Buddy Punch vs ClickUp: Complete Comparison (2026)
An in-depth comparison of Buddy Punch and ClickUp to help you choose the right tool for your business.
Last updated: November 2026
Buddy Punch
6.5/10
Cloud time clock and employee scheduling software that lets small and mid-sized businesses track hours, jobs, PTO and locations and send timesheets to payroll.
ClickUp
7.1/10
ClickUp is a work management platform with tasks, docs, chat, automations, AI agents and a CRM layer for contacts, companies and deals, aimed at business teams.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| Overall Rating | 6.5/10 | 7.1/10 |
| Cost | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Ease of Use | 8/10 | 5/10 |
| Analytics | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Customization | 5/10 | 9/10 |
| Scalability | 5/10 | 7/10 |
| Support | 7/10 | 5/10 |
| Integration | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Security | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | $19/mo Advanced | $12/user/mo Core |
| Estimated cost for 10 users | $159/mo Advanced | Free Free Forever |
| Features | ||
| App integrations | Not listed | |
| Reporting | Not listed | |
| Scheduling | Not listed | |
| Time tracking | Not listed | |
| More features | ||
| Collaboration | Not listed | |
| Lead Management | Not listed | |
| Integrations | Not listed | |
| Sales Automation | Not listed | |
| Opportunity Management | Not listed | |
| Contact Management | Not listed | |
| Reporting & Analytics | Not listed | |
| Mobile Access | Not listed | |
Buddy Punch vs ClickUp cost by team size
ClickUp costs less at every team size we checked.
| Team size | Buddy Punch | ClickUp |
|---|---|---|
| 1 user | $33/moAdvanced | FreeFree Forever |
| 5 users | $89/moAdvanced | FreeFree Forever |
| 10 users | $159/moAdvanced | FreeFree Forever |
| 25 users | $369/moAdvanced | FreeFree Forever |
| 50 users | $719/moAdvanced | FreeFree Forever |
The plan that fits each team size, billed monthly, before add-ons and usage charges. Each cost opens that tool's pricing calculator for the team size.
Which One Should You Choose?
Why choose Buddy Punch
- Higher Ease of Use score (8/10 vs 5/10)
- Higher Support score (7/10 vs 5/10)
Why choose ClickUp
- Has a free plan (Buddy Punch does not)
- Lower estimated cost for 10 users: Free vs $159/mo
- Higher Customization score (9/10 vs 5/10)
- Higher Analytics score (7/10 vs 4/10)
- Better fit for agencies (8/10 vs 4/10)
Pros & Cons
Buddy Punch
Pros
- Employees can clock in many ways, including mobile app, kiosk, QR code, webcam and selfie punches.
- Direct payroll syncs cover around 20 systems, including QuickBooks, ADP, Gusto, Paychex and Rippling.
- Admins are free and only active employees count toward billing.
- Reviewers describe support as fast and handled by real people.
- GPS punches and geofencing help verify that field staff are where they should be.
Cons
- It is not a project management tool: there are no task boards, Gantt charts or docs.
- Costs rise with each user and each add-on, and there is a 19 USD monthly base fee.
- Reviewers say correcting missed punches is manual and the admin settings take time to learn.
- Some users report the mobile app lags, especially on weak connections.
- An independent review rates the built-in reporting as basic, and advanced reports cost extra on lower plans.
ClickUp
Pros
- Deals can become delivery projects in the same workspace, which suits agencies and consultancies that sell and deliver client work.
- The free plan allows unlimited members and unlimited tasks, so small teams can try the platform before paying.
- Custom fields, task types, many views and automations let teams model most pipelines and processes without code.
- Enterprise security options include SAML, SCIM, audit logs, data residency and HIPAA support with a BAA.
Cons
- It is not a dedicated CRM. Reviewers report needing Zapier automations for CRM workflows, and the CRM page does not confirm email sync or native calling.
- Reviewers report a steep learning curve and say new users need hours of training to become proficient.
- G2 and Capterra reviewers report bugs, slow performance and support replies that do not resolve problems.
- The late-2026 pricing change raised per-user list prices for new workspaces, and heavy AI use requires buying extra credits.
Not sold on either?
Frequently Asked Questions
ClickUp scores higher on our Project Management criteria: 7.1/10 against 6.5/10 for Buddy Punch. The largest gap is in Customization: 5/10 for Buddy Punch and 9/10 for ClickUp.
ClickUp costs less for 10 users: free on its Free Forever plan, against about $159/mo on its Advanced plan for Buddy Punch, billed monthly.
ClickUp has a free plan; Buddy Punch does not list one.
ClickUp is the better fit for agencies: we rate it 8/10 for them, against 4/10 for Buddy Punch.
