In construction, time isn’t just money—it’s everything. Whether you’re tracking hours on a single remodel or juggling subs across multiple job sites, labor is one of your biggest costs—and the easiest to lose track of.
Still using paper timesheets or relying on memory? That’s when things slip. Hours get missed. Job costs go sideways. Payroll turns into a guessing game.
That’s why choosing the right time tracking app for contractors is extremely important.
It’s not just about saving time. It’s about running tighter jobs, staying on budgets, and protecting your profits.
Effective time tracking for construction isn’t just about knowing who showed up. It’s about:
For example, one residential remodeler using mobile time tracking reduced payroll errors by 25% and cut down jobsite time theft by using GPS-verified clock-ins. Another concrete crew saved hours every week by automating timesheets and syncing directly with payroll.
Bottom line: better time tracking leads to better profits.
Not all apps are created equal. When looking for construction time tracking software, here are the must-haves:
Your crew’s not sitting at desks. They’re moving between sites, working in the sun, sometimes wearing gloves or dealing with spotty cell service. That means your time tracking app needs to be dead simple—open it, tap in, done.
Know that your team is where they say they are. Geofencing automatically clocks people in/out when they enter or leave a jobsite.
Track time by job, phase, or task to see where labor dollars go. Essential for real-time job costing.
No more re-entering data. The best time tracking software for contractors integrates directly with your payroll provider or accounting tools.
Let crews log time even without service—crucial for rural or remote job sites.
Whether you have 3 employees or 30, good construction timekeeping software grows with you.
Here are 6 of the best time tracking solutions for contractors in 2025—rated for features, ease of use, and construction focus.
Best for: Idea for small contractors who want an easy to use solution, with job costing and time tracking integrated with QuickBooks.
Key Features:
Pros:
Cons:
🛠 Pro Tip: If you’re already using QuickBooks and want to track time and labor costs automatically, OnTraq gives you the full picture, without spreadsheets.
Best for: Large contractors with mobile crews and multiple job locations.
Key Features:
Pros:
Cons:
Best for: Small to mid-sized contractors working with QuickBooks
Key Features:
Pros:
Cons:
Best for: Contractors who want hyper-accurate GPS tracking.
Key Features:
Pros:
Cons:
Best for: Large field crews or mixed-device environments.
Key Features:
Pros:
Cons:
Best for: Simplicity and basic time tracking needs.
Key Features:
Pros:
Cons:
Choosing the right time tracking app for contractors can save you hours every week—and thousands every year. Whether you’re a solo contractor or managing multiple crews, these apps help you:
If you want to go one step further and link your time tracking directly to job costing and bookkeeping, Ontraq AI is built just for you. Automate 80% of your admin work, get real-time job insights, and keep your QuickBooks up to date—without lifting a finger.
🔗 Check out Ontraq’s time tracking solution for contractors
Workyard is known for its precision GPS tracking, down to specific site zones. It’s great if location accuracy is key.
Most use mobile time tracking apps like Ontraq AI, ClockShark, or QuickBooks Time to log hours by job or task, with GPS verification and timesheet approvals.
If you want full financial visibility and QuickBooks integration, Ontraq AI is best. For GPS-heavy crews, Workyard is a strong option.
It sets clear expectations, improves accountability, and reduces lost hours. Teams stay on task when they know time is being tracked.
Ontraq AI and QuickBooks Time both offer seamless QuickBooks integration—perfect if you're already using it for accounting