absence.io vs AbsenceSoft (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, absence.io grades higher than AbsenceSoft: 2.4 against 1.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
absence.io grades higher on value for money and the free plan. They get the same grade on features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
absence.io
Time off, time tracking and employee files for small teams
Which one is for you
Pick absence.io if
- Fits if you run a small team that mainly needs leave tracking and a shared absence calendar
- Works for teams that want time tracking from the same login on the Pro plan
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you need payroll, as there is none
- Tight if you want time tracking or employee files, since both need Pro at €4.49 a user
- Pricey if you need expenses or the API, which only come on Complete at €7.19
- Watch out: prices are in euros and net of tax, with no dollar price shown
Pick AbsenceSoft if
- Fits if you track FMLA-style leave for US staff
- Works for HR teams that handle accommodations in the same place
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if your staff are outside the US, as the compliance content is US federal and state law
- Skip it if you want a price, because there is no pricing page
- Too light for payroll or records, which aren't described
- Watch out: no free plan or trial
How we grade them
| 2.4GPAabsence.ioFair | 1.8GPAAbsenceSoftWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BStarter is €2.69 per user a month billed annually, about $2.90, inside the cheapest quarter of the category. Time tracking and the employee file sit on Pro at €4.49. | CNo price is published, so there's nothing to set against the $2 to $9 a seat a month this category charges. That leaves it at C. |
| Free plan and trial | C14-day free trial with no card needed, and no free plan. | FNo pricing page, no free plan and no trial, only a demo request. |
| Features | CLeave, time tracking, overtime, an employee file and expenses. Time tracking and files need Pro, expenses and the API need Complete, and there is no payroll. | CLeave and accommodations tracking, built for US law. A focused job it does fully, and smaller than a whole HR suite, so C. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. Absence policies, allowances and approval flows need setting up first. | CNo store rating on record, and you'd set it up with your own people data first, so it's an ordinary C. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb plus iOS and Android apps, with Microsoft, Google and Slack integrations. The API only comes on Complete. | BWeb only, with six listed integrations. No phone or desktop app. |
| Best for | time off and time tracking for small teams | leave and accommodation management |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: absence.io and AbsenceSoft. How we grade
Where they differ
- absence.io also covers time tracking, expense tracking and time clock.
- AbsenceSoft also covers case management.
At a glance
| absence.io | AbsenceSoft | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Paid |
| Starts at | €2.69 per user / month, billed annually (€2.99 billed monthly) | Not published |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial, no credit card required | None listed |
| Web | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | absence.io GmbH | AbsenceSoft |
| Price read from | absence.io | Not confirmed |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
absence.io
- Prices are listed in euros and net per user; no US dollar price is shown.
- Time tracking, the employee file and SSO need Pro; expenses and the API need Complete.
- Billing is per user, per month; annual billing takes 10% off the monthly price.
AbsenceSoft
- No pricing page exists; the site asks buyers to get a demo.
- The compliance content is US federal and state law.
Key features
absence.io
- Absence and leave management
- Employees request time off and managers approve it, with leave handled in every tier.
- Time tracking
- Web and app tracking, a digital time-clock terminal, overtime automation, custom work schedules and project labels on Pro and above.
- Digital employee file
- Document management and an employee file on Pro and Complete.
- Expense management
- Travel and expense claims with automatic receipt capture and a DATEV integration for expenses, on Complete only.
- Integrations and API
- Connects with Microsoft, Google and Slack on every plan. API access and automated workflows are Complete features.
AbsenceSoft
- Compliance engine
- Tracks 200+ federal and state leave and accommodation laws, with audit trails, according to the vendor.
- Leave of absence
- Manages leave cases such as paid family and medical leave across states.
- Accommodations
- Handles accommodation requests alongside leave for the same employee.
- Payroll calculations
- The platform lists a payroll calculations module for leave pay.
- MyAbsence
- An employee experience portal, labeled Beta on the site.
- Integrations
- Connects to HRIS, payroll and time systems through flat files and a REST API.
Plans
absence.io
Starter€2.69
per user / month, billed annually (€2.99 billed monthly)
Absence and leave management, reports and downloads, integrations with Microsoft, Google and Slack, standard support.
Pro€4.49
per user / month, billed annually (€4.99 billed monthly)
Everything in Starter plus time tracking (web, app and time-clock terminal), automated overtime, digital employee file, document management, SSO and priority support.
Complete€7.19
per user / month, billed annually (€7.99 billed monthly)
Everything in Pro plus travel and expense management with receipt capture, API access and automated workflows, and a dedicated account manager.
AbsenceSoft
Pricing could not be confirmed. See absencesoft.com.
Ways to pay less
absence.io
- Annual discount
10% off with annual billing
The pricing page toggle shows each plan about 10% cheaper per month when billed annually.
- Nonprofit
Special pricing for NGOs
The pricing page says NGOs and non-profits can get special pricing by getting in touch.
AbsenceSoft
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, absence.io or AbsenceSoft?
As of Nov 13, 2026, absence.io starts at €2.69 per user / month, billed annually (€2.99 billed monthly), and AbsenceSoft has no price we could confirm.
Which has a free plan, absence.io or AbsenceSoft?
As of Nov 13, 2026, neither absence.io nor AbsenceSoft has a free plan. absence.io has a free trial.
Which platforms do absence.io and AbsenceSoft run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only absence.io lists iOS and Android apps. Both list a web app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.