10 best time tracking software for construction companies in 2025

Labor is one of the biggest cost heads in construction. Studies show that labor often accounts for 30–50% of total construction project costs. (FirstBit) At the same time, productivity growth in construction has been almost flat at around 0.4% per year, while the global economy has grown five times faster. (vsimple.com) A big reason is still-manual processes like paper timesheets, WhatsApp updates and punch cards that do not match the way field teams work.

When time and attendance data is inaccurate, every extra 10–15 minutes per worker per day quietly eats into margin. Research also shows that nearly half of employees admit to some form of time theft, such as buddy punching or rounding up hours. (WorkMax) For construction firms working across sites, that is a direct hit on project profitability.

If you are a project head, HR leader or owner, you are likely asking:

• Are supervisors still collecting handwritten timesheets at the end of the shift?
  
• Do payroll and accounts teams spend days reconciling overtime, job codes and disputes every month?
  
• When a client questions a bill, can you show accurate, location-stamped time logs for every worker and subcontractor?
  
  

The right time tracking software for construction can fix these issues by capturing site-level hours in real time, linking them to jobs and cost codes, and feeding clean data into payroll.

This guide compares 10 construction time tracking apps, explains what to look for, and shows where Truein fits if you manage a distributed or contractual workforce.

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Key takeaways

• Construction time tracking tools record hours for field workers, crews and subcontractors with GPS, geofencing, photo or face verification and job-based tracking.
  
• Decision makers should focus on tools that handle multi-site operations, contractual staff, compliance rules and payroll-ready reports instead of generic timesheet apps.
  
• Key features to evaluate include GPS or geofenced clock-ins, offline access, job and cost code tracking, overtime rules, reports and payroll integrations.
  
• Truein offers face recognition, GPS geofencing, job-based tracking and 70+ attendance policies built for contract and site-based workers.
  
• Listicle covers Truein plus other popular construction time tracking software such as ClockShark, QuickBooks Time, Workyard, ExakTime, Connecteam and more.
  
• Use the comparison and checklist below to shortlist tools and then run a pilot on one or two active sites before rolling out across projects.
  
  

What is time tracking software for construction?

Construction time tracking software is a digital system that records when workers start and finish work on a job site, often with extra context such as:

• which project or cost code they worked on
  
• which site or location they clocked in from
  
• overtime, breaks and shift patterns
  
• contractor or subcontractor groups
  
  

Unlike generic office time trackers, construction-focused tools are built for field crews, seasonal staff and subcontractors who may move across sites, work in shifts and have limited access to computers.

Most modern construction time tracking apps:

• run on mobile devices or site kiosks
  
• use GPS, geofencing, face recognition or photo ID to verify presence
  
  

send data directly to payroll, job costing or project management tools

Why construction companies need dedicated time tracking tools

Manual timesheets and siloed systems cause several problems for construction businesses:

1. Margin leakage from inaccurate hours
   When labor is 30–50% of project cost, even a small error across hundreds of workers and multiple sites creates large leakages.
   
   
2. Time theft and buddy punching
   With nearly half of employees admitting to some form of time theft, relying only on paper registers or simple PIN clocks exposes you to inflated hours and ghost workers.
   
   
3. Low productivity and rework
   Slow or inaccurate data flows make it hard to compare planned vs actual hours, identify delays early or rebalance crews across sites. Low adoption of digital tools is one reason construction productivity has lagged behind other industries.
   
   
4. Compliance and audit risk
   Labor laws, safety rules and client audits often require clear attendance records, overtime calculations and job-wise reports. Manual logs are hard to defend in audits.
   
   
5. Payroll and billing delays
   Payroll teams chase supervisors for timesheets, verify numbers and fix errors. This delays salary processing and invoices, and can create mistrust with both workers and clients.
   
   

A dedicated construction employee time tracking system replaces these scattered processes with a single source of truth for hours worked across all sites.

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Key features to look for in construction time tracking software

When you evaluate time tracking software for construction, look for features that match the realities of job sites, not just office environments.

1. Mobile and GPS-based clock-ins

Workers should be able to clock in and out from a mobile app or shared kiosk. GPS and geotagging provide evidence that clock-ins happen from the right site or zone, not from home or the road.

2. Geofencing and site restrictions

A geofenced time clock only allows attendance within a defined project boundary. This keeps crews honest and avoids claims from workers who are not on site.

3. Face recognition or photo verification

Face recognition or selfie-based verification sharply reduces buddy punching and fake entries. This is especially useful when you have large numbers of contract workers or high churn.

4. Offline support for remote sites

Many construction projects have patchy connectivity. Your time tracking app should record entries offline and sync automatically when the device goes online.

5. Job and cost code tracking

Supervisors should be able to allocate hours to jobs, cost codes or tasks so you can see how much time is spent on excavation, formwork, finishing and other activities.

6. Overtime, shift and break policies

Look for tools that support complex attendance rules across sites: overtime slabs, night shifts, weekly offs, double shifts and break deductions. This keeps payroll compliant and reduces disputes.

7. Payroll and accounting integrations

A good system exports payroll-ready reports or integrates with your payroll software. Research shows many small businesses still use time tracking tools that do not connect well with payroll systems, creating manual work. (lumberfi.com)

8. Real-time dashboards and alerts

Supervisors and management need a quick view of who is on site, absenteeism, late arrivals and overtime so they can act on the same day, not after payroll is closed.

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10 best time tracking software for construction companies

Below is a curated list of construction time tracking apps. We start with Truein, then list other popular options in the market. Use this as a starting point for your own evaluation.

1. Truein – face recognition time and attendance for construction sites

Best for: Contractors and builders with multi-site, contractual or distributed workforce.

Truein is a face recognition-based time and attendance system built specifically for hourly and multi-site staff. Construction companies use it to track workers across projects, manage contract labor and prevent time theft.

Key capabilities for construction:

• Face recognition with GPS geofencing: Workers clock in from a mobile app or shared kiosk using their face. Geofencing ensures entries only from approved locations.
  
  
• Job-based and location-based tracking: Track hours by site, contractor, job or cost code, with clear visibility into budgeted vs actual hours.
  
  
• 70+ configurable policies: Handle overtime, shifts, weekly offs, contractor-specific rules and local labor regulations without manual overrides.
  
  
• Payroll-ready reports: Export accurate, tamper-proof logs that feed directly into payroll and billing, cutting disputes and salary delays.
  
  
• Proven at scale: Truein is used at more than 10,000 locations across 25+ countries by brands like SJ Contracts, Tata Projects, Compass Group and others.
  
  

For construction leaders who want to tighten attendance, protect margins and manage multiple sites from one dashboard, Truein is a strong fit.

Next step: Shortlist one or two active sites, run a 14–30 day pilot with Truein, and compare payroll leakage and supervisor effort before and after.

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2. ClockShark

ClockShark is a construction-focused time tracking and scheduling app built for small and mid-size contractors.

Highlights:

• Mobile app with GPS-based time tracking for crews
  
  
• Drag-and-drop schedule board for jobs and shifts
  
  
• Basic job costing and QuickBooks integration
  
  

It works well for contractors who want an easy upgrade from paper timesheets without complex compliance rules.

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3. QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets)

QuickBooks Time is a popular time tracking app for contractors that connects tightly with QuickBooks accounting.

Highlights:

• Mobile and web time tracking with GPS location stamps
  
  
• Job and customer-level time entries for better invoicing
  
  
• Strong integration with QuickBooks for payroll and billing
  
  

It suits construction businesses already using QuickBooks who want time tracking inside the same ecosystem.

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4. Workyard

Workyard positions itself as a GPS time tracking app for construction and field services.

Highlights:

• High-accuracy GPS tracking of site arrivals and departures
  
  
• Project and cost code time allocation for job costing
  
  
• Timesheet approvals and export to payroll tools
  
  

It is useful when location accuracy and job costing are top priorities.

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5. busybusy

busybusy is designed for construction employee time tracking and equipment tracking.

Highlights:

• Mobile app with GPS and photo verification
  
  
• Equipment hours and utilization tracking
  
  
• Simple production tracking for tasks and quantities
  
  

Companies that want to combine labor and equipment data in one app often look at busybusy.

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6. ExakTime

ExakTime focuses on rugged time tracking for outdoor and heavy-duty job sites.

Highlights:

• Hardware clocks and mobile app options
  
  
• GPS geofencing and photo ID capture
  
  
• Reports for payroll, compliance and job costing
  
  

It fits contractors who prefer hardware devices at gates or trailers along with mobile options.

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7. Connecteam

Connecteam is a broader workforce management app with strong time clock capabilities for field teams.

Highlights:

• Mobile time clock with GPS location tracking
  
  
• Task management, communication and checklists
  
  
• Integrations with payroll tools such as QuickBooks and Gusto
  
  

It is a good pick if you want time tracking plus daily communication and checklists in one app.

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8. Raken

Raken is popular in construction for daily reporting, with time tracking as part of its feature set.

Highlights:

• Daily reports with photos, notes and manpower logs
  
  
• Time cards linked to projects and cost codes
  
  
• Safety and quality checklist features
  
  

Raken works best if site documentation and reporting are already a priority and you want time tracking within that workflow.

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9. Buddy Punch

Buddy Punch offers a simple cloud time clock with web and mobile access.

Highlights:

• Web, kiosk and mobile punch-ins with GPS
  
  
• Basic scheduling and overtime tracking
  
  
• Integrations with several payroll tools
  
  

It suits smaller contractors or subcontractors who need a straightforward digital time clock without industry-specific extras.

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10. Jibble

Jibble is a general time and attendance app that many field businesses, including construction, adopt.

Highlights:

• Face recognition and selfie-based time clock
  
  
• GPS tracking and geofencing
  
  
• Timesheets and reports for payroll
  
  

It is often considered by teams that want a free or low-cost starting point before moving to a more construction-specific tool.

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How to choose the right construction time tracking system

Use this checklist to narrow down your options:

1. Workforce type
   
   
   
   • Do you employ permanent staff, contract labor, subcontractor crews or all three?
     
     
   • Can the tool handle high churn and frequent onboarding without hardware installation at every site?
     
     
2. Number of sites and locations
   
   
   
   • How many active projects do you run at the same time?
     
     
   • Do you need central visibility across multiple cities or countries?
     
     
3. Identification method
   
   
   
   • Is GPS alone enough, or do you need face recognition or photo proof to stop buddy punching?
     
     
   • Are there any privacy or union considerations at your sites?
     
     
4. Attendance rules and compliance
   
   
   
   • How complex are your overtime, shift, break and weekly-off rules?
     
     
   • Can the system calculate payable hours according to those rules without manual editing?
     
     
5. Integrations and reports
   
   
   
   • Does it export payroll-ready reports in your preferred format or integrate with your payroll software?
     
     
   • Can you slice data by project, contractor, location or cost code?
     
     
6. Connectivity and hardware
   
   
   
   • Do your sites have reliable internet, or do you need strong offline support?
     
     
   • Will workers use their own phones, shared devices or a kiosk?
     
     
7. Adoption and support
   
   
   
   • How easy is it for site supervisors and workers to learn?
     
     
   • What onboarding help, training and ongoing support does the vendor offer?
     
     

For many construction companies with distributed sites and contract workers, Truein aligns well with these requirements because it was built from the ground up for this type of workforce.

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Why construction crews choose Truein

Construction clients use Truein to:

• Reduce time theft and ghost entries through face recognition and geofencing.
  
  
• Gain real-time visibility into who is present at each site, with job-wise and contractor-wise breakdowns.
  
  
• Control overtime and labor costs using 70+ policies that reflect actual site rules and agreements.
  
  
• Cut payroll effort by generating clean, payroll-ready reports for hundreds or thousands of workers across locations.
  
  
• Scale confidently across new projects and temporary sites without installing biometric hardware each time.
  
  

If your current process still involves manual registers, WhatsApp messages or basic punch clocks, running a pilot with Truein on one project can show the impact on leakages and admin effort within a few cycles.

Call to action: Explore how Truein can work for your construction workforce. Shortlist one ongoing project, invite key supervisors and run a trial to see the difference in attendance accuracy and payroll clarity.

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