Comparison
Buddy Punch vs When I Work
Buddy Punch
Named after the exact problem it solves, and it puts a photo on every punch to back it up
VERIFIED JUL 7, 2026
When I Work
Per-user pricing makes it the buddy-punching fix for very small teams
VERIFIED JUL 5, 2026
| Pricing model | subscription | subscription |
| Starting point | Per-user monthly pricing plus a flat $19 base fee | Per user per month: Essentials $2 |
| Best for | Small businesses where buddy punching is a known, recurring cost and a photo on every punch, plus an optional iOS Face ID gate, is worth trading some scheduling depth for. | Small hourly teams, especially mobile ones (cleaning, field service, home care) where per-user pricing and per-site geofences beat the per-location model. |
| Countries | United States, Canada | United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia |
| Editorial score | 8/10 | 7.8/10 |
Buddy Punch
Pros
- A photo on every punch is a real deterrent, nobody clocks in a coworker when the app snaps their face onto the timecard
- The optional Face ID gate on iPhones and iPads adds automatic, real-time blocking, a genuine step past a GPS-only check
- Simpler and more focused than the scheduling-first platforms if time theft is your actual problem
Cons
- The photo check is manual by default, someone has to review the selfies for it to catch anything
- 'Facial recognition' here is Apple Face ID on iOS, not Buddy Punch matching faces against your roster, so it's device-gated rather than a true biometric match on file
- The anti-buddy-punching features need the Pro tier, and photo/biometric capture carries state privacy obligations (e.g. Illinois BIPA)
When I Work
Pros
- Per-user pricing is the cheapest route for teams under ~10 people
- Geofences work per job site, not per storefront, so mobile crews are covered
- No contract, no minimums, easy to trial on one team before rolling out
Cons
- Time tracking costs extra on top of every advertised plan price, and the add-on price isn't published
- No biometric verification, a coworker with someone's phone can still buddy punch inside the fence
- Payroll integrations are US-centric even though the app works elsewhere
United StatesCanadaUnited KingdomAustralia