WorkforceWatch

Employee Monitoring Software Reviews

2026 Edition

21 Best Employee Monitoring Software to Boost Productivity

A comprehensive review of the leading employee monitoring solutions, carefully evaluated to help you make informed decisions for your organization's workforce management needs.

Sarah Mitchell

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Technology Analyst

|Last Updated: February 2026

21 software solutions found

In today's hybrid work environment, employee monitoring software has become an essential tool for organizations seeking to maintain productivity, ensure security, and optimize workforce performance. This comprehensive guide examines 21 leading solutions, each offering unique approaches to workforce analytics and monitoring.

Our analysis considers factors including feature depth, ease of deployment, pricing structure, and suitability for different organizational needs. Whether you're managing a remote team, protecting sensitive data, or simply seeking better visibility into workforce activities, you'll find detailed insights to guide your decision.

1

ActivTrak

Workforce Analytics & Productivity Insights

ActivTrak dashboard

Overview

ActivTrak is a comprehensive workforce analytics platform that provides deep insights into employee productivity patterns and behaviors. The software offers real-time monitoring capabilities combined with advanced analytics to help organizations understand how their teams work, identify productivity bottlenecks, and optimize workflows. With its user-friendly dashboard and actionable insights, ActivTrak enables managers to make data-driven decisions about resource allocation and process improvements. The platform emphasizes ethical monitoring practices while delivering powerful visibility into workforce activities across applications, websites, and daily tasks.

Key Features

  • Real-time productivity monitoring
  • Behavior analytics and insights
  • Application and website tracking
  • Customizable productivity scoring
  • Team performance dashboards
  • Activity timeline visualization
  • Automated alerts and notifications
  • Detailed reporting and analytics

Pricing

Starting at $10/user/month

Best For

Organizations seeking comprehensive workforce analytics with behavior-based insights

"ActivTrak leads the market with its comprehensive analytics and ethical monitoring approach."

— Sarah Mitchell

2

Refog

Comprehensive Employee Computer Monitoring

Refog dashboard

Overview

Refog Employee Monitor is a powerful and ethical employee computer monitoring software designed to enhance workplace productivity while maintaining data security. The software provides comprehensive tracking of employee activities including keystroke logging, screenshot capture, web browsing history, and application usage across Windows-based networks. Refog stands out for its quick deployment capabilities with MSI modules that automatically install across local networks, making it ideal for businesses of all sizes. The platform helps managers identify inefficiencies, detect potential security threats such as unauthorized file transfers, and generate detailed performance charts. With both on-site and remote access to employee logs, Refog offers the flexibility modern businesses need while ensuring sensitive company information remains protected.

Key Features

  • Keystroke logging and tracking
  • Automatic screenshot capture
  • Web activity monitoring
  • Application usage tracking
  • Security threat detection
  • Unauthorized file transfer alerts
  • Performance charts and reports
  • MSI auto-deployment
  • Remote and on-site access
  • Local network monitoring

Pricing

Starting at €30/month, Employee Monitor from €240 for 6 licenses

Best For

Businesses requiring comprehensive monitoring with strong security threat detection

"Refog's quick deployment and security focus make it ideal for businesses prioritizing data protection."

— Sarah Mitchell

3

Hubstaff

Time Tracking & Workforce Management

Hubstaff dashboard

Overview

Hubstaff is a versatile time tracking and workforce management solution that combines employee monitoring with project management capabilities. The platform offers automatic time tracking, screenshot capture, and activity levels monitoring to provide complete visibility into how work hours are spent. Hubstaff's strength lies in its ability to track both remote and in-office teams seamlessly, making it an excellent choice for distributed workforces. The software integrates with numerous project management and payroll tools, streamlining workflows and ensuring accurate billing. With features like GPS tracking for mobile workers and detailed productivity reports, Hubstaff helps organizations optimize resource allocation and improve overall team efficiency.

Key Features

  • Automatic time tracking
  • Screenshot monitoring
  • Activity level tracking
  • GPS location tracking
  • Project and task management
  • Payroll integration
  • Detailed productivity reports
  • Mobile app support
  • Integration with 30+ tools

Pricing

Starting at $7/user/month

Best For

Remote teams and businesses needing integrated time tracking with project management

4

Time Doctor

Advanced Time Tracking & Productivity Management

Time Doctor dashboard

Overview

Time Doctor is an advanced time tracking and productivity management platform designed for remote and hybrid teams. The software goes beyond simple time tracking by offering comprehensive monitoring features including website and application usage tracking, screenshot capture, and detailed productivity analytics. Time Doctor's intelligent distraction alerts help employees stay focused by notifying them when they visit non-work-related websites during work hours. The platform provides robust reporting capabilities that give managers insights into team productivity patterns, project time allocation, and individual performance metrics. With integrations to popular project management and communication tools, Time Doctor creates a seamless workflow that enhances accountability and productivity across distributed teams.

Key Features

  • Detailed time tracking
  • Website and app monitoring
  • Screenshot capture
  • Distraction alerts
  • Productivity analytics
  • Payroll integration
  • Client login access
  • Project time allocation
  • Comprehensive reporting

Pricing

Starting at $7/user/month

Best For

Remote teams requiring detailed time tracking with distraction management

5

Teramind

Employee Monitoring & Insider Threat Detection

Teramind dashboard

Overview

Teramind is a comprehensive employee monitoring and insider threat detection platform that prioritizes security alongside productivity. The software offers advanced user behavior analytics to identify potential security risks, data breaches, and policy violations before they become serious problems. Teramind's powerful features include keystroke logging, screen recording, email monitoring, and file transfer tracking, all designed to protect sensitive company data. The platform uses machine learning algorithms to establish baseline behaviors and alert administrators to anomalous activities that could indicate insider threats. With its robust data loss prevention (DLP) capabilities and detailed forensic analysis tools, Teramind is the go-to solution for organizations with strict security and compliance requirements.

Key Features

  • Insider threat detection
  • User behavior analytics
  • Screen recording and playback
  • Keystroke logging
  • Email monitoring
  • File transfer tracking
  • Data loss prevention (DLP)
  • Policy violation alerts
  • Forensic analysis tools
  • Compliance reporting

Pricing

Starting at $12/user/month

Best For

Organizations with high security requirements and compliance needs

6

Insightful

Workforce Analytics & Performance Optimization

Insightful dashboard

Overview

Insightful (formerly Workpuls) is a workforce analytics platform that helps organizations understand and optimize employee performance. The software provides comprehensive visibility into how employees spend their time across applications, websites, and tasks, enabling data-driven decisions about productivity improvements. Insightful's automatic time tracking eliminates the need for manual time entry, while its intelligent categorization of activities provides accurate productivity metrics. The platform offers customizable productivity labels, allowing organizations to define what productive work means for their specific context. With features like real-time monitoring, detailed reports, and team performance comparisons, Insightful empowers managers to identify top performers, recognize productivity patterns, and implement targeted improvements across their workforce.

Key Features

  • Automatic time tracking
  • Application and website monitoring
  • Customizable productivity labels
  • Real-time activity monitoring
  • Team performance analytics
  • Detailed productivity reports
  • Activity categorization
  • Idle time detection
  • Integration capabilities

Pricing

Starting at $8/user/month

Best For

Companies seeking detailed workforce analytics with customizable productivity metrics

About This Review

This comprehensive review was conducted by our team of technology analysts who specialize in workforce management and productivity software. Each solution was evaluated based on feature completeness, ease of use, pricing transparency, customer support quality, and real-world performance.

Our methodology includes hands-on testing, analysis of user reviews, consultation with IT professionals, and evaluation of vendor documentation. We maintain editorial independence and do not accept payment for rankings or reviews.

Sarah Mitchell

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Technology Analyst

15+ years experience in enterprise software evaluation