QuickBooks Time vs. Timeero: We Tested Both to Find the Best Fit for Mobile Teams
Jessica Helms
Last update on:
October 23, 2026 2:18 AM
Published on:
TL;DR
Timeero captured an average of 2.2 more miles per test drive than QuickBooks Time, which missed whole stretches of route.
Timeero clocks workers in and out automatically through custom geofences, while QuickBooks Time only sends reminders.
Timeero costs $5–$12/user/month with no base fee, while QuickBooks Time adds a base fee and requires QuickBooks Online.
QuickBooks Time suits teams that rarely travel, but Timeero is the better pick for multi-site mobile crews.
Mobile teams with distributed crews work in atypical situations. Rural zones with limited internet connection and dispersed job sites present workforce management challenges that traditional GPS tracking apps aren’t built to handle.
QuickBooks Time may be the first choice for teams already using products within the QuickBooks ecosystem. But is QuickBooks Time really the right choice for a mobile team?
This head-to-head comparison article shows the results of hands-on testing in September 2026. Against Timeero, QuickBooks Time revealed significant limitations in one of the key features mobile teams need most: GPS accuracy.
Looking for a time and mileage tracking app and can’t choose between Timeero and QuickBooks Time?
Watch this video to learn how Timeero simplifies time, mileage, and GPS location tracking.
We tested QuickBooks Time and Timeero under the same conditions. We ran several test drives, documenting how each app handles the features field teams need most: GPS tracking, mileage tracking, Auto Clock-In/Out, scheduling, and offline functionality.
Note: The results documented within this comparison reflect real product behavior.
QuickBooks Time overview
What is QuickBooks Time?
Originally known as TSheets, QuickBooks Time is a cloud-based time tracking solution that helps businesses track employee hours, manage approvals, and simplify payroll reporting.
Who is QuickBooks Time designed for?
QuickBooks Time is best for businesses already using QuickBooks Online, teams needing basic time tracking, scheduling and payroll.
Key features
Time tracking
GPS tracking
Geofences
Employee scheduling
Break and overtime tracking
Reports
Job costing
Project management
Payroll integration
Typical industries that use QuickBooks Time
Construction, maintenance, manufacturing, real estate, nonprofits, retail, and other project-based or mobile teams.
Timeero overview
What is Timeero?
Timeero is a field workforce visibility app that uses GPS technology to track time and mileage for distributed teams.
Who is Timeero designed for?
Timeero is used by mobile teams that work across multiple job sites each day. Teams that choose Timeero are looking to increase visibility in the field, workforce productivity, and project efficiency.
Key features
Auto Clock-In/Out
Segmented Tracking
California Breaks Tracking
Automatic mileage tracking
Real-time GPS tracking
Route replay with breadcrumbs
MCP Server
Multi-Level Approvals
In-App messaging
Geofences
Offline tracking
Scheduling
Break reminders
Typical industries that use Timeero
Construction, sales teams, property management, cleaning, landscaping, and other field-based teams that need real-time GPS visibility and automated time and mileage tracking. California businesses choose Timeero for its built-in compliance features.
Feature Comparison: Side-by-Side
Feature
Timeero
QuickBooks Time
Segmented Tracking
(Limited)
Offline Tracking
Mileage Tracking
(Not enabled by default)
Breadcrumbs
Who’s Working map
Geofences
Auto Clock-In/Out
Time Tracking
Break Tracking
California Break Tracking
PTO management
Scheduling
Custom Forms
In-App Messaging
Multi-Level Approvals
MCP Server
Route Replay
Facial Recognition
In-depth feature reviews
At first glance, it may seem like QuickBooks Time and Timeero only differ in user experience and app design.
But during my hands-on testing experience, I looked specifically at the features mobile teams use the most. QuickBooks Time quickly showed its limitations in GPS accuracy, automation, and compliance.
1. GPS tracking
QuickBooks Time
Since GPS accuracy and mileage tracking go hand in hand, it was important for me to test how well QuickBooks Time captures GPS points.
Going into testing, I didn’t know how well QuickBooks Time was equipped to track mileage. I took the app on a test drive, with Timeero running right beside it.
During the drive, there is an obvious difference between how frequently GPS breadcrumbs are dropped by QuickBooks Time vs Timeero. This can be a major drawback for mobile teams that travel between multiple job sites and depend on accurate mileage records.
QuickBooks Time failed to track 2.27 miles that Timeero’s GPS successfully captured
Timeero
In the same test drive, Timeero dropped a significantly larger amount of GPS breadcrumbs along the driving route. This makes a difference in the accuracy of mileage records.
When mobile teams work at multiple job sites, every mile matters. The more accurate GPS records are, the more accurate mileage records will be.
For this drive, Timeero captured 9.35 miles, following my exact driving path. The route was the same, no deviations or additional stops were made.
Timeero captured 9.35 miles, 2.27 miles more than QuickBooks Time
2. Live location map
QuickBooks Time
QuickBooks Time does a good job showing the current location of employees. From the location map, you can see every worker’s current GPS location.
This is helpful when teams need to locate a crew quickly or reassign the nearest workers to a nearby location.
QuickBooks Time “Who’s Working” map
Timeero’s “Who’s Working” dashboard operates in much the same way as QuickBooks Time’s “Who’s Working” map.
However, Timeero’s “Who’s Working” dashboard shows more job-related details, such as how long a worker has been on the clock, mileage, and which job they are currently clocked into.
Timeero’s “Who’s Working” dashboard details
3. Geofencing
QuickBooks Time
While QuickBooks Time does allow geofences to be drawn around job sites, it is missing the ability to draw custom geofences around job sites. Not every work zone a mobile team works at will be a perfect square, so having the ability to draw a geofence that follows a site’s unique boundaries is a plus – something that QuickBooks Time lacks.
QuickBooks Time allows you to draw a circular geofence with a radius of 100-1,000 m
During testing, QuickBooks Time recognized when I exited a geofenced area and sent me a reminder to clock out.
Push notification I received when I exited the geofence
In terms of functionality, QuickBooks Time’s geofences do a great job of creating a boundary around a work zone. However, the platform treats arrivals and departures from the geofence as if the shift is starting or ending. Having the ability to choose what happens when an employee enters/leaves a geofence would increase timesheet accuracy and stop missed punches.
Timeero
When job sites have irregular boundaries, being able to draw a polygon or custom geofence around the area helps mobile teams prevent offsite punches, better allocate time to work sites, and eliminate buddy punching.
Draw circular or polygon geofences around job sites
For this hands-on test, I wanted to see if the app would let me clock in outside of a geofence. When I attempted to clock in, I was presented with a notification that said I was outside of the work area.
Timeero prevented me from being able to clock in outside of the geofence
Geofences are also an integral part of Timeero’s Auto Clock-In/Out feature. When employees enter or leave a geofenced region, Timeero automatically clocks them in or out depending on the company’s Work Schedule settings.
When you set up a geofence, you can choose what action takes place on arrival and departure.
Having the ability to draw polygon geofences is a huge plus for mobile teams that want better visibility into employee time and location tracking.
4. Auto Clock-In/Out
QuickBooks Time
QuickBooks Time does not offer Auto Clock-In/Out to users, which is a major drawback for teams with a distributed workforce. This is one feature that I looked for as soon as I began testing the app.
Timeero
Timeero’s Auto Clock-In/Out is controlled by geofences and your company’s Work Schedule, helping mobile teams capture time when and where employees work.
When a geofence is drawn around a job site, administrators can specify if they would like the employee to be clocked in or out upon arrival and departure.
Select what action you would like to take place on arrival and departure of the geofence
As soon as the employee enters the geofence, a push notification is displayed that confirms they have been auto-clocked into the job. The same is done when they leave the geofence.
Push notification received when I was automatically clocked in
During the test, I tried to clock in before my company’s defined Work Schedule and was not allowed to complete the punch.
Push notification preventing me from clocking in
I really like that Timeero has protective measures in place to prevent employees from clocking in early, especially crews that arrive at the job site 30-minutes prior to shift start and sit in their trucks.
Timeero also waits 2 minutes before automatically clocking an employee in, and 1 minute before clocking them out to make sure they have not accidentally passed by a geofenced site or stepped out of the zone for a brief period of time.
5. Mileage tracking
QuickBooks Time
Mileage tracking is not enabled by default when your account is set up. You will need to navigate to “Feature Add-Ons” from the desktop site, then “Manage Add-Ons” and “Mileage Tracking”. The feature will need to be installed before you can automatically track employee mileage.
Install Mileage Tracking within the “Manage Add-Ons” screen
To determine how well QuickBooks Time tracked mileage, I asked these three questions:
How often did the app drop GPS points or breadcrumbs?
At any point during my drive did the app stop tracking mileage?
How many miles did the app record?
Breadcrumbs
QuickBooks Time does drop breadcrumbs along a driving route, but the points are spaced far apart. Even though mileage is being tracked, it is not as accurate as a route with more frequent breadcrumbs.
Breadcrumbs are dropped less frequently by QuickBooks Time
Failed to track mileage
There was a particular point during a test drive when the app did fail to record mileage due to lack of GPS data. For mobile teams that travel between job sites, a gap in mileage increases the likelihood of employee disputes and missed reimbursements.
Mileage was not recorded from Springfield to Wakefield Park, making mileage records inaccurate
Total mileage
Because QuickBooks Time did have GPS accuracy issues, mileage totals did not reflect what was actually driven. When I ran Quickbooks Time against Timeero during two test drives, Timeero captured on average 2.2 miles more than QuickBooks Time.
After my hands-on testing, I would not recommend QuickBooks Time as a reliable mileage tracking tool. Every test drive that I conducted showed QuickBooks Time recorded less miles on average than Timeero, when the two apps should be showing roughly the same figures.
Timeero
Timeero automatically tracks mileage as soon as a worker clocks in and begins driving. The app’s drive detection technology distinguishes between different types of movement so walking and bus rides aren’t recorded in daily mileage logs.
When I tested Timeero beside QuickBooks Time, it appeared as though there were no major differences in how mileage was tracked. The app showed GPS location and a driving route map.
But when I looked back at the total miles captured, it was obvious Timeero was more accurate than QuickBooks Time.
Timeero’s accurate breadcrumb trail
The difference in mileage accuracy during two test drives averaged around 2.2 miles, which adds up for a large mobile team that makes multiple stops every day.
6. Multi-location tracking
QuickBooks Time
QuickBooks Time does not have true multi-location tracking. The closest thing is to run a geofence exception report that shows the locations a crew member traveled to after leaving the geofence.
The team member’s driving route is displayed with GPS points. However, the information recorded is limited.
Mobile teams that travel between multiple job sites need to know how much time was spent at each site and how many miles were driven from point to point. It can not be assumed that QuickBooks Time shows GPS points as true stops.
Run a geofence exception report to see where employees traveled after leaving the geofence
Timeero
Timeero’s Segmented Tracking feature shows each stop a crew member made while on the clock.
An employee only needs to clock in once at the start of their shift and Timeero automatically divides the driving route into segments based on stops made.
If at any time you question whether an employee is making unauthorized stops during the work day, Segmented Tracking shows you the exact locations they visited, how long they stayed there, as well as the miles driven between stops.
The Segmented Tracking timeline shows the driving route as well as time and mileage details
7. Offline functionality
QuickBooks Time
To test the reliability of the app’s offline tracking, I turned off my phone’s WiFi and turned on airplane mode.
QuickBooks Time did not drop multiple GPS points while offline
I was still able to clock out of my shift, switch jobs, and start and stop breaks while offline. From 1:45-1:47 pm I was driving in offline mode. When I reviewed my daily timesheet, QuickBooks Time recorded my driving route and hours worked while offline, but it did not calculate my mileage.
One thing that I notice on the Timesheet Map is that there are only 5 GPS points recorded along my driving route. This tells me that in offline mode, QuickBooks Time’s GPS is not as accurate as it is when the app is online.
Timeero
When I tested Timeero’s offline capabilities under the same conditions, I did not experience any gaps in time or mileage tracking.
When I tried to clock in offline, I was notified that my time would sync once connection was restored.
8. Scheduling
QuickBooks Time
QuickBooks Time’s Scheduling feature operates the same as other GPS tracking apps. Give the shift a title, choose a display color, select start and end times, and assign to employees. Choosing a job and designating a job location are optional.
View scheduled shifts and create job assignments from the QuickBooks Time desktop site
When I assigned myself a shift in QuickBooks Time, I expected to receive a notification telling me about the assignment. I double checked my company’s configurations, which said that I should have received an email when I was assigned a new shift, but I never got any type of email or phone notification.
Schedule notification settings show that I should have received a mobile and email notification
I checked the email and mobile number that had been entered on my profile, and both were correct. I’m not sure if there was an error on my end, or if this was a glitch on QuickBooks Time’s part. Either way, field teams that do not check into a central location benefit from receiving shift notifications to prevent missed shifts and miscommunication.
Timeero
Creating and assigning a schedule to an employee in Timeero is similar to QuickBooks Time’s scheduling process.
To create a schedule, name the shift, select the user or group, add a location address if applicable, choose the start/end times, and select a shift color if desired.
Create and assign schedules to individuals or groups
When employees are assigned to a shift, they receive an email asking them to accept or decline the schedule. If the shift assignment is accepted, it is automatically added to the calendar and visible in the mobile app under scheduled shifts.
Employees receive an email informing them of shift assignments
9. Custom Fields
QuickBooks Time
Setting up custom fields was fairly simple. From the desktop site, you navigate to “Feature Add-Ons” then “Custom Fields”.
To test how QuickBooks Time captures Custom Fields, I created a Custom Field to capture gas expenses. Once I named the field, I selected the type of employee input required from the four options, and required the Custom Field to be shown on all jobs.
QuickBooks Time offers four input options: text, decimal number, whole number, and list.
Collect Custom Field data from specific jobs and employees
When I opened the mobile app, the Gas Expense Custom Field was visible just as I had set it up. I entered $5.00 and saved my entry. If I was an employee in the field without a fuel card, I would then take a picture of my gas receipt and attach it to my time card for accounting.
Enter Custom Field data on the Time clock screen
As soon as a Custom Field entry is saved, it syncs with the employee’s timesheet and is visible while still on the clock.
The custom field entry is visible on the time entries screen under “Gas Expense”
Timeero
To set up Custom Fields in Timeero, the admin or manager will navigate to the Company Settings. There are four different Custom Field types shown: Jobs, Time & Mileage, Users, and Approvals.
If you need to collect specific information during an employee’s shift, choose the “Time & Mileage” Custom Field.
I repeated the same test scenario with Timeero’s Custom Fields, creating a field for “Gas Expenses”. There were two main differences that I observed – one, Timeero offers 10 input options which allows more flexibility in data collection, and two, Custom Fields can be displayed at Clock In or Clock Out.
Choose when to display the Custom Field to users
When I clocked out of my job on the mobile app, I was required to fill out the Gas Expense Custom Field before I could successfully clock out.
The Gas Expense Custom Field was shown when I clocked out
If I did have gas expenses, I could take a photo of the gas receipt while on the clock, or add it to the time entry from the mobile app after I was clocked out of the job.
When managers want to pull Custom Field data, they can either run a report or view entries on individual employee timesheets.
Custom Fields report
10. Payroll Integrations
QuickBooks Time
QuickBooks Time integrates directly with QuickBooks Desktop, QuickBooks Online, and QuickBooks Workforce.
It also integrates with third-party applications such as:
Gusto
Paychex Flex
Paylocity
Xero
ADP
Timeero
Timeero integrates with multiple payroll providers, including QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop for users that do not want to leave the QuickBooks ecosystem.
The QuickBooks Time plan that you choose will depend on whether you want to use the QuickBooks system for payroll. The one caveat is that a QuickBooks Online subscription is required on top of your monthly QuickBooks Time plan. The cost adds up quickly for small teams.
Plan
Use case
Monthly base fee
Monthly price per user
Time Premium
Time tracking
$20/month*$10 first 3 months
$10/user/month
Time Elite
Time tracking
$40/month*$20 first 3 months
$12/user/month
Workforce Premium
Time tracking + payroll
$88/month*$44 first 3 months
$13/employee/month
Workforce Elite
Time tracking + payroll
$134/month*$67 first 3 months
$17/employee/month
For new accounts, users can either activate a 30-day free trial or take half-off of their monthly base fee for 3 months. However, only one discount/promotion can be applied to the account.
Businesses that take the 3-month promotional discount must have a card on file that will be charged as soon as the 3 month period is over.
Timeero
Timeero’s Basic plan offers time, mileage, and GPS tracking, but is capped at a max of 10 users. Mobile teams will want to subscribe to the Pro plan or above to get all of the features found in this review.
Plan
Monthly user price
Annual user price
Basic
$6/user/month
$5/user/month
Pro
$9/user/month
$7.50/user/month
Premium
$12/user/month
$10/user/month
Enterprise
Contact Sales
Contact Sales
A few things worth mentioning, Timeero’s Segmented Tracking and In-App Messaging are available as an option add-on within the Pro and Premium plans.
Does Timeero have a monthly base fee?
No. Timeero does not charge users a monthly base fee.
Does Timeero have a free trial?
Yes. Timeero offers users a 14-day free trial. No credit card required.
Does Timeero offer users pricing discounts or promotions?
Users that sign up for annual billing save an equivalent of two months’ worth of subscription costs.
QuickBooks Time vs Timeero: Pros and cons
QuickBooks Time Pros & Cons
Pros
Live location map
Customers who already use QuickBooks Online can use QuickBooks Time for payroll
Request PTO & view balances from the mobile app
Checks the GPS location against nearby jobs before clocking in
App is called QuickBooks Workforce but the product is called QuickBooks Time which was confusing
No California compliance features
Offline tracking did not capture accurate mileage
Timeero Pros & Cons
Pros
Custom geofences can be drawn around job sites with irregular boundaries
Segmented Tracking captures time, mileage, and location data for multi-stop routes
Auto Clock-In/Out triggered by geofences for accuracy
Excellent customer support
Cons
Segmented Tracking and Messaging are available as paid add-ons
No free plan
Messaging must be configured before use
Some features are gated behind higher paid tiers
Final verdict
For teams that don’t travel between job sites every day, QuickBooks Time may be a viable option. Its time tracking, scheduling, and basic mileage tracking are suited for occasional travel and traditional desk jobs.
During testing, its biggest flaw was the accuracy of its GPS and frequency of breadcrumbs. For distributed teams, reliable GPS tracking is a must.
Timeero is best suited for mobile crews that travel between multiple locations that need real time visibility into field operations.
When QuickBooks Time failed to track a significant portion of a test drive, Timeero continued dropping GPS breadcrumbs and followed the exact driving route. This result shows teams with a history of workplace disputes over time and mileage that Timeero is capable of producing GPS-verified records for every turn.
Which is the right GPS app for your mobile team?
For mobile teams, visibility, efficiency and accuracy are the name of the game. A GPS tracking app like Timeero eliminates missed punches, reduces workplace disputes, and increases productivity across your workforce.
Where QuickBooks Time lacks in accuracy, Timeero makes up for it with consistent GPS tracking and location-verified records.
Looking for a QuickBooks Time alternative? Start your free 14-day trial today.
FAQs
Is Timeero a good QuickBooks Time alternative for mobile teams?
Yes, Timeero is a good QuickBooks Time alternative for mobile teams. It’s GPS tracking is reliable, with breadcrumbs dropping every 150 ft. during travel. Its Auto Clock-In/Out feature is one of the most requested tools mobile teams need.
Can you use QuickBooks Time without QuickBooks Online?
No, you must have a QuickBooks Online subscription to use QuickBooks Time. The cost adds up for smaller mobile teams.
Does Timeero integrate with QuickBooks?
Yes, Timeero does integrate with QuickBooks. Use Timeero to track time, mileage and location and export records to QuickBooks for payroll.
Which is cheaper for a mobile team, Timeero or QuickBooks Time?
Timeero is significantly cheaper for a mobile team. There are no monthly base fees, and no additional plans required.
Does QuickBooks Time track mileage as accurately as Timeero?
Our test results showed that QuickBooks Time does not track mileage as accurately as Timeero. During multiple test drives, QuickBooks Time failed to track at least 2 miles each trip.
Which one verifies who is clocking in?
Both QuickBooks Time and Timeero are equipped with facial recognition software.
Do you need the full QuickBooks ecosystem to get QuickBooks Time's AI features?
You must subscribe to QuickBooks Online (such as Simple Start, Essentials, Plus, or Advanced) or the Intuit Enterprise Suite to use AI features.
Streamline time, mileage, and GPS location tracking with a user-friendly mileage and time tracking tool
Sign up for a Timeero free trial to get a first-hand feel for its unique functionality
Jessica is a skilled writer and proofreader with a unique flair for crafting engaging and impactful content. Her work reflects her ability to connect with clients on a personal level while successfully addressing their most pressing concerns. Jessica's professional background includes: teaching, social media marketing, and e-commerce. She resides in Alabama and loves the Golden Girls sitcom.
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