Comparison

TimeStation vs OnTheClock employee time clock

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

TimeStation

Transform your iOS device into a cloud-based time and attendance system. Employees can quickly clock in and out using fast scanning or PIN entry. Managers can monitor attendance and generate reports remotely, ideal for small to medium businesses.

Highlights
  • Contactless time and attendance system
  • Fast employee clock-in/out
  • Cloud-based, no installation needed
  • Offline mode for punching
  • Remote manager reporting
  • GPS location tagging
  • Multiple location support
Features
Read full description

Turn any iPhone or iPad into a fast employee time clock or let employees clock in and out from their own phones with Solo Mode. TimeStation makes time and attendance simple with sub-second card scanning, 4-digit PINs, offline check-ins, GPS location tagging, and cloud-based reporting. Free for teams of up to 10 employees. No dedicated time-clock hardware to buy, no server to maintain, and setup takes only minutes. ▶ HOW TIMESTATION WORKS • Create your account and add employees. • Print TimeStation cards or assign 4-digit PINs. • Use a shared iPhone or iPad as your team time clock, or let employees use Solo Mode on their own phones. ▶ FAST, SIMPLE CHECK-INS • Fast-Scan: scan an employee TimeStation card in less than a second • 4-digit PIN check-in when a card isn’t handy • One shared device can serve your whole team • Solo Mode: one-tap check in/out plus personal activity history • Front or rear camera scanning, audible confirmations, and an always-on screen • Offline Mode saves activity on the device and syncs automatically when the connection returns ▶ TIME & ATTENDANCE, YOUR WAY • Track departments, projects, clients, and mid-shift transfers • Add GPS location to every check-in and check-out • Use multiple locations and unlimited devices on one account • Attendance-only mode for schools, classes, clubs, members, and events ▶ MANAGE FROM ANY BROWSER • See who’s in right now • Run 30+ attendance and payroll reports • Export data to Excel and CSV • Make manual time adjustments and review activity history • Get email notifications when employees check in and out • Give employees access to self-service portal and the web clock • Connect other systems with the TimeStation API ▶ BUILT FOR SMALL AND MIDSIZE TEAMS TimeStation works for offices, restaurants, retail teams, construction crews, schools, nonprofits, clubs, and more. Anywhere you need a straightforward, reliable way to track time and attendance. ▶ GET STARTED FREE TimeStation is free for up to 10 employees, with plans for larger teams and a free 30-day trial. No credit card required. Questions? Visit TimeStation.com or contact TimeStation Support.

About

OnTheClock employee time clock

This comprehensive tool streamlines employee time tracking, scheduling, and payroll management. It offers features like PTO tracking, job costing, and automated overtime calculation. The app ensures accuracy and transparency, simplifying workforce management for businesses.

Highlights
  • PTO Tracking
  • Employee Shift Scheduling
  • Timecard Editing
  • Overtime Calculation
  • Geo-Fencing & GPS
  • Payroll Integration
  • Automated Payroll Calculations
Read full description

OnTheClock is the easy and accurate employee time clock app and time tracking app built for small businesses. Track employee hours, manage PTO, create schedules, and run payroll, all in one place. Stop juggling multiple tools. OnTheClock combines time tracking, employee scheduling, timesheets, PTO management, and payroll into a single, easy-to-use platform so you can save time, reduce errors, and get your team paid faster from the office or on the go. KEY FEATURES Time Clock & Employee Time Tracking Employees clock in and out from mobile, tablet, or desktop. Track employee hours in real time with accurate timesheets and time cards. • GPS time tracking and geofencing (only clock in when on location) • Prevent buddy punching with device restrictions and photo capture • Real-time dashboard of who is clocked in (and where) Built-In Payroll (No Integrations Required) Run payroll directly from your time tracking data with our built in payroll, or use your current payroll tool with one of our user-friendly integrations. • Approve timesheets and pay employees in minutes • Automatic overtime calculations and tax handling • Direct deposit and multiple pay rates and overtime rules supported • No exports. No double entry. No separate payroll system. Employee Scheduling Create and manage employee schedules with ease. • Drag-and-drop shift scheduling • Notify employees instantly of schedule updates • Reduce no-shows and scheduling conflicts PTO & Leave Management Track paid time off without spreadsheets. • Employees request PTO in-app • Automatic accrual tracking • Simple approvals for managers GPS, Geofencing & Attendance • Know exactly where and when employees are working. • GPS logs for every clock-in and clock-out • Set job site boundaries with geofencing Improve accountability and accuracy Kiosk Time Clock • Turn any tablet into a shared employee time clock. • PIN, photo, or biometric clock-ins • Ideal for job sites, restaurants, retail, and crews Job Costing & Reporting Track labor costs and make better decisions. • Assign time to jobs or projects • View detailed labor reports and timesheets • Export data for accounting and audits Integrations (Optional) Already using another payroll provider? • Integrates with QuickBooks, ADP, Gusto, Paychex, and more WHO IT’S FOR OnTheClock is built for small business owners and managers. Perfect for: • Construction and field service teams • Restaurants and retail • Healthcare and clinics • Churches and nonprofits • Any business that needs a reliable employee time clock WHY BUSINESSES CHOOSE ONTHECLOCK • All-in-one time tracking, scheduling, and payroll • Transparent pricing and no long term contracts • Simple setup and easy to use for any team • Accurate time tracking that reduces payroll errors • Saves hours of admin work every week • U.S.-based customer support team with real humans ready to help Ditch the complexity and run your business with one simple system. OnTheClock combines time tracking, employee scheduling, timesheets, PTO management, and payroll into one easy-to-use platform that saves time, reduces errors, and keeps your team paid accurately. Built for small businesses that need a reliable time clock app, time tracker, and employee scheduling tool without the headaches. Trusted by thousands of businesses across the U.S., with responsive, U.S.-based support when you need it. Start your free trial today, no credit card required. Learn more at ontheclock.com OnTheClock is your ultimate time clock, payroll, and employee scheduling tool. It's time to revolutionize your business with our time tracker, timesheet, and time card features. Say goodbye to time theft and hello to saving time with OnTheClock. Download now and join the OnTheClock team today!

Screenshots

TimeStation4 screens
OnTheClock employee time clock4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: OnTheClock employee time clock at 4.3 against TimeStation's 4.0. OnTheClock employee time clock also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 72%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

OnTheClock employee time clock holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 602 and 469 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of TimeStation's written reviews are positive against 82% of OnTheClock employee time clock's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
TimeStation versus OnTheClock employee time clock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTimeStationOnTheClock employee time clock
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (602 ratings)4.3 (469 ratings) — better
Positive reviews72.0% of reviews82.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings602 — better469
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better16.1
Further details — not scored
Size22 MB166 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTimeStation, LLCOnTheClock.com, LLC

Customer experience

TimeStation

All ratings602 ratings
Positive73.8%
Neutral7.8%
Negative18.4%
Written reviews186 reviews
Positive72.0%
Neutral12.9%
Negative15.1%

OnTheClock employee time clock

All ratings469 ratings
Positive83.8%
Neutral3.2%
Negative13.0%
Written reviews117 reviews
Positive82.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative17.9%

User reviews

TimeStation

From 602 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Efficient time tracking
  • 💡 Useful for teaching job skills
  • 🔒 Reliable and secure

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional sync issues
  • ⚠️ Lack of in-app status indicator
  • 🔍 Limited reporting and history features
  • 🖥️ Outdated iOS app design

OnTheClock employee time clock

From 469 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy and efficient
  • 👍 User-friendly interface
  • 💰 Affordable for small businesses
  • 🕰️ Convenient time tracking
  • 📊 Helpful for payroll and reporting

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Bugs and crashes
  • ⏱️ Slow loading times
  • 🔒 Login issues
  • 🔍 Lack of search functionality
  • 🕰️ Punch correction process could be improved

Bugs and requests

TimeStation

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Location services not working on iOS 18
  • Camera not switching to back-facing for QR scanning

Requested features

4 requests
  • Allow employees to view their own time logs
  • Add overtime calculation and tracking
  • Implement color-coding for clock in/out status
  • Improve Android and iOS app parity

OnTheClock employee time clock

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Frequent log-outs and invalid username/password errors
  • Inconsistent punch registration and missing punch records
  • Compatibility issues with certain devices and operating systems
  • Punch map feature not working as expected

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add widget for quick punch in/out
  • Improve PTO request and management
  • Allow employees to view and edit their own timecards
  • Provide more customization options for the interface
  • Integrate with more payroll and accounting systems

In-app purchases

None

TimeStation

No in-app purchases

None

OnTheClock employee time clock

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is TimeStation free?
TimeStation is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is OnTheClock employee time clock free?
OnTheClock employee time clock is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, TimeStation or OnTheClock employee time clock?
OnTheClock employee time clock is rated higher. TimeStation averages 4.0 out of 5 from 602 ratings, while OnTheClock employee time clock averages 4.3 from 469 ratings.
Do TimeStation or OnTheClock employee time clock have ads?
Neither TimeStation nor OnTheClock employee time clock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, TimeStation or OnTheClock employee time clock?
TimeStation ships an update every 2 months, and OnTheClock employee time clock every 2 months. Most recently, TimeStation was updated on October 15, 2026 and OnTheClock employee time clock on October 14, 2026.

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