QuickBooks Time vs TimeTrex (2026): which should you pick?

Pick QuickBooks Time if

• Fits if your accounting or payroll already runs in QuickBooks Online
• Works for field crews who clock in from their phones, with GPS points recorded on the clock

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you don't use QuickBooks Online, because an account is required
• Pricey if you're a small team, with a $20 base fee before the $10 for each user
• Not for you if you're a freelancer timing client projects, as project tracking is Elite only, at $40 plus $12 a user
• Watch out: there's no free plan, and the 30-day trial is the only way to see it without paying
• Too light for desk work, as no Mac or Windows app is listed and nothing tracks automatically

Pick TimeTrex if

• Fits if you run hourly staff and want clocks, scheduling and payroll in one
• Works for businesses that want an on-site or open-source option

Look elsewhere if

• Tight if you are one person, because the minimum is $50 a month
• Not for you if you hate contracts, as prices carry a 1-year term and new accounts may pay an activation fee
• Skip it if you bill clients by project, since job costing starts on the $8 Corporate plan
• Watch out: biometric face clocks may cost extra

QuickBooks Time

• The pricing page states that a QuickBooks Online account is required to use QuickBooks Time.
• There is no free plan, and both plans charge a monthly base fee on top of the per-user fee.
• Mileage tracking, project tracking and timesheet signatures are limited to Time Elite.
• No Mac or Windows desktop app is listed; computers use a web browser or the time kiosk.

TimeTrex

• Prices carry a minimum 1-year term, and new accounts may pay an activation fee.
• Biometric facial recognition timeclocks may carry additional fees.
• The page shows flat monthly minimums for 1 to 10 employees, then falls per employee as headcount rises.
• It is a payroll and HR suite, so time tracking by project or client is secondary to attendance.

QuickBooks Time

Mobile time clock

Employees clock in and out and sign and submit timesheets in the QuickBooks Workforce app on iPhone, iPad and Android, with GPS location points recorded while on the clock.

Time kiosk

A shared punch clock for on-site teams that runs on a tablet, desktop or laptop. It is part of both the Premium and Elite plans.

Scheduling

Managers create schedules by job or by shift, then edit, publish and share them with the team.

Payroll and invoicing sync

Tracked hours sync to accounting and payroll rather than being re-entered. Intuit says QuickBooks Time integrates with more than 50 accounting and payroll apps.

Projects and mileage

Time Elite adds GPS mileage tracking, project tracking with estimates against actual hours, a project activity feed and timesheet signatures.

Reports and time off

Customizable reports cover job costs and payroll planning, and both plans include time-off management with alerts and notifications.

TimeTrex

Time and attendance

Web punch-in and out, a mobile time clock with GPS, offline clock-in that syncs later, and biometric facial recognition timeclocks at extra cost.

Payroll

Payroll is included from the Professional edition, with time data feeding pay processing and customizable reports.

Scheduling and leave

Employee scheduling, shift management, and leave and absence management sit alongside time tracking.

Job costing and invoicing

Corporate adds detailed job costing, geofencing, document storage and invoicing with accounts receivable.

Recruiting and expenses

Enterprise adds expense management, recruitment and onboarding, and an applicant tracking system.

Cloud or on-site

The vendor offers cloud deployment and on-site deployment, plus a custom API and an open-source edition.

QuickBooks Time

• Time Premium$20

  per month base fee, plus $10 per user / month

  Base fee includes 1 admin. Workforce app, payroll and invoicing sync, time off, alerts, photo attachments and the time kiosk.

• Time Elite$40

  per month base fee, plus $12 per user / month

  Everything in Premium plus mileage tracking, project tracking, project estimates vs. actuals, a project activity feed and timesheet signatures.

TimeTrex

• Professional Edition$5

  per employee / month, $50 minimum, 1-year term

  Time and attendance, payroll, biometric timeclocks, web and mobile punch, scheduling, leave, HR and reports. Per-user rate falls above 25 employees.

• Corporate Edition$8

  per employee / month, $80 minimum, 1-year term

  Everything in Professional plus job costing, geofencing, document storage and invoicing with accounts receivable.

• Enterprise Edition$10

  per employee / month, $100 minimum, 1-year term

  Everything in Corporate plus expense management, recruitment and onboarding, and an advanced applicant tracking system.

QuickBooks Time

• Other savings

  50% off the base fee for 3 months

  Intuit lists 50% off the monthly base price for the first 3 months of new subscriptions. The discount does not apply to per-user fees.

TimeTrex

No public discounts listed.