Without reliable work-hour records, managers get bogged down by payroll errors, compliance issues, and frustrated staff.
To avoid this, I’ve reviewed the 6 best timesheet apps in Australia and ranked them based on key features, including time tracking capabilities, payroll integrations, and mobile accessibility.
Use these picks to choose a tool that suits your organisation and helps you maintain precise and well-organised timesheets that improve payroll accuracy and employee satisfaction.
| App | Best for | Starting Price | Key Considerations |
| Connecteam | Aussie SMBs managing timesheets, shifts, and field teams | Just $29/month for the first 30 users | Best all-in-one workforce management with a broad range of features, but payroll is only available via integrations. |
| Deputy | Award-aware rostering and timesheets in shift-based teams | AUD $5/user/month | Great for Australian award compliance, but some key features (including payroll) incur an additional cost. |
| Employment Hero | Australian SMEs combining timesheets with HR and payroll | Contact vendor for price | Good option for those who need in-house payroll and additional compliance support. But minimum user requirements are not ideal for smaller teams. |
| Tanda | Teams or managers who work from computers | Starts around $8.00–$12.00 AUD per user/month | Data and analysis tools, Time tracking for individual jobs, Personal calendar creation, Built-in invoicing tools. |
| Sling | Its one-touch time clock | $2/user/month | Labour cost control, Automated timesheets, Employee scheduling, Employee time clock. |
| Toggl Track | Its customisable timesheet reports | $9/user/month | Categorise time spent on different tasks or projects, Project budgeting, Data and analytics tools, Pomodoro timer. |
| Timely | Its Memory Tracker feature | $16/user/month, for 6-50 users | Customisable timesheets, Records hours by project or team, Integrates with popular payroll providers, Reporting and analytics tools. |
What’s New in This Update (June 2026)
- Amended my best timesheet apps list by removing a few apps and adding Employment Hero, Tanda, QuickBooks Time, and Jibble instead. Connecteam and Deputy maintained their positions.
- Updated my ranking criteria with more focus on ease of use, time verification tools, mobile accessibility, and payroll integrations.
- Added mobile app screenshots for each platform.
- Included recent customer testimonials for deeper insights.
Our Top Picks
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1
Best all-in-one timesheet app
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2
Good for award-aware rostering and timesheets in shift-based teams
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3
Australian SMEs combining timesheets with HR and payroll
Why trust us?
Our team of unbiased software reviewers follows strict editorial guidelines, and our methodology is clear and open to everyone.
See our complete methodology
How I Ranked the Best Timesheet Apps in Australia
When picking timesheet software, I looked for apps that handle everything from tracking working hours to running payroll in one place. I wanted options that genuinely make life easier for managers while keeping businesses compliant. Here’s how I made my choices.
Must-have timesheet app (Australia) features
- One-touch clock on and off: Workers should be able to track their hours with no fuss. I looked for tools that let employees clock in and out with a single tap from any device.
- Time verification tools: I checked that you can confirm employees are where they need to be during work hours and gave extra points to apps with built-in geofencing controls.
- Digital timesheets: I prioritised apps that used employees’ time logs to automatically generate timesheets that I could view, edit, and approve for payroll.
Dealbreakers
- No mobile availability: In the digital age, a good mobile app is essential for workers to clock in and out from anywhere. It also helps you track hours, review timesheets, and manage leave requests wherever you are.
- Lack of payroll integrations: I looked for timesheet apps that either have native payroll systems or connect with third-party payroll platforms to keep payments simple and accurate.
Nice-to-have differentiators
- Schedule management and compliance: In my opinion, scheduling and time tracking go hand in hand. They let you monitor employees’ hours worked at the shift level and even help with overtime and rest break compliance. Apps without scheduling ranked lower on my list.
- Leave management: I favoured apps that let you view leave balances and manage time off requests. This way, employees get downtime, and you adhere to NES leave entitlements.
- Custom reporting: I gave extra points to apps with powerful reporting features because they let you review important details such as hours worked by projects, tasks, clients, or shifts. Time and attendance records can also help you spot issues like absenteeism or frequent lateness.
- Smart alerts and push notifications: I looked for time-tracking apps that remind employees to punch in and out, alert you to absences, and flag unapproved overtime. Apps without these options scored lower.
6 Best Timesheet Apps for Small Businesses in Australia in 2026
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Connecteam — Best for Aussie SMBs managing timesheets, shifts, and field teams
On the left, Connecteam’s employee app shows options to start the timer and view requests and timesheets. On the right, Connecteam’s admin dashboard shows employees’ start and end times, pending requests, and an option to view timesheets. Connecteam is the best free all-in-one time tracking, scheduling, and timesheet app in Australia for organisations of all sizes.
Why I chose Connecteam: I put Connecteam at the top of my list because I’ve seen first-hand how well it simplifies time tracking, reporting, and payroll processing, making things easier for everyone from managers to employees. Connecteam also integrates with Xero and MYOB, which are widely used across Australia for payroll, and its rest and overtime management features are great for complying with Fair Work rules.
Let’s take a closer look at some of Connecteam’s key features.
Mobile employee time clock
Connecteam includes a mobile time clock that employees can use on any device. They can clock in and out with 1 tap and log hours by job, client, project, or location. I was also happy to see that workers could mark billable and non-billable hours. I imagine this helps with payroll and invoicing and reduces the risk of disputes with clients and employees.
Connecteam also works as a time clock kiosk app on a shared device, like a tablet. Multiple employees can clock in from a tablet placed at the worksite. I loved that I could require employees to take a selfie at clock-in. It’s such a clever way to prevent buddy punching.
I also found it handy that workers can manually add or update hours if they forget or notice an error, and I could control editing permissions if preferred.
GPS location tracking and geofencing
Connecteam provides a real-time GPS tracker so you can confirm an employee’s location during work hours. I appreciated that tracking stops the moment they clock off, safeguarding employee privacy while giving managers clarity in the field.
And that’s not all. Connecteam also lets me set geofences around specific locations. Staff can clock on only when they are within the approved zone. If someone tries to clock on outside the area, you receive a request to approve or decline. Again, this is a solid way to protect you from time theft.
Automatic timesheet creation
The platform creates timesheets for payroll. These are automatically generated and based on employee time entries. Breaks, leave, and sick days are factored in without manual adjustment. I was also happy to find I could customise pay cycles, review entries, and approve timesheets from any device.
Not only that, but I liked that timesheets appear in a central dashboard where I could correct errors before payroll approval. I could also leave comments on individual timesheets and use Connecteam’s online team chat for quick follow-up with staff. If your biggest issue is discussing and finalising time entries with your staff, this could be really helpful.
Payroll integrations for simple processing
Connecteam integrates with major payroll providers such as Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks Online, Paychex, Gusto, and RUN Powered by ADP. This keeps payroll accurate and reduces the amount of manual data entry, which is exactly what I look for in good timesheets apps.
If you prefer another system, you can also export timesheets in Excel or CSV formats for use in your payroll software of choice.
Employee scheduler
Connecteam’s employee scheduler allowed me to create rosters quickly with a simple drag-and-drop interface. I could customise shifts, use templates, and duplicate recurring shifts. But my personal favourite was the auto-scheduler, which can assign employees to shifts in seconds, and even considers their time off, location, skills, shift preferences, and more.
Since the scheduling tools connect directly with the time clock, I could also compare time entries with the planned roster when approving hours. I liked that employees could also request shift swaps, with or without my approval (a great way to reduce my admin load).
And more, at zero cost for small businesses
Finally, Connecteam is more than just a timesheet app. You can manage leave, organise employee records, handle HR processes, and so much more. There’s also a small business plan that’s completely free for life (for teams of up to 10).
When Connecteam may not be the best fit
Connecteam isn’t ideal for larger companies that desire:
- A native payroll solution
- In-app interpretation for specific Australian award features, like award-related allowances, penalty and overtime rates, or employee classifications.
Key Features
- Automatic timesheet creation
- One-touch time clock
- Integrates with leading payroll providers
- GPS location tracking and geofencing
- Drag-and-drop shift scheduling
- Custom break management tools
Pros
- Easy-to-use mobile app works from anywhere, at any time
- The free plan is great for small businesses with tight budgets
- Smart alerts and notifications reduce errors
- All-in-one timesheet app, so you don’t need multiple subscriptions
Cons
- Only a few Australian payroll integrations
- Doesn’t currently include accounting tools
Pricing
Free-for-life plan availablePremium plans start at $29/month for 30 users
14-day free trial, no credit card required
Start your free trial -
Deputy — Good for award-aware rostering and timesheets in shift-based teams
Screenshot of Deputy’s mobile app features. The image on the left shows pending employee timesheets with information such as clock-in and clock-out times, breaks, and attendance status. The centre and right-side images show the “People” feature, which displays a list of team members and an employee profile, respectively. Deputy is an employee management system and timesheet app designed to help businesses track employee hours, manage shift swaps, and handle last-minute roster changes.
Why I chose Deputy: Deputy offers helpful customer support and has a clean, user-friendly interface. Based on our full Deputy review, it also provides accurate timesheet tools, an impressive auto-scheduler, and Australian award-specific compliance tools. It’s also a good option for businesses that need a timesheet app with a native payroll system.
Here are what I believe to be Deputy’s best timesheet features.
Mobile time clock
I was pleased to see that Deputy offers touchless facial recognition so employees can clock in and out from their phones or from a shared kiosk. The app records hours down to the second, giving you precise timesheets. I also liked that companies can set up a shared time clock on a device such as an iPad at any job site, allowing multiple employees to clock in and out from one place.
Automated timesheets
Deputy simplifies time tracking by accurately capturing when an employee starts and finishes a shift and automatically converting these entries into timesheets that you can verify, change, and approve. You can also see real-time attendance, which shows who is currently clocked on and where they are working.
The software also stores a clear history of past shifts and hours, making it easy to review previous timesheets whenever needed.
Deputy payroll
Once timesheets have been approved, you can run payroll using Deputy’s native payroll solution for Australian companies. This makes it easier to pay employees accurately and reduces the time spent on manual data entry.
That said, I was disappointed that payroll wasn’t included in any of the pricing plans, and it costs an additional AUD $5/user/month. Fortunately, Deputy also integrates with several other payroll providers, including MYOB and QuickBooks, if you prefer to use one of them.
Employee scheduler
Deputy’s scheduling tool connects with the time clock and includes a drag-and-drop interface that makes shift creation simple. The smart scheduler uses smart patterns to build efficient rosters by considering employee availability and preferences. Deputy also helps you follow meal and rest break requirements by automatically adding required breaks into the schedule.
I like that you can see real-time wage and sales data, which can help to manage labour costs.
My colleague also tested the shift swap feature and found the process simple from both the employee and manager side. I’m a big fan of shift swapping because it keeps the roster covered without extra admin work. If you often deal with last-minute callouts, this may be a good tool to prioritise.
Complying with Australian awards
Finally, Deputy offers award interpretation to help set award pay rates and manage wage calculations, which I think is a real win from a compliance perspective.
Having said that, Deputy isn’t cheap. Unlike many competitors who offer free plans, Deputy doesn’t. Also, key features like payroll and messaging are provided at an extra cost. It’s not the best solution for small- to medium-sized companies and startups looking to minimise costs.
What users say about Deputy
Overall, my experience with Deputy has been very positive. The platform provides a comprehensive and efficient solution for managing schedules, tracking employee hours, and maintaining clear communication within a team.
They have changed their payment tiers to Lite, Core, Pro. In other words they had a price increase disguised as a feature that nobody asked for.
Key Features
- Built-in time clock
- Automated timesheets
- Payroll solutions
- Automatic shift scheduling
Pros
- Australian awards interpreter helps with compliance
- Intuitive user interface is easy for non-technical users
Cons
- Key features like payroll and messaging only available as an add-on
- Some advanced security features only on the enterprise plan
Pricing
Starts at AUD $5/user/month Trial: Yes Free Plan: No
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Employment Hero — Australian SMEs combining timesheets with HR and payroll
Screenshot of Employment Hero’s mobile app, showing a list of timesheets, their status, total hours worked, and client name. Employment Hero is an HR and payroll platform that covers time tracking and attendance, as well as payroll and rostering.
Why I chose Employment Hero: I found the interface easy to navigate, and I liked how approved timesheets flow directly into payroll, reducing manual administration. I also liked that Employment Hero connects time tracking with leave management and rostering. This gives managers a clearer view of workforce costs and availability from a single dashboard.
Here are some of Employment Hero’s best workforce management features, in my opinion.
Mobile time clock with location verification
Employment Hero allows employees to clock in and clock out using their mobile app or the Hero Time Clock kiosk app. Employees can record start and finish times as well as breaks, while managers gain real-time insight into attendance. I liked that the platform has photo verification at clock-in and clock-out, helping to reduce time theft and buddy punching.
That said, while Employment Hero captures workers’ clock-in and clock-out locations, it doesn’t offer continuous GPS tracking while they’re on the clock. I think this makes it less suitable for workers constantly on the move, for instance, fleet or logistics teams.
Automated timesheets and attendance tracking
The software automatically converts clock-in and clock-out data into timesheets, reducing the need to enter it manually. I could compare rostered shifts against actual hours worked, monitor attendance in real time, and identify missed clock-ins before processing payroll. The platform also made it easy to review, approve, or reject submitted timesheets before they flow into payroll.
One big problem? Time and attendance tools are only available at an extra cost on all plans, except the most expensive “Employment Unlimited” plan.
Payroll and compliance
In my opinion, one of Employment Hero’s biggest strengths is its in-house payroll solution. Approved timesheets can be synced directly into payroll, eliminating duplicate data entry and reducing payroll errors. As a result, businesses can process their pay runs more efficiently while maintaining a clear audit trail of hours worked.
The payroll platform also uses AI to catch discrepancies and flags any compliance risks before processing. I could also choose to integrate with third-party payroll solutions if I wanted.
Rostering and shift management
Employment Hero includes a drag-and-drop roster builder with templates, recurring schedules, and role-based shift assignments. It’s easy to create shifts, duplicate rosters, and assign employees quickly. Also, compliance warnings help to identify potential rostering issues before schedules are published.
That said, rostering here isn’t as advanced as it is in dedicated workforce management platforms. Also, the lack of advanced filtering, custom views, and live budgeting tools could be a limitation for roster-intensive businesses.
Award compliance and leave management
For Australian employers, Employment Hero helps manage award compliance through payroll and workforce management workflows. Not only that, but the leave management tools integrate directly with attendance and payroll records. This reduces administrative effort and helps you comply with employee entitlements.
What users say about Employment Hero
We are thrilled with Employment Hero. From the sales process through to implementation, I’ve felt incredibly supported.
Employment Hero is complicated to establish and takes a lot of time, this was not made clear when the programme was presented initially. While members of the support team are helpful and understanding, they are not available at the outset.
Key Features
- Timesheets
- Track time spent on individual jobs
- Built-in job quoting
- Employee scheduling tools
- Job tracking
- Online payments
Pros
- Free set-up and training
- Automatic shift scheduling
Cons
- No digital organisation tools
- No in-app chat feature
Pricing
Contact vendor for price Trial: Yes Free Plan: No
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Tanda — Good for teams or managers who work from computers
TimeCamp is a time tracking and timesheet platform designed to help both office-based and remote employees manage the time they spend on their computers.
Why I chose TimeCamp: TimeCamp works well for individual freelancers and small teams. It provides a reliable way to track and manage work hours and includes useful tools such as custom calendars where employees can add their assigned tasks.
Tracking time for tasks and projects
TimeCamp’s core function is its time tracking tool, and I found it impressive. Once set up, it runs quietly in the background, recording how long you spend on tasks and applications without needing to start or stop a timer. This is helpful for anyone who forgets to track their time manually.
The tool is flexible because it lets you track time by project, client, or task. This provides detailed insights into where work hours are going. With both a desktop app and mobile access, you can record hours from anywhere, which helps you stay consistent whether you’re in the office or working remotely.
I also found the keyword-based time tracking feature useful. You can assign specific keywords to a task or project, and TimeCamp will automatically begin tracking whenever those keywords appear in document titles, websites, or applications the employee is using.
Employee timesheets
While testing the software, I found TimeCamp’s timesheet feature clear and easy to use. All tracked hours appear in one organised view, and you can review or edit entries when needed.
I generated several reports to test how the data appears. Attendance reports, billing reports, and custom reports all came out accurate. The custom reporting tool allows you to filter by date range, project, user, or task to create tailored insights.
TimeCamp does have a few drawbacks. I experienced occasional glitches, and some parts of the interface felt confusing.
Integrations
Some of TimeCamp’s integrations include:
- ActiveCollab
- Breeze
- Xero
- Fibery
- Freshdesk
- Odoo
- MiniCRM
- LiveAgent
- GitLab
Seeing how long tasks are taking allows constant evaluation and improvement…TimeCamp allows me to keep everything elegantly in one place. Time is money! Track them both in TimeCamp.
Key Features
- Data and analysis tools
- Time tracking for individual jobs
- Personal calendar creation
- Built-in invoicing tools
- Keyword-based time tracking
- Customisable timesheet reports
Pros
- Integrates with popular team management apps
- Mobile app
Cons
- May not be useful for non-desk teams
- No built-in chat tools
Pricing
Starts around $8.00–$12.00 AUD per user/month Trial: Yes — 14 days Free Plan: No
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Sling — Good for its one-touch time clock
Sling is designed for teams who do not sit at desks or work from computers. Its key features include employee scheduling, time tracking, and communication tools.
Why I chose Sling: Sling’s features are practical and easy to use. Timesheets are neatly organised and colour-coded by approval status, which makes payroll much simpler to manage.
I also liked how straightforward the interface feels. Sling does not require any technical expertise and has a gentle learning curve that most people can handle comfortably.
Sling’s mobile app employee dashboard Timesheets and labor cost tracking
One of the advantages of Sling is that its timesheet feature helps employers stay on top of labour costs. When employees clock in and out, the system automatically calculates regular hours, overtime, and breaks. You can track hours by shift or location and quickly see how much you are spending on labour.
The reporting tools provide useful insights. I tested daily and weekly summaries, overtime reports, and compliance reports, and found all of them detailed and easy to export. Being able to export reports in PDF format is particularly helpful.
These reports can highlight trends, help you optimise the roster, and reduce unnecessary overtime.
Time tracking
With the mobile app, employees can clock in and out from their phones, which suits businesses with mobile or remote teams. The GPS-enabled time clock confirms that staff are at the correct location when they start or finish work, adding accountability. From an employee’s perspective, the time clock is simple to use and records time accurately.
Notifications for missed clock-ins or clock-outs are another useful feature because they help reduce errors. You can also set up geofencing so employees can clock in only when they are at the approved worksite.
The interface is clean and easy to navigate. Employees can view their clock-in and clock-out times, while managers can access detailed labour reports to track costs.
I also liked that you can set weekly and monthly labour budgets. Sling sends alerts when you exceed your limits, which helps you stay within your spending targets. Another helpful function is the automatic shift-end feature, which stops shifts before employees hit overtime. Sling also prevents early clock-ins to help keep payroll under control.
Integrations
Some of Sling’s integrations include:
- Shopify
- Toast
- Gusto
- HarborTouch
- Square
- POSitouch
Everything about this product streamlined what we were already doing in a way that increased productivity and decreased time bleed.
0Key Features
- Labour cost control
- Automated timesheets
- Employee scheduling
- Employee time clock
- Team communication
- Task management
Pros
- Simple user interface
- Multiple integration options
Cons
- Notification system can be overwhelming
- High per-user pricing for larger teams
Pricing
Starts at $2/user/month Trial: Yes — 15 days Free Plan: Yes — up to 30 users
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Toggl Track — Good for its customisable timesheet reports
Toggl Track is a time management and timesheet app that includes manual time entry editing, one-touch clock on and off, project budgeting, and reporting and analytics tools. Users can also categorise their hours by project or task.
Why I chose Toggl Track: Toggl Track provides clear visual summaries of hours worked, leave balances, sick leave, and other key data, which suits people who prefer information presented visually. It also includes Pomodoro timers, project budgeting tools, and detailed analytics.
You can track time in real time or edit entries manually later. It is also important to note that, unlike some time tracking software, Toggl Track does not support any form of employee surveillance. The company avoids screen recording, location tracking, keystroke tracking, or other monitoring tools.
Toggl Track’s timer feature has a calendar view and a custom top bar. Employee timesheets
During testing, I found Toggl Track’s timesheets clear and comprehensive. They give you a full view of tracked hours and can be customised to show daily, weekly, or custom time ranges. This helps you understand how employees are spending their work hours and can be valuable when identifying productivity patterns or improving workflows.
Tracking billable and nonbillable hours
A feature I found particularly helpful is the ability to tag and track both billable and non-billable hours. This is ideal for freelancers and small businesses that need accurate invoicing.
You can assign tags to tasks or projects, which makes it simple to separate client-billable work from internal tasks. This helps ensure all billable hours are captured and reduces the risk of missing time when preparing invoices.
I did notice that the desktop version has fewer features than the mobile and web apps, and managing multiple projects at once can sometimes be confusing.
Integrations
Some of Toggl Track’s integrations include:
- Asana
- Trello
- Jira
- Zendesk
- Google Calendar
- Zapier
- Quickbooks
Toggl is so easy to use! There is an auto function that gathers info on what you are doing on your computer and you can then review the items in 15 minute chunks; by app, by webpage or by document.
Key Features
- Categorise time spent on different tasks or projects
- Project budgeting
- Data and analytics tools
- Pomodoro timer
- Customisable timesheet reports
- Track billable and non-billable hours
Pros
- Free-to-use plan
- Visualisation of worked hours
Cons
- No GPS location tracking
- Most features hidden behind paywall
Pricing
Starts at $9/user/month Trial: Yes — 30-day Free Plan: Yes — For up to 5 users
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Timely — Good for its Memory Tracker feature
Timely is a time tracking and timesheet app designed to reduce the amount of administration required for payroll.
Why I chose Timely: Timely has a clean, modern interface and tracks employee time spent on projects across desktop, tablet, and mobile devices. I found the timesheets efficient and easy to read.
Timely’s Memory Tracker
Timely’s Memory Tracker automatically records employee activity across devices, which removes the need to manually log every minute of work. It captures websites visited, applications used, and tasks performed, and then presents this information as memories.
The tracker remembers what employees have been working on and begins timing as soon as they switch between tasks or projects.
I found the tagging system particularly useful. The Memory Tracker can tag and track both billable and non-billable hours, and it is easy to categorise time entries for accurate invoicing. This helps create clear records for client work and internal projects, and ensures no billable time is overlooked while still keeping an accurate record of non-billable activities.
Timely’s Memory automatically captures everything your employees do on their computers. Employee timesheets
Timely’s timesheets are intuitive and straightforward. Employees can log hours manually or allow the Memory Tracker to capture them automatically. This dual method increases accuracy and helps reduce missed or incorrect entries.
Reviewing timesheets is simple. You can access a full breakdown of each employee’s hours, including total hours worked, project allocation, task details, activity insights, idle time, and approval status. This provides an easy way to assess productivity and make sure your team is following workplace policies.
Integrations
Some of Timely’s integrations include:
- Freshbooks
- GitLab
- Jira
- Expensify
- Salesforce
- Figma
- Quickbooks
- Filemaker
- Asana
Toggl is so easy to use! There is an auto function that gathers info on what you are doing on your computer and you can then review the items in 15 minute chunks; by app, by webpage or by document.
Key Features
- Customisable timesheets
- Records hours by project or team
- Integrates with popular payroll providers
- Reporting and analytics tools
- Time planning
- Memory tracker
Pros
- Automatically captures worked hours
- Free trial
Cons
- Limited customer support options
- No free-to-use plan
Pricing
Starts at $16/user/month, for 6-50 users Trial: Yes Free Plan: No
Compare the Best Timesheet Apps in Australia
| Topic |
Start for free
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reviews |
 |
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| Pricing |
Starts at just $29/month for the first 30 users
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Starts at AUD $5/user/month
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Contact vendor for price
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Starts around $8.00–$12.00 AUD per user/month
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Starts at $2/user/month
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Starts at $9/user/month
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Starts at $16/user/month, for 6-50 users
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| Free Trial |
yes
14-day
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yes
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yes
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yes
14 days
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yes
15 days
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yes
30-day
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yes
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| Free Plan |
yes
Free Up to 10 users
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no
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no
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no
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yes
up to 30 users
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yes
For up to 5 users
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no
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Best for Aussie SMBs managing timesheets, shifts, and field teams
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Good for award-aware rostering and timesheets in shift-based teams
|
Australian SMEs combining timesheets with HR and payroll
|
Good for teams or managers who work from computers
|
Good for its one-touch time clock
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Good for its customisable timesheet reports
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Good for its Memory Tracker feature
|
|
What Are Timesheet Apps?
Timesheet apps are software tools that help businesses manage employee work hours, reduce time theft, and prevent payroll mistakes. They are a digital alternative to paper timesheets. Most apps work on mobile devices, desktop computers, and web browsers, although some may be available only on mobile or desktop.
These apps allow employees to record their work hours and categorise entries by task, client, or project. They then generate timesheets automatically for each pay period. Any annual leave, sick leave, or break times are deducted from the total hours worked.
Managers can review and approve timesheets and export them for payroll. Past timesheets can also be stored for audit purposes.
Overall, timesheet apps make managing employee hours simpler and more efficient while helping reduce errors and improve productivity.
How Do Timesheet Apps Work?
Timesheet apps let employees track their hours using a digital clock, then automatically generate digital timesheets based on those entries.
Most platforms allow staff to manually add or edit time if they forget to clock on or off, or if they accidentally record their time early or late. Many apps also let employees categorise their hours by project, task, location, or client, which helps managers understand how time is being spent.
These apps usually track overtime, leave, and break times to support compliance with labour laws and ensure timesheets are accurate. This time is normally deducted automatically from an employee’s total hours.
Both employees and managers can review timesheets before payroll and request any updates. Once approved, managers can export the timesheets to their payroll provider, which helps streamline payroll processing.
The Benefits of Timesheet Apps
Reduced payroll errors
Keying errors can be time-consuming and expensive to fix. Timesheet apps accurately track employee hours, often down to the second, and then generate digital timesheets without manual mistakes.
If an error does occur, you can compare the timesheet with the original time entries and correct the issue before payroll is processed.
These automations remove the need to key in worked hours by hand, reduce the risk of incorrect entries, and help ensure employees are paid correctly.
Time savings
Timesheet apps remove the need for handwritten time cards or any kind of manual time tracking, which saves a significant amount of time. They can also send reminders to employees and managers about timesheet approvals, helping ensure payroll is processed on schedule.
Better compliance
This software can also improve compliance by ensuring you have an accurate record of employees’ working hours and break times. Apps can also automatically track and calculate overtime, helping you avoid penalties for non-compliance with labour laws.
Reduced time theft
Timesheet apps help minimise the risk of time theft using tools like biometric logins, GPS time tracking, and geofencing. In this way, they offer greater transparency, improve accountability, and make it more difficult for employees to cheat the system.
Paperless payroll processing
By eliminating the need for paper timesheets, timesheet apps can make the entire process digital (depending on what payroll provider your business uses).
Paperless payroll processing is environmentally friendly and reduces the amount of money you spend on supplies like paper, ink, and more. It also cuts down the risk of losing employees’ time cards, as all data is securely stored in one place and backed up in the cloud.
How Much Do Timesheet Apps Cost?
Timesheet apps usually charge per user, per month. However, some charge a set rate for a certain number of users, with an extra cost for additional users. Charging per user may be more beneficial for small businesses, while a flat fee can be more cost-effective for larger teams.
For example, Clockify charges USD$3.99 per user, per month, while Toggl Track costs USD$9 per user per month. This is relatively affordable for a small business of 10-15 workers. However, costs quickly add up for medium-sized and large businesses with 150-250 employees.
Connecteam offers better value for money compared to other timesheet apps. We offer a 100% free plan for small businesses with 10 or fewer employees. Bigger teams can sign up for one of our paid plans, starting at only USD$29 per month for up to 30 users. For all new customers, we offer a 14-day free trial.
The Bottom Line on Timesheet Apps for Small Businesses in Australia
Tracking employee working hours is essential to the smooth running of your business. But, with the potential for so many errors along the way, it’s important you find reliable and accurate timesheet software.
There are many options for timesheet software on the market today. We recommend Connecteam, the best all-in-one free timesheet app in Australia. Connecteam offers a range of features beyond just time tracking. These include automatic timesheet generation, overtime and break management, employee scheduling, and more.
Plus, it’s also the perfect free solution for small businesses with up to 10 employees, who can take advantage of Connecteam’s free-for-life plan.
Ready to see what Connecteam can do for your business? Try it free for 14 days.
FAQs
Connecteam is the best free timesheet app for small businesses with 10 or fewer employees. It’s an all-in-one timesheet app, making it great value for money for small businesses. Additionally, businesses with up to 30 employees can use Connecteam for USD$29 per month— that’s less than $1 per employee!
While there are many time tracking apps out there, Connecteam is the best. The all-in-one software is user-friendly and makes it easy for employees to clock in, log breaks, and view their timesheets. This will help you save time, reduce payroll errors, and so much more.
You can use a spreadsheet to track employee hours. However, using spreadsheets creates the potential for human errors when manually entering time data. A more efficient and accurate solution is to use dedicated timesheet software such as Connecteam.
You can export your current timesheet data into a spreadsheet, then import into the new app if supported. Make sure to clean up entries before you migrate. Many platforms, including Connecteam, offer setup assistance or templates to make the switch easy.
Look for tools that support award interpretation, overtime, penalty rates, and break rules in line with Fair Work standards. Apps designed for Australian businesses often include built-in award compliance settings or templates, so ask before you commit.
Keep onboarding short and focused, and use real examples to explain how the app makes their job easier. Highlight faster check-ins, fewer mistakes, and quicker pay.
Use a system with role-based permissions and multi-manager workflows, like Connecteam. Each manager can approve their team’s hours, while admins keep oversight. This reduces bottlenecks and makes approvals smoother across locations.
Most apps offer CSV exports that can be imported manually into payroll. Some support Zapier or API access for custom solutions. Check if the platform provides integration support on higher plans or through partners.
Yes, only enable tracking during work hours. Inform staff clearly and explain how GPS helps verify hours and protect lone workers. Use geofencing around job sites, not homes.
Export timesheet reports regularly in CSV or PDF format, and store them in secure cloud or internal systems. Before switching providers or during audits, ensure you’ve saved key data like time logs.
Before you upgrade, know what features you’re getting and don’t assume everything unlocks at once. Check for user or location caps, and run a trial if you can. Connecteam offers tier comparisons to help you scale smartly.
Choose an app with screen reader support, high-contrast modes, and mobile optimization. Ask vendors if they meet WCAG or accessibility standards. Pick an app with a clean, intuitive interface to benefit all users, not just those with specific needs.
