks dated next to rivals
5

Clockify

Best for Budget overtime totals
$3.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Clockify is the cheapest way to start tracking overtime, with a free plan that covers unlimited users and the Basic plan at $3.99 per user per month adding billable rates and more features. Staff log time with a timer or manual timesheet, and managers can see weekly totals and flag hours that run past the standard week. Reports break time down by employee, project, and tag, and the data exports to payroll tools.

Overtime handling here is simpler than in Deputy or Buddy Punch: Clockify totals hours and lets managers review them, but it does not apply complex daily thresholds, shift differentials, or break rules automatically. That makes it a fit for a small plant with one overtime rule and a manager who checks totals weekly, rather than a large site with rotating shifts and varied differentials. The free plan makes it easy to trial with the whole team.

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

Free plan: Yes

Website: clockify.me

What we like

  • Free plan for unlimited users
  • simple timer and timesheets
  • low entry price

Watch out for

  • Overtime rules are basic
  • no kiosk mode
6

Time Doctor

Best for Overtime with productivity data
$6.67 per user/month (billed annually)

Time Doctor tracks work hours and overtime alongside productivity data, which suits plants with office, planning, and support staff as well as floor workers. The Basic plan at $6.67 per user per month billed annually includes time tracking, overtime totals, and reports, while higher plans add screenshots and deeper analytics. Managers can set work schedules, and the tool flags late starts, early finishes, and hours beyond the planned shift.

Payroll integrations and exports move approved hours into pay runs, and the reporting shows time by employee, project, and client. The productivity features, including optional screenshots and app usage, need a clear staff policy, since they go beyond simple time tracking. For a plant that wants overtime control for office staff and supervisors rather than kiosk clock-ins for the floor, Time Doctor covers that mix well.

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

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: timedoctor.com

What we like

  • Overtime tracking
  • productivity reports
  • payroll integrations

Watch out for

  • No free plan
  • screenshots can concern staff
7

Homebase

Best for Small teams with scheduling
$24 per location/month

Homebase gives a small plant a free starting point, with time tracking, scheduling, and team messaging for one location at no cost. The time clock records hours, and managers can see weekly totals and overtime at a glance, while the scheduling tool publishes shifts and handles swaps. Hiring and onboarding tools sit in the same product, which helps a plant that hires seasonal or temporary workers.

Overtime handling is basic: Homebase totals hours and shows where they pass the standard week, but it does not apply the layered daily and weekly rules that Deputy handles. The Essentials plan at $24 per location per month adds more scheduling controls and team messaging. Homebase suits a small plant with straightforward overtime rules; larger sites with complex shift patterns will need a more specialised tool.

Price: $24 per location/month

Free plan: Yes

Website: joinhomebase.com

What we like

  • Free plan for one location
  • scheduling and hiring
  • simple setup

Watch out for

  • Overtime features are basic
  • per-location pricing grows with sites
8

When I Work

Best for Shift scheduling with overtime totals
$2.50 per user/month

When I Work starts as a scheduling tool, and its time clock adds overtime totals to each shift, so managers can see the cost of a schedule before it runs. The Essentials plan at $2.50 per user per month is the cheapest entry price in this guide, and it covers scheduling, time tracking, and team messaging. Staff can claim open shifts, swap with approval, and clock in from the mobile app, which keeps a rotating plant roster moving.

Overtime reporting is simpler than Deputy, with weekly totals and alerts rather than layered rule sets. Payroll exports cover QuickBooks and Gusto, and the app runs on iOS and Android. When I Work suits a plant whose main problem is filling shifts on time and keeping overtime visible, rather than one that needs complex differential and break rules applied automatically.

Price: $2.50 per user/month

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: wheniwork.com

What we like

  • Low entry price
  • strong scheduling
  • shift swap tools

Watch out for

  • Overtime reporting is basic
  • no free plan

What to check before you buy

Confirm the tool applies your daily and weekly overtime thresholds, because a tool that only totals weekly hours will miss daily overtime rules in some states. Check whether shift differentials and unpaid meal breaks are automatic or manual. Test the kiosk mode on the shop floor, since glare, gloves, and noise affect usability. Confirm the payroll export matches your payroll tool, and check how overtime alerts reach managers during a shift.

FAQ

What is the difference between daily and weekly overtime?

Daily overtime applies when an employee works past a set number of hours in one day, while weekly overtime applies past a set total for the week. Some states use both, and the tool must apply each rule in the right order. Check your state rules, then confirm the tracker you pick applies daily and weekly thresholds automatically.

Do overtime trackers handle shift differentials?

Deputy and Hubstaff handle shift differentials for nights and weekends, while simpler tools like Clockify and Homebase only total hours. If night and weekend rates matter to your payroll, pick a tool that stores rate rules per shift type. Test the differential on one schedule before you roll it out.

Can shop-floor staff clock in without a phone?

Yes, Buddy Punch and OnTheClock offer kiosk modes on a shared tablet or computer, and Buddy Punch adds facial recognition. A kiosk suits staff who do not carry phones on the floor. Place the kiosk near the entrance, and set a PIN or facial check so one worker cannot clock in for another.

How do overtime alerts help a plant manager?

Alerts warn a manager when an employee nears the overtime threshold during a shift, so the manager can move work or call in cover before the cost grows. Deputy, Buddy Punch, and Hubstaff all send alerts as hours accrue. Set the alert a few hours before the threshold, not at it, so there is time to act.

Which overtime tracker is cheapest for a small plant?

Clockify has a free plan for unlimited users, and When I Work starts at $2.50 per user per month, so a ten-person plant pays about $25 a month there. Deputy at $5 per user per month costs more but applies overtime rules automatically. Weigh the price against the time a manager spends fixing payroll errors each week.

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.

Deputy#1 PICK
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