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.

"We're trying to get the work done, but we don't realize that the time is slipping away from us, especially when you have employees and they're using overtime, or they don't clock out on time, or they forget to use their break," says Charles from Crumble & Whisk. Between inaccurate timesheets and breaks being missed entirely, Charles found himself struggling to match working hours to payroll at the end of the month.

But timesheet software gave Charles back time (and funds!) that he could put into the parts of his business that get him out of bed in the morning. “I'm able to say, ‘I've spent an extra hundred hours on labor costs, but where is this going?’ And so it allowed me to go in there and clean everything up and have candid conversations with my team.”

Whether you run a bakery, 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:

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.

Top picks based on your team's needs:

• Homebase: Best all-in-one for hourly teams and small businesses; free timesheets, mobile clock-ins, scheduling, payroll connections.
• 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 timesheet software (and why small businesses need it)

Timesheet software is a digital way to track when employees start and finish work, take breaks, and log hours, then turn that information into clean timesheets you can review and approve. Think of it as your shift log, attendance tracker, and source of truth for payroll, all in one place. Unlike manual systems, online timesheet software records changes and approvals, so you always know who did what, when.

For small businesses, the benefits stack up fast:

• Accurate payroll (no math required): Hours total automatically, overtime is calculated, and approved entries flow straight into payroll.‍
• Efficient billing: Capture every minute of billable work and invoice clients accurately.
• Better project management: Tag hours to specific projects, tasks, or clients. Price smarter and plan better with real data.
• Fewer compliance headaches: Time rules and break reminders help you follow federal, state, and local labor laws and keep better records.‍
• Less admin, more impact: Owners and managers spend less time chasing fixes and more time on impactful work, like coaching the team and serving customers.‍
• Cleaner communication: Everyone sees the same hours and edits, which reduces paycheck disputes and builds consistency.‍
• Real-time visibility: Live dashboards flag late arrivals and creeping overtime so you can adjust staffing before problems escalate.‍
• Audit-ready history: Edits and approvals are tracked, creating a reliable paper trail when questions come up.

Want to learn more? Check out our guide on time and attendance software.

Key features to look for in free timesheet software for small businesses

There are plenty of options. Focus on the essentials that save time from day one, whether you’re testing a free timesheet app or evaluating time tracking software free tiers.

1. Cloud and mobile access

The right free timekeeping software for your small businesses won’t keep your team tied to a back-office computer. A browser-based dashboard plus mobile apps covers clock-ins at a register, kiosk, or on the go. So if you’ve been eyeing an employee timesheet app free to start, start there.

2. Simple clock-in/out functionality

Make it easy to clock in, clock out, and add breaks. A free employee hours tracker with PINs or photo snaps keeps things honest.

3. GPS or location controls (when needed)

If your people work off-site, GPS confirmation or geofencing helps ensure punches happen in the right place. Many tools include this in their free plan or first tier.

4. Reporting and payroll integration options

At minimum, you want clean exports of approved hours. If you can send them to payroll in a click, or run payroll in the same system, even better.

5. Ease of use for employees and managers

If it’s confusing, it won’t stick. Look for clear flows, readable views, and a fast first-day learning curve for both managers and employees.

Free timesheet apps vs. desktop software: Which is best for small businesses?

Before you choose a tool, decide how your team will track time day to day: on phones and browsers, or at a single on-site computer. The delivery model (web/mobile app vs desktop software) determines setup speed, flexibility, and how easily hours flow into payroll and reports.

Mobile-first wins for small business teams

The best free employee timesheet apps 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
• Easy to download and updates happen automatically (so you're not maintaining software installs)
• Clock in from job sites, delivery routes, tablet kiosks, 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 a desktop time tracking app makes sense

A desktop time tracker can work in low-connectivity environments or for teams that only clock in at a single device, but it often means manual updates, fewer integrations, and less flexibility. If you’re considering employee time tracking software for free that’s desktop-based, confirm how it syncs and how you’ll export hours.

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

The sweet spot: Use 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.

Quick recommendations by business type & size

• Single-location retail/restaurant (5–30 staff): Web and mobile kiosk for simple clock-ins and quick approvals.
  
  
• Multi-location or growing teams (30+): Web admin and mobile apps for coverage, alerts, and manager oversight.
  
  
• Remote/field services: Mobile-first with GPS/geofencing and solid offline handling.
  
  
• Agencies/freelancers (1–10): Browser-first timers with clean client/project reports.
  
  
• Low-connectivity sites: Desktop kiosk with synced exports, then add mobile when connectivity improves.

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

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. We’ll focus on strengths, fit, and what to expect from the free tier where it applies.

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.‍

Best for: Restaurants, retail, salons, clinics, pet care, and other shift-based teams that need a comprehensive free tool.

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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, service businesses, and agencies that bill by project. 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. It’s a good for teams leaving spreadsheets and looking for time tracking software free that doesn’t cap seats. You might be asking: Is Clockify really free? And the answer is yes! The core time tracking is free with optional paid upgrades for extras like budgeting and approvals.

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. QuickBooks Time (TSheets): Best for payroll integration

If you already use QuickBooks for accounting or payroll, QuickBooks Time fits naturally. You can track time with GPS/geofencing, manage approvals, and pass hours into payroll with minimal friction. While not permanently free, it’s budget-friendly for teams invested in the QuickBooks ecosystem.

What you get free (temporarily):

• GPS/geofencing time tracker
• Job codes to keep track of your workers and projects
• Built-in payroll integration with Quickbooks

The reality: Quickbooks Time is only temporarily free, so you will have an extra expense after your trial. If you're facing friction with any part of your Quickbooks experience, adding this feature could make things more complicated (like if you need to switch payroll providers).

5. Hubstaff: Best for remote teams that need accountability (trial only)

Hubstaff offers GPS tracking, geofencing, and productivity options aimed at remote teams. The free tier is limited, but it’s a way to pilot remote attendance if you’re comparing free timesheet software for field or distributed roles.

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. Harvest: Great free time tracker for project-based work

Harvest blends lightweight time tracking with invoicing. It's best for consultants and freelancers who need to track project time and send simple invoices. The free plan is limited (one seat, two projects) but handy for solo operators testing the flow end-to-end.

What you get free:

• Clean project tracking user experience
• Basic invoicing features
• Helpful extensions

Why it's limited: You only get one seat and two projects on the free plan. If you're a solo entrepreneur who needs to test a simple platform within a limited scope, this might be for you. But once your business scales, you'll need to learn a new system.

7.  Paymo: Best free timesheet app for freelancers and small teams

Paymo combines project management, time tracking, and basic scheduling in one platform. A limited free tier lets small teams test timesheets alongside tasks.

What you get free:

• Intuitive user interface
• Project and time tracking in one place
• Task management

Want more options? Check out our quick guide to time entry software for additional lightweight tools.

Free timesheet software with payroll integration

The biggest efficiency gain isn’t just tracking time, it’s what happens next. When timesheets connect directly to payroll, approved hours flow into pay runs without copy-paste, spreadsheet fixes, or last-minute math. 

With Homebase, for example, you review and approve hours in timesheets and push them to payroll—or run payroll in the same system—so overtime, breaks, and PTO are handled automatically. If your books already live in QuickBooks, QuickBooks Time lets you track with GPS/geofencing and pass clean hours to QuickBooks Payroll with minimal handoff.

Why integration matters:

• Fewer errors. No manual re-entry means fewer pay disputes and reruns.
  
  
• Faster processing. Close the pay period in minutes, not evenings.
  
  
• Cleaner records. Approvals and edit histories travel with the data.
  
  
• Happier teams. Predictable, on-time pay builds trust.

If you’re piloting online timesheet software, prioritize tools that turn approved hours into pay with one click. The result is simple: accurate totals in, accurate pay out.

Best free timesheet software by industry

Different industries run on different rhythms. The picks below match common workflows with the right free timesheet software.

Restaurants and hospitality

Fast pace, lots of shift changes, and tip tracking needs. Homebase stands out with schedule-plus-timesheets in one app, clean exports, and team messaging so everyone gets the memo.

Agencies and freelancers

Project and client visibility matter more than clock locations. Clockify and Harvest make it easy to tag time, generate reports, and send invoices when needed.

Remote or distributed teams

When people work off-site, location confirmation helps. Hubstaff and Homebase offer GPS/geofencing and remote-friendly oversight.

Construction and field services

Job sites move; time still needs to be right. QuickBooks Time’s GPS and job codes help track who worked where.

Free vs. paid timesheet software: What you actually get

Free plans are a great way to move off paper and spreadsheets, but they have ceilings. The real decision is knowing when “good enough” starts costing you time, accuracy, or payroll delays.

What free plans usually include:

Expect the basics: simple clock-ins/outs with break entries, mobile and web access (kiosk or phone for employees; browser approvals for managers), essential exports to payroll, starter reports for hours totals, and light support (help docs, community forums).

Where free plans hit the ceiling:

You may see caps on users, locations, or approvals; manual handoffs to payroll instead of a direct sync; fewer controls for PTO accruals, job codes, audit logs, or GPS/photo verification; limited reporting; and fewer integrations with POS, accounting, or HR.

When a paid plan pays for itself:

Approved timesheets flow straight into payroll, cutting edits and processing time. You gain deeper compliance helpers, richer reporting (cost by job/role/location, overtime forecasts), multi-location controls, and broader integrations.

How to decide quickly:

Run a quick pilot. Track manual edits and payroll prep time, note any “workarounds,” and tally pay corrections. If the friction keeps climbing, upgrading from a free plan to timesheet management software with payroll integration usually returns time (and fewer headaches) immediately. For tradeoffs by business size and setup, see our guide to timesheet software for small business.

Tips to successfully implement timesheet software in your business

Rollouts work best when you lead with clarity and small wins. Set expectations early, keep training tight, and support your team during week one. Use the quick checklist below to make adoption stick and payroll smoother from day one.

1. Clear communication and training.

People support what they understand. Share how the change improves accurate pay, reduces last-minute texts, and makes schedules and hours clearer for everyone.

2. Keep training quick.

Show where to clock in and out, how to see hours, and how to request corrections. If you adopt Homebase, pair your walkthrough with your time clock station and mobile flow so the team practices what they’ll actually use.

3. Write simple rules.

Publish quick, plain-language policies: when to clock in and out, break rules, late thresholds, who to notify when something goes wrong. Consistency reduces confusion.

4. Review early and often.

Check live attendance and overtime in week one. Fix small issues early so they don’t turn into habits. Clean timesheets make timesheet and payroll software workflows painless.

5. Start small, then expand.

Pilot with one location or team, gather feedback, and iterate. Add features (like scheduling or job codes) once clock-ins are second nature.

Frequently asked questions: free timesheet software

What is the best timesheet software?

“Best” depends on your workflow. If you want hours, schedules, and team comms together, Homebase is the best choice for hourly teams. If your books already live in QuickBooks, QuickBooks Time keeps time-to-pay tight. For project-driven teams, Clockify or Toggl Track are excellent starter picks. When comparing options, consider whether you’ll need timesheet tracking software that scales from free to paid without migrating.

Is there a free timesheet app?

Yes. Several tools offer free tiers, including Homebase (for core time tracking and timesheets), Clockify (unlimited users on the free plan), and Toggl Track (for individuals and small teams). If you’re searching for free timesheet software, a free employee timesheet app free trial is a good way to validate fit before upgrading.

Is Clockify really free?

Yes, the core app is free to use with unlimited users and projects. Paid plans add approvals, budgeting, and more advanced features. Many small teams start with Clockify’s free plan and upgrade only when they need deeper control.

Does Microsoft have a timesheet program?

Microsoft doesn’t ship a stand-alone timesheet management software app for small businesses, but you’ll find templates in Excel and add-ins in the Microsoft ecosystem. If you’re considering that route, weigh the admin time against a dedicated timesheet and payroll software workflow that connects directly to your time clock and approvals.

Simplify your small business payroll with the best free timesheet software

Great timesheet software turns “who worked when?” into “approved and paid,” without the detective work. You get cleaner records, fewer payroll surprises, and a calmer week, while your team gains clarity and trust. Whether you’re starting with a free timesheet app or ready to consolidate multiple tools, pick a solution that your team will actually use, that integrates with your existing stack, and that scales as you grow.