When you hear “Calamari,” you might think of a tasty dish but in the Time off world, it means something entirely different. Calamari is a cloud-based human resources and leave management app that originated in Poland in 2014 and has since grown into a globally recognized tool. It’s praised by users and review sites alike for making time-off tracking and attendance management much more manageable. With its multilingual support, simple interface, and modular setup, Calamari has become a go-to solution for companies looking to automate routine HR tasks and free up time for more strategic work. 

But just like not everyone has a taste for seafood, Calamari might not be the right fit for every business. Whether it’s due to specific feature needs, pricing, scalability, or just personal preference, there are plenty of solid alternatives out there. These other platforms might not match Calamari point-for-point, but they offer their own strengths—some focusing more on customization, others on integrations, analytics, or user experience. 

So, if you’re exploring the HR tech landscape and want to see what else is swimming around, we’ve rounded up a list of Calamari alternatives that are worth a look. Whether you’re managing a small team or a large, distributed workforce, there’s likely a tool here that aligns with your goals.   

Time Off Manager 365
is a leave management solution that helps you request, approve, and manage leaves in just a few simple clicks. With this tool, you can keep your team in the loop using daily or weekly notifications, set up different office locations, customize leave policies, and configure multiple leave types to fit your company’s needs. The intuitive online dashboard lets you export reports, sync with your favourite calendar, and more. It also integrates seamlessly with Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Google Workspace.  

When I Work
This Calamari alternative was selected as a leader in GetApp’s 2018 rankings and earned triple top 20 status in Capterra’s 2020 software categories: scheduling, employee scheduling, and workforce management. Though it’s only available in English, setting up a work schedule takes just minutes—no steep learning curve. It’s widely adopted across industries like call centres, education, hospitality, healthcare, nonprofits, and more. Beyond time tracking and scheduling, it streamlines hiring and supports communication with built-in group messaging and file sharing tools. 

Buddy Punch
Recognized in Capterra’s Top 20 for both employee scheduling and workforce management in 2020, Buddy Punch is a reliable time clock solution designed to simplify workforce tracking. As a powerful alternative to tools like Calamari, it helps businesses monitor attendance, manage PTO, and handle overtime in real-time. 

Employees can easily clock in using multiple punch-in options—ranging from 4-digit PINs and facial recognition to QR codes and even text-based check-ins. On the management side, it offers simple dashboards to review, export, and approve time data. 

Thousands of companies—small to large—trust Buddy Punch to keep tabs on remote teams, streamline timesheet approvals, and reduce payroll headaches. It also offers built-in GPS tracking, mobile access, automated overtime calculations, customizable reports, and real-time alerts, making it a smart choice for businesses looking to cut down on manual processes. 

Built for Teams
Hiring and managing top talent doesn’t have to be complicated—and that’s were Built for Teams comes in. This desktop-only HR platform helps businesses simplify every step of the employee lifecycle, from recruitment to retention. As a popular alternative to Calamari, it’s praised for its clean interface and smart feature design. 

Instead of juggling spreadsheets, Built for Teams lets you centralize all your HR data in one place. You can build dynamic org charts, monitor employee metrics, and handle PTO requests with ease. It’s especially helpful for growing teams that need clear oversight of staff structures and workflows. 

Key features include tools for managing job applicants, employee records, time-off policies, team calendars, and internal workflows. Plus, it integrates with leading HR systems like Paychex Flex, Netsuite, and ADP Workforce Now—so your existing tools work even better together. 

Timetastic
Perfect for small to mid-sized teams, Timetastic focuses solely on simplifying time-off management—without the added complexity of attendance tracking found in tools like Calamari. 

At the heart of the app is a live wall chart that shows who’s in, who’s out, and upcoming time off, all in one clear view. Employees can submit leave requests directly through the app, and managers can approve or decline with just a click. You can also set up departments, customize leave types, and maintain an organized time-off process without the hassle of spreadsheets. 

BambooHR
BambooHR is a versatile HR software solution built specifically for small and mid-sized businesses that want to manage their people more effectively. As a solid alternative to Calamari, it brings together key HR functions like hiring, attendance tracking, time-off requests, employee records, compensation planning, and team engagement—all under one digital roof. 

Designed with the belief that people are a company’s most valuable asset, BambooHR provides insights at every stage of the employee journey. From the moment a candidate applies to the time they grow within your organization, the platform collects and organizes data to help you make smarter, faster HR decisions. 

It streamlines daily HR operations—like onboarding, tracking employee metrics, and managing pay-related info—so your team spends less time on paperwork and more time on strategy. The mobile app makes it easy to view job applicants, interact with candidates, and track feedback in real-time, even while on the move. 

With intuitive tools, powerful analytics, and a focus on employee experience, it’s no wonder BambooHR ranks among the top HR platforms available. You can even get started with a free trial to see how it fits your team. 

PurelyHR
PurelyHR is a powerful HR solution designed to streamline more than just leave management. With optional add-ons, it extends to employee data management, time tracking, attendance monitoring, and even timesheet tracking and infraction warnings. This all-in-one tool is perfect for businesses looking for an efficient way to handle a range of HR tasks. 

Its intuitive interface ensures easy, real-time access to centralized leave data from anywhere, at any time. Setting up leave policies is quick and customizable, allowing you to define paid holidays, time-off restrictions, various leave types, and bankable time rules with minimal effort. The platform also manages accruals, carry-overs, renewals, and other key leave-related processes. 

For HR teams that want a deeper understanding of their operations, PurelyHR offers instant access to detailed reports, making it easier to analyze and optimize team performance. 

Leave Board
Leave Board is an intuitive leave management platform that simplifies employee time-off requests. It streamlines the entire process by allowing employees to request time off with a few clicks, while managers can approve or deny requests seamlessly. The system also tracks PTO balances, accruals, and company leave policies, offering visibility into team availability. Leave Board integrates easily with other HR software to enhance your company’s workflow. 

7. Time Off Cloud
Time Off Cloud is a versatile leave management system that helps organizations manage vacation days, sick leave, and other time-off types. With an easy-to-use interface, employees can quickly submit requests, and managers can review and approve them in real-time. The system also provides detailed reporting on leave trends and team attendance, helping HR teams optimize staffing and planning. Its automation features save time and reduce manual errors. 

8. Zoho People
Zoho People offers comprehensive HR features, including a robust leave management system. It allows employees to track and request time off, while managers can review and approve requests with minimal effort. The platform offers multiple leave types, including paid and unpaid time off, and provides detailed reports to monitor leave usage and trends. Zoho People integrates with other Zoho products and third-party apps for a seamless HR experience. 

9. Absence Soft
AbsenceSoft is a leave and absence management tool designed to help organizations simplify employee time-off processes. It tracks employee absences, manages PTO requests, and automates accrual calculations. The platform also allows managers to approve leave requests, set up custom leave policies, and generate real-time reports on absence trends. AbsenceSoft’s cloud-based system is accessible from anywhere, making it a flexible solution for businesses of all sizes.