Employee time clock, no subscription.
Yes — you can buy a proper staff time clock without a monthly fee. Clock In Now is a facial recognition tablet you pay for once ($89 AUD) and own forever. No subscription, no contract, no per-user pricing.
Why almost every other time clock has a monthly fee
The workforce apps you know — Deputy, Tanda, Homebase, When I Work, Connecteam — are built as cloud SaaS. Their face-matching, their rostering, their approvals all run on their servers. That's real infrastructure, and someone has to pay for it every month. So you do, forever, whether you use half the features or not.
The traditional hardware alternative (BundyPlus and similar terminals) avoids the SaaS bill but replaces it with a much bigger upfront cost — often $820 to $2,600 before install — plus a cloud sync fee.
How Clock In Now removes the subscription
Two design choices make it possible:
- On-device face matching. The tablet doesn't need our servers to recognise your team. It works even when your wifi is down.
- Single-purpose scope. We don't do rostering, award interpretation, chat, or scheduling. Just clock-in, clock-out, breaks, and CSV export. Focused features = no operational cost we have to pass to you.
What you actually get for $89
- The Clock In Now app for your own Android tablet, activated by code
- Facial recognition for every staff member (no PINs, no cards)
- Break tracking and shift summary
- CSV export in the format Xero, MYOB and Deputy accept
- Free bug fixes and compatibility updates
- Unlimited staff on the device — no per-user fee
Is there a time clock without a monthly fee?
Yes. Clock In Now is that time clock. The most common alternatives with "no subscription" claims are either (a) free apps with harsh limits and ads, or (b) free tiers that break the moment you add a third staff member. Clock In Now is a paid product without a paid plan — you own it.
What does a subscription time clock cost over 3 years?
A typical 8-person café on a subscription workforce app pays around $30 per user per month once you include the clock-in add-on. That's $2,880 per year, $8,640 over three years — for one location. Clock In Now is $89 once. Even accounting for a replacement tablet after three years, you'd still be under 10% of the SaaS cost.
When you should NOT choose a no-subscription clock
If you need award interpretation, integrated rostering, leave approvals, or a direct payroll push (not CSV), a subscription platform like Deputy or Tanda is a better fit — and honestly worth the money for that. Clock In Now is for the businesses that just want to know who was on shift, without renting the ability to know it.
Compare directly: Deputy alternative · Tanda alternative · BundyPlus & Deputy comparison.
Frequently asked
Is there a time clock without a monthly fee?
Yes. Clock In Now is a facial recognition time clock tablet you buy once for $89 AUD. There is no subscription, no per-user pricing, and no contract. Software updates are free for the life of the tablet.
How is it possible to have no subscription?
The face-matching runs on the tablet itself, not in the cloud. You don't need our servers to be running for staff to clock in. That removes the ongoing infrastructure cost that forces every other tool to charge monthly.
What happens to my data?
It stays on the tablet. Optional free cloud backup is available in settings, no account required. You export a CSV whenever payroll needs it.
What if I need more than one location?
Buy one tablet per location. Bulk discounts kick in at 3+ tablets. There is no per-location or per-user fee — ever.
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Try it free for 30 days.
No credit card, no personal information. After 30 days, keep it forever for $89 — one-time, no subscription.