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Compare time tracking approaches

Paper, spreadsheets, a basic app or a full system: what each gives you, where it stops, and when moving up pays for itself.

In shortPaper and spreadsheets work for a handful of people at one site. Once you need proof of where and when people worked, an approval trail for corrections and hours ready for payroll, a time and attendance system usually costs less than the hours spent fixing timesheets.

Four ways to track time

Typical features of each approach
Paper time cards Spreadsheets Basic app Time and attendance system
Setup Very easy Easy Easy A short rollout
Proof of where and when Depends on honesty None Varies by app GPS, NFC tags, kiosk, photo or biometric, depending on the system
Corrections and approvals On paper No history Varies Requests, approvals and an audit trail
Scheduling Separate Separate sheet Often separate Can be linked to clock-ins
Payroll prep Retyping Copy and paste Export Payroll-ready reports
Best for A few people, one site Very small teams Small teams with simple hours Growing teams, several sites or field staff

Typical features only; specific products differ.

Is it time to move up? A quick check

Add up one pay period. If a manager spends 3 hours fixing missed punches and retyping hours, at $30 an hour that is $90 per pay period, or about $195 a month on a biweekly cycle. For a 20-person team, a system at $2 to $4 per employee costs $40 to $80 a month. If the fixing time is lower than that, paper or a spreadsheet may still be fine.

  1. Count the fixing time. Hours a month spent correcting timesheets.
  2. List what you must prove. Where people worked, when, and who approved changes.
  3. Plan for growth. A sheet that works for 5 people rarely works for 25.
  4. Test with real data. Run one pay period before you commit.

EZTime compared with specific tools

HEAD-TO-HEADEZ TIMEEZTimevsHomebaseEZTime vs HomebasePer-employee vs per-location pricing; crossover at 15 staff per siteSee the comparison →HEAD-TO-HEADEZ TIMEEZTimevsClockifyEZTime vs ClockifyShift attendance vs project time trackingSee the comparison →HEAD-TO-HEADEZ TIMEEZTimevsDeputyEZTime vs DeputyLower entry price vs forecasting and labor budgetsSee the comparison →HEAD-TO-HEADEZ TIMEEZTimevsWhen I WorkEZTime vs When I WorkA visible clock price vs a clock add-onSee the comparison →

For 20 other apps, see our software reviews.

Frequently asked questions

Is a spreadsheet enough for time tracking?

For a few employees at one site, often yes. It becomes hard to audit once several people edit it or hours feed payroll.

When should I move to a time and attendance system?

When fixing timesheets, multiple locations or payroll prep take more of a manager’s time each month than the system would cost.

Does EZTime use biometric clock-in?

No. EZTime supports a GPS mobile app, web, tablet kiosk and NFC tags.

Read next

Time clock vs time and attendance systemWhat is the differenceRead the guide →How to choose a time clockA buyer checklistRead the guide →Risks of having no time clockWage claims and recordsRead the guide →

Head-to-head comparisons

Each comparison below sets EZTime next to one product using that vendor’s own published pricing, checked in November 2026. They include a cost worked out at three team sizes, a feature table, and a short list of who should probably pick the other product.

HEAD-TO-HEADEZ TIMEEZTimevsHomebaseEZTime vs HomebaseComes down to pricing model: Homebase charges per location, EZTime per employee, so the answer flips between one large site and several small ones.See the comparison →HEAD-TO-HEADEZ TIMEEZTimevsDeputyEZTime vs DeputyDepth versus cost: Deputy adds demand forecasting, labor budgets and a face-unlock kiosk, while EZTime starts lower and adds NFC tags.See the comparison →HEAD-TO-HEADEZ TIMEEZTimevsWhen I WorkEZTime vs When I WorkBoth handle shift swaps from a phone; the difference is that When I Work sells attendance as an add-on.See the comparison →HEAD-TO-HEADEZ TIMEEZTimevsClockifyEZTime vs ClockifyDifferent first problems: Clockify tracks time against projects and clients, EZTime starts from the shift schedule and the clock-in.See the comparison →

How to read a comparison

Compare the bill, not the headline price. A per-user price can hide a base fee, a minimum number of users or an attendance add-on, and a per-location price can look cheap until you open a second site. Write down your headcount, number of locations and the punch method you need, then price each option at that size.

Check proof of attendance next. Paper and spreadsheets rely on honesty, apps differ in whether they stamp location, and some systems add kiosks, NFC tags or photo checks. Then look at corrections: who can change a punch, whether a manager approves it, and whether the change is kept in a history. Those three answers usually separate a tool you will outgrow from one you can keep.

For a single product in more depth, see the reviews. If you are leaving a specific tool, the alternatives page groups them by what they are built for.

Moving off paper?

EZTime runs on one pay period free for 14 days, no credit card.

Start your trialSee plans

General information as of November 9, 2026, not legal or payroll advice. The $30 hourly rate in the example is an assumption; use your own.