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Keeping accurate records of employee time is crucial for any business, but doing it manually can be tedious and prone to errors. That's where time tracking software like Virtual TimeClock by Redcort comes in.

In this comprehensive review, we'll take an in-depth look at Virtual TimeClock, one of the most popular time tracking solutions for Mac and PC. Here's what we'll cover:

What Is Virtual TimeClock and Who Is It For?

Virtual TimeClock is time tracking software designed specifically for businesses to track employee hours for payroll purposes. It installs locally on a Windows or Mac computer and allows unlimited employees to "punch in" and "punch out" to track their time.

The software is best suited for small businesses with hourly employees who need to track regular work hours for payroll. It can track clock-in/out times, total hours worked, overtime, breaks, vacation and sick time accrued. Everything is totaled up to generate reports for payroll.

Some examples of businesses that would benefit most from Virtual TimeClock:

- Restaurants/cafes
- Retail stores
- Hardware stores
- Hair/nail salons
- Auto repair shops
- Law firms
- Healthcare clinics


So in summary, if you're a small business owner with hourly employees, Virtual TimeClock provides an easy way to track employee hours worked so you can calculate payroll accurately and efficiently.

Key Features and Benefits

Here are some of the key features Virtual TimeClock offers:

- Unlimited employees - No restrictions on the number of employees you can track.

- Employee timecards - Employees can "punch in" and "punch out" via the software interface on the host computer. Their hours worked are tracked on virtual timecards.

- Reports - Generate a variety of reports including hours worked, overtime, projected hours, etc. These can be used for payroll.

- Vacation/sick tracking - Track vacation and sick time accrued by each employee.

- Break tracking - Log break times and have them automatically deducted from hours worked.

- Data export - Export employee data and reports to payroll services or accounting software.

- Access restrictions - Control access to software features and data for various user roles.

- Alerts - Set up alerts for late punches, missed punches and more.

- Hardware integration - Optional biometric time clocks can integrate with the software for automated punching.

The key benefits of using Virtual TimeClock are:

- Accurate time tracking with automated punching
- Streamlined payroll processing
- Reduced time theft and buddy punching
- Detailed reports and data exports
- Flexible access restrictions and permissions
- Integrates with accounting software


So in summary, Virtual TimeClock takes the hassle out of tracking employee time and generating payroll. Everything is automated, detailed and secure.

Pricing and Plans

Virtual TimeClock is licensed per computer, with the following pricing:

- Single computer license - $295 one-time fee for unlimited employees
- 2-4 computer network - $495 one-time fee
- 5-10 computer network - $795 one-time fee
- 11-20 computer network - $995 one-time fee


There are significant volume discounts available for larger networks.

The license includes the first year of support and upgrades for free. After the first year, you can purchase an optional support plan:

- 1 year support plan - $95
- 2 year support plan - $175


Key support features include training, setup assistance, unlimited technical support, software upgrades and cloud backup.

There is a free 30-day trial available which allows full-use of the software for 30 days.

Virtual TimeClock does not offer any free or open source plans. So you must purchase a license to use it long-term. But the free trial allows you to test it out first.

Overall, Virtual TimeClock is very fairly priced compared to competitors. And the one-time fee means you avoid costly monthly subscriptions.

Ease of Use

Virtual TimeClock is designed to be easy and intuitive for daily use by employers and employees:

- Simple punch in/out process - Employees simply click buttons to punch in when starting a shift and punch out when finishing.

- Minimal training needed - The interface is straightforward so most employees can start using it right away without formal training.

- Flexible access - Admins can restrict employee access to only the necessary features.

- Easy shift scheduling - Managers can schedule shifts and assign them to employees.

- Automated time calculations - Hours worked, overtime, breaks, etc. are calculated automatically.

- Customizable - Admins can add custom pay types/codes like tips, reimbursement, etc.

- Detailed user roles - Tailor permissions for admins, managers, employees, and other user types.

- Clock hardware support - Optional integration with time clocks for automated punching.

- Mac and Windows - Supports latest Mac and Windows operating systems.

The software is designed to be turnkey for any small business owner. Customer support is also available if any assistance is needed.

So in summary, Virtual TimeClock aims to provide a streamlined, easy-to-use time tracking solution for employers and employees alike. The learning curve is minimal and the software automates most of the tedious time calculations.

Pros and Cons

Here's a quick rundown of the major pros and cons of using Virtual TimeClock based on customer reviews and my own analysis:

Pros:

- Affordable one-time pricing
- Unlimited employees
- Mac and Windows support
- Easy to use with minimal training
- Automates time tracking and calculations
- Flexible punch options - software or hardware
- Good selection of features included
- Excellent customer support


Cons:

- Must purchase yearly support plan for ongoing upgrades/support
- No native mobile apps, but mobile web punching supported
- No free or open source option
- Can't track project time or billable hours


While the pros seem to heavily outweigh the cons, it depends on your specific needs. The lack of tracking for project time is one limitation to note if that's important for your business.

Competitors and Alternatives

Some popular competitors and alternatives to Virtual TimeClock include:

- TSheets - More robust feature set but higher pricing. Web and mobile apps available. Best for field services.

- Homebase - Simpler with focus on shift scheduling. Free plan available but fewer features.

- TimeClock Plus - More advanced with enterprise features and advanced reporting.

- TimeCamp - Affordable but includes project tracking features.

- Harvest - Popular for agencies/consultants to track project time. Not just for payroll.

- Excel/Google Sheets - Free but requires manual work. Higher chance of errors.

Overall, Virtual TimeClock strikes a nice balance of being full-featured yet easy to use for basic time tracking. It may not have all the advanced capabilities of premium solutions like TSheets or TimeClock Plus. But it provides the essential features most small businesses need for an affordable one-time fee.

Conclusion and Recommendation

For small businesses that need an easy way to track employee hours worked for payroll, Virtual TimeClock is an excellent choice. It automates time tracking and simplifies payroll processing at a very reasonable price.

The software is designed to be user-friendly for employers and employees with flexibility to suit different needs. Ongoing support and upgrades require purchasing annual support plans but initial pricing is very affordable.

Based on customer feedback and my own analysis, I can confidently recommend Virtual TimeClock. It delivers the essential features small business owners need for time tracking and payroll, without unnecessary complexity. The one-time fee also makes it very budget-friendly.

Try out the free trial yourself to experience the easy time punching and reporting. And consider integrating optional time clock hardware for even more streamlined payroll management.

Overall, Virtual TimeClock is a great fit for most small businesses looking for an automated solution for tracking employee hours worked accurately. It simplifies payroll processing so you can focus on running your business, not tracking time manually.

Integrations

One important consideration for any time tracking software is integrations with other business systems. Virtual TimeClock offers some useful integrations:

- Accounting software - Export data to popular accounting platforms like QuickBooks (desktop and online), Xero, FreshBooks and more. This allows easy import of time data for payroll.

- Payroll services - Integrates with leading payroll providers like SurePayroll, Paychex and ADP. Supports auto import of hours worked into these systems.

- Time clock hardware - As mentioned earlier, you can integrate optional time clock terminals with Virtual TimeClock for easy employee punching. Supported hardware includes Acroprint, Lathem and more.

- Access control systems - Allows importing data from access control systems that manage employee door access. This includes Kronos and more.

- Custom software - Virtual TimeClock provides APIs to allow integration with other business software like ERPs, HR systems, etc.

These integrations allow Virtual TimeClock to connect seamlessly with the other critical systems businesses rely on. This enhances the end-to-end workflow from time tracking to payroll and HR.

Implementation and Onboarding

Implementing Virtual TimeClock is designed to be quick and easy:

- Installation - The software installs locally on a Windows PC or Mac computer. The installer file is around 100MB.

- Setup - Guided setup walks you through configuration like adding employees, assigning permissions, scheduling shifts and more.

- Training - Email and interactive video training help you learn the software. Live training webinars are also available.

- Support - Unlimited email and phone support is included the first 30 days and with ongoing support plans.

- Migration - They can assist with migrating data from other time tracking systems.

Based on customer reviews, most businesses can be up and running with Virtual TimeClock in less than a day. And the friendly support team is ready to assist you with any questions during setup and beyond.

For employees, there is minimal training needed thanks to the simple punch in/out process. Optional time clock hardware makes this even more seamless for employees.

Security

As a business software that tracks sensitive employee data, security is a top priority for Virtual TimeClock. Some of the key security features include:

- Encryption - All data is encrypted both in transit and at rest. This includes passwords, time logs and reports.

- Access controls - Granular user roles control access to features and data.

- Alerts - Configurable alerts notify admins of potential issues like missed punches.

- Audit trail - A system audit trail logs all user activity for accountability.

- Authentication - Support for multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of protection.

- On-premise - Installs locally on your computers so data stays in your controlled environment.

- Cloud backup - Optional cloud backup provides an offsite copy of your data.

The software follows security best practices and protocols to keep business and employee data safe. This gives peace of mind that sensitive time and payroll information is secure.

Customer Support

Virtual TimeClock prides itself on providing exceptional customer support. Here are some of the highlights:

- U.S. based team - Support staff are based in the U.S. for more personalized service.

- Unlimited support - Unlimited email and phone support is included the first 30 days and with paid support plans.

- Live training - Weekly live training webinars allow customers to get questions answered in real-time.

- Resources - Extensive self-help resources like user guides, FAQs, video tutorials and more.

- Customization - Support team can provide tailored assistance setting up and customizing the software for your specific needs.

- Bug fixes - Fast responses to any software bugs or issues reported.

Many reviewers emphasize the outstanding customer support as a key selling point of Virtual TimeClock. The team strives to provide small businesses with the helpful and personalized support they need.