Top 5 Time Tracking Apps for Cleaning Companies and Janitorial Services

Running a cleaning business is no small task. Between managing multiple job sites, coordinating crews, and keeping payroll accurate, it’s easy to lose track of time—literally. 

Without the right system, you might end up with missed clock-ins, inaccurate records, or frustrated employees. That’s where a time tracking app for cleaning companies comes in.

The right tool helps you monitor hours across locations, simplify payroll, and build trust with your team. Plus, it gives you the digital paper trail you need to stay compliant and organized.

TL;DR: Top time tracking apps for cleaning services

Below is the gist of how to choose the right time tracking app for cleaning companies, including a decision-making checklist, best janitorial time tracking apps, and what to avoid during implementation.

How to choose the best time tracking app for your cleaning services business: Look for features like GPS-enabled clock-ins, mobile apps, integrations with payroll, and customizable scheduling tools.

Best janitorial app for time tracking in 2025:

1. Homebase – Best all-in-one for small businesses
2. Janitorial Manager — Best for cleaning industry specialists
3. EZClocker— Best budget-friendly mobile app
4. Hubstaff — Best for remote monitoring
5. Clockshark — Best for large construction and field service teams

Quick checklist for your decision-making process:

1. Identify your core business needs
2. Gather team feedback on needs and pains
3. Evaluate integrations with existing tools
4. Review pricing and scalability
5. Request demos and trial periods
6. Compare the ease of use for managers and employees

Avoid these when implementing a janitorial time tracking app:

• Choosing a system without proper training support
• Overbuying features you won’t use
• Not involving employees in the rollout process
• Skipping integration testing with payroll and HRIS
• Ignoring analytics and not acting on insights

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How to choose the best time tracking app for your cleaning services business

Every cleaning job is different. Some crews handle multiple short jobs in a day, while others work long overnight shifts. And with more than 1 million janitorial service businesses in the U.S., the competition is fierce. 

The right janitorial time tracking app has to account for your team’s flexibility while helping your business stand out by cutting costs, improving accountability, and making payroll painless.

So, when you’re choosing a time tracking app, start by mapping out exactly what your cleaning business needs today—and what you might need next year. The right janitorial app grows with you. 

Here are the must-have and next-level features you should look for. They highlight why time tracking is essential for a janitorial business.

Mobile GPS clock-ins

Since your employees are often on the move, GPS-enabled clock-ins verify that team members are at the right job site when they clock in or out. 

This prevents time theft and ensures accurate records, especially if you’re billing clients based on time spent at a location. Apps like Homebase excel here, offering location-aware clocking that’s both accurate and easy to use.

Shift notes or job instructions

Your crew isn’t always working at the same site, and every client has unique needs. With shift notes, you can attach instructions directly to the schedule so employees know what to expect before they arrive. 

This reduces confusion, improves efficiency, and cuts down on back-and-forth texts.

Late clock-in alerts

Delays can ripple through a crew’s day. With real-time alerts when someone misses their start time, managers can quickly adjust schedules, contact the employee, and reschedule with clients.

 This feature can save hours of disruptions and prevent customer frustration during a busy day.

Payroll integrations

Tracking hours is only half the battle—getting people paid on time is the other. Janitorial apps that connect directly to payroll providers let you export approved hours seamlessly. 

Apps like Homebase sync directly with major payroll systems so you can pay accurately without re-keying data. No more retyping numbers or chasing down errors. 

Multi-job or multi-site tracking

If your team moves between jobs throughout the day, you need to clearly see how much time was spent on each job. Look for apps that break down hours per location or client to streamline billing and reporting.

Overtime alerts and compliance tracking

Sometimes you inadvertently schedule overtime or miss required breaks. Built-in alerts help you stay compliant and avoid penalties by highlighting scheduling issues ahead of time.

Next-level features

• Automated reporting and analytics: Track total hours per client or location, analyze payroll costs, or identify high-traffic times. Helpful insights today let you schedule smarter next week.
• Payroll auto-approval workflows: Managers can set up simple review workflows: log in, approve, and send straight to payroll—no manual exports needed.
• In-app team communication: Push announcements, job updates, or shift changes—all in the same app your team uses to clock in. It keeps your team informed and reduces phone tag.
• Offline mode for remote areas: Some job sites have poor connectivity. Offline clock-ins store time data offline and sync when back online—so no missed hours.

Best time tracking app for cleaning companies in 2025 (ranked)

Here’s a breakdown of the top apps. Each tool was ranked on ease of use, integrations, and pricing to see how well they support time tracking janitorial teams and cleaning services at scale.

1. Homebase – Best all-in-one app for small businesses

• Best for: Small cleaning operations seeking simplicity and scalability
• Key features: GPS clock-ins, shift notes, notifications, payroll integration, scheduling
• Pricing: Free plan with scheduling and time tracking; paid plans for advanced features start at $25/month
• Free trial: Yes, a 14-day free trial
• Best for industry: Cleaning, janitorial, small field teams
• What people say: “Homebase is a great time saver and ideal for our staff work schedule.” (G2 review)

2. Janitorial Manager — Best for cleaning industry specialists

• ​​Best for: Mid-sized to large cleaning contractors needing detailed operations control
• Key features: Work orders, inventory, quality checks, time tracking, client portal
• Pricing: Request a quote online
• Free trial: No free trial, but you can request a demo
• Best for industry: Healthcare, government, education, public facilities
• What people say: “I like the ability to track multiple crews, locations, tasks across multiple locations all on one dashboard.” (Capterra review)

3. EZClocker — Best budget-friendly mobile app

• Best for: Small teams on a budget needing GPS time tracking for field workers
• Key features: Mobile clock in/out, GPS verification, scheduling, payroll integration, easy setup
• Pricing: Basic $12.50/month (max 15 users), Standard $25/month, Premium $50/month
• Free trial: Yes, 30-day trial
• Best for industry: Small cleaning or field-service crews
• What people say: “Currently I'm on on [sic] 30-day trial and definitely will subscribe to permanently use this.” (Capterra review)

4. Hubstaff — Best for remote monitoring

• Best for: Distributed or hybrid teams needing productivity insights
• Key features: Global time tracking, productivity data, attendance management, project cost and budgeting
• Pricing: Starts at $4.99/user per month and goes up to $25/user per month for the enterprise tier
• Free trial: Yes, 14-day free trial
• Best for industry: Remote cleaners, multi-site operations
• What people say: “Hubstaffs [sic] time tracking software is great. Very transparent for both the company and the team member.” (G2 review)

5. Clockshark — Best for large construction and field service teams

• Best for: Large construction and field service teams wanting GPS-based time tracking
• Key features: GPS time clock, scheduling, job costing, reporting, geofencing
• Pricing: Starts at $40/month + $9/user 
• Free trial: Yes, free 14-day trial
• Best for industry: Construction, cleaning, healthcare
• What people say: “ClockShark is designed for recording labor costs and timesheet data, useful for big companies with many employee. [sic]” (Capterra review)

Quick checklist for your decision-making process

Here’s a simple framework to guide your search for the best janitorial time tracking apps:

Identify your core business needs

Write down your must-haves before you start comparing software.

Start with the essentials: Are you managing five employees or fifty? Are you tracking crews across multiple locations? Do you need GPS validation? What compliance requirements (breaks, overtime) matter most? 

Jotting this down gives you clarity and saves you from paying for unnecessary features.

Gather team feedback on needs and pains

Your crew uses the system every day. Ask them what’s slow or confusing—then look for solutions that make clock-ins faster or more intuitive. Involving them early also boosts adoption and reduces resistance when you launch.

Evaluate integrations with existing tools

If you already use a payroll or HR system, make sure your time tracking app syncs with it. Double-entry is tedious and error-prone. Integration ensures hours flow seamlessly into pay runs and records.

Review pricing and scalability

Start with your current needs. Free plans are great for starters, but check whether you'll outgrow them quickly. A per-user price can balloon quickly for a fast-growing team, while flat-rate models may offer more room to scale affordably.

Request demos and trial periods

Always test the system with your actual workflows. Invite your crew to clock in, review timesheets, send shift notes, and sync to payroll. Real-world testing highlights both strengths and weaknesses.

Compare the ease of use for managers and employees

The best app is the one everyone actually uses. So when you do a trial, encourage your whole team to try the tool. If you or your team feel stuck or frustrated during the trial, it's probably not the right fit.

Avoid these when implementing time tracking software

Choosing a system without proper training support

A great app won’t help if your team doesn’t know how to use it. Always choose solutions with onboarding help, tutorials, or live training. Your rollout will go smoother, and adoption will be faster.

Overbuying features you won’t use

Builder tools, advanced analytics, or extensive reports might look impressive, but if your team only needs GPS clock-ins and accurate payroll, those extras are just added costs. Start lean and scale up as you go.

Not involving employees in the rollout process

If only managers test the app, you’ll miss usability feedback. Include team members during trial and rollout—let them voice what works or breaks the workflow. Early input builds buy-in and catches issues you might miss.

Skipping integration testing with payroll and HRIS

Even a powerful app becomes a headache if it doesn’t sync cleanly with payroll. Always test a payroll import or integration before launching. 

Without testing integrations, your time tracking janitorial system might not sync with payroll, leading to errors in wage reporting. Even one misaligned field could mean dozens of time entry fixes or pay delays.

Ignoring analytics and not acting on insights

Once the app is live, data is your new best friend. Track trends like labor costs and attendance patterns. Then adjust staffing or shift length to improve efficiency—otherwise you're leaving value on the table.

Finding the right time tracking app for your cleaning team

Getting time tracking right saves hours, reduces payroll headaches, and helps your cleaning team work smoothly. Here’s what the best systems deliver:

• Accurate, GPS-verified time logs for better billing and transparency
• Streamlined payroll sync so no one waits for a check or second-round corrections
• Higher accountability and communication, with shift notes and mobile alerts
• Insights that cut overtime and staffing inefficiencies
• Scales as your business grows—with add-ons like scheduling, reporting, or work orders

Start with a free trial or demo to see how well the app fits your operations. Bring your team into the testing phase early. It’s the best way to confirm it’s the right tool for the job.

With Homebase, you get all of the above—including shift notes, GPS clock-ins, job site visibility, mobile alerts, and easy payroll integration—in one platform built for hourly service teams.

“With Homebase we were able to get rid of the physical time clock, and my team started clocking in on their phone. Once people finally bought in to using the app on their phone, they realized they could see all the history of their work and how much they should expect to be paid.” — Jared Higginbotham, Owner, Teal Door Housekeeping

Reclaim your time and try Homebase for free today.

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FAQs about cleaning services time tracking apps

What is the time tracking app for cleaning companies?

A time tracking app for cleaning companies is a digital tool that helps you monitor when and where employees clock in and out. Features like GPS verification, shift notes, and payroll integrations make it easier to manage crews across multiple job sites.

What is the best booking app for a cleaning business?

The best booking app for cleaning businesses is a tool like Square or SimplyBook.me that can handle customer-facing tasks like appointment scheduling and payment collection. 

While not all time tracking apps include booking, some integrate with popular platforms so you can manage staff schedules and client appointments in one place.

If you want both in one, look for software that combines booking and scheduling tools—or pair a time tracking app with a dedicated booking solution.

What is the best time tracking software for a small business?

The best time tracking software for a small business depends on your needs, but Homebase is a top choice for small cleaning businesses. Our free plan includes scheduling, time tracking, and team messaging—all designed with hourly teams in mind.

A tool like EZClocker may also be a fit if you need simpler mobile-first solutions or construction-style crew management.

What is the best time tracking app for freelancers?

The best time tracking app for freelancers is tools like Hubstaff or Toggl Track. 

As a freelancer, you may not need full crew management features, but you’ll still benefit from accurate time logs for invoicing and client reporting. If you freelance in cleaning or related services, choose an app with GPS verification so clients can see you were on-site for the agreed hours.

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