As an HR or finance manager of a small or midsize business, you might be all too familiar with the frustrations of juggling non-integrated, manual employee attendance systems. The constant battle with inefficiencies and inaccuracies is a drain on your resources — and your patience.
Modern attendance management software can help solve these problems. These systems are known for their real-time data tracking, high degree of accuracy, and helpful integration with other business platforms.
This article explains what attendance management systems are and how they can propel your attendance tracking into a new era of efficiency. Plus, we review the 10 top attendance management tools.
What is an attendance management system?
An attendance management system is a mechanism used to track and manage the attendance of individuals within an organization.
In business, it records the times employees arrive and leave. It also tracks their presence during designated work periods for purposes such as compensation and time off.
There are two main types of attendance management systems: manual and software-based.
Manual systems
The manual system is a traditional approach where attendance is recorded by physical means. It typically involves sign-in and sign-out sheets, time cards, or attendance registers.
This method is simple, but it can be time-consuming and prone to errors and manipulation.
Software-based systems
This modern approach uses software and technology to automate the process of tracking attendance. It can include the use of digital time clocks, biometric systems (like fingerprint or facial recognition), RFID tags, or mobile applications.
These systems often integrate with payroll software, which makes them useful for both a company’s HR and finance departments.
Software-based systems typically include features like real-time attendance tracking, automatic calculation of hours worked, time-off requests and leave management, and detailed reporting.
Using software is more efficient, accurate, and secure than using manual systems.
Why should you use a modern attendance management system?
If your company currently uses manual tracking or even a basic digital tool to track attendance, consider the potential advantages of switching over to advanced software solutions.
They reduce the chances of human error.
They neatly store data on attendance, which can be referenced easily in case of discrepancies, employee reviews, or audits.
Once data is captured digitally, you can do more with it. For example, you can develop automations such as notifications and reminders or identify attendance patterns with built-in analytics.
What should you look for in an attendance management system?
If you are considering investing in an attendance management system in your workplace, make sure to evaluate the software you’re looking at for the following key features:
Helpful functionality
Look for:
Clock-in and clock-out options
Leave management
Paid time off (PTO) and vacation tracking
Overtime calculation
User-friendliness
Mobile app support
Remote employee attendance monitoring
Alignment with your organizational structure and attendance policies
Pricing and free trial options
Many providers offer tiered pricing plans based on the number of users or features, so make sure the software you’re leaning toward works well for your current user figures — and that it will scale well without breaking the bank as your company grows.
Also, opt for a solution that offers a free trial period so you can test its functionality and compatibility with your organization’s requirements before making a financial commitment.
Integrations
The system should integrate well with your existing HR and payroll software for smooth data transfer and minimal manual steps.
Analytics and reporting
Choose a system that offers comprehensive analytics and customizable attendance reports that help you visualize patterns and support informed decision-making by company management. In this respect, also think about insights into attendance trends, absenteeism rates, staff, and productivity data.
Automations
Look for automation features that will streamline processes like reminders, leave approvals, and shift scheduling, as well as generate alerts for anomalies in staff behavior, like regular late arrivals or early departures.
Security and compliance
Make sure the system complies with local labor laws and data protection regulations.
Security features like data encryption and audit trails are important, as well, for protecting sensitive employee information.
10 best attendance management systems
The many attendance management software systems on the market today share common capabilities. But some of them stand out for unique features that may just be what you’re looking for.
Here are 10 great attendance management systems, from stand-alone time-tracking products to integrated HR systems, along with their strengths, weaknesses, ratings, and pricing systems.
1. Lark - Best overall attendance management system
Lark is a comprehensive collaboration and productivity suite designed to meet the needs of modern businesses. It’s especially appealing due to its inclusion of a variety of office management tools right in the app.
This system stands out for its holistic approach to workplace productivity and collaboration, making it particularly suitable for medium to large organizations that require a broad set of tools in one platform.
Lark’s all-in-one platform combines messaging, video conferencing, document creation and sharing, calendar, email, and an advanced attendance management system.
And for managers in the retail and restaurant sectors, Lark offers a comprehensive set of attendance tools designed to address the complexities of time tracking, shift management, employee communication, and task coordination.
The robust attendance management system in Lark Base, combined with features for real-time communication, scheduling, and task management, makes Lark an appealing choice for attendance tracking. For example, if an employee has to be sent to a different location than usual, their attendance exception can be easily recorded, processed, and approved through Lark.
This platform’s flexibility and mobile access help managers and employees stay connected and informed no matter where they are.
Watch a 6-minute video to learn more.
Key features
Integrates messaging, video calls, and emails in a single platform that facilitates seamless communication across teams
Offers real-time document creation, editing, and sharing, along with cloud storage for easy access and collaboration
Includes integrated calendar and scheduling features that sync with communication tools for efficient meeting scheduling and time management
Provides advanced features for tracking time, managing shifts and leave requests, and offering comprehensive insights into team attendance patterns
Has built-in project management tools for assigning tasks, setting deadlines, and tracking progress for optimal project coordination
Automates business processes and workflows, reducing the need for manual intervention and streamlining projects
Pros
Reduces the need for multiple apps by providing a wide range of office management tools in one place
Offers excellent integrations designed to enhance productivity and collaboration
Has strong security and compliance features
Cons:
Breadth of features may require time for users to fully utilize the platform
Smaller teams might find the extensive suite more than they need, preferring simpler tools for specific tasks
Integrations
While Lark is an integrated suite by itself, it also offers API support for custom integrations so that businesses can connect their existing tools and systems
Pricing
Lark provides a freemium model with basic features available for free. More advanced features require a subscription. Specific pricing details, which are visible on the Lark website, vary based on the plan and number of users.
Free trial?
Lark offers a free version with basic functionalities, as well as the potential for trial periods for more premium features.
G2 rating
4.6 out of 5
2. Time Doctor - Best for remote teams
Time Doctor’s automated time tracking software focuses on workday analytics and data-driven decision-making for greater employee productivity.
Key features
Data-driven tools
Time tracking
Website and application monitoring
Payroll management integration
Screenshots
Pros
Comprehensive employee monitoring tools for enhanced productivity
Integrates with a wide range of project management and communication tools
Strong features for managing remote or distributed teams
Cons:
Monitoring features can be perceived as intrusive
Setup and onboarding might require more time for larger teams
Integrations
Over 60, including Trello, Asana, Slack, Hubspot, GitLab, Monday, ADP, ClickUp, PayPal, and FreshBooks
Pricing
Subscription-based pricing:
Basic: $5.90/user/month billed annually, or $7 monthly
Standard: $8.40/user/month billed annually, or $10 monthly
Premium: $16.70/user/month billed annually, or $20 monthly
Free trial?
14-day free trials at each pricing level; each trial allows access to all features
G2 rating
4.4 out of 5
3. DeskTime - Best for improving productivity and efficiency
DeskTime is a time-tracking app for companies and freelancers, offering both desktop and mobile applications. It’s designed to measure productivity and manage workflows.
Key features
Automatic time tracking
URL and app tracking
Project time tracking
Absence calendar
Pros
Real-time productivity tracking
Easy to use with automatic tracking features
Offers detailed reports and analytics
Cons
Limited customization options for reports
Might not suit businesses looking for minimal monitoring
Integrations
Asana, JIRA, GitLab, Trello, Basecamp, Zapier, Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar
Pricing
Subscription-based:
Pro: $7/user/month
Premium: $10/user/month
Enterprise: $20/user/month
Free trial?
Free trials available at each pricing level
G2 rating
4.6 out of 5
4. Clockify - Best for small teams and startups
Clockify is a basic time-tracking and timesheet app that lets users track their work time across a variety of projects. It offers a “forever free” version as well as budget-friendly upgrades for more advanced features.
Key features
Time tracking
Reporting
Project management
Team dashboard
Pros
Easy separation of employee hours by projects and tasks
User-friendly interface
Supports an unlimited number of projects
Cons
Advanced features require paid plans
Lacks in-depth analytics features
Integrations
Trello, Asana, Jira, Plaky, Todoist, Basecamp, GitLab, GitHub, Azure DevOps, YouTrack, ClickUp, Wrike, Monday, TeamWork
Pricing
Subscription-based:
Basic: $3.99/user/month billed annually, or $4.99 monthly
Standard: $5.49/user/month billed annually, or $6.99 monthly
Pro: $7.99/user/month billed annually, or $9.99 monthly
Enterprise: $11.99/user/month billed annually, or $14.99 monthly
Free trial?
Free version for unlimited users available
G2 rating
4.5 out of 5
5. Deel - Best for global payroll and compliance
Deel is an all-around HR platform developed for global companies, from small businesses to large enterprises. Time tracking is a subset of its extensive HR services.
Key features
End-to-end HR management
Global payroll, including contractor and employee payments
Compliance
Tax form collection
Pros
Streamlines international payments and compliance
Offers a comprehensive dashboard for managing contracts
Supports multiple currencies
Cons
Focuses more on payroll and less on time tracking
Can be expensive for small businesses
Integrations
Limited to payroll and HR systems
Pricing
Based on the number of contractors and salaried and hourly workers (contact the company for specifics)
Free trial?
No
G2 rating
4.8 out of 5
6. Time Champ - Best for automated, hands-off time tracking
Time Champ characterizes itself as an employee productivity software that includes robust time tracking and task management capabilities.
Key features
Automatic time tracking
Detailed analytics
Project tracking
Pros
Offers seamless, automatic time tracking
Integrates well with other business tools
Provides actionable insights through analytics
Cons
Lacks some advanced features
User interface and experience could be improved
Integrations
Common project management and collaboration tools
Pricing
Subscription-based, plus selective add-ons with yearly deals:
Starter: $3.90/user/month
Professional: $6.90/user/month
Enterprise: $13.90/user/month
Free trial?
7-day free trial
G2 rating
4.8 out of 5
7. TimeClock Plus - Best for customization and compliance needs
TimeClock Plus offers workforce management solutions for a variety of industries, including education, healthcare, and construction. Its app includes solutions such as tracking and scheduling employees, managing labor costs, and reducing compliance problems and risks.
Key features
Time and attendance software
Leave management
Labor law compliance
Pros
Highly customizable for different industries
Robust reporting and compliance features
Offers both cloud-based and on-premise solutions
Cons
Interface may not be as intuitive as that of competitors
Setup and customization can be complex
Integrations
Integrates with major payroll systems, like ADP, Paychex, and QuickBooks
Pricing
Custom pricing based on business needs
Free trial?
No
G2 rating
4.3 out of 5
8. Insightful - Best for in-depth productivity insights
Insightful is a workforce analytics and productivity tracking app designed to help companies create more efficient workflows and balance their workloads.
Key features
Employee monitoring
Time tracking
Productivity analysis
Project management
Pros
Comprehensive monitoring and productivity analysis tools
Detailed reporting capabilities
Optimizes team performance
Available in the cloud or on-premise
Cons
Monitoring features may raise some privacy concerns
Can be perceived by some employees as too intrusive
Integrations
50+ integrations, including ADP, 7Shifts, Adobe Workfront, Aha!, CSV Import, GitHub, and ClickUp
Pricing
Subscription-based plans for different features and number of users:
Productivity Management: $6.40/user/month billed annually, or $8 monthly
Time Tracking: $8/user/month billed annually, or $10 monthly
Process Improvement (over 50 users): $12/user/month billed annually, or $15 monthly
Enterprise Solution (over 100 users): Custom pricing
Free trial?
7-day free trial
G2 rating
4.7 out of 5
9. Zoho People - Best for HR management integration
Zoho People, part of the extensive ZOHO products suite, is a comprehensive HR solution for businesses of any size.
Key features
Leave management
Attendance tracking
Timesheets
Performance management
Pros
Integrated HR solution offering more than just time tracking
Flexible and customizable to fit various business needs
User-friendly interface and mobile app
Cons
May be more than needed for businesses looking only for time tracking
Some features require navigation through different modules
Integrations
Integrates with the entire Zoho suite as well as various payroll and productivity tools, such as Paybooks, QuickBooks, greytHR, DocuSign, Microsoft Teams, Google Suite, and Zapier
Pricing
Tiered pricing based on the number of employees and modules required:
Essential HR: $1.25/user/month billed annually, or $1.50 monthly
Professional: $2/user/month billed annually, or $2.50 monthly
Premium: $3/user/month billed annually, or $3.50 monthly
Enterprise: $4.50/user/month billed annually, or $5 monthly
People Plus: $9/user/month billed annually, or $10 monthly
Free trial?
30-day free trial
G2 rating
4.4 out of 5
10. Deputy - Best for shift-based workplaces
Deputy is a scheduling platform with a strong focus on shift scheduling, combined with an all-around workforce management system that also includes tasking, timesheets, employee communication, and administrative tasks such as one-click payroll integration.
Key features
Schedule creation
Time tracking
Leave management
Communication tools
Pros
Excellent for managing shift work and hourly employees
User-friendly scheduling and time tracking
Robust communication tools for team coordination
Cons
Better suited for shift-based businesses than project-based ones
Pricing can add up for larger teams
Integrations
Integrates with payroll providers and HR systems such as Gusto, QuickBooks, ADP, BambooHR, Astute Payroll, and Crystal Payroll
Pricing
Subscription-based:
Starter: Free (up to 100 shifts per month)
Premium: $5/user/month billed annually, or $6 monthly
Enterprise (250+ employees): Custom pricing
Free trial?
31-day free trial, including all features
G2 rating
4.6 out of 5
Take your attendance management to new heights with Lark
Attendance management systems come in many shapes and sizes. If you’re looking for a powerful, integrated system, take a look at Lark.
With features like real-time tracking, shift scheduling, and integrated communication tools, Lark simplifies complex scheduling and operational challenges — and it’s especially well-suited for the dynamic needs of retail and restaurant environments.
Take advantage of Lark’s advanced attendance management system by signing up for a free trial today.
