At a glance: construction clock-in apps compared
This table summarises the key differences across the main platforms available to UK contractors in 2026. Hardware requirement and CSCS verification capability are the two factors that most affect which platform is right for your operation.
| Platform | Hardware needed | CSCS verification | GPS geofence | Live FILO board | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AttendIQ | No | Yes (Smart Check API) | Yes | Yes | From £4.50/worker/month |
| MSite / Infobric | Yes (core product) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not published |
| Biosite | Yes (biometric) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not published |
1. AttendIQ: best software-only option for Tier 2 and Tier 3 contractors
AttendIQ is built specifically for UK construction compliance. It runs entirely on workers' own smartphones, with no hardware required at the gate. Clock-in uses GPS geofencing to confirm the worker is physically within the site boundary, and Face ID or fingerprint to confirm their identity. Both checks happen before the clock-in registers.
CSCS verification at clock-in
AttendIQ connects to the CSCS Smart Check API. When a worker clocks in, their CSCS card is verified in real time: the card is confirmed as valid (not expired, not reported lost or stolen), and the card type is checked against the site's requirements. If the card has expired or does not meet the site requirement, the worker is flagged immediately. The site manager sees the alert on the live site board without needing to manually inspect cards at the gate.
Access rules engine
CSCS verification is one part of a broader access rules engine. Before a worker's clock-in is accepted, the system evaluates every active rule for that site: expired CSCS card, outstanding induction, lapsed right to work, active ban, or any other site-specific requirement. All failing rules are shown at once, not just the first one. The worker is not told why they are blocked - only the site manager sees the full detail. This matters both for compliance and for speed of resolution when multiple issues exist simultaneously.
Live FILO board
The live site board shows every worker currently on site, in the order they arrived (First In Last Out). Any device with a browser can access it - site managers typically pull it up on a tablet or phone at the site office. In an emergency evacuation, the muster list is up to date to the minute and accessible from anywhere on site. There is no paper list to update.
Timesheets
Clock events generate timesheets automatically. The workflow is two-stage approval: the worker reviews and submits, the site manager approves. Approved timesheets push directly to Xero or QuickBooks. The payroll administrator does not need to re-enter data.
Offline mode
If a worker has no signal at clock-in, the event is queued locally on the device and syncs when connectivity is restored. Sites with patchy signal - basements, tunnels, rural locations - work without disruption.
Pricing
Essential plan: £4.50 per worker per month (annual contract), £1,000 setup. Complete plan: £7.00 per worker per month (annual contract), £1,500 setup. No hardware cost.
Best for: Any UK contractor who does not need physical turnstile enforcement. The access rules engine means non-compliant workers are flagged and blocked at clock-in even without a barrier at the gate.
2. MSite / Infobric: best for Tier 1 hardware-enforced access control
MSite (now part of Infobric) is the dominant platform for large Tier 1 construction sites in the UK. Its core product is hardware-led: biometric readers and turnstiles are installed at site gates, and a worker physically cannot enter without registering. The hardware is the enforcement mechanism - compliance is structural rather than procedural.
MSite supports CSCS verification and integrates with the wider workforce compliance data that large contractors require. The platform is well-established and used by Balfour Beatty, Kier, Mace, and similar Tier 1 principal contractors.
The hardware model means significant upfront cost per installation - typically several thousand pounds per gate - and weeks of installation time. This model works well for large permanent sites where the investment is justified. It is not suited to Tier 2 or Tier 3 operations running multiple smaller sites, where the economics and logistics do not stack up.
Pricing is not published. Contracts are negotiated directly and are typically enterprise-scale.
Best for: Tier 1 principal contractors with large, permanent sites and the budget and IT resource to support physical infrastructure.
3. Biosite: best biometric hardware system for large sites
Biosite is a UK-built biometric attendance system designed for construction sites. Workers register their biometric data (face or fingerprint) at enrolment, and hardware readers at site gates verify identity on each clock-in. The system has a strong focus on HSE compliance and has been used on major UK infrastructure projects including HS2 and large civil engineering schemes.
Biosite's strength is the rigour of the biometric verification - it is difficult to circumvent and provides a robust audit trail for high-security or high-accountability sites. The trade-off is that the hardware dependency and cost model is similar to MSite: installation is expensive, deployment takes time, and the system requires dedicated IT resource to maintain.
Pricing is not published and is typically negotiated at the project level.
Best for: Large permanent sites where biometric rigour is a specific requirement and the budget for hardware infrastructure is available. Not suited to small or medium contractors.
Hardware vs software: which is right for you?
The hardware vs software question is the most important decision a contractor faces when choosing a clock-in platform. Both approaches have genuine advantages and genuine limitations. The right answer depends on your tier, your site types, and your compliance requirements.
The case for hardware
A physical turnstile or biometric reader at the gate means a worker literally cannot enter the site without registering. Access is structurally enforced, not procedurally enforced. You do not rely on worker compliance with a clock-in process. For high-security sites, major infrastructure projects, or environments where the cost of an undetected breach is extremely high, the physical enforcement model is the right choice.
Hardware also removes the dependency on workers having a charged, working smartphone with the app installed. On sites with a large transient workforce where onboarding new workers quickly is a constant requirement, a shared hardware terminal at the gate can be faster to set up than distributing an app to hundreds of individuals.
The case for software
A software-only platform deploys in hours, not weeks. There is no installation cost. There are no hardware devices to maintain, repair, or replace. For a contractor running 10 or 20 sites simultaneously, equipping each site with hardware infrastructure is impractical and expensive. A software platform deploys to each new site the moment the project starts.
The objection to software - that compliance relies on worker behaviour rather than physical enforcement - is valid but addressable. A well-designed access rules engine means non-compliant workers are flagged at clock-in and the site manager is notified immediately. A worker who clocks in with an expired CSCS card is visible in real time. The site manager can act. The gap between software and hardware enforcement is narrower than it appears when the software includes robust access control logic.
The right choice for most UK contractors
For Tier 1 principal contractors on large, permanent sites: hardware is the established standard and the right choice.
For Tier 2 and Tier 3 contractors - the majority of UK construction businesses - software is the right choice. The economics are clear: no hardware capital expenditure, no installation lead time, no IT maintenance overhead, and a per-worker monthly cost that scales directly with the size of each project. The access rules engine in a platform like AttendIQ provides the compliance enforcement that matters: a worker with an expired CSCS card, outstanding induction, or lapsed right to work is blocked before they reach the work area.
The average cost of an HSE prohibition notice (stopping a worker from a task) is £107,000 in total costs including lost time, legal fees, and remediation. A worker with an expired CSCS card clocking in undetected is a direct liability. AttendIQ checks CSCS status automatically at every clock-in. For 50 workers, the platform costs £225 per month.
What CSCS Smart Check actually does
CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) issues cards to workers who have demonstrated the qualifications and health and safety awareness required for specific roles on UK construction sites. Most UK construction sites require all workers to hold a valid CSCS card before they are permitted to work.
Traditionally, CSCS card checking was manual: a site manager inspected each worker's physical card at the gate, looking at the card type, the expiry date, and the photo. This was time-consuming and easy to circumvent - an expired card could be presented quickly and not noticed, and card types are not always immediately legible to someone who is not familiar with the full range of CSCS card categories.
The CSCS Smart Check API changed this. Software platforms that integrate with the API can verify a CSCS card in real time by querying the CSCS register directly. The check confirms:
- The card is currently valid (not expired, not reported lost or stolen)
- The card type matches the role or site requirements configured by the administrator
- The worker's registration status on the CSCS scheme
In AttendIQ, this check runs automatically in the background at every clock-in. The site manager does not need to inspect a physical card. If the check fails for any reason, the worker is flagged before their clock-in is accepted. The check takes a fraction of a second and happens alongside the GPS and identity verification checks.
This eliminates the most common route by which workers with expired or inappropriate CSCS cards gain access to sites undetected: the hurried manual check at a busy gate at the start of a shift.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best clock-in app for construction sites?
For small and medium UK contractors, AttendIQ is the strongest choice. It combines GPS clock-in, CSCS verification, site access control, and automatic timesheet generation in one mobile app with no hardware required. For Tier 1 contractors who need physical turnstile access control, MSite or Biosite are established options. The right choice depends on whether you need software-only or hardware-enforced access control.
Can a construction clock-in app verify CSCS cards?
Yes. AttendIQ integrates with the CSCS Smart Check API to verify card status in real time at clock-in. If a worker's CSCS card has expired, or the card type does not meet site requirements, they are flagged at clock-in and blocked from accessing the site. This check runs automatically without the site manager needing to manually check cards at the gate.
Do construction clock-in apps need hardware?
No - software-only clock-in apps use the worker's own smartphone. The worker opens the app, GPS confirms they are within the site geofence, and Face ID or fingerprint confirms their identity. No tablets, scanners, or turnstiles required. This is significantly cheaper and faster to deploy than hardware-based systems, and is the right choice for most Tier 2 and Tier 3 contractors.
What is a FILO board in construction?
FILO stands for First In Last Out. A FILO board shows every worker currently on site in the order they arrived. In an emergency, the site manager can see who is on site instantly and account for every person. Digital FILO boards update in real time as workers clock in and out. They replace the paper muster list that is typically kept at the site office.
How does GPS geofencing work for construction sites?
When a site is set up in AttendIQ, the administrator draws the site boundary on a map (or enters coordinates). When a worker attempts to clock in, their device checks their GPS location against the boundary. If they are outside the geofence, the clock-in is rejected. This prevents workers from clocking in from home, from their vehicle before arriving, or from an adjacent site. The geofence radius is configurable per site.
What happens if a worker has no phone signal at clock-in?
AttendIQ queues the clock-in event locally on the device and syncs it to the server when connectivity is restored. The GPS check and identity verification still run on-device at the time of clock-in, so the event is still compliant even when submitted offline. Sites with patchy signal - basements, tunnels, rural areas - work without disruption. The site manager's live board updates when the sync completes.
Can AttendIQ block a worker for reasons other than CSCS?
Yes. The access rules engine evaluates any combination of compliance requirements: expired CSCS card, outstanding or failed site induction, lapsed right to work document, active ban, or any site-specific rule configured by the administrator. All failing rules are shown simultaneously to the site manager. The worker is not told the specific reason - only that access is not permitted. This applies at clock-in on every visit.