Head to head

Buddy Punch vs QuickBooks Time

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

Time tracking for teams already on QuickBooks Online. Time Premium is $20/mo plus $10 per user, with one admin included.

Where QuickBooks Time fits

  • US small businesses already on QuickBooks Online
  • Field teams that need kiosk or GPS clock-in
  • Contractors tracking time to jobs and invoices
  • Teams that want time synced into QuickBooks Payroll

At a glance

DetailBuddy PunchQuickBooks Time
Starting price$4.99/user/mo$20/mo
Free tier–No–No
Free trial14 day free trialNot on record
MCP server✓Yes–No
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underTime & attendanceTime & attendance
CapterraNot enough reviews4.7 from 7,023 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

QuickBooks Time

Stands out: Timesheets, kiosk clock-ins, and GPS sit next to QuickBooks payroll and invoicing in the same Intuit account.

Watch out: A QuickBooks Online account is required. Per-user fees stack on the $20/mo Time Premium base, and Elite is $40/mo plus $12 per user.

Not the right fit for

  • Companies not willing to buy QuickBooks Online
  • Large orgs that want a standalone HRIS time clock

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

QuickBooks Time

  • $20/mo base with one admin included
  • Syncs time into QuickBooks payroll
  • Kiosk, GPS, and mobile clock-in
  • Requires a QuickBooks Online account
  • Per-user fees on top of the base
  • Cost rises fast with headcount

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

QuickBooks Time

$20/mo

Time Premium is $20/mo plus $10 per user per month, with one admin included. Time Elite is $40/mo plus $12 per user. A 50 percent discount applies for the first three months. Workforce Premium and Elite add payroll and HR at $13 or $17 per employee per month on top of a higher base. A QuickBooks Online account is required. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is Buddy Punch cheaper than QuickBooks Time?
Buddy Punch starts lower, at $4.99/user/mo against $20/mo for QuickBooks Time. 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 QuickBooks Time for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. Buddy Punch offers a 14 day free trial.
Does Buddy Punch or QuickBooks Time have an MCP server?
Buddy Punch ships a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

Not the pair you wanted?

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