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Head-to-head · Leave Management Software

Calamari vs Timetastic

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 6 checks side by side
Higher score Calamari #1 in Leave Management Software 9.3/10 14-day trial Free trial✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Calamari
Timetastic #6 in Leave Management Software 8.8/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 3 of 4 features Visit Timetastic

Calamari leads on 0 checks, Timetastic on 1, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreCalamari · 9.3/10
  • Lowest starting priceTimetastic · $1.50/user/mo
  • Free trialboth
  • Most featuresCalamari · 4 of 4

Calamari scores higher on our rubric for leave management software: 9.3 against 8.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #6.

Timetastic is cheaper to start at $1.50/user/mo against $2/user/mo.

Calamari is the better fit for growing, distributed teams. Timetastic is the better fit for teams needing extensive holiday coverage.

  • Calamari fits best

    Growing, distributed teams

  • Timetastic fits best

    Teams needing extensive holiday coverage

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Calamari 9.3/10 Visit ↗ Timetastic 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 8.8
Ranking #1 in Leave Management Software #6 in Leave Management Software
Best for Growing, distributed teams Teams needing extensive holiday coverage
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price $2/user/mo $1.50/user/mo (best)
Free plan — —
Free trial 14 days 30 days
Free trial length 14 days · no card needed 30 days · no card needed
Deployment Cloud, Mobile Cloud, Mobile
Platforms Web, iOS, Android Web, iOS, Android
Support Live chat, Email, Docs Live chat, Email, Docs
Compliance GDPR, ISO 27001, SOC 2 GDPR, 2FA
Integrations 9 integrations 8 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market Small business, Mid-market
Features Calamari 4/4 · Timetastic 3/4
Approval workflows ✓ ✓
Mobile apps ✓ ✓
Payroll integrations ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Employee self-service ✓ ✓
Specs
Accrual rules Custom Not checked yet
Holiday calendars 110 calendars Not checked yet
Approval levels Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Custom accrual, carry-over, expiry, and proration rules
  • Multi-step approvals with employee self-service
  • Web, mobile, API, Slack, and Microsoft Teams access
  • Staffing levels and clash detection support coverage planning
  • Holiday calendars cover 250 countries and 3,000 regions
  • Web, iOS and Android apps support employee self-service
Cons
  • No free plan
  • Subscriptions have a 10-seat minimum equivalent
  • Broader HR modules add scope beyond core leave management
  • No permanent free plan is available
  • Leave accruals and capped leave require the Pro plan
  • Rota and time-clock features use a separate higher-priced tier
Our verdict

Calamari is a cloud platform for managing employee leave, attendance, and HR information. It suits growing, distributed teams that need different policies by country, location, contract type, team, or employee group. Employees can submit…

Read the review →

Timetastic is web and mobile software for managing employee leave and absence. It suits teams and small businesses that need employees to request time off, managers to approve or decline requests, and departments to monitor availability.…

Read the review →
  1. CalamariLeave Management Software 9.314-day trial
  2. TimetasticLeave Management Software 8.830-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Calamari — where it wins

    • Custom accrual, carry-over, expiry, and proration rules
    • Multi-step approvals with employee self-service
    • Web, mobile, API, Slack, and Microsoft Teams access

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan
    • Subscriptions have a 10-seat minimum equivalent
    • Broader HR modules add scope beyond core leave management
  • Timetastic — where it wins

    • Staffing levels and clash detection support coverage planning
    • Holiday calendars cover 250 countries and 3,000 regions
    • Web, iOS and Android apps support employee self-service

    Where it doesn't

    • No permanent free plan is available
    • Leave accruals and capped leave require the Pro plan
    • Rota and time-clock features use a separate higher-priced tier

More comparisons

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update