12 of the Most Superb Employee GPS Tracking Apps

When your team works in the field, tracking employee location just makes sense. After all, you can’t fix the problems you can’t see. GPS time tracking gives you visibility into how your team moves from client site to client site. This means you can track their time and attendance based on their locations without needing to travel to each site yourself.

It’s almost impossible to keep track of your entire field team manually. Yet, a lot of companies still try. In Hubstaff’s 2020 State of Construction Report, we found that 56% of construction company owners and managers spend an average of 11 hours each week traveling between Job sites to check on crews.

An employee GPS tracking app makes it easier to dispatch your teams and to trust they are working as required. This gives you more time to focus on other tasks while building trust with your team members.

GPS data can show you it takes longer than you expected to get from job to job. You know if certain jobs always run over or certain employees always arrive late. Most good GPS tracking apps can tell you if someone misses a shift or shows up somewhere they’re not supposed to be.

It’s 2021, so there is a vast array of apps with employee location tracking systems to choose between. But you must find the one that is right for your business and staff.

In the next section, we’ll talk about some of the things you should expect in a good GPS tracking app. You can skip ahead to the apps by clicking here.

Summary of the best apps of 2021

App	Description	Mobile Devices Supported	Price	Free trial
Hubstaff	Powerful but intuitive, all-in-one team organizer with employee time tracking and real-time GPS location monitoring.	iOS, Android	Hubstaff Field: $10/user/month (min. of 2 users) Hubstaff Field Enterprise: $20/user/month (min. of 2 users) Free and Basic plans also available but do not include GPS tracking features. Discounts available for annual billing, including 2 months free.	14 day trial
Timesheet Mobile	Track employee work times, mileage, and locations from anywhere.	iOS, Android	Basic: $3.49/employee for unlimited punches + $14.99 company subscription Per Punch: $0.15/punch + $29.99 company subscriptionSmall Business: $9.95/user/month for unlimited punches + $29.99 company subscription Medium Business: $2.49/employee for unlimited punches + $149 company subscription Large Business: Contact Timesheet Mobile	30 day trial
Labor Sync	Track time with a multilingual labor management app.	iOS, Android	$10/user/month	14 day trial
TSheets	Useful for complex project management without draining your device’s battery.	iOS, Android	Premium: $8/user/month + $20 base fee/month Elite: $10/user/month + $40 base fee/month Discounts available for 50+ users.	14 day trial
Timr	A lightweight option for employee work with strong customization.	iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Phone	Regular: €8/user/month Plus: €8/user/month + €29/account/month Enterprise: €8/user/month + €79/account/month	14 day trial
Gleeo	Time and location tracking app optimized for touchscreens in any environment.	Android	$2.50/user/month	30 day trial
Hellotracks	Empower dispatchers to assist mobile workers in the field by tracking their location in real-time.	iOS, Android	$10/user/month	30 day trial
Timeero	Streamline timesheets, mileage reporting, and HR requests with this time and location tracking app.	iOS, Android	$5/user/month + $10 base fee	14 day trial
Connecteam	Intuitive team organizer with time and location tracking and in-built messaging functionality.	iOS, Android	Basic: $35/month Advanced: $72/month Expert: $149/month Contact Connecteam for the Enterprise plan for over 200 users. Free plan available without GPS tracking features.	14 day trial
allGEO	Customizable workflows with location and time tracking capabilities.	iOS, Android	Pay per feature and per user. Starts from $5.00/user/month + $10/device + $10 one-time setup fee	14 day trial
Vismo	Suitable for mobile workforces operating in high-risk areas.	iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Sat Phones, Personal Trackers	Prices not published. Contact Vismo for a quote.	Demo available
Timely	Application time tracker with GPS-location capabilities. High suitability for remote teams working on a computer or mobile device.	iOS, Android	Starter: $10/user/month Premium: $18/user/month Unlimited: $26/user/month Enterprise: Custom pricing	14 day trial

 

What to expect from a GPS tracking app

Your employee tracker app can and should do even more than simply tell you where your employees are at any given time.

Live and historical location data

Some location apps use the GPS feature on your employee’s phone or mobile device to tell you where they are right now. Other apps record your team member’s travel over the course of the day. You can then use this data to assess how well the employee is planning their travel.

The most powerful GPS tracking apps offer both live and historical location tracking options.

Manage your field staff across multiple locations

The best apps allow you to see and manage your crew across multiple locations from a single dashboard. From here, you can access data about their travel history, their current travel route and time, and what job they are working on.

This feature is great for all managers and dispatchers, although it is especially useful for large teams covering multiple locations.

Automated clock in and out

Geofencing allows you to set up specific locations as Job sites so that the software can tell when employees arrive or leave. Good apps can use this information to trigger an action, like starting or stopping time tracking.

Not all apps offer automatic clocking in and out, even if they have geofencing technology. Some send a notification to the employee to remind them to start and stop their time recording instead.

Look for automated time tracking when you see geofencing on the features list.

Timesheet synchronization

According to Wagepoint, many businesses lose up to 10 hours each month from processing timesheets and invoices.

The best employee GPS location tracking systems use time and attendance data to automatically complete timesheets. Your employees’ timesheets are accurate this way, so you spend less time double-checking.

Here’s one last pro tip:

Take advantage of the free trial period to make sure the app does everything you want. This is a good opportunity to test customer support, too. Call for help onboarding, so you know how available and helpful the support team is.

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s take a closer look at our favorite GPS tracking apps in more detail.

The 12 Best Employee GPS Tracking Systems

Now, let’s take a closer look at the top employee location tracking apps.

As you review these options, keep in mind that any tool you choose for your team should be easy for everyone to use. Tools don’t get used when they’re too complicated.

1. Hubstaff (iOS, Android)

Best for: All kinds of mobile workforces, including sales teams, construction companies, and other field services

Hubstaff Field helps your team clock in and clock out automatically and gives you accurate GPS location services for maximum visibility.

The geofencing features are excellent. Hubstaff makes geofencing affordable for companies of all sizes. As your team grows and changes, it’s easy to add or remove users, so you only pay for what you need.

With Hubstaff Field geofencing, your employees’ timesheets are automatic. When they arrive at the job site, the clock starts. They don’t even have to think about it. Crews simply show up and the app takes care of the rest.

How Hubstaff’s geofencing feature works.

This is an important tool for growing teams. Instead of driving from site to site to make sure your team showed up, you have access to real-time location data for everyone who’s on the clock.

That means you have total confidence that timesheets are accurate. Plus, you save a ton of time processing payroll with Hubstaff’s smart automations.

Recommended reading: 11 Mobile Workforce Problems solved with Geofencing Technology

Some teams don’t work from specific job sites every day. Hubstaff Field has you covered with useful fleet tracking features.

You can see routes taken, stops made, and time spent at each location from the detailed dashboard. These features make Hubstaff a great salesperson tracking app. It’s ideal for all types of teams that work on the go.

You can work on the go, too. Access your dashboard easily from your iPhone or Android.

Hubstaff is built for efficiency. It includes a suite of features for field teams, so you can:

• Track expenses and stay within a set budget
• Automate invoices to bill for hours worked or related expenses
• Automate payroll and spend less time chasing down timesheets
• Set up work orders and schedule one-time or recurring jobs
• Set and communicate crew schedules

Employee location tracking is simple and affordable with Hubstaff Field.

Hubstaff Field pricing

Hubstaff offers a 14-day trial period to put the app through its paces. Hubstaff Field starts at $10 per user per month.

Among other features, the Enterprise plan ($20 per user per month) includes VIP support and unlimited job sites.

You can choose to be billed monthly or annually. Discounts are available for annual billing.

Download Hubstaff on iOS

Download Hubstaff on Android

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2. Timesheet Mobile (iOS, Android)

Best for: Sales teams

Real-time syncing with Timesheet Mobile’s employer portal means you can track your employees’ locations from anywhere.

The punch prompt allows you to clock in and out of a worksite at the tap of a button. You can also automate the process with geofencing. Whichever option you choose, it will make time recording easier for everyone.

This app reminds your employees to take breaks on schedule and helps you handle time off and holidays. This ensures your workforce is rested and motivated.

On more premium plans, Timesheet Mobile’s punch clock app can track mileage and time traveled. This is useful if you want to optimize travel routes to save money on fuel.

The app can also save you money by auto-alerting employees if they try to track unapproved overtime.

It will also warn them when they’re not where they’re supposed to be during work hours.

Timesheet Mobile pricing

Timesheet Mobile offers a 30-day free trial. From there, the pricing is a little more complex.

The basic plan costs $3.49 per employee plus a $14.99 per month company subscription. There’s also a per-punch plan at $0.15 per punch, plus a $29.99 company subscription. Mileage, expense reports, and location warnings become available in the small business plan ($9.95 per employee plus a $29.00 company subscription).

Timesheet Mobile offers big discounts on the first year of subscription. Prices go up to the standard fees after this period.

3. Labor Sync (iOS, Android)

Best for: Construction teams / companies with a large or multilingual mobile workforce

Labor Sync is a multilingual cloud-based app that allows you to track your workforce. As of this writing, it’s available in 17 languages.

See which sites your crew is working on and when they clock in and out. This will help you keep clients and other teams up-to-date. It will also help you plan for the future by knowing where your workers spend most of their time.

All this information is easily accessible via an interactive map where you can call up each worker’s data.

This staff tracking app can auto-generated reports, including payroll, eliminating the need for paper timesheets. Reports and data are formatted in tables, making Labor Sync a good choice for companies that prefer to work with spreadsheets.

With batch entries, not all your employees need a smartphone. Rather, site managers can track the activities of multiple employees with one device.

The program also includes a messaging feature, so you can notify teams while on the go.

Labor Sync pricing

Labor Sync offers a 14-day free trial to see if it’s the app for you. There’s only one pricing level: $10 per user per month.

4. TSheets (iOS, Android)

Best for: Teams working in low-signal areas / leaders managing complex projects

TSheets uses optimized GPS functionality, so it won’t drain your employees’ batteries. Background synchronization backs up your data. You never have to worry about losing information, even if your teams work in locations with poor signal.

You can use the app to generate a convenient map of activities for the day to provide a visualization of where a user has been. This improves accountability and creates opportunities to optimize work travel.

TSheets uses geofencing technology, although it doesn’t auto-clock in and out. Instead, workers receive notifications to clock in and out when they arrive at and leave designated workspaces.

Managers can communicate with their teams via the app in real-time via feeds. And they can generate and export progress reports to stay up-to-date.

You can choose whether to track activity against projects or tasks. This makes TSheets a great tool for project managers.

TSheets pricing

After a 14-day trial, TSheets’ Premium plan is $8 per user per month, plus a $20 base fee per month.

The Elite plan is $10 per user per month, plus a $40 base fee per month.

TSheets offers custom discounts for 50 users or more.

5. Timr (iOS, Android, BlackBerry, Windows)

Best for: Teams with changing requirements / leaders who value customization

Timr lacks some of the fancier GPS tracking features, like geofencing and automated clocking in and out. But it is still a powerful all-in-one location and management tool.

Timr’s mobile application tracks GPS location data and work hours. If your workers lose signal, the app will still record data with a timestamp and then synchronize it with the server once the app can reestablish a connection.

Mobile managers can log data for specific employees in their teams. This can save you and your teams money as not everyone needs to own a mobile device capable of running the app.

The mobile app also records mileage. If you need to keep track of company cars, there is even an option to generate tax-compliant reports.

You can view the data via a web-based dashboard. This allows you to track employees against their working hours and time off. Managers can also track project budgets.

Timr is customizable, so you can focus on recording and tracking the data that matters most to you. This means there is a slightly longer setup time. But it also means you can use the app for a wide range of projects or jobs.

Further, Timr backs up your data hourly or daily to two separate centers. If one of these computer centers goes down, the other will still backup your data and provide you with the latest information on your teams.

Timr pricing

Users can try out Timr for 14 days before paying anything.

The Regular plan is €8 per user per month and includes work hours and mileage tracking. The Plus plan is the same price plus €29 per account per month for project budgets, hourly rates, and budget warnings.

The Enterprise plan includes more advanced leader permissions and customizability. It is available for €8 per user per month and €79 per account per month.

Discounts are available if you opt for annual billing.

6. Gleeo (Android)

Best for: Workforces attending multiple job sites, including plumbers and electricians

Gleeo prioritizes efficient time tracking, but has optional location monitoring services. The user interface is optimized for devices with touch screens so it’s easy to manage on the go.

Users can choose different colors and light themes for their app so it’s visible and accessible in any lighting.

The app simplifies time tracking with start and stop buttons for each job. This is perfect for workers who need to record how long they attend each task.

Tasks can be arranged into projects and the data can be viewed and filtered by hierarchy. This means managers can compile employee data on several levels. You can also view data by generating and exporting reports in real-time. An animated timeline gives easy access to historical location data.

With Gleeo’s Sync&Team service, you can invite new members into a team and data synchronizes often. Only the people who need to have access to a certain project or job data have it. The data is always up-to-date and secure.

Gleeo pricing

Gleeo is the cheapest option on this list with an attractive 30-day free trial. The plan is $2.50 per user per month.

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7. Hellotracks (iOS, Android)

Best for: Workforces attending multiple job sites, including plumbers and electricians

Hellotracks is an all-in-one job tool that does more than track location and hours. It can also collect data on each job.

Using real-time GPS tracking, Hellotracks allows workers to view the optimal route to their next job site. This empowers employees to plan ahead and stay on schedule more easily.

You can set up geofencing to automatically clock employees in and out upon arriving at and leaving a job.

Once at the job, your workers need not worry about using another tool to record their progress. Employees can record data in the app, including photos and client signatures.

All this data is visible to you and any dispatchers. While you can enable employees to use Hellotracks to choose their own routes to a job, you also have the option to suggest routes to them in real-time.

Hellotracks includes analysis and reporting functions, as well. This makes it easier to view timesheets, mileage, and job statuses all in one place.

Hellotracks pricing

Hellotracks also offers a 30-day trial. The single plan is $10 per user per month.

8. Timeero (iOS, Android)

Best for: Mobile workforces who want to reduce travel time and costs

Timeero utilizes an intuitive planner that makes it easy for you to create and assign jobs to your mobile workforce 24 hours a day. You don’t have to worry about anyone missing an assignment. Push notifications inform employees when their schedule has been updated.

It is also a GPS tracking app. You can set up geofenced sites to automate timesheets so your crew can get to work right away.

Timeero allows you to track employee travel without you having to watch an application. Set up waypoint checkpoints and Timeero will send you notifications of where your teams are and when.

Another feature allows you to generate mileage reports at any time. You can use these to find ways to save time and money well before the end of the financial year.

Last, Timeero can also function as a useful HR tool. Workers can request time off from anywhere, and managers can approve or deny it at the touch of a button.

Timeero pricing

Timeero’s free trial lasts for 14 days. The single-option pricing plan is $5 per user per month plus a $10 base fee.

You can choose to be billed monthly or annually. Discounts are available for annual billing or businesses with 100 or more users.

9. Connecteam (iOS, Android)

Best for: Mobile workforces within large organizations, including sales teams

Connecteam is an all-in-one team organizer that is designed for mobile phones. Workers can clock in and out of jobs with the press of a button.

Set up a “kiosk station” if you prefer to track work hours from a centralized location. If someone doesn’t show up for a shift, you can assign another worker. Just see who is closest to the job and click to allocate the work to them.

The hours your workers clock are then uploaded to timesheets. You can review and approve them quickly.

The app gives you the option to make changes, such as registering absences. You can plan for the future by adding shifts or reminders, etc.

Use GPS-enabled mobile devices to track employees’ locations in real-time. Drag-and-drop scheduling and task creation enable you to update job information on the fly. If you need more detail about a specific job, the in-app chat function allows you to communicate with your teams.

Speaking of the in-app communication functions, you can use Connecteam to distribute more than project information. Send out company flyers to keep workers informed and messages to acknowledge top performers. Both are proven ways to boost overall worker productivity.

You can even create custom courses that users can access in-app. Upload teaching materials, create questionnaires to test knowledge, and track who completes each course.

Connecteam is another GPS tracking app that also makes the work itself easier. Employees can record job-relevant information in the app, such as voice recordings and photos.

If you need to assist your field workers by breaking down what they need to accomplish at each job, you can generate checklists for them to tick off as they go. Notifications remind employees if they forget an item.

You can set these checklists up to repeat, too. This is handy if your workers need to carry out similar jobs at multiple sites.

Connecteam pricing

The Basic plan is $35 per month. However, it is $72 per month for advanced features, including geofencing. The Free plan lacks GPS tracking features.

There is also an Expert plan at $149 per month and an Enterprise plan for more than 200 users. The latter plan price is not listed — you must contact Connecteam for a quote.

You can choose to be billed monthly or annually. Discounts are available for annual billing. Try before you buy with a 14-day free trial.

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10. allGEO (iOS, Android)

Best for: Construction teams / sales teams

allGEO’s on-demand location features give you updates in real time. Individual workers and dispatchers can use the app to calculate the best routes to job sites. Mileage is auto-recorded.

allGeo dispenses with manual timekeeping by allowing you to set up geofences that clock users in and out when they enter and leave a site. Employees can then get on with the job faster, recording field notes in the app. This includes signatures and pictures.

All this information can be viewed in a centralized dashboard. Like other apps on this list, you can trigger notifications for things like late check-in or early check-out.

While allGEO allows you to reassign tasks on the fly, you can also trust your teams to help each other. Employees can see everyone’s location in the app. So, if they need help on a job, they can reach out to their nearest colleague.

allGEO’s primary draw is its code-free customizability. Create job-specific workflows and forms and see workers completing their tasks in real-time. This makes it easier to spot pain points and update assignments and schedules on the fly.

Workflows also make work safer for your employees. By following step-by-step processes, you can trust your employees to do their jobs the right way.

allGeo pricing

allGeo starts at $5 per user per month plus $10 per device and a $10 one-time setup fee. You can try the app without commitment for 14 days.

The prices vary according to the number of users, the features selected, and whether you pay per month or year.

11. Vismo (iOS, Android, Windows, Satellite Phones, Personal Trackers)

Best for: Teams working in dangerous locations

Vismo prioritizes the safety of remote staff, whether they work locally or around the world. This app is a popular option for businesses whose employees work in dangerous locations or who are at risk of physical or verbal abuse.

By tracking the location of teams via the GPS in their devices, operators can see if anyone is in the area of any harmful or troublesome incidents.

Operators also have the option to create geofences around high-risk areas. Should a worker enter a geofenced space, they will receive an alert to inform them. These alerts can be customized to include any information you want, such as what steps to take to reach safety.

Further, Vismo records the location history of its users. This enables reviewers to trace worker activity, including anyone they may have come into contact with who might be a risk (e.g., COVID-19 carrier).

Employees can also request information or plan actions with their colleagues via the in-app peer-to-peer communication system.

Vismo pricing

Prices are not listed. Contact Vismo for a personalized quote.

No free trial is available, but Vismo offers demo sessions.

12. Timely (iOS, Android)

Best for: Remote (decentralized) companies / teams who want to improve productivity

While most of the other apps on this list are built for mobile workforces, Timely is suitable for remote workers with access to a desktop computer or laptop.

Timely is a project management and productivity tool which also has GPS tracking features.

The app breaks work down into time spent on specific tasks and applications. Workers can observe how they spend their time and identify applications they need to cut out to improve their productivity. For example, they might discover they spend too long on social media sites when they should be working. They can then take steps to change their habits.

Using Timely’s project schedule function, leaders can identify which tasks are taking longer than expected. Or which ones require more resources. They can then use this information to plan better project timelines in the future or generate payroll and performance review reports.

Timely integrates with a range of third-party applications, including your mobile device’s GPS. This gives users who need to record their travel time the ability to track how long they were in transit. Managers may even want to record how long meetings last.

This information can then be used to inform planning and policies, potentially saving your teams time and your business money.

Timely pricing

The Starter plan is $10 per user per month for limited users and projects. More features and unlimited users start from $18 per user per month with the Premium plan.

The Unlimited plan includes priority support and is available from $26 per user per month. The Enterprise plan is ideal for large and complex businesses, but you must contact Timely for a price.

You can choose to be billed monthly or annually. Discounts are available for annual billing. You can try any plan for 14 days beforehand.

Next steps

Don’t commit to an app just yet. Start a free trial with the one with the features that best suit you and your team’s needs. This will allow you to know for sure if the app will serve your business as you hope.

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While trialing the app, ask yourself a few questions:

• If the app has a reporting dashboard, is it easy to navigate?
• Do your field workers find the app easy to use?
• Are there any features you or your teams didn’t end up using?
• Is any part of your job made harder by using the app?
• Is the support team easy to contact and helpful?

If you’re still not sure which app is right for you, answer the following questions to narrow down the options:

• Why is it important for you to track your employees throughout the day?
• Do you prefer to automate as much as possible, or are you happy to let your employees clock in and out on their own?
• Which features are must-haves, nice-to-haves, and unnecessary?
• How much are you willing to spend?
• Do you want to trial the app before you commit?

Once you have answered these questions, look at this list again to find one or two apps that might serve your needs. Read user reviews on Google and your app store of choice to decide which one you want to trial first.

Remember, an employee tracking app should make your job easier. If you aren’t convinced by a free trial, try one of the other options from our list. Finding the ideal employee location tracking app will save you time and energy.

This post was originally published in February 2020. It was updated in February 2021.