Workpuls Teramind ActivTrak Hubstaff DeskTime Time Doctor RescueTime Kickidler Veriato Work Examiner
OVERVIEW
Price $6/user/month $6/user/month $7.20/user/month $7/user/month $7/user/month $9.99/user/month $6/user/month $9.99/user/month $150/licence/year $60/licence (lifetime)
Free trial 7 days 7 days No 14 days 14 days 14 days 30 days 7 days Yes 30 days
Ease of use Very easy Difficult Very easy Easy Easy Very easy Very easy Very easy Very difficult Easy
TRACKING METHODS
Unlimited (tracker working 24/7)
Fixed (defined working hours)
Automatic (when computer is connected to a specified network)
Manual (start/stop)
Project based (track time only on projects)
GENERAL MONITORING FEATURES
Stealth mode
App and website usage
Real-time monitoring
Offline time tracking
Attendance
Activity levels
Keylogger
Geolocation
Remote desktop control
Website/activity blocking
SCREENSHOTS AND RECORDING
Screenshots
Screenshots on demand
Screen recording
PRODUCTIVITY FEATURES
Productivity trends
Websites and apps labeling
Category labeling
Productivity alerts
ADVANCED SECURITY FEATURES
User behavior analytics
Data loss prevention
Advanced file and web monitoring
REPORTING
Productivity reports
Team reports
Timelines
Email reports
Access management
PLATFORMS
Web
Mac desktop app
Windows desktop app
Linux desktop app
Mobile app iOS, Android iOS, Android iOS, Android iOS, Android iOS, Android Android
Browser extension Chrome Chrome Chrome
Other Citrix, VMware Chrome OS
OTHER
Support Phone, email, online Phone, email, online Phone, email, online Email, online Phone, email, online, in-person Online Phone, email, online Email, online, Viber, Whatsapp Phone, email, online, support ticket Phone, email, online
Knowledge base
Video tutorials
Integrations comming soon
API
Deployment cloud, on-premise cloud, on-premise, AWS, Azure cloud cloud cloud cloud cloud on-premise cloud, on-premise on-premise
Kronos Humanity Timeclockplus Tsheets Wheniwork Deputy Replicon Jibble EbilityTimeTracker OnTheClock BeeBole
OVERVIEW
Price(per month)Available upon requestFrom $2 per userAvailable upon requestFrom $6.40 per user+$16Free for up to 75 usersFrom $2.50 per userBasic plan:$30 for 5 users+$5 per additional userFrom $1.50 per employeeFrom $4 per user+$8From $2.20 per user$5.99 per user per month
Free trial30 days14 daysYes14 days14 days14 days30 days30 days,no credit card required
Ease of useDifficultEasyDifficultVery easyEasyEasyDifficultVery easyEasyEasyEasy
FEATURES
Timecard management
Scheduling
Shift Trading
Timesheets
Break time management
Real-time tracking
PTO Management
Payroll
Invoicing
Client billing
GPS tracking
Clock out reminders
Alerts
Manual time
PUNCH-IN METHODS
Web app
Mobile app
Time clock device
Time clock kiosk
Facial recognition
Fingerprint scanning
Geofencing
Group punch-in
REPORTING
Visual reports
Email reports
Time rounding
MANAGEMENT
Permissions
Manager approvals
Add time for others
Integrations
PLATFORMS
Web
Android app
iOS app
Mac desktop app
Windows desktop app
Linux desktop app
OTHER
SupportPhone and onlinePhone and onlinePhone,chat and onlinePhone and chatEmail and onlineChat and phonePhone,email,chat and onlinePhone and onlinePhone,email,chat and onlinePhone and onlineOnline chat and video support in English,French,and Spanish
Knowledge base
Video tutorials
Community forum
API
Workpuls Hubstaff Toggl TimeDoctor Harvest TimeCamp Timely Everhour Tick TMetric
OVERVIEW
Price (per month) $6 per user $5.83 per user $9 per user $9.99 per user $10.80 per user $5.25 per user $99 for 5 users $7 per user $19 for 10 projects $5 per user
Free trial 7 days 14 days 30 days 14 days 30 days Yes 14 days 14 days 30 days 30 days
Ease of use Very easy Difficult Difficult Very easy Easy Very easy Easy Difficult Very easy Difficult
TIME TRACKING METHODS
Manual
Start/stop buttons
Automatic time mapping
IN-DEPTH TASK AND PROJECT ANALYSIS
Screenshots
App and website usage
Activity levels coming soon
Real-time tracking
TASK AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Project adding
Project templates
Project status
Task assignment
Task priorities
Budgeting coming soon
Mark billable/non-billable hours
Payroll calculation
Invoicing
ALERTS
Idle time reminders
Deadline alerts coming soon
Budget alerts coming soon
REPORTING
Client login
Productivity analysis
Email reports coming soon
PLATFORMS
Web
Mac desktop app
Windows desktop app
Linux desktop app coming soon
iOS app Beta
Android app
Browser extension Chrome Chrome, Firefox Chrome Chrome Chrome, Firefox Chrome Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Edge
OTHER
Support Phone and online Email and online Email and online Online Online, email and phone Email, online and support ticket Email and chat Email and chat Email Chat
Knowledge base
Video tutorials
Integrations coming soon
API
On-premise hosting

There’s no definitive answer to this question as countries have different laws and regulations relating to employee control and workplace privacy.


In most countries monitoring of work devices is completely legal. Yet, in some you need consent while in others you can monitor emails but not keystrokes, and so on. The legality of the extent of employee tracking depends on your local, state or federal laws.


The computer monitoring software industry is expanding at a fast pace, and if you’re looking to monitor your employees you should know a few things.


In this article, we’ll try to explore the best practices from several countries to help answer this question.


Disclaimer: This article provides general information and it’s not to be used as legal advice. Please contact your legal team for more information about specific regulations.

Employee Surveillance in the US

Generally speaking, companies are allowed to monitor company equipment. However, they are not allowed to track personal emails.


Since the laws in the United States vary by state, some of them require the employer to notify workers about the user tracking software beforehand, while in others it is completely legal for companies to track employees without consent.


In the US, courts often found that expectation of privacy at work is limited while they’re on the job. But employees are given some protection from electronic monitoring, under certain circumstances, such as union contracts.


Some states in the US require companies to notify the workers about the user activity monitoring, while that’s unnecessary in some others.


Employee Tracking in the EU

European Union doesn’t have specific regulations related to employee monitoring, so for reference, most companies are using the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).


GDPR requires data subjects (in this case employees) to provide their consent before the monitoring starts. However, employers are also able to track employees based on legitimate interest, if they perform a legitimate interest assessment and have justified reasons to process data without consent.


GDPR also requires employers to perform a Privacy Impact Assessment before implementing the software, in order to determine needs and challenges that could arise once the corporate computer monitoring software is installed.


Employee Monitoring and Surveillance in Australia

Australian federal and state laws make employee surveillance and privacy a bit complicated… Although, in most cases, the boss is usually permitted to install a computer software to monitor activity on the computers they provide for the purposes of work. Additionally, workers must be notified they’ll be monitored, in simple clear language, no less than 14 days prior to installation/activation.


Can you Monitoring Employees in the Workplace in India?

According to Indian Employment and Labour Law, the employer has the right to monitor employee activities, systems, premises, company emails, SIM cards, headsets and computers. The basis for the monitoring is safeguarding of company’s confidential and proprietary information.


In order to notify employees, the organization can create Policies which would describe such activities. If the monitoring goes beyond company premises, or is found to be a violation of employees’ right to privacy, the organization might have to justify monitoring.


Is Employee Tracking Legal in Canada?

Canadian laws about privacy in the workplace are clear. Employers should tell workers what personal data will be collected, used and disclosed. All workers should be notified about policies about web, email and telephone use. And they also must be notified if they’re a subject to random or continuous employee surveillance.


Employers shouldn’t collect, use and disclose employee data about pay and benefits, formal and informal personnel files, video or audio tapes, and records of web-browsing, electronic mail, and keystrokes without employees knowledge or consent.


Can You Monitor Employee Computers in Nigeria?

Currently, Nigeria doesn’t have specific and comprehensive data privacy and protection laws. Generally, employers should get a consent from employees before they use and store personal information. 


When it comes to making sure employees are following company policies and any laws, or regulations, employers are allowed to use computer monitoring software. However, it is advisable that workers are informed of the monitoring.

Employee Monitoring in Russia

In Russia, employers mustn’t monitor phone conversations, but they are allowed to monitor time of the calls, and phone numbers of participants. When it comes to monitoring corporate devices, this is allowed, but employees must be notified about corporate tracking software, as well as advised only to use these devices for business purposes.


Internal documents and policies allow companies to monitor workers in Russia, but the monitoring mustn’t be a breach to employees’ privacy.


Worker Monitoring in UAE

The law in the United Arab Emirates allows employers to monitor company’s property, including: computers, phones, other electronic devices, email content, keystrokes, etc. However, employees must be fully aware of the practices, and they need to give prior consent.


UAE Federal Laws protect employees, since they have a right to personal privacy, and if they don’t agree with processing of personal and sensitive data, then the employer can’t monitor them.


Staff Monitoring in Malaysia

If the work equipment belongs to the company, the employer has every right to monitor employees emails, phone calls, and general use of equipment provided for work purposes.


Based on the Notice and Choice Principle the employer must issue a written notice in English and Malay to inform the employees about employee tracking, more precisely which personal data is being collected, why, how long will it be kept, etc.


Employee Monitoring in Finland

Finland has the strictest laws and policies regarding data protection, as well as employee-employer relationship. The companies have a very limited right to monitor emails, calls and computer usage, as these are protected under the privacy of communication.


Employers can, however, issue a regulation or guidance on best practices for the usage of company equipment.

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