Employee monitoring has become necessary with the rise of remote work and hybrid workplace culture. While working from home is often seen as a benefit for employees, it presents unique challenges for employers in maintaining productivity.
A highly effective tool for addressing these challenges is employee screen recorder software. By offering detailed insights into employee activities, these tools help organizations streamline workflows, reduce distractions, and protect against cyber threats.
This growing necessity is reflected in the fact that 78% of employers now engage in remote work surveillance, with more businesses adopting such practices daily.
For companies considering employee monitoring solutions, here are the five tools to use in 2025.
1. TimeBee
TimeBee is a robust employee monitoring solution that promotes productivity and accountability. The app focuses on providing a one-stop solution to all needs of employers by offering features like productivity reports, attendance reports, profitability reports, screenshots, client portals, etc. With TimeBee, employers can create seamless workflows across remote and in-house teams without compromising employee trust.
TimeBee Employee Screen Recorder Feature
TimeBee’s screen recorder captures periodic screenshots of live activity from employee devices, with intervals customizable from 2 to 30 minutes. Employees also have the option to disable screenshot capture directly through the settings for greater flexibility.
Each screenshot is timestamped, and users can easily filter and view screenshots from specific timeframes or focus on individual employees or teams. This feature is handy for monitoring task progress, ensuring compliance on sensitive projects, verifying whether employees are genuinely productive or misusing work hours, promoting accountability, and maximizing efficiency.
TimeBees Other Highlighted Features
1. Productivity Reports
TimeBee provides detailed weekly, monthly, and quarterly productivity reports that analyze employee activities, highlighting productive and non-productive hours.
2. Client Billing
TimeBee lets you easily track billable hours for specific projects and generate accurate invoices for client-based businesses.
3. Attendance Reports
TimeBee’s automated attendance tracking allows you to log work hours, breaks, overtime, early leave, and late arrivals, simplifying compliance processes.
4. Time Tracking
Monitor time spent on tasks and projects with precision, enabling better time management and resource allocation across teams.
TimeBee Pros and Cons
Pros
- TimeBee has an intuitive interface that allows easy navigation. You can easily tailor the settings as per your requirements.
- All TimeBee features are highly customizable. You can get the required reports as per your preferences.
- TimeBee tracks data in real time. It collects time and data the minute it logs in and generates reports for immediate insights.
- TimeBee can be integrated seamlessly with popular project management tools.
Cons
- Sometimes, limited internet signals can affect the monitoring capabilities.
2. Zodot
Zodot simplifies time management with innovative tools tailored for freelancers and businesses. Whether you prefer automated task tracking or manual entry, Zodot’s intuitive platform adapts to your workflow seamlessly.
Zodot’s Other Highlighted Features
1. Streamlined Time Logging
Say goodbye to complex spreadsheets. Effortlessly log and monitor work hours with Zodot’s workflow automation.
2. Real-Time Project Control
Track milestones and progress in real-time, making informed decisions for better task management.
3. Project-Specific Insights
Organize and analyze time data by projects to evaluate productivity and identify improvement areas.
4. Why Choose Zodot?
Boost efficiency, stay in control of deadlines, and focus on what matters most—your work.
Zodot Pros and Cons
Pros
- Ease of Use: The intuitive interface simplifies time tracking for freelancers and teams.
- Customizable Tracking: Offers both automated and manual options to suit different workflows.
- Real-Time Insights: Allows for milestone tracking and project management in real-time.
- Productivity Optimization: Project-specific analysis highlights areas of improvement.
Cons
- Learning Curve: Advanced features may require initial setup and familiarization.
- Feature Scope: Limited integrations with niche third-party tools for specialized workflows.
3. Teramind
Teramind is an employee monitoring solution focusing on security features and comprehensive analytics. The app can be used for businesses of all sizes, and it provides tools for tracking employee activities, analyzing productivity, and protecting sensitive data. With Teramind, you can identify potential risks, ensure compliance, and foster accountability across all teams.
Teramind Employee Screenshot Feature
Teramind’s screen recorder offers live and recorded playback of employee activities, allowing managers to review work sessions in detail. Screenshots and video recordings are captured automatically and stored securely with timestamps. It offers customizable recording settings to monitor specific employees, teams, or timeframes.
You can select the employee or the computer from the first screen that appears when you choose the screen recording option. Overall, the feature shows all the required information for ultimate security.
Teramind’s Other Highlighted Features
1. Real-Time Activity Monitoring
Teramind tracks employee activities across apps, websites, and devices in real-time, providing an accurate overview of workflows.
2. Behavioral Analytics
Teramind offers AI-powered tools to analyze employee behaviour patterns, helping detect anomalies or potential insider threats.
3. Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
Teramind’s DLP tools protect sensitive data by monitoring file transfers, email communications, and USB device usage to prevent unauthorized access or leaks.
4. Automated Alerts and Blocking
The app allows you to set custom rules to receive alerts or block unproductive or prohibited activities to maintain compliance.
Teramind Pros and Cons
Pros
- Teramind offers advanced security features based on AI, including data loss prevention.
- The app offers highly customizable dashboards and reports.
- You can view real-time activities that offer comprehensive insights, allowing you to make informed decisions.
- Teramind is fit for organizations of all sizes.
Cons
- The app has a steeper learning curve for new users.
- The user interface is basic and crowded, making navigation difficult for all employees.
- Pricing is on the higher side compared to more straightforward tools.
4. ActivTrak
ActivTrak is a cloud-based employee monitoring and productivity management tool that assists in optimizing team performance while maintaining employee trust. The app highly focuses on a non-invasive approach – it doesn’t log keystrokes, monitor emails, and record videos. However, it does take screenshots of employee screens.
ActivTrak provides actionable insights into productivity trends, a user-friendly interface, and customizable dashboards.
ActivTrak Employee Screen Monitoring Feature
ActivTrak does not focus on intrusive screen recording but instead uses activity tracking and screenshot capture to monitor workflows. Screenshots are usually added and triggered based on specific events or predefined criteria.
It allows you to customize screenshot settings to track team behaviour, assess task progress, or audit security compliance. The screenshots in ActivTrak focus on task-related events rather than continuous recording, maintaining a balance between oversight and privacy.
ActivTrak’s Highlighted Features
1. Productivity Analysis
ActivTrak categorizes employee activities into productive and non-productive, offering visual insights through detailed graphs and reports for better time management.
2. User Behavior Insights
ActivTrak focuses on behavioural insights by analyzing how employees interact with tools and tasks to identify process inefficiencies.
3. Team Comparisons
The app benchmarks productivity across teams or departments to identify top performers. This comparative analysis lets you understand your team’s current performance and what your team’s top quartile can usually achieve.
4. AI-Powered Coach
ActivTrak’s AI productivity coach evaluates your team’s data and delivers tailored recommendations to optimize workload balance.
ActivTrak Pros and Cons
Pros
- As ActivTrak follows a non-intrusive approach, it can be a hit among the employees.
- The reports and behavioural analysis provide deep insights into productivity patterns.
- ActivTrak can easily be integrated with other business tools and software.
- The app can be good for small and medium-scale businesses.
Cons
- Due to limitations on screen recording options and email monitoring, the app lacks security monitoring compared to competitors.
- It requires an internet connection for optimal functionality.
5. Veriato
Veriato is an advanced employee monitoring and threat detection platform that uses AI to provide detailed insights into user activities. With its emphasis on compliance and insider threat detection, Veriato is particularly valuable for industries handling sensitive data. The platform offers comprehensive activity tracking with AI-driven productivity analytics and runs investigations, ensuring compliance with rules.
Veriato Employee Screen Recorder Feature
Veriato’s screen recorder captures continuous or event-triggered recordings of user activity, providing a clear picture of workflows, communications, and compliance adherence. It offers three screenshot options: continuous, keyword-triggered, and activity-triggered.
You can configure the recording settings to focus on specific tasks, timeframes, or users, ensuring only relevant data is collected. Each recording includes timestamps and metadata, making reviewing activities and investigating incidents easy and guaranteeing internal security.
Veriato’s Highlighted Features
1. Keystroke Logging
Veriato monitors all user input to gain detailed insights into activities and ensure no unauthorized actions occur during work hours.
2. Email and Chat Monitoring
The app tracks employee communications across email and chat platforms to maintain professionalism and detect potential security risks.
3. Insider Threat Detection
Veriato AI-powered behavioural analytics detect unusual patterns that may signal insider threats or data breaches.
4. Advanced Reporting Tools
It generates in-depth reports for performance analysis, compliance audits, and incident investigations, with customizable templates to meet specific needs.
Veriato Pros and Cons
Pros
- Variato focuses on providing comprehensive activity tracking. It offers insights into all employee-related tasks for complete security and data protection.
- The app uses AI-driven technology for proactive threat detection.
- The reports are detailed and include all aspects of compliance.
- Businesses can use Veriato to handle sensitive data with remote teams.
Cons
- Sometimes, the app feels too intrusive, which may raise concerns about employee privacy.
- Higher cost compared to more straightforward productivity-focused tools.
6. TimeDoctor
Time Doctor is one of the old time-tracking and employee-monitoring tools that heavily focuses on improving productivity and accountability. The app is straightforward as it provides basic features like time tracking and productivity reports.
The features help you to manage remote teams, track work hours, and enhance efficiency. With Time Doctor, you can ensure accurate billing, streamline workflows, and foster better time management.
Time Doctor Employee Screen Monitoring Feature
Time Doctor’s screen recording feature captures screenshots at preset intervals, giving you insights into employee activities during work hours. Screenshots include timestamps and can be reviewed by task or project, providing evidence of work progress.
Employees can also enable or disable the feature for specific tasks to maintain privacy. The app also allows you to blur the screenshot. You can use the filters to view screenshots of an employee or the team. The time doctor’s screenshot feature offers flexibility for the employees while maintaining accountability.
Time Doctor’s Highlighted Features
1. Time Tracking
Time Doctor lets you precisely track time spent on tasks and projects, ensuring accurate billing and optimized resource allocation.
2. Website and App Usage Monitoring
The app thoroughly monitors employees’ websites and applications during work hours, helping identify productivity trends and distractions.
3. Distraction Alerts
Time Doctor sends real-time alerts to employees when they visit non-work-related websites to maintain focus.
4. Offline Time Tracking
The app captures time spent on tasks even when there is no internet connection, ensuring no missed hours during reporting.
Time Doctor Pros and Cons
Pros
- Time Doctor follows a simple and easy-to-follow approach and has a user-friendly interface.
- The main focus of the app is on productivity and time management.
- Time Doctor is fit for small and medium-scale businesses and can be used by freelancers to manage multiple clients.
- You can integrate Time Doctor well with payroll and other project management tools.
Cons
- Time Doctor’s approach is rather basic and doesn’t offer advanced features for monitoring.
- There is less emphasis on comprehensive monitoring and security features than competitors.
How to Address Employee Concerns About Monitoring?
While an employee screen recorder offers numerous benefits, employees often express concerns about privacy and micromanagement. Data show that 56% of employees being monitored feel tense or stressed out at work. Common apprehensions include feeling overly scrutinized, lacking trust, and potentially misusing collected data.
Here are a few measurements to apply to mitigate these concerns.
- Be Transparent: Communicate why monitoring is implemented and how data will be used.
- Set Boundaries: Focus on work-related activities and avoid invasive measures like personal data tracking.
- Gather Feedback: Involve employees in selecting tools and refining policies.
- Ensure Data Security: Protect employee data with robust encryption and access controls.
Conclusion
The primary goal of employee monitoring is to foster a fair and balanced workplace for employees and managers. While screen monitoring software is often perceived as micromanagement or an invasion of privacy, its true purpose is to enable businesses to create productive, secure, and efficient work environments.
To maximize effectiveness, it’s crucial to communicate intentions clearly and establish boundaries regarding what is being monitored and why. Transparency fosters trust and helps employees understand the purpose of monitoring, creating a mutual understanding that aligns with operational goals.
The key is to assess your organization’s needs and choose a monitoring tool that best fits those requirements. Whether you’re a startup, SME, or large enterprise, the right monitoring solution can revolutionize your workplace and drive meaningful results.
