Comparison
TrackBadges vs Deputy
Choose TrackBadges if your crews don't run on a rota and you need buddy-proof clock-ins at the gate or the truck for a fraction of the cost. Choose Deputy if building shift schedules, managing labor compliance and forecasting staffing matter as much as the time clock.
The short answer
TrackBadges is a QR badge time clock: a supervisor scans each employee's printed badge with any phone, so the crew needs no app or smartphone. Deputy is a shift scheduling and time and attendance platform for hourly teams, with an iPad or Android kiosk and Face Unlock on higher tiers.
TrackBadges vs Deputy at a glance
| TrackBadges | Deputy | |
|---|---|---|
| How employees clock in | A supervisor (or a shared tablet) scans each employee's printed QR badge. Scan once to clock in, again to clock out. | In the Deputy app on the employee's phone, or at a shared Kiosk on an iPad or Android tablet with a PIN (Face Unlock on Core and above). |
| Does each employee need a smartphone? | No. Employees carry a printed badge. | No — the kiosk covers employees without phones. |
| QR codes | Every employee gets a printed QR badge. | Not found in Deputy's pricing or feature pages. |
| One supervisor clocks in a crew | Yes — it's how it works. One phone clocks in the whole crew. | Not found in Deputy's plans or help pages. |
| Hardware | None. Any phone or tablet; badges print on paper. | None required; the kiosk needs an iPad or Android tablet. |
| Free plan | Free for up to 3 people, with every feature. | No free plan; free trial. |
| Pricing | Free for up to 3 people. Pro is $9 a month for your first 3 people, plus $1.50 a month for each person after that. | Per user: Lite $5.50, Core $7.25, Pro $10 a month billed monthly ($5 / $6.50 / $9 annually). Monthly plans have a $30 minimum monthly spend. |
| Monthly cost, 10 people | $19.50/mo | $55/mo |
| Monthly cost, 25 people | $42/mo | $137.50/mo |
| Monthly cost, 50 people | $79.50/mo | $275/mo |
Deputy costs use Lite at $5.50 per user billed monthly, with Deputy's $30 minimum monthly spend. TrackBadges is billed monthly. Prices were checked in October 2026 and change, so check Deputy's site before you buy.
What it costs a month
10 people / month
25 people / month
50 people / month
Scheduling platform vs crew time clock
Deputy is first a scheduling platform: build rosters, swap shifts, enforce break and overtime rules, forecast labor. Its time clock is a kiosk on an iPad or Android tablet where employees enter a PIN. TrackBadges does one job: a supervisor scans each crew member's badge with any phone, and you get live who's-working, overtime and payroll-ready timesheets.
| Crew size | TrackBadges | Deputy Lite |
|---|---|---|
| 10 people | $19.50/mo | $55/mo |
| 25 people | $42/mo | $137.50/mo |
| 50 people | $79.50/mo | $275/mo |
Deputy prices are billed monthly; Deputy's monthly plans have a $30 minimum spend.
Deputy: what it does well, and where it falls short
Strengths
- Strong shift scheduling, labor-law compliance rules and forecasting.
- Kiosk on iPad or Android with PIN, and Face Unlock on higher tiers.
- Integrates with many payroll and POS systems.
Drawbacks
- A $30 minimum monthly spend on monthly plans.
- Per-user costs rise quickly as teams grow.
- Built for scheduled shifts at fixed locations more than crews on job sites.
Choose TrackBadges if…
Choose TrackBadges if your crews don't run on a rota and you need buddy-proof clock-ins at the gate or the truck for a fraction of the cost.
Choose Deputy if…
Choose Deputy if building shift schedules, managing labor compliance and forecasting staffing matter as much as the time clock.
Frequently asked questions
How much do TrackBadges and Deputy cost?
For 10 people, TrackBadges costs $19.50/mo and Deputy costs $55/mo; for 25 people it's $42/mo against $137.50/mo. Deputy's figures use Lite at $5.50 per user billed monthly, with Deputy's $30 minimum monthly spend, checked in October 2026. TrackBadges is free for up to 3 people; Pro is $9 a month plus $1.50 per person after 3.
Do employees need a smartphone for Deputy?
No — the kiosk covers employees without phones.
What's the main difference between TrackBadges and Deputy?
Deputy is a shift scheduling and time and attendance platform for hourly teams, with an iPad or Android kiosk and Face Unlock on higher tiers. TrackBadges is a QR badge time clock: employees carry a printed badge and a supervisor's phone scans the whole crew in and out, so nobody on the crew needs an app, login or phone.
Does Deputy have a minimum charge?
Yes. Deputy's monthly plans have a $30 minimum monthly spend. Lite is $5.50 per user a month billed monthly, or $5 billed annually.
More comparisons
- Deputy alternativesLooking for a Deputy alternative? 6 time clocks compared on price, how employees clock in and whether they need a smartphone. Prices checked October 2026.
- vs JibbleTrackBadges vs Jibble: how employees clock in, whether they need a phone, and what 10, 25 or 50 people cost a month. Prices checked October 2026.
- vs TimeDockTrackBadges vs TimeDock: how employees clock in, whether they need a phone, and what 10, 25 or 50 people cost a month. Prices checked October 2026.
- vs ConnecteamTrackBadges vs Connecteam: how employees clock in, whether they need a phone, and what 10, 25 or 50 people cost a month. Prices checked October 2026.
- The best QR code time clock apps in 2026The best QR code time clock apps of 2026: who scans the badge, whether workers need a phone, and what 10, 25 and 50 people cost a month.
Switching from Deputy? Your crew could be scanning in today.
Print a QR badge for everyone and scan them in and out with any phone or tablet. Free for up to 3 people — try it with your real crew before you sign up.