Keeping track of employee attendance, work hours, and overall team productivity has never been more important. With remote and hybrid work setups becoming the norm in 2026, businesses are turning to time and attendance software to stay organized, cut down on errors, and keep up with changing labor laws.

With so many options available, finding the right fit for your team can be a challenge.

In this blog, we’ve rounded up five of the best employee time tracking software options for 2026. We’re looking at what really matters, reliability, useful features, room to grow, and how well they actually perform in the real world. Whether you’re running a small team or managing a large organization, these tools have what it takes to help you stay on top of your workforce management game.

Best Employee Time Tracking Software in the UK

If you're looking to improve productivity and keep better track of how your team spends their time, you're in the right place. We’ve rounded up some of the best employee time tracking software tools in the UK, featuring top picks like MaxelTracker, Time Champ, Hubstaff, DeskTime, and Jibble. These tools are built to help you manage work hours more effectively, improve operations, and get clearer insights into your team's day-to-day activities.

1. MaxelTracker

MaxelTracker is a reliable employee time tracking software designed for remote, hybrid, and in-office teams. It does more than just track time—it gives you detailed activity logs, monitors websites and apps, and delivers clear productivity insights. It also includes role-based access, geo-location tracking, and department-specific insights, making it a well-rounded solution for companies looking for more than just attendance.

Whether you're monitoring shifts, evaluating team productivity, or analyzing app usage, MaxelTracker helps you handle it all in one place.

Pros:

1. Real-time insights on employee activity

2. Screenshot capture with blur options for privacy

3. Built-in productivity scoring per department

4. Customizable alerts and work clocks

5. Works as both employee time tracking software and attendance tracking software

Cons:

1. No mobile app yet (desktop-first)

2. May require onboarding for first-time users

Pricing: Starts at $1.96/user/month

Free Trial: 14-day free trial

2. Time Champ

Time Champ is a reliable attendance tracking software that also functions as a time and productivity tool for teams of all sizes. With features like idle time detection, screen capture, and real-time dashboards, it helps managers stay on top of how time is spent throughout the workday.

This employee time tracking software is especially useful for organizations that want to improve efficiency, reduce time wastage, and better manage remote or hybrid employees.

Pros:

1. Tracks time, idle minutes, and app usage

2. Real-time team dashboards

3. Affordable and scalable for small to medium businesses

4. Combines productivity tools with attendance tracking software features

Cons:

1. UI could feel outdated for some users

2. Reports need customization to avoid info overload

Pricing: Starts at $2.49 /user/month
Free Trial: Yes, 7-day free trial

3. Hubstaff

Hubstaff is a well-known employee time tracking software that helps businesses manage remote teams, field workers, and freelancers with ease. Its features include GPS tracking, automatic timesheets, activity levels, and project-based time reporting. Hubstaff also integrates with popular tools like Trello, QuickBooks, and Asana for smooth workflow management.

With built-in attendance tracking software capabilities, Hubstaff is a top choice for teams that want both flexibility and accountability.

Pros:

1. Location tracking with geofencing

2. Supports automated payroll and invoicing

3. Detailed productivity and attendance reports

4. Works well for distributed and mobile teams

Cons:

1. Some users find the monitoring features too invasive

2. Premium plans are required for most integrations and advanced features

Pricing: Starts at $7/user/month
Free Trial: Yes, 14-day free trial

4. DeskTime

DeskTime is a fully automatic employee time tracking software that also doubles as an attendance tracking software solution. It starts tracking the moment an employee logs into their computer and categorizes time spent across productive, unproductive, and neutral tasks. It’s perfect for businesses that want effortless tracking without constant manual input.

From tracking office hours to understanding productivity patterns, DeskTime makes it easy to stay informed without interrupting your team’s workflow.

Pros:

1. Automatic start/stop time tracking

2. Productivity scores and detailed reports

3. Tracks offline time and breaks habits

4. Seamless attendance tracking software integration

Cons:

1. Not very customizable compared to others

2. Limited features in the lower-tier plans

Pricing: Starts at £5/user/month
Free Trial: Yes, 14-day free trial

5. Jibble

Jibble is a modern cloud-based attendance tracking software that also works well as an employee time tracking software for companies across industries. It offers GPS-enabled mobile clock-ins, facial recognition, and kiosk-based time entry, making it ideal for field teams and hourly staff.

With scheduling, project tracking, and payroll-ready reports, Jibble is a practical solution for companies needing flexibility, security, and ease of use in one platform.

Pros:

1. Mobile-friendly with GPS and face recognition

2. Great for managing shift workers and field teams

3. Free forever plan available

4. Combines time tracking and attendance management

Cons:

1. Reporting is basic on the free plan 

2. The admin dashboard may lag with larger teams

Pricing: Free plan available and upgrade also

Paid plans start at $1.98 /user/month

Why MaxelTracker Stands Out From the Rest

When it comes to employee time tracking software, MaxelTracker brings more than just the basics. While tools like Hubstaff and DeskTime focus on monitoring or timesheets alone, MaxelTracker combines deep workforce analytics, department-specific insights, and privacy-conscious monitoring, without overwhelming your team or managers.

Here’s what truly sets it apart:

1. Built for Real-Time Workforce Efficiency

MaxelTracker doesn't just log hours, it gives you a live window into what’s happening. From system status (locked/unlocked, idle) to app usage trends and even geo-locations, you can monitor productivity with real-time accuracy.

Other tools may offer time logs, but MaxelTracker translates that data into actionable workforce insights.

2. Department-Wise Productivity Insights

Instead of lumping everyone’s data together, MaxelTracker allows managers to drill down into department-specific behavior. Want to know how Marketing compares to Sales in app usage? Done.

Tools like Time Champ and Jibble lack this level of department-focused control.

3. Smart Screenshots with Privacy First

MaxelTracker takes regular screenshots but gives users the ability to blur sensitive content, balancing oversight and trust. This is especially important for teams working with confidential data.

Hubstaff and DeskTime offer screenshots, but without the same thoughtful privacy features.

4. Role-Based Access and Control

Managers, team leads, and employees can all access the platform, but only see what they need. MaxelTracker supports role-based permissions, keeping data safe and access intentional.

Many tools keep permissions simple, but that can create information overload or privacy issues.

5. Affordable and Scalable

Starting at just $1.97/user/month, MaxelTracker offers advanced features that you’d typically find in enterprise software—at a price small businesses can actually afford.

Compare that to DeskTime at $7+ or Hubstaff’s $7–$25 range, and the value is clear.

6. All-in-One Tracking for Apps, Systems, and Time

MaxelTracker goes beyond time tracking to include app usage logs, system status, location tracking, and even clocks with activity alerts. You don’t need separate software for each, everything is bundled in one clean dashboard.

Final Thoughts

As businesses continue to adapt to remote work, flexible schedules, and evolving labor regulations in 2026, the demand for reliable, accurate, and user-friendly employee time tracking software is only growing. Whether it's staying compliant or helping your team work more efficiently, the right software can completely change how you manage your workforce.

MaxelTracker brings everything together in one smart, easy-to-use platform designed for today’s dynamic teams. With advanced tracking features, department-level insights, privacy-focused monitoring, and affordable pricing, it helps you stay in control, whether your team is in-office, hybrid, or fully remote. If you're ready to simplify your attendance tracking, boost productivity, and gain real-time visibility into how work gets done, MaxelTracker is the smart choice to move your business forward.