Buddy Punch vs Deputy
A detailed comparison of Buddy Punch and Deputy. See how they stack up on features, pricing, and user ratings.
At a Glance
| Buddy Punch | Deputy | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Starting Price | $4/mo | $4/mo |
| Free Trial | Yes | Yes |
| Free Plan | No | No |
| Features | 13 | 15 |
| Best For | SMB | SMB |
Buddy Punch and Deputy are the two strongest general-purpose workforce management tools for SMBs with hourly employees. Both handle time tracking, shift scheduling, PTO management, and payroll integration — but they emphasise different strengths.
Buddy Punch is the better pure time clock. It has more clock-in verification methods (facial recognition, QR code, webcam, PIN, geofencing, IP locking) and integrates with more payroll providers (20+ vs Deputy's 10+). If preventing time theft is your primary problem, Buddy Punch is the stronger choice.
Deputy is the better workforce management platform. It adds labour cost forecasting, demand-based auto-scheduling, and team messaging — features that Buddy Punch doesn't offer. If you need to optimise shift coverage based on demand data, Deputy is the more complete solution.
Pricing is close but structured differently. Buddy Punch charges a $19/month base fee + $4.49-$10.99/user (annual). Deputy charges $4.50-$6/user with no base fee. For small teams (under 10), Deputy is cheaper. For larger teams (20+), the per-user difference matters more than the base fee and the gap narrows.
Editor's Note
Both tools are strong — the choice comes down to whether you need clock-in accuracy (Buddy Punch) or scheduling intelligence (Deputy). Neither is wrong for most hourly businesses. If you're a restaurant, consider 7shifts instead — it's purpose-built for the industry with POS integrations and tip management.
Key Differences
Buddy Punch and Deputy share 13 features. Deputy has 2+ unique features.
Only in Deputy
- Labour Cost Forecasting
- Team Messaging
Buddy Punch
Online time clock and employee scheduling platform with GPS tracking, multiple punch methods, PTO management, and optional payroll for SMBs.
Deputy
Shift scheduling, time tracking, and workforce management platform for hourly and shift-based teams across retail, hospitality, and healthcare.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Buddy Punch | Deputy |
|---|---|---|
| Reporting Dashboard | ||
| API Access | ||
| Mobile App | ||
| GPS Tracking | ||
| Geofencing | ||
| Kiosk Mode | ||
| Labour Cost Forecasting | ||
| Overtime Alerts | ||
| PTO Management | ||
| Payroll Export | ||
| Shift Scheduling | ||
| Shift Swapping | ||
| Team Messaging | ||
| Time Tracking | ||
| Timecard Approval |
Pricing Comparison
Buddy Punch
Deputy
Integrations
Both tools integrate with
Only Buddy Punch
Only Deputy
Pros & Cons
Buddy Punch
Pros
- +Exceptionally high user ratings (4.8/5 on G2 and Capterra) with strong ease-of-use scores
- +Multiple clock-in methods including facial recognition, QR code, PIN, and webcam snapshot
- +Anti-time-theft features like geofencing, IP locking, and webcam verification
- +Integrates with 20+ payroll providers (QuickBooks, ADP, Gusto, Paychex, and more)
Cons
- -$19/month base fee on all plans adds up for very small teams (1-3 employees)
- -No offline mode — employees in areas with poor connectivity cannot clock in
- -Many features locked behind higher-tier plans or sold as add-ons
- -Reporting is functional but not highly customisable for complex workforce analytics
Deputy
Pros
- +Intuitive drag-and-drop shift scheduling with auto-scheduling capability
- +Strong mobile app for clock-in, shift swaps, and availability management
- +Demand-based scheduling uses sales and foot traffic data
- +Broad payroll integrations (ADP, Gusto, QuickBooks, Xero)
Cons
- -Per-user pricing adds up quickly for larger hourly workforces
- -Payroll features are limited — relies on integration with external payroll
- -Advanced reporting requires the Premium plan
- -Geofencing and GPS tracking can drain mobile battery
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Buddy Punch if:
- • Your company is SMB size
- • Higher user ratings matter to you (4.8 vs 4.6)
- • Budget is a priority (starts from $4/mo vs $4/mo)
- • Exceptionally high user ratings (4.8/5 on G2 and Capterra) with strong ease-of-use scores
Choose Deputy if:
- • Your company is SMB size
- • You need a more feature-rich solution (15 vs 13 features)
- • Intuitive drag-and-drop shift scheduling with auto-scheduling capability
Frequently Asked Questions
Buddy Punch vs Deputy — which is cheaper?
Deputy is cheaper for small teams. At 5 users on the full plan: Deputy = $30/month ($6/user), Buddy Punch Pro = $49/month ($19 base + $5.99/user). At 25 users: Deputy = $150/month, Buddy Punch Pro = $169/month. The gap narrows as team size grows.
Which is better for preventing buddy punching and time theft?
Buddy Punch, by a significant margin. It offers facial recognition, webcam snapshots, QR codes, geofencing, and IP locking — six verification methods vs Deputy's GPS and photo capture. If time fraud is a measurable problem for your business, Buddy Punch's verification depth justifies the base fee.
Which has better scheduling features?
Deputy. It includes demand-based auto-scheduling (uses sales or foot traffic data to recommend staffing levels), labour cost forecasting, and team messaging. Buddy Punch's scheduling (Pro plan) covers drag-and-drop shifts and shift swapping but lacks predictive capabilities.
Can I use either with my existing payroll?
Almost certainly yes. Buddy Punch integrates with 20+ payroll providers (QuickBooks, ADP, Gusto, Paychex, Rippling, Paylocity, and more). Deputy integrates with 10+ (ADP, Gusto, QuickBooks, Xero). Both export timesheets cleanly. Buddy Punch has the edge on integration breadth.
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How we evaluate tools
Our ratings combine verified user reviews from G2 and Capterra with hands-on feature analysis. Pricing is checked against official sources. We may earn a commission through affiliate links, but this never influences our rankings or recommendations. Read our full methodology.