TimeClick Review: Pricing, Features, Pros and Cons

TimeClick is one of those rare software products that still bets on a one-time purchase model in an industry dominated by monthly subscriptions. For small businesses tired of watching per-user fees climb every quarter, that alone makes it worth a look. But the buy-once approach comes with trade-offs: this is an on-premise, Windows-only time clock that will never live in the cloud.

After examining TimeClick’s current feature set, pricing structure, and real-world performance feedback, we found a product that does a handful of things exceptionally well for a specific type of buyer. If you run a small to mid-sized business with fewer than 100 employees, operate primarily from a physical location, and want to stop paying monthly fees for time tracking, TimeClick delivers. If you need cloud access, Mac compatibility, or deep third-party integrations, you’ll hit walls quickly.

Here’s what you need to know before buying.

What Is TimeClick?

TimeClick is a desktop-based time and attendance software built by Hawkeye Technologies LLC, a private company headquartered in Logan, Utah. Hawkeye was founded in 1977 as a financial data processing firm. The founder originally wrote the software (then called TimeKeeper) as an in-house tool, and the first commercial version shipped in 1993. The product has been continuously developed since, with the current release being TimeClick 25.

The company employs between 11 and 50 people and claims over 8,000 businesses as customers. TimeClick installs on a local Windows PC or server and lets employees clock in and out using a PIN or password. It tracks hours, breaks, overtime, PTO, and job codes, then generates payroll-ready reports. The entire pitch revolves around simplicity: install it in minutes, own it forever, and keep your data on your own hardware.

TimeClick Key Features

Clock In/Out with PIN Authentication

The core function is straightforward. Employees click their name on the main screen, enter a password or PIN, and clock in or out. The interface shows at a glance who is currently clocked in and who is out. Administrators can configure the main screen layout and restrict access with separate admin passwords. The system calculates hours automatically, eliminating manual timecard math.

This simplicity is TimeClick’s strongest selling point. Employees with minimal computer skills can use it with virtually no training. However, the system lacks biometric authentication (fingerprint, facial recognition), which means it relies entirely on PINs to prevent buddy punching at the desktop. The mobile app’s geofencing feature partially addresses this, but only for remote clock-ins.

Break and Overtime Tracking

TimeClick tracks paid breaks, unpaid breaks, or both, depending on your configuration. Overtime is calculated automatically based on your rules, with support for standard weekly overtime as well as daily overtime (relevant for California employers). The overtime report shows how close each employee is to hitting overtime thresholds, which helps managers make scheduling decisions before costs escalate.

PTO and Time Off Management

The time off module handles vacation, sick leave, PTO, bereavement, holidays, and custom categories. Employees can submit time off requests directly through the software, and managers approve or deny them within the admin panel. Balances update instantly when time off is used or accrued. The system supports configurable accrual rules, so you can set up annual accrual schedules that run automatically.

One quirk to be aware of: once a PTO request is submitted and approved, it applies automatically. There is no intermediate “pending” state that lets managers review before the balance is affected, which can cause confusion if your approval workflow is informal.

Department and Job Code Tracking

TimeClick lets you assign employees to departments and track time against specific job codes. This is useful for businesses that need to allocate labor costs across projects, clients, or cost centers. Employees can switch between job codes during their shift, and reports break down hours by job code for billing or cost analysis.

That said, this is not full project management or project-based time tracking. If you need task-level granularity, budget tracking per project, or client billing workflows, you will find the job code system too basic. It works for departmental cost allocation but stops short of true project accounting.

Reporting and Payroll Export

TimeClick includes a customizable report center with multiple report types: hours summaries, job/department breakdowns, punctuality reports, accrued time reports, and a visual payroll report that estimates employee pay. Reports export to PDF, Excel, and CSV formats. The visual payroll report is particularly useful for double-checking numbers before running payroll.

Direct integrations exist for QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Gusto, and ADP Workforce Now. For other payroll providers, you can use CSV exports, and TimeClick’s support team will create custom export file formats if you send them a sample of what your payroll system expects. This is a notably hands-on approach that most subscription-based competitors do not offer.

Mobile App with Geofencing

TimeClick offers a mobile app for iOS and Android that lets employees clock in and out from their phones. The app syncs with the desktop server, so all time data stays centralized. Geofencing is available as an optional paid add-on: you define approved work zones on a map, and the system blocks clock-ins from outside those zones. GPS location is logged only at the moment of clock-in and clock-out.

There are important restrictions. The mobile app requires a minimum 2-device license and an active TimeClick Unlimited subscription. Each mobile device counts as one device on your license. So if you have five employees using the mobile app plus two desktop terminals, you need at least a 7-device license. This can push costs up quickly for businesses with a mobile workforce.

Built-In Messaging System

Administrators can send messages to individual employees or groups through TimeClick’s built-in messaging feature. Messages appear when employees log in. This is handy for shift reminders or policy updates. However, the messaging system does not sync to email or send push notifications, which limits its usefulness for time-sensitive communications.

Admin Controls and Data Ownership

TimeClick runs entirely on your local hardware. No data leaves your network unless you choose to export it. For businesses in regulated industries or those with strict data residency requirements, this is a genuine advantage over cloud-based alternatives. Admin mode is password-protected, and administrators can restrict what employees see and do, including hiding other employees’ information and limiting access to reports.

The software includes automatic local backups, which is important since you are responsible for your own data protection with an on-premise deployment.

TimeClick Pricing and Plans

TimeClick uses a one-time purchase model with device-based licensing. Every license includes unlimited employees, so you never pay per user. All licenses include a free first year of the TimeClick Unlimited annual membership.

TimeClick offers 11 total license tiers (the table above shows the most common ones). You can upgrade your license at any time and pay only the difference.

TimeClick Unlimited membership renews after the free first year. The vendor’s pricing page lists the general renewal at $149/year, but support documentation indicates renewal costs vary by license size, ranging from approximately $99/year to $500/year. The 5-device license, for example, renews at $169/year. This membership is required for continued access to phone support, version upgrades, and the mobile app. Without it, the software still runs, but you lose support and new features.

Geofencing is an additional paid add-on. Pricing for this feature is not published on the website; contact TimeClick directly for a quote.

Free trial: 14 days, no credit card required.

Hidden cost to watch for: The 1-device license does not include mobile access. If mobile clock-in matters to your team, your minimum entry point is the $499 2-device license, not $299. Also, each phone or tablet used for mobile clock-in counts as a device on your license, which can significantly increase costs for field-based teams.

Integrations

TimeClick’s integration ecosystem is narrow but covers the essentials for payroll processing. Direct, built-in integrations include:

• QuickBooks Online
• QuickBooks Desktop
• Gusto
• ADP Workforce Now

For all other payroll systems, TimeClick supports CSV export. The support team will build custom export templates to match your payroll provider’s import format if you provide a sample file. This is a practical workaround, though it does require manual export and import each pay period rather than automatic syncing.

Beyond payroll, integrations are essentially nonexistent. There is no API documented for developers, no Zapier or Make (Integromat) support, no app marketplace, and no connections to HR systems, scheduling tools, or project management platforms. If you need TimeClick data to flow into other business systems automatically, you will be limited to file-based exports.

This is the most significant gap in TimeClick’s offering compared to cloud-based competitors, which typically integrate with dozens or hundreds of other tools. For a business that uses TimeClick as a standalone time clock and manually runs payroll, the limited integration set is fine. For anyone building an interconnected software stack, it is a dealbreaker.

Customer Support

Customer support is, by nearly every measure, TimeClick’s standout strength. The company operates a U.S.-based support team out of Logan, Utah and claims to answer 9 out of 10 calls within 7 seconds. That claim aligns with what we see in real feedback: support quality is consistently rated higher than any other aspect of the product.

Support channels include phone and the website’s knowledge base. The knowledge base covers setup guides, troubleshooting steps, and FAQs. TimeClick also maintains a YouTube channel with tutorial videos. Support staff will remotely log in to your machine to resolve issues, which is particularly helpful during initial setup or migration between Windows versions.

There is one critical caveat: phone support and version upgrades require an active TimeClick Unlimited subscription. If you let your subscription lapse, you lose access to support entirely. There is no per-incident support option currently offered. This means the “one-time purchase” pitch comes with an asterisk: you technically own the software forever, but maintaining support access is a recurring annual cost.

Onboarding is self-service. TimeClick installs in under 10 minutes according to the vendor, and the setup process is simple enough that most small business owners handle it without IT help. For more complex configurations (accrual rules, multi-device server setup), the support team walks you through it by phone.

Pros and Cons

TimeClick earns strong marks in a few areas and falls short in others. Here is our assessment based on the product’s current capabilities, pricing structure, and real-world performance.

Who Should Use TimeClick?

Best fit: Small to mid-sized businesses with 5 to 100 employees operating from one or a few physical locations, especially those running Windows environments. Industries where TimeClick sees the heaviest use include medical practices, veterinary clinics, legal offices, nonprofits, food service, security companies, and small manufacturing or retail operations.

TimeClick is ideal if you want a time clock that installs quickly, runs without internet dependency, and does not charge monthly fees. It works well for businesses where most employees clock in from a shared workstation or a small number of terminals. The one-time purchase model is genuinely cost-effective over a 3 to 5 year horizon compared to per-user subscription tools.

Organizations in regulated industries (healthcare, finance) that prefer to keep employee data on local servers rather than in the cloud will appreciate the on-premise architecture and full data ownership.

Not a fit: Businesses with remote or distributed teams will find the mobile licensing model expensive, since every phone counts as a device. Companies using Macs cannot run TimeClick at all. Organizations that need deep integrations with HR platforms, project management tools, or CRMs should look elsewhere. If you require cloud access, browser-based login from any device, or biometric authentication, TimeClick does not offer those capabilities.

Fast-growing companies that expect to scale past 100 employees or multiple locations may outgrow TimeClick’s architecture relatively quickly and face a costly migration later.

TimeClick Alternatives

QuickBooks Time (formerly TSheets)

QuickBooks Time is a cloud-based time tracking solution that integrates natively with the QuickBooks ecosystem and dozens of other tools. It offers GPS tracking, mobile-first design, scheduling, and project-level time tracking. It is significantly more capable for remote teams and businesses needing deep integrations. However, it charges per user per month (starting around $6/user/month plus a base fee), which adds up fast. For a 20-person team over three years, you will pay far more than TimeClick’s one-time cost. Choose QuickBooks Time if you need cloud access, advanced integrations, or manage a mobile workforce.

Homebase

Homebase offers a free tier that includes basic time tracking and scheduling for one location with unlimited employees. The paid tiers add features like early access to wages, labor cost controls, and HR tools. It is cloud-based and works from any browser or mobile device. Homebase is better for businesses that want scheduling and time tracking in one tool without upfront costs. It is worse for businesses that want to avoid recurring fees long-term or prefer to keep data on-premise. Choose Homebase if you are a single-location business on a tight budget that values scheduling integration.

Buddy Punch

Buddy Punch is a cloud-based time clock with facial recognition, GPS tracking, geofencing, and QR code punch options. It integrates with major payroll systems and charges per user per month. It offers more punch verification methods than TimeClick and works across all operating systems via the browser. The interface is modern and mobile-friendly. However, the monthly per-user cost makes it more expensive over time, and it lacks TimeClick’s data ownership advantage. Choose Buddy Punch if biometric verification, cross-platform access, or a modern UI are priorities.

TimeCamp

TimeCamp focuses on project-based time tracking with automatic time capture, productivity monitoring, and client billing features. It offers a free plan for unlimited users with basic tracking. TimeCamp is better for professional services firms, agencies, or teams that need to track billable hours by project and client. It is worse as a simple employee time clock for shift-based work. Choose TimeCamp if project accounting and billable hours are your primary concern rather than basic attendance tracking.

When I Work

When I Work combines employee scheduling with time clock functionality in a cloud-based platform. It is popular with restaurants, retail, and hospitality businesses that need shift scheduling, shift swapping, and team communication alongside time tracking. It handles scheduling far better than TimeClick (which has no scheduling features). However, it charges per user per month and does not offer a one-time purchase option. Choose When I Work if employee scheduling is as important to you as time tracking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does TimeClick work on Mac?

No. TimeClick is a Windows-only application. It requires a Windows PC or Windows Server environment. There is no Mac version, web-based version, or Linux version available. If your office runs Macs, you would need to use a Windows virtual machine or look at a different product entirely.

Is TimeClick cloud-based or on-premise?

TimeClick is an on-premise application. It installs on a local Windows PC or server, and all data is stored on your own hardware. There is no cloud-hosted version. The mobile app communicates with your local server but does not store data in the cloud. You are fully responsible for your own backups and data security.

Does TimeClick charge monthly fees?

The software license itself is a one-time purchase with no recurring fees. However, the TimeClick Unlimited membership (which provides phone support, version upgrades, and mobile app access) renews annually after the free first year. Renewal costs range from approximately $99 to $500 per year depending on your license size. You can use the software without renewing, but you lose access to support and updates.

How does TimeClick’s mobile app work?

The mobile app is available for iOS and Android and lets employees clock in and out from their phones. It requires a minimum 2-device license and an active TimeClick Unlimited subscription. Each mobile device counts as one device on your license. The optional geofencing add-on can restrict mobile clock-ins to approved locations.

What payroll systems does TimeClick integrate with?

TimeClick has direct integrations with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Gusto, and ADP Workforce Now. For other payroll systems, you can export time data as CSV files. TimeClick’s support team will create custom export templates to match your payroll provider’s format if you send them a sample file.

How many employees can TimeClick handle?

Every TimeClick license includes unlimited employees. Pricing is based on the number of devices (computers and mobile devices), not the number of employees. Whether you have 5 employees or 100, the cost is the same for a given device count.

Is there a free trial?

Yes. TimeClick offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. You can download and install the full software to test it with your team before purchasing.

The Bottom Line

TimeClick is a focused, no-nonsense time clock that does exactly what it promises: replace paper timecards with a simple digital system, track hours and PTO accurately, and generate payroll-ready reports. It does these things well, and the one-time purchase model offers genuine long-term cost savings compared to subscription competitors. The customer support is exceptional and stands out even among products that cost significantly more.

The trade-offs are real, though. Windows-only deployment, no cloud option, a dated interface, and minimal integrations beyond payroll mean TimeClick is best suited for a specific buyer profile: a small, primarily on-site business that values simplicity, data ownership, and predictable costs over modern features and cross-platform flexibility. The mobile licensing model also makes it an awkward fit for businesses with many remote workers, since device costs add up.

We rate TimeClick 4.1 out of 5. It is an excellent value for the right business, but the architectural limitations prevent it from competing with modern cloud-based time tracking tools on features or flexibility. If your team works from a single location, runs Windows, and wants to own their time clock software outright, TimeClick is one of the best options available. If any of those conditions do not apply, look at QuickBooks Time, Buddy Punch, or Homebase instead.