Best Free Timesheet Software for Small Businesses in 2025

Still tracking hours with sticky notes, Excel spreadsheets, or handwritten time cards? We get it—you're making it work, but there's a better way.

The right free timesheet software can transform your weekly scheduling nightmare into a smooth, automated process. No more chasing down scribbled time cards or playing detective with "I swear I worked that shift" stories.

"Before Homebase I was manually tallying up my team's work hours and entering them into payroll, crossing my fingers I hadn't made any mistakes," says Kathleen Smith, Founder of Smiling Tree Toys. "Now our entire team logs in and out quickly and easily with the Homebase app, and all I have to do is send their hours to my payroll program with the click of a button."

Whether you run a coffee shop, salon, or retail store with a mix of full-timers and weekend warriors, the right timesheet tool helps you get hours right without losing hours of your life. Let's find you the perfect fit.

TL;DR: Best Free Timesheet Software for Small Businesses in 2025

Need to stop wasting time figuring out how to track time? Here's your shortcut:

Top Picks Based on Your Team's Needs:

• Homebase: Best all-in-one for hourly teams and small businesses
• Toggl: Best for freelancers or solo workers
• Clockify: Best for growing teams with unlimited users
• TimeCamp: Best for task-based billing and client reporting
• Hubstaff: Best for remote teams needing accountability
• RescueTime: Best for individual productivity tracking

Must-Have Features to Look For:

• Mobile access for clocking in from anywhere
• Digital timesheets (no more math or mystery handwriting)
• Break and overtime reminders that actually help with compliance
• Tip and PTO tracking baked right into your system
• Export or integrate with payroll (so you're not copy-pasting every Sunday night)

Consider These Factors When Choosing:

• How big is your team and are they all in one place?
• Are you tracking tips, breaks, commissions, or split roles?
• Do you want payroll integration now or can it wait?
• Will you need reporting and compliance tools down the line?

And if you want a tool that's actually built for small businesses (not giant corporations), Homebase gives you everything you need to track time, schedule shifts, and run payroll—all from one easy app.

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Common Timesheet Tracking Problems Small Businesses Face

Let's be real—tracking hours manually is a special kind of business nightmare. You're already juggling a thousand things, and then Sunday night hits with that familiar dread: timesheet math.

Manual Timesheet Nightmares

Paper time cards and Excel spreadsheets aren't just old school—they're accuracy killers. Handwritten time cards create their own chaos. Was that a 3 or an 8? Did Sarah work 6.5 hours or 8.5? 

When you're trying to keep track of hours worked free of errors, messy handwriting becomes expensive guesswork.

Sticky notes disappear. Texts get buried. And that "I'll remember" system your team member swears by? It fails every time someone gets busy.

Weekend Scheduling Chaos

Nothing kills your Saturday like realizing you need coverage for Monday morning. Traditional scheduling means endless phone calls, text chains that go nowhere, and the dreaded "I didn't know I was working" excuse that leaves you scrambling.

Payroll Math Disasters

Converting 7 hours and 23 minutes into decimals shouldn't require a calculator and three cups of coffee. Manual calculations invite costly mistakes—overpay someone and it hurts your budget, underpay them and it hurts your relationship.

Then there's overtime. Break calculations. Multiple wage rates. Tips that need tracking. Before you know it, you're spending more time calculating hours than actually running your business.

The solution? Let free timesheet software handle the math while you handle what matters most—growing your team and serving your customers.

What Is Free Timesheet Software?

Free timesheet software is your digital upgrade from paper punch cards and Excel chaos. It's a timekeeping software solution that lets your team clock in, clock out, and log breaks from any device they actually use.

Key Features of Modern Timesheet Software:

• GPS verification to confirm work locations
• Photo clock-ins for added security
• Automatic break reminders for compliance
• Real-time tracking without micromanaging

How it works: Most timekeeping software options are web or app-based. You can see everything from late clock-ins to labor costs in just a few clicks. No more chasing down scribbled time cards or playing detective with "I swear I worked that shift" stories.

Free vs. paid plans: While free plans might have some limitations compared to premium versions, they're often perfect for small businesses who want to track time without tracking down monthly invoices.

Integration benefits: The best tools integrate with payroll and scheduling systems, keeping everything synced in one place. No copy-pasting between spreadsheets. No calculator sessions. No Sunday night stress.

Whether you're managing a team of two or twenty, free timesheet software gives you the tools to stay organized, compliant, and efficient—without the hefty price tag.

Why Small Businesses Need Timesheet Software

Still using paper timesheets or clunky spreadsheets? Time to upgrade. Here's how free timesheet software can give you your time (and sanity) back:

Increase Accuracy

• Manual time tracking equals manual errors
• Timesheet apps eliminate guesswork and log hours to the minute
• Everyone gets paid for what they actually worked—no more, no less

Improve Project Management

• Tag hours to specific projects, tasks, or clients
• Know exactly where your team's time goes
• Price smarter and plan better with real data

Enhance Productivity

• Employees work more efficiently when they see how they spend time
• Simple timesheet software helps your team find time they didn't know they had
• Awareness equals efficiency

Simplify Reporting

• Built-in dashboards make trends and outliers obvious
• Make smarter staffing decisions with clean data
• Prep for payroll faster and impress your accountant

Bill Efficiently

• Capture every minute of billable work
• No more rounding down or forgetting client calls
• Maximize revenue instead of playing guessing games

Stay Compliant

• Labor laws aren't optional—manual tracking puts you at risk
• Free timesheet systems store required records automatically
• Meet federal, state, and local labor laws (no law degree needed)

Monitor Your Workforce

• Track attendance and location across remote, hybrid, or multi-location teams
• Know who's working where and when
• Maintain oversight without being physically present

Best Mobile Timesheet Apps Vs Desktop Software: What Works Better?

When it comes to time tracking, you've got options. But which approach actually works better for small business teams?

Mobile-First Wins For Small Business Teams

The best employee timesheet app free solutions work seamlessly across all devices, letting your team clock in from job sites, delivery routes, or wherever work happens. Employee timesheet apps dominate for good reason:

• Your team already carries their time clock everywhere
• Clock in from job sites, delivery routes, or wherever work happens
• No more "I forgot to punch in" excuses
• Instant notifications for schedule changes and shift reminders

"Best time clock! I love the fact that the Homebase mobile app is user-friendly. I can track where the employees are and fix times as I need to without having to log on to a computer," says Marcia McQueary, Office Manager at Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Kentucky.

When Desktop Makes Sense

• Detailed reporting and analytics work
• Bulk schedule creation
• Payroll processing and exports
• Administrative tasks that need bigger screens

The Sweet Spot: Both 

The best timesheet app free solutions work seamlessly across devices. Your team clocks in on mobile, managers review on desktop, and everyone stays in sync.

What Your Team Actually Wants

• Simple, fast clock-ins that work on any device
• Access to their schedules and hours anytime
• Easy shift trading and time-off requests
• No complicated logins or confusing interfaces

Mobile wins because it meets your team where they are. Desktop handles the heavy lifting. The right employee timesheet app free solution gives you both without forcing you to choose.

Now that you know which format works best for your team, let's dive into the actual tools that deliver results.

Look for Simple Timesheet Software

You're already juggling schedules, inventory, customer complaints, and a dozen other fires. The last thing you need is timesheet software that requires a manual to understand.

What Makes Timesheet Software Actually Simple

Easy setup:

• Get your team tracking time in minutes, not hours
• Pre-built templates that work right out of the box
• No complicated configuration or IT person required

Intuitive daily use:

• One-tap clock-ins that anyone can master
• Clear dashboards that show what matters most
• Mobile apps that work like the ones your team already uses

Streamlined management:

• Approve timesheets with a single click
• Spot problems before they become payroll disasters
• Export data without wrestling with confusing menus

The Real Test: Your Team Actually Uses It

The best simple timesheet app is one your team doesn't complain about. If they need training sessions or constant reminders, it's not simple enough.

Look for simple timesheet software that handles the complex stuff (overtime calculations, break tracking, compliance) behind the scenes while keeping the user experience clean and straightforward.

When your teenage employee and your least tech-savvy manager can both use it without questions, you've found the right tool.

Best Free Timesheet Software For Small Business (7 Top Picks)

Ready to ditch the timesheet chaos? Here are the best timesheet app for small business options in 2025 that actually works for teams like yours.

1. Homebase: Best All-In-One Free Timesheet Software For Small Businesses

Homebase isn't just another time tracker—it's built specifically for small businesses with hourly teams. While other tools give you basic clock-ins, Homebase delivers the full package: scheduling, time tracking, payroll integration, and team communication in one mobile-friendly app.

What you get free:

• Basic time tracking and scheduling for up to 10 employees at one location
• Mobile app access for your entire team
• PIN-based clock-ins from any device (phones, tablets, computers)
• GPS location tracking when employees clock in and out
• Basic scheduling and shift management
• Team messaging and communication tools
• Export timesheets to external payroll providers

Why it wins: Homebase understands small business reality. You need more than just time tracking—you need a system that handles scheduling conflicts, prevents buddy punching, and makes payroll painless. It's free timesheet software that actually grows with your business.

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2. Toggl: Best For Freelancers Or Solo Time Tracking

Toggl offers sleek, minimal time tracking perfect for individuals or tiny teams. It's intuitive with a single-click timer and includes basic reporting even in the free version.

What you get free:

• Free for up to 5 users 
• One-click timer for project tracking 
• Basic calendar integration 
• Simple time usage reports 

The catch: Advanced features like billable rates, timesheet approvals, project forecasts, and detailed reporting are only available in paid plans. Great for solopreneurs, but you'll hit feature walls quickly if you're managing multiple employees or need team management tools. 

3. Clockify: Best Free Time Tracker For Growing Teams

Clockify lets teams track hours across multiple projects with timers and manual entry options. It's fully free for unlimited users, making it popular with growing businesses.

What you get free:

• Unlimited users (rare for free plans)
• Timer, manual entry, and kiosk mode
• Basic project and task time tracking
• Time and activity reports
• Integrations with Trello, Asana, and more

The limitation: While you get unlimited users, advanced features like scheduling, break tracking, expense tracking, and invoicing require paid upgrades. You don't get scheduling, forecasting, or expense tracking until the pro plan.

4. Timecamp: Best For Billable Time And Client Reporting

Timecamp excels at automatic time tracking using keywords and rules, plus strong billing and invoicing capabilities for client work. 

What you get free: 

• Unlimited users and projects 
• Weekly timesheets and calendar view 
• Auto tracking and personal activity timeline 
• Basic time tracking and reporting 
• GPS tracking and idle time detection 

The reality: Advanced features like timesheet approvals, screenshots, detailed billing, and team management tools require paid upgrades.

5. Hubstaff: Best For Remote Teams That Need Accountability (Trial Only)

Hubstaff offers detailed time tracking for distributed teams, with optional screenshot monitoring and GPS tracking for field workers, but requires a paid subscription.

What you get free:

• Full access to time tracking and productivity monitoring
• GPS tracking and screenshot capabilities
• Team management and reporting tools
• Mobile and desktop apps

The drawback: Hubstaff doesn't offer a free plan—only a 14-day free trial. After that, paid plans start at $4.99 per user per month.

6. RescueTime: Best For Solo Productivity Tracking

RescueTime runs in the background to track focus and identify distractions. It's all about understanding where your time goes without manual timers.

What you get free:

• Unlimited users and projects
• Weekly timesheets and calendar view
• Auto tracking and personal activity timeline
• Basic time tracking and reporting
• GPS tracking and idle time detection

Why it's limited: Advanced features like timesheet approvals, screenshots, and detailed billing require paid upgrades, but the free plan is great for team time tracking.

7. OfficeTimer: Best For Basic Check-In/Check-Out

OfficeTimer keeps things simple with unlimited users for basic time tracking and attendance.

What you get free:

• Unlimited users and check-ins
• Basic attendance tracking
• Simple reporting and exports
• Mobile app access
• Geolocation features

The trade-off: You get unlimited users but very limited features. No scheduling, no payroll integration, no advanced reporting. It's bare-bones timesheet tracking.

The bottom line: Most free timesheet apps work great—until you actually need to run a business. Homebase gives you everything a small business needs without the artificial limitations that force expensive upgrades.

Free Timesheet Software With Payroll Integration

The real magic happens when your timesheet software talks directly to your payroll system. No more Sunday night copy-pasting between spreadsheets or crossing your fingers that you calculated overtime correctly.

What Payroll Integration Actually Means

True payroll integration automatically transfers tracked hours, overtime calculations, and wage data straight into your payroll processing. You click "export," and everything flows seamlessly—no manual data entry, no transcription errors, no math anxiety.

Free Options That Actually Connect

Most free timekeeping software for small business offers basic export capabilities, but true integration varies. Homebase leads here with direct connections to QuickBooks, Gusto, and other payroll providers, plus built-in payroll processing options.

"The seamless way the data from Homebase goes over to QuickBooks and I can run payroll with a couple button clicks is great," says Keith Zimmerman, Owner of Plum Creek Farm.

Clockify and TimeCamp export to CSV files that work with most payroll systems, though you'll need to import manually. OfficeTimer offers basic export functions but limited integration options.

The Payroll Reality Check

Here's what separates basic timekeeping software from payroll timesheet software: automatic overtime calculations, break compliance tracking, and wage rate management by role or project. Free plans often handle basic time tracking but require upgrades for complex payroll features.

If you're serious about streamlining payroll, look for tools that handle multiple pay rates, tip tracking, and compliance reminders. The time you save avoiding manual calculations pays for itself quickly.

Best Free Timesheet Software by Industry

Your industry shapes what you actually need from time tracking. Here's what works in the real world.

Restaurants and Food Service

Homebase gets restaurants. We handle tip tracking and distribution that actually makes sense, plus basic scheduling and time tracking for up to 10 team members at one location—all free.

Clockify gives you unlimited users, but good luck managing tips or shift trades.

Teams That Need Everyone Included

TimeCamp's free plan covers unlimited users with GPS tracking and automatic time capture. No manual timers, no forgotten hours.

Clockify also does unlimited users with solid reporting, but you're on your own for scheduling.

Professional Services and Consulting

Toggl Track handles basic project tracking for up to 5 users. Want billable rates or client invoicing? That'll cost you $9/user/month.

TimeCamp's free unlimited users can track time across different projects automatically.

Keep-It-Simple Operations

OfficeTimer does basic clock-in/clock-out for unlimited users. Nothing fancy, nothing complicated.

The bottom line: Pick what actually works for your team, not what sounds good in a sales pitch.

With specific industry needs in mind, here's what separates great timesheet software from the basic time trackers.

Free vs. Paid Timesheet Software: What You Actually Get

Free timesheet software varies wildly in what you actually get. Here's the real breakdown.

What some free plans include: Homebase gives you scheduling, time tracking, and a basic payroll add-on for up to 10 employees. TimeCamp and Clockify offer unlimited users with solid time tracking. Toggl Track caps you at 5 users but handles project tracking well.

Where free plans hit walls: Advanced features like billable rates, detailed reporting, and scheduling tools often require upgrades. Toggl Track's client invoicing costs $9/user/month. Clockify's scheduling and expense tracking need the Pro plan at $7.99/user/month.

What paid plans typically add: Enhanced reporting, advanced scheduling features, priority support, and deeper integrations. The specific upgrades depend entirely on which tool you choose.

The reality check: Free doesn't mean useless—some offer genuinely robust features. But when you outgrow the free limits or need specific capabilities, paid plans become necessary.

Test free versions first. Upgrade when the limitations start costing you more than the monthly fee.

What to Look for in Free Timesheet Software for Small Business

Finding a simple timesheet app that actually works is like choosing your go-to coffee order—it needs to be simple, satisfying, and get the job done every time.

Flexible Time Tracking Options

Look for more than basic clock-in/clock-out. The best tools offer GPS verification, photo capture, and multiple entry methods. Your team should be able to track time the way that works for them—whether that's one-click timers or manual entries.

User-Friendly Interface and Mobile Support 

If your team needs a training manual to use it, keep looking. Great timesheet software should be intuitive from day one, especially with a mix of tech-savvy and smartphone-newbie team members. Make sure the mobile app actually works well, not just exists.

Built-In Analytics and Reporting 

Even free plans should show you where your labor hours go. Look for basic reports on total hours, employee trends, and overtime patterns. These insights help you make smarter scheduling decisions without playing guessing games.

Helpful Integrations 

Your timesheet tool should talk to your other systems. Whether it's QuickBooks, Gusto, or your POS system, integrations eliminate double-entry headaches. At minimum, make sure you can export clean data.

Scalability Without Sticker Shock 

Some free plans work great until you hire employee number six. Look for transparent pricing that grows with you, not tools that trap you with sudden upgrade requirements.

Easy Data Exports 

You should own your data. Clean, fast exports to Excel or CSV format keep you flexible and compliance-ready without jumping through hoops.

Homebase: Best All-In-One Free Timesheet Software

Most free timesheet software gives you the basics and calls it a day. Homebase brings the whole toolkit—time tracking, scheduling, team communication, and compliance support—all built specifically for small businesses like yours.

What makes Homebase different: Track time from anywhere with secure PINs, GPS verification, and photo capture that prevents buddy punching. Your team clocks in from their phones, tablets, or even your POS system.

• Auto-calculate hours, breaks, and overtime without touching a calculator. Keep all your time tracking and scheduling in one spot for seamless workflow.
• Get automatic break reminders and digital record-keeping that help protect your business from time tracking headaches.
• Export seamlessly to QuickBooks, Gusto, and other payroll providers to eliminate Sunday night copy-paste sessions. Or upgrade to Homebase's built-in payroll when you're ready.

"Before Homebase, we were printing out timesheets and manually calculating hours. To keep up with the times, we have switched to Homebase, and it has made our lives so much more efficient!" says Ashley Ortiz, Owner of Antique Taco

Free for teams of up to 10 employees at one location. No credit card required, no gotcha fees.

Ready to stop chasing down timesheets? Try Homebase free today and finally make time tracking work for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free timesheet app for small business?

Homebase wins for teams up to 10 employees—you get scheduling, time tracking, and payroll integration in one app. Need unlimited users? Clockify and TimeCamp work well. Toggl Track handles project tracking for up to 5 users. Pick what fits your actual workflow, not what sounds impressive.

How do I track employee hours for free? 

Download Homebase, Clockify, or TimeCamp. Create employee profiles, then let your team clock in from their phones or computers. Most apps include GPS verification and automatic calculations. Export to CSV or connect directly to QuickBooks and Gusto—no more manual data entry.

Can free timesheet software handle overtime calculations? 

Yes. Homebase, Clockify, and TimeCamp all calculate overtime automatically on free plans. But advanced compliance features like break tracking usually cost extra. Check your local labor laws and make sure your tool actually meets requirements, not just promises.

Is free timesheet software secure for business use? 

Quality apps use bank-level encryption and secure logins. Look for PIN-based clock-ins, GPS verification, and photo capture to stop time theft. Homebase and other reputable providers maintain strong security. Just review privacy policies and make sure they meet your industry standards.

What's the difference between free and paid timesheet software? 

Free plans give you basics with limits. Paid plans unlock advanced scheduling, detailed reports, compliance tools, and real support. Homebase's free plan covers 10 employees with essentials. Paid plans start at $24/month for unlimited employees and advanced features.