Buddy Punch
by Buddy Punch · Time & Attendance
Cloud time clock, scheduling and PTO software with GPS and payroll integrations for hourly teams.
Updated August 2026 · By the ERP Research Editorial Team · Independent and vendor-neutral.
- Works with
- QuickBooks
WorkdayGustoADP Workforce NowPaychexPaycorPaylocityRippling+7 more - Deployment
- Cloud
- Company size
- SMB, Mid-market
- Pricing
- Subscription (per active employee/month + monthly base fee)
- Headquarters
- Appleton, Wisconsin, United States
Overview
Buddy Punch is a cloud-based employee time tracking and attendance platform built for hourly and shift-based workforces, primarily in the US market. It combines a time clock, employee scheduling, PTO tracking, and an optional built-in payroll service, and reports serving more than 10,000 businesses across sectors such as construction, healthcare, retail, hospitality, education, and nonprofits.
Employees clock in and out from a web browser, the iOS, Android or ChromeOS apps, or a shared tablet kiosk, using a PIN, QR code, facial recognition, or photo verification. Administrators can require GPS coordinates or geofencing on each punch, lock punching to a company IP address, and configure automatic breaks, punch rounding and overtime rules; approved punches roll up into automatically calculated timesheets that go through an approval workflow before export.
Buddy Punch connects to payroll and HR systems including QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Gusto, ADP Workforce Now, Paychex, Paycor, Paylocity, Rippling, Workday, TriNet, iSolved, Justworks, SurePayroll, Wagepoint and Deltek ComputerEase, plus a Zapier connector and a documented API. Businesses that do not use an external payroll provider can instead run payroll directly through the Buddy Punch Payroll add-on, which covers direct deposit, pay stubs, benefit deductions and tax filing in all 50 states.
Screenshots & demo
Screenshots sourced from Buddy Punch.
Modules & capabilities
Buddy Punch covers 30 of 54 capabilities we track in this category (+2 partial)
56%- Web & mobile app clock-in/outWeb, iOS, Android and ChromeOS clock-in/outCore strength
- Kiosk / shared-device clock-inKiosk mode on a shared tabletSupported
- Dedicated time clock hardwareNot evidenced
- Biometric verification (face/fingerprint)Facial recognition verification, optionally required before punchingSupported
- Photo capture at punchSupported
- PIN / badge / QR code punchingEmployee PIN and QR code punchingSupported
- Offline clock-in with later syncNot evidenced
- Voice / SMS / phone-based time entryText-to-punch for field workers without internet accessSupported
“Not evidenced” means our research found no public documentation of this capability — the vendor may still offer it. Confirm on a demo.
Common use cases
- A multi-location restaurant or retail group tracking hourly staff clock-ins with GPS and geofencing to prevent off-site punching
- A construction or field-service contractor tracking job-costed hours across sites via text-to-punch for crews without reliable internet
- A healthcare or home-care provider verifying shift attendance with facial recognition and photo-on-punch
- A hospitality or event business building weekly shift schedules with a drag-and-drop scheduler and shift-trade requests
- A nonprofit or professional-services firm syncing approved timesheets directly into QuickBooks or Gusto for payroll processing
- An employer with distributed hourly staff enforcing overtime alerts and automatic break deductions to control labor cost
- A small business running payroll directly through Buddy Punch own payroll add-on instead of a separate payroll provider
Strengths & considerations
Strengths
- Combines time tracking, scheduling, PTO tracking and an optional in-house payroll service in one subscription rather than requiring a separate payroll product
- Wide set of punch-accountability controls (GPS, geofencing, IP locks, facial recognition, photo verification) aimed at preventing buddy punching and time theft
- Native integrations with a broad range of payroll providers (QuickBooks, Gusto, ADP, Paychex, Paycor, Paylocity, Workday, Rippling and more) rather than a single payroll partner
- Field-worker-specific punch method (text-to-punch) for workers without app or internet access on site
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Rate itERP integrations
QuickBooks Online supports a live/auto-run sync; a QuickBooks Desktop integration is also offered.
Listed as a native integration on Buddy Punch's own integrations page; direction not detailed.
Connector details independently verified against vendor marketplaces and documentation; last checked 2026-08-20.
Pricing
Full Buddy Punch pricing breakdown — cost at 25/100/500 seats, competitor rates & FAQs
Three tiers: Starter ($4.99/user/mo annual, $5.99 monthly), Pro ($6.99/user/mo annual, $7.99 monthly; adds geofencing, kiosk punch, QR codes, API access and scheduling), and Advanced ($12.99/user/mo annual, $13.99 monthly; adds SSO, advanced reporting and priority onboarding), each plus a $19/mo base fee. Optional add-ons: Real-Time GPS ($2/user/mo), Onboarding/Offboarding/Tasks ($4/user/mo), Data Retention ($2/user/mo). The built-in payroll service is $8/user/mo plus a $49/mo base fee. 14-day free trial, no credit card required; only active employees are counted. Get an independent shortlist with pricing guidance below.
What does Buddy Punch cost?
Buddy Punch publishes a list price. Enter your seat count for an annual figure at that rate.
Technical & security
- Hosting
- SaaS
- Mobile app
- Yes
About the vendor
- Headquarters
- Appleton, Wisconsin, United States
Alternatives to Buddy Punch in Time & Attendance
Buddy Punch — frequently asked questions
Does Buddy Punch integrate with QuickBooks?
Yes. Buddy Punch has native integrations with both QuickBooks Online, including a live/auto-run sync option, and QuickBooks Desktop, letting approved timesheet data flow directly into payroll.
What clock-in methods does Buddy Punch support?
Employees can clock in and out from a web browser, the iOS/Android/ChromeOS apps, a shared tablet kiosk, a PIN, a QR code, or facial recognition, and field workers without internet access can punch by text message.
Does Buddy Punch offer its own payroll?
Yes, as an add-on. Buddy Punch Payroll handles direct deposit, pay stubs, benefit deductions and tax filing in all 50 states for $8 per user per month plus a $49 monthly base fee, on top of any Buddy Punch time-tracking plan.
How is Buddy Punch priced?
Plans run from $4.99 to $12.99 per active employee per month (billed annually) plus a $19 monthly base fee, with a 14-day free trial and no credit card required. GPS, onboarding/offboarding and data-retention are available as paid add-ons on lower tiers.
What payroll providers does Buddy Punch connect to besides QuickBooks?
Documented integrations include ADP Workforce Now, Gusto, Paychex, Paycor, Paylocity, Rippling, Workday, TriNet, iSolved, Justworks, SurePayroll, Wagepoint and Deltek ComputerEase, plus a Zapier connector and a REST API for other systems.
Compare Buddy Punch head-to-head
The Time & Attendance Buyer's Guide
Before you commit to Buddy Punch, see how it sits against the 13 time & attendance systems we track — on capability, ERP integration depth and what each one actually charges for.
Time & Attendance Buyer's Guide
13 systems compared · 2026
ERP Research
- Buddy Punch compared side-by-side with 12 alternatives
- ERP integration checklist — what to verify before you shortlist
- The pricing questions that change the quote
- A Buddy Punch evaluation brief, included with the guide
Time & Attendance Buyer's Guide
Get a quote for Buddy Punch
Buddy Punch publishes a list price, but the number you pay depends on volume, modules and integration scope. Tell us your setup and we'll come back with a realistic figure and the alternatives worth quoting against it.