OneTimeSuite Blog · 2026

5 Free & Open-Source Alternatives to QuickBooks Time

Looking for a free or open-source alternative to QuickBooks Time? Punchcard is the closest direct swap — MIT-licensed source on GitHub, or a $29 one-time packaged install. Since you're already auditing what you pay QuickBooks Time every month, here are four more pay-once tools from the same catalog worth a look while you're at it — different jobs, same idea: buy the software once instead of renting it forever.

1. Punchcard — replaces QuickBooks Time

Self-hosted punch clock, PIN kiosk, approval queue and payroll CSV — no per-user fees. $29 once vs QuickBooks Time's $10/user/mo. Free on GitHub, or the packaged installer on Whop.

See Punchcard → · Source on GitHub

2. Quizcraft — Self-hosted quiz builder with branching, server-side scoring, email-gate lead capture and CSV export.

Replaces Typeform ($25+/mo). $29 once. See Quizcraft →

3. Forumly — Self-hosted forum with categories, threads, reactions, badges, @mentions, search and real moderator tools.

Replaces Circle ($89+/mo). $39 once. See Forumly →

4. Roster — Self-hosted searchable directory with custom fields, chapters, CSV round-trips, renewal tracking and magic-link editing.

Replaces Glue Up (~$125+/mo). $19 once. See Roster →

5. Eventcraft — Self-hosted ticketing with tiers, QR tickets, webcam door check-in and auto-promoting waitlists; money runs through your own Stripe link.

Replaces Eventbrite (2.7% + $0.79/ticket). $39 once. See Eventcraft →

Why this list is worth bookmarking

Every app above is a one-time purchase with MIT-licensed source, no accounts with us and no telemetry. None of them are trying to be the next QuickBooks Time — they're trying to be the last subscription you pay for that specific job.

Try Punchcard — $29, once

Self-hosted punch clock, PIN kiosk, approval queue and payroll CSV — no per-user fees.