Hour Timesheet vs Unanet: DCAA Compliance for Every Size Contractor
Both deliver DCAA compliance. One is simple and affordable. The other is a comprehensive ERP. Here's how to choose.
Quick Verdict
Choose Hour Timesheet if:
- You're a small to mid-size contractor (up to 250-350 employees)
- You need DCAA-compliant time tracking only
- You already have separate accounting software
- Quick implementation and low cost are priorities
Choose Unanet if:
- You're a mid-size contractor ($10M+ revenue)
- You need an all-in-one ERP solution
- Complex project management is critical
- You're planning to scale to 500+ employees
Bottom Line:
For small teams: Hour Timesheet delivers DCAA compliance at affordable pricing with minimal complexity. For growing contractors: Unanet's all-in-one platform scales with you from time tracking to full financial management.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Hour Timesheet | Unanet |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing (per user/month) | $8-14 (+ $40 base with payroll) | Custom (not public) |
| DCAA compliant | ||
| Implementation time | 1-3 days | 2-6 months |
| Time & expense tracking | ||
| Project management | Basic tracking | Advanced PM tools |
| Financial management | ||
| Resource planning | ||
| Business intelligence/reporting | Standard reports | Advanced analytics |
| CRM integration | ||
| Learning curve | Minimal (hours) | Moderate (days-weeks) |
| Best for | Small teams | Mid-large contractors |
The Core Difference: Focused vs. All-in-One
Hour Timesheet: Best-in-Class Time Tracking
Do one thing extremely well: DCAA-compliant time and expense tracking. No project management, no financials, no CRM. Just simple, affordable, bulletproof timekeeping.
Perfect for:
- • Small to mid-size contractors (10-350 employees)
- • Teams with existing accounting software
- • Businesses that need DCAA compliance fast
- • Budget-conscious contractors
Unanet: All-in-One ERP Platform
Complete business management: Time tracking, project management, financials, resource planning, CRM, and business intelligence in one integrated platform.
Perfect for:
- • Large contractors (200-500 employees)
- • Companies managing complex projects
- • Businesses consolidating multiple tools
- • Growing contractors planning to scale
The "Do You Need an ERP?" Test
If you answer YES, consider Unanet:
- ✓ Do you need integrated project management?
- ✓ Are you consolidating 5+ business tools?
- ✓ Do you have 350+ employees or plan to scale to 500+?
- ✓ Is advanced resource planning critical?
If you answer NO, choose Hour Timesheet:
- ✓ You just need DCAA-compliant timekeeping
- ✓ You're happy with your current accounting software
- ✓ You have up to 350 employees
- ✓ Simple is better than comprehensive
Pricing & ROI: Different Value Propositions
Hour Timesheet
$8-14/user/month
Transparent, all-inclusive pricing (+ $40 base with payroll). No hidden fees, no implementation costs.
30-person team cost:
$2,880-3,600/year
Unanet
Custom Pricing
Per-seat subscription (not publicly available). Includes implementation services, training, and support.
30-person team estimate:
$20,000-40,000+/year
ROI Calculation:
Hour Timesheet: You're paying for time tracking only. ROI comes from DCAA compliance and audit readiness.
Unanet: You're paying for an all-in-one platform. ROI comes from consolidating multiple tools and gaining business intelligence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hour Timesheet as DCAA compliant as Unanet?
Yes. Both meet all DCAA timekeeping requirements. Hour Timesheet focuses exclusively on compliant time tracking. Unanet adds project management, financials, and CRM around that same DCAA-compliant core.
When should I choose Unanet over Hour Timesheet?
If you're a large contractor (350-500+ employees) who needs integrated project management, financial systems, and resource planning in one platform. If you're consolidating 4-5 separate business tools and managing complex multi-division operations, Unanet's all-in-one approach saves money and eliminates data silos.
Can I start with Hour Timesheet and migrate to Unanet later?
Yes. Hour Timesheet scales effectively up to 350+ employees. Many of our customers have 250-350 employees and use Hour Timesheet successfully. Some contractors do migrate to Unanet as they scale beyond 350-500 employees and need full ERP capabilities. Your compliance history and time data can be exported and migrated if needed.
Does Hour Timesheet integrate with other business tools?
Hour Timesheet focuses on time tracking with standard exports (CSV, Excel). If you need deep integrations with project management, CRM, and financial systems, Unanet's all-in-one platform is better suited.
How long does each tool take to implement?
Hour Timesheet: 1-3 days, self-service setup. Unanet: 2-6 months with implementation services. The difference reflects complexity—Hour Timesheet is focused time tracking, while Unanet is a comprehensive business platform.
The Bottom Line
For small contractors: Hour Timesheet delivers DCAA compliance without complexity or enterprise pricing. Be compliant tomorrow for $8-14/user/month (+ $40 base with payroll).
For growing contractors: Unanet's all-in-one platform scales with you from time tracking to full business management. Worth the investment when you're consolidating multiple systems.
Choose based on where you are today, not where you might be in 5 years. You can always upgrade later—but you can't get back the money you overspend now.
No credit card required. Perfect for small contractors.