ClockOut

Overview

ClockOut combines GPS-backed time punches with shift planning and attendance review for hourly teams. It is best suited to small operators that need staff to clock in by phone, browser, or shared tablet and can manage payroll through file handoffs. Its appeal is a practical span from scheduling to payroll preparation; its key compromise is that payroll exports are not automatic.

Key features

Employees can punch in and out from a phone app, web browser, or shared tablet using a PIN or QR badge. Each punch records its time and GPS location, and geofence enforcement is included in the paid plans. ClockOut says optional boundary checks while employees are clocked in are discarded and that it does not track location off the clock. That offers a defined approach to location privacy, though teams should still weigh whether collecting location at punches suits their workforce.

Scheduling supports recurring shifts, open shifts, swaps, and confirmations. Managers also get an exception inbox for missed clock-outs, late arrivals, skipped breaks, and overtime alerts. These tools help bring routine attendance issues together, but they do not resolve exceptions or replace timesheet approval work.

Clock-in and clock-out punches can be saved offline and sync with their original tap time once a device reconnects. That is useful for teams with patchy connectivity, but breaks require a connection, so the offline support has a meaningful boundary.

Starter adds PTO balances and accruals, requests and approvals, and kiosk mode. Pro adds multiple locations, payroll runs, compliance rules, API access, and payroll-formatted CSV exports for ADP, Gusto, and QuickBooks. Those files must be downloaded and imported manually, making Pro a preparation tool rather than an automated payroll connection.

Pricing

Free costs nothing, billed $0 forever, and covers up to 2 people including the account holder. It includes GPS punches, basic scheduling, pay estimates, and CSV export, making it a low-commitment option for a very small team. The cap makes it unsuitable once more than two people need access.

Starter costs $19 a month, billed $19 per month. It includes 5 people, then charges $3 per extra person per month; the plan also describes unlimited employees. With geofence enforcement, recurring schedules, PTO, kiosk mode, and an exception inbox, it is the natural fit for teams that need ongoing shift and attendance management. Compared with Free, it adds those operating tools but raises the monthly cost as headcount grows.

Pro costs $39 a month, billed $39 per month. It includes 5 people, then charges $6 per extra person per month, while also describing unlimited employees. Multiple locations, payroll runs, exports for three named payroll services, compliance rules, and API access target teams with more complex operations. The higher per-person charge and manual export workflow are reasons to look elsewhere if automated payroll is essential.

A 14-day trial is offered. Customer support is by email at [email protected], with the site saying a human replies.

Platforms

ClockOut is available on Android, iOS, and the web, with API access included in Pro. Its phone and browser options give workers alternatives to a shared tablet; kiosk mode supports PIN or QR-badge punches on Starter and Pro.

Who it's for

ClockOut is aimed at hourly and shift-based teams, including small businesses in restaurants, healthcare, construction, cleaning, and home care. It is a good match when managers need recurring schedules, attendance exception review, and a straightforward way to prepare payroll files. Teams needing full offline break tracking or automatic payroll transfers should consider a different fit.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Scheduling, punches, and attendance exceptions sit in one workflow, reducing the need to handle those tasks as separate tools.
• Pro: Offline clock-in and clock-out punches retain their tap time, which can help when connectivity drops.
• Pro: Kiosk mode supports PIN and QR-badge punches on shared tablets, while phone and web punches provide other options.
• Con: Breaks need a connection, limiting the usefulness of offline timekeeping.
• Con: Payroll exports require manual download and import, so ClockOut does not complete the payroll handoff on its own.
• Con: Starter and Pro charge extra per person above the included five, and Pro's extra-person rate is higher.

Alternatives

Time Clock Software is the broader category guide for readers comparing time-clock options.

Consider ClockIt if you want a free plan with unlimited users or need its wider platform coverage, including Linux, macOS, and Windows. Choose Fareclock if you prefer a paid plan with a stated per-user rate and GPS tracking with shift scheduling; its Basic plan is for up to five users.

Jibble offers a free plan for unlimited users, with two geofences and one work schedule. PunchFlow has a free plan for up to two employees and one kiosk, with core time-clock tools and basic reports and CSV export.

Punchly is another option. TimeClock Wizard offers a free plan with unlimited users and basic employee time tracking. PunchClock Pro has a free plan for one company, one site, and up to ten employees, with basic PDF reports, geofencing, and kiosk included.

Aladtec is another paid alternative.

Verdict

ClockOut is a strong choice for small hourly teams that want shift scheduling, GPS punches, and attendance issues in one place, with payroll files ready for a manual handoff. Choose it if those connected workflows matter more than automated payroll or fully offline timekeeping; look elsewhere if either limitation would disrupt daily operations.