The Top 8 Free and Open Source Time Clock Software Systems

Update 11/1/16: Thanks to the huge amount of feedback we received, we’ve decided to update this post with a host of new and updated free and open source time clocks. Let us know what you think, and you never know what might make it into the next update.

TANSTAAFL is an unwieldy acronym.

Pronounced “tanstahffle” it stands for, “There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.”

The acronym was popularized by Robert Heinlein’s 1966 science fiction novel, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, which is about a lunar revolution.

To the inhabitants of the penal colony on the moon, not even the air they breathe is free. Resources are so scarce, and the economic controls of the Earth’s government so stringent, that they must pay for everything, including each breath they take.

While things aren’t quite so extreme down here on present-day Earth, the colonists’ sentiment, that nothing is really free, still applies to a lot of things.

That “free sample” at the grocery store? Given with the expectation that you’ll buy something later.

The “free with purchase of___”? Yeah, not free.

The meal your spouse cooks if you promise to spend a weekend with the in-laws? Costs way more than mere money.

There may not be such a thing as a free lunch, but there is such a thing as free time clock software. I’ve scoured the hundreds of different employee time tracking systems to find time clock solutions that are actually free. This list has no “30 day free trial,” or “free with purchase of a separate system,” or “free limited demo.”

The below eight options are all free forever and some (like the open source time clock systems) also have no restrictions on number of users or admins.

Anuko Time Tracker

Anuko is an open source time tracking software that can be installed as a web-based system. You can host it yourself, or the company will actually host it for free for you up to five employees.

Track time by project and task, create custom fields, and run detailed reports for your employees.

CKZ Time Clock

CKZ is an installed time clock software for Windows. It’s free to manage up to three employees, and allows payroll reporting, real-time employee monitoring, time and attendance tracking, and vacation time, sick days, and holiday pay.

To upgrade and track additional employees, and enable system-level security, pricing starts at $49.99.

Kimai

Kimai is an open source time tracking software compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux. It can be downloaded for free and installed as either a web service (meaning you can access it from a web-browser like other cloud-based software) or a single-user program on a local computer.

Kimai is focused on simplicity, and as such it aims to do one thing very well. It tracks employee work time and classifies it by customer, project, and action, and it can print out a summary on-demand.

Open Time Clock

This web-based system is not, as the name might suggest, actually open-source. The basic version is, however, free for unlimited users and employees. The basic, free version includes clock in/clock out, automatic payroll calculation, and mobile access.

Unfortunately, the free version doesn’t include reporting or web-camera functionality. To get that you need to upgrade to the standard plan, which is $200 per year.

Additionally, because there may be some confusion, this seems to be a newer version of TimeClockFree (and owned by the same company) and an alternate version of Park Time.

PHP Timeclock

Described as “a simple yet effective web-based timeclock system,” this open-source software has been around for a while, but hasn’t seen a major release since 2006.

With this lightweight tool you’ll be able to track employee time, vacations, and breaks. Reports and the ability to group employees by department or office and to customize statuses make this software remarkably versatile. Other helpful features include notifications of suspicious adjustments and the ability for employees to view their own time card.

PHP Timeclock has not been updated since 2006, so be aware that it may be outdated.

Time Clock MTS

This is an installed software tool for Windows computers. The free version allows you to track and manage up to three employees, and beyond that the software starts at a $79 one-time fee.

The free version includes all the functionality of the paid version, including employee time-tracking, time off requests, fingerprint attendance tracking, and even the ability to take webcam images of employees as they clock in or clock out. Reporting is also included.

Time Clock Wizard

This online time clock and employee scheduling software is totally free for unlimited users and employees. The company makes money through selling additional, optional services, such as web-design, merchant accounts, and small business loans, which they advertise through the dashboard from time-to-time.

The software is a full-featured one, including not only time clock features like timesheets and reimbursements, but also employee scheduling with the ability to notify employees by email and text of schedule changes. Payroll functionality rounds out the key features, and allows for customized payroll generation, overtime, and reporting. Unfortunately Time Clock Wizard is not yet integrated with QuickBooks.

Time Clock Wizard has updated its free plan, and is now free for up to 3 users.

TimeTrex

An open source system, this time tracking software has no limits on employees, users, or time. The free download works for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers.

Features include modules for employee scheduling, time and attendance (with vacation and overtime tracking), and payroll with tax and benefit calculations and direct deposit functionality.

Clockit

Clockit is a cloud-based time and attendance tracker. It has a web-based punch in and punch out option and graph reporting. A convenient mobile version brings in additional features, such as route mapping and employee GPS tracking.

Clockit is free for up to three users. After that, pricing starts at $8/month.

eHour

eHour is an open-source, web-based software. Though it hasn’t been updated since 2015, the scheme of this software that isn’t terrible. eHour keeps track of timesheets, employee and customer time blocking, and time-off requests. It also offers reporting on your time clock data on a daily and monthly basis.

Hubstaff

HubStaff’s free version is pretty comprehensive and has time clock software’s most vital aspects: time tracking and 24-hour support. The free version also includes screenshots and keyboard and mouse tracking to keep track of employee engagement and productivity. You can also modify your settings, such as frequency of screenshots, at any time.

It also has a 5-star rating by 19 viewers.

If you want additional features, plans begin at $5/month.

SwiftTime by Soniga

For when you need the bare bones and aesthetics aren’t the most important, SwiftTime has your back. It features time tracking, punch in and punch out features, and allows employees to request time off in-app. Employees can also view their schedules. It keeps track of how much time off your employees can have and won’t allow requests to go over the limit.

SwiftTime is free for up to 15 users, after which it starts at $10/month.

Buyer Beware: Any software that runs off of the computer clock can be tricked by a savvy computer user. All they need to do is change the computer’s clock settings, which will allow them to clock in and out any time they want, while fooling the software into thinking that they’re on time. If you’d like to avoid this, lock your computer’s date and time settings so that they’re only able to be changed with an admin password.