SentryPC Review and Pricing

Why We Chose SentryPC for Affordability

We like that SentryPC offers multiple low-cost monitoring plans for businesses of every size. Because the packages are tiered based on licenses and screenshots, even the lowest-level plans have access to all of the platform’s monitoring features. This is somewhat unique; most competitors restrict the features of their lower-cost plans and require you to spend more money to access advanced tools. Even though SentryPC is low-cost, it still has many of the employee monitoring features employers need. Another cost-effective perk is that SentryPC allows users to add more screenshots to their account without buying more licenses. 

Ease of Use

Like most employee monitoring software, SentryPC is cloud-based, so it can be accessed anytime from any place. When testing the software, we liked the intuitive user interface that is easy to navigate from various devices. It displays all employee activity in one central location, and its simple search tools prevent a flood of unstructured data. This functionality is ideal for on-the-go managers who need to view employee activity and behavior from various locations. SentryPC is subscription-based, so users get automatic software updates as they roll out, which is convenient.

Features

SentryPC has all of the features business owners need to monitor employee workflow and productivity.

Time Tracking and User Activity

Managers can use SentryPC to track employee hours. When testing the software, we liked that employers can select which hours employees are allowed to work each day and set employee usage limits for each day or week. These tools, which aren’t offered by all vendors, help ensure employees don’t work overtime. Tracking employee time is important for recordkeeping, but it can also play a key role in ensuring employees have a healthy work-life balance. Employees who work odd hours or excessive overtime can be susceptible to workplace burnout. [Here are 10 ways to prevent employee burnout.]

SentryPC lets you set employee usage limits for each day and week.

In addition, you can use the software to track employee activity. Administrators can see a breakdown of when employees are active and inactive on their devices, making it clear which staffers are engaged and productive during their work hours. [Want more tips for boosting employees’ output? Read our small business productivity guide.]

Website and Application Monitoring

Business owners can use the platform to see which websites, applications and programs their employees are spending their time on. SentryPC records how long the apps and websites were open, the amount of time a user engaged with them, and the date and time they were accessed. You can see any text a user copies to the clipboard, along with a timestamp of when the action occurred. We think it’s cool that SentryPC can track each device’s IP address, and the company has a geofencing feature that lets you use the device’s location services to track users. These capabilities can be helpful for monitoring remote employees.

Employers using Windows can access additional monitoring features, like timestamps for when a portable drive is inserted into a monitored device. Portable-drive detection is a critical feature for protecting sensitive or proprietary company information that shouldn’t be shared. Windows users can also see time file activity logging and timestamps for when files are printed. You can view files – including downloads, uploads, newly created files, opened files and edited files – stored on monitored devices. These features are comparable with those of other employee monitoring services.

Screenshots and Keystroke Logging

SentryPC’s employee monitoring solution records employee activity in real time with screenshots and keystroke logging. The software takes screenshots of user activity at random intervals during a defined work time. Each screenshot includes the date and time and is searchable by user or device. The platform tracks everything users do on their keyboards and identifies the date, time and location where they typed.

Not all competitors offer keystroke logging, but it can be useful for protecting your business and ensuring employee productivity. However, employers and managers should be careful not to accidentally view sensitive employee information, like bank accounts or medical records. To safely take advantage of these features, it is always good to talk with your employees about appropriate and inappropriate device usage. Learn more about privacy issues related to employee monitoring so you can keep your company protected without crossing boundaries.

SentryPC can track users’ keystrokes.

Content Filtering and Blocking

Admins can filter and block websites, applications and games, or determine when employees can use these programs. When testing out SentryPC, we liked that employers can block content altogether or choose specific hours when certain content is permitted or blocked for each user. For example, you may want to prohibit access to social media applications and video streaming services during the workday but allow access during lunch and after-hours.

You can also filter websites by broad categories and specific URLs and set up activity alerts by keywords or phrases. If a user attempts to access a blocked activity or violates policies outlined in the administrative settings (also known as an insider attack), the software flags the action, logs it and alerts admins by email. Alert logs can be downloaded, viewed and sorted by user, device, type, activity or timestamp.

Reports and Notifications

We like that each activity log stored in your cloud account can be downloaded for offline use. SentryPC’s offline capabilities give admins more flexibility in where and how they can use the data. You can view in-depth usage reports detailing what activities are occurring the most, as well as see visual charts and screenshots. SentryPC offers reports for various monitoring events, like user activities, alerts, application usage, clipboards, events, accessed files, keystrokes, geographic locations, online searches, portable drive usage, print jobs, screenshots, sessions and website usage. We especially love that the platform has a wide variety of reports, which give employers and managers a clear view of how the company and individual employees are performing and what changes can be made to improve performance.

SentryPC offers a wide range of reports. Source: SentryPC

Pricing

SentryPC uses a per-device licensing system that is billed annually. Although this pricing structure is on a par with most competitors’, some vendors offer monthly pricing as well. Each device you need to monitor requires a license for installing a SentryPC agent, and each license provides access to the full functionality of the software for that specific device.

We appreciate that each SentryPC plan comes with access to all of the software’s features and tools. Some rivals, in contrast, offer plans with tiered features. With SentryPC, higher tiers just offer more licenses and screenshot storage, not different functions. Here’s an overview of each plan.

If you need more screenshot storage, you can purchase screenshots in increments of 500 for a one-time fee of $19.95. The additional storage is valid for the duration of your subscription, making long-term subscriptions an even better value.

Implementation and Onboarding

SentryPC is designed to be a stealth monitoring solution, so it can be installed on user devices via multiple stealth installations without the user’s knowledge. You can install it remotely through email, LAN/network or physical deployment. SentryPC has a comprehensive installation guide for users who need it. Once SentryPC is installed on the devices you want to monitor, you can use a cloud-based account to access tracking data and reporting.

You and your team can install and uninstall SentryPC from devices remotely.

Customer Support

If you want to learn more about SentryPC and how to implement it, you can access the company’s online resources. There is an integrated support section with documentation to help you install the program, troubleshoot any issues and learn about the finer points of the service. We found this especially helpful for new users or those with limited technology experience. The company also offers customer support for technical issues through a ticket system, but there is no phone line or live chat channel, which are helpful resources some competitors offer.

Limitations

One drawback of SentryPC is that it cannot track employee cellphone usage and other mobile devices; the software is designed for Macs and PCs. However, this is an issue only if you’re looking for employee monitoring software specifically for mobile devices. Keep in mind that admins can still use mobile devices to check SentryPC logs and reports. If you do require mobile tracking, check out our review of InterGuard, which may be a better fit for your business’s monitoring needs.

Another drawback is the limited customer support options. SentryPC does provide a digital support center full of online resources, but you will need to fill out a support ticket for one-on-one assistance. Many competitors offer phone and webchat support, which can be valuable if you need immediate assistance. If this is important to you, check out our ActivTrak review for an alternative employee monitoring option.

Methodology

To explore the top employee monitoring software, we investigated dozens of vendors. During each evaluation, we examined myriad factors, including monitoring tools, security features, usability, costs and customer service. We took advantage of any available demos and watched product videos. To find the best affordable solution in this category, we considered pricing, contract requirements, user minimums and flexibility.

Bottom Line

We recommend SentryPC for …

• Companies looking for affordable employee monitoring software.
• Businesses that need event timelines.
• Organizations that want screenshots and keystroke logging.
• Windows users.

We don’t recommend SentryPC for …

• Businesses that need to track mobile devices.
• Companies that want phone and webchat support.