Do I need any special hardware?
No. Punctual runs entirely on the phones your staff already own. No fingerprint scanners, no gate machines, no installation fee.
How does GPS verification actually work?
You pin your workplace location once in Settings. When staff tap Clock In, the app checks their phone's GPS is within your set radius before accepting the punch — outside it, they're prompted to use Remote clock-in instead.
Can staff clock in for a colleague?
No. Each account is bound to one device. If someone tries to log in and clock in from another person's phone, the app blocks it — this is what stops buddy-punching completely.
What about staff who work off-site or remotely?
They tap "Work remotely", take a selfie, and it's sent to you for approval. On the Gold plan, the selfie is also checked against their registered photo, and you're warned if it doesn't clearly match.
Can I run different shifts, like day and night staff?
Yes, on the Lite plan and above. Configure as many named shifts as you need, each with its own hours — staff pick their shift before clocking in, and late detection follows the correct one.
Do I have to pay extra for WhatsApp or email alerts?
No. You connect your own free CallMeBot WhatsApp number and a free Google Apps Script email webhook — Punctual sends late-arrival and forgotten-clock-out alerts through them at no extra platform fee.
What happens after my free trial ends?
For your first 14 days, everything is unlocked — the same feature set as Gold — so you get a real feel of what Punctual can do before committing to anything. Once those 14 days pass, your organisation automatically settles to the bare Free Trial feature set (GPS clock in/out and the live dashboard) until you choose a plan — Basic, Lite or Gold. Nothing is deleted and there's no auto-charge without your action; you simply pick a plan when you're ready to unlock everything again.
Can I manage more than one branch or organisation?
Yes. Punctual is built multi-tenant — each organisation you register is fully isolated, with its own staff, schedule, geofence and data, all under one platform.
Is staff attendance data safe?
Yes. Every record is saved securely to your organisation's private account, accessible only to your admins — never shared with other organisations on the platform.
What if a staff member loses or changes their phone?
An admin resets their device binding from Staff Management in one click — they simply log in again on the new phone and it's re-bound automatically.
Does Punctual support two-factor authentication?
Yes, on the Gold plan. Turn on a second login step using an emailed verification code — for admin accounts and independently for every staff member.
Can I track staff leave and holidays?
Yes. Set public and company holidays that apply to everyone, define leave types, and assign an individual leave period to a specific staff member — their score stays fair without affecting anyone else's.
What if I have more staff than my plan allows?
Free Trial covers up to 5 staff, Basic 10, Lite 20 and Gold 100. If you need more on any plan, add extra staff seats in packs — 10 staff for $5, 20 for $10, 30 for $15, 40 for $20, 50 for $25 or 100 for $50 — paid via Fincra from the "Extra seats" box in the pricing section or inside the app (Settings > Request an Upgrade). The seats are added on top of your plan's limit once your payment is confirmed.
Can Punctual work out my staff's pay?
Yes, on Lite and Gold. The account owner sets a monthly or hourly rate per person, picks a period and Punctual calculates pay from the recorded hours, paying overtime at your overtime multiplier. You can add bonuses or deductions, keep a history and export CSV or PDF. It does not calculate tax or pension, so review the figures before you pay.
Do you have a partner or reseller programme?
Yes. Consultants, IT firms, associations and agents can get a personal partner code and referral link, and are credited for organisations that sign up through it. Commission is agreed individually. See the Partners page to apply.
How much do extra staff seats cost?
Every plan has a staff limit (Free Trial 5, Basic 10, Lite 20, Gold 100). To go beyond it, add seats in packs: +10 staff $5, +20 staff $10, +30 staff $15, +40 staff $20, +50 staff $25 or +100 staff $50. Pay via the pack's link, then send the request in the app (Settings > Request an Upgrade).
Where is my data stored and who can see it?
Data is stored on Google Cloud / Firebase and isolated per organisation, so only your own admins, co-admins and staff (within their roles) can access it. See our Security Policy and Privacy Policy.
Does Punctual work without internet?
Yes for clocking: the phone still checks GPS, saves the clock-in or clock-out locally and syncs it automatically once a signal returns.
Still stuck? Email support@afrisalespro.com or read the documentation.