Apps to clock in at work: 2026 comparison

Since 2019, recording working hours has no longer been optional, and in practice paper and Excel spreadsheets have fallen short: clock-ins get lost, are edited by hand and never hold up under an inspection. That is why most SMEs have made the leap to an app to clock in at work. In this article we review the most common options on the market, what each one brings and what to look out for before you decide.

Is clocking in at work mandatory?

Yes. Since 12 May 2019, when the Real Decreto-ley 8/2019 (Spanish royal decree-law on working-time records) came into force, every company is required to record the start and end time of each employee’s working day. The measure was introduced to tackle unpaid overtime and to bring transparency to the employment relationship.

That obligation has been reinforced over the years. Current legislation points towards a digital record of working hours that is accessible in real time for the Labour Inspectorate (Inspección de Trabajo), tamper-proof and kept for four years. In 2025 and 2026, the regulatory focus has fallen precisely on electronic time recording, with penalties that can range from several hundred to several thousand euros per affected employee. In plain terms: the clock-in notebook and home-made templates are no longer a safe option.

How do you keep a record of working hours?

The law does not impose any specific technology. You can keep the record on paper, in a spreadsheet or with a specialised app, as long as the system is reliable and verifiable. In practice, however, digital solutions have taken over for several reasons:

• They prevent errors and tampering: every clock-in is logged with its timestamp.
• They save hours of admin: reports are generated automatically, with no need to recount cells at the end of the month.
• They reduce disputes: both the company and the employee see the same data.
• They make inspections easier: you can export the record in whatever format you are asked for within minutes.

If you want to dig deeper into the legal requirements of a time-recording system, we have a dedicated guide on time tracking software. Below we compare the best-known apps in the sector.

1. Control Laboral

One of the market’s more established and straightforward options, designed for basic working-time recording.

• In its favour: it covers time tracking, lets you manage work calendars and generates reports that comply with the legislation. Its minimalist approach makes it easy to get started.
• Bear in mind: users note that some features (editing days that are already closed, changing passwords) are not very intuitive, and the free version is limited for teams that are growing.

It is a reasonable choice if all you need is to clock in and little else, but it falls short when you want to bring holidays, absences or payroll together in the same tool.

2. Factorial

One of the best-known HR platforms in Spain, with broad functional reach.

• In its favour: on top of time tracking, it integrates holiday and absence management, documents and recruitment processes. Its offering is that of a complete human resources suite.
• Bear in mind: as it is an extensive platform, switching on the advanced modules pushes up the price, something worth weighing if your company is only looking to clock in and manage absences.

It is a solid option for anyone who wants to concentrate many HR processes in one place, though it is worth carefully assessing which modules you will genuinely use in order to keep costs in check.

3. Intratime

An app focused on mobile clocking-in, widely used by teams that work away from the office.

• In its favour: it incorporates geolocation with different levels of filtering and time control geared towards field or on-the-road staff.
• Bear in mind: some users point out that the notification system is limited and that break management could be more flexible.

It is a good fit when mobility is the main criterion and the team clocks in from changing locations.

4. Sesame

Another HR platform with a strong time-tracking and automation component.

• In its favour: it offers compatibility with biometric devices and automates the calculation of overtime, which helps in environments with shifts and irregular working hours.
• Bear in mind: for very small companies it can prove to be an oversized solution, and management by department has room for improvement.

A good candidate for medium-sized companies with well-established HR processes that are looking for automation.

5. LapsoWork: your time-tracking app

At LapsoWork we designed the app specifically with the Spanish SME in mind: comply with the law without spending hours on admin. Here is what you can do with it.

Clock in from the app

Everyone records their entry and exit from their phone or from the browser, with nothing to install. All you need is an internet connection, so it works just as well in the office as it does for remote or on-the-road work.

Administrator options

From the admin panel you can access all the time records, approve or reject leave and holiday requests and send notifications to the whole team. Full control, with no spreadsheets in the way.

Report generation

The app generates reports that comply with the current working-time recording legislation and help you spot irregularities (incomplete days, excess hours, forgotten clock-ins) before they turn into a problem.

Real-time data

You can check who is clocking in at any given moment, with precise geolocation, which is especially useful for distributed teams or staff spread across several workplaces.

Other features

LapsoWork does not stop at clocking in. In the same tool you manage the document manager, payroll, holidays and shifts. The pricing model is based on active users, so you only pay for whoever actually uses the app, and it works on any device with no installation.

Which clock-in app should you choose?

There is no single answer: it depends on the size of your team, on whether you work from a fixed location or on the move, and on how many HR processes you want to bring together. Before you decide, check that the app:

• Complies with the working-time recording legislation and stores the data for four years.
• Generates exportable reports that are valid in the event of an inspection.
• Works on mobile and browser, especially if you have remote or field staff.
• Fits your budget, with a price that does not spiral as the team grows.
• Integrates what you need (holidays, payroll, documents) without jumping from tool to tool.

The quickest way to find out whether an app is a good fit is to trial it with your own team for a few days. If you would like to see LapsoWork in action, you can request a demo or check our pricing with no commitment.