Comparison · Last updated
Absentia vs Timetastic: Which Leave Management Software Is Better in 2026?
Managing annual leave and absences should not mean wrestling with spreadsheets or forcing every employee into the same rigid policy. Both Absentia and Timetastic help teams request, approve, and track time off online, but they are built differently.
This page compares the two tools side-by-side so you can quickly see which fits your team better.
The comprehensive system you will not outgrowAt a glance
The key differences in one table.
| Comparison | | Timetastic |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Teams that want a comprehensive system they will not outgrow | Teams that want simple, highly visible leave tracking |
| Standout strength | Maximum policy flexibility (individual leave years, days + hours, granular accrual) | Wallchart visibility, native mobile apps, extensive public holidays |
| Pricing model | Single plan, graduated per-employee rates (all features included) | Tiered (Basic + Pro); advanced features in higher plan |
| Price for 25 employees | £50 / month (all features) | ~£37.50 / month (Basic) |
| Price for 50 employees | £80 / month (all features) | ~£75 / month (Basic) |
| Free trial | 30 days, no card required | 30 days, no card required |
| Mobile | Mobile-optimised web | Native iOS + Android apps |
| Public holidays | Supported | 250+ countries / 3,000+ regions pre-loaded |
| Key differentiator | Individual leave years + exclusivity groups + days/hours mix in one company | Strong team Wallchart + Burnout insights (Pro) |
The bottom line
Choose Absentia if...
You want comprehensive leave management that handles mixed contracts, individual leave years, and real-world edge cases without forcing a later migration.
Choose Timetastic if...
You prioritise simplicity, mobile apps, and broad holiday coverage for more standard policies.
Pricing comparison
One inclusive plan vs tiered plans.
Absentia
Pricing is graduated so larger teams pay less per person:
- Pay annually and get 1 month free (11 × monthly rate)
- Prices available in £, $, or € at the same numeric rate
Timetastic
Core leave tracking, calendar, approvals, mobile apps, unlimited users/departments ~£1.50 / user
Adds leave accruals, leave-type caps, absence trends, Burnout Board®, enhanced reports, SSO, and extra integrations ~£2.50 / user
Higher tier for scheduling + clock-in features
- 30-day free trial (no card)
- 50% discount for charities, B Corps, NHS Trusts and similar organisations
- Month-to-month billing
Monthly cost by team size
| Team size | Absentia all features | Timetastic Basic approx. | Timetastic Pro approx. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 employees | £20 | £15 | £25 |
| 50 employees | £80 | £75 | £125 |
| 100 employees | £110 | £150 | £250 |
| 200 employees | £140 | £300 | £500 |
Pricing takeaway
Absentia often becomes more cost-effective once you need advanced policy features or grow past ~50–100 people, because everything is included in the base plan. Timetastic Basic can be cheaper for very small teams with simple needs.
Feature comparison
Where each tool is strongest.
Policy flexibility & allowances
Absentia leadsAbsentia
- Track allowances in days or hours on a per-employee basis (mix both in the same company)
- Individual leave years: each person can have their own start date (rolling/anniversary year)
- Advanced accrual engine: monthly (start or end of month), weekly, or daily; based on length of service, hours worked, or custom rules. Visual projected accrual charts
- Carry-over and expiry options
- Department absence limits + exclusivity groups (only one person can be away from a defined set of people, even across departments)
Timetastic
- Supports days or hours and pro-rata calculations
- Accrual is available (primarily on Pro) and works on a monthly basis
- Leave-type hard caps and maximum absent rules are available
- Less emphasis on fully individual leave years or mixed days/hours complexity
Booking, approvals & visibility
Both tools let employees book leave, send requests to managers, and keep team calendars updated automatically.
Absentia
- Simple online booking (including hourly)
- Email + in-app notifications
- Department or per-employee approvers, auto-approval option, clear audit trail (see the holiday request system)
- Privacy controls (mask sensitive leave types or restrict calendar visibility)
Timetastic
- Excellent Wallchart for at-a-glance team visibility
- One-click approvals (often from email/Slack/Teams)
- Native mobile apps for booking and managing on the go
- Locked dates and group bookings
Public holidays & calendars
Timetastic leadsAbsentia
- Public holidays supported
- Calendar sync (Outlook, Google, iCal, etc.)
- Strong privacy modes
Timetastic
- Pre-loaded public holidays for 250+ countries and 3,000+ regions
- Calendar sync (Outlook, Google, iCal, etc.)
- Broader native mobile experience
Reporting & insights
Timetastic Pro leadsAbsentia
- Solid reporting for leave patterns and resource planning
Timetastic Pro
- Stronger analytics including absence trends and company-wide reports
- The distinctive Burnout Board® that flags people who have not taken enough time off
Integrations
Absentia
- Calendar integrations (Outlook/Gmail/iCal)
- Single Sign-On
Timetastic
- Google Workspace, Outlook, Apple Calendar, Slack, Microsoft Teams
- Payroll tools on higher tiers
- REST API mentioned in some documentation
See every Absentia feature on the features overview.
Who should choose Absentia?
Most leave tools market themselves as “simple”. That works until your team hits the first edge case: mixed days and hours contracts, different leave year start dates, or coverage rules that span departments. At that point many organisations end up with workarounds, spreadsheets on the side, or a painful migration later.
Absentia is the comprehensive software that you will not grow out of.
It is built for teams that want:
- Staff on different contract types (full-time, part-time, days-based and hours-based in the same system)
- Rolling or anniversary-based leave years
- Complex accrual rules that can be set per person
- Coverage rules that span departments (exclusivity groups)
- One inclusive plan rather than feature gating as you grow
Teams using Absentia frequently cite the flexibility as the reason they no longer need to force every employee into the same rigid policy.
“I have been using this with my team for a few years, so much more flexible than other off the shelf and HR solutions - great work” NG
Who might prefer Timetastic?
Timetastic is often preferred when:
- You want the simplest possible experience with excellent visual team overview (Wallchart)
- Native mobile apps are important for your workforce
- You need broad international public holiday coverage out of the box
- Your leave policies are relatively standard and you value a large user community and high review volume
- You want a low-friction 30-day trial or charity discounts
Verdict
Absentia and Timetastic are both capable leave management tools, but they solve different problems over time.
Many “simple” tools work well at the start. Most teams eventually hit real-world edge cases (mixed days/hours contracts, different leave years, or more complex coverage rules). Those gaps often force workarounds or a later migration.
Absentia is the comprehensive system you will not outgrow.
It handles the complexity of modern workforces in one plan, so you do not have to compromise or switch tools as your policies and headcount evolve.
If you prioritise pure simplicity, mobile apps, and standard policies with strong visual overview, Timetastic remains a solid choice.
Ready to see how Absentia handles your leave rules without limits?
Frequently asked questions
Does Absentia support both days and hours?
Yes. You can set each employee’s allowance in days or hours and mix both within the same company.
Can every employee have a different leave year start date?
Yes. Absentia supports fully individual leave years.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. Every account gets a 30-day free trial, so you can evaluate the policy flexibility with your real rules.
How does pricing compare for a team of 50 or 100?
At 50 employees Absentia costs £80 per month (all features included). Timetastic Basic is approximately £75 per month; Timetastic Pro is approximately £125 per month.
At 100 employees Absentia costs £110 per month (all features). Timetastic Basic is approximately £150 per month; Timetastic Pro is approximately £250 per month.
Absentia is typically cheaper once you need the features that sit in Timetastic’s Pro plan, and the gap widens as the team grows.