Time tracking comparison: Factorial HR vs LapsoWork
Ever since recording working hours became mandatory for all companies in Spain, choosing good time tracking software has stopped being optional. And with the new regulatory framework pushing towards digital, accessible and tamper-proof clock-in, any SME needs a tool that complies with the law without making life harder. In this comparison we put two very popular options on the Spanish market head to head: Factorial HR and LapsoWork. Both cover the basics, but they take different approaches. We explain how they are alike, how they differ and how to decide which one fits your company best.
Time tracking with Factorial HR
Factorial is one of the best-known HR platforms in Spain. Its time tracking module lets administrators configure each employee’s working day while taking individual particularities into account (shifts, split shifts, flexible hours). Its main features include:
- Clock-in from mobile via QR code or from the app.
- Review of hours worked and automatic calculation of overtime.
- Holiday and absence management with an approval workflow handled by the line manager.
- Customised reports that can be exported for audits or inspections.
- Regulatory compliance with the working-hours register in force.
Factorial is a polished, very complete product, designed as an all-in-one HR suite (with payroll, ATS, finance and even an AI agent). That makes it a great option for mid-sized companies and scale-ups with a generous budget, although for a small SME it can turn out to be more platform than they actually need.
Time tracking with LapsoWork
LapsoWork shares many of the key features with Factorial, but with a philosophy more focused on simplicity and the Spanish SME. Its time tracking software includes:
- Fast clock-in of entries, exits and breaks, in a couple of clicks.
- Schedule customisation for each employee from the internal manager.
- Multi-platform access: mobile app, web version and clock-in hardware for offices.
- Holiday and absence management integrated with the rest of the modules.
- A simple, intuitive interface, with no learning curve or need for prior training.
- Clock-in history and a working-day summary visible to the employee themselves.
- PDF reports compliant with the working-hours register regulations.
- Personalised professional support, in Spanish and approachable.
The big difference lies in the experience: LapsoWork prioritises that anyone on the team — regardless of their technical profile — can clock in and check their hours without a second thought, while the administrator has the information updated in real time.
Quick comparison table
| Aspect | Factorial HR | LapsoWork |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile clock-in | Yes (QR and app) | Yes (app, web, hardware) |
| Ease of use | Complete, steeper learning curve | Very simple, no training |
| Law-compliant reports | Yes | Yes (automatic PDFs) |
| Focus | All-in-one HR suite | Specialised and lightweight for SMEs |
| Support in Spanish | Yes | Yes, personalised |
| Ideal for | Mid-sized companies and scale-ups | SMEs with 5 to 100 employees |
Both tools cover the essentials and comply with the regulations. The choice depends more on what you need around time tracking than on the clock-in itself.
Legal compliance: what you can’t do without in 2026
Whichever software you choose, in 2026 it must ensure that the working-hours register is:
- Digital and objective, avoiding manual records that are easily manipulated.
- Accessible at all times for the worker, the legal representatives and the Inspección de Trabajo (Spain’s Labour Inspectorate).
- Kept for four years, with guaranteed integrity.
- Interoperable, able to export the data in standard formats.
Both Factorial and LapsoWork are aligned with these requirements. Even so, it is worth checking that the record is unalterable and that the worker can access their own hours without depending on the administrator — two points the Inspección pays particular attention to.
Which one to choose for your company?
Choose Factorial if you need a very broad HR suite (payroll, recruitment, finance, AI) and your company has the size and budget to make the most of it. It is a powerful platform when you genuinely use all its modules.
Choose LapsoWork if you are an SME that wants simple, legal and affordable time tracking, with a team that clocks in within seconds and doesn’t want to wrestle with a complex tool. On top of that, you can keep adding modules as you need them — payroll, shifts, holidays or a whistleblowing channel — without ever leaving the same platform.
Deep down, both solve the same problem. The question isn’t so much which one is “better” in the abstract, but which one suits your size, your budget and how keen your team is to learn a new tool. If you value simplicity and a close, personal touch, it is worth trying LapsoWork before you decide.