Head to head

Hubstaff vs OnTheClock

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

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

OnTheClock

$4/user/mo 30 day free trial

OnTheClock is an SMB time clock with scheduling and PTO at $5 per month plus $4 per active user. Payroll is an add-on at $40 per month plus $6 per employee after a $250 enrollment fee. A 30-day trial needs no credit card.

Where OnTheClock fits

  • US small businesses that want a cheap time clock with scheduling and PTO in one bill
  • Hourly teams punching from phone, kiosk, or GPS
  • Owners who may add OnTheClock Payroll later without switching time clocks
  • Shops under 100 employees that will cancel anytime, no contract

At a glance

DetailHubstaffOnTheClock
Starting price$5/user/mo$4/user/mo
Free tier–No–No
Free trial14 day free trial30 day free trial
MCP server✓Yes–No
Public API✓Yes–No
Listed underTime & attendanceTime & attendance
Capterra4.5 from 1,613 reviews4.7 from 792 reviews

Where they pull apart

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

OnTheClock

Stands out: One all-in time, PTO, and scheduling plan instead of a feature-gated starter SKU. Active users are anyone on the employee list within 20 days of the bill.

Watch out: Payroll is a separate product with a $250 setup fee, a $40 monthly base, and industry exclusions (non-US workers, cannabis, firearms, gambling, government). Time tracking above 100 employees is enterprise quote.

Not the right fit for

  • Global or multi-country workforces. Payroll and many edge cases are US-only
  • Enterprises that need UKG-class labor law rules engines

Pros and cons

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

OnTheClock

  • Simple $5 + $4/user math with no contract
  • 30-day trial without a credit card
  • Optional payroll that uses the same timecards and PTO balances
  • Payroll setup is $250 plus $40/$6 ongoing, so all-in cost jumps once you run pay
  • Payroll excludes several industries and non-US employees
  • No free-forever plan on the current pricing page

What each one costs

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

OnTheClock

$4/user/mo

Time tracking, scheduling, and PTO are $5 per month plus $4 per active user. An active user is anyone on the employee list within 20 days of the bill. Payroll is an add-on at $40 per month plus $6 per paid employee, with a $250 one-time enrollment fee. Accounts over 100 employees are quoted. A 30-day trial requires no credit card. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 19 Sep 2026

Common questions

Is Hubstaff cheaper than OnTheClock?
OnTheClock starts lower, at $4/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 Hubstaff or OnTheClock for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing. Hubstaff offers a 14 day free trial. OnTheClock offers a 30 day free trial.
Does Hubstaff or OnTheClock have an MCP server?
Hubstaff ships 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?