The Buddy Punch Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Buddy Punch in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Buddy Punch
The Insider’s Guide
Online time clock with GPS, scheduling and payroll add-ons
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among time tracking apps, read from Buddy Punch’s own pages.
Made by Buddy Punch Inc · checked Oct 6, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Buddy Punch’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Buddy Punch’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 6, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 8 of the 42 other time tracking apps we grade
Buddy Punch is online time clock software for businesses whose hourly employees work in more than one place. Staff punch in and out from a browser, a phone app or a shared tablet kiosk, and the punches become timesheets with overtime, breaks and paid time off worked out. GPS coordinates, geofences, photos and IP address locks check where and by whom a punch was made, and scheduling and payroll can be added to a plan.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Buddy Punch, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Staff punch in and out and the timesheet builds itself for them to submit each pay period, and text-to-punch covers people with no signal.
- 1
Best for a time clock for hourly staff across job sites
Buddy Punch is a time clock for hourly staff in different places: they punch in from a phone, a browser or a shared tablet, every punch gets GPS coordinates, and timesheets work out overtime and breaks.
- 2
Paid plans start at $4.99 a month for each person
As its pricing page puts it: $4.99 per user / month plus a $19 monthly base fee, billed annually.
- 3
You can try it first
14-day free trial, no credit card required
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
Web, iOS and Android.
- 5
Punching from any device
Employees clock in from a browser, the iOS and Android apps or a ChromeOS app. A tablet can serve as a shared kiosk with four-digit PINs, QR codes or Face ID, and text-to-punch covers staff without internet.
- 6
GPS and geofences
Every plan records GPS coordinates with each punch. Geofences that block off-site punches start on Pro, and live location maps are a $2 per user a month add-on that Advanced includes.
- 7
Automatic timesheets and overtime
Punches are compiled into timesheets that employees submit for approval each pay period. More than a dozen overtime types, automatic breaks and punch rounding rules are available.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 8 of 42
That is against the other time tracking apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Your call
A time tracker at its plainest is a start button, a stop button and a table of hours.
Buddy Punch at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $4.99 per user / month plus a $19 monthly base fee, billed annually
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 14-day free trial, no credit card required
- Runs on
- Web, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Buddy Punch Inc, since 2013
- Category
- Time Tracking
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
- Store rating
- 4.9 on the App Store, 739 ratings
The report card
Best for a time clock for hourly staff across job sites
Buddy Punch is a time clock for hourly staff in different places: they punch in from a phone, a browser or a shared tablet, every punch gets GPS coordinates, and timesheets work out overtime and breaks. There's no free plan, every plan adds a $19 monthly base fee, managers count as paid users, and geofencing, kiosks, offline mode and the API start on Pro at $6.99 a user.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Starter is $4.99 a user a month billed annually, but the $19 monthly base fee lands on top: five of you comes to about $8.80 each. Managers count as paid users, and real-time GPS and advanced reporting are $2 a user each on Starter and Pro. |
| Free plan and trial | C | No free plan. The FAQ is blunt about it: everything is paid once the 14-day trial ends. The trial asks for no card and covers the whole product. |
| Features | C | Punching covers browser, phone, ChromeOS, a tablet kiosk with PINs, QR codes or Face ID, and text-to-punch for staff with no internet, and timesheets work out a dozen overtime types. But Starter leaves out geofencing, kiosk and QR punching, punch photos, offline mode and the API. |
| Ease of use | B | 4.87 on the App Store, though from only 739 ratings, which is too small a pile for our top mark. Staff punch in and out and the timesheet builds itself for them to submit each pay period, and text-to-punch covers people with no signal. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Browser, iPhone, Android and a ChromeOS app, with no Mac or Windows desktop app. For payroll it connects to QuickBooks Online and Desktop, Gusto, ADP Workforce Now, Paychex, Rippling, Workday and Zapier. API and MCP access start on Pro. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Buddy Punch is for
- Fits if your hourly staff are spread across job sites, stores or clients' homes
- Works for small companies that want a time clock, scheduling and payroll links from one vendor
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want a free plan, since everything is paid once the 14-day trial ends
- Pricey if you're only two or three people, as the $19 base fee is the same for any team and managers count as users
- Tight if you're on Starter and want geofencing, a kiosk, punch photos, offline mode or the API, which all start on Pro
- Watch out: scheduling is $1 a user extra on Starter, and real-time GPS and advanced reporting are $2 each on Starter and Pro
- Not for you if you want a Mac or Windows desktop app, as it runs in a browser, on phones and on ChromeOS
Good to know
Good for
- Businesses with hourly staff spread across job sites, stores or clients' homes
- Employers that want GPS, photo or geofence checks on every punch
- Small companies that want a time clock, scheduling and payroll from one vendor
Worth knowing
- There is no free plan: the FAQ says all plans are paid once the free trial ends.
- Every plan carries a $19 monthly base fee on top of the per-user price, and managers count as paid users.
- Geofencing, kiosk and QR code punching, punch photos, offline mode and API access are not in Starter.
- Real-time GPS, advanced reporting and extended data retention are add-ons at $2 per user a month each on Starter and Pro.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$4.99
A month to start, for each person
Buddy Punch is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $4.99 per user / month plus a $19 monthly base fee, billed annually.
The trial asks for no card and covers the whole product.
Starter
$4.99
per user / month, billed annually ($5.99 monthly), plus $19 base fee
Punch clock, GPS on punches, mobile apps, time off tracking, job tracking, payroll integrations and reports. Scheduling is a $1 per user add-on.
Pro
$6.99
per user / month, billed annually ($7.99 monthly), plus $19 base fee
Adds offline mode, basic geofencing, QR code and kiosk punching, punch photos, break compliance, API and MCP access, and scheduling.
Advanced
$12.99
per user / month, billed annually ($13.99 monthly), plus $19 base fee
Adds advanced reporting, SSO with Okta, OneLogin or SAML 2.0, manager permissions by group, real-time GPS and dedicated support.
Trying it first
14-day free trial, no credit card required
Read from buddypunch.com on Oct 6, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Save up to 18% with annual billing
The pricing page labels annual billing "Save up to 18%": Starter is $4.99 per user a month against $5.99 monthly, Pro $6.99 against $7.99 and Advanced $12.99 against $13.99.
Stated on buddypunch.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: Web, iOS and Android
Online time clock with GPS, scheduling and payroll add-ons. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, time tracking, reports.
But Starter leaves out geofencing, kiosk and QR punching, punch photos, offline mode and the API.
- Punching from any device
- Employees clock in from a browser, the iOS and Android apps or a ChromeOS app. A tablet can serve as a shared kiosk with four-digit PINs, QR codes or Face ID, and text-to-punch covers staff without internet.
- GPS and geofences
- Every plan records GPS coordinates with each punch. Geofences that block off-site punches start on Pro, and live location maps are a $2 per user a month add-on that Advanced includes.
- Automatic timesheets and overtime
- Punches are compiled into timesheets that employees submit for approval each pay period. More than a dozen overtime types, automatic breaks and punch rounding rules are available.
- Employee scheduling
- A drag-and-drop schedule builder with recurring shifts, templates, shift trades and availability. It costs $1 per user a month on Starter and is included with Pro and Advanced.
- Time off tracking
- PTO accrues by rules you set or is entered by hand. Employees see their balances and request time off, and approved time is added to timesheets and shown on schedules.
- Payroll and payroll integrations
- Hours sync to providers such as QuickBooks, Gusto, ADP and Paychex. Buddy Punch's own payroll service can be added to any plan for $8 per user a month plus a $49 monthly base fee.
Where it runs
- Web
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
- QuickBooks Online
- QuickBooks Desktop
- Gusto
- ADP Workforce Now
- Paychex
- Rippling
- Workday
- Zapier
Buddy Punch is made by Buddy Punch Inc, and has been around since 2013.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
8/42
Other time tracking apps it is graded above
Buddy Punch's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 8 of the 42 other time tracking apps we grade, and level with 10.
It stands best on ease of use (B, above 23 of 42) and worst on free plan and trial (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $4.99 a month for each person, against a middle price of $6.55 for the category: 12 of the 35 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 5 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 43 time tracking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Buddy Punch’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 8 of 42
- CFree plan and trialAbove 0 of 42
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 42
- BEase of useAbove 23 of 42
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 11 of 42
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 39 time tracking apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Buddy Punch is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Your call
A time tracker at its plainest is a start button, a stop button and a table of hours.
You could make the core of Buddy Punch for yourself: time tracking and reports. What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call. It costs $59.88 a year.
What you could make
- Time tracking and reports: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- A real app for iOS and Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It is priced for each person, which means accounts and billing for a team.
- It plugs into other products, QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop and Gusto among them, and has an API.
What this rests on. Buddy Punch’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
QuickBooks Time, Jibble, Hubstaff, Clockify and TimeCamp
The 5 tools Buddy Punch is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.0GPA
QuickBooks Time
Free trial · from $20/mo
Employee time clock and scheduling tied to QuickBooks payroll.
- QuickBooks Time also covers invoicing.
- 3.4GPA
Jibble
Free plan
Free time clock and attendance tracker with GPS and face recognition.
- Jibble has a free plan. Buddy Punch does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Jibble lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Only Jibble lists a browser extension.
- 2.6GPA
Hubstaff
Free trial · from $4.99/mo
Time tracking with screenshots, activity levels and payroll.
- Only Hubstaff lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Only Hubstaff lists a browser extension.
- Hubstaff also covers tasks and invoicing.
- 3.2GPA
Clockify
Free plan · from $3.99/mo
Team time tracker and timesheets with a free plan for 5 users.
- Clockify has a free plan. Buddy Punch does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Clockify lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Only Clockify lists a browser extension.
- 3.2GPA
TimeCamp
Free plan · from $3.99/mo
Time tracking with attendance, billing and a free plan for any team.
- TimeCamp has a free plan. Buddy Punch does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only TimeCamp lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Only TimeCamp lists a browser extension.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
15
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Buddy Punch free?
No, Buddy Punch is a paid product, but you can try it first. 14-day free trial, no credit card required.
How much does Buddy Punch cost?
Buddy Punch lists 3 plans. Starter: $4.99 per user / month, billed annually ($5.99 monthly), plus $19 base fee.
What platforms does Buddy Punch work on?
Buddy Punch is available on Web, iOS and Android.
Does Buddy Punch offer any discounts?
Buddy Punch publicly lists the following: Save up to 18% with annual billing.
How is Buddy Punch rated?
Buddy Punch's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.9 out of 5 from 739 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
Does Buddy Punch have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Buddy Punch is listed for Web, iOS and Android.
Does Buddy Punch have a macOS app?
No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 6, 2026. Buddy Punch is listed for Web, iOS and Android.
Is Buddy Punch open source?
Buddy Punch is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 6, 2026.
Does Buddy Punch have an API?
Yes. Buddy Punch offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Buddy Punch integrate with?
Buddy Punch's listing names QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Gusto, ADP Workforce Now, Paychex, Rippling, Workday and Zapier.
Who makes Buddy Punch?
Buddy Punch is made by Buddy Punch Inc. It dates from 2013.
What are the alternatives to Buddy Punch?
The closest alternatives to Buddy Punch in our directory are QuickBooks Time, Jibble, Hubstaff, Clockify and TimeCamp.
How does Buddy Punch compare with other time tracking apps?
Buddy Punch's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 8 of the 42 other time tracking apps we grade, and level with 10.
Is Buddy Punch good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Buddy Punch C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $4.99 a month for each person, against a middle price of $6.55 for the category: 12 of the 35 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Buddy Punch?
A time tracker at its plainest is a start button, a stop button and a table of hours.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Buddy Punch’s own pages on Oct 6, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Buddy Punch's own pages on 6 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-07-17.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Buddy Punch Inc. Prices change, so check buddypunch.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Buddy Punch, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/buddy-punch
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Buddy Punch: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 6, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/buddy-punch
Know someone choosing between time tracking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/buddy-punch/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded time tracking apps after Buddy Punch, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Time Tracking Insider's GuideEvery one of the 43 time tracking apps we grade, compared
- Jibble Insider's GuideFree time clock and attendance tracker with GPS and face recognition3.4 GPA
- Clockify Insider's GuideTeam time tracker and timesheets with a free plan for 5 users3.2 GPA
- TimeCamp Insider's GuideTime tracking with attendance, billing and a free plan for any team3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Buddy Punch’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Buddy Punch is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Buddy Punch Inc. Prices and plans change: check buddypunch.com before you buy.