PunchFlow

PunchFlow is a browser-based time clock for small businesses and shift-based teams that want staff to clock in at a shared kiosk. Its strongest case is simple PIN-based attendance with payroll-ready reports; the main trade-offs are employee caps on lower plans and a CSV upload step for payroll.

Overview

Employees select their name and enter a unique four-digit PIN on a shared device, without installing an app or signing into an individual account. Managers get a live view of who is working, can maintain pay rates and employee history, and can run multiple kiosk locations. That approach fits workplaces where employees share a clock-in point, such as cafes, retail stores, trades businesses and small offices; it is less suited to teams that need mobile clock-ins.

Reports summarize hours, breaks and estimated pay by employee and date range. CSV and PDF exports cover common handoffs, and PunchFlow names Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks and compatible payroll tools as destinations. The process is export and upload, not a native payroll API connection, so businesses expecting automatic payroll syncing should look elsewhere.

Key features

Break tracking and pay tracking begin on Basic. Free includes basic reports and CSV export, while PDF exports and pay slips start at Basic. On Pro and above, the employee portal lets staff review timesheets and earnings and flag a punch for an administrator to approve or decline. That adds a useful correction channel, though approval remains an administrator decision.

Pro also adds GPS-radius and IP restrictions for clock-ins. GPS and IP capture are optional, giving managers location controls without making capture mandatory. PIN protection, HTTPS connections, automatic lockout after failed attempts and a full audit log on Pro address access and change tracking; manual edits record who changed a punch, when, and its original value. PunchFlow says its database is backed up daily, weekly and monthly, and that customer data is used only to run the account, not sold or shared.

The kiosk runs in a browser on tablets, phones, laptops and desktops without installation. PunchFlow says setup takes under two minutes, making shared-device deployment a practical strength for teams that do not want individual employee app accounts.

Pricing

PunchFlow has a free plan and paid plans priced in AUD per month. There is no free trial, so the free tier is the way to assess the core clock-in and reporting workflow before paying.

• Free — free: Up to 2 employees, 1 kiosk, core time clock, basic reports and CSV export. It suits a very small team testing a shared kiosk, but the two-employee ceiling makes it a narrow long-term option.
• Basic — A$10 a month: Up to 6 employees and 3 kiosks, plus email notifications, break tracking, PDF exports and pay slips, pay tracking and a raw punch log. This is the practical entry point for small teams needing more than basic CSV reports; it still lacks the employee portal and Pro location controls.
• Pro — A$25 a month: Up to 15 employees and 10 kiosks, with GPS and IP restrictions, the employee portal and full audit log. It suits growing teams that need location limits or employee access to records, but the 15-person cap may make Unlimited necessary as headcount grows.
• Unlimited — A$99 a month: Unlimited employees and kiosks, plus priority support. It is the clear fit for larger or expanding operations that would outgrow Pro; smaller teams should weigh the substantially higher monthly price against their need for uncapped capacity.

The Help Centre says support inquiries receive a reply within one business day; Unlimited adds priority support. No paid plan requires an individual mobile clock-in app, since clock-ins use the PIN kiosk.

Platforms

PunchFlow lists Android, iOS, macOS, web and Windows. Its browser-based kiosk can run on phones, tablets, laptops and desktops, but mobile clock-in is not supported: employees clock in at a kiosk rather than from their own devices.

Who it's for

PunchFlow is best for small, shift-based workplaces that can put a shared kiosk at a suitable clock-in point and want hours and pay estimates exported for payroll processing. Businesses needing individual mobile clock-ins, automatic payroll integration, or more than 15 employees without moving to the $99.00 AUD monthly Unlimited plan have stronger reasons to compare alternatives.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Kiosk clock-ins require no employee app or account. A shared browser device keeps onboarding simple for teams with a common clock-in location.
• Pro: Reports cover hours, breaks and estimated pay. CSV is available on Free, with PDF exports and pay slips on Basic and above.
• Pro: Pro adds employee self-service and traceable edits. Employees can view records and flag punches, while the full audit log retains the editor and original value.
• Con: Payroll is a manual handoff. CSV export and upload is less convenient than an API-based connection for businesses seeking automatic synchronization.
• Con: Lower plans have tight employee limits. Free stops at 2 employees, Basic at 6 and Pro at 15, so growth can mean a move to Unlimited.
• Con: No mobile clock-in. Employees must use a kiosk, which does not suit teams whose work takes them away from a shared device.

Alternatives

Time Clock Software is the broader category page for comparing time-clock options.

• Fareclock is worth considering if GPS time tracking and shift scheduling are priorities; it has a free trial but no free plan, and its Pro plan is $1.65 a month billed at $11.00 base plus $1.65 per user.
• Jibble is another freemium option with a free plan for unlimited users, two geofences and one work schedule, plus a free trial.
• ClockIt offers a free-for-life plan with unlimited users and time tracking across mobile, web, kiosk, Slack, Teams, desktop and biometric channels.
• ClockOut has a free tier for up to two people that includes GPS punches, basic scheduling, pay estimates and CSV export; consider it if those features matter alongside its small-team cap.
• TimeClock Wizard offers free basic employee time tracking for unlimited users, making it an alternative for teams focused on broad free-tier capacity.
• PunchClock Pro has a free web plan for one company, one site and up to 10 employees, with basic PDF reports, geofencing and kiosk included.
• Aladtec is a paid option with Android, iOS and web platforms.
• OnTheClock combines employee time tracking, scheduling and PTO management for $4 a month, billed at $4 per employee plus a $5 monthly base fee after a free 30-day trial.

Verdict

Choose PunchFlow if a small shift-based team wants shared PIN kiosks, straightforward time and pay reports, and a low-cost way to start without employee app accounts. Its strongest reason to buy is the focused kiosk workflow with useful reporting and audit options as plans grow. Look elsewhere if mobile clock-ins or automatic payroll syncing are essential, or if your headcount makes the lower-plan caps impractical.