7 Best Remote Work Monitoring Software: Pros, Cons & More

Are you looking for the best remote work monitoring software?

Gartner predicts that by 2025 more than 70% of companies will be using remote work tracking software, or “bossware.”

Recent figures show that nearly 6.1 million US-based companies could already be monitoring their remote employees.

If you want to join them, you need the best bossware.

Unfortunately, a quick Capterra search reveals there are over 210 remote monitoring and management software available.

So, how do you choose the best remote work control software? I took a deep dive into the world of bossware and found the 7 best options.

Join me as I review them, and look at their pros, cons and more.

Ready? Let’s roll.

7 Best Remote Work Monitoring Software

Here’s my ultimate list of the best remote work monitoring software:

Got a bit more time with me? Excellent! Join me as I review the best bossware. Let’s start with the overall best remote monitoring software.

1. Connecteam: Best Overall Remote Work Tracker

Connecteam is a fantastic app designed for managing remote employees. 

Why? Because it combines several remote work tools into one platform.

If you’re going to spend money on bossware, it’s best to get a software solution that includes several excellent tools.

With Connecteam you can quickly schedule tasks, track work, and even monitor employee involvement all in one spot.

With features like GPS tracking, timekeeping, and task management, it helps managers know where their team members are during work hours, check on their task progress, and communicate securely.

The app also helps manage breaks, overtime, and stores important company rules. It’s excellent if you’re worried about remote work security.

Connecteam helps remote workers be independent while still allowing managers to manage work and comply with work laws.

Key Features Of Connecteam Include:

• Tracking employees' locations via GPS, 
• viewing live maps, 
• using forms and checklists for immediate updates, 
• getting instant alerts, 
• having a central dashboard for oversight, 
• and messaging privately or in groups.

Another bonus is that Connecteam works with other business tools like Gusto, Quickbooks, Xero, and Paychex, which makes it even more useful.

Pros:

• Tracks locations with GPS
• Automates reports
• Manages all aspects of employee management in one app

Cons:

• Basic plans have limited features
• Some limitations in integrations

2. Veriato: Best For Hybrid Employees

And what if your employees do hybrid remote work? In that case, you’ll need a remote work tracker like Veriato.

So, what is Veratio?

Veriato is a complete software suite that specialises in analysing how employees work. The data and tools are especially useful for those managing remote or mixed office and home teams. 

I chose Veriato because it's great for managing remote teams. It identifies who isn’t working efficiently and improves overall team productivity. 

From the reviews I read, Veratio is especially beneficial for industries like healthcare, law, and finance. These industries often have strict rules and regulations to follow, and Veratio helps managers enforce these rules.

Veriato also simplifies auditing and ensures compliance with features like real-time alerts, tailor-made reports, and easy-to-use dashboards.

You can monitor how long an employee's computer is active or idle, oversee chats, and even automatically take screenshots. 

It also allows for setting flexible working hours and customising tracking times. Perfect for remote and hybrid workers!

Key Features Of Veriato Include:

• Monitoring emails and chats, 
• tracking web and app usage, 
• taking automatic screenshots, 
• recording idle and active times, 
• tracking network activity, 
• managing files and documents, 
• customisable settings, 
• detailed reporting, 
• an employee monitoring system, 
• and instant alerts.

Veriato also integrates with other tools via Zapier. Yes, the same Zapier that’s one of the best remote companies to work for.

Pros:

• Provides a detailed view of activities
• Highly customisable
• Offers thorough and descriptive reports

Cons:

• Setup process can be lengthy
• Needs improvements in managing screenshot archives

3. Time Doctor: Best Remote Work Tracker With Extensions

If you’re like me and love integrating different apps to improve remote work productivity, then Time Doctor will be your best bet.

Time Doctor is a remote work monitoring app that gives you a clear view of your team's daily activities. With Time Doctor you can see the websites and apps your remote employees use.

My favourite Time Doctor feature?

It provides detailed insights and trends about employee performance. 

You can set it to periodically take screenshots of employees' screens and track the websites and apps they access the most. Use this data to improve your team’s performance.

Time Doctor is also useful for creating accurate payroll data and handling invoices. 

I found that it works well with many popular business tools, making it adaptable to your organisation's specific needs. 

Overall, Time Doctor gives you a comprehensive understanding of your team's performance, helping you enhance productivity and efficiency.

Key Features Of Time Doctor Include:

• Time tracking, 
• monitoring employee activities, 
• online timesheets, 
• payroll processing, 
• project budget management, 
• alerts for distractions, 
• chat monitoring, 
• tracking offline time, 
• and sending email notifications.

Time Doctor integrates with tools like Asana, ClickUp, Evernote, HelpScout, Jira, Payoneer, PayPal, Pipedrive, Salesforce, and Trello.

Pros:

• Precise time tracking
• Enhances billing accuracy
• Cuts down on unproductive time

Cons:

• Sometimes sends too many notifications
• May have glitches in tracking activities

But what if you want to monitor your remote staff in real time? I’ve got a solution for that.

4. Hubstaff: Best Real-Time Employee Monitoring Software

Hubstaff provides a sophisticated mix of time-tracking and employee-monitoring features. These features allow you to observe your team's activities in real-time.

So why did I love Hubstaff?

First, it enables effective monitoring of remote workers. The software lets you track the time spent by employees and generates accurate timesheets automatically. 

Secondly, it offers automatic reminders to help team members remember to log their hours. You won’t have any payroll hassles with Hubstaff.

Hubstaff also measures website and app usage. It offers insights into potential distractions. 

It’s not the only feature that puts Hubstaff on my list of the best remote work monitoring software. 

It tracks keyboard and mouse usage but with a twist. Hubstaff only measures the frequency of these activities without accessing sensitive information.

Key Features Of Hubstaff Include:

• Time tracking, 
• online timesheets, 
• detailed time reports, 
• timesheet approval, 
• screenshot capabilities, 
• comprehensive employee monitoring, 
• and productivity tracking.

Hubstaff integrates with various project management and collaboration tools such as ActiveCollab, Asana, Breeze, ClickUp, GitHub, GitLab, Insightly, Jira, Liquid Planner, and Mavenlink.

Pros:

• Excellent management of idle times
• Highly customisable to fit various needs
• Supports numerous integrations with other tools

Cons:

• Time tracking must be started manually
• Some users find the reports confusing

5. Monitask: Best Remote Tracker With Customised Settings

Monitask is designed to monitor employees in remote work settings, offering features like automatic time-tracking and proof-of-work screenshots.

I chose Monitask because it effectively tracks the work hours of home-based employees, recording when they start and finish their shifts. 

It also ensures that remote employees work their full hours and helps maintain productivity by minimising distractions.

Like most of the remote work tracker apps on my list, Monitask also protects sensitive data. 

How does it do this? By monitoring any unauthorised movement of sensitive information, whether it's through email, cloud uploads, or transfers to external USB devices. 

It alerts administrators when such actions occur and they can take action.

Key Features Of Monitask Include:

• Screenshot monitoring, 
• a live dashboard for real-time viewing, 
• automatic time tracking, 
• productivity monitoring, 
• application tracking, 
• project management, 
• and the elimination of idle time.

Monitask integrates with various tools like ActiveCollab, Active Directory, Acuity Scheduling, Basecamp, Box Time, ClickFunnels, ClickUp, Convertri, DeskTime, and Easy Projects.

Pros:

• Simple setup process
• Tracks time even when offline
• Helps maintain high productivity levels

Cons:

• Overwhelming number of integrations can complicate use
• Limited storage for historical data logs

6. DeskTime: Best Non-Intrusive Remote Work Tracker

DeskTime is tailored for small business owners who need to manage remote employees.

It offers time-tracking software and detailed productivity reports.

I picked DeskTime because it automatically tracks employee activities and assesses productivity. How does it do this?

It monitors employees' use of websites, programs, and apps, labelling them as productive or unproductive. It even shows the specific documents employees work on.

The app includes a web time tracker that measures time spent on projects and tasks. 

A "tomato timer" feature allows for authorised breaks, and a booking system lets employees reserve meeting rooms and other resources.

Key Features Of DeskTime Include:

• Automatic and offline time tracking, 
• a private mode option, 
• document title tracking, 
• a Pomodoro timer for managing work intervals, 
• customisable reports, 
• cost tracking, 
• a mobile app, 
• and shift scheduling.

DeskTime integrates with tools like Asana, Basecamp, Google Calendar, GitLab, Jira, Outlook Calendar, and Trello.

Pros:

• Makes productivity easy to evaluate
• Straightforward onboarding
• Accessible via mobile devices

Cons:

• Needs better handling of scheduling gaps
• Integrations could be more seamless

7. Clockify: Best Free Remote Work Monitoring Software

Are you looking for a free remote work monitoring tool? Well, I’ve got good news for you.

Clockify is a versatile time-tracking and employee-monitoring tool. 

It’s perfect for small teams with enough options to scale as your business grows. Like most of the remote work monitoring software on my list, Clockify monitors productivity and helps companies manage time efficiently. 

It offers a robust set of features across various plans, making it suitable for a range of business needs.

Why did I add Clockify to my list?

Because Clockify provides a comprehensive suite of tools for tracking time spent on tasks and projects. You can access many of these tools on the free pricing tier. 

But there’s another feature that sets Clockify apart. 

It‘s excellent for managing remote teams and freelancers due to its capability to track multiple projects and generate invoices quickly and accurately.

Key Features Of Clockify Include:

• Time tracking with a simple start/stop button
• manual time entry,
• tracking time across different projects and clients,
• detailed and customizable reports,
• budget or time estimates for projects,
• track billable and non-billable hours,
• Clockify also supports leave tracking.

Finally, Clockify integrates with over 80 other remote business tools, like Jira and Trello.

Pros:

• Cost-effective
• Easy to set up 
• Provides detailed insights into time spent on tasks
• Supports flexible working environments

Cons:

• Some users report slow performance
• Not very user-friendly
• Certain advanced features are only available in higher-tier plans

Frequently Asked Questions About Remote Work Monitoring Software

Before I wrap up this article, I know you may have some burning questions about remote work monitoring software. Don’t worry. I’ve got the answers.

My Final Thoughts

And there you have it. I reviewed 7 of the best remote work monitoring software. Whether you choose a free tool like Clockify or something more customisable like Monitask, one thing’s clear: you’ve got plenty of options to embrace remote work.