Head to head

Buddy Punch vs Hubstaff

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Buddy Punch

$4.99/user/mo 14 day free trial

Time clock software. Starter is $4.99/user/mo billed annually plus a $19/mo base. 14-day trial. MCP limits on Advanced.

Where Buddy Punch fits

  • Small US teams that want a printed time-clock rate
  • Shops starting on Starter at $4.99 annual plus $19
  • Teams that need API on Pro at $6.99 annual
  • Buyers who will run a 14-day trial with no card

Hubstaff

$5/user/mo 14 day free trial

Time tracking with screenshots, GPS, and payroll hooks, plus a 1-seat free plan and paid seats from $5/user/mo.

Where Hubstaff fits

  • Remote agencies that need screenshots and client invoices
  • Field teams that add GPS Locations on Team or Enterprise
  • Desks that want MCP or API access to time data
  • Solo freelancers who can live on the 1-seat free plan

At a glance

DetailBuddy PunchHubstaff
Starting price$4.99/user/mo$5/user/mo
Free tier–No–No
Free trial14 day free trial14 day free trial
MCP server✓Yes✓Yes
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underTime & attendanceTime & attendance
CapterraNot enough reviews4.5 from 1,613 reviews

Where they pull apart

Buddy Punch

Stands out: Published per-user prices plus a $19 base, with API on Pro and higher MCP limits on Advanced.

Watch out: Every plan adds a $19 monthly base on top of per-user fees. Monthly Starter is $5.99/user, not $4.99.

Not the right fit for

  • Solo users who hate a $19 base on one person
  • Enterprises that need a full HCM

Hubstaff

Stands out: First-party MCP server and a public REST API at developer.hubstaff.com, with a 14-day trial and no credit card.

Watch out: Starter caps screenshots and app/URL tracking at 500 per seat per month and allows only 5 clients. Grow allows one integration.

Not the right fit for

  • Restaurant Fair Workweek shift scheduling
  • Companies that refuse activity monitoring and screenshots

Pros and cons

Buddy Punch

  • Starter $4.99/user/mo plus $19
  • 14-day trial, no card
  • API on Pro, MCP limits on Advanced
  • $19 base on every time plan
  • Payroll SKU is a separate $49 base
  • Not a full HRIS

Hubstaff

  • 1-seat free plan plus a 14-day trial with no credit card
  • First-party MCP server and documented REST API
  • GPS Locations and payroll inside the same product on Team and above
  • Starter screenshot and client caps are tight for agencies
  • Grow is limited to one integration
  • Paid plans have a 2-seat minimum

What each one costs

Buddy Punch

$4.99/user/mo

Starter is $4.99/user/mo billed annually plus a $19/mo base ($5.99/user monthly). Pro $6.99 annual / $7.99 monthly plus $19, includes API. Advanced $12.99 annual / $13.99 monthly plus $19, higher API and MCP limits. Payroll $8/user/mo + $49 base. 14-day trial, no card. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Hubstaff

$5/user/mo

A 1-seat free plan covers individual freelancers. Paid seats start around $5/user/mo. Small Business Essentials is $144/year for 3 paid seats plus a free owner seat, annual only, with no add-ons. Insights is $2.50/seat/mo on Starter and Grow. Locations is $3.33/seat/mo on Team and included on Enterprise. Starter caps screenshots at 500 per seat per month. Paid plans have a 2-seat minimum. 14-day trial, no credit card. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is Buddy Punch cheaper than Hubstaff?
Buddy Punch starts lower, at $4.99/user/mo against $5/user/mo for Hubstaff. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try Buddy Punch or Hubstaff for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. Buddy Punch offers a 14 day free trial. Hubstaff offers a 14 day free trial.
Does Buddy Punch or Hubstaff have an MCP server?
Buddy Punch and Hubstaff ship a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 19 Sep 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?