7 min read11 April 2026
Summary
Choosing a time tracking system for your Australian business? There are several options on the market, each with different strengths. Here's an honest comparison of NestedClock, Deputy, and Tanda to help you decide.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | NestedClock | Deputy | Tanda |
|---|---|---|---|
| PIN-based clock in | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Photo verification | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| GPS tracking | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Kiosk mode | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cross-shop clocking | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Staff messaging | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| No app download required | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Multi-tenant (franchise) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Free tier available | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Per-employee pricing | From $2/user | From $6/user | From $5/user |
Where NestedClock Stands Out
- No app required: NestedClock is 100% browser-based. Staff don't need to download anything — just open a link. This is a huge advantage for businesses with high staff turnover or casual workers.
- Cross-shop clocking: Staff can clock in at one location and clock out at another. This is unique to NestedClock and essential for businesses where staff move between sites.
- Simpler pricing: NestedClock starts with a free tier for small teams and scales affordably. No hidden fees for features like photo verification or GPS.
- Built for Australia: Designed from the ground up for Australian businesses, with Fair Work compliance features built in.
Where Deputy Excels
- Integrations: Deputy connects with Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks, and dozens of other payroll systems out of the box.
- Scheduling: Deputy's roster builder is more advanced, with demand forecasting and auto-scheduling.
- Scale: Deputy is built for enterprise — if you have 500+ employees, their infrastructure handles it well.
Where Tanda Excels
- Award interpretation: Tanda has deep award interpretation built in — it can automatically calculate penalty rates, overtime, and allowances based on the specific Modern Award.
- Payroll integration: Tight integration with Australian payroll systems like KeyPay.
- Compliance focus: Tanda was built specifically for Australian award compliance and does it very well.
Who Should Choose What?
- Choose NestedClock if: You want a simple, affordable, browser-based solution for small to medium teams. Especially good for multi-location businesses, hospitality, and retail with high staff turnover.
- Choose Deputy if: You need deep integrations with existing payroll software and advanced scheduling features. Best for larger businesses with complex workflows.
- Choose Tanda if: Award interpretation is your top priority and you need automatic penalty rate calculations. Best for businesses with complex award structures.
The Bottom Line
All three are solid products. The right choice depends on your priorities: simplicity and affordability (NestedClock), integrations and scale (Deputy), or award interpretation (Tanda). We'd recommend trying the free tiers where available and seeing which one fits your team's workflow.