Best Free Employee Monitoring Software and Tools in 2024

Employers have many options when it comes to free employee monitoring software and tools. Some of these are free, while others come at a cost. One benefit of using free employee monitoring software is that it can help employers to save money. However, free employee computer monitoring software may also be less effective than paid options. They may have fewer features, or they may be more difficult to use. Additionally, an employee monitoring software free plan may not provide the same level of support as paid options. Still, these freemiums are a good way to test drive an app or introduce the staff to this type of software before investing in a paid plan.

There are a number of free employee monitoring software and tools available today. These can be used to track employee activity, monitor productivity, and identify any potential issues. Some of the most popular free tools include Connecteam, Pivotal Tracker, RescueTime, Hubstaff and ActiveCollab. While their free plans are limited, they suit a small team’s needs. A free employee monitoring software plan can also be helpful in testing the app out first to ensure that it meets your expectations before subscribing to premium features.

Small teams and freelancers

There are a number of reasons why small teams and freelancers might want to use free employee monitoring software and tools. For one thing, it can be a great way to keep track of employee productivity. By tracking how much time employees spend working on various tasks, managers can get a better sense of who is slacking off and who is pulling their weight.

Businesses that want to test the app first

Additionally, an employee computer monitoring software free plan can be used for quality control purposes. By testing the app with a small group of users, businesses can ensure that it is functioning properly before rolling it out to the entire workforce. Ultimately, employee monitoring tools can be beneficial to employers and employees alike.

• Connecteam: Arguably the best free employee monitoring software, Connecteam is a mobile app that helps businesses manage their employees. It features tools for tracking hours, managing shift schedules, and communicating with employees. Connecteam also offers a time clock feature, which allows employees to clock in and out of their shifts using their smartphones. In addition, the app provides a GPS tracker, which can be used to track employee location and activity. Overall, Connecteam is a useful tool for businesses of all sizes. It simplifies the process of managing employees and helps businesses save time and money.
• Pivotal Tracker: Pivotal Tracker is a project management tool designed to help software development teams work together more effectively. It provides a central location for tracking project tasks, sharing information, and collaborating on code. Tracker enables developers to create Milestones, which are essentially project deadlines, and assign tasks to themselves and others. The system also allows developers to leave comments on code changes, which can be helpful for team members who are working on the same code base but may not be familiar with all of the changes that have been made.
• RescueTime: RescueTime is a time management software that helps users understand their daily patterns of behavior and make necessary changes to increase productivity. It has a free employee computer monitoring software feature, which runs in the background of a user’s computer, tracking the applications and websites that are used. At the end of each day, RescueTime provides a report that includes data on how the user’s time was spent.
• Hubstaff: Hubstaff is a time tracking and project management tool that helps remote teams stay on track and stay organized. With Hubstaff, team members can track their time, generate invoices, and see detailed reports on project progress. In addition, Hubstaff offers a variety of features to help managers keep their teams on track, including task lists, kanban boards, and team chat. With its comprehensive suite of tools, Hubstaff is an ideal solution for remote teams looking to boost productivity and improve communication.
• ActiveCollab: ActiveColla has a free remote employee monitoring software feature. It is a cloud-based project management software that helps teams manage projects, collaborate on tasks, and stay up-to-date on progress. The software includes features such as task lists, Kanban boards, Gantt charts, file sharing, and team chat. ActiveCollab can be used for a variety of projects, from small tasks to large enterprise projects. The software is available in both a free and paid version, with the latter offering more features and support. ActiveCollab is a popular choice for project management due to its ease of use and wide range of features.

There are a variety of remote employee monitoring software free options available on the market, each with its own set of features and pricing models.

• Stand-alone time-tracking software is typically the most basic and economical option, allowing managers to track employees’ hours worked and create reports on productivity.
• Integrated project or task management software often includes time-tracking features as well, along with tools for managing project deadlines, assigned tasks, and team communications.
• Freemium software, a.k.a. freeware employee monitoring software, typically offers a basic set of features for free, with more advanced features available for a monthly or annual subscription fee.
• Cloud-based solutions are hosted on the provider’s servers.
• On-premise solutions are installed on the company’s own servers.

Employee monitoring software is a tool that businesses can use to track employee productivity and compliance. Key features of employee monitoring software include:

• Timesheet tracking
• Task management
• Location tracking
• Internet and app usage monitoring
• Alerts

Some employee PC monitoring software free plans also offer stealth mode, which allows businesses to secretly monitor employee activity.

Employee monitoring software can record keystrokes, emails, and internet usage, as well as provide real-time monitoring and alerts. Many businesses use employee monitoring software to improve productivity and reduce costs. While some employees may view this type of software as an invasion of privacy, there are several benefits that it can provide.

Improve productivity. Employee monitoring software can help to improve productivity by providing managers with data on how employees are spending their time. This information can be used to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies in workflows.

Identify skills gaps. The data collected by employee monitoring software can be used to identify training and development needs. By providing employees with the resources they need to be successful, businesses can improve overall productivity.

Reduce costs. Free remote employee monitoring software can also help to reduce costs. By tracking employee activity, businesses can identify areas where employees are wasting time or using company resources for personal use.

Avoid legal issues. In addition, employee monitoring software can help businesses to avoid potential legal liabilities. For example, if an employee is sending inappropriate emails or visiting websites that contain offensive content, the employer can take action to prevent further damage to the company’s reputation.

While there are some privacy concerns associated with employee monitoring software, the benefits that it can provide outweigh these concerns. When used correctly, even remote employee monitoring software free plans can be a valuable tool for improving productivity and efficiency—at no cost to you.

The latest trends in employee monitoring software reflect the changing nature of work in the 21st century.

• AI. One trend is the use of AI to automate the monitoring process. This can help employers quickly identify issues and take corrective action.
• Work output. Another trend is the increased focus on work output, rather than work hours. This shift reflects the growing acceptance of remote work and the need for employees to be productive in order to meet business objectives.
• Adoption. Finally, there is a greater acceptance of employee monitoring overall. This is due in part to the need for employers to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. However, it also reflects a growing recognition of the benefits of using monitoring software, such as improved communication and collaboration.
• More free stuff. The growth of this software category market is expected to reach $6.84 billion by 2028. Expectedly, vendors will be offering more employee pc monitoring software free packages just to get a bigger slice of this lucrative space.

There is no denying that employee monitoring software can be beneficial to employers. However, there are also some potential drawbacks to using employee monitoring software.

• Privacy concerns. For one, it can invade employees’ privacy and lead to a feeling of being constantly watched and under pressure. The data could be accessed by hackers and used for identity theft or other malicious purposes. As a result, it is important for employers to carefully consider the privacy implications of using employee monitoring software before implementing it in their workplace.
• Legal issues. There are a number of potential legal issues surrounding the use of employee monitoring software, including compliance with data protection regulations and the potential for civil lawsuits alleging invasion of privacy. In order to avoid these legal pitfalls, companies should carefully consider the benefits and risks of using employee monitoring software before implementing it. They should also develop clear policies regarding its use, and ensure that employees are aware of these policies and understand how their data will be used.
• Employee mistrust. Employee monitoring software can lead to feelings of mistrust and paranoia among employees, as they may feel that their every move is being tracked and monitored. This can lead to higher levels of stress and anxiety, which can in turn impact employee productivity and satisfaction. In addition, this type of software can also create an environment of surveillance and control, which can erode trust between employees and management.
• False positives. If monitoring software is not properly configured, it can lead to false positives and innocent employees being accused of wrongdoing. Data collected by the app could potentially be used to unfairly discipline or fire employees.

Freeware employee monitoring software is designed to hook you to a paid plan in the long run. Typically, vendors offer two types of payment schemes: subscription-based and one-time license payment.

• Subscription-based. In a subscription-based scheme, the customer pays a recurring fee, usually on a monthly or yearly basis. This type of scheme offers the advantage of flexibility, as the customer can cancel the subscription at any time. However, it also means that the customer must continue to pay even if they are not using the software.
• One-time license. In a one-time payment scheme, the customer pays a lump sum upfront. This type of scheme is often more expensive than a subscription-based scheme, but it offers the benefit of being able to use the software indefinitely. There is no risk of incurring additional charges, even if the software is not used for an extended period of time.

Additionally, employee monitoring software may be a feature of another system.

• Add-on or integrated. The best free employee monitoring software features may also be found integrated into a larger system like HR software or project management software. These solutions may feature employee monitoring either as an add-on or as a part of the base plan.

Employee monitoring software is deployed in one of two ways: on-premise or as a cloud-hosted service.

On-premise. The software is installed locally, on the company’s own servers. This deployment type gives the company more control over security and compliance, but it also requires a larger up-front investment and ongoing maintenance costs.

Cloud-hosted. The software, on the other hand, is delivered as a service (SaaS) and is managed by the provider. This deployment type is typically more affordable and easier to set up, but you have less control over its function than on-premise software. Still,  the employee is required to install a local app and give it permission to track the device’s activities.