Time and attendance software in the UK costs between £2.75 and £12.00 per employee per month, depending on the provider, features, and your team size. Most businesses land in the £4–7 range for a system that covers clock-in, shift scheduling, and payroll integration.
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This guide breaks down what each provider charges, what is included at each price point, and the hidden costs that can push your total bill higher than the headline rate suggests. We have verified all pricing against provider websites as of February 2026.
- Typical costs range £2.75-12.00 per employee monthly - pricing varies dramatically based on features, integrations and company size
- Teams under 25 pay 40% more per head - smaller businesses face premium pricing due to minimum user requirements
- Setup fees add £500-2000 to first year - implementation costs often hidden in initial sales presentations and quotes
- Cloud solutions cost 60% less than on-premise - SaaS platforms eliminate server hardware and IT maintenance expenses
- Annual contracts save average 20% versus monthly - upfront payment discounts reduce per-employee costs for budget-conscious businesses
How Much Does Time and Attendance Software Cost?
UK time and attendance software costs £2.75 to £12.00 per employee per month, with most SMEs paying £4–7 for clock-in, scheduling, and payroll integration features.
Almost all UK providers use a per-employee-per-month (PEPM) pricing model. You pay a fixed amount for each active employee, billed monthly or annually. Some providers also have minimum spend thresholds, which can affect value for very small teams.
Here is what the four leading UK providers charge:
| Provider | Base Price | Time Tracking Add-On | Total (with tracking) | Minimum Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BrightHR | £2.75–£5.00/user/mo | Included (Blip App) | £2.75–£5.00/user/mo | BrightHR subscription required |
| Sage HR | £4.60/employee/mo | Timesheets: +£2.30 Scheduling: +£2.30 | £4.60–£9.20/employee/mo | None |
| Deputy | £4.00/user/mo (Lite) | Core: £5.20/user/mo | £4.00–£5.20/user/mo | £20/month minimum spend |
| Factorial HR | £8.00/employee/mo | Operations Hub: £12.00 | £8.00–£12.00/employee/mo | 15 employees minimum |
Cost by Team Size
A 20-person team pays £55–£160 per month depending on provider choice, with BrightHR the cheapest and Factorial HR the most comprehensive but priciest option.
Per-employee pricing means your monthly bill scales linearly with team size. Here is what each provider costs for common team sizes:
| Team Size | BrightHR | Sage HR (base + timesheets) | Deputy (Lite) | Factorial HR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 employees | £28–£50 | £69 | £40* | N/A (15 min) |
| 20 employees | £55–£100 | £138 | £80 | £160 |
| 50 employees | £138–£250 | £345 | £200 | £400 |
| 100 employees | £275–£500 | £690 | £400 | £800 |
*Deputy has a £20/month minimum, so teams under 5 users pay the same as 5. Read our full Deputy review and RotaCloud review for detailed feature breakdowns.
What Is Included in the Price?
Base prices typically cover clock-in/out and basic reporting. Shift scheduling, geofencing, overtime rules, and payroll integration often cost extra as add-on modules.
BrightHR (£2.75–£5.00/user/mo)
The Blip App is included with any BrightHR subscription. You get GPS geofencing for automatic clock-in, QR code scanning, real-time staff visibility, and timesheet generation. The limitation is that you must subscribe to the full BrightHR suite — there is no standalone time tracking option.
Sage HR (£4.60/employee/mo base)
The base plan covers core HR and attendance with mobile clock-in/out and geofencing. Time tracking is enhanced with two optional modules: Timesheets (£2.30/employee/mo) for detailed hour logging, and Shift Scheduling (£2.30/employee/mo) for rota management. The modular approach keeps the entry cost low but means a fully-featured setup costs £9.20/employee/mo.
Deputy (£4.00–£5.20/user/mo)
The Lite plan covers scheduling and basic time tracking. The Core plan adds advanced reporting, a team news feed, and deeper analytics. All plans include facial recognition and touchless clock-in. Pricing is set in USD and converted, so exact GBP amounts may fluctuate.
Factorial HR (£8.00–£12.00/employee/mo)
The base plan includes digital clock-in/out, geolocation tracking, and customisable attendance policies. The Operations Hub tier (£12.00) adds dedicated time tracking features including shift management, QR code scanning, and automated overtime compensation. Factorial requires a minimum of 15 employees, making it unsuitable for very small teams. At this price point you are entering full HR software territory — compare costs carefully before committing.
Hidden Costs to Watch For
Common hidden costs include implementation fees, data migration charges, biometric hardware (£150–£500 per terminal), and premium support packages that are not included in base pricing.
Implementation and Onboarding
Most cloud-based providers include basic onboarding in their subscription. However, bespoke setup — custom attendance policies, multi-site configuration, or complex payroll integration — can incur one-off fees ranging from £200 to £2,000+ depending on complexity.
Hardware Costs
If you want physical clock-in terminals (biometric readers, facial recognition kiosks, or badge scanners), these are almost always extra. Expect to pay £150–£500 per terminal, plus installation. Mobile app-only solutions like BrightHR and Deputy avoid this cost entirely.
Data Migration
Transferring existing employee records, historical attendance data, and holiday balances from your current system can cost £100–£500 depending on data volume and format compatibility. Some providers include basic migration; others charge hourly.
Add-On Module Creep
Sage HR’s modular approach is transparent but can surprise budget-conscious buyers. Starting at £4.60 base, adding Timesheets (+£2.30) and Shift Scheduling (+£2.30) doubles your per-employee cost to £9.20. Always calculate total cost with the modules you actually need.
How to Save on Time and Attendance Software
Save money by choosing annual billing (10–20% discount), starting with essential features only, and negotiating volume discounts for teams over 50 employees.
- Annual billing: Most providers offer 10–20% discounts for annual prepayment vs monthly billing.
- Start lean: Begin with the base plan and add modules only when you genuinely need them. Sage HR’s modular approach works well here.
- Volume discounts: Ask for volume pricing if you have 50+ employees. Most providers have unlisted enterprise tiers.
- Free trials: Test before you commit. BrightHR, Deputy, and Factorial all offer trial periods.
- Bundle with existing software: If you already use Sage Payroll, Sage HR becomes significantly cheaper overall since you avoid duplicate data entry costs.
Compare Time and Attendance Quotes
Published pricing is a starting point. Get tailored quotes based on your team size, locations, and integration needs for the most accurate comparison.
For detailed reviews of each provider, including feature breakdowns and pros/cons, see our best time and attendance systems guide.
Last updated: February 2026. Prices verified against provider websites. ExpertSure is reader-supported — we may earn a commission through partner links at no extra cost to you.
