Buddy Punch Review
Buddy Punch is time clock, scheduling and optional payroll software for small businesses whose hourly staff work in more than one place.
- Company size
- Small businesses
- Pricing model
- Base fee + per employee
- Free trial
- Yes
- Integrations
- 20
Best for
- Small businesses with hourly staff across several sites who need GPS and photo punch controls
- Teams that want public pricing, free admin users and a no-card trial
- Employers who want an optional payroll add-on with US tax filing
Not ideal for
- Teams that need offline punching, break compliance or API access on the entry plan: they start on Pro
- Buyers who need a published SOC 2 or ISO 27001 report: none is named on the security page
- Large enterprises that need a dedicated HCM suite: Buddy Punch is built for small businesses
How we evaluated Buddy Punch
This review rests on 24 facts checked against Buddy Punch’s official pricing pages and documentation, most recently on . We did not test the product hands-on: the score and the pros and cons use only those verified facts, as our methodology explains, and third-party ratings are quoted, never scored.
Our verdict
Buddy Punch fits small businesses with hourly staff across job sites, stores or patients’ homes that want punch controls (GPS, geofences, photos, kiosks) and published prices. Plans run from a $19 monthly base plus $4.99 per user billed annually, and payroll is an add-on that files taxes in all 50 states. It is less suited to buyers who need offline punching, break compliance or an API on the entry plan, since those start on Pro.
Strengths
Public, add-on based pricing
A $19 monthly base plus $4.99 to $12.99 per user billed annually, a 14-day trial, no contract and unlimited free administrator users.
Evidence: Free trial: Yes
Strong punch accountability
Photos on punches, IP locking, geofencing and PIN, QR or facial-recognition kiosks help reduce buddy punching.
Evidence: Punch fraud controls: Yes
Wide payroll integration list
Buddy Punch lists 20 integrations, including QuickBooks, ADP Workforce Now, Gusto, Paychex, Paylocity, Rippling and Workday, plus Zapier.
Evidence: Native integrations: 20
Scheduling and PTO in one product
Scheduling includes shift swaps, availability, templates and mobile access, and approved PTO flows to timesheets.
Evidence: Open shifts and swaps: Yes
Optional payroll with US tax filing
The Payroll add-on costs $8 per user a month plus a monthly base fee and files taxes in all 50 U.S. states.
Evidence: Extra costs: Real-Time GPS $2 per user per month (included in Advanced), Onboarding / Offboarding / Tasks $4 per user per month (included in Advanced), Scheduling $1 per user per month (included in Pro and Advanced), Data Retention $2 per user per month, Advanced Reporting $2 per user per month (included in Advanced), Payroll $8 per user per month plus $49 base fee per month
Weaknesses
Key controls need higher tiers
Offline mode, break compliance, geofencing and API access start on Pro, and SSO, advanced reporting and manager permissions need Advanced.
Add-ons raise the per-user cost
Real-time GPS ($2), scheduling on Starter ($1), data retention ($2) and onboarding tasks ($4) are priced per user per month.
Evidence: Extra costs: Real-Time GPS $2 per user per month (included in Advanced), Onboarding / Offboarding / Tasks $4 per user per month (included in Advanced), Scheduling $1 per user per month (included in Pro and Advanced), Data Retention $2 per user per month, Advanced Reporting $2 per user per month (included in Advanced), Payroll $8 per user per month plus $49 base fee per month
HR onboarding add-on is not live yet
The Onboarding / Offboarding / Tasks add-on is priced but labeled Coming Soon.
Evidence: Modules: Time tracking, Scheduling, Payroll, PTO tracking, Attendance, Onboarding / Offboarding / Tasks (priced add-on, labeled Coming Soon)
Price at a glance
Starting base fee
$19/mo
Starting price per employee
$4.99/employee/mo
Pricing model
Base fee + per employee
Price transparency
Published
Free trial
Yes
Free plan
No
Buddy Punch cost at 10 to 100 employees
- Starter$19/mo base + $4.99/employee/mo
- Pro$19/mo base + $6.99/employee/mo
- Advanced$19/mo base + $12.99/employee/mo
| Employees | Starter | Pro | Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $68.90/mo | $88.90/mo | $148.90/mo |
| 25 | $143.75/mo | $193.75/mo | $343.75/mo |
| 50 | $268.50/mo | $368.50/mo | $668.50/mo |
| 100 | $518/mo | $718/mo | $1,318/mo |
Monthly list price before discounts, add-ons and taxes, from the published price model of each plan.
Quick answers
- How much does Buddy Punch cost?
- Buddy Punch charges a $19 monthly base plus $4.99 (Starter), $6.99 (Pro) or $12.99 (Advanced) per user per month billed annually, or $5.99, $7.99 and $13.99 billed monthly.Based on Starting base fee: $19/mo
- Does Buddy Punch have a free trial?
- Yes. The trial lasts 14 days and requires no credit card.Based on Free trial: Yes
- Does Buddy Punch integrate with QuickBooks and ADP?
- Yes. QuickBooks Online and Desktop, ADP Workforce Now, Gusto, Paychex and Workday are among the listed integrations.Based on Notable integrations: QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, ADP Workforce Now, Gusto, Paychex, Paylocity, Paycor, Rippling, Workday, Justworks, TriNet Payroll, Zapier
- Does Buddy Punch support geofencing?
- Yes. Geofences are on the Pro plan and above.Based on Geofencing: Yes
Coverage of core time & attendance software capabilities
Each core capability we evaluate in Time & Attendance Software, checked against Buddy Punch’s own documentation. “Not verified yet” means we have not confirmed it either way, not that it is missing.
11 verified of 11 core capabilities
Time & Attendance Software
- Punch capture methods
- Overtime and workweek rules
- Rounding and grace periods
- Break and meal rules
- Punch fraud controls
- Edit trail and approvals
- Payroll integration
- Offline and mobile capability
- Time-off integration
- Records retention and export
- Geofencing
Specifications
Fit
- Industry focus
- Construction, Landscaping, Cleaning services, HVAC, Healthcare, Restaurants, Retail, Professional services
- US states supported
- All 50 states (Payroll add-on tax filing)
Product
- Modules
- Time tracking, Scheduling, Payroll, PTO tracking, Attendance, Onboarding / Offboarding / Tasks (priced add-on, labeled Coming Soon)
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Mobile apps
- iOS, Android, ChromeOS
- AI features
- MCP access to connect AI assistants such as ChatGPT and Claude (Pro and Advanced)
Integrations
- Open API
- Yes
- Single sign-on
- Yes
Buddy Punch integrations
15 integrations we documented, by how they connect. Buddy Punch reports 20 native integrations in total.
Native integrations: A–P
Native integrations: P–W
Connected through Zapier
Buddy Punch integration coverage
The 10 apps that time & attendance software products document most often, and whether Buddy Punch documents each.
5 of the 10 most-connected apps documented by Buddy Punch; median of the 16 products compared: 3.5
- QuickBooks · documented by 12 of 16
- Gusto · documented by 7 of 16
- Paychex · documented by 7 of 16
- Square · documented by 6 of 16
- Lightspeed · documented by 5 of 16
- Zapier · documented by 5 of 16
- ADP Workforce Now · documented by 4 of 16
- Clover · documented by 4 of 16
- Toast · documented by 4 of 16
- Xero · documented by 4 of 16
Integrations each vendor documents (native, marketplace, Zapier or API), 16 live time & attendance software products. Not documented does not mean not possible.
Where it ranks
- #2 of 11 scoredTime & Attendance Software
- #9 of 10 scoredEmployee Scheduling Software
- #4 of 4 scoredEmployee Scheduling Software for Construction
- #5 of 5 scoredEmployee Scheduling Software for Healthcare
- #4 of 5 scoredEmployee Scheduling Software for Restaurants
- #6 of 7 scoredEmployee Scheduling Software for Retail
- #9 of 10 scoredEmployee Scheduling Software for Small Business
- #2 of 4 scoredTime & Attendance Software for Construction
- #2 of 7 scoredTime & Attendance Software for Healthcare
- #1 of 9 scoredTime & Attendance Software for QuickBooks
- #1 of 5 scoredTime & Attendance Software for Restaurants
- #2 of 7 scoredTime & Attendance Software for Retail
Buddy Punch alternatives
Compare Buddy Punch
Implementation and support
- Implementation fee
- None
- Support channels
- Chat, email
About Buddy Punch
- Founded
- 2013
- Headquarters
- Appleton, Wisconsin, US
Official profiles
Frequently asked questions
Is Buddy Punch legit?
Buddy Punch is sold by the company of the same name, which was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, US. Before you sign, review the contract terms and ask for the security documentation that applies to your plan.
Does Buddy Punch run payroll?
Yes, as an add-on at $8 per user per month plus a monthly base fee, with tax filings in all 50 states and direct deposit.
Does Buddy Punch support SSO?
Yes. Google, Apple, Okta and OneLogin sign-in are listed, with Okta, OneLogin and SAML 2.0 on Advanced.
What is Buddy Punch used for?
Buddy Punch, on the market since 2013, is a time & attendance software product built for small businesses. Its modules include Time tracking, Scheduling, Payroll, PTO tracking, and 2 more.
What are the best alternatives to Buddy Punch?
In our time & attendance software ranking, the highest-scored products other than Buddy Punch are TCP Humanity, Deputy, and Connecteam. Compared side by side, by reason to switch: Buddy Punch alternatives.
Which is better, Buddy Punch or Connecteam?
It depends on the team. Choose Buddy Punch if: staff clock in where the signal drops: Buddy Punch has an offline mode. Choose Connecteam if: you have up to 10 users and want a free plan. The full comparison: Buddy Punch vs Connecteam.
What are the pros and cons of Buddy Punch?
Strengths documented on the vendor’s own pages: Public, add-on based pricing, strong punch accountability, and wide payroll integration list. It is less suited to teams that need offline punching, break compliance or API access on the entry plan: they start on Pro and buyers who need a published SOC 2 or ISO 27001 report: none is named on the security page.
Does Buddy Punch have an API?
Yes. Buddy Punch offers an open API to customers.
Does Buddy Punch have a mobile app?
Yes. Buddy Punch lists mobile apps: iOS, Android, ChromeOS.
Is Buddy Punch good for small businesses?
Buddy Punch lists small businesses among the company sizes it is built for (small businesses); for 10 employees its lowest published plan comes to $68.90 a month. It ranks #1 of 11 in our time & attendance software for small businesses.
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