Passkey Punch vs Buddy Punch
Passkey Punch is a Buddy Punch alternative for small clinics and labs at fixed sites. Buddy Punch gives you lots of ways to punch, like PINs, webcam photos and GPS, which make it harder to get away with punching for someone else. Passkey Punch has one way: scan the QR sign at your site, then confirm with a passkey on your own phone. There's no PIN or password to share.
Two ways to handle buddy punching
Buddy Punch lists tools like webcam photos, GPS, geofences, device locks and IP address locks (source). They help you catch or limit a punch made by the wrong person.
Passkey Punch ties every punch to a passkey on the employee's own device, unlocked with their face, fingerprint or passcode, plus a check that they're at the site. For a coworker to punch for them, they'd have to hand over their unlocked phone.
Feature comparison
Buddy Punch features come from its public pricing page, checked Oct 13, 2026 (buddypunch.com/pricing). Prices aren't shown here.
| Feature | Passkey Punch | Buddy Punch |
|---|---|---|
| Punch with a QR code | Yes, on every account | Yes, on Pro and Advanced plans |
| Identity check on each punch | Passkey on the employee's own phone (face, fingerprint or passcode) | Username and password, Face ID (iOS), PIN or kiosk, webcam photos (Pro and up) |
| App required | No, it works in the phone's browser | Mobile apps, plus web punching |
| Kiosk or shared tablet | Not needed | PIN or kiosk punching on Pro and up |
| Location check | Yes, and you can turn it off for one employee | GPS on punches, geofencing on Pro and up |
| Lunch breaks | Yes | Automatic breaks, break compliance on Pro and up |
| Fixing a punch | Add a correction; the original stays on record | Time card approvals |
| Flags | Double taps, punches at two sites too close together, skipped lunches, manual entries | Alerts, reminders and error logging |
| Employee view of hours | Yes, rounded to 15 minutes with exact punch times | Yes |
| Payroll exports | Payroll CSV today (hours, overtime, missed time, holidays); Gusto, QuickBooks and ADP coming | Payroll integrations, plus CSV, Excel and PDF exports |
| Time off | Coming | Time off tracking |
| Scheduling | Coming | Add-on on Starter, included on Pro and up |
When Buddy Punch may fit better
If you need scheduling, time off, direct payroll integrations or crews that move between job sites today, Buddy Punch lists those and Passkey Punch doesn't have them yet.
When Passkey Punch fits
- Your staff work at the same few sites every day, like a clinic or lab.
- You want one way to punch that a shared PIN or borrowed login can't get around.
- You don't want a kiosk or an app to manage.
FAQ
Is Passkey Punch a Buddy Punch alternative?
Yes, for small teams at fixed sites who mainly need a time clock they can trust. It doesn't have scheduling, time off or direct payroll integrations yet.
Can a passkey time clock stop buddy punching?
It removes the usual ways. There's no PIN, password or badge to share, and the location check stops punching from home. A coworker would need the employee's unlocked phone. See how to stop buddy punching.
Do employees need to download an app?
No. Passkey Punch runs in the phone's browser.
Can I export hours for payroll?
Yes. The Reports page has a Payroll CSV export with hours, overtime, missed time and holidays. Direct exports to Gusto, QuickBooks and ADP are coming.