Tired of Chasing Paper Timesheets Every Pay Period?
If you've ever added up handwritten hours, argued over a missed lunch break, or guessed at overtime, you know how much time bad timekeeping wastes. TimeClockFree moves all of that into an online time clock where employees punch in and out, and you review and approve the hours before payroll.
Quick facts
- Vendor: Busycode Inc (the brand is run by OpenTimeClock.com)
- Type: browser-based cloud time clock, plus desktop apps
- Platforms: any web browser, Windows desktop app, macOS desktop app
- Free Plan: $0, unlimited users, all features except PDF/Excel reports (30 days of report access)
- Paid Plan: $99 per year per company, unlimited users, full features
- Data hosting: AWS US East (N. Virginia), backed up daily
Key features
Automatic break and lunch tracking
Breaks and lunches are recorded as part of the clock-in flow, so you don't have to correct them by hand later.
Overtime controls that stop early or late punches
You set work-hour limits. The system tracks hours in real time and blocks unauthorized early or late punches, which keeps overtime costs in check.
Timecard approval before payroll
Managers review and approve employee hours in one interface, so payroll starts from checked numbers.
PDF and Excel payroll reports
Export payroll reports as PDF or Excel files and use them with your existing payroll process.
Absences, paid time off and shift scheduling
Track absences and time-off requests, and set up shifts with flexible durations so schedules and records agree.
Activity and task tracking
Assign tasks, watch their completion status, and see where employee time goes in detailed reports.
Who it's for
It suits small businesses and remote teams that want a time clock without per-user fees. Because pricing is flat per company, a growing headcount doesn't raise the bill. The vendor also offers an NPO Plan: government agencies, schools, hospitals and other non-profits can apply for free access to paid-plan features. A Sponsor Link Plan gives paid features free if you place a text link to the vendor on your homepage.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free plan with unlimited users and nearly all features
- Flat $99 per year for the full version, however many people you have
- Browser access plus Windows and Mac desktop apps
- Free technical support, weekdays 9AM to 5PM EST
- Live demo and manual available before you commit
Cons
- PDF/Excel reports on the free plan last only 30 days
- Cloud-based, so your data lives on AWS servers in the US East region
- Support hours are limited to the US Eastern workday
FAQs
Is it really free?
Yes. The Free Plan costs $0 for unlimited users and includes all features except PDF/Excel reports, which you can use for 30 days.
What happens if my paid subscription expires?
Your account drops back to the free plan. You keep your data but lose the paid-plan features until you subscribe again.
Where is my data stored?
On secure cloud servers in the Amazon Web Services US East (N. Virginia) region, backed up daily. The vendor says it does not sell or distribute your personal data without permission.
Can I use it on a desktop?
Yes. Besides the browser service, there are native apps for Windows and macOS.
Do non-profits and schools pay?
Government agencies, schools, hospitals and other non-profits can apply for the NPO Plan, which gives free access to paid-plan features.
System requirements
The service runs in a web browser. Optional desktop apps are available for Windows and macOS.