5 Free Time Clock Apps for Small Business (2026) Compared
Updated September 25, 2026·8 min read·By ClockOut Team
“Free” in time-clock SaaS rarely means what you think. Some apps cap employees, some cap features, some hide a 14-day trial behind the word. Here’s the real landscape in 2026: who’s actually free, where the catch is, and the five apps small-business owners shortlist most often. Spoiler: ClockOut is on this list, and yes, the bias is built in. We also tell you when one of the others is the right call.
The shortlist
Free cap
Punch location
Kiosk on free
Free export
ClockOut
2 people, including you
GPS stamp
✗
CSV
Clockify
5 users
✗
✗
PDF only
Homebase Basic
1 location, ≤10 employees
✗
✓
Varies
Connecteam
10 users
✓
✓
Limited
Hubstaff Free
1 user
✓
✗
None
1. ClockOut Free
Best for: an owner and one employee who want a real time clock, not a stopwatch.
ClockOut is a free clock in and out app built for small hourly teams. The Free plan covers up to 2 people, including you, forever, with no credit card required. You get one-tap clock in/out, GPS capture, basic scheduling, pay estimates, and CSV export. The paid controls (including geofence enforcement, kiosk mode, PTO, recurring schedules, and approvals) are not included; see the exact Free plan for the full split.
Catch: 2 people, you included, is genuinely the cap. Past that, you upgrade to Starter at $19 a month for up to 5 people (then $3 per extra person), which is cheap, but it is paid.
2. Clockify Free
Best for: agencies and freelancers tracking billable time on projects.
Clockify’s Free plan currently supports up to 5 users and unlimited time tracking, according to its official pricing page. It’s a timer, not an employee time clock: no GPS, no geofence, no kiosk, no PTO. If your team is hourly shift workers, this isn’t the right tool, however generous the cap.
3. Homebase Basic
Best for: single-location restaurants and retail with up to 10 employees.
Homebase lists Basic as free for 1 location and up to 10 employees on its official pricing page, and key features (advanced scheduling, hiring, performance) are gated behind paid tiers. For a single-location shop that already runs on Homebase, free works. The moment you hit 11 employees or open a second location, you need to evaluate a paid plan.
4. Connecteam Small Business
Best for: field crews up to 10 people with light scheduling needs.
Connecteam’s Small Business Plan is free for accounts with up to 10 users and includes its small-business operations, communication, and HR feature set. Above that cap, compare the current hub and plan structure for the features you need.
5. Hubstaff Free
Best for: a solo owner-operator wanting GPS and screenshots for self-tracking.
Hubstaff’s free plan is for a single user and is more of a productivity-monitoring tool than a team time clock. Useful if you’re a solo contractor billing clients hourly; not the tool for a team.
How to pick
Owner plus 1 hourly employee: ClockOut Free.
Agency/freelancers tracking projects: Clockify.
Single-location restaurant, up to 10 staff, already on Homebase: Homebase Basic.
Field crew under 10 with no payroll integration needs: Connecteam.
Solo owner-operator: Hubstaff.
FAQ
Is there a completely free time clock app?
Yes, four of the five apps here have a free plan with no time limit and no card: ClockOut (up to 2 people, including you), Clockify (up to 5 users), Homebase Basic (1 location, up to 10 employees), and Connecteam Small Business (up to 10 users). Each one is completely free inside its cap. Past the cap you pay, so pick the one whose paid plan you would also be willing to run.
What is the best free time clock app for small business?
For an owner with 1 hourly employee, ClockOut: GPS-stamped punches, basic scheduling, pay estimates, and CSV export, free with no time limit. For one busy store with up to 10 staff, Homebase Basic. For a project team billing by the hour, Clockify. For a deskless team of up to 10 that also wants chat and forms, Connecteam. Once a team passes 10 people, none of the free plans fit and the cheapest paid option is ClockOut Starter at $19 a month for up to 5 people, then $3 per person, which is $34 for 10 people.
Is there a free clock in and out app for employees?
Yes. ClockOut Free gives employees a one-tap clock in and out from the iPhone or Android app or any phone browser, with a GPS stamp on every punch, for up to 2 people, including you. Connecteam and Homebase also let employees clock in and out on their free tiers within their user and location caps. See the clock in clock out app page for how the employee side works, or the free time clock page for the exact free-plan limits.
Do free time clocks have GPS?
It varies. ClockOut records GPS on each free-plan punch, while geofence enforcement is paid. Connecteam includes location tools in its small-business plan. Verify Homebase and Clockify location features against their current plan tables.
Can a free time clock export to QuickBooks or ADP?
Free CSV export is widely available, including on ClockOut Free. Direct integrations with payroll providers are typically gated to paid tiers.
What happens when my team grows past the free cap?
Most apps prompt an upgrade. On ClockOut, you can keep 2 people (you and one other) on free indefinitely; adding a third person triggers a Starter upgrade at $19 a month, which covers up to 5 people.