Comparison
TrackBadges vs OnTheClock
Choose TrackBadges if a supervisor clocks in crews at different sites and you want badge-verified punches for about a third of the price per person. Choose OnTheClock if you want a simple self-service time clock with PTO tracking, or a fingerprint clock at one location.
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. OnTheClock is a simple online time clock for small businesses, with a mobile app, web clock, a shared "group punch" kiosk and an optional fingerprint clock.
TrackBadges vs OnTheClock at a glance
| TrackBadges | OnTheClock | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 OnTheClock app or web clock, or at a shared Group Punch kiosk where employees enter their employee number; a fingerprint clock is optional. |
| Does each employee need a smartphone? | No. Employees carry a printed badge. | No — the Group Punch kiosk covers employees without phones. |
| QR codes | Every employee gets a printed QR badge. | Not found in OnTheClock'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 as a supervisor workflow; Group Punch is a shared kiosk where employees punch themselves. |
| Hardware | None. Any phone or tablet; badges print on paper. | None required; an optional fingerprint clock is sold separately. |
| Free plan | Free for up to 3 people, with every feature. | No free plan; 30-day 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. | $5 a month base plus $4 per employee, billed monthly. |
| Monthly cost, 10 people | $19.50/mo | $45/mo |
| Monthly cost, 25 people | $42/mo | $105/mo |
| Monthly cost, 50 people | $79.50/mo | $205/mo |
OnTheClock costs use $5 a month plus $4 per employee, billed monthly. TrackBadges is billed monthly. Prices were checked in October 2026 and change, so check OnTheClock's site before you buy.
What it costs a month
10 people / month
25 people / month
50 people / month
Self-service kiosk vs supervisor scan
OnTheClock's Group Punch turns a shared device into a kiosk where each employee types their employee number. TrackBadges' scanner does the opposite: the supervisor scans each worker's printed QR badge. A number can be typed for a friend; a badge scanned by the foreman can't be faked by someone who isn't there.
| Crew size | TrackBadges | OnTheClock |
|---|---|---|
| 10 people | $19.50/mo | $45/mo |
| 25 people | $42/mo | $105/mo |
| 50 people | $79.50/mo | $205/mo |
OnTheClock: what it does well, and where it falls short
Strengths
- Simple, transparent pricing.
- Group Punch kiosk, PTO tracking and payroll integrations.
- Optional fingerprint clock for buddy-punching control.
Drawbacks
- Group Punch kiosk relies on employee numbers, which can be shared.
- No supervisor crew clock-in.
- Public reviews mention limited reporting and occasional missed punches.
Choose TrackBadges if…
Choose TrackBadges if a supervisor clocks in crews at different sites and you want badge-verified punches for about a third of the price per person.
Choose OnTheClock if…
Choose OnTheClock if you want a simple self-service time clock with PTO tracking, or a fingerprint clock at one location.
Frequently asked questions
How much do TrackBadges and OnTheClock cost?
For 10 people, TrackBadges costs $19.50/mo and OnTheClock costs $45/mo; for 25 people it's $42/mo against $105/mo. OnTheClock's figures use $5 a month plus $4 per employee, billed monthly, 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 OnTheClock?
No — the Group Punch kiosk covers employees without phones.
What's the main difference between TrackBadges and OnTheClock?
OnTheClock is a simple online time clock for small businesses, with a mobile app, web clock, a shared "group punch" kiosk and an optional fingerprint clock. 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.
How much does OnTheClock cost?
OnTheClock is $5 a month plus $4 per employee, billed monthly, with a 30-day free trial. For 10 employees that's $45 a month; TrackBadges is $19.50 a month for 10 people.
More comparisons
- OnTheClock alternativesLooking for a OnTheClock 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 OnTheClock? 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.