The Best Timesheet Apps for Builders and Tradies (NZ & Australia, 2026)
You just want the crew logging hours
Not every builder needs a full project management platform. A lot of the time the real job is simple. Get the crew logging what they did each day, let them upload a few site photos, and have the hours flow to payroll without you chasing timesheets on a Friday night.
That is a different purchase from a build platform, and buying the wrong one is how you end up paying for a quoting engine you will never touch. This guide is the honest shortlist for that specific job. For the full picture across every software category, see our builder software guide.
We use Xero projects for keeping hours but that is all it really does. Want something the boys can log into each day and upload photos to.
Do you even need a separate timesheet app?
Answer this first. If you already run a build platform like Buildxact, Wunderbuild, NextMinute or BuildaPrice, it almost certainly has timesheets built in. Turning on a second tool just splits your data and adds a bill.
You reach for a standalone timesheet app in three cases. Your platform does time badly. Rostering the week is the actual headache. Or you are running lean and do not want a full platform yet, which is common at the earlier stages of the Builder Growth Roadmap. If none of those is true, use what you already have.
The contenders
Prices are current for 2026 and ex-GST. Note the model. Some charge per user, which climbs fast with a bigger crew.
| App | Best for | Price (real) | The honest knock |
|---|---|---|---|
| NextMinute | Builders wanting hours, site photos and back-costing in one. NZ built | NZD $199/mo (3 to 9 users), flat band | It is really a light job-management tool, so it is more than a pure timesheet app if you only want clock-ins. |
| Deputy | Rostering and shift scheduling as much as time and attendance | AUD $6.75 to $13/user/mo | Built for shift workforces, not construction. No job costing or build features. |
| ClockShark | GPS clock-ins so you know the crew is actually on site | approx USD $40 base + $9/user/mo | US-built and priced in USD, and the vendor hides exact pricing behind a demo. |
| Xero (timesheets) | Builders already living in Xero who want zero double entry | Included in higher Xero NZ plans | Basic. Fine for hours to payroll, but no site photos or real daily logs. |
The quick read. If you are a builder who wants hours plus photos plus a bit of costing, NextMinute is the natural NZ pick. If rostering is your pain, Deputy. If you just need proof the crew clocked in on site, ClockShark. If you already run Xero and want the cheapest path, its built-in timesheets may be all you need.
Match the app to the job to be done
Do not compare on feature lists. Compare on the one job you are hiring the tool for.
- Rostering the week — scheduling who is where. Deputy is built for this.
- Job costing — hours attached to jobs and stages so you know what a build actually cost. NextMinute, or your build platform.
- Payroll accuracy — clean hours flowing to pay without re-keying. Xero timesheets, or anything that syncs to your payroll.
- Proof of attendance — GPS and photos that show the crew was on site. ClockShark.
Most builders think they want "a timesheet app" when they actually want one of these four specific outcomes. Name the outcome and the choice narrows fast.
The spreadsheet option for the smallest crews
If it is just you and a hand or two, a shared spreadsheet genuinely works, and plenty of sharp operators run exactly that. The catch is double entry and chasing hours at pay time. Once you are paying more than two or three people, a simple app that syncs to payroll usually saves more in admin than it costs. Until then, do not over-buy.
Where this fits in the bigger picture
Timesheets are one layer. As you grow through the Builder Growth Roadmap, the crew-hours question folds into a full build platform, and the decision changes. When you are ready to compare the whole field, the project management software guide takes it from there. Or book a growth audit and we will help you fit the tools to the stage you are actually at.