We Tested Connecteam: Here Is Our Comprehensive 2025 Review

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Connecteam claims to be “The World’s #1 Employee App,” designed to help manage communication, operations, and training for non-desk employees. 

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The software presents itself as a customizable and affordable workforce management solution, aiming to meet the diverse needs of various businesses.

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Intrigued by the description, I decided to try it out to see what it offered. I spent one week using and testing the key features of the app. This is my review of how Connecteam performed on various fronts.
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Connecteam Pricing

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What I found great is that Connecteam offers a Small Business Plan, free for up to 10 users. This plan provides full access to all hubs and features, making it a really solid management tool for small businesses.

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However, if your team consists of more than 10 employees, you will have to choose a plan from Connecteam’s flexible and somewhat complex pricing structure.

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The app operates under three main hubs: Operations, Communications, and HR & Skills. Each hub offers pricing plans, allowing businesses to customize their subscriptions according to their needs.

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For my review, I utilized the Operations hub since it offers the features I need to manage my company efficiently.

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Operations pricing

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Important Considerations:

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While Connecteam does offer a free plan and tiered pricing, some of these vital functions are not included in the cheaper plans. 

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• Geofencing and Breadcrumb Tracking are only available in the Advanced and Expert plans.
• Live GPS Tracking is exclusive to the Expert plan.
• Automation and Advanced Reporting are typically included in higher-tiered plans.

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When considering Connecteam, carefully evaluate your business needs and budget to make sure it is the best GPS tracking solution for your company. 

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Connecteam: Signup, onboarding, and user interface

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Signing up for Connecteam is easy. The process requires only your basic information and business email. 

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Connecteam customizes your experience with the app by asking about your role, company size, and industry, allowing you to select relevant features.

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The onboarding process includes a helpful introductory video as well as tutorials to guide you through the platform's features and sections. 

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Adding new team members is pretty straightforward. You need a worker’s full name and mobile phone number to add them to the system.  If you do not have all of the employee’s required information, you can send them an invite link to download the app via email, or direct them to the app via QR code.

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Alternatively, you can import your database and add workers to your account in bulk.

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User Interface (UI)

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It might take a while to get used to the way features and options are set up in the dashboard. 

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While Connecteam’s UI is comprehensive and functional, it did feel cluttered at times. Having so many features and options can be overwhelming, especially for new users. It took me a while to get accustomed to the layout and navigation, so it may take some time for admins and employees to learn the ropes.

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However, I was pleased to find out that Connecteam offers accessibility options for its web version. This demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity and ensures a wider range of individuals can use the platform.

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Here's a quick summary of the UI:

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Web App. The dashboard provides a compact overview of tasks and updates with a Quick Actions bar for easy access to common functions. Widgets inform you of employee requests and alerts.

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Mobile App. The mobile app mirrors the web app's functionality, allowing for on-the-go task creation, clocking in/out, and schedule viewing. There is also an admin tab that allows you to manage team members and access key features.

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Connecteam Key Features 

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1. Time tracking

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‍The Connecteam time-tracking feature is included in the web portal, kiosk, and mobile app. Although the app’s interface initially doesn’t feel the most user-friendly, it does become easier to navigate with time. 

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Connecteam’s time clock feature is tucked under the assets at the bottom menu. Even with a quick access button at the top of the screen, it's easy to miss amongst the app's busy interface and numerous features.

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It may take a while for the employees, especially non-tech-savvy team members, to understand how to use it most efficiently for time tracking.

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Connecteam offers several options to limit how and when employees track their time, ensuring accurate timekeeping and preventing errors.

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For example, you can prohibit early clock-ins and restrict time tracking to take place during assigned work hours. You can also enable automatic clock-outs to prevent missed punches and overtime accrual in the event a worker fails to clock out.

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You can configure Connecteam to notify employees and remind them to clock in at the start of their shift and clock out as they leave. The app’s reminders and auto-clock out features work together to make sure all of your employees remember to clock in or out. 

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Note: This functionality is not available to Basic and Advanced plan users.

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Adding attachments to timesheets and collecting digital signatures are great features to have, but they are only included in the Advanced plan.

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Connecteam’s employee time-tracking features improve accuracy, prevent time theft, and ensure compliance. 

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But, take note: some time-tracking functions are not available to Basic and Advanced plan users.

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2. Geofencing 

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For this review, I created a geofence location and set the option to “required” to see how adept the app is at preventing off-site punching. I attempted to clock in outside of the geofence, and the app successfully blocked me, displaying the error ‘you are not in the work zone.’

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When I entered the geofence area, I was able to clock in without a problem. The only drawback is that Connecteam’s geofencing feature is not available in the Basic plan, which may disappoint companies with teams on the move. 

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3. Kiosk app with face ID login

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Connecteam’s face ID login is available on the Kiosk App, which you can download on any employee device. The face ID feature snaps a photo of employees as they clock in or out, but the app doesn’t compare the photo to an employee’s profile picture to pinpoint mismatches. 

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While many other facial recognition apps compare an employee’s selfie to their profile photo, Connecteam’s face ID attaches the photo to an employee’s activity log.  

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To catch potential buddy punching cases, admins can view employees’ face ID photos recorded in their activity logs. 

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4. 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" tab on Timeero, you get real-time updates on employee location, the tasks they’re working on, and how long they have been working. Read the full Timeero review to learn more.

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Connecteam has a similar tool, though it’s tucked away under the time clock. To see all clocked-in employees, select the relevant time clock and click “today.” 

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On the map, you can see who of your workers is currently available. You can zoom in to see an employee's clock-in or out location, routes, work hours, and tasks.

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Breadcrumbs 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. 

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Each breadcrumb comes with a timestamp, so you can get a sense of where your employees were during their working hours. 

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However, if you suspect some inefficiency, you will need to do some serious legwork to get a clear picture of their day.

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This is where Timeero’s segmented tracking feature shines, presenting location data in an easy-to-understand format. At a single glance, you can see how much time an employee has spent at each location, mileage, and time traveling from one location to another.

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5. Scheduling Features 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’s scheduling modules enable you to get the most out of employee hours. 

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With Connecteam, constructing schedules is easy, thanks to morning and evening shift schedule 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 can 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 assign a shift to them.

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Connecteam uses mobile (iOS and Android) scheduling notifications, web push, or email to inform employees about new shifts or shift changes. You can also set it up to notify employees when the manager approves or declines changes, such as when finding a replacement.

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Task Management

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Connecteam’s task management module isn’t a complete project management software feature, but rather helps organize work. For example, it enables you to create quick tasks that don’t require the time of 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 won’t take up a whole shift but still require time to complete. You can also create sub-tasks under dependent tasks to keep the operation ticking flawlessly. 

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Connecteam allows you to set task deadlines and reminders to streamline workflows and keep employees organized.

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6. PTO, Overtime & Break Management

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Tracking employee attendance, overtime hours, and breaks is a vital part of employee time tracking. Connecteam checks that box. 

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Paid Time-Off (PTO) Tracking

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Connecteam 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 leave. 

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Each policy enables you to set limits on the amount of time that employees can take off. As employees submit requests, they can see their time-off balance for better planning.

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‍Overtime Enforcement 

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Connecteam lets you customize 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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The app’s top-tier time-tracking tools enable employers to enforce standard overtime rules, such as the California Overtime Law, with a click of a button. 

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Break Management

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Connecteam offers two main ways to track employee breaks:

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• Manual Breaks. Employees can manually track their break time using a dedicated "take a break" button. This allows for flexibility and gives employees control over when they take their breaks. You can customize break types (paid or unpaid) and durations.
  
  
• Automatic Breaks. For more automated control, you can set automatic unpaid breaks. You can define rules, such as, deducting a 30-minute break after a daily total of 7 hours worked. This way, you can ensure compliance with labor laws and relevant company policies regarding break times.
  
  

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PRO TIP: Always check your state's legislature regarding break requirements. If you're in California or a state with strict break laws, consider whether Connecteam's break tracking features fully meet your compliance needs or if you require a solution with more advanced functionalities, like Timeero’s California break tracking feature.

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7. Connecteam Auto-Reporting & Integrations

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I really liked that Connecteam offers the Automated Reports feature. Connecteam's automated reports are a valuable tool for staying organized and efficient. You can set up automatic reports for:

• Employee Timesheets
• Daily Limits Exceeded
• Absentees
• No-Shows

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Simply specify how often you want to get these reports (daily, weekly, or monthly), and Connecteam will automatically email them to you.

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Connecteam also has some other useful reports:

• Admin Timesheet Report. This gives a summary of everyone's work hours each week.
• User Timesheet Report. Employees receive individual summaries of their work hours, which helps them keep track of their time.

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Connecteam Integrations

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Connecteam offers integrations to connect with popular business tools, primarily payroll software. 

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You can directly integrate with providers like:

•  Gusto
•  MYOB Business
•  Paychex Flex
•  QuickBooks Online
•  and Xero

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 If your payroll provider isn't directly supported, Connecteam offers export templates to format timesheets for compatibility with providers like ADP Run, ADP WFN, and QuickBooks Desktop. This list isn't exhaustive, so check Connecteam’s website or contact support for the latest integration information.

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8. Connecteam Team Communication and HR features

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Connecteam offers some nice features that facilitate employee communication and streamline HR processes. It provides a live chat for real-time messaging between managers and team members, with granular control over who can start a conversation and set file-sharing permissions.

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Beyond team chat, Connecteam provides valuable tools like Documents, a centralized and organized hub for managing all employee-related forms. This simplifies onboarding, performance reviews, and other HR tasks. The Celebrations feature automatically recognizes birthdays and work anniversaries, increasing employee engagement while fostering a positive work environment.

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For knowledge sharing and company-wide communication, Connecteam offers a Knowledge Hub to store essential information and Updates for sharing announcements and important news company-wide.

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Finally, Connecteam's customizable Checklists and Forms streamline various tasks, from daily operations to safety inspections. These forms are mobile-friendly, allowing employees to complete them on the go, and can even automate tasks like sharing reports and capturing GPS data.

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9. Connecteam Customer Support

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Connecteam offers 1-on-1 customer support, as well as email, live chat, and online knowledge base support. Connecteam’s knowledge base is a good self-service option for less technical issues, such as adding a user. Connecteam’s 1-on-1 support, along with emailing, is the perfect option to use if you have an overly technical problem and believe it would be helpful to attach documents or images to describe your case in detail.

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The live chat option is ideal for issues that require an immediate human response. 

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Significant Connecteam limitations

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1. Time tracking

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When I looked up user reviews online, I found several complaints that Connecteam constantly crashes. I am happy to say that while testing Connecteam, it never crashed.

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Still, this does not mean the time-tracking app has no weaknesses. One of the biggest issues I encountered is its inability to capture data while offline.

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For example, if you were to lose internet connection, you may not be able to log your break - the app will stay on the loading screen and continue tracking your work hours.  Or you might show up at your worksite on time but you cannot clock in. 

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While there are workarounds for these issues, they complicate the time-tracking process and may cause an unpleasant user experience.

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I experienced this firsthand during my testing when I switched off mobile data. I could not clock in, clock out, or begin a break - the app just kept on loading. 

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When the signal was back, I had to reload the app before I could continue.

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The lack of offline functionality is a significant limitation, especially for construction, field service, logistics, and transportation businesses requiring a reliable way to track employees in any environment. 

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If your team works in areas without a stable internet connection or if your office experiences frequent internet interruptions, consider an alternative app with a more robust offline tracking mode. Timeero accurately tracks time, location, and mileage, even in remote areas without an internet connection. 

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2. Mileage tracking

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A significant limitation of Connecteam is that it doesn’t track mileage, which is a huge loss for companies with a mobile workforce.

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While Connecteam allows employees to add mileage to their time cards manually as a timesheet attachment, this method is not the most efficient and can lead to errors. It implies either using a highly error-prone manual mileage-tracking method or a separate tool, which adds complexity and cost. All-in-one solutions like Timeero simplify this process by automatically tracking mileage, time, and location within a single app.

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Connecteam app review: Is it worth it?

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After trying out Connecteam, I found it to be an employee management app with a lot to offer. It boasts a wide array of features, including time tracking, scheduling, communication tools, and HR functionalities. 

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However, whether the app is "worth it" or not depends on your specific needs and priorities. So, carefully evaluate your needs and budget to determine if Connecteam aligns with your requirements. Take advantage of their free trial to experience the platform firsthand and see if it's the right fit for your business.

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If your team frequently works offline or requires precise mileage tracking, you might need to consider alternative solutions, like Timeero.

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Timeero: The smarter Connecteam alternative

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If some of Connecteam's limitations are concerning, consider Timeero as a strong alternative. Here are just a few of Timeero’s key features:

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• Offline Tracking. Unlike Connecteam, Timeero works seamlessly offline, ensuring accurate time and location tracking even in areas without internet connectivity. This is crucial for field teams or those working in remote locations.
• Segmented Tracking. Timeero's segmented tracking provides a clear and organized view of employee activity, showing how much time is spent at each location and during travel. This level of detail is not available in Connecteam.
• Facial Recognition. Timeero takes facial recognition a step further by comparing clock-in/out photos with employee profile pictures to prevent buddy punching and ensure accurate timekeeping.
• Mileage Tracking. Timeero automatically tracks mileage using motion-detection technology, eliminating the need for manual entry and ensuring accurate records for reimbursement or expense tracking.

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Beyond the features mentioned above, Timeero boasts an intuitive and user-friendly interface that's easy to navigate and understand, even for those unfamiliar with time-tracking apps. The app’s ease of use ensures a smooth onboarding experience and allows your team to focus on their work, not on figuring out the software.

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