Clockie vs Xero Projects: time tracking that actually connects to Xero Payroll
Xero Projects tracks project time. Clockie pushes timesheets directly to Xero Payroll — no double entry, no manual CSV imports, no third-party tools. Save 2-3 hours per pay period.
2-3h
Time saved per pay period
1-Click
Push to Xero Payroll
0
Manual timesheet entry
9
NZ payroll systems supported
Why teams pick Clockie
Xero Projects is great for project profitability. But it doesn't connect to Xero Payroll. Here's what that means in practice — and where Clockie is built differently.
Direct Xero Payroll integration
Xero Projects tracks project time but doesn't push to Xero Payroll — you manually re-enter hours or export a CSV and import it, which is manual, error-prone, and costs 2-3 hours per pay period. Clockie pushes timesheets straight into Xero Payroll pay runs with one click.
- Direct API push to pay runs (one click)
- Leave balances sync automatically
- No double entry, no CSV, no manual work
Kiosk mode for field teams
Xero Projects has no shared-device kiosk. Clockie adds kiosk mode (shared iPad/tablet) plus personal-device tracking — perfect for construction, hospitality, and trades where crew clock in on a kiosk and office staff track on their phones.
- Kiosk mode for shared locations
- Face verification & photo capture
- Full offline time tracking for remote sites
Real-time hours-based job costing
Clockie tracks time per job and shows actual vs budgeted hours with real-time visibility, so you can see which jobs are running over before month end. Xero Projects is revenue-focused (budget vs actual on the money side).
- Actual vs budgeted hours per job
- Hours-based profitability
- Built for construction & trades
Standalone & multi-payroll (no Xero lock-in)
Xero Projects requires a Xero Ultimate subscription. Clockie works standalone or with any Xero plan (Ignite, Grow, Comprehensive, or Ultimate), and also exports to 9 NZ payroll systems — so you are never locked into one provider.
- Works without a Xero subscription
- Supports 9 NZ payroll systems
- $59/month for 20 staff vs $156/month
Side-by-side feature comparison
How Clockie and Xero Projects line up, feature by feature — so you can decide on the facts.
| Feature | ClockieNZ-built, payroll-first | Xero ProjectsProjects + invoicing |
|---|---|---|
| Xero Payroll integration (critical difference) | ||
| Xero Payroll integration | Direct API push to pay runs | No native integration |
| Timesheet to payroll workflow | One-click export | Manual re-entry or CSV export/import |
| Leave balance sync | ||
| Time saved per pay period (20 staff) | 2-3 hours saved | Manual entry required |
| Time tracking methods | ||
| Kiosk mode (shared device) | ||
| Personal device tracking | Full web/mobile app | Web + mobile app |
| Offline time tracking | Full offline mode | Limited (requires sync) |
| GPS verification | GPS auto-suggestions (100m radius) | |
| Face verification | ||
| Photo capture | Mobile app only | |
| Core features | ||
| Project time tracking | ||
| Budget tracking (actual vs budgeted) | Real-time hours tracking | Budget vs actual (revenue-focused) |
| Project profitability reporting | Hours-based profitability | Full (revenue, costs, invoices) |
| Invoicing integration | Basic (export time data) | Advanced (time auto-populates invoices) |
| Quoting / estimates | ||
| Integration & flexibility | ||
| Xero Accounting integration | Via Payroll | Native (full integration) |
| Multi-payroll system support | 9 NZ payroll systems | Xero Payroll only |
| Pricing (20 staff example) | ||
| Monthly cost (20 staff) | $59/month | $156/month (Ultimate + overages) |
| Requires Xero subscription | ||
| Standalone option | Yes (works without Xero) | No (requires Xero Ultimate) |
Xero Projects details are based on publicly available information and may change — check Xero Projects’s own site for their latest pricing and features.
What Xero Projects does better
An honest look at where Xero Projects is the stronger fit.
Full project profitability
Xero Projects gives you advanced project profitability — revenue, costs, invoices, and quotes all in one place. Clockie focuses on hours-based profitability, not full revenue/cost accounting.
Quoting & invoicing
Xero Projects includes quoting/estimates and advanced invoicing where tracked time auto-populates invoices. Clockie's invoicing integration is basic (export time data).
Native Xero Accounting
Because it lives inside Xero, Xero Projects has full native Xero Accounting integration. If you want everything in a single Xero platform, that is a genuine advantage.
Office-based, single-platform teams
If your team is office-based and you don't need kiosk mode or Xero Payroll automation, keeping everything in Xero can be simpler than running a second tool.
Choose Xero Projects if…
- Need advanced project profitability (revenue, costs, invoices, quotes)
- Don't care about Xero Payroll integration (manual payroll or a different system)
- Your team is office-based (no kiosk needed)
- You want everything in Xero (single platform)
Choose Clockie if…
- Use Xero Payroll and want timesheets to flow automatically
- Have field teams needing kiosk mode (construction, hospitality, trades)
- Want actual vs budgeted hours per job (real-time profitability)
- Need offline time tracking (remote job sites, no cell coverage)
- Want multi-payroll support (not locked into Xero)
Switching from Xero Projects in 3 steps
Done in 15 minutes. No data loss.
Start your Clockie trial
Set up Clockie in minutes — works standalone or alongside Xero Projects, so you can keep invoicing/profitability in Xero.
Connect Xero Payroll
Link Clockie to Xero Payroll so timesheets push directly into pay runs and leave balances sync automatically.
Set up the kiosk
Open Clockie on any iPad or tablet for field teams. Office staff clock in on their personal devices.
Need a hand? We’ll walk you through it.
Common questions
Can Clockie replace Xero Projects?
Not entirely. Clockie focuses on time tracking + payroll. Xero Projects includes quoting, invoicing, and full project profitability (revenue + costs). If you need those features, keep Xero Projects.
Can I use Clockie with Xero Projects?
Yes! Many businesses use both. Clockie handles time tracking + payroll automation. Xero Projects handles invoicing + project profitability. You can export Clockie time data to Xero Projects for project costing if needed.
Does Xero Projects push timesheets to Xero Payroll?
No. This is a common misconception. Xero Projects tracks project time but doesn't integrate with Xero Payroll. You still have to manually enter hours into Payroll (or export CSV and import). This is Clockie's key differentiator.
What about leave tracking?
Clockie syncs leave balances from Xero Payroll (see remaining leave in Clockie, request leave, auto-approve based on balances). Xero Projects doesn't have leave tracking or Payroll integration.
Do I need a Xero subscription to use Clockie?
No. Clockie works standalone or integrates with any Xero plan (Ignite, Grow, Comprehensive, or Ultimate). You can also export timesheets to 9 different NZ payroll systems (MYOB, Smartly, etc.).
What if I'm already using Xero Projects for invoicing?
Keep it! Add Clockie for time tracking + Xero Payroll automation. Export Clockie time data to Xero Projects for project costing. This is what many agencies do: Clockie for time/payroll, Xero Projects for invoicing/profitability.
Stop manually entering hours into Xero Payroll
Try Clockie free. One-click push to Xero Payroll. Save 2-3 hours per pay period. No credit card required, works with any Xero plan.
No credit card • Cancel anytime • NZ-based support