Calamari vs LeaveBoard (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Calamari if

• Fits if you only need one or two HR modules and want to pay for just those
• Works for small teams comfortable with a $20 monthly minimum

Look elsewhere if

• Skip it if you want one bundled price, as each module is priced separately
• Tight if you add up modules: all five come to $11.50 a person a month
• Watch out: there is a $20 a month minimum in the pricing calculator
• Watch out: SAML login is a paid add-on, and the page doesn't state its unit
• Not for you if you need payroll, as there is none

Pick LeaveBoard if

• Fits if you have fewer than 10 people and want leave tracked for free
• Works for small firms that need leave and a staff directory

Look elsewhere if

• Tight if you grow past 9 employees, where the free plan stops
• Watch out: cancelling means contacting the vendor, who suspends the plan at the next renewal
• Pricey if you're in the EU, since VAT goes on top of listed prices
• Too light for payroll or hiring, which aren't listed

Calamari

• Each module is priced separately per employee; combining all five costs the sum of their rates.
• The pricing calculator applies a minimum total of $20 per month for the selected modules.
• SAML integration is a paid add-on, shown at $1 billed yearly or $2 billed monthly; the page does not state the unit.
• The page labels its AI support for performance reviews as coming soon.

LeaveBoard

• The free plan stops at 9 employees.
• Cancellation is by contacting the vendor, who suspends the plan at the next renewal.
• EU businesses are charged VAT on top of the listed prices.
• Covers leave, records and reports; the pages read do not list payroll or hiring tools.

Calamari

Time off management

Policies with unlimited absence types, multi-country rules, automatic carry-over and entitlement calculated from accrual rules.

Time and attendance

Seven tracking methods, listed in the page data as mobile, web, Slack, QR, NFC, GPS and kiosk.

Core HR

A central employee database with documents, permission settings, approval flows and notifications for important dates.

Performance reviews

90 to 360 degree review cycles with questionnaires, goals, reviewer assignment and manager summaries.

Scheduling

Schedules for shift-based or mixed workforces that sync with the leave and time-tracking modules.

LeaveBoard

Time off tracking

Employees request leave in a self-service portal and managers approve it, with allowances, accruals and custom leave types.

Absence calendar

A shared team calendar shows who is off, with public holidays and custom work schedules.

Employee directory

Keeps employee records in one searchable place, arranged by the company's organizational chart.

HR reports

Reports on leave balances, sick leave and attendance can be exported, including in Excel format, for payroll or accounting.

Calendar sync

Time off, birthdays, work anniversaries and public holidays can be pushed to Google, Outlook and Apple calendars through feeds.

Single sign-on

Sign-in through Google, Outlook and Slack accounts using OAuth2 and OpenID.

Calamari

• Time Off$2

  per employee / month, billed yearly ($2.50 billed monthly)

  Online time-off requests, absence calendar, unlimited absence types, automatic carry-over and balance calculations.

• Core HR$2

  per employee / month, billed yearly ($2.50 billed monthly)

  Central HR database, documents, permissions, approval processes, custom fields and employee requests.

• Time & Attendance$2.50

  per employee / month, billed yearly ($3 billed monthly)

  Timesheets and time tracking with seven tracking methods.

• Performance Review$2.50

  per employee / month, billed yearly ($3 billed monthly)

  Review cycles (self, peer, top-down and external), questionnaires, goals and manager summaries.

• Scheduling$2.50

  per employee / month, billed yearly ($3 billed monthly)

  Weekly or monthly schedules planned per employee or role, with drafts, published versions and sync to leave and time tracking.

LeaveBoard

• Free$0

  Up to 9 employees, with time off tracking, employee directory, HR reports, absence calendar and leave policies.

• PRO$1.35

  per employee / month, monthly or yearly rate not stated

  Unlimited users, priority support and advanced leave policies. The page does not say whether $1.35 is the monthly or yearly rate (save 17%).

• EnterpriseCustom

  Aimed at companies larger than 81 employees, adds an account manager. Priced on request.

Calamari

• Annual discount

  About 20% off with yearly billing

  The pricing calculator shows each module cheaper per employee when billed yearly than when billed monthly (for example $2 against $2.50 for Time Off).

LeaveBoard

• Annual discount

  Save 17% with yearly billing

  The pricing page labels its Yearly switch as saving 17% over monthly billing.