If you are looking into Buddy Punch pricing and wondering how it measures up against other time tracking tools, you’ve come to the right place. It’s smarter to know what you’re signing up for before you hit that “Start Free Trial” button.
In this post, we’re gonna walk you through how Buddy Punch’s pricing works, what each plan includes, what that base fee is all about, and how it stacks up against other smarter tools.
Buddy Punch Pricing Plans
Buddy Punch is a popular employee time clock and scheduling software. They’ve got three main plans: Starter, Pro, and Enterprise. The good news? You get a 14-day free trial no matter which plan you’re eyeing, so you can take it for a spin before committing.
Buddy Punch uses a subscription model. That means you’re paying every month, and the pricing has two parts:
- A per-user fee
- A flat base fee of $19/month
This base fee is fixed, no matter how many users you have, and is essentially an account fee for administrative access. It is a small fee, but it does add a little extra to your monthly bill, especially if you’re a small team.
Here’s a quick breakdown of Buddy Punch’s current pricing (billed monthly):
- Starter – $5.49 per user/month + $19 base fee. This is the entry-level plan with essential time tracking features.
- Pro – $6.99 per user/month + $19 base fee. This mid-tier plan includes everything in Starter, plus advanced features like employee scheduling and other extras.
- Enterprise – $11.99 per user/month + $19 base fee. This top-tier plan includes everything in Pro, with additional enterprise-level capabilities (like API access and Single Sign-On). Enterprise can also be billed annually at a slight discount (about $10.99 per user/month annually). For large organizations, Buddy Punch may offer custom quotes if you have a lot of users.
The Starter plan
The Starter plan is Buddy Punch’s most basic option. But it covers a lot of the must-haves if you’re just looking to track time without all the extras.
Here’s what you get:
- Clock in and out from the web or mobile app
- PTO tracking (yep, you can manage time off)
- Basic GPS tagging so you know where people are clocking in from
- Job codes to track time by task or client
- Simple reports to make payroll easier
- Alerts and reminders to help your team clock in or out on time
- Basic integrations with payroll software
If you’re a small team or a business that just needs solid attendance tracking, this plan does the job. It keeps things simple and gets you up and running without a steep learning curve or a heavy price tag. All in all, the Starter tier is the most affordable Buddy Punch pricing level. But, please keep that base fee in mind.
The Pro plan
The Pro plan is the most popular pricing plan of Buddy Punch. It gives you everything from the Starter plan, plus a bunch of helpful extras. The Pro plan hits the sweet spot in the Buddy Punch pricing lineup, balancing features and affordability for growing teams.
Here’s what you’ll get:
- A full scheduling module with drag-and-drop tools
- Shift swapping so employees can trade shifts (with approval)
- Geofencing, so people can only clock in from approved locations
- Clocking in with QR codes or a shared kiosk
- The webcam photo-on-punch feature (helps prevent buddy punching—when one person clocks in for another)
If you’ve got rotating shifts, hourly teams, or locations to manage, this plan makes things a whole lot easier.
The Enterprise plan
The Enterprise plan is the top-tier option, and it’s built for bigger teams with more complex needs. You get everything from the Pro plan, plus a few powerful extras designed for larger organizations.
Here’s what’s included:
- Advanced GPS tracking with more detailed location reports
- Dedicated enterprise support (so you’re not waiting around for help)
- API access for building custom integrations
- Single Sign-On (SSO) for easier and more secure user management
In short, if you’re running a larger company and need tighter control, better integrations, or extra support, Enterprise has you covered. It’s designed for teams that need flexibility and scalability.
One thing you’ll want to keep in mind is Buddy Punch doesn’t have a “Premium” plan. It does offer add-ons that you can tack onto any plan.
For example,
- Payroll Processing: Itosts an extra $6 per user/month, and bumps the base fee up to $39/month. It lets you run payroll, handle direct deposits, and take care of tax filings.
- Advanced Scheduling Tools: You can add this for $1 per user/month if you need more control over complex shift planning.
- Real-Time GPS Tracking: This add-on helps you track where your team is in real-time at $2 per user/month.
So yeah, you can mix and match based on what your team actually needs, which is nice. But if you stack a few of these add-ons, your bill can grow faster than you expected. It’s a good idea to map out exactly what you need before committing.
The bottom line on Buddy Punch’s cost:
The per-user price looks nice at first, but once you add in the base fee and any extra features, your employee time tracking cost can end up higher than expected.
Let’s look at a couple of quick examples:
- A small team of 5 on the Starter plan would pay:
$5.49 × 5 users = $27.45
Add the $19 base fee = Total: $46.45/month - A team of 20 on the Pro plan would pay:
$6.99 × 20 users = $139.80
Add the $19 base fee = Total: $158.80/month
So keep the full picture in mind when budgeting, because the true monthly cost can be a bit higher than what the sticker price suggests.
Flowace Pricing Plans Overview
Now, if you’re comparing tools and wondering if there’s something more budget-friendly out there, Flowace might just be what you’re looking for.
Flowace is an AI-powered time tracking and productivity tool that’s built to be smarter and more affordable than traditional time trackers like Buddy Punch. The best part? The pricing is super straightforward. No base fees. No sneaky extras. Just a simple per-user monthly rate, and that’s it.
Let’s break down Flowace’s time tracking software pricing to see how it compares to Buddy Punch pricing plans:
- Basic Plan: The Basic Plan costs $2.99 per user each month. If you choose annual billing, it gets even cheaper, just $1.99 per user per month. Despite being called “Basic,” this plan actually includes a lot of useful features right out of the gate.
- Standard Plan: The Standard Plan is priced at $4.99 per user per month, or about $4.00 with an annual commitment. It’s Flowace’s most popular plan because it builds on the Basic features and adds more advanced productivity tracking tools.
- Premium Plan: The Premium Plan comes in at $10 per user each month, or roughly $7.00 if billed annually. This plan gives you access to everything Flowace has to offer, including the full suite of advanced features, deeper insights, and priority customer support.
Now, let’s see what do you actually get for these lower prices.
Flowace Basic Plan
Flowace stands out as one of the most affordable time tracking tools, yet it still packs in serious value. Flowace Basic gives you:
- Automatic time tracking (no manual punching)
- Unlimited projects, tasks, and users
- Unlimited screenshots
- Activity tracking (active vs idle time)
- Dashboards for teams and individuals
- Even work-life balance metrics to help avoid burnout
It’s totally hands-off. You don’t have to start or stop timers. It runs silently in the background and logs your work automatically.
Flowace Standard Plan
If you want more insights, the Standard plan builds on Basic. It adds:
- Employee productivity tracking features (tracks which apps/websites are helpful vs distracting)
- Inactivity alerts and break tracking
- Detailed app/web usage reports
- Integrations with tools like Jira, Asana, and Salesforce
- Daily email summaries and even 3 onboarding sessions to help you get started
At just around $4–5/user, it’s still way cheaper than Buddy Punch Pro and offers more in terms of productivity tracking and automation. It is perfect for you if you’re managing a remote team or want to make sure your team stays focused.
Flowace Premium Plan
The premium plan brings the full power package. You get everything in Standard plus:
- Client logins
- An executive dashboard for high-level metrics
- Single Sign-On (SSO) and auto-user provisioning
- A dedicated account manager
- Deeper monitoring like internet uptime and keyboard/mouse logs
Even at ~$10/user, it’s still more affordable than Buddy Punch once you factor in their base fees. And for larger teams, Flowace even offers volume discounts or custom pricing.
Buddy Punch vs. Flowace – Feature and Pricing Comparison
Now that we’ve outlined each tool’s pricing and features, let’s do a side-by-side comparison. This will highlight where each tool shines and where you might hit limitations.
Aspect | Buddy Punch | Flowace |
Free Trial | 14 days – all features, no credit card required | 7 days – all features, no credit card required |
Pricing Structure | Per-user pricing plus a $19/month base fee on every plan | Per-user pricing only – no base fees or hidden charges |
Entry-Level Plan | Starter: $5.49/user/month (monthly billing) + $19 base fee | Basic: $2.99/user/month (as low as $1.99 with annual billing) |
Mid-Tier Plan | Pro: $6.99/user/month + $19 base fee | Standard: $4.99/user/month (~$4 with annual billing) |
Top-Tier Plan | Enterprise: $11.99/user/month + $19 base fee | Premium: $9.99/user/month (~$7 with annual billing) |
Automatic Time Tracking | No – employees must manually clock in/out via app or web | Yes – runs silently in the background, no manual input needed |
Employee Scheduling | Yes – included in Pro & Enterprise; available as $1/user add-on | No native scheduling (use with a separate tool if needed) |
GPS & Location Tracking | GPS tracking on punch (Starter); geofencing & real-time GPS (Pro & Enterprise) | Minimal – Flowace focuses on computer activity, not physical location |
Work Screenshots | No continuous screenshots; webcam photo at punch (Pro+) | Yes – unlimited automatic screenshots to monitor activity |
Productivity Analytics | Basic timesheet reports; no app/website usage tracking | Advanced analytics – app/website usage, productivity scoring, idle alerts |
Payroll Integration | Yes – via $6/user add-on or payroll exports (supports QuickBooks, ADP, etc.) | No built-in payroll; supports exports and external integration |
Tool Integrations | Payroll/HR integrations (QuickBooks, ADP, Gusto, etc.) | Productivity/work tools (Jira, Asana, Trello, Salesforce, +10 others) |
Support & Onboarding | Live chat & email (Mon–Fri business hours); help center & videos | Email/ticket support for all plans; Standard includes onboarding sessions; Premium gets a dedicated account manager |
Best For | Businesses with hourly workers, field teams, or shift-based workplaces | Remote teams, freelancers, or productivity-focused organizations looking for automation and monitoring |
Why Flowace Is a Better Alternative
If you’re comparing Buddy Punch pricing vs Flowace pricing, you’re probably trying to find the best value time tracking software for your team. Here’s why Flowace often comes out on top as the better alternative:
- It’s Way Cheaper
Flowace skips the $19 base fee Buddy Punch charges. So, with a small team, you’ll save a lot. Even Flowace’s Premium plan can cost less than Buddy Punch’s Starter. You get more features for fewer dollars. Combined with the right time management techniques, it is perfect for startups, nonprofits, or any business watching its budget. - No Hidden Fees
You only pay per user—no surprises. Whether you have 3 users or 30, the pricing stays simple. With Buddy Punch, that base fee adds up fast, especially for small teams. - Built-In Productivity Features
Flowace tracks work automatically in the background—no clocking in/out needed. It captures screenshots, monitors app/website usage, tracks employee idle time, and even gives productivity scores. With Buddy Punch, you’d need extra tools (and costs) for all that. - Less Hassle, More Automation
Flowace logs time silently while your team works. No one has to remember to punch in. It’s more accurate, reduces manual edits, and even tracks offline work that syncs later. - Grows With You
Flowace is flexible. You can upgrade within the tool if your needs grow. With the added ability to support workload analysis for better time management, they’re constantly improving while keeping the platform lean. - Made for Remote Teams
Flowace is the better choice when it comes to enhancing remote team productivity, especially for knowledge workers and distributed teams. It’s focused on how time is spent, not just when. If productivity matters more than attendance, Flowace gives you real visibility.
Buddy Punch is great for shift workers or field teams. But if your goal is saving money and boosting productivity, Flowace gives you more bang for your buck. It’s like getting enterprise-level features at a small business price.
Final Thoughts
In the Buddy Punch vs. Flowace debate, it really comes down to what you need. Buddy Punch is great for shift-based teams, especially with its scheduling tools. But it’s pricey once you add everything up.
Flowace, on the other hand, gives you more features for less. You get automatic time tracking, productivity insights, and simple pricing—no base fees or hidden costs. It’s built for modern teams who want to work smarter, not just clock in and out.
If you’re checking out “Buddy Punch pricing,” take a second look at Flowace. It might save you serious money and give you better tools. You can test it out free for 7 days—no strings attached.
At the end of the day, the best time tracker is the one that fits your team and keeps things simple. For a lot of businesses, Flowace is that better fit.
Schedule a free demo today and explore the full potential of your team with Flowace.
FAQs:
- What is the base fee for Buddy Punch, and how does it affect pricing?
Buddy Punch charges a $19/month base fee on top of its per-user pricing. This fee applies to all plans and can significantly increase costs for small teams. - Is Flowace a cheaper alternative to Buddy Punch?
Yes, Flowace is generally more affordable. It has no base fees and offers lower per-user pricing, starting at $2.99/month, making it ideal for small or remote teams. - Does Flowace offer automatic time tracking like Buddy Punch?
Flowace offers fully automated time tracking that runs in the background—no manual clocking in or out needed. Buddy Punch requires manual punches via app or web. - Which tool is better for remote teams—Buddy Punch or Flowace?
Flowace is better suited for remote and distributed teams. It focuses on productivity analytics, app usage tracking, and automation, while Buddy Punch is ideal for shift-based teams. - Can I try Flowace before committing to a paid plan?
Yes, Flowace offers a 7-day free trial with access to all features—no credit card required. It’s a great way to compare it directly with Buddy Punch before choosing.