Top 5 Employee Time Tracking Software in 2026
Quick summary
Comparing the top 5 employee time tracking software for 2026 includes 1. greytHR, 2. Keka, 3. Zoho People, 4. Clockify, and 5. Toggl Track.
greytHR – Best for Indian businesses that want time tracking built into full HRMS and payroll
Keka – Best for mid-size Indian companies needing biometric and geofenced attendance tied to HR
Zoho People – Best for teams already on Zoho who need time tracking bundled with core HR
Clockify – Best free option for teams of any size needing unlimited hour tracking on a budget
Toggl Track – Best overall for freelancers and small teams who want a simple, one-click timer
What Is Employee Time Tracking Software?
- Employee time tracking software records the hours employees or teams spend on tasks, projects, and clients, then uses that data to improve productivity, run payroll accurately, and handle client billing.
- Depending on the tool, hours can be captured through a manual timer, an automatic background tracker, or biometric and GPS-based attendance, and the data typically flows into timesheets, overtime calculations, or invoices.
How We Selected the Best Time Tracking Software
The tools in this guide were evaluated using the following criteria:
- Core time tracking accuracy:
Reliable clock-in/clock-out methods, automatic tracking, and timesheet accuracy across web, mobile, and biometric channels.
- Payroll and HRMS integration:
How directly tracked time and attendance data flows into payroll, leave, and overtime calculations without manual re-entry.
- Ease of use and adoption:
How quickly employees and managers can adopt the tool across devices, including mobile time tracking apps.
- Reporting depth:
Availability of attendance, overtime, and productivity reports for HR and project managers.
- Pricing transparency and free trial access:
Whether pricing is publicly listed and whether a free trial or free tier exists.
Ordering: Tools are listed based on relevance to Indian businesses seeking HRMS-integrated time tracking, followed by globally popular standalone tools; not a strict performance ranking.
Top Time Tracking Programs 2026 (Quick Comparison)
| Software | Price per Month* | Free Trial | Best For | Rating | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| greytHR | ₹2,495 (up to 50 employees, +₹45/employee after) | Yes | Indian SMBs wanting time tracking bundled with full HRMS and payroll | 4.4/5 (1,244 reviews) | Attendance, overtime, and time tracking fully integrated with payroll and leave |
| Keka | ₹6,999 (up to 100 employees) | Yes | Mid-size Indian companies needing secure, verified attendance tied to HR | 4.5/5 (1,789 reviews) | Biometric + GPS geofencing + facial recognition attendance with project-linked timesheets |
| Zoho People | ₹48/employee (Essential; attendance/timesheets from ₹96/employee Professional, annual, excl. GST) | Yes, for micro-teams under 5 users | Teams already in the Zoho ecosystem wanting time tracking with core HR | 4.4/5 (415 reviews) | Time tracking bundled into a broader Zoho HR suite with shift scheduling |
| Clockify | From $3.99/user (~₹350/user, annual) - no India-specific pricing | Yes, up to 5 users | Budget-conscious teams of any size needing a free, no-frills tracker | 4.5/5 (200+ reviews) | Unlimited projects and time tracking even on the free tier |
| Toggl Track | From $9/user (~₹792/user, annual) - no India-specific pricing | Yes, up to 5 users | Freelancers and small teams wanting a simple, polished timer | 4.6/5 (1,583 reviews) | Cleanest one-click timer with autotracker and idle detection |
Pricing as of September 2026. Zoho People publishes India-specific INR pricing; Clockify and Toggl Track price globally in USD only (₹ figures are approximate conversions at ~₹88/$).
Top Time Manager Tools 2026 (Detailed Reviews)
Below are detailed reviews of the best time tracking software and systems featured in this list.
1. greytHR
Overview
greytHR is a full-suite HRMS platform built for Indian businesses, and its Attendance & Time Tracking module ties clock-ins directly into payroll, leave, and compliance rather than treating time tracking as a separate tool. It supports biometric, GPS, and mobile-based attendance capture across more than 30,000 organisations.
Key features
- Multiple attendance capture methods:
biometric hardware, web sign-in, GPS live tracking, GeoMark, and selfie/facial attendance
- Customisable attendance policies:
for shifts, rotation, lateness, absence, and overtime by employee category
- Automatic attendance processing:
scheduled swipe downloads, month-end finalisation, and alerts for policy violations
- Employee Self Service:
for attendance marking, regularisation, and calendar-based drill-down via web or mobile
Comprehensive overtime management with bulk or individual overtime application and detailed overtime payslips
GPS-based add-on, not built-in monitoring: GPS Live Tracking is available as a paid add-on (₹140/user/month) for location-based attendance, but greytHR does not offer client invoicing or employee activity monitoring such as screenshots or keystroke logging.
Key strengths
Easy to use, even for non-technical HR teams.
Payroll and attendance processing genuinely saves time.
The support team resolves issues rather than just logging tickets.
Weaknesses
Mobile apps lag behind the web experience.
Not very flexible for non-standard HR workflows.
Payroll/attendance queries can take a while to get resolved.
Pricing
Pricing: Essential plan starts at ₹2,495/month for up to 50 employees, plus ₹45/employee beyond that. GPS Live Tracking is a paid add-on at ₹140/user/month. Free trial available.
Highlights
What Users Say “It has a professional look and includes AI-based features and facilities." - Kuheli K., Lead HR & HRMS, Mid-Market, [greytHR G2 – Verified Review, 4/5](https://www.g2.com/products/greythr/reviews)Best for
Best for: Indian SMBs and mid-market companies that want time and attendance tracking built directly into payroll, leave, and compliance rather than bolted on separately.
2. Keka
Overview
Keka is a People and Project Operations platform whose time tracking module is built around verified attendance, combining biometric and geofenced mobile capture with project-linked timesheets for billing.
Key features
Mobile punch-in with GPS geo-fencing, biometric device integration, and facial recognition attendance
Project-linked timesheets with billable and non-billable hour tracking
Shift scheduling and rotation management feeding directly into payroll
Centralised self-service for attendance regularisation, payslips, and Form 16 downloads
Overtime calculations that sync automatically with the payroll run
Geofencing included, no invoicing or monitoring: GPS geofencing comes built into attendance capture at no extra cost, but Keka does not support client invoicing or employee activity monitoring beyond verifying attendance.
Key strengths
Interface is clean and easy to navigate day to day.
Support team is responsive and genuinely helpful.
Brings HR, payroll, and attendance into one dashboard.
Weaknesses
A few advanced features feel underbuilt compared to competitors.
Support response times slow down during busier periods.
Mobile app can glitch, with occasional sync delays.
Pricing
Pricing: Foundation plan starts at ₹6,999/month for up to 100 employees; Strength (₹9,999) and Growth (₹13,999) tiers add performance and workflow features. Free trial available.
Highlights
What Users Say "Tracking attendance, regularizing missed logs, and downloading payslips or Form 16 takes just a few clicks." - Krishna J., Salesforce Developer, Enterprise, [Keka G2 – Verified Review, 4/5](https://www.g2.com/products/keka/reviews)Best for
Best for: Mid-size Indian companies that need secure, verified attendance (biometric or geofenced) tied closely to HR and payroll.
3. Zoho People
Overview
Zoho People is a cloud HR platform where time recording software sits alongside leave, performance, and onboarding, and works best for teams already using other Zoho apps.
Key features
Shared calendars and an automated scheduler for shift assignment
Timesheets and time logs for recording project hours
Shift-based pay rate assignment
Biometric system integration for attendance
Native integration across the wider Zoho suite (Zoho Books, Zoho Projects, etc.)
No invoicing, GPS, or monitoring features: Zoho People's time tracking is limited to attendance and timesheets; it does not offer client invoicing, GPS-based location tracking, or employee activity monitoring.
Key strengths
Simple, easy-to-navigate interface
Solid attendance and leave tracking
Integrates well with other Zoho apps
Weaknesses
Initial setup can be complex.
Learning curve for advanced features.
Mobile app weaker than the web version.
Pricing
Pricing: Zoho People publishes India-specific pricing, starting at ₹48/employee/month (Essential HR, annual billing, excl. GST). Attendance tracking and timesheets only unlock from the Professional tier at ₹96/employee/month. Free tier available for micro-teams under 5 users.
Highlights
What Users Say "Easy to use, quick updates. Easy to add new tasks. Impossible to edit old entries (if you forgot to add something). It is impossible to fix errors (like missing dates)." - John B., [Zoho People G2 – Verified Review, 3/5](https://www.g2.com/products/zoho-people/reviews)Best for
Best for: Teams already inside the Zoho ecosystem who want time tracking bundled with core HR rather than run as a standalone tool.
4. Clockify
Overview
Clockify is a standalone time tracker best known for its generous free tier, used by freelancers up through large teams that don't need payroll or HRMS integration.
Key features
Unlimited projects, clients, and time entries, even on the free plan
Auto tracker and timesheet views alongside a manual timer
Kiosk mode and GPS tracking (Pro tier) for shared devices and field teams
Billable rates, budgets, and scheduling (Standard tier and above)
100+ integrations, including Asana, ClickUp, and Jira
Invoicing and monitoring on paid tiers: Invoicing unlocks from the Standard tier, while GPS tracking and screenshot-based activity monitoring are available from the Pro tier, making Clockify the only tool here with true employee activity monitoring.
Key strengths
Intuitive, quick to set up
Time-saving for freelancers and teams
Strong reporting for the price
Weaknesses
Billable rates, bulk edit, time audit, and exports are gated to paid tiers, not on the Free plan.
Mobile app can be buggy.
Actions spread across multiple screens.
Pricing
Pricing: Clockify has no India-specific pricing; it bills globally in USD. Free for up to 5 users. Paid tiers (annual billing): Basic $3.99/user (~₹350), Standard $5.49/user (~₹483), Pro $7.99/user (~₹703), Enterprise $11.99/user (~₹1,055).
Highlights
What Users Say "Clockify allows unlimited projects, clients, and time tracking, making it exceptionally accessible without hitting immediate paywalls." - Laura O., Project Manager, Mid-Market, [Clockify G2 – Verified Review, 5/5](https://www.g2.com/products/clockify/reviews)Best for
Best for: Budget-conscious teams of any size that want unlimited time tracking without payroll or HRMS features attached.
5. Toggl Track
Overview
Toggl Track is a time intelligence platform that started as a one-click timer and has grown into a tool used by freelancers, agencies, and software teams for planning and profitability, without payroll or attendance features
Key features
One-click timer available on web, desktop, and mobile
Autotracker and idle detection to keep logged time accurate
Boards, Timelines, and Calendar views for visual project planning
Estimated-vs-actual time comparison and capacity/profitability reporting
Integrations with Jira, Asana, Notion, and Slack
Invoicing yes, monitoring no: Built-in invoicing is available on the Premium tier, but Toggl Track has no GPS tracking and deliberately avoids activity monitoring like screenshots or keystroke logging.
Key strengths
Very easy to use, minimal onboarding
Strong mobile time tracking
Integrates well with Jira, Asana, Notion, Slack
Weaknesses
Feels limited for complex project management.
No built-in invoicing on Free/Starter.
Free plan lacks custom reports and billable rates
Pricing
Pricing: Toggl Track has no India-specific pricing; it bills globally in USD. Free for up to 5 users. Starter $9/user/month annual (~₹792) or $10/user monthly; Premium $18/user/month annual (~₹1,584) or $20/user monthly; Enterprise custom-priced. 30-day free trial of Premium features.
Highlights
What Users Say "It makes time tracking simple and easy without feeling intrusive... The reports are strong as well, giving you a clear, visual view of where your time is going." - Mariana V., Marketing, Small-Business, [Toggl Track G2 – Verified Review, 5/5](https://www.g2.com/products/toggl-track/reviews)Best for
Best for: Freelancers and small teams who want the cleanest, simplest timer with strong reporting, and don't need payroll or attendance features.
Comparison Checklist: How to Choose the Right Time Tracking Software
- Core tracking accuracy:
Ensure the tool reliably captures clock-in/clock-out times, whether through web, mobile, biometric, or GPS-based methods, with minimal missed entries.
- Payroll and HRMS integration:
Check whether tracked hours and attendance flow directly into payroll and leave, or require manual export/import between systems.
- Ease of use and adoption:
Employees and managers should find the system easy to use across web and mobile devices without heavy training.
- Reporting and analytics:
Look for attendance, overtime, and productivity reports that give HR and project managers real visibility, not just raw logs.
- Scalability:
Confirm the tool can support your team as it grows, whether that means more employees, more locations, or more concurrent projects.
- Pricing and free trial access:
Compare per-user or per-employee pricing, whether a free tier exists, and whether costs scale predictably as you add people.
- Security and compliance:
Look for role-based access, data encryption, and (for Indian businesses) compliance with data protection norms around employee monitoring data.
FAQs - Time Tracking Software
What is time tracking software?
Timekeeping software is a digital tool that records how employees or individuals spend their working hours, whether through manual timers, automatic activity tracking, or biometric/GPS-based attendance capture.
What is time tracking?
Time tracking is the practice of recording the amount of time spent on work, tasks, or projects, typically to support payroll, billing, or productivity analysis.
How do I track employee time and hours?
Employee time can be tracked through clock-in/clock-out apps, biometric devices, GPS-based mobile attendance, or hour tracking software, depending on whether the workforce is office-based, remote, or field-based. HRMS platforms like greytHR and Keka combine several of these methods and sync the data directly with payroll and overtime calculations.
How do I track time spent on tasks?
Task-level time tracking tools like Toggl Track and Clockify use a start/stop timer tied to a specific project or task, so hours can be reported per task rather than just per day.
How do I keep a time log?
A time log can be kept manually in a spreadsheet, but most teams use time logging software that timestamps each work session automatically and compiles it into a daily or weekly log.
What is the best time tracking software?
It depends on the use case: greytHR and Keka are strongest for Indian businesses needing attendance tied to payroll and compliance, Zoho People suits teams already on the Zoho ecosystem, and Clockify or Toggl Track suit smaller or remote teams needing a simple, standalone timer without payroll features.
What is the best time tracking software for small businesses?
For small businesses in India, greytHR's Essential plan and Zoho People's low per-employee pricing are the most budget-friendly options with built-in attendance and payroll support. Clockify and Toggl Track suit small teams that only need task-level time tracking without payroll.
Does Zoho People track activity?
Zoho People tracks attendance and time through clock-ins, shift schedules, and timesheets rather than continuous activity monitoring like screenshots or keystroke logging. Time tracking and attendance features are available from its Professional tier upward.
Why is time tracking important?
Time tracking is important because it improves payroll accuracy, reduces time theft, supports fair overtime calculation, and gives managers visibility into project costs and team productivity.
Is time tracking bad for employees?
Time tracking is not inherently bad; it becomes a concern when tools rely on invasive monitoring like screenshots or keystroke logging without transparency. Attendance-based time tracking tied to payroll, like greytHR's, is generally viewed as standard HR practice rather than surveillance.
Legal disclaimer
All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
For informational use only; not legal or financial advice.
Features and prices are subject to change; verify on vendor sites.
No endorsement or partnership is implied.
Author(s)
greytHR
greytHR is a full-suite HRMS platform that automates HR processes and empowers employee self-service. It ensures all-around productivity and engaged employees — the crucial ingredients for growth.Share this
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