What’s the Best Time and Attendance Software in 2025 for Your Industry?

When it comes to choosing time and attendance software, industry context matters more than ever. The needs of a warehouse operation are worlds apart from those of a digital agency — and a solution that works brilliantly in retail may fall flat in a healthcare setting.

In fact, with the global time and attendance software market expected to grow to $3.71 billion (£2.83bn) in 2025 , demand is shifting toward solutions that go beyond basic clock-ins to offer smarter compliance, automation, and control across different sectors.

In this article, we look at some of the best solutions for different industries, including manufacturing, logistics, retail, healthcare, and professional services. Whether you need physical clocking hardware, mobile access, or a full HR suite, there’s a tool designed to fit your operational model.

1. TimeMoto — Best for manufacturing, logistics, retail, & healthcare

TimeMoto is purpose-built for industries where accurate on-site tracking and compliance aren’t optional — they’re business-critical.

If you're managing shift-based teams in environments like factories, warehouses, hospitals, or large retail stores, TimeMoto gives you the right combination of physical clocking hardware (with biometric and RFID options) and cloud-based software for real-time workforce management.

These sectors often face strict regulations around working hours, breaks, and overtime. TimeMoto’s system helps businesses stay compliant while simplifying approvals, generating payroll-ready reports, and giving operations teams visibility across multiple locations.

With TimeMoto, time management is streamlined in the cloud, while employees can securely clock in and out using premium on-site clocks. This is especially useful in environments where buddy punching or time theft could become costly.

Why it suits these industries:

• Staff are often on-site and need to clock in securely

• Compliance with labour laws is a key concern

• Multiple locations and shift schedules add complexity

• Biometrics or RFID options prevent fraud and enforce access control

• Real-time dashboards reduce admin and support smarter workforce planning

Key features:

• Cloud software for clocking, scheduling and reporting

• Support for multiple sites and managers

• Premium on-site time clocks that sync directly with TimeMoto Cloud for cloud-based management.

• Integrate directly with cloud-management tools.

• Helps streamline payroll processes

• Ideal for teams of 10–500 employees

2. Connecteam — Best for field services and remote teams

Connecteam is a great fit for field-based teams in industries like cleaning, construction, home services, and transport, where staff are rarely in the same place twice.

Instead of relying on physical clocks, Connecteam turns employees’ smartphones into clocking devices — complete with GPS tracking, geofencing, and real-time shift updates. It also includes communication tools, task checklists, and training modules, making it much more than just a clock-in app.

Why it suits these industries:

• Staff are always on the move

• Mobile-first tracking is essential

• Tasks and location-specific updates are part of daily operations

Key features:

• GPS and geofence-based clock-ins

• Shift scheduling and alerts

• Internal messaging and task tracking

• Free plan for small teams

3. Planday — Best for hospitality and shift-based SMEs

Planday is designed for fast-paced environments where shift changes happen frequently — like restaurants, cafés and hotels.

Its strength lies in employee scheduling, not just attendance tracking. Managers can quickly adjust shifts, fill gaps, and monitor availability, while employees can swap shifts or request time off from their phones.

Planday also integrates with a range of payroll systems, making it a strong contender for businesses where labour cost forecasting and compliance are key.

Why it suits these industries:

• High turnover and shift flexibility is common

• Frontline managers need quick scheduling tools

• Mobile clock-ins work well in semi-structured settings

Key features:

• Flexible scheduling interface

• Clock-in/out via mobile

• Labour cost insights

• Payroll system compatibility

4. Factorial — Best for startups and growing HR teams

Factorial is more than time and attendance — it’s a full HR suite that includes performance reviews, document management, onboarding tools, and even benefits tracking.

Its time and attendance features are useful, but what makes Factorial stand out is how seamlessly those features sit alongside everything else HR teams need to scale. That’s why it’s often a top choice for startups and growing companies where building out a formal HR function is a priority.

Why it suits these industries:

• Businesses are expanding quickly and need scalable HR tools

• Time tracking is just one part of the wider HR workflow

• A centralised system is preferred over using multiple tools

Key features:

• Time-off management and attendance tracking

• Shift scheduling and approvals

• Employee records and document storage

• Full HR dashboard for growing companies

5. Personio — Best for SMEs needing a full HRIS

Personio is similar to Factorial in scope but positions itself more as an HRIS (Human Resources Information System) platform than a time-tracking tool alone. Its attendance features are solid but are better suited to white-collar SMEs where compliance and employee oversight are less intense.

With modules for recruitment, payroll, and performance, Personio is ideal for companies that want a single HR platform to handle everything.

Why it suits these industries:

• Less need for biometric or physical clocking

• HR leaders want one system for people management

• Compliance is important, but not operationally critical

Key features:

• Attendance and leave tracking

• Employee recordkeeping

• Recruitment and onboarding tools

• Integration with payroll systems

• Match the tool to the team

When choosing time and attendance software, there’s no universal best — only what’s best for your specific working environment.

If you operate in a compliance-heavy, shift-based industry, a hybrid solution like TimeMoto is hard to beat. It gives you on-site security, cloud convenience, and the ability to scale across locations. For mobile teams, go lightweight with Connecteam. For growing HR teams, consider Factorial or Personio.

Whatever your priorities — security, flexibility, cost, or control — the right tool is the one that fits your industry’s everyday reality.