7 Best Employee Monitoring Software for Remote Teams

Building on our comprehensive guide to the top 5 employee monitoring solutions, this expanded review covers seven additional powerful options that deserve consideration. Whether you're looking for budget-friendly alternatives, enterprise-grade security, privacy-focused monitoring, or industry-specific solutions, these seven tools offer distinct advantages tailored to different organizational needs and priorities.

This guide includes detailed features, pricing, pros and cons, and implementation considerations for each solution, helping you find the perfect fit for your remote team management strategy.

1. SentryPC – Best for Comprehensive Monitoring & Content Filtering

SentryPC delivers a well-rounded approach to employee monitoring that combines real-time activity tracking, comprehensive reporting, and content filtering capabilities. Purpose-built for organizations seeking detailed visibility into employee activities combined with protective content controls, SentryPC bridges the gap between oversight and security management.

SentryPC Key Features

Monitoring & Tracking:

• Live desktop viewing with real-time screen monitoring

• Complete session recording for playback and audit trails

• Keystroke logging capturing all keyboard input

• Application and website usage tracking

• Chat and instant messaging monitoring

• Social media activity tracking

• Email and communication monitoring

• File and document access tracking

Content Filtering & Control:

• Website filtering and blocking functionality

• Application-level content filtering and restrictions

• Search term filtering and monitoring

• Time-based scheduling restrictions

• Portable drive (USB) monitoring and control

• Print job tracking and management

Reporting & Analysis:

• 40+ built-in report templates

• Custom report building capabilities

• Activity-based reporting with drill-down analysis

• User and device-level reporting

• Email alert scheduling and automation

• Export capabilities to multiple formats

SentryPC Pricing Structure

SentryPC Pros

• Exceptional Value Pricing – Starting at just $69.95/year per device

• All Features Included – No tiered feature limitations

• Comprehensive Reporting – 40+ built-in reports with custom options

• Content Filtering Strength – Superior URL/app blocking capabilities

• Reliability & Stability – Proven track record across thousands of deployments

SentryPC Cons

• Annual Billing Only – No month-to-month option available

• Keystroke Logging Standard – May raise privacy concerns

• Limited Advanced Analytics – Behavioral analytics lag behind enterprise solutions

• Email Monitoring Basic – Capabilities more basic than dedicated email security tools

Best For

• Small businesses (1-50 devices) seeking comprehensive monitoring

• Organizations prioritizing content filtering and internet usage control

• Enterprises with budget constraints seeking maximum features at minimum cost

• Schools and educational institutions requiring student/device monitoring

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2. Controlio – Best for SMBs Seeking Professional-Grade Features at Affordable Pricing

Controlio delivers professional-grade employee monitoring specifically optimized for small-to-medium businesses. Combining powerful monitoring capabilities with an intuitive interface, reasonable pricing, and flexible deployment options, Controlio successfully bridges the gap between affordable solutions and enterprise functionality.

Controlio Key Features

Real-Time Monitoring:

• Live screen monitoring for real-time activity viewing

• Full-time video screen recording

• Web and application usage tracking

• Session tracking and history

• Timeline view of employee activities

Behavioral Monitoring:

• Keystroke logging for complete activity capture

• File usage and access monitoring

• Email monitoring capabilities

• Printing activity monitoring and logging

• Behavior rules and custom alert configuration

Access Control:

• Website filtering and content blocking

• Application blocking capabilities

• USB device monitoring

• Device-level access controls

• Monitoring profiles for different user groups

Controlio Pricing Structure

Controlio Pros

• Affordable Professional Solution – $7.99/user/month for cloud deployment

• Flexible Deployment – Choice of cloud or on-premises solutions

• Easy Setup & Implementation – Quick deployment minimizes IT overhead

• Comprehensive Feature Set – Includes capabilities rivaling more expensive solutions

• Behavioral Monitoring – Strong focus on activity patterns and user behavior

Controlio Cons

• Limited Compliance Features – Advanced compliance features lag behind enterprise solutions

• Email Monitoring Basic – Functionality more limited than dedicated email security tools

• No Advanced DLP – Data loss prevention capabilities more basic than specialized solutions

• On-Premises Complexity – Setup and maintenance complexity increases significantly

Best For

• Small-to-medium businesses (10-100+ employees) seeking professional monitoring

• Companies prioritizing balanced features and affordability

• Organizations wanting flexible deployment (cloud or on-premises)

• Growing companies seeking scalable solutions

3. ActivTrak – Best for Workforce Analytics & Privacy-Focused Organizations

ActivTrak represents a fundamentally different approach to employee monitoring, prioritizing workforce analytics over invasive surveillance. Rather than keystroke logging and extensive recording, ActivTrak focuses on understanding productive vs. unproductive behavior through ethical, privacy-respecting monitoring.

ActivTrak Key Features

Activity & Productivity Analytics:

• Real-time activity level detection (active vs. passive)

• Mouse and keyboard activity monitoring (not keystroke logging)

• Application and website usage tracking

• Productivity scoring and categorization

• Custom designation of productive vs. unproductive activities

Workforce Analytics & Insights:

• Personal Insights: Individual employee coaching for productivity

• Workforce Capacity: Headcount planning and resource allocation analytics

• Location Insights: Metrics linking office locations with productivity

• AI Usage Insights: Tracking which AI tools employees use

• Productivity Coaching: Goal tracking and employee development features

Time & Attendance Tracking:

• Meeting insights integrated with calendar systems

• Offline work time accounting via calendar integration

• Break and idle time tracking

• Work pattern analysis identifying anomalies

ActivTrak Pricing Structure

ActivTrak Pros

• Privacy-First Philosophy – No invasive monitoring or continuous recording

• Ethical Monitoring Approach – Focus on behavior understanding rather than surveillance

• Exceptional Workforce Analytics – Advanced analytics for business optimization

• Business.com Recognition – Named “Best Pick for Workforce Analytics” (9.2/10 rating)

• Personal Insights Feature – Employees receive coaching on productivity and work-life balance

ActivTrak Cons

• No Keystroke Logging – Some organizations seeking keystroke data won't find it

• No Video Recording – Missing full-session video recording available in other solutions

• No Email Monitoring – Doesn't monitor email content, limiting some security use cases

• Premium Pricing for Advanced Features – Essential plan lacks many analytics capabilities

Best For

• Organizations prioritizing employee trust alongside productivity tracking

• Companies seeking privacy-respecting monitoring without invasive practices

• Enterprises needing workforce analytics for planning and optimization

• Industries focused on work-life balance and burnout prevention

4. Workpuls (Insightful) – Best for Balanced Monitoring & Simplicity

Workpuls, recently rebranded as Insightful, offers a balanced approach to employee monitoring emphasizing simplicity, transparency, and straightforward functionality. Positioned between budget solutions and enterprise platforms, Insightful provides essential monitoring capabilities without overwhelming complexity.

Workpuls Key Features

Core Monitoring Capabilities:

• Real-time activity tracking with active/passive status

• Screenshot capture at customizable intervals

• Application and website usage tracking

• Automated time and attendance tracking

• User activity logs with detailed history

• Idle time detection and measurement

Time & Project Management:

• Time tracking tied to activities and projects

• Project creation and task assignment

• Time allocation analysis by project

• Manual time entry options

• Timesheet generation and management

• Activity-based payroll calculation

Analytics & Reporting:

• Productivity analysis and scoring

• Activity categorization breakdown

• Timesheet and attendance reports

• Custom report generation

• Real-time dashboards

Workpuls Pricing Structure

Workpuls Pros

• Transparent Approach – Emphasis on employee visibility and transparency

• Balanced Feature Set – Comprehensive core features without overwhelming complexity

• Reasonable Pricing – Mid-range pricing reflects balanced positioning

• Excellent Employee Experience – Personal insights and visibility into own data

• Project Management Integration – Automatic project categorization and time tracking

Workpuls Cons

• No Video Recording – Full-session recording unavailable even at premium tiers

• No Keystroke Logging – Some organizations seeking keystroke data won't find it

• No Email Monitoring – Doesn't monitor email communications

• Limited Advanced Security – Lacks sophisticated insider threat detection

Best For

• Project-based professional services firms (consulting, agencies, design)

• Time-tracking focused organizations prioritizing project allocation

• Companies seeking employee-transparent monitoring

• Freelance-heavy teams requiring flexible time categorization

5. StaffCop Enterprise – Best for Advanced Insider Threat Detection & Enterprise Security

StaffCop Enterprise delivers sophisticated insider threat detection and comprehensive user monitoring specifically engineered for large enterprises. With perpetual licensing, advanced behavioral analytics, and deep data mining capabilities, StaffCop serves organizations handling sensitive data and facing significant insider threat risks.

StaffCop Key Features

Advanced User Monitoring:

• Keystroke logging for complete activity capture

• Screenshot capturing and video recording

• Application usage and categorization

• Website and URL monitoring

• User behavior analytics

• Mouse movement tracking

Communication Monitoring:

• Email monitoring and content analysis

• Instant messaging across platforms

• Chat and messaging service tracking

• Social media activity monitoring

• Unified communication tracking

Advanced Threat Detection:

• User Behavior Analytics (UBA): Pattern analysis identifying anomalies

• Insider Threat Detection: Sophisticated algorithms for threat identification

• Anomaly Detection: Real-time identification of unusual behavior

• Threat Scoring: Risk assessment and prioritization

• Content-Based Detection: OCR and content analysis

StaffCop Pricing Structure

StaffCop Pros

• Editors' Choice Award – PCMag recognition as Editors' Choice validates enterprise-class quality

• Insider Threat Excellence – Sophisticated threat detection algorithms and behavioral analytics

• Perpetual Licensing – One-time purchase eliminates recurring subscription costs

• Complete Feature Set – Comprehensive monitoring covering every digital activity category

• Enterprise Deployment – Scales to support very large organizations (up to 25,000 employees)

StaffCop Cons

• High Entry Cost – $490+ minimum deployment plus required infrastructure

• Complex Implementation – Extensive setup process requires significant IT resources

• Steep Learning Curve – Advanced features require training and expertise

• On-Premises Complexity – Dominant deployment requiring IT infrastructure

• Invasive Monitoring – Comprehensive monitoring raises privacy concerns

Best For

• Large enterprises (500+ employees) handling sensitive data

• Industries with significant compliance requirements (finance, healthcare, government)

• Organizations with dedicated IT/security teams managing complex infrastructure

• Enterprises facing insider threat risks requiring advanced detection

6. Workpuls (Alternative Plan Tiers) – Best for Small Teams Seeking Affordable Core Features

For organizations seeking to maintain comprehensive monitoring at the lowest possible cost, Workpuls' Employee Monitoring plan at $4.80/user/month represents exceptional value among professional solutions. This entry-level tier provides core functionality without the project management and advanced automation of higher tiers.

Workpuls Key Features

Basic Monitoring Capabilities:

• Real-time activity monitoring

• Screenshots (multiple per monitoring cycle)

• App and website usage tracking

• Time and attendance tracking

• Email reporting of activity summaries

• Productivity tracking and analysis

• Idle time detection

Management & Reporting:

• Manager login for team oversight

• Employee login to access own data

• Activity categorization

• Time keeping and reporting

• Basic analytics and dashboards

Workpuls Pricing Structure

Workpuls Pros

• Lowest Professional Pricing – $4.80/user/month among most affordable solutions

• Comprehensive for Budget – Includes essential monitoring despite low pricing

• Optional Stealth Mode – Choice of visible or hidden monitoring

• Email Support Standard – Support included at entry-level tier

• Scalable Growth Path – Ability to upgrade to higher-tier plans as needs evolve

Workpuls Cons

• No Project Management – Higher tiers add project tracking; entry level lacks this

• No Automatic Time Mapping – Advanced categorization requires higher tier

• No API in Base Plan – API access may require upgrade

• Limited Automation – More manual configuration and less automatic categorization

• Basic Reporting – Email-based reports less sophisticated than advanced analytics

Best For

• Startups and early-stage companies with tight budgets

• Small teams (5-20 people) requiring basic monitoring

• Organizations seeking cost-effectiveness over feature richness

• Budget-conscious departments within larger organizations

• Proof-of-concept deployments testing monitoring adoption

7. wAnywhere – Best for AI-Powered Productivity & Compliance Monitoring

wAnywhere represents a modern approach to employee monitoring emphasizing AI-driven insights, compliance automation, and multi-device support. Named as a leading solution in its category, wAnywhere combines sophisticated AI technology with comprehensive productivity monitoring and compliance features.

wAnywhere Key Features

AI-Powered Productivity Monitoring:

• Real-time activity monitoring with AI categorization

• AI-based productivity analysis and scoring

• Intelligent app and website categorization

• Behavior pattern recognition

• Automated productivity insights

• Machine learning-driven anomaly detection

Comprehensive Activity Tracking:

• Application and website usage monitoring

• Time tracking (login hours, break time, idle time)

• Remote work time tracking

• Keystroke recording for detailed activity

• Screen activity monitoring

• Location tracking for field teams

Compliance & Security Features:

• AI detection for compliance violations

• Automated compliance reporting

• Policy enforcement and automated alerts

• Risk detection and alerting

• Compliance rule creation

wAnywhere Pricing Structure

wAnywhere Pros

• AI-Powered Insights – Machine learning-driven analytics provide sophisticated analysis

• Modern Feature Set – Includes contemporary capabilities and team collaboration tools

• Multi-Platform Excellence – Supports Windows, Mac, Linux, and Chromebook

• Compliance Automation – AI-driven compliance detection and automated violation alerts

• Flexible Deployment – Cloud, on-premise, or remote options available

wAnywhere Cons

• Higher Pricing at Premium Tiers – Pro plan at $10/user/month reaches premium levels

• AI Complexity – Advanced AI features require user education to maximize value

• Feature-Heavy Interface – Comprehensive capabilities can overwhelm users

• Learning Curve – Advanced features require training investment

• Premium Support Requires Higher Tier – Priority support only on Pro plan and above

Best For

• Organizations prioritizing AI-driven insights over manual monitoring

• Compliance-focused businesses requiring automated compliance detection

• Companies with diverse device environments (Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook)

• Growing organizations seeking scalable modern solutions

• Tech-savvy enterprises comfortable with AI and machine learning

Comprehensive Comparison Table – All 7 Solutions

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How to Choose the Right Employee Monitoring Software for Your Remote Team

Choose Based on Your Primary Need:

Budget Constraints:

• Workpuls Employee Monitoring – $4.80/user/month for basic features

• SentryPC – $69.95/year per device for comprehensive monitoring

SMB Professional Features:

• Controlio – $7.99/user/month for balanced professional features

• wAnywhere – $6-10/user/month for modern AI-powered monitoring

Privacy & Analytics Focus:

• ActivTrak – $6-10/user/month for workforce analytics without invasive monitoring

• Insightful – $6.40-12/user/month for transparent, project-focused monitoring

Enterprise Security:

• StaffCop Enterprise – $98+/user/year for advanced insider threat detection

• Requires minimum 5 users and dedicated IT resources

Faqs

What is employee monitoring software?

Software that tracks employee computer activity for productivity, security, and management of remote teams.

Is employee monitoring legal?

Yes, in most regions on company-owned devices, but you must inform employees and create a clear policy. Always consult legal counsel.

Will it damage employee trust?

It can if done secretly. Be transparent about why you're using it (security, productivity insights) to maintain trust.

What's the difference from surveillance?

Monitoring analyzes work patterns for insights. Surveillance watches individual actions in real-time to control behavior.

Can it improve productivity?

Yes. It identifies time drains, inefficient processes, and training needs, helping optimize workflows and support employees.

What key features should I look for?

Choose based on needs: time tracking for productivity, keystroke logging for security, and simple dashboards for ease of use.

Does it work on Mac and mobile?

Most support Windows and Mac well. Mobile (iOS/Android) support is more limited. Always check vendor specifications.

Can employees disable the software?

Reputable software is tamper-resistant, especially in “stealth mode.” Use on company devices with clear anti-tampering policies.

How is my data stored and secured?

Ask vendors about encryption, data storage (cloud/on-premise), access controls, and compliance certifications (SOC 2, GDPR).

How long does implementation take?

Cloud solutions take minutes to hours. On-premise enterprise software can take weeks for full setup and configuration.

Do I need to tell my employees?

Yes. It's a best practice and often legally required. Create a transparent monitoring policy and get employee acknowledgment.

How can I avoid micromanaging?

Focus on team trends, not individual screens. Use data for supportive conversations and process improvement, not punishment.

Can I use it for payroll?

Yes, many tools like Insightful and wAnywhere have time tracking and timesheet features that integrate with payroll systems.

What's best for a small team on a budget?

Workpuls Employee Monitoring at $4.80/user/month or SentryPC for low annual per-device pricing with robust features.

What's best for a privacy-focused culture?

ActivTrak. It provides productivity analytics without invasive keystroke logging or constant screen recording.

What's best for high-security needs?

StaffCop Enterprise offers advanced insider threat detection and is ideal for large enterprises handling sensitive data.

Can I try before I buy?

Most vendors offer free trials: Controlio (14 days), ActivTrak, SentryPC, Workpuls (7 days), and wAnywhere (14 days).

What about employee privacy?

Choose tools with privacy-friendly features, be transparent in your policy, and only collect data necessary for business purposes.

Is keystroke logging necessary?

Only for high-security investigations. For general productivity, activity-level monitoring (apps/websites used) is sufficient and less invasive.

Can I pause a subscription?

Most providers like SentryPC and Controlio allow you to pause or cancel your subscription at any time.

Conclusion

These seven additional employee monitoring solutions complement existing options, offering specialized capabilities for different organizational needs. From SentryPC's exceptional value pricing to StaffCop's enterprise-grade security, from ActivTrak's privacy-first analytics to Workpuls' budget-friendly entry point—each solution serves specific use cases and organizational requirements.

Select based on your organization's priorities, budget, team size, and culture. Implement thoughtfully, communicate transparently, and remember that the best monitoring solution balances oversight with trust, accountability with autonomy, and security with respect for employee privacy.

Ready to implement employee monitoring for your remote team? Explore detailed reviews and start your free trial with any of these solutions today.