Employee time clock app & digital time clock – mobile or PIN tablet.

Employees clock in via the iOS/Android app or a shared PIN tablet. Owners and HR review time entries in the browser.

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Active internet connection required · No credit card · Hosted in Frankfurt

AI-generated depiction of a male employee clocking in at a Shiftdesk tablet terminal
PIN tablet from Pro
AI-generated depiction

Clock in by app or PIN tablet, review time entries in the browser

Time clock app

In every plan: employees clock in on the iOS or Android app.

Explore the employee app

Web dashboard

Owners and HR review time entries in the browser; no general employee access.

Explore time tracking

Tablet terminal

From Pro: employees clock in with a personal PIN on a shared tablet.

Explore the PIN tablet

What the Shiftdesk digital time clock can do

Start, finish & breaks

Employees record the start and end of work and breaks by app or PIN tablet.

Break records and rules

Configured break deductions support reviews; they do not prove that a break was taken.

Hours account from Pro

Review scheduled and recorded time as well as positive and negative hour balances.

Assigned to the schedule

Scheduled and clocked times are available in one system for review.

CSV time record export

Owners and HR export recorded time as CSV for payroll preparation.

Review and approval

Owners and HR review, approve or edit open corrections and back-entries.

Checking breaks for a shift by hand? The free Break & rest period calculator works out the ArbZG minimum break and rest period instantly. For legal guidance, see working time recording and ArbZG guidance.

Real product interface

Clock status, break and balance directly on the tablet

After signing in with their PIN, employees see their current status. Owners and HR then review the recorded time in the web dashboard.

Current status

Clocked in or on a break

Personal PIN

Shared terminal from Pro

Hour balance

Hours account from Pro

Shiftdesk tablet terminal during a running break with weekly hours and hour balance

Digital time clock for shift-based businesses

Male cleaning employee with a smartphone at a work site

Cleaning & field service

Mobile app for changing sites; optionally one location point when clocking.

Employee clocks in at the Shiftdesk tablet terminal in a restaurant kitchen

Restaurants & hospitality

PIN tablet for shift start, breaks and finish – available from Pro.

Warehouse employee records working time at the Shiftdesk tablet terminal

Warehouse & logistics

Shared PIN tablet at the staff entrance for assigned clock records.

Plans for the app and tablet terminal

The employee app is included in every plan; the PIN tablet and hours account start with Pro.

Basic

€25

per month · 6 employees included

  • Shift scheduling with drag and drop
  • Time tracking (timer + manual)
  • Absences with leave balance
  • Up to 3 locations
Try it free for 14 days
Popular

Pro

€45

per month · 12 employees included

  • All Basic features
  • Unlimited locations
  • Payroll preparation & DATEV
  • Tablet time clock (kiosk mode)
Try it free for 14 days

Enterprise

€120

per month · 30 employees included

  • All Pro features
  • Public REST API
  • Budget management & custom fields
  • SLA support (8-hour response time)
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See all details and pricing calculator

All prices exclude VAT · Cancel anytime · No credit card required

What is a digital time clock?

A digital time clock – also called a time clock app or digital punch clock – records the start and end of work and breaks. With Shiftdesk, employees clock in on the iOS/Android app or, from Pro, with a personal PIN on a shared tablet. The browser is for owners and HR to review records; it is not general employee self-service.

A software solution uses existing smartphones and tablets and connects clock records with the published schedule. Devices, power and an active internet connection are still required. The guide to the digital time clock explains which recording method can fit your business.

Shiftdesk is built for small and medium-sized shift-based businesses that want to review schedules and clock records in one system. It is not a personal time tracker, project time tracking tool or offline time clock. If the connection is lost, no clock record is queued; the action must be completed online.

Time clock app vs. classic punch clock

A fair comparison depends on the device and connected software. These differences can guide the decision:

Comparison of the Shiftdesk time clock app and a classic standalone punch clock
CriterionDigital time clockHardware punch clock
CostBasic from €25/mo net; 6 employees includedPurchase and operation vary by device
FlexibilityEmployee app; PIN tablet from ProUsually tied to one location
Hours accountAvailable in Shiftdesk from ProDepends on software and integration
GDPRShiftdesk hosting in FrankfurtThe business remains responsible
MaintenanceSoftware updates; devices still requiredDevice, supplies and repairs
Schedule linkSchedule and clock records in ShiftdeskOnly with a suitable integration

Time clock and schedule: connect planned and actual time

In Shiftdesk, scheduled target times come from the published schedule and actual times from assigned clock records. Owners and HR review open corrections and approval status. This reduces manual transfers without treating unreviewed records as correct.

From Pro, approved actual time is compared with target hours in the hours account. The full business process is explained on our working time tracking for shift-based businesses page.

Find details on recording modes, review status, month-end review and exports under time tracking software with an hours account.

Frequently asked questions about the digital time clock

What is a digital time clock?
A digital time clock records the start and end of work and breaks without paper time cards. With Shiftdesk, employees clock in on the iOS/Android app or a shared PIN tablet; owners and HR review records in the browser.
How does the Shiftdesk time clock app work?
Employees record the start of work, breaks, the end of breaks and the end of work in the mobile app. The clock record is assigned to the employment relationship and, where applicable, the planned shift. Owners and HR see review status, corrections and time records in the web dashboard.
Is a digital time clock required by law?
Working time generally has to be recorded. An electronic time clock as a specific form is not universally required. Each business should obtain legal advice on the suitable solution and rules for its situation; Shiftdesk does not replace legal advice.
Does the time clock app need an internet connection?
Yes. The Shiftdesk employee app and PIN tablet need an active internet connection when clocking. There is currently no offline queue; if the connection fails, the action must be completed again while online.
Does Shiftdesk track location continuously?
No. If a business enables the optional location check, one location point is captured when an employee clocks in or out. Shiftdesk does not create a movement profile or perform continuous GPS tracking.
What do the time clock app and PIN terminal cost?
With monthly billing, Shiftdesk Basic starts at €25 net per month and includes 6 employees and the mobile time clock app. The shared PIN tablet and hours account are included from Pro. There is no permanently free plan; the trial runs for 14 days without a credit card.
Do I need special hardware for the time clock?
The employee app requires a supported iOS or Android device. For the terminal, a business can use a compatible shared tablet at the entrance. Shiftdesk does not sell a classic card or fingerprint punch clock; tablet setup, power and internet remain the business's responsibility.
How are clock records connected with the schedule?
Shiftdesk compares scheduled target times with assigned and approved actual time. Owners and HR review differences and corrections in the web dashboard. The hours account with positive and negative hour balances is available from Pro.

Try the time clock app for 14 days

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