Clock in software for small business, without the monthly bill.
Clock In Now is clock in software for small business built into a own Android tablet. Staff clock in with facial recognition, you export a CSV to payroll, and it costs $89 once — no subscription, no per-user fees, no contracts.
What is the best clock in software for a small business?
For a 2–20 person business, the best clock in software is one that does exactly one thing well: capture who was on shift, and for how long, without asking you to rent it forever. Everything else — rosters, award interpretation, chat, scheduling — is optional and usually the reason SaaS clock in apps cost so much.
Clock In Now was built around that single job. A staff member walks up to the tablet, it recognises their face in about a second, and they're clocked in. At the end of the pay period you download a CSV and drop it into Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks or Deputy for pay runs.
Why small businesses overpay for clock in software
Most clock in software is priced per user per month because the vendor is running face-matching, storage, and reporting on their servers. That's real infrastructure they pay for every month — so you do too, whether you're using 10% of the features or 100%.
A small business with 8 staff on a typical SaaS workforce app pays around $240–$300 per month. Over three years that's $8,000+ for one location. Clock In Now is $89 once.
How Clock In Now compares to popular options
| Product | Cost (8 staff, 3 yrs) | Subscription? | Offline clock-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clock In Now | $89 (one-time) | No | Yes |
| Deputy | ~$8,600+ | Yes, per user | Limited |
| Tanda | ~$7,000+ | Yes, per user | Limited |
| Homebase (paid) | ~$5,000+ | Yes, per location | No |
| BundyPlus terminal | $1,500–$2,600 + cloud fee | Yes (cloud sync) | Partial |
What clock in software does a small business actually need?
- Accurate clock-in — facial recognition removes buddy-punching and PIN sharing.
- Breaks and shift totals — so payroll matches the timesheet.
- Offline reliability — cafés and workshops lose wifi; the clock can't.
- Payroll-ready export — CSV to Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks or Deputy.
- No per-user pricing — small teams change; billing shouldn't punish that.
Who Clock In Now is for
Cafés and restaurants (clock in for cafés), retail shops (clock in for retail), trades and workshops (clock in for trades), dental and medical clinics, salons, gyms, childcare — any small business with a fixed location and 2–20 staff.
Who it isn't for
If you need integrated rostering with award interpretation, leave approvals in-app, or a direct payroll push (not CSV), a full workforce platform is worth the monthly fee. See our honest comparisons: vs Deputy · vs Tanda.
How to set it up in your business
- Buy the app ($89 one-time) — your activation code is emailed straight away.
- Install it on your Android tablet and stand it on the counter, on power.
- Add each staff member — one photo, one name — takes about 30 seconds each.
- Staff start clocking in. Export a CSV when payroll needs it.
No accounts, no logins, no app for staff to install on their phones. See how facial recognition time clocks work for the technical detail.
Frequently asked
What is the best clock in software for small business?
The best clock in software for a small business is one that removes ongoing costs and setup work. Clock In Now is an app for your own Android tablet with on-device facial recognition. You pay $89 once, install it, add staff, and it works — no subscription, no per-user pricing, no IT setup.
Is there free clock in software for small business?
Free tiers exist (Homebase, When I Work) but they cap staff, show ads, or upsell the moment you need reporting or a second location. Clock In Now avoids the free-tier trap: one payment of $89, unlimited staff on the tablet, no ads, no lock-in.
How many employees can use one clock in tablet?
One tablet comfortably handles teams of 2–20 people clocking in and out. Larger sites simply add a second tablet — there's no per-user fee, so 40 staff on two tablets costs no more to run.
Does the clock in software work offline?
Yes. Face matching and clock-ins run on the tablet itself. If your wifi drops, staff keep clocking in and the data syncs when the connection returns.
Does it integrate with payroll?
Yes — export a CSV in the format Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks and Deputy accept. Import it into payroll at the end of the pay run.
How is this cheaper than SaaS clock in software?
A subscription workforce app for 8 staff typically costs $2,500–$3,000 per year. Clock In Now is $89 once. Over 3 years you save around $8,000+ per location.
Last updated:
Try it free for 30 days.
No credit card, no personal information. After 30 days, keep it forever for $89 — one-time, no subscription.