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Time Card Calculator vs. Timesheet Software: Which One Fits Your Business?

Manual time tracking has become obsolete due to how it wastes your time and even results in inaccuracies and errors. It has been replaced by time card calculators, time tracking software, and timesheet software solutions. Moreover, the focus of this post will be on comparing time card calculators with timesheet software solutions. Along with a side-by-side comparison, we will also tell you all about what time card calculators are and what timesheet software solutions are. Plus, we will also tell you which tool is right according to your business requirements. With that being said, let’s get started quickly with it.

An Overview of the Time Card Calculator

A time card calculator is a free online tool that helps businesses generate timesheets by entering values and clicking a single button. All you have to do is search for a free online time card calculator and select the best one. Once the interface is there, you need to enter the values of the day-wise employee work hours, autofill depending on your workweek, and click generate to get your free timesheet. Additionally, you can also enter the base pay rate to get regular pay and overtime pay values. 

An Overview of Timesheet Software

Timesheet software is a much advanced solution for eliminating the need for manual time tracking. The only drawback to this is that your non-tech-savvy employees will face a slight learning curve while learning to use and get around how the tool works. However, once they can properly use these features, then, it is quite advantageous for them and your business.

1. Quick Timesheet Generation

Timesheet software generates editable timesheets within seconds, meaning that you are left with a lot of time for work that matters. 

2. Simple Timesheet Management

Timesheet software solutions provide user-friendly dashboards and tools for employees, executives, and managers to easily organize timesheets, ensuring that they can quickly find the data they need. 

3. Add-Ons & Integrations

For example, integrate your timesheet software with your project management software, and it will automatically fetch values from the tool to make accurate timesheets.

4. Automation

Advanced timesheet software also provides you with AI-powered features to automatically generate timesheets, which you can later edit. 

Key Differences Between a Time Card Calculator & Timesheet Software

Here’s a clear breakdown of the differences between a time card calculator and timesheet software.

 

Aspect

Time Card Calculator

Timesheet Software  

Purpose

To help businesses generate timesheets by entering values in the user-friendly spaces provided

To accrue, automate, and streamline the creation and management of timesheets for businesses.

Availablity 

Online 

Available as web applications or downloadable software solutions

Price 

Always free

Can be free or paid, depending on the features and add-ons

Features 

User-friendly interface, available on the internet, single-click timesheet generation, base rate, and autofill time entries 

User-friendly and intuitive dashboards, automated timesheet generation, integrations, timesheet, and work-hour tracking 

Industry-Wise Usage Example

New freelancers who have recently  stepped into the work world

SMEs, medium-scale businesses, experienced freelancers, and anyone who wishes to automate or streamline the management and creation of timesheets 

 

Which One is Better for Your Business?

So, whether you need a free timesheet software or a free time card calculator depends on certain criteria. Let’s look at them now.  

1. Business Size 

Time card calculators are quite useful for small businesses and freelancers who have recently stepped into the work world. That’s because the small size of the business means less work, and the same goes for new freelancers. Freelancers, however, must switch to timesheet software for more convenience and accuracy once work starts pouring in.  

2. Workflows & Industry

Depending on your industry and workflow, you will either implement a timesheet software solution or a free time card calculator in your organization. For example, businesses in easy-going industries, such as retail, can easily get by with a free time card calculator, filling in time values and generating timesheets manually at the end of the day.     

3. Employee Preferences

Based on what your employees prefer and find convenient, you need to either choose a timesheet software solution or a free time card calculator. We recommend taking employee feedback in this regard to collect the necessary data and insights to make a better choice.   

Conclusion

With that being said, we are done putting our post for this title, Time Card Calculator vs. Timesheet Software: Which One Fits Your Business, under wraps. To conclude, summarize, and provide you with a final word, we would say that manual time tracking has been replaced by better solutions. These include time tracking software, timesheet software, and free online time card calculators. However, modern businesses need modern solutions. They need complete software packages for project and time management. DeskTrack’s integrated project time tracking software is all you will ever need. 

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