Calamari HR Software Reviews

“easy and perfect

Pros

I love how easy it is to track my time off right from the moment I submit the request to the second it gets approved. everything is clear, logged and automatic. It's such a relief to finally be done with those messy error-prone manual spreadsheets for good. This makes managing my time my team's truly effortless.

Cons

The initial setup can be a little confusing but the support team at Calamari is really there to help with whatever you need.

“Best for small companies

Pros

It's great that as a small but growing company (!!) this tool gives us fantastic value. it scales with us without breaking the budget. The fact that it's super easy to use means no one gets slowed down by a complicated system. and at the end of the day it just makes tracking PTO simple and reliable which is one less thing to worry about so we can focus on that growth.

Cons

I'd love to see a feature that calculates how much time off you'll accrue by the end of the year. Right now you have to add up what you've used to plan things out which is a bit of a problem.

“Good but missing a feature

Pros

The ease of use really is the best part.. we got started and were up and running super quick with hardly any setup drama. And the fact that we've used it reliably for everything from leave requests to daily clock-ins for five years now speaks volumes. It's not flashy or overcomplicated.. it's just perfect for what we need, day in and day out. That kind of consistent no-fuss value is exactly what you hope for in a tool.

Cons

I wasn't too impressed when they moved the emergency contact info behind the Core HR paywall. Surely we could have kept that one basic field available?

“Love the team management feature

Pros

I use the Team Management feature a lot. It is awesome for managing time-off requests, approvals and tracking. The automatic reminders and calendar syncs cut down on so much manual work.

Cons

The pricing is fair for small to mid-sized teams but I think larger organizations might find the cost a bit high for the features you get.

“Set up fast with great support

Pros

Setting it up was surprisingly fast and we were fully running in just a couple of days. The Slack integration is a game-changer for my remote team, people can request time off right where they're already working. The interface is so clean and interactive that we didn't need any training. Plus their support team is very quick and helpful whenever we have a question.

Cons

Honestly we haven't run into any major problems. At first I wished there were more ways to customize reports but their team actually added some of those options based on user feedback!

“easy to use & connects well

Pros

Calamari is really convenient and easy to use. I like how it connects easily with tools we already use like Slack and Google Workspace. The way it handles time-off and attendance is super clear and flexible.

Cons

Sometimes the app loads slowly or syncing takes a while when too many of us use it at once. Also a few of the more advanced features could use better tutorials for new users.

“easy and feature rich

Pros

It's easy to use for me personally and it has a ton of useful features....... it feels like a complete system. Overall it's definitely a program I'd recommend to others.

Cons

It can be complicated to make changes by myself. I wish it was a bit more user-friendly so I could handle everything on my own without help.

“pretty smooth to work with

Pros

It is easy to work with even with all the different settings. The mobile app is also very smooth to start using and our employees were actually excited when we switched to Calamari.

Cons

We had some trouble importing data from our old application but the people at Calamari were very helpful and got us sorted out.

“overall good software but could improve more !

Pros

It has a really clean interface and is easy to use in almost every section. It also handles a big chunk of our HR needs like time tracking.

Cons

Their billing process is confusing to figure out and the same goes for setting up and viewing the holiday calendar.

“Makes my work smoother

Pros

This is an excellent and efficient app that makes my work smoother. Thanks to it I have a much better handle on my team's work.

Cons

I am generally very satisfied.. there's really nothing I don't like. If I had to add a feature I honestly can't think of what it would be!

“Simple but powerful tool

Pros

It is simple but powerful. Great interface and design, good connections with other apps, a handy mobile app and a really helpful support team. I love ittttt!

Cons

There's nothing I don't like. It has all the functions I need to get my work done properly. I really do recommend it.

“Flexible for our needs

Pros

I love the flexibility of the tool and how we can adapt it to our company's needs. We can choose the modules we want, the platform is so simple to use and we can set up different roles and permissions for people.

Cons

The projects module isn't developed enough for us. We miss the option to add detailed tasks which we sometimes need for specific projects.

“Works for our global team

Pros

With our team split between China and South Africa we needed a leave system that worked for everyone considering different holidays and workdays. Now staff can apply for and manage their own leave directly instead of asking someone on another continent to do it for them.

Cons

Some features we had during the trial disappeared because different parts of Leave Management are paid separately. It would be nice if the subscription included all the sections at a lower rate with the option to add them individually.

“integration options and speed could be better

Pros

I really rely on the time tracking and reports. The platform is easy to use and gives us accurate data for attendance and managing everyone's time.

Cons

The integration options feel limited and sometimes the interface can be slow when loading reports or syncing data.

“booking holidays simple, setting up holidays hard

Pros

Booking a holiday only takes a few clicks and the whole company can see in real-time who's out and when.

Cons

I find the setup for holiday limits a bit tricky. It's not very easy and gets complicated with more complex rules like different contracts or carrying over days. It takes a lot of testing to make sure everything is set up right.

“everything at one place

Pros

It's great value for the money, makes vacation management easy, the customer service is good, it helps with document archiving and there are lots of ways to build reports.

Cons

Calamari is great I have no complaints. But if I had to pick one thing I wish there were more ways to customize individual screens.

“friendly and helpful support

Pros

What I like most about it is how clear and transparent everything is plus the clean friendly interface. I also really appreciate how quick and helpful the support is whenever any little issue pops up.

Cons

It's hard to say because compared to other systems I've used it is the best by far. If I had to point out something maybe there are quite a lot of rules and settings which I don't always manage on my own but luckily the support team is always quick to help.

“Useful when it works

Pros

The application is very good and useful. I can accept holiday or sick leave requests from anywhere and I can always see who's out sick.

Cons

Sometimes the application buffers so much that you can't use it. You have to restart it or even delete and reinstall it.

“budget friendly but not very automated

Pros

The tool is wonderfully simple and priced so any company no matter the size can afford it. The integrations with other tools we use are a huge plus.

Cons

When I need to adjust days off like for a day off that falls on a Saturday I have to do it manually or in excel instead of it happening automatically.

“Great tool !!

Pros

Calamari felt a little overwhelming at first (especially with no HR background) but once you get the hang of it it's a great tool. We use it for everything now. I've had to ask the helpdesk a few questions over time and they've always helped me really well.. big shoutout to their support team!

Cons

Nothing bad to say about the system. We like everything it does for us. Only good words from our side

“great for time off, but documents need work

Pros

I find it really easy to manage my time off. I love that it connects with my google calendar. It just makes it super clear for everyone on the team to see when someone has an off day.

Cons

The documents section didn't really work for us. We were hoping to use it for onboarding new people and storing policy documents but it just didn't do what we needed.

“effective for remote work

Pros

This is a simple, straight-to-the-point HR system for leave. It's been great for us especially since we work remotely and need to check in and track attendance easily.

Cons

I think the apps are getting much better than when they first launched, which is great. They're still a work in progress but having them is really important for our remote staff.

“excellent support so far

Pros

The support team is amaZINg. They're so professional, they get back to you fast and they're genuinely helpful. any time I've had a question, they were right there to help me out.

Cons

It feels a bit too complex sometimes, especially with the balances. It's not always clear how much time I have left. I'd really prefer it if that was shown in a simpler, clearer way.

“Handy� but inefficient tool

Pros

It is easy to use. There are a bunch of options but we basically just use it to track working hours and manage holidays and absences. For what we need, the price is totally fair.

Cons

The reports have too many options that don't show much data. I can't find a report that shows activities filtered by specific projects which I need. I also get a few errors now and then.

“Real-time updates but lacks report flexibility

Pros

It's flexible and friendly to set up. I love that it works in real-time and can handle budgets. Plus, it's great for us because we have people in different countries with different rules.

Cons

I find it challenging to get a clear overview of my team because the application doesn't let me customize reports. When you're managing several people, you need to see the data in a specific way.

“Fast support but daily emails are annoying

Pros

I am always impressed by how fast the their team replies when I email them. They're very helpful and I love the little videos they send to show you how to do something, it's so practical.

Cons

I don't like getting an email from the tool about my attendance every single day. It just fills up my inbox and isn't relevant for me.

“Very flexible tool

Pros

The way their platform can adapt to our specific business is amazing and the customer care is just top-notch.

Cons

It was frustrating when the birthdays feature was removed from our plan. We originally had visibility of them but then they were taken away and we can't see them anymore.

“Fantastic tool for the company

Pros

I use this every day for our company and it's simply great! It's simple and works right inside slack without any issues. I highly recommend it.

Cons

No cons so far but I have to say the customer service team is great. They're very helpful and always available when you need them.

“Quick setup but frustrating timekeeping

Pros

The platform was easy to set up and integrate into our business and we got everything running smoothly without any major issues. But I was a bit disappointed that we lost some features when we switched to the HR module.

Cons

The workforce management functionality, especially the timekeeping module felt lacking. Simple tasks like scheduling breaks turned out to be a frustrating experience. It really didn't work as well as expected.

“easy booking but poor app

Pros

Booking things like holidays, sick leave, working from home and overtime is very easy with this and getting help from the support guys is always fantastic.

Cons

I much prefer logging into Calamari on my computer. The app isn't as easy to use and the view isn't as clear as it is on the website.

“amazing app but tracking needs work

Pros

The mobile version is so handy to use and having everything in english is a must for us since we're an international team.

Cons

One thing I'd like to see improved is the ability to change someone from full-time to part-time hours and have the system track everything correctly. It should be easier to handle that.

“Friendly app but no customization

Pros

In my experience, the app is very interactive. my employees had no trouble figuring it out. It also just looks nice and friendly, which is a plus.

Cons

Processing time is slow. It also feels generic, without any way to customize it for our specific needs.

“suitable for everyone!

Pros

What I love most about this tool is how easy it is for everyone, my team and me to use. It's simple but still has everything you need.

Cons

so far, I don't have anything I dislike about it. everything has worked well for us and it fits right into our workflow.

“smooth integtarion but limited customization

Pros

I really like that it integrates with slack. It's best for logging quick coffee breaks or appointments and it helps everyone stay visible when we're working remotely.

Cons

It's not flexible for creating custom breaks. I'd prefer to have more settings so I can create my own break types with specific rules.

“affordable but lil confusing�

Pros

The price is reasonable, it's easy for my employees to use and it works reliably. The integrations are solid. Honestly, it works better for us than other systems that cost a lot more.

Cons

setting up the time-off policy is a little weird and confusing. But if you ask for help, the support team is really good at walking you through it. The way you set schedules is also odd but it doesn't bother us much since most of my team is salaried anyway.

“awsome design but missing role alerts

Pros

simple, clear and just makes sense. I also really like the look of it and the graphics and colors aren't too bright and the integration with google is great.

Cons

Before the updates, it was hard to find some functions. I think it would be really useful to get a notification when someone's role changes.

“User friendly platform with superb support

Pros

Calamari is user-friendly, both for me as an admin and for my team. But the best part is honestly the customer service, it's the absolute best.

Cons

Honestly, it's hard to think of any real downsides but I have to write something! The price did go up a bit but it's still totally worth it and competitive with other platforms out there.

“Been using it for years, still love it

Pros

We've been using it for years now and we're sticking with it. We love it and it just helps keep everyone organized.

Cons

I haven't run into anything I actually dislike about this system. It does everything we need it to do.

“effective tool for time management

Pros

It's a very simple tool but helpful. We use it every single week to manage the team's vacations and time off.

Cons

No cons to mention. Calamari has made time tracking and leave management so much easier for us. I love that it connects with google Calendar so everyone stays in the loop without having to jump between apps. It's really easy to use and saves us a ton of time on HR stuff.

“simple UI but limited features

Pros

Interface is interactive so it's easy for both employees and managers to figure out. setting up different types of leave and permissions was smooth.

Cons

It can be a little frustrating that some features are locked unless you pay for different packages. For a company that's growing and trying to figure out what it needs, that can be tricky.

“my experience after 6 months

Pros

We found it easy to use and it has pretty much everything we need. The installation was simple and the team was very supportive. But honestly, the product itself is so efficient we didn't need much help. I liked that they let me do a trial to test it out myself, warts and all... though we didn't really find any flaws!

Cons

It's difficult to think of con. I'm sure some companies might find something but for us, it has everything we need, especially how it works with our other systems.

“Works well & easy to use

Pros

It's simple to use and to set up. We didn't hit any big hurdles. The mobile app works well and is reliable and pulling reports is easy.

Cons

I haven't had any major problems. We use it for leave approvals and checking against payroll and it works great. I guess it would be nice to get some extra features without paying more but that's just me wishing.

“Powerful solution with top-notch support

Pros

We've gotten terrific, attentive service from their team. It does what it's supposed to do and they've given us the personal support we need to handle all the different variables in our situation.

Cons

Right now, I can't really think of anything I like least. We've been using it for a while and it just keeps getting better so nothing bad comes to mind.

“Handles leave well, but lacks date blocking

Pros

It lets me handle all our vacations and paid or unpaid leave in one single place.

Cons

I found it annoying that I couldn't block off certain dates to stop vacation requests during our busy season. It did still let people request sick leave which makes sense because you can't really control that.

“easy setup but pricing & support need work

Pros

The onboarding was quick, it connects with the tools we already use, it supports multiple languages and we could try it for free first.

Cons

Two things: the pricing could be better and it would be easier to just buy a package for up to 50 users instead of per user. also, I tried the chat on the main page twice and never got a response from customer support.

“Love the Teams integration but reporting is tough

Pros

I love that there's a plug-in for Teams. It lets me mark my presence without having to open up another app.

Cons

my main issue is with reports. It's hard to pull out information and create reports without including the notes we add and for us, that part is very important.

“simple, affordable but needs updates

Pros

at first, I liked it because it was simple to start, had what we needed and was cheap. Now that I use it, I really value the customer support and it's fast and they actually know what they're doing which is sadly rare.

Cons

It can feel a little outdated. For example, being able to approve multiple requests at once would be a nice feature. But I get that they're probably still working on it.

“Brilliantly customizable for flexible work policies

Pros

The customizability for time off is brilliant! We can set up people's working hours and different types of leave exactly how we want which is perfect for our flexible work policy.

Cons

I have zero complaints! even when we got stuck setting something up, the customer service team was there to help. They've always been really friendly and quick to respond.

“Top choice for business needs

Pros

Gives us really precise control over how many hours are worked on each job.

Cons

There's nothing negative, really. I'd just love a feature that automatically rounds clock-in and clock-out times. Like, changing 8:04 to 8:15, or 17:47 to 17:45.

“Helped me improve my work design

Pros

It improves our teamwork because we're all united with the same real-time information. I also love that when someone new joins the team, we don't have to spend ages bringing them up to speed. It has all the tutorials they need to get up to date, so the transition for new people is simple.

Cons

NO CONS. I honestly can't think of a single bad thing to say about my experience.