Best Employee Location Tracking Apps for Field Teams in 2026 (UK&I Guide)

Does your organisation work with field teams with a workforce spread across multiple locations? That means keeping track of employees’ locations is essential. Constant phone calls or manual timesheets to monitor staff on the move slow down your team, impacting productivity. A reliable employee location tracking app, however, can provide accurate data in real time, helping businesses save time, reduce errors, and improve productivity.

Whether you manage home-based workers, technicians, or sales representatives, knowing exactly where your employees are during their shifts is key to solving a range of operational challenges. From preventing time theft to ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations, a location tracking solution can transform the way your business operates.

This guide will explore the benefits of location tracking, the different tracking methods available, legal considerations for UK employers, and the best apps for workforce location tracking in 2026. Read on to understand how to choose an app that matches your business needs and ensures both efficiency and compliance.

Why Employee Location Tracking Matters

Managing a field-based workforce comes with a specific set of challenges. Without visibility of your organisation, your business can quickly become inefficienct and lose revenue, not to mention the increase possibility of encountering legal issues.

Here’s why an employee tracking app is important for UK businesses:

• Prevent time theft: Employees may clock in for a colleague or fail to record breaks accurately. Location tracking ensures time records reflect actual presence at job sites.
• More efficient operations: Knowing where employees are allows managers to assign tasks easily, optimise routes, and reduce downtime between jobs.
• Easier to bill clients accurately: Businesses that bill clients by the hour need proof of work location. A location tracking system provides reliable data for invoicing.
• Helps ensure health and safety compliance: Employers are responsible for staff working off-site. Location tracking helps ensure employees are safe and accounted for, and within their designated work area.
• Protects you from legal trouble: Clear records of employees’ work hours and locations can help in solve disputes or insurance claims.

Using a dedicated employee location tracking app can reduce administrative burdens and provide visibility that traditional methods cannot match. You gain insights not only into where employees are but also into how time is spent, which teams are more efficient, and where processes can be improved.

Types of Employee Location Tracking

There are various types of location tracking solutions on the market. The type of system you choose should align with the structure of your workforce, as well as your operational requirements. Common tracking methods include:

1. Clock-In/Out GPS Stamping

This method records the GPS coordinates when an employee starts and ends a shift. It’s ideal for businesses that simply need to verify attendance at a job site. GPS stamping ensures employees are physically present when clocking in and reduces buddy punching.

• Pros: Simple setup, clear records, minimal battery use.
• Cons: No continuous location tracking; cannot monitor movement during shifts.

2. Geofencing

Geofencing uses virtual boundaries around workplaces or job sites. Employees receive alerts if they enter or leave these areas, and clock-ins outside designated zones can be blocked automatically.

• Pros: Automates compliance, ideal for multiple sites, works with remote teams.
• Cons: Less useful for tracking movement outside defined boundaries.

3. Real-Time GPS Tracking

This method continuously records employee locations during shifts. It provides a “breadcrumb trail” of movement, helping managers monitor routes, ensure efficient travel, and respond quickly if issues arise.

• Pros: Detailed route and activity data, helps optimise field operations.
• Cons: Can raise privacy concerns, requires careful compliance with data protection laws, higher battery usage.

Selecting the right tracking method depends on what your priorities are for your business. For instance, a cleaning company with multiple job sites may benefit most from geofencing, whereas a delivery or maintenance company may need real-time breadcrumbs to optimise routes.

Legal Considerations for Employee Location Tracking in the UK

Tracking employees’ locations in the UK comes with legal responsibilities. Employers must find the balance between meeting operational needs with respecting privacy rights, ensuring compliance with UK GDPR and other employment regulations. Failure to follow the law can result in fines, employee disputes, or reputational damage. Although UK law does not explicitly mention location tracking, data protection law covers any monitoring that involves taking data.

Here are the key best practices for legal compliance when using an employee location tracking app:

1. Obtain Explicit Consent

Inform all members of your organisation clearly about what data will be collected, why it is necessary, and how it will be used. Written consent is essential, and staff should understand that tracking is only for work purposes.

2. Limit Tracking to Working Hours

Location tracking should not be turned on during employees’ personal time. Apps should be configured to record coordinates only during shifts or when clocking in/out. This ensures compliance with privacy regulations and reduces concerns about surveillance.

3. Be Transparent

Provide employees with access to policies outlining the type of tracking used, data retention periods, and procedures for reporting any errors or concerns.

4. Use Company Devices Where Possible

To reduce privacy issues, it’s advisable to use company-issued devices for location tracking. Tracking personal devices can raise legal and ethical concerns and increase the risk of GDPR violations.

5. Data Storage and Security

All location data must be stored securely, with restricted access and encryption where possible. Employers should establish clear retention policies and delete data once it is no longer required for operational or legal purposes.

By following these steps, you can implement workforce location tracking in a responsible way that respects your employees’ right to privacy.

Best Employee Location Tracking Apps in 2026

Choosing the right employee tracking app depends on your team and how you work. Here are some of the top options for UK businesses in 2026.

1. Factorial

Best For: Companies that want an all-in-one business management software and location tracking solution.

Overview: Factorial is more than just a location tracking tool. It integrates time tracking software, HR management, and reporting into one platform. Businesses with a mix of office and field employees benefit most because it allows teams to clock in from different locations including office, home, or business trip, while keeping all HR processes in one place.

Key Location Tracking Features:

• Clock-in/out GPS stamping: Records exact coordinates when employees start and finish shifts.
• Work location types: Employees can indicate whether they are working from home, office, or a client site.
• Real-time geolocation: Provides accurate locations for each shift without tracking employees between clock-ins.
• Geofencing alerts: Managers receive notifications if employees try to clock in outside designated areas.
• Blocked clock-ins outside work areas: Ensures staff can only clock in from approved locations.
• Team reporting: Track the percentage of time each team spends at different locations.

Pricing: Factorial starts at £5.40 per month, per user. Custom pricing based on team size and modules. Free trial available.

Additional Features: Payroll integration, leave management, document storage, and detailed reports.

2. QuickBooks Time

Best For: Small to medium businesses that need simple and reliable time and location tracking.

Overview: QuickBooks Time focuses on making time tracking and location verification easy. Employees can clock in from their mobile devices or desktop, and managers can view their location in real time. Integration with QuickBooks makes client billing and payroll straightforward.

Key Location Tracking Features:

• GPS tracking: See where employees clock in and out on a map.
• Geofencing: Alerts managers if staff try to clock in outside job sites.
• Mobile or web clock-in: Gives flexibility for remote or field workers.
• Missed clock-in alerts: Helps prevent unrecorded shifts.

Pricing: Starts at £8 per user/month with different plans based on features.

Additional Features: Scheduling, job costing, overtime alerts, and QuickBooks accounting integration.

3. Timeero

Best For: Businesses that need route tracking and monitoring of employee movement during shifts.

Overview: Timeero is ideal for companies where employees are always on the move, such as delivery, maintenance, or sales teams. It records real-time GPS breadcrumbs so managers can see the routes employees take and ensure efficiency.

Key Location Tracking Features:

• Real-time GPS tracking: Continuous tracking during shifts, showing exact movements.
• Breadcrumb trails: Map out the routes employees take to optimise travel and reduce delays.
• Geofencing: Automatically track arrivals and departures from job sites.
• Clock-in/out GPS stamping: Verifies presence at work locations.

Pricing: Starts from £5 per user/month, with larger plans available for more advanced features.

Additional Features: Mileage tracking, client billing, and scheduling tools.

4. Buddy Punch

Best For: Preventing buddy punching and ensuring accurate time records.

Overview: Buddy Punch focuses on eliminating inaccurate clock-ins. Employees can only clock in from approved devices and locations, often with photo verification. It is particularly useful for companies with hourly workers or remote teams.

Key Location Tracking Features:

• GPS clock-in/out verification: Confirms the location of each clock-in.
• Geofencing: Blocks clock-ins outside job sites.
• Photo verification: Ensures the right employee is clocking in.
• Mobile and web support: Works across devices for flexibility.

Pricing: Starts at £2.50 per user/month, with additional features in higher tiers.

Additional Features: PTO tracking, overtime management, and detailed reporting.

5. ClockShark

Best For: Field service teams, construction, and companies with multiple job sites.

Overview: ClockShark is built for businesses with mobile workers who travel between sites. It provides GPS tracking, geofencing, and reporting tools to improve accountability and simplify payroll.

Key Location Tracking Features:

• Real-time GPS tracking: Monitor employees’ locations during shifts.
• Geofencing: Prevents clock-ins outside designated sites.
• Clock-in/out via mobile app: Convenient for field teams.
• Route tracking: Helps plan efficient travel and reduce wasted time.

Pricing: Starts at £4 per user/month, with scalable enterprise options.

Additional Features: Job scheduling, payroll integration, and mobile notifications.

Each of these apps is tailored to different team sizes and needs. Selecting the right app to improve accountability and gain a clearer view of the activity of your workforce. Use the table below for a quick summary of these 5 apps.

Employee Location Tracking App Comparison Chart

To make it easier to see which employee location tracking app fits your business, the table below compares the top platforms. It shows what each app is best for, the starting price, and the main feature that makes it stand out.

This chart makes it easier for managers to compare apps at a glance. Read on to learn how to choose the best app for your organisation.

Choosing the Right Location Tracking App

Selecting the right employee location tracking app depends on your business needs, the size of your team, and how your employees work. Not every app works for every company, so it’s important to match your requirements with the features offered.

Here’s a simple framework to help you decide:

Track Your Employees’ Locations with Factorial

Imagine a company with both office staff and field technicians. Office employees mostly work on-site or from home, while field technicians travel to multiple client locations every day. Without a location tracking system, the manager struggles with questions like:

• Are field workers actually at the client site?
• How much time did each team spend on each job?
• Are clients billed accurately for time spent on site?

By using Factorial, this company can:

• Allow employees to clock in from home, the office, or client locations.
• Track field technicians’ movements during shifts with geolocation breadcrumbs.
• Receive alerts if employees try to clock in outside approved areas.
• Generate reports showing where each team spent their time for accurate client billing.

Factorial’s flexibility means the company can manage both office and field employees in one platform, saving time and reducing errors. Managers gain visibility without tracking employees outside working hours, keeping the system compliant with UK privacy laws.

Why an Employee Location Tracking App Matters for Your Organisation

Using an employee location tracking app gives you the visibility and control you need. For field teams, these apps solve common problems such as:

• Not knowing if employees are actually at the job site when they clock in
• Losing revenue due to buddy punching, where employees clock each other in
• Inaccurate client billing because there’s no proof of time spent on location
• Missing location records needed for insurance claims or client disputes

Factorial stands out as the ideal solution for growing teams. Factorial’s combination of geolocation, clock-in/out flexibility, geofencing, and integration with other crucial business management processes means managers can monitor field teams without adding extra administrative work. It also centralises other core processes, including leave management, payroll preparation, and reporting, all in one platform.

For UK businesses with both office and field employees, Factorial not only helps verify that work is being done in the right location but also ensures teams are productive, but also that clients are billed correctly. Furthermore, data is kept secure, allowing your team to be at ease and more opetn to adopting new technology. Invest in a reliable employee tracking app today by choosing Factorial. Request a demo to see how it works!

Disclaimer: The information presented on this page is based on publicly available sources. The comparisons between Factorial and other providers are intended solely for the illustration of the respective software features, pricing and functionalities. All information regarding features, prices, and integrations may be subject to change without prior notice. Factorial assumes no liability for the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information presented. We recommend contacting the respective providers directly to obtain the most accurate and up-to-date information. All legal regulations regarding Spanish fair advertising and competition law are fully observed by us; if you have any concerns, please reach out to us. The comparisons presented do not constitute a final evaluation or recommendation for any provider, but serve solely as an informational source.