DeskTime
DeskTime is a fully automated time tracking and productivity software designed to help you manage teams, track project progress, and eliminate manual data entry for improved operational efficiency.
Square Payroll
Square Payroll is a full-service payroll software that automates tax filings, employee payments, and benefits management for small businesses using integrated time tracking and point-of-sale data.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | DeskTime | Square Payroll |
|---|---|---|
| Website | desktime.com | squareup.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Subscription |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 14 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2011 | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Riga, Latvia | San Francisco, USA |
Overview
DeskTime
DeskTime is an automated time tracking platform that helps you understand how your team spends their workday without manual timers. It automatically records the apps and websites you use, categorizing them into productive, unproductive, or neutral categories based on your specific business needs. This gives you a clear picture of where time goes and helps you identify bottlenecks in your daily workflows.
You can manage employee shifts, track project costs, and generate detailed reports for client billing all in one place. Whether you are a freelancer or managing a large remote team, the software provides the data you need to boost accountability and optimize performance. It eliminates the guesswork of manual timesheets, allowing you to focus on high-value tasks while the background app handles the documentation.
Square Payroll
Square Payroll simplifies how you pay your team by automating the most complex parts of business ownership. You can pay employees and contractors in just a few clicks, whether they are hourly or salaried. The platform automatically calculates, files, and pays your federal and state payroll taxes, ensuring you stay compliant without manual paperwork. Because it integrates directly with Square POS, your team's hours sync automatically, eliminating the need for manual data entry or messy spreadsheets.
You can manage everything from a single dashboard, including workers' compensation, health insurance, and 401(k) plans. The system supports flexible payment options like Instant Payments, allowing you to send funds to employees the same day they work. Whether you are running a single coffee shop or managing multiple retail locations, you get a straightforward tool that handles the back-office heavy lifting so you can focus on growing your business.
Overview
DeskTime Features
- Automatic Time Tracking Track your work hours automatically from the moment you turn on your computer without clicking start or stop.
- URL and App Tracking See exactly which websites and applications you use throughout the day to identify your biggest productivity killers.
- Document Title Tracking Record the specific names of documents or files you work on to accurately allocate time to different projects.
- Project Tracking Assign your time to specific projects and tasks to see how much effort each client or job requires.
- Shift Scheduling Plan and manage your team's shifts in a visual calendar to ensure you always have the right coverage.
- Invoicing and Billing Convert your tracked project hours into professional invoices automatically to get paid faster by your clients.
- Private Time Option Pause tracking with a single click when you need to handle personal matters to maintain your privacy.
- Offline Time Logging Log time spent away from your computer, like meetings or brainstorming sessions, to keep your records complete.
Square Payroll Features
- Automated Tax Filings. Let the software calculate, file, and pay your state and federal payroll taxes automatically to ensure total compliance.
- Time Card Sync. Import employee hours directly from Square POS or the Team App to eliminate manual data entry errors.
- Instant Payments. Access your funds immediately and pay your team the same day they work using your Square Balance.
- Benefits Integration. Offer and manage health insurance, 401(k) plans, and workers' comp directly through your payroll dashboard.
- Contractor Payments. Pay your independent contractors via direct deposit and let the system generate and file 1099-NEC forms.
- Employee Mobile App. Give your team a dedicated app to track their hours, view pay stubs, and manage their tax forms.
Pricing Comparison
DeskTime Pricing
- 1 User only
- Automatic time tracking
- URL & App tracking
- Mobile app access
- Basic productivity stats
- Everything in Lite, plus:
- Unlimited users
- Project tracking
- Productivity calculations
- Idle time tracking
- User integrations
Square Payroll Pricing
- $5 per person paid monthly
- No monthly base fee
- Direct deposit included
- 1099-NEC generation and filing
- Self-service contractor account
- Everything in Contractor plan, plus:
- $6 per person paid monthly
- Full-service tax filings
- Time card and POS integration
- Health insurance and 401(k) access
- Live phone and chat support
Pros & Cons
DeskTime
Pros
- Automatic tracking eliminates the need for manual start/stop buttons
- Detailed reports make client billing and auditing much faster
- Visual dashboard provides an immediate overview of team productivity
- Private time mode ensures employee trust and personal privacy
Cons
- Desktop app must be installed for full tracking capabilities
- Learning curve for setting up custom productivity categories
- Mobile app features are limited compared to the desktop version
Square Payroll
Pros
- Seamless integration with Square Point of Sale
- Automatic tax filing saves hours of manual work
- Simple and transparent per-employee pricing model
- Easy setup process for new business owners
Cons
- Customer support can be difficult to reach
- Limited advanced HR features for large corporations
- Account freezes can occasionally delay payroll processing