Back to Recommended Tools
⏱️

Buddy Punch

Time tracking and scheduling your team will actually use

Time TrackingEmployee SchedulingPTO ManagementGPS Punch-InPayroll Integration

By Trace Cohen · How we assess tools

Buddy Punch is the all-in-one time tracking, employee scheduling, and PTO management platform built for small and mid-size teams. Employees clock in via web, mobile, or kiosk — with GPS location verification, facial recognition, and QR code punching to eliminate buddy punching and time theft. Managers get real-time dashboards, overtime alerts, and one-click payroll exports to QuickBooks, ADP, Gusto, Paychex, and more. 10,000+ businesses trust Buddy Punch to replace paper timesheets and disconnected scheduling tools. Free 14-day trial — no credit card required.

Start your free 14-day trial

Free 14-day trial · No credit card required

⏱️

Ready to get started with Buddy Punch?

Trusted by 10,000+ businesses for time tracking and scheduling Read our full review.

Try Buddy Punch free for 14 days — no credit card

Free 14-day trial · No credit card required

10K+
Businesses
GPS
Verified Punch-In
40+
Payroll Integrations
Free
14-Day Trial

Key Highlights

GPS-verified clock-in eliminates buddy punching and time fraud
Facial recognition and QR code punch options for kiosk setups
Drag-and-drop employee scheduling with shift swap and coverage requests
Real-time overtime alerts so you never get surprised by a big payroll
One-click payroll exports to QuickBooks, ADP, Gusto, Paychex, and 40+ others
PTO accrual engine handles multiple policies, caps, and carryover rules automatically

Why We Recommend Buddy Punch

01

GPS Time Tracking

Employees clock in from their phone and Buddy Punch captures their exact location. Set geofences so punches outside approved locations are flagged automatically. Works on iOS and Android with offline support.

02

Facial Recognition & Anti-Fraud

Kiosk mode with facial recognition prevents buddy punching — the practice of one employee clocking in for another. Buddy Punch cross-checks the face against the registered employee photo before accepting the punch.

03

Drag-and-Drop Scheduling

Build and publish weekly schedules in minutes. Employees get notified of shifts, can request swaps, and managers approve or deny coverage requests from the same interface. Reduce no-shows with automated SMS and email reminders.

04

PTO & Leave Management

Configure multiple PTO policies — vacation, sick, personal, and custom leave types — with accrual rules, caps, and carryover. Employees request time off in the app; managers approve with one click. Balances update automatically.

05

Payroll Integration

Export timesheets directly to QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, ADP, Gusto, Paychex, Square Payroll, and 40+ other payroll providers. No manual re-entry. Hours, overtime, and PTO are already calculated.

06

Real-Time Manager Dashboard

See who's clocked in, where they are, how many hours they've worked this week, and who's approaching overtime — all in one view. Approve or edit punches, add missed punches, and lock timesheets for payroll periods.

Best For

Small and mid-size businesses replacing paper timesheets or spreadsheet-based scheduling
Field service, construction, retail, and healthcare teams with distributed or mobile workers
HR and operations managers who want payroll-ready time data without manual cleanup
Companies losing money to buddy punching or inaccurate timekeeping

Pricing

Free Trial: 14 days — full access, no credit card required Starter: $4.49/user/month — time tracking, GPS, PTO, payroll exports Pro: $5.99/user/month — adds scheduling, facial recognition, advanced reporting Enterprise: Custom — SSO, dedicated support, custom integrations

Frequently Asked Questions

What is buddy punching and how does Buddy Punch prevent it?

Buddy punching is when one employee clocks in on behalf of another — a common form of time theft that costs US employers an estimated $373 billion per year. Buddy Punch prevents it through facial recognition at clock-in: the system takes a photo and matches it against the employee's registered face before accepting the punch.

Does Buddy Punch work for remote or field-based teams?

Yes — it's built for distributed teams. GPS punch-in captures location at clock-in and clock-out. You can set geofences around job sites so punches outside approved locations are automatically flagged. The mobile app works on iOS and Android with offline support for areas with poor connectivity.

Which payroll systems does Buddy Punch integrate with?

Buddy Punch integrates with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, ADP Run, Gusto, Paychex, Square Payroll, Heartland, and 40+ other payroll providers. Exports include regular hours, overtime, PTO, and any custom pay codes — ready to import without re-entry.

How is Buddy Punch different from Homebase or TSheets?

All three do time tracking and scheduling. Buddy Punch's differentiator is its anti-fraud toolset — facial recognition, GPS geofencing, and IP restrictions give it the strongest time integrity controls in its price range. It also has a cleaner payroll integration workflow than Homebase and is significantly cheaper than TSheets (now QuickBooks Time) at the same feature tier.

⏱️

Ready to get started with Buddy Punch?

Trusted by 10,000+ businesses for time tracking and scheduling

Replace paper timesheets today — free trial

Free 14-day trial · No credit card required

This is an affiliate link that helps support Value Add VC at no extra cost to you.

Related

Buddy Punch ReviewBuddy Punch Vs. AdpBuddy Punch Vs. ClockifyAll Tools