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Buddy Punch Review
Reviewed by Carlos Gil · Founder & Editor, The Best Network
Updated 6 min readEditorially reviewed
Quick facts
- Starting price
- $19/mo base + Starter $4.99/user/mo billed yearly ($5.99 monthly)
- Free plan
- No
- Best for
- Small and mid-sized businesses with hourly employees who need a simple punch clock that exports clean hours to payroll
- Platforms
- Web app, iOS, Android and ChromeOS apps, tablet kiosk, public API (Pro and up)
BestStacked Score
Weighted average of 5 categories. Methodology below.
Quick answer
Which Buddy Punch plan do I need?
Start with Pro if you want a shared kiosk, geofencing or scheduling: $6.99 per user a month billed yearly ($7.99 monthly), plus Buddy Punch's $19 monthly base fee. Starter ($4.99 yearly, $5.99 monthly) already includes the punch clock, GPS on punches, overtime, PTO, job codes, approvals and payroll integrations. Advanced ($12.99, $13.99) adds group-based manager permissions, SAML SSO, real-time GPS and dedicated support. Admins are free; employees and managers are paid users.
- Trial
- 14 days with every feature and no credit card. There's no free plan afterwards.
- Base fee
- Every plan adds $19 a month, which matters most for teams under about ten people.
- Payroll
- Its own payroll is an add-on at $49 a month plus $8 per user on the pricing page; the payroll page says $39 plus $6.
- Skip it if
- You need phone support, desktop activity tracking or screenshots, or a certified security audit on file.
The Verdict
Buddy Punch is a straightforward pick for businesses with hourly employees who need a punch clock rather than a monitoring tool. Every plan includes GPS on punches, IP and device locks, overtime, PTO, job codes, approvals and integrations with 20 or so payroll providers, and the 14-day trial needs no card. Pro adds kiosk punching, geofencing, offline mode and scheduling, which many shift-based teams will want. The $19 monthly base fee makes it relatively expensive for very small teams, support is chat and email on weekdays only, and its pages contradict each other on refunds, payroll pricing and what happens to your data when you cancel. We score it 8.4/10.
Best for
Restaurants, retail, clinics, field-service and construction businesses that pay by the hour and run payroll elsewhere.
Skip if
You have two or three staff and want no base fee, need phone support, or want desktop activity tracking and screenshots for remote workers.
AlternativesHubstaff, Homebase, Clockify
The Background
What Is Buddy Punch?
Buddy Punch is web-based time clock and scheduling software for hourly teams. Employees punch in and out from a browser, the iOS, Android or ChromeOS apps, or a shared tablet set up as a kiosk. Admins set rules for where and how people can punch, such as GPS capture, geofences, IP address locks, PINs, QR codes and webcam photos, and Buddy Punch calculates overtime, breaks, PTO and pay rates. Approved time cards export to payroll providers such as QuickBooks, Gusto, ADP and Paychex, or run through Buddy Punch's own payroll add-on. Plans are Starter, Pro and Advanced, each with a $19 monthly base fee plus a per-user price.
The Product
Buddy Punch Features: What You Actually Get
Punch clock, kiosk and mobile apps
Employees punch from the web, iOS, Android or ChromeOS apps on every plan. Pro adds PIN and kiosk punching on a shared iPad or Android tablet, QR punching, webcam photos on punches and offline mode. Face ID punching works on iPhone and iPad only.
A café mounts a tablet by the back door so staff punch in with a PIN, and a manager clocks a group in at the start of a catering shift.
GPS, geofencing and punch controls
Every plan records GPS on punches and can lock punches by IP address, device or time of day. Basic geofencing starts on Pro, with geofences from 50 to 1,500 meters across. Real-time GPS tracking is a $2 per user add-on on Starter and Pro and included on Advanced.
A landscaping company only lets crews punch in when they're inside the job-site geofence.
Overtime, breaks and PTO
Automatic overtime, punch rounding, automatic breaks, auto punch-outs and PTO tracking are on every plan. Pro adds break-compliance rules and multiple pay periods, though Buddy Punch's own help docs still mark break compliance as coming soon.
A clinic rounds punches to the nearest five minutes and accrues PTO by hours worked.
Scheduling
Scheduling is a $1 per user add-on on Starter and included on Pro and Advanced.
A retail store publishes next week's shifts and compares scheduled with actual hours.
Approvals and payroll export
Time card approvals are on every plan, and approved hours export to the payroll and accounting tools in Buddy Punch's integration list. Buddy Punch Payroll, its own payroll service with unlimited runs, W-2 and 1099 forms, tax filing and direct deposit, is an add-on.
A 20-person restaurant approves time cards every second Monday and exports them to Gusto.
Admin, SSO and API
Google SSO is on every plan, and Advanced adds Okta, OneLogin and SAML 2.0 SSO and group-based manager permissions. The public API starts on Pro, with higher limits on Advanced. Pro and Advanced also list MCP access, which the help docs mark as coming soon.
A multi-location franchise gives each store manager approval rights only for their own group on Advanced.
Feature recap
- Punch from web, iOS, Android, ChromeOS or a tablet kiosk
- GPS on punches, IP and device locks on every plan
- Geofencing, kiosk, QR and photo punching from Pro
- Overtime, breaks, rounding and PTO on every plan
- Scheduling included from Pro ($1/user add-on on Starter)
- Exports to about 20 payroll and accounting tools
- Own payroll as an add-on
- API from Pro; SAML SSO on Advanced
The Numbers
Buddy Punch Pricing: Every Plan Explained
Buddy Punch charges a $19 monthly base fee on every plan plus a price per paid user. Admins are free and unlimited; employees and managers are paid users, and only active users count. Prices below are from Buddy Punch's pricing page and help center, monthly and annual. The 14-day trial includes every feature and needs no card. Prices checked on October 10, 2026.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Included Features | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $19 + $5.99/user | $19 + $4.99/user/mo | Punch clock, GPS on punches, IP and device locks, overtime, PTO, job codes, approvals, Face ID (iOS), payroll integrations, Zapier, Google SSO, chat and email support, 1 group | Small teams that only need a punch clock |
| ProBest value | $19 + $7.99/user | $19 + $6.99/user/mo | Adds offline mode, basic geofencing, QR and PIN/kiosk punching, webcam photos, break compliance, multiple pay periods, scheduling, API access, 3 groups | Shift-based teams with a shared kiosk |
| Advanced | $19 + $13.99/user | $19 + $12.99/user/mo | Adds group-based manager permissions, Okta, OneLogin and SAML SSO, real-time GPS, advanced reporting, higher API limits, dedicated support, priority onboarding, unlimited groups | Multi-location businesses |
| Buddy Punch Payroll (add-on) | $49 + $8/user | $49 + $8/user | Unlimited payroll runs, W-2 and 1099, tax filing, direct deposit, employee self-onboarding. The payroll page lists $39 + $6/user | Teams that want time and payroll in one tool |
The per-user prices are low, but the $19 base fee changes the math for small teams: five users on Starter cost $43.95 a month on annual billing, or $8.79 per person. Add-ons stack on top: real-time GPS $2 per user, scheduling $1 on Starter, advanced reporting $2, data retention $2, and onboarding and tasks $4 (which the comparison table also labels coming soon). You can switch from monthly to annual at any time but can't go back to monthly until the annual term ends. Buddy Punch's pages disagree on refunds: the pricing FAQ promises a full refund within 72 hours on monthly plans and 30 days on annual plans, while its help center refund policy says all fees are non-refundable. They also disagree on payroll pricing ($49 plus $8 per user versus $39 plus $6) and on whether your data is deleted when you cancel. Get the refund terms in writing before you pay for a year.
Pricing scenarios
What Buddy Punch costs for three teams
These are our calculations from Buddy Punch's published prices on October 10, 2026, not quotes. Taxes are not included.
Calculation 1, a 5-person shop on Starter. $19 + 5 × $4.99 = $43.95 a month billed yearly ($527.40 a year), or $19 + 5 × $5.99 = $48.95 billed monthly.
Calculation 2, a 20-person restaurant on Pro with a kiosk. $19 + 20 × $6.99 = $158.80 a month billed yearly, or $19 + 20 × $7.99 = $178.80 billed monthly.
Calculation 3, the same restaurant adding Buddy Punch Payroll. $158.80 + $49 + 20 × $8 = $367.80 a month at the pricing-page payroll rate. At the $39 + $6 rate on the payroll page it would be $317.80. Payroll fees such as $25 wires or $4.99 per mailed W-2 are extra.
The Tradeoffs
Buddy Punch Pros and Cons
What we love
- GPS on punches, IP and device locks, overtime and PTO on every plan
- Kiosk, QR, PIN and photo punching on Pro
- Admins are free; only active employees and managers are billed
- 14-day trial with every feature and no credit card
- Exports to about 20 payroll tools, including QuickBooks, Gusto, ADP and Paychex
- Accounts can pause for 1 to 9 months for seasonal businesses
What could be better
- A $19 monthly base fee on every plan
- No free plan after the trial
- Chat and email support on weekdays only; no phone support by policy
- Pages conflict on refunds, payroll price and data after cancelling
- Some listed features, such as MCP access and break compliance, are marked coming soon in the help docs
- Face ID punching works on iPhone and iPad only
The Audience
Who Should Use Buddy Punch?
Best for: shift-based teams with a shared kiosk
Pro's PIN, QR and photo punching on a tablet, with geofencing and scheduling, covers most restaurant, retail and clinic setups.
Best for: businesses that already have a payroll provider
Approved hours export to about 20 payroll and accounting tools, so you don't need to switch payroll to get a better time clock.
Skip if: you manage remote knowledge workers
Buddy Punch doesn't record screenshots, apps or activity levels. A desktop tracker such as Hubstaff is built for that.
The Methodology
How We Reviewed Buddy Punch
This is an editorial review, not a documented hands-on test. We didn't use a Buddy Punch account or its apps. It's based on Buddy Punch's pricing page, plan, payroll, refund, cancellation, pause and support articles in its help center, and its feature, integrations, contact and security pages, all checked on October 10, 2026. The cost scenarios are our calculations from published prices. Where Buddy Punch's pages conflict, as on refunds, payroll pricing, data after cancelling and feature status, we report both statements.
Our editorial evaluation considers product information, official documentation, pricing, features and professional experience. It is not a claim of documented hands-on testing.
Our review methodology →What changed
- : First published. Editorial review based on Buddy Punch's pricing page, help center plan, payroll, refund, cancellation and support articles, and its feature, integrations and security pages, checked on October 10, 2026.
The Field
Buddy Punch vs The Competition
Buddy Punch competes with time clocks and scheduling apps for hourly teams. Prices are each vendor's own published entry plan, checked on October 10, 2026.
| Tool | Starting Price | Free plan | Best Feature | BS Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buddy Punch | $19/mo base + Starter $4.99/user/mo billed yearly ($5.99 monthly) | No | Punch clock, kiosk and mobile apps | 8.4/10 |
| Hubstaff | Starter $4.99/seat/mo billed yearly ($7 monthly), 2-seat minimum | Yes | Desktop time tracking with optional screenshots and payroll | 8.4/10 |
| Homebase | Free (1 location, up to 10 employees); Essentials $30/location/mo | Yes | Free plan for one small location | Not yet reviewed |
| When I Work | Essentials $2.50/user/mo | No | Low per-user price for scheduling and time clock | Not yet reviewed |
| Connecteam | Free (up to 10 users); Operations Basic from $29/mo for the first 30 users | Yes | Flat price for the first 30 users | Not yet reviewed |
| QuickBooks Time | Time Premium $20/mo base + $10/user/mo | No | Native link to QuickBooks Payroll | Not yet reviewed |
Hubstaff: Hubstaff suits remote and hourly teams that work on computers, with activity tracking, screenshots and payouts from Team. GPS is an add-on.Read our Hubstaff review →See Buddy Punch vs Hubstaff →
Homebase: Homebase prices per location rather than per user and has a free plan for one location with up to 10 employees.
When I Work: When I Work starts cheaper per user with no base fee shown and focuses on shift scheduling. Only monthly prices are listed.
Connecteam: Connecteam bundles time clock, scheduling and team chat, with a free plan for small teams and a flat price for the first 30 users.
QuickBooks Time: QuickBooks Time costs more per user but fits businesses already on QuickBooks Payroll.
In The Wild
How People Actually Use Buddy Punch
A 20-person restaurant
Run Pro with a tablet kiosk by the kitchen, geofenced mobile punching for catering staff, scheduling and automatic overtime, then export to the payroll provider.
A construction subcontractor
Use geofences on Pro so crews can punch only at job sites, track hours by job code, and add real-time GPS if supervisors need to see locations during the day.
A seasonal business
Run Starter during the season and pause the account for 1 to 9 months in the off season without billing.
The Ecosystem
Buddy Punch Integrations
Buddy Punch's integrations page lists 19 payroll and accounting tools plus Zapier, and its help center lists 21. It doesn't claim a total count.
- →QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Gusto, ADP Workforce Now, ADP RUN, Paychex
- →Paycor, Paylocity, Rippling, Justworks, TriNet, iSolved, Workday
- →SurePayroll, Wagepoint, Payment Evolution, PayPlus, Deluxe, Deltek, ViewPoint, Auris (Heartland)
- →Zapier (Buddy Punch says over 3,000 apps)
- →Public API (Pro and up)
- →SSO: Google on every plan; Okta, OneLogin, SAML 2.0 on Advanced; SCIM provisioning
ADP RUN and Auris (Heartland) appear in the help center list but not on the integrations page. Check that your payroll provider is supported for your plan before buying.
Common Questions
Buddy Punch FAQ
The Final Word
Should You Use Buddy Punch?
Buddy Punch gives hourly teams a capable punch clock at a modest per-user price: GPS on punches, IP and device locks, overtime, PTO, approvals and payroll exports on every plan, with kiosk punching, geofencing and scheduling on Pro. Budget for the $19 monthly base fee, which weighs most on very small teams, and for add-ons such as real-time GPS. Confirm refund and payroll terms in writing, since Buddy Punch's own pages disagree, and expect weekday chat and email support rather than phone. We score Buddy Punch 8.4/10.
Yes, if
You have hourly staff punching in from phones or a shared kiosk and want clean, approved hours sent to your payroll provider.
No, if
You have only a couple of staff and want no base fee, need phone support, or manage remote computer-based workers who need activity tracking.
About the reviewer
Carlos Gil
Founder & Editor, The Best Network
Carlos Gil is the bestselling author of The End of Marketing, a LinkedIn Top Voice, and founder of The Best Network. He brings 15+ years in marketing to practical reviews of AI, SaaS, email marketing, creator, and ecommerce software.
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