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.
A closer look at each app
NextMinute: hours, photos and back-costing in one
NextMinute is the natural starting point for most NZ builders, because it does more than clock-ins. The crew logs hours against jobs, uploads site photos from the phone, and the time flows through to back-costing so you can see what a job actually ran. It is NZ built, and the pricing is a flat band rather than per user, so a growing crew does not punish you. At roughly NZD $199 a month for three to nine users it is not the cheapest option, but you are paying for job management, not just a timer. The honest knock: if you truly only want clock-ins and nothing else, it is more tool than you need.
Deputy: when rostering the week is the real job
Deputy earns its place when rostering the week is the headache, not just recording hours. It is built for shift workforces, so scheduling who is where, swapping shifts and pay-rule handling are where it shines. For a builder that mostly means fast, reliable rostering plus clean time and attendance. Pricing runs about AUD $6.75 to $13 per user a month depending on the plan, so watch the total as the crew grows. The catch for builders: no job costing and no build features, so it sits alongside your other tools rather than replacing them.
ClockShark: GPS proof the crew was on site
ClockShark exists for one job, proving the crew clocked in where they said they did. GPS-stamped clock-ins and a simple mobile app make it a clean fit for site attendance and labour tracking across multiple sites. It is US built and priced in USD, roughly USD $40 base plus about $9 per user a month, and the vendor keeps exact pricing behind a demo, so get a current quote before you commit. If attendance and labour proof are the pain, it does that one thing well. If you want photos, costing and quoting too, look at NextMinute instead.
Xero timesheets: cheapest if you already live in Xero
If you already run your books in Xero, its built-in timesheets are the cheapest path to clean hours. The crew submits time, you approve it, and it flows straight to payroll with no double entry. For a lot of small builders that is genuinely all the timesheet they need. It is included in the higher Xero NZ plans, so there is no second subscription. The limit shows the moment you want more. There are no site photos and no real daily logs, so it handles payroll accuracy but not proof of work on site.
What to check before you commit
A few things decide whether an app sticks on site or gets abandoned in a month. Check these before you pay.
- Payroll sync. Hours should flow to your payroll or accounting without re-keying. If you run Xero, confirm it connects cleanly.
- Works offline on site. Half your jobs have no signal. The app has to capture time and photos offline and sync later.
- Per user or flat pricing. Per-user looks cheap at two and bites at twelve. Match the model to where the crew is heading.
- Who enters the time. The crew will only use it if it takes seconds. A clock-in button beats a form every time.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best timesheet app for builders?
If you want the crew logging hours and site photos without a full build platform, NextMinute is the strong NZ-built option, with Deputy best for rostering and ClockShark good for GPS clock-ins. If you already run Xero, its built-in timesheets may be enough. Pick by the job you actually need done.
Do I need a separate timesheet app if I already have building software?
Often not. Buildxact, Wunderbuild, NextMinute and BuildaPrice include timesheets. You reach for a standalone app when your platform does not do time well, when rostering is the real pain, or when you are running lean and do not want a full platform yet.
What does a builder timesheet app cost in NZ?
NextMinute is about NZD $199 a month for a small crew. Deputy is roughly AUD $6.75 to $13 per user a month. ClockShark is around USD $40 base plus about $9 per user. Xero timesheets are included in the higher Xero NZ plans. Watch per-user versus flat pricing as your team grows.
Can I just use a spreadsheet for timesheets?
For a very small crew, yes, and plenty of good builders do. 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 pays for itself in saved admin.
What is the best GPS timesheet app for builders?
ClockShark is the go-to when you need GPS-stamped clock-ins that prove the crew was on site, with a simple mobile app for multiple sites. It is US built and priced in USD, roughly USD $40 base plus about $9 per user, with exact pricing behind a demo. If you also want site photos and job costing, NextMinute covers attendance plus more in one NZ-built tool.
Is there a free timesheet app for builders?
Most solid options are paid, but there are genuine free paths. For a very small crew a shared spreadsheet costs nothing and works. If you already pay for Xero, its built-in timesheets add no extra cost. Several apps also offer free trials, so you can test before committing. True free apps tend to be thin once you need photos, GPS or payroll sync.