Field work, explainedAutomatic check-in

How do you record automatically when field workers arrive at a site and leave?

The short answer

Draw a circle around each site, a geofence, and let the worker's phone record the moment they cross it, in and out. In Hellotracks, automatic check-ins work at your places, at every job's address and in zones: arrival, departure and time on site are written down on their own, with nothing for the worker to tap. A short delay keeps a drive past the gate from counting as a visit.

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How it works in Hellotracks

How an automatic check-in works: crossing the circle around the place checks in, leaving it checks out, and the minutes on site count in between.

  1. Add your sites

    Create places by hand, import them from a spreadsheet, or let every job's address count. Each place gets a circle from 25 to 300 meters, and jobs get a circle around their address.

  2. Turn on automatic check-ins

    In the company settings, switch on automatic check-ins at places and jobs, and at zones if you use them. Pick a delay of 1, 5 or 10 minutes so passing by doesn't count.

  3. The phone does the rest

    When the worker arrives, they are checked in; when they leave, they are checked out. The phone and the server both check, and a check-in recorded without signal is sent later with its original time.

  4. Read the time on site anywhere

    Arrivals, departures and minutes on site show on the job, in the worker's day in Location History, in Statistics, and in reports like Stops, On-site times and Check-ins.

  5. Get told when it matters

    Alerts can tell you by email, Slack or webhook when someone arrives, leaves, or doesn't check in at a place by a certain time.

Your options, side by side

Most geofence apps are time clocks: the circle reminds people to clock in, or only allows it on site. Fewer record each visit on their own, all day. Here is what each option does when a worker arrives.

OptionRecords arrival on its ownPer visit or per shiftIs it the time clock?Price as listedWhat the same price also covers
HellotracksYes. Arrival and departure are recorded on their own, with a delay you choosePer visit: every place, job address and zone, all dayNo. Working time comes from the tracking switch or working hours$10 per user a month billed annually, or $12 monthly (Location). Check-ins at jobs need Dispatch, $12.50Live map updated every second, route history, timesheets, mileage reports, alerts. Dispatch ($12.50) adds jobs, routes, customer ETA pages, photos, signatures and forms
TimeeroYes. Clocked in on arrival at the job site and out on leaving, after about a minuteBuilt around the job site of the shift; time per site is a paid add-onYes, it is the time clockPro $7.50 per user a month billed annually, $9 monthlyTime clock, mileage and scheduling. GPS only while clocked in, a point every 5 to 30 minutes or 150 feet. No route optimizer, by Timeero's own account
HubstaffYes. Starts the timer within range of a job site and stops it on leavingPer job site, with a visits reportYes, it is the time trackerTeam $10 per seat a month billed annually ($12 monthly), plus the Locations add-on at $3.33 ($4)Timesheets and scheduling. With Locations: GPS about every 5 minutes, job sites, work orders
JobberYes. Location timers start and stop the visit timer within 200 meters of an assigned visit, with signalPer visitVisit timersGrow from $149 a month billed annually for 1 user ($199 without commitment)Quotes, invoices, payments, scheduling, route optimization, time tracking, checklists. The app records location only when someone taps; a live map needs Jobber's vehicle trackers
JibbleYes. Can clock in and out by geofence, 300 meters or morePer shift: entering a second geofence doesn't clock in againYes, it is the time clockFree plan; paid prices no longer published on its siteTime clock, timesheets, live location while clocked in, a photo at clock-in
ConnecteamNo. Clock-in is only allowed inside the geofence. Automatic clock-out on leaving needs ExpertPer shift or jobYes, it is the time clockAdvanced $49, Expert $99 a month billed annually for the first 30 usersOperations Hub: time clock, shift scheduling, forms and checklists. Live GPS tracking only on Expert ($99 for 30 users)
QuickBooks TimeNo. Reminds people to clock in or out at a job siteReminders per job siteYes, it is the time clockTime Elite $40 a month plus $12 per userTime clock, scheduling, a map of who is on the clock (a few minutes behind), mileage while on the clock
ClockSharkNo. Reminds people to clock in when they enter a job siteReminders per job siteYes, it is the time clockNot shown on its pricing pageTime clock, scheduling with jobs, a GPS point every 10 to 15 minutes while clocked in; mileage on Pro. Three-year contract on every plan
HomebaseNo. Blocks clock-ins from outside the areaPer shift, one area per locationYes, it is the time clockFree for 1 location and up to 10 employees; paid plans $30 to $120 a month per locationTime clock and shift scheduling. Location only at clock-in and clock-out, not during the shift

Prices in US dollars as each vendor lists them, before tax. Hellotracks' Dispatch plan covers tracking, timesheets, jobs, routes and proof in one price; most tools here do one or two of these. Compare what you would pay for everything you need. Facts about other options checked on November 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm on their websites.

Check-ins are not the time clock

In Hellotracks, working time comes from the tracking switch in the app: switching it on is clocking in, switching it off is clocking out, and the timesheet pays from that. Or set working hours and let tracking start and stop on its own.

Check-ins answer a different question: when was someone at which customer, and for how long. Hellotracks doesn't clock a worker in when they reach the first site. If you need that, apps like Timeero or Hubstaff clock in by geofence.

To be honest

When geofences are not enough

A circle tells you someone was there, not what they did. If you need to prove the work itself, add photos, a signature or a form to the job. If sites are very close together, like units in one building, a geofence can't tell them apart: use a manual check-in from the app there. And if all you need is a time clock with payroll rules for hourly staff at one site, a dedicated time clock is simpler.

People also ask

What is a geofence?

A virtual circle around a place. When a phone crosses it, the app knows the person arrived or left. In Hellotracks the circle around a place is 25 to 300 meters wide.

Does it work without signal?

Yes. The check-in is recorded with its time and sent when the phone is back online. The server also checks the GPS points it receives against your places and jobs.

Can workers check in by hand?

Yes. Manual check-ins from the app are recorded too, and the job shows whether a check-in came from GPS or was made by hand.

Which plan includes automatic check-ins?

Check-ins at places and zones are in Location, at $10 per user a month billed annually or $12 monthly. Check-ins at job addresses need jobs, so they are in Dispatch, at $12.50 or $15.

Are workers tracked after work?

Not if you set working hours: tracking, and with it check-ins, run only inside them. Workers see everything recorded about them.

Sources

What we say about other options comes from these pages, checked on November 13, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.

  1. Timeero: Auto clock in and out
  2. Timeero: Pricing
  3. Hubstaff Support: Job sites
  4. Hubstaff: Pricing
  5. Jobber Help: Location timers in the Jobber app
  6. Jobber: Pricing
  7. Jibble Help: Automatic clock in and out with geofences
  8. Connecteam Help: How to create a geofence
  9. Connecteam Help: Auto clock out when employees leave a worksite
  10. Connecteam: Pricing
  11. QuickBooks Time: Geofencing
  12. QuickBooks Time: Pricing
  13. ClockShark: Geofence time tracking
  14. Homebase: Mobile GPS time clock
  15. Homebase: Pricing
  16. Timeero: GPS tracking
  17. Timeero: Best apps for delivery drivers (no route optimizer)
  18. Hubstaff Support: Mobile app location tracking
  19. Jibble Help: Live location tracking
  20. ClockShark: Pricing
  21. QuickBooks Time: GPS tracking

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Put two or three people on it today. You will know more from one week of your own data than from any page.

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