Most “free” clock in clock out apps are a 14-day trial in a costume. You enter your card, you forget, you get charged, you spend Tuesday emailing support. ClockOut Free is different: 2 employees, full features, forever, no card needed. When you grow past 2, you pay $3 per active employee per month. That’s it.
What’s in the free plan
- GPS clock-in with geofencing
- Kiosk mode — shared tablet with 4-digit PIN
- Scheduling with recurring shifts and open shifts
- Break tracking (paid and unpaid)
- Overtime — federal FLSA weekly rules
- Exception inbox for late arrivals and missed breaks
- Payroll export to ADP, Gusto, QuickBooks, or CSV
- Mobile app for iOS and Android, plus web
- Offline mode — clock-ins sync when service returns
Free vs “free” — the honest comparison
| ClockOut Free | Homebase Basic | Most others | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forever free up to 2 employees | ✓ | — | Trial only |
| Employee cap on free | 2 | 10 (capped features) | Varies |
| Locations on free | Unlimited | 1 only | 1 |
| GPS clock-in | ✓ | Paid plan | Paid plan |
| Scheduling | ✓ | Limited | Trial only |
| Payroll export | ✓ | Add-on | Paid plan |
| Credit card required | No | No | Often yes |
| Trial countdown | None | None | 14–30 days |
When does it make sense to upgrade?
When you hire a 3rd employee. That’s the only hard limit on the free plan. The Starter plan is $3 per active employee per month — so a 5-person team pays $15/month, a 10-person team pays $30/month, and so on. Deactivate an employee and the next bill drops automatically.
Pro ($5 / employee / month) adds the compliance engine for state OT rules, labor budgeting, and a few other features most SMBs don’t need until they hit ~15 employees or expand to California.
FAQ
Is the free plan actually free, or a 14-day trial?
Actually free, forever, up to 2 employees. No card. No countdown. We profit from teams that grow past 2.
Do I need a credit card to start?
No. Just an email and a phone number to verify.
Can I add a 3rd employee on free?
No — you’ll be prompted to upgrade to Starter ($3/employee/month) when you add a 3rd. You can downgrade back to free if you deactivate down to 2.
What features are locked on free?
State-specific overtime (California daily OT, etc.), skills & certifications tracking, labor budgeting, tasks & document sharing, workplace announcements, and tips tracking. All available on paid plans.
Will you start charging me without warning?
No. The only way you start paying is if you click “Upgrade” and enter card details. Adding a 3rd employee prompts you to upgrade — it doesn’t auto-charge anyone.
Can I cancel paid and go back to free?
Yes. Cancel anytime in settings. If you’re back down to 2 active employees, you’re on free again. No data is deleted.