The 5 best time tracking tools for SMEs in 2026

With the new Royal Decree on Digital Working Time Records (whose approval is imminent), every company operating in Spain will need time tracking software that complies with the regulation. There are dozens of options in Spain, and most of them are HR suites that overcharge a small company that just wants to clock in.

We have analysed the main tools available in Spain in 2026, comparing prices, features, ease of use and legal compliance. If you own or manage an SME and need to choose time tracking software, this guide is for you.

What must time tracking software comply with in 2026?

Before comparing, let’s clarify the minimum requirements the law imposes:

• ✅ Digital record with an automatic timestamp
• ✅ Full traceability of any changes
• ✅ Record of clock-in, clock-out and breaks
• ✅ Differentiation between on-site and remote work
• ✅ Remote access for the Labour Inspectorate
• ✅ Data retention for at least 4 years
• ✅ Automatic overtime calculation
• ✅ Access for employees and legal representatives
• ✅ Alternative manual procedure (contingency plan)

Any software you choose must meet all these points. If it fails on any of them, rule it out. Let’s get into the comparison.

1. Cleverfy, the best for SMEs on price and simplicity

Price: from €1.50 per user per month

Cleverfy is a Spanish solution designed specifically for companies that need to comply with digital time tracking without complications or high costs. Its proposition is clear: setup in 10 minutes guided by AI, an unbeatable price and everything the law requires, with holiday and absence management included as standard.

What it offers

• Cleverfy AI: Set up shifts, departments, public holidays and schedules by talking to it in natural language, and request any report with no menus or filters. The setup assistant is included from the Basic plan; the advanced version is in Pro.
• Official ChatGPT app: Cleverfy is one of the first time tracking tools with its own ChatGPT app. Employees can clock in/out and check their working time (“do I have an open clock-in?”) and managers can view and manage the organisation, without leaving the chat. Secure OAuth connection: each action runs with the user’s identity and is logged with authorship and time.
• Holidays and absences: Requests, approvals and a team calendar, with customisable policies (holidays, personal days, sick leave). Included from the Basic plan, not as a separate paid module.
• Multiple clock-in options: Mobile app (iOS and Android), web browser, Chrome extension and kiosk mode
• Full record: Clock-in, clock-out, breaks and overtime with an automatic timestamp
• Flexible shifts and schedules: Rotating shifts, split shifts and irregular calendars
• Full traceability: Immutable history of every record and change
• Remote work and optional geolocation: Clock in from anywhere with on-site/remote differentiation and proof of location if you need it
• Inspection access: A panel ready to grant immediate access to the Labour Inspectorate
• Automatic reports: Daily, weekly and monthly by employee, department or work centre
• Incident management: Correction of records with justification and traceability
• 4+ year retention: Secure cloud storage with automatic backups

Pricing

Plan	Price
Monthly	From €1.50 per user per month
Annual	From €1.20 per user per month (20% discount)

No contract and no lock-in. You can cancel whenever you want.

Pros

• ✅ The most competitive price on the market
• ✅ Real setup in under 10 minutes, guided by Cleverfy AI in natural language
• ✅ Official ChatGPT app to clock in and check without leaving the chat (something no competitor offers)
• ✅ Holidays, absences and team calendar included from the Basic plan (at no extra cost)
• ✅ Built for companies in Spain, 100% compliant with the Royal Decree
• ✅ No contract or lock-in
• ✅ Multiple ways to clock in (app, web, Chrome, kiosk)
• ✅ Support in Spanish

Cons

• ❌ It does not include advanced HR modules such as payroll, recruitment or performance review
• ❌ A newer platform compared to more established competitors

Who is it for?

Any company that needs time tracking and absence management (from freelancers with a team to companies of several hundred people) and wants a simple, affordable and law-compliant solution, without paying for a full HR suite. Shifts, departments and work centres let it scale smoothly as you grow.

Book a free Cleverfy demo or create your account directly.

---

2. Kronjop, a good affordable alternative

Price: from €2.40 per user per month

Kronjop is another Spanish option focused on time tracking and working time records. It offers a competitive price and solid features for SMEs.

What it offers

• Clock-in via mobile app and web browser
• Record of clock-in, clock-out and breaks
• Reports and data export
• Shift and schedule management
• Compliance with time tracking regulations
• Admin panel for managers

Pricing

• From €2.40 per user per month (price published on their website)
• Annual plans with a discount

Pros

• ✅ Competitive price
• ✅ Simple interface
• ✅ Good informative content about the regulation on their blog
• ✅ Focused on the Spanish market

Cons

• ❌ Fewer clock-in options than other alternatives (no browser extension or kiosk mode on some plans)
• ❌ More limited features on the basic plan
• ❌ Fewer integrations with other tools

Who is it for?

Small businesses looking for an affordable, simple alternative. A good option if you do not need advanced features.

---

3. Sesame HR, for SMEs that need a full HR suite

Price: from €5.50 per user per month (annual plan; minimum billing ~€82.50 per month)

Sesame HR is one of the best-known human resources platforms in Spain. It goes well beyond time tracking: it offers holiday management, shifts, internal communication, performance review and more.

What it offers

• Clock-in via app, web and kiosk
• Working time record with a timestamp
• Holiday and absence management
• Shifts and schedule planning
• Internal communication
• Performance review
• Employee portal
• Digital document signing
• Advanced reports and analytics

Pricing

• From €5.50 per user per month (annual Starter plan; €6.00 on monthly billing)
• Minimum billing of ~€82.50 per month

Pros

• ✅ A mature and established platform
• ✅ A full HR suite
• ✅ Good user interface
• ✅ A wide range of features
• ✅ Good technical support

Cons

• ❌ Significantly higher price than options specialised in time tracking
• ❌ Minimum billing (~€82.50 per month) that penalises very small companies
• ❌ It can be overkill for companies that only need time tracking
• ❌ Steeper learning curve because of the amount of features

Who is it for?

Mid-sized SMEs (15+ employees) that need a full HR suite and are willing to pay more for additional features. If you only need time tracking, you are paying for a lot you will not use.

---

4. Factorial, an HR suite with time tracking included

Price: from €5.50 per user per month (modular model)

Factorial is one of Spain’s best-known HR startups (a Barcelona unicorn). It offers a complete people management platform that includes time tracking among its many features.

What it offers

• Clock-in via app, web and kiosk
• Working time record and attendance control
• Payroll management (integration)
• Holiday and absence management
• Employee onboarding
• Performance review
• Document management
• Employee portal
• Advanced HR reports
• Electronic signature

Pricing

• From €5.50 per user per month (ES site), with a custom quote depending on the modules you add
• Prices that scale significantly with additional modules (payroll, recruitment, etc.)

Pros

• ✅ A very complete platform
• ✅ An established Spanish company (unicorn)
• ✅ Good integration between HR modules
• ✅ Modern, polished interface
• ✅ A large support team

Cons

• ❌ Higher price for companies that only need time tracking
• ❌ The time tracking module is one part of a larger suite
• ❌ It can be complex for very small SMEs
• ❌ Final costs can rise with additional modules
• ❌ Aimed at companies with an HR department

Who is it for?

Companies with 20+ employees that need a comprehensive HR platform and value having everything centralised (payroll, holidays, reviews, time tracking). If you have an HR department, Factorial can be a great option.

---

5. Personio, for growing mid-sized companies

Price: on request (roughly from €5-8 per user per month)

Personio is a German HR platform with a strong presence in Europe, including Spain. It is a complete people management solution with integrated time tracking.

What it offers

• Working time record with web and app clock-in
• Comprehensive HR management
• Recruitment and onboarding processes
• Payroll management (integration with accountants)
• Absence and holiday management
• Performance review and objectives
• Automated workflows
• Employee portal
• Staff reports and analytics
• Integrations with more than 200 tools

Pricing

• Does not publish prices on its website; you have to request a quote
• Roughly from €5-8 per user per month according to industry sources
• Different packs depending on features

Pros

• ✅ A very robust and scalable platform
• ✅ Excellent for growing companies
• ✅ A broad ecosystem of integrations
• ✅ Powerful automated workflows
• ✅ International presence (useful if you have employees in other countries)

Cons

• ❌ Significantly higher price
• ❌ Does not publish prices (little transparency)
• ❌ Excessive complexity for small SMEs
• ❌ An interface not always adapted to the Spanish market
• ❌ Technical support not always in Spanish
• ❌ Longer implementation time

Who is it for?

Mid-sized companies (50+ employees) with advanced HR needs and international growth plans. It is not the most efficient option for small SMEs that only need time tracking.

---

Summary comparison table

Criterion	Cleverfy	Kronjop	Sesame HR	Factorial	Personio
Price from	€1.50/user/mo	€2.40/user/mo	€5.50/user/mo	€5.50/user/mo	~€5-8/user/mo
Monthly minimum	No	No	~€82.50	Contact sales	Contact sales
Setup	10 minutes	15-30 min	30-60 min	30-60 min	1-2 weeks
Mobile app	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Web	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Chrome extension	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌
Kiosk mode	✅	⚠️ Limited	✅	✅	✅
Breaks	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Overtime	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Remote work	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Holidays and absences	✅ From Basic	⚠️ Plan-dependent	✅	✅	✅
AI setup	✅ Cleverfy AI	❌	❌	❌	❌
Official ChatGPT app	✅ Clock in and check	❌	❌	❌	❌
Full HR suite	❌ Time tracking + absences	❌ Time tracking only	✅ Complete	✅ Complete	✅ Complete
Lock-in	❌ No contract	Contact sales	Annual billing	Contact sales	Contact sales
Ideal for	Any size	SMEs	SMEs	Companies	Companies

Recommendation based on what you need

If you only need time tracking and absence management → Cleverfy

It does not matter whether you are 5, 50 or 300 people: if your company needs to clock in, manage holidays and absences and comply with the law without paying for a full HR suite, Cleverfy is the most efficient option. Complete digital time tracking, absence management included, departments and work centres, rotating shifts and an AI assistant that sets it all up in 10 minutes, from €1.50 per user per month and with no lock-in.

If you want the most basic affordable alternative → Kronjop

Another Spanish option focused on time tracking at a good price. Cleverfy has an edge on price (€1.50 vs €2.40 per user), on clock-in options (Chrome extension and kiosk), on absence management and on AI, but Kronjop is a solid alternative if you only want the essentials.

If you need a full HR suite (payroll, recruitment, performance) → Factorial or Sesame

If your company has an HR department (or is about to have one) and you need to go beyond time tracking and absences (payroll, recruitment, performance review and more), Factorial or Sesame are mature suites. Factorial has a better base price; Sesame has a very polished interface.

If you have international ambitions and advanced needs → Personio

If you operate across several countries and need an HR platform that scales internationally with complex workflows, Personio is the most robust. But be ready for a higher price and a longer implementation.

What it really costs for a 10-employee company

Here is what a 10-employee company would pay per month with each option:

The difference is huge: over 3 years, an HR suite like Sesame costs almost 7 times more than Cleverfy with annual billing, paying for modules that a company that only needs to clock in will never use.

To see the latest prices: www.cleverfy.es/pricing

What NOT to look at when choosing time tracking software

Four common mistakes when choosing a tool:

“I want the most complete one”

If you only need time tracking and absence management, do not pay for payroll, performance review and recruitment modules you will never open.

”The most expensive one will be the best”

Not always. A higher price usually reflects more features (that you may not need), not necessarily better quality in time tracking.

”Whatever my friend uses”

Your friend has a 200-person company and an HR department. You have 8 employees. You do not need the same thing.

”The one with the most integrations”

If your company uses the basic tools (email, mobile, computer), you do not need 200 integrations. You need an app that works well.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Is it mandatory to use time tracking software in 2026?

Time tracking has been mandatory in Spain since 2019 (Art. 34.9 of the Workers’ Statute). The new Royal Decree on Digital Working Time Records, whose approval is expected imminently (the Ministry of Labour is finalising the text after the Council of State opinion, aiming to approve it before summer 2026), will require the record to be digital, with an automatic timestamp and traceability. Manual methods (paper, Excel) will no longer be valid as the main system.

Which time tracking software is the cheapest?

Cleverfy, priced from €1.50 per user per month.

Which time tracking software includes artificial intelligence?

Cleverfy includes Cleverfy AI, an assistant that sets up your whole organisation (shifts, departments, public holidays and schedules) simply by talking to it in natural language, and with which you can request any report with no menus or filters. The setup assistant is available from the Basic plan (€1.50 per user per month), which makes it the most accessible AI option for SMEs. Cleverfy also has an official ChatGPT app: employees can clock in and check their working time, and managers can manage the organisation, directly from ChatGPT through a secure OAuth connection.

Do I need a full HR suite to comply with the law?

No. The law requires digital time tracking, not a complete human resources platform. Specialised software like Cleverfy complies with the law and also already includes holiday and absence management, so you cover what an SME really needs without paying for the payroll, recruitment or review modules of a full suite (and much cheaper).

Can I switch software later?

Yes. All the tools mentioned allow you to export your data. The important thing is that you keep the records for 4 years. That is why it is best to choose a tool with no lock-in, like Cleverfy, which does not tie you into long contracts.

What happens if my company grows a lot?

Cleverfy scales with you: with departments, work centres and rotating shifts, it works just as well with 10 employees as with 300. The only reason to consider moving to a suite like Factorial or Sesame is not size, but reaching the point where you need HR modules that go beyond time tracking and absences (payroll, recruitment, performance review).

Is Sesame HR worth it for a 5-employee company?

Probably not. With a minimum billing of ~€82.50 per month, you would be paying ~€16.50 per user, more than 10 times what Cleverfy costs. Sesame is designed for companies with 15 or more employees that need advanced HR features.

Which one to choose, in short

Each piece of software fits a particular type of company better:

• If you only need time tracking and absence management (at any size, from freelancers to several hundred employees): Cleverfy is the most efficient option on price, simplicity and setup time.
• If you need a full HR suite (payroll, recruitment, performance review): Factorial or Sesame HR offer mature platforms.
• If you have international ambitions and advanced needs: Personio is the most scalable platform.

A 10-person company that only needs to clock in and manage absences pays €15 per month with Cleverfy, compared with the €55 to €82 of an HR suite. And with no lock-in.

Comply with the law without overpaying. If you want to get started now, try Cleverfy. In 10 minutes you will be clocking in.

Detailed comparisons: vs Factorial · vs Sesame · vs Personio · vs Woffu · vs Kronjop · vs Bixpe · vs Excel