We Tested Connecteam: Here Is Our Unfiltered Review

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Connecteam Review: Features Walkthrough

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We tested all the key features, and here’s how Connecteam performed on various fronts: 

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1. Time Tracking

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Connecteam packs a punch in terms of time-tracking features, but the glitch-laden mobile app damages its performance. Before we get to the frailties, let’s cover the basics.

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The user-friendly interface ensures that employees, including the non-tech savvy team members, won’t fumble around trying to find key functions. Clocking in is as easy as clicking “start shift” and selecting the assigned job. 

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There are multiple tools geared toward accurate time tracking. For example, you configure the app to prevent early clock-ins for scheduled employees. Better still, you can configure Connecteam to clock out employees automatically at the end of the shift. 

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One potential drawback of clocking employees out at the end of their shift is that it might make it harder to enforce overtime rules. However, there is an alternative auto-clock-out function that can be used instead. This function automatically clocks employees out when they reach a certain number of hours.

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Let's say your default work day is 8 hours, and the daily overtime is 2 hours. You can set the app to automatically clock out employees when they exceed 10 hours.

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Beyond that, you can configure Connecteam to notify employees and remind them to clock in at the start of the shift and clock out as they leave. The good thing is that the reminders and auto-clocking features can work in unison to ensure that every employee remembers to punch in or out. 

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Connecteam Multiple Time Clocks

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Connecteam lets you create a standalone time clock for your company’s multiple locations and branches. This way, each location has its unique jobs, payroll settings, geolocation data, break, overtime, and shift attachments.

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As a result, you can stay on top of labor costs, regardless of the number of branches. Plus, you won’t have to crunch the numbers at the end of the month trying to attribute labor leaks or differentiate time spent on each task.

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Geofencing 

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In addition, Connecteam enables you to create job locations with geofences, a helpful feature for companies with teams bound to a physical location. There are three geofence options: 

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• Required: Employees can’t clock in or out when outside the geofence.
• Off: Employee location will not be tracked
• Optional: GPS location tracking is optional 

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We created our geofence location and set the option to “required” to see how adept the app is at preventing off-site punching. We attempted to clock in outside the geofence, but the app blocked us and displayed the error ‘you are not in the work zone.’

Thankfully, the app clocked us in once we entered the geofence without a hitch. The only niggle is that geofencing is only available on Advanced and Expert plans. 

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Face ID Login

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Connecteam face ID login is available on the Kiosk App, which you can download on any employee device. The face ID snaps a photo of employees as they clock in or out. 

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Unlike Timeero facial recognition, it doesn’t compare the photo to an employee's profile picture to pinpoint mismatches. Instead, it attaches the photo to an employee’s activity log. 

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Admins can catch potential buddy punchers when reviewing employees’ activity logs. Sadly, that can be a lengthy and tedious process, particularly for companies with hundreds of employees in multiple locations. 

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Connecteam Time Tracker Glitches

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With all the bells and whistles, we expected Connecteam to deliver top-notch performance. Unfortunately, the faulty app presented more hiccups than we anticipated. Sometimes when you tweak the settings on the web portal, they take too long to reflect on the employees’ end. 

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That wasn’t the only shortcoming — we were taken aback by the buggy app and unresponsive button. 

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First and foremost, the mobile app is bug-infested. For example, it kept displaying the error message “could not determine your current location. Turn location services on and try again,” rendering the app unusable.

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Secondly, some of Connecteam’s buttons are unresponsive. For example, we had instances when we clicked the ‘switch job’ button, and it didn’t respond on the first attempt. That’s not all. The unresponsive ‘end shift’ button epitomizes Connecteam’s malfunctions. 

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As you can see in the images below, we clicked ‘end shift’ after working 1 hour and 43 minutes. Unfortunately, the button kept loading, only to end our shift 15 minutes later.

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The saddest part is that the 15 minutes ended on the time card. Now, picture a case where the glitch affects the entire workforce. For example, if ten employees work shifts, the app will add 150 minutes to your timesheets. And while this might benefit employees, it will result in financial loss for your company.

2. GPS Location Tracking

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The best GPS tracking apps loop you in on employees’ whereabouts. For example, when you click the “Who’s Working" on Timeero, you get real-time updates on employee location, the tasks they’re working on, and how long they have been working. 

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Connecteam has a similar tool, though it’s tucked away under the time clock. You must select the relevant time clock (assuming you have multiple time clocks) and click “today” to see all clocked-in employees. In addition, you can zoom in to see an employee's clock-in or out location, their work hours, and the tasks they have completed.

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Breadcrumbs Live Tracking

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In addition, Connecteam uses breadcrumbing technology. It creates a trail of each employee’s location, allowing you to see where each employee has been while on the clock. The problem is that you can’t determine how long an employee was at a location because Connecteam doesn’t record the GPS information often enough.

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This is where Timeero route replay excels. The app updates the GPS pings every other minute. So, for example, if you're tracking a sales rep, you can check the time difference between breadcrumbs to determine how many minutes they spent with a customer.

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Another limitation is that Connecteam doesn’t track mileage, and that’s a massive miss for companies whose workforce is always on the move, such as delivery drivers, realtors, sales reps, etc. However, Connecteam allows employees to add mileage when submitting time cards manually.

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Even so, that’s ineffective as it means you have to use two distinct pieces of software, which can bloat your company’s software stack. It doesn’t make sense, especially when there are all-in-one time, location, and mileage trackers such as Timeero. 

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Offline Mode

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We switched off our mobile data after clocking in. The app didn’t warn us about a faulty internet connection. However, when we clicked “end shift,” the app kept loading and didn’t clock us out. We switched the internet back on, and we were able to clock out. 

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Connecteam offline mode is either non-existent or faulty. The app only functions with an internet connection, which is a huge caveat. It rules out the app for teams in areas without a stable internet connection. Plus, if your office is hit by frequent internet interruption, you’re better off using another app with a robust offline mode. 

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3. Job Scheduling And Employee Management

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Companies with automated employee scheduling software record two times more revenue per employee than those without automated schedules. Connecteam scheduling modules enable you to get the best out of employee hours. 

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Building schedule is child play, thanks to the premade morning and evening shift templates. You only need to drag and drop a template to the relevant employee’s time slot, and that’s it. Alternatively, you can build customer shift schedules and use color codes. 

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Employees are at liberty to set their availability on mobile devices. The “availability” function works in tandem with “find replacement” to help you maintain the correct staffing numbers. Employees can pick a shift replacement from the list of available employees and forward the request for approval. 

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On the other hand, managers can create open shifts and allow employees to claim them. That’s a nice way to get more done without overworking anyone. When employees claim a shift out of their own free will, they’re more likely to deliver better results than when you force a shift on them.

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Scheduling Notification

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Connecteam notifies employees via mobile (iOS and Android), web push, or email when you publish a new shift or edit an existing shift. You can also notify employees when the manager approves or declines a shift, such as when finding a replacement.

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Task Management

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The task management module isn’t a complete project management software but helps organize work. For example, it enables you to create quick tasks that don’t necessarily need an entire shift and assign them to qualified employees. 

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Tasks such as picking up supplies, organizing the cold room, or redesigning a banner, don’t need a complete shift but should be done. You can also create sub-tasks for dependent tasks to keep the operation ticking along flawlessly. 

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Connecteam allows setting task deadlines and reminders to streamline workflow and keep responsible employees on their toes. 

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4. PTO, Overtime & Break Management

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86% of employees claim that taking breaks makes them more productive. There’s also the legal aspect: If you have employees in certain states, you have to give them ample break time. This accentuates the need for software with breaks, overtime, and time-off functions. Connecteam ticks that box. 

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Paid Time-Off (PTO) Tracking

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Without a proper PTO tracking policy, you could experience understaffing issues, and chronic absences could derail your company from hitting your target. Enters Connecteam PTO tracking. 

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The app provides pre-made templates for various types of time off, such as bereavement leave, floating holidays, and personal days. In addition, you can create custom policies for unpaid time off, PTO, and sick leaves. Each policy enables you to set limits on the amount of time off that employees can take. As employees submit requests, they can see their time-off balance for better planning.

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Overtime Enforcement 

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The top-tier time tracking tools enable employers to enforce standard overtime rules, such as the California Overtime Law, with a click of a button. Connecteam doesn’t support a similar function. Instead, it gives you the autonomy to dictate your overtime rules, whether that be:

• Weekly overtime
• Daily overtime
• Holiday overtime
• Partial day overtime
• Consecutive days overtime
• Pay period overtime

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Break Management

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In some states, employers have to grant non-exempt workers a 30-minute unpaid break and two paid 10-minute breaks in an 8-hour shift. Connecteam enables you to configure break rules to comply with such state rules. 

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However, setting break rules is one thing; ensuring employees adhere to them is another. Connecteam lets you select manual or automatic breaks. The former allows employees to track their break time, whereas the latter effectively ensures employees take their unpaid breaks.

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When you activate automatic break, the app automatically deducts 30 minutes after a daily total of 8 hours. This ensures all employees play by the rules and that no one is inclined to take shorter breaks.

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Sadly, the rules do not prevent employees from taking longer breaks than allowed. Even worse, no notification prompts employees to return to work when break time is over.

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5. Connecteam Auto-Reporting & Integrations

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Connecteam lets you generate attendance, GPS, timesheets, and payroll reports. The reports dissect various aspects of your business, enabling you to derive insights for better decision-making. 

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Automated reporting is a time-saving feature for busy managers. Rather than generate a report each time you need to analyze an aspect of your workforce, configure automated reports. In this case, the app will send a report to your email based on the predefined time intervals: daily, weekly, or monthly. 

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You can automate any report, including:

• Daily overtime exceeded
• Employee timesheets
• Didn’t show up to a shift
• Absentees

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Connecteam Integrations

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When it comes to integrations, Connecteam's options are constricted. The vendor prioritizes payroll processing, and it’s not surprising that it supports Gusto and QuickBooks Online integration. Beyond that, you have to request integration for your go-to cloud-based systems, such as:

• ADP
• Paychex
• Xero
• Paycor
• Paycom
• SurePayroll
• Sage
• Myob
• Wellsfargo
• Paylocity

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Alternatively, you can link your existing software stack with Connecteam through an application program interface (API) or secure file transfer protocol (SFTP). 

6. Connecteam Team Communication

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Connecteam has communication tools that enhance employee engagement and cohesion. The live chat enables managers and team members to communicate in near-real-time. It lets you configure who can start a conversation and set file-sharing permissions.

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Restricting file sharing is critical, particularly in an era where insiders cause 20% of data breaches. For example, you can restrict employees from sharing company files outside the app or prevent them from sharing messages with file attachments outside of authorized groups or private conversations.

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7. Connecteam Pricing

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The best time-tracking apps offer straightforward, per-user pricing models. Some time-tracking apps, such as Timeero, do not have a base fee, which makes them more affordable.

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Connecteam paid plans deviate from the norm. The vendor caps the maximum number of users per plan at 30 users and charges you an extra fee for any additional user. That might sound cheap for companies with fewer than 30 users, but the price can add up quickly when you outgrow that limit. 

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Connecteam Free Trial & Free Plan

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Connecteam has a 14-day free trial to get a first-hand feel for the app. With the free trial, you get all the features Connecteam offers.

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Beyond that, Connecteam offers a free version for basic business needs such as time and GPS tracking. Unfortunately, the plan is limited to one employee time clock, making it unreliable for small businesses with employees in multiple locations. 

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Connecteam Paid Pricing Plans

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There are three paid plans:

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• Basic: The plan sets you back $29 per month for the first 30 users and $0.5 per user per month for additional users. You get basic time clock features. Unfortunately, this plan only allows for a single time clock and does not include the ability to create geofenced job locations.

• Advanced: The plan costs $49 per month for the first 30 users and $1.5 per user per month for additional users. You get Basic plan features, unlimited geofences, breadcrumbs, GPS location tracking, and three automated reports. You can set up three-time clocks and 10 geofenced locations. 

• Expert: The plan goes for $99 per month for the first 30 users and $3 per user per month for additional users. With the plan, you can create unlimited geofences, time clocks, and automated reports. 

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8. Connecteam Customer Support

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Connecteam offers email, live chat, and knowledge base support. The knowledge base is a good self-service option for less technical issues. The email is great if you have an overly technical problem and want to attach documents or images to expound your case.

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Lastly, the live chat option is ideal for issues that require an immediate human touch. The only thing is that when you initiate contact on the live chat, Connecteam responds via email. However, the customer support agents respond to each email promptly. 

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Connecteam App Review: Is It Worth It?

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When you look at Connecteam superficially, you’d be tempted to fork out the cash. The employee app is sleek and sports all the bells and whistles. However, if our Connecteam review results are anything to go by, the app doesn’t always offer great value for money. 

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User reviews on the Google Play store agree with our results. The Android app garnered 3.7 stars, and many users complained about the buggy app. The iOS app seems to be ok, though, and we didn’t find a lot of complaints about glitches.

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Overall, Connecteam works fine, but time tracking accuracy dissipates when the glitches and bugs manifest. Do you want to use an app that hangs as employees clock out, adding extra minutes to the time card? Or an app that fails to track the time when the internet connection drops?

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If the answer is NO, we got you covered. We never blow our trumpet, but having seen Connecteam's poor performance, there's no doubt that Timeero is the best Connecteam alternative.

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Timeero: The Smarter Connecteam Alternative

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We’ll highlight some features that give Timeero a leg-up on Connecteam:

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• No glitches or annoying bugs: Timeero is regularly updated to patch up emerging issues (if any). As a result, you’ll never experience glitches that bar accurate and effective time tracking.

• Geofencing automation: Timeero restricts employees from clocking in outside the geofence to prevent off-site punching. In addition, it alerts employees when they cross the geofence, prompting them to clock in or out.

• Facial recognition: The app snaps a photo of an employee during clock-in and clock-out and compares it to the employee’s profile picture. In case of a mismatch, the app flags the time entry and alerts the manager immediately. So buddy punchers have nowhere to hide.

• Mileage tracking: The app uses motion-detection technology to track miles only when the vehicle moves. This means it won’t track miles when the vehicle stops or is stuck in traffic. We also have a suggested mileage feature, which suggests the shortest and most efficient route. 

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Please don’t take our word for it. Instead, take Timeero for a risk-free spin for 14 days to get a first-hand feel for these unique features.

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Connecteam Review: FAQs

How Secure is Connecteam?

Yes, Connecteam is secure and doesn’t breach employees’ privacy. It tracks employees' location only when they’re clocked in. 

How Does Connecteam Work?

Connecteam tracks time and GPS location and has scheduling and task modules to enable you to organize work and human resources to get the most out of employee work hours. 

Does Connecteam Track Your Location?

Yes, Connecteam tracks your location only when you’re on the clock. In other words, the app doesn’t track your location when you clock out. 

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