Buddy Punch vs PunchFlow
Buddy Punch
buddypunch.comPunchFlow
punchflowapp.comSide by side
| Figure | Buddy Punch | PunchFlow |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $0.50/mo | A$10/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 7 | 4 |
| Spec score · Time Clock Software | 8.7 (#3) | 8.4 (#9) |
| Headquarters | Appleton, Wisconsin, United States | Campbellfield, Victoria, Australia |
| Security | The maker says data is encrypted at rest and in transit and that systems undergo regular security audits and vulnerability assessments. | PunchFlow says employee PINs are bcrypt-hashed, failed attempts trigger automatic lockout, and connections use HTTPS encryption. |
| Support | Buddy Punch says its support representatives are U.S.-based, and Advanced includes dedicated support and priority onboarding. | The Help Centre says PunchFlow replies to support inquiries within one business day; the Unlimited plan includes priority support. |
| Who it serves | The maker presents Buddy Punch for field, office/remote, and on-site teams, including construction, healthcare, restaurants, and retail. | PunchFlow describes its audience as small businesses and shift-based teams, including cafes, retail stores, trades businesses, and small offices. |
Plans
Buddy Punch
- Starter (monthly billing)$4.99 a month
- Starter (annual billing)$5.99 a year
- Pro (monthly billing)$6.99 a month
- Pro (annual billing)$7.99 a year
- Advanced (monthly billing)$12.99 a month
- Advanced (annual billing)$13.99 a year
- Payroll add-on$849 a month
In their own words
Buddy Punch
Buddy Punch is employee time and attendance software for businesses managing field, office, remote, and on-site teams. It covers scheduling, attendance, PTO, break tracking, timesheet approvals, and attendance reports. Clock-in and clock-out records become timesheets, with hours calculated automatically. Punch verification options include GPS locations, geofencing, and photos; clock-ins are available through web, mobile apps, kiosk PIN, QR code, text message, group punch, and Face ID. iOS and Android apps are listed, along with Chromebook access through a ChromeOS app. Pro supports offline punches that sync when a device reconnects. Integrations include QuickBooks, ADP Workforce Now, Gusto, Paychex, Paylocity, Workday, and Zapier, and an external API can create and edit workforce records. Payroll is an add-on covering payments, tax filings, direct deposit, and W-2 and 1099 processing. Plans are paid after a 14-day trial, which requires no credit card; Starter starts at $4.99 a month billed monthly.
PunchFlow
PunchFlow is a browser-based employee time clock for small businesses and shift-based teams. At a shared kiosk, employees choose their name and enter a unique four-digit PIN; they do not need an app, login, or individual account. Managers can maintain pay rates and employee history, oversee multiple kiosk locations, and see who is working on a live dashboard. Reports show hours, breaks, and estimated pay by employee and date range, with CSV and PDF export options. Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks, and CSV-compatible payroll tools are listed as destinations, but the current process is CSV export and upload rather than a native payroll API. The employee portal, available on Pro and higher plans, lets staff view timesheets and earnings and flag punches for an administrator. Optional GPS-radius and IP restrictions can limit clock-in locations. The kiosk runs in a browser on tablets, phones, laptops, or desktops without installation. Plans are Free at free, Basic at A$10 a month, Pro at A$25 a month, and Unlimited at A$99 a month.