Compare employee monitoring software

Employee monitoring software can provide you with valuable information about how each member of your staff spends their time after clocking in. But it's not merely about surveilling your workers. The best software provides the analytics to help you discover bottlenecks, redistribute workloads and even uncover harassment—and keep the hum of your business at top efficiency.

13 employee monitoring software options

Note: Some of these software options are from the US and have their prices expressed in $USD.

The costs of employee monitoring software come down to the problems you're looking to solve and the number of people in your business.

What is employee monitoring software?

Employee monitoring software offers a digital way to keep tabs on how your employees spend their time and get work done during office hours. Software tracks activities that can include time spent on tasks, sites visited and even keystrokes and onscreen recording.

More sophisticated systems offer reporting, analytics and GPS tracking to help you identify gaps in productivity and uneven workloads, uncover opportunities for automation and pinpoint or prevent criminal activity and harassment.

3 types of employee monitoring software

Employee monitoring software tends to fall into three categories to solve distinct problems:

1. Productivity tracking. Provides nuanced insight into how employees spend their time, complete with analytical reports that can help you compare productivity between employees.
2. Ongoing surveillance. Monitor email, filter websites, block file access and keep an eye on printing use, document editing and more to prevent loss, security breaches and major issues with employee productivity.
3. Project distribution and management. Get a bird's-eye view of your team's productivity, timing and progress for a more efficient workflow.

How much does it cost?

Most employee monitoring software is priced as a subscription that depends on the number of users, with fees ranging from AUD$4.57 to AUD$17 per user each month (some fees are in USD). Some providers list prices by license or computer, often if you're required to download software rather than rely on the cloud.

Lower prices tend to come with contracts of a year or longer. But you'll also find freemium versions, with options to upgrade to paid plans with more flexible features and support.

How can I choose the right software for my business?

When choosing the right software for your business, think about the problems you're trying to solve — productivity, financial, theft or loss — weighing benefits against costs. Find a balance between gaining data to maximise productivity and maintaining strong employee relationships.

• Cloud-based vs. downloadable software. Some employee monitoring programs are based in the cloud, so your employees can activate it regardless of the computer they use, while other software is structured around licensing and must be installed or downloaded.
• Features. More functionality can be more expensive, but you may not need all the bells and whistles. A basic plan may fit your needs, whereas if your goal is to increase productivity through time-tracking analysis, look for advanced reporting capabilities.
• Budget. You may find yourself comparing the fees between tiers of one software, the costs of three different brands or the benefits of a one-time fee versus an ongoing subscription. Either way, you might be eligible for a free or low-cost trial to test it out for a month or longer.
• Legal requirements. Make sure the software's monitoring methods and reporting complies with state or territory employee privacy laws.
• Number of users. Some software brands offer discounts for large enterprises, while others keep costs low by focusing on small businesses of three or more employees. Find a fit with your needs to avoid spending more than necessary.

Pros and cons of employee monitoring software

Employee monitoring software can be a valuable asset for companies looking to provide a structured work environment and clear expectations. But you run the risk of demotivating workers and eroding trust if it's used unwisely or outside a transparent monitoring program.

How to successfully introduce monitoring software to your employees

The best way to introduce employee monitoring software to your employees is by transparently communicating to your workers why you use it, what you monitor and how you plan to avoid privacy issues.

1. Get your team on board. Prevent negatively affecting morale by inviting your employees to become a part of the process. Be clear about how you expect it to help the company achieve its goals, and think about allowing a vote on the software to choose.
2. Present the benefits. Put together a presentation underlining the upsides of adopting the software, including fair reporting of productivity, higher levels of engagement and the ability to assess when more help is needed.
3. Write an official policy. Lay out your monitoring program in plain language, so that employees can easily understand expectations. This can also help you avoid future legal issues.
4. Train your team. Provide a tutorial so that employees understand how the software works, what reports look like and their role in implementing the program.
5. Ask for feedback. Model two-way communication between management and employees as key to staying on the same page. If employees are unhappy with an aspect of the software, it could be an opportunity for you to brainstorm a better solution together.

Alternatives to employee monitoring software

If employee monitoring software isn't right for your business or budget, consider project management software that can help with productivity without surveilling employee activity. Tools like Asana and Monday.com are designed to improve team workflow, providing detailed productivity analysis that can flag issues with efficiency — no screenshots or tracking required.

Bottom line

Employee monitoring software is designed to track the activity, performance and even clicks and screens of your staff, helping you to increase productivity and keep a closer eye on employee activity. With more companies embracing a remote workforce, it's just one way to prepare your team to work from home.

Frequently asked questions

• Which employee monitoring software offers a free trial?

  Sign up for a free trial with:

  • Hubstaff
  • Kickidler
  • Interguard
  • TeraMind

  • Time Doctor
  • Toggl
  • Veriato
  • Work Examiner

• How will my remote employees install the monitoring software?

  Most software brands make it easy for your employees to download and install programs themselves, without the help of an IT team. Talk with a rep to make sure the software you choose allows it.

• What should I use for monitoring cell phones and tablets?

  Standalone apps like FlexiSPY focus on remote device monitoring, including call interception and password capture. Some employee monitoring software offer upgrades that include ability to monitor company-owned phones and tablets.