Time Tracking · Researched comparison

Best Plumbing Time Tracking Software

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The short answer

Jobber is our top pick for plumbing time tracking. Core costs $29 per month billed annually and ties every tracked hour to a job, so the quote, the hours and the invoice live in one record. Plumbers clock time against flat-rate jobs, the office sees labour cost per call, and nothing gets retyped between the field and the invoice.

On this page

Key takeaways

  • Jobber ties time to jobs and invoices from $29 a month billed annually, but Core covers one user and has no GPS crew tracking.
  • Timeero is the cheapest GPS tracker at $5 per user per month billed annually, with mileage included and no base fee.
  • Clockify is free for up to 5 users, but GPS needs Pro at $7.99 per user per month billed annually.
  • QuickBooks Time costs $20 base plus $10 per user a month, and it needs a QuickBooks Online subscription on top.
  • Workiz and FieldEdge publish no price, so both need a sales quote, and FieldEdge is built for larger plumbing operations.

Comparison

How these compare
ToolBest forPrice rangeFree plan
JobberShops that want dispatch and invoicing together$29 per month (billed annually)Free trial (14 days)
TimeeroCrews that need GPS and mileage$5 per user/month (billed annually)Free trial (14 days)
ClockifySmall shops that want a free start$3.99 per user/month (billed annually)Yes (free for up to 5 users)
Buddy PunchShops that need photo and PIN verification$4.99 per user/month (billed annually)Free trial (14 days)
QuickBooks TimeFirms already on QuickBooks payroll$20 base plus $10 per user/monthFree trial (30 days)
Housecall ProShops that want online booking and a price book$59 per month (billed annually)Free trial (14 days)
WorkizShops that want a built-in phone systemquote onlyFree trial (7 days)
FieldEdgeLarge plumbing operations with dispatchersquote onlyNo

How we choose

We reviewed the vendor pricing pages, feature lists and documentation for each tool, and compared them on price, GPS, job costing, dispatch and flat-rate billing. We did not run trials, and we did not claim hands on testing. Prices come from the pricing pages linked in Sources. Quote only tools are marked as such because the vendor publishes no price.

Our full method

The shortlist

★ Best overall

Jobber

Best for Shops that want dispatch and invoicing together

  • Quoting, scheduling, dispatch and invoicing in one app
  • time ties straight to each job
Price$29 per month (billed annually)
See Jobber pricing

Jobber is a field service platform that covers quoting, scheduling, dispatch, invoicing, online booking and payments, with time tracking tied to each job. Core costs $29 per month billed annually, or $49 billed monthly, for one user. Connect costs $99 billed annually for one user and $149 for five users, and Grow costs $149 for one user. Each extra user costs $29 a month on every plan.

The job record is the reason plumbing shops pick Jobber, because the quote, the scheduled visit, the tracked hours and the invoice live in one place, so flat-rate jobs show their true labour cost. The limits are that Core covers one user only, so a shop with three vans starts on Connect, and Core has no GPS crew tracking. For a plumbing shop that wants dispatch, time tracking and invoicing in one bill, Jobber is the most complete option here.

Price: $29 per month (billed annually)

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: getjobber.com

Watch out for

  • Core covers one user only and has no GPS crew tracking
  • extra users cost $29 a month each
2

Timeero

Best for Crews that need GPS and mileage
$5 per user/month (billed annually)

Timeero is built for mobile teams that move between job sites, with GPS location tracking, automatic mileage, a time clock and break tracking all on Basic, which costs $5 per user per month billed annually, or $6 billed monthly. Pro costs $7.50 per user per month billed annually and adds Auto Clock-In and Out, employee scheduling, geofencing and payroll integrations. Premium costs $10 and adds time off, a facial recognition kiosk and signatures.

The mileage tracking is the reason plumbing owners pick it, because drive time between calls is a real cost and Timeero logs every mile on its own. The limits are the 10-user cap on Basic and the lack of invoicing, so the office still bills from another tool. For a plumbing crew that needs proof of site visits and miles, Timeero is the best value here.

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

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: timeero.com

What we like

  • GPS tracking and automatic mileage on every plan
  • no base fee, so the bill is only per user

Watch out for

  • Basic is capped at 10 users
  • scheduling and geofencing need Pro at $7.50 per user per month
3

Clockify

Best for Small shops that want a free start
$3.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Clockify is a timer and timesheet tool that covers time tracking, projects, calendars and reports, with a free plan for up to 5 users that suits a small plumbing shop. Basic costs $3.99 per user per month billed annually and adds billable rates, while Standard costs $5.49 and adds invoicing and time approval. Pro costs $7.99 per user per month billed annually and adds GPS tracking, scheduling, expenses and activity monitoring, and Enterprise costs $11.99.

The free plan is the reason small shops start here, because a 5-person crew can track time and run reports without spending anything. The limits are that GPS sits on Pro, so a shop that needs location proof pays $7.99 per user, and there is no dispatch board, so scheduling stays in another tool. For a small plumbing shop that wants a free start and simple timesheets, Clockify is the cheapest way in.

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

Free plan: Yes (free for up to 5 users)

Website: clockify.me

What we like

  • Free plan for up to 5 users
  • timesheets, projects and reports on every plan

Watch out for

  • GPS tracking needs Pro at $7.99 per user per month
  • no dispatch or job scheduling on Basic
4

Buddy Punch

Best for Shops that need photo and PIN verification
$4.99 per user/month (billed annually)

Buddy Punch is a time clock built to stop buddy punching, with GPS coordinates on every punch, webcam photos, QR codes and PIN entry at the door. Starter costs $4.99 per user per month billed annually, or $5.99 billed monthly, plus a $19 monthly base fee. Pro costs $6.99 and adds geofencing, offline mode and scheduling, while Advanced costs $12.99 and adds real-time GPS, single sign on and advanced reporting.

The verification options are the reason owners with trust problems pick it, because a photo or a QR scan proves who clocked in and where. The limits are the $19 base fee, which makes a 5-person Starter bill $43.95 a month, and the real-time GPS add-on at $2 per user on Starter and Pro. For a plumbing owner who needs honest punches from every tech, Buddy Punch is the most thorough clock here.

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

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: buddypunch.com

What we like

  • GPS on every punch, with photo, QR and PIN checks
  • overtime and rounding rules on all plans

Watch out for

  • A $19 monthly base fee sits on top of the per-user price
  • real-time GPS costs $2 per user extra on Starter
5

QuickBooks Time

Best for Firms already on QuickBooks payroll
$20 base plus $10 per user/month

QuickBooks Time, formerly TSheets, is the time tracker for firms that already run QuickBooks, with GPS-stamped mobile clock-ins, scheduling, a time kiosk and payroll sync. Premium costs $20 a month as a base fee plus $10 per user per month, and Elite costs $40 plus $12 per user, with geofencing, mileage and project tracking. A QuickBooks Online subscription is required on top of the Time plan, and a 30-day free trial is available.

The payroll link is the reason QuickBooks firms pick it, because hours flow into payroll and invoicing without retyping, and the GPS stamp settles disputes about start times. The limits are the cost shape, since the base fee plus the required QuickBooks Online subscription makes a small crew pay more than a flat per-user tool, and geofencing sits on Elite. For a plumbing firm already on QuickBooks, it is the natural choice.

Price: $20 base plus $10 per user/month

Free plan: Free trial (30 days)

Website: quickbooks.intuit.com

What we like

  • GPS clock-ins with scheduling and payroll sync
  • hours flow into QuickBooks payroll without a CSV

Watch out for

  • A QuickBooks Online subscription is required on top
  • geofencing needs Elite at $40 base plus $12 per user
6

Housecall Pro

Best for Shops that want online booking and a price book
$59 per month (billed annually)

Housecall Pro is a field service platform for home service trades, with scheduling, dispatch, quoting, invoicing, online booking, a price book and job costing. Basic costs $59 per month billed annually, or $79 billed monthly, for one user. Essentials costs $149 billed annually, or $189 billed monthly, for five users, and MAX costs $299 billed annually, or $329 billed monthly, for eight users, with extra users at $35 a month each on MAX.

The price book and job costing are the reason plumbing shops pick it, because flat-rate pricing and cost tracking sit next to the schedule. The limits are the entry price, since Basic covers one user and a five-tech crew needs Essentials at $149 a month, and the add-ons for voice and marketing carry no published price. For a plumbing shop that sells flat-rate jobs and wants strong consumer booking, Housecall Pro is a strong fit.

Price: $59 per month (billed annually)

Free plan: Free trial (14 days)

Website: housecallpro.com

What we like

  • Online booking, price book and job costing built in
  • review management and consumer financing included

Watch out for

  • Basic covers one user only
  • Essentials at $149 a month is the real price for a small crew
7

Workiz

Best for Shops that want a built-in phone system
quote only

Workiz is a field service platform for plumbing, HVAC, electrical and other trades, built around scheduling, dispatch, invoicing and a built-in phone system with call tracking, recording and AI answering. The vendor shows Request pricing on its Standard, Pro and Ultimate plans, and third-party reports put the monthly tiers around $187 to $270 a month billed annually for the first few users. A 7-day free trial is available with no card required.

The phone system is the reason high-volume shops pick Workiz, because calls, texts and bookings flow into the same dispatch board instead of a separate phone tool. The limits are the quote only base prices, so buyers cannot compare a number before a demo, and the phone system is sold separately from the platform. For a plumbing shop that lives on inbound calls, Workiz is worth a demo.

Price: quote only

Free plan: Free trial (7 days)

Website: workiz.com

What we like

  • Built-in phone system with call tracking and AI answering
  • strong scheduling and dispatch for high call volume

Watch out for

  • Base prices sit behind a quote, so the bill is unclear until the demo
  • phone system is sold separately
8

FieldEdge

Best for Large plumbing operations with dispatchers
quote only

FieldEdge is a field service platform aimed at larger plumbing, HVAC and electrical firms, with dispatch, scheduling, a price book, invoicing, reporting and a deep QuickBooks integration. Pricing is quote only, and the product is sold through demos rather than self-serve signup. The platform is built for firms with dispatchers and office staff who manage a fleet, rather than a solo plumber with one van.

The dispatch depth is the reason larger plumbing firms pick it, because multi-tech scheduling, capacity views and reporting work together at a scale the smaller tools cannot match. The limits are the quote only pricing and the size floor, since a small shop cannot check a price before a sales conversation and gets a platform built for a bigger operation. For a large plumbing firm with dispatchers, FieldEdge is the standard to compare against.

Price: quote only

Free plan: No

Website: fieldedge.com

What we like

  • Built for larger service firms, with dispatch, price book and reporting
  • strong QuickBooks integration

Watch out for

  • Quote only with no published starting price
  • too big and too costly for a small shop

What to check before you buy

Check whether GPS is included on the entry plan, because Clockify puts it on Pro at $7.99 and Buddy Punch charges $2 per user extra for real-time GPS on Starter. Check the seat limits, since Timeero Basic caps at 10 users and Jobber Core covers one user only. Confirm what the base fee adds, because QuickBooks Time charges $20 a month before the first user and Buddy Punch charges $19. Ask whether the tool needs another subscription, since QuickBooks Time requires QuickBooks Online on top.

FAQ

What is the best time tracking software for plumbers?

Jobber is the best fit for most plumbing shops, because Core costs $29 a month billed annually and ties every tracked hour to a job, so the quote, the hours and the invoice live in one record. Timeero is the best pure time tracker at $5 per user per month billed annually, with GPS and mileage included. Pick Jobber when dispatch and invoicing matter most, and Timeero when location proof matters most.

How do plumbers track time on flat-rate jobs?

Plumbers track time against the job, not the clock alone, so the hours land on the flat-rate price and show the true labour cost. Jobber, Housecall Pro and FieldEdge all tie tracked hours to a job record with a price book, so the office sees margin per call. Timeero and Clockify track hours well but need another tool for flat-rate billing. Pick a tool that links hours to jobs if you sell flat-rate work.

Does plumbing time tracking need GPS?

GPS matters when techs work alone at customer sites, because it proves who was on site and when, and settles disputes about arrival times and hours. Timeero, Buddy Punch, QuickBooks Time and Housecall Pro all record location at clock-in. Clockify puts GPS on Pro at $7.99 per user per month. Pick a GPS tool if you bill by the visit, run after-hours calls, or manage lone workers.

How much does time tracking cost for a 3-van plumbing shop?

A 3-van shop pays $0 on Clockify, $15 on Timeero, $33.97 on Buddy Punch and $50 on QuickBooks Time, all per month. Jobber and Housecall Pro both cost $149 a month once the shop outgrows the one-user entry plan. Workiz and FieldEdge need a quote, so ask for the full price in writing before you compare. The cheapest headline price is not always the cheapest bill.

Is Housecall Pro or Jobber better for plumbing?

Jobber is better when dispatch and invoicing matter most, because quoting, scheduling, time tracking and invoicing live in one record, and Core starts at $29 a month billed annually for one user. Housecall Pro is better when online booking and flat-rate pricing matter most, because its price book and job costing are stronger. Both need a higher tier once the shop grows past one user, so compare Connect against Essentials.

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.

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