The 9 Best Clocking-In Systems for Your Business

After comparing nine clocking-in systems and assessing six core buyer tasks (such as clocking in, checking timesheets, and handling absences), Kelio came out on top. It is the best clocking-in system for UK businesses because it combines the widest range of clocking methods with strong self-service tools and a more complete time-and-attendance platform than most rivals.

Kelio is not the only strong option, either. OneAdvanced is better for larger businesses that want a tailored setup, Planday is stronger for rota-led teams that prefer app-based clocking, and Chronicle Online remains one of the cheapest ways to get started.

The 9 Best Clocking-In Systems

Here’s a quick comparison of the best clocking-in systems and how much they cost:

1. Kelio: Best All-rounder

Why Kelio is our top clocking-in system

Kelio is the strongest all-rounder because it gives businesses the broadest mix of physical terminals, biometric options, and digital clock-ins, while also tying that clocking data back to rotas, holidays, and time-off workflows.

It is one of the few providers on this page that feels equally comfortable for businesses using a classic on-site clocking terminal and those wanting staff to clock in on a smartphone, tablet, PC, or self-service portal. That flexibility is the clearest reason it ranks first.

What stands out with Kelio?

• Wide choice of clocking methods: card, fob, fingerprint, facial recognition, terminals, and digital clocking all sit under the same platform.
• Useful employee self-service: staff can see attendance information and request holidays or time off through the system.
• Better workforce context than a basic terminal: Kelio links clocking data with rotas and attendance records, which helps managers spot discrepancies quickly.

How much does Kelio cost?

Pricing is bespoke. You will need to contact Kelio directly for a quote.

2. OneAdvanced: Best for Tailored Solutions

Why OneAdvanced makes the shortlist

OneAdvanced is best for businesses that want a tailored time and attendance setup rather than a one-size-fits-all package. Its strength is not price transparency. It is the way it combines hardware, software, and wider HR/payroll integration into a more custom workforce management build.

Its current clocking hardware still centres on a smart biometric clock that supports facial recognition, fingerprint scanning, and proximity authentication, which makes it a serious option for businesses trying to reduce buddy punching and tighten attendance accuracy.

What stands out with OneAdvanced?

• Strong payroll and HR fit: OneAdvanced is easier to justify if you want attendance data feeding into a wider HR or payroll stack.
• Good for larger or more complex businesses: it is better suited to businesses that want a configured solution rather than an off-the-shelf app.
• Biometric clocking is a clear selling point: facial recognition, fingerprint, and proximity methods are all supported.

How much does OneAdvanced cost?

Pricing is bespoke, and depends on the clocking device and wider software setup you need.

3. Planday: Best for Shift Planning

Why Planday is a strong clocking-in system

Planday is the best option on this page for rota-led businesses that want app-based clocking without buying a physical terminal. Its Punch Clock lets employees clock in from their own device, which makes it especially useful for hospitality, retail, healthcare, and other shift-based teams.

Planday is not the right choice if you specifically want an on-site fingerprint or facial recognition terminal. It is on this list because it combines time tracking with shift planning and team communication better than most hardware-first rivals.

What stands out with Planday?

• Best for rota-driven teams: scheduling, shift swaps, leave management, and time tracking are all tightly connected.
• No hardware required: staff can clock in remotely from the app.
• Good entry pricing: the public UK price still starts at £2.99 per user, per month, with a 30-day free trial.

How much does Planday cost?

Planday’s current UK pricing starts at £2.99 per user, per month for Starter. Plus starts at £3.99 per user, per month, and Pro is quote-based. Starter has a five-user minimum.

4. ISGUS UK: Best for Secure Terminals

Why ISGUS UK makes the shortlist

ISGUS UK is strongest when you want dedicated, secure time-and-attendance terminals rather than a lightweight mobile-first system. Its IT-Series proximity and biometric terminals are designed for quick, secure data capture and can sit within a broader ZEUS workforce management setup.

This is not the cheapest or simplest system here, which is why it makes more sense for businesses that are comfortable with a more structured deployment and want time-and-attendance tied to broader workforce or access-control workflows.

What stands out with ISGUS UK?

• Strong physical terminal story: ISGUS is better than most app-led rivals if you want a dedicated on-site system.
• Biometric and proximity options: multiple secure clocking methods are supported.
• Better fit for established operations: it is more appropriate for businesses that want modular workforce management rather than just simple time tracking.

How much does ISGUS UK cost?

Pricing is tailored for each customer. You will need to contact ISGUS UK for a quote.

5. TimeTac: Best for User-friendliness

Why TimeTac is a good clocking-in system

TimeTac is one of the easiest systems here to understand because its pricing and product structure are much more transparent than most rivals. It works well for businesses that want software-first time tracking, with the option to add terminals only if needed.

The trade-off is that TimeTac’s pricing is modular, so the total monthly cost can rise once you add more than one product and any physical clocking hardware.

What stands out with TimeTac?

• Transparent modular pricing: you pay for the products you activate, rather than one large bundled quote.
• Free mobile app use is included: the iOS and Android app is part of the base offering.
• Terminal options are available if needed: TimeTac’s Evo Basic time clock currently starts from €29.90 per month.

How much does TimeTac cost?

TimeTac charges a base fee plus per-user product fees. It currently offers products for Employee Time Tracking, Project Time Tracking, and Leave Management, while app access is included and terminals are priced separately.

6. Chronicle Online: Most Cost Effective Option

Why Chronicle Online is a good clocking-in system

Chronicle Online is the cheapest system on this page with clear public software pricing. It is the best fit for businesses that want a lower-cost way to combine smartphone clocking, HR admin, and core workforce management without going straight to a large bespoke provider.

Its value story is strongest in software. Hardware is still extra, so businesses comparing total costs should price the full setup they actually need.

What stands out with Chronicle Online?

• Very low entry pricing: core plans still start at £3 per employee, per month.
• Smartphone clocking is priced the same as the core platform: that keeps the barrier to entry low for mobile teams.
• Good flexibility for smaller firms: Chronicle splits online, smartphone, and HR modules clearly rather than forcing one large bundle.

How much does Chronicle Online cost?

Chronicle Online currently starts from £3 per employee, per month for its core online system, Smart Phone Clocking, and Chronicle HR. Hardware costs are separate.

7. ClockRite: Best for Hardware Choice

Why ClockRite is a good clocking-in system

ClockRite makes the shortlist because it gives buyers a broad choice of RFID, fingerprint, facial recognition, and 4G-connected clocking hardware, all bundled with UK-built attendance software and support.

This is a better option for businesses that want a traditional clocking terminal with dependable local software, rather than a lightweight app-led system. The downside is that hardware-led setups can feel expensive if all you need is simple mobile time tracking.

What stands out with ClockRite?

• Strong hardware choice: proximity, fingerprint, facial recognition, and 4G-connected systems are all available.
• UK software and support: new systems include 12 months of UK support.
• Better for traditional on-site clocking: it is more compelling for fixed workplaces than for app-only remote teams.

How much does ClockRite cost?

ClockRite’s proximity attendance clocking system currently starts at £270 + VAT, while its 4G connected time and attendance system starts at £445 + VAT.

8. Securitas Technology: Best for Medium to Large Businesses

Why Securitas Technology is a good clocking-in system

Securitas Technology is best for larger businesses that want time and attendance tied into wider security, access control, and reporting workflows. It is built more like a scalable enterprise system than a simple SME time clock.

That makes it harder to recommend for small businesses that only need basic clock-in and payroll visibility, but much easier to justify for organisations with multiple sites or more complex operational requirements.

What stands out with Securitas Technology?

• Strong fit for larger businesses: it is designed to expand across more employees, sites, and terminals.
• Good integration potential: Securitas positions the system around links to payroll, HR, and security services.
• Clear package structure: its current time and attendance packages are split into Starter (1–50), Professional (50–100), Advanced (50–100), and Enterprise.

How much does Securitas Technology cost?

Pricing is quote-based. You will need to contact Securitas Technology to learn what each package includes and how much it costs.

9. Auto Time Systems (ATS): Best for a Wide Range of Clocking-In Devices

Why ATS is a good clocking-in system

ATS is strongest when hardware choice matters most. It offers a wide range of biometric, fingerprint, facial recognition, and card-based clocking devices, and it also positions itself around broader HR, payroll, and access-control integration.

It is not the easiest provider to price upfront, but it is a serious option for businesses that want a tailored, hardware-heavy setup and do not mind getting a quote.

What stands out with ATS?

• Very broad hardware range: ATS covers everything from basic clocking terminals to more advanced biometric systems.
• Cloud or on-premise setup: ATS currently positions its software as available either on-premise or as cloud-based SaaS.
• Better for tailored installations than quick self-serve rollouts: it is more suitable for businesses that want a configured solution.

How much does ATS cost?

ATS software and hardware prices are only available via quote.

What Are the Benefits of Using a Clocking-In System?

A clocking-in system earns its place when it reduces payroll mistakes and admin time, not just when it replaces a paper sign-in sheet.

✔ More accurate pay and fewer disputes

Clocking systems give you precise records of when staff start, finish, and take breaks. That reduces payroll errors and makes overtime or lateness easier to verify.

✔ Better control over lateness and absence

Once attendance is recorded digitally, repeat lateness and absence patterns become much easier to spot before they turn into a bigger cost problem.

✔ Easier rota and workforce planning

The better systems help you manage shifts, holidays, and absence requests in the same place rather than bouncing between spreadsheets and messages.

✔ Less admin for managers

When attendance data feeds into payroll or HR records, managers spend less time chasing timesheets and correcting errors.

Buying Guide: How To Choose the Best Clocking-In System

Every clocking-in system solves the same core problem, but the right option depends on how your business actually works. Focus on these factors first:

• Total cost: price the full setup, including software, hardware, training, and any implementation charges.
• Clocking method: decide whether you want cards, PINs, biometrics, smartphone clocking, or a mix.
• Ease of use: employees should be able to clock in quickly, and managers should be able to find the data without specialist training.
• Mobile access: field-based or hybrid teams need a system that works well on iOS and Android, not just at a fixed terminal.
• Payroll and HR fit: if the system cannot export or integrate cleanly, it creates admin instead of removing it.
• Security and anti-buddy-punching controls: biometric options, geofencing, or secure device-based clocking can all improve accuracy, but they need to be proportionate and compliant.

How We Tested Clocking-In Systems

For this guide, I compared nine clocking-in systems using the six criteria that matter most to UK businesses buying time and attendance tools.

Clocking methods and accuracy (25%)

I looked at how many ways employees can clock in, including cards, PINs, biometrics, terminals, smartphone clocking, and self-service options, plus how well each provider reduces timekeeping errors.

Reporting and workforce management (20%)

This covered timesheets, attendance visibility, lateness tracking, absence handling, rota support, and the quality of reporting available to managers.

Payroll and HR fit (20%)

I reviewed how easily each system can support payroll preparation, export attendance data, or connect with wider HR tools.

Price and contract flexibility (15%)

I considered public pricing where available, whether hardware was bundled or separate, and how easy it is to understand the real total cost.

Ease of use and mobile access (10%)

I assessed how simple the system is for both employees and managers, including mobile clocking, app usability, and how quickly teams can get started.

Support and scalability (10%)

I looked at whether the provider can support your business as it grows, and whether the support setup looks strong enough once the system is live.

I also assessed six practical tasks that businesses care about most: clocking in, reviewing timesheets, handling absences, exporting payroll-ready data, checking reports, and using mobile or remote clock-ins. This framework is designed to answer the question buyers actually ask: which system will reduce admin, improve accuracy, and still feel workable a year from now?