How convenient it is for HR teams when some software manages employees' leaves for them. But that convenience only happens when you already know which software you need to run your business.
In general, leave management software handles time-off requests, tracks balances, and manages approvals. But the best leave management software does all this and also syncs with payroll, and even flags compliance issues, which is exactly our criteria while creating this list.
We also tested policy setup, reviewed HR team feedback, and analyzed user reports on accrual accuracy and payroll or HRIS integration. We will help you get the software, whether your company is currently small and managing basic Paid Time Off (PTO) or large, handling multi-location policies with state-specific regulations.
Software | Rating | Trial Info | Pricing | Best For | Main Features |
BambooHR | 4.3/5 | N/A | $10/employee/month Get a Custom Quote | Centralized HR and effective time off management |
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4.9/5 | 14-day free trial | $8/employee/month Get a Custom Quote | All-in-one HR and performance management |
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4.3/5 | 30-day free trial | $1.50/user/month Get a Custom Quote | Core HR, attendance, and leave management |
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4.5/5 | N/A | $49/month + $6/person/mont Get a Custom Quote | Simplified PTO administration |
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4.4/5 | N/A | Custom pricing Get a Custom Quote | Automated time and attendance management |
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4.1/5 | N/A | Custom pricing Get a Custom Quote | Consistent, automated time capture |
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4.3/5 | N/A | Custom pricing Get a Custom Quote | Unified HR and people management solutions |
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4.1/5 | N/A | $34/employee/month Get a Custom Quote | Seamless absence management |
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3.7/5 | N/A | $8/user/month Get a Custom Quote | Automated PTO processing |
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4.1/5 | N/A | $9/employee/month Get a Custom Quote | Integrated payroll, HR, and time management |
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BambooHR has built its reputation as the go-to HR platform for small and medium businesses that prioritize employee experience over enterprise complexity. Its leave management module centers on simplicity. And by simplicity, we mean that with this software, employees submit leave requests; managers can approve them immediately from their email; and the system handles accrual calculations automatically.
Pros | Cons |
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Best For
Any small to medium-sized businesses under 350 employees, preferring user-friendly PTO tracking with seamless payroll integration, can use it.
Key Features
- ‘Who’s Out’ Calendar
- PTO Alerts On Mobile App
- Automatic Overtime Calculations For All 50 US States
- Customizable Leave Policies
- BambooHR Payroll Integration
Pricing
The pricing for BambooHR starts at $10/employee/month. The software follows a per-employee, per-month pricing model. Further pricing tiers of the software offered at custom pricing are as follows:
- Core
- Pro
- Elite
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It
One standout that BambooHR has is the ‘Who's Out’ calendar that contains a wallchart-style view which shows exactly who's off, who's returning, and where potential coverage gaps exist. Secondly, its email-based approval caught our attention. Whenever managers receive notification through emails, they can approve/deny within a few clicks, which is convenient.
We have placed this software first on our list because it automatically syncs between time-off approvals and payroll (if you have an add-on Payroll integration).
User Ratings
It has a 4.3/5 rating, and most of the users praise its accurate PTO tracking, but some users complain at the same time that it doesn’t clearly show remaining days off without manually calculating them.
Rippling positions its leave management as part of a unified workforce platform that automatically applies state-specific PTO laws without HR teams needing to track regulatory changes. The platform excels at multi-state compliance automation, making it particularly valuable for distributed workforces operating across different jurisdictions.
Pros | Cons |
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Best For
Fast-scaling SMBs (50-500 employees) with distributed workforces needing automated compliance with varying state leave laws and seamless payroll integration can benefit from this software.
Key Features
- State-Specific PTO and Leave Compliance
- Permissions and Policies
- Approval Management
- Real-Time PTO Balance Tracking
- Native Payroll Integration
Pricing
Rippling's base HRIS module starts at $8/employee/month with a $35 monthly base fee. The platform uses modular pricing, so costs vary based on selected features.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It
When it comes to true automation, because of the ‘Workflow Automator’ feature, Rippling has an edge. For example, if someone hasn’t taken a PTO in months, managers get notified. And they can even set rules for leave management. This feature contains rule-based actions, which means that managers can set automatic leave approvals based on conditions. Like they can set PTO requests under two days, get auto-approved, or extended leave requires manual approval.
Its compliance automation is another standout thing that we liked. When you have employees in California, New York, and Texas, each state has different accrual rules and sick leave requirements. Rippling automatically adjusts ITS leave policies to match local requirements.
User Ratings
Rippling holds a 4.9/5 rating, and many users’ reviews mentioned that submitting forms and requesting time off is simple with this software, but a few users noted that workflow customization is limited.
Zoho People is a cloud-based HR platform that centralizes core HR functions. It allows teams to better manage employee data and leave policies. The platform offers comprehensive leave management with a standout advantage: a permanent free tier for teams of up to five users. The platform provides attendance-based accruals, regional policy templates, and Bradford score calculations for absenteeism tracking—capabilities typically found only in paid enterprise solutions.
Pros | Cons |
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Best For
This one works best for budget-conscious small businesses that want leave tracking without per-user costs. It will be a plus for those already using Zoho's ecosystem.
Key Features
- Attendance-Based Leave Accrual
- Leave Type Gallery
- Bradford Score Absence Tracking
- Single- And Multi-Level Approval Workflows
- Google Calendar And Office 365 Sync
- Zoho Payroll Integration (Loss Of Pay Reports)
Pricing
The pricing for the software starts at $1.50/user/month for Essential HR plan. Zoho People also offers a free plan that supports up to 5 users. Further pricing tiers of the software are as follows:
- Professional: $2.50/user/month
- Premium: $3.50/user/month
- Enterprise: $5/user/month
Zoho People also provides a 30-day free trial on paid plans.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It
Zoho People has ‘Leave Type Gallery’— it’s a library of preconfigured leave policies compliant with regional laws across numerous countries. The Bradford Score feature is what stood out to us, as it brings enterprise-grade absence analytics to SMBs who rarely get such tools. It measures how disruptive someone’s absences are (like one employee takes a 10-day absence at the same time, and another employee takes ten 1-day absences over a few months). Basically, it calculates the frequency of employees' leaves.
User Ratings
The software has been rated 4.3/5, and multiple reviews by users suggest that they can easily track time and expenses for projects with this software. On the flip side, as per some users, it lacks strong backend integration capabilities.
Gusto approaches leave management from a payroll-first perspective, ensuring that PTO tracking and payroll calculations stay perfectly synchronized. The platform's strength lies in its automatic sync between approved time off and payroll runs, eliminating the reconciliation headaches that plague companies using separate systems.
Pros | Cons |
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Best For
Gusto can be used by small to mid-sized businesses that prioritize integration capabilities between PTO and payroll.
Key Features
- Automatic PTO-To-Payroll Synchronization
- Unlimited Leave Policy Creation
- Compliance Hub With Proactive Labor Law Alerts
- Manager PTO Dashboards
- Time Off Balances And Reporting
Pricing
The pricing for Gusto starts at $49/month plus $6/person/month for its Simple plan. The software offers multiple subscription tiers for businesses of different sizes. Further pricing tiers of the software are as follows:
- Plus: $80/month + $12/person/month
- Premium: $180/month + $22/person/month
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It
Gusto also syncs its PTO approvals with payroll processing. When managers approve time-off requests, that data automatically flows into the next payroll run. But what stood out to us is that it has a compliance hub that sends you alerts whenever regulations change. It basically tells you when a worker’s location may affect leave requirements. But it does not automatically reassign or rewrite leave policies like Rippling.
User Ratings
It has an over 4.5/5 rating, and the majority of users' reviews note that the PTO request tool and the ability to sign in with biometrics are convenient features. Though some dislike the fact that it lacks staff features like shift swapping and GPS tracking.
ADP Workforce Now delivers enterprise-grade leave management backed by the largest HR data pool in the industry. The platform's configurable accrual profiles and comprehensive analytics, which make it a competitive option for mid-market companies with complex PTO policies as well as compliance requirements.
Pros | Cons |
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Best For
It works well for mid-sized organizations (50–999 employees) that usually prefer compliance support for FMLA and multi-jurisdictional operations.
Key Features
- Configurable Accrual Profiles
- Time And HCM Integration
- Payroll Integration With ADP
- Practitioner Dashboard
- Manager Dashboard
Pricing
ADP Workforce Now contains three subscription models:
- Select: Custom pricing
- Plus: Custom pricing
- Premium: Custom pricing
It also has add-on options for Talent Acquisition, Performance Management, Compensation Management, HR Assist, and Learning Management System with custom pricing.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It
ADP's ‘Total Absence Management’ module manages those leave scenarios that simpler tools can't manage. It handles FMLA eligibility tracking and intermittent leave scheduling (for example, it tracks leave in small increments and then deducts it from the legal allowance correctly). If your organization deals with complicated federal and state leave laws, then these levels of detail are important for your business.
Its compliance expertise does not just end there; ADP monitors changing regulations across all 50 states and automatically updates system rules (the same functionality Rippling has).
User Ratings
It contains a 4.4/5 rating, with most user feedback noting that the platform makes it easy to submit PTO requests and check available PTO hours. On the flip side, a few reviewers also mention that editing or changing time-off requests sometimes requires canceling and resubmitting, which is inconvenient.
UKG Ready emerged from the merger of Ultimate Software and Kronos Incorporated, combining decades of workforce management expertise into an HR, payroll, and time solution. Its Leave Manager module emphasizes automated compliance with federal and state regulations. At the same time, it integrates tightly with scheduling and time tracking to make sure that leave requests are adjusted for shifts and payroll.
Pros | Cons |
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Best For
Any small to mid-sized company with complicated leave policies requiring automated compliance across federal, state, and company-specific regulations can use it.
Key Features
- Automated Federal And State Leave Tracking
- Configurable Accrual Rules
- Leave Qualifier Questionnaires
- Seamless Integration With Timesheets And Schedules
- Real-Time, Global Leave Reporting And Analytics
Pricing
UKG Ready offers custom-based pricing. That means the actual cost depends on your company's size and the features you need (like HR, payroll, time, and talent).
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It
This one has its strength in integration capabilities in terms of leave management. It connects the leave management to workforce scheduling. So, for example, when employees request PTO, the system can immediately show managers the staffing impact and recommend coverage options. Not only that, but it also prevents double-booking and ensures shift coverage gets addressed.
User Ratings
It has been rated 4.1/5, with many users implying that submitting or checking PTO is easy with the platform; at the same time, some mentioned that the mobile app crashes repeatedly.
Paycor's ‘Time Off Manager’ brings automation to PTO administration through its ‘Time Off Advisor’ feature. That streamlines approvals based on company policies and only alerts managers whenever human judgment is needed. The platform performs its best at FMLA documentation and tracking, making it valuable for organizations navigating complicated leave situations.
Pros | Cons |
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Best For
It performs its best for analytics-driven HR teams at organizations with 50-1,000 employees seeking AI-powered automation to reduce approval bottlenecks and gain insights into absence patterns.
Key Features
- AI-Powered Time Off Advisor
- Real-Time PTO Balance Tracking
- FMLA Eligibility Tracking
- Tilt Integration
Pricing
Paycor has a custom-based pricing model that can be modified depending on company size and selected services. It offers separate pricing structures for businesses with below 50 employees and those with 50 to 1,000+ employees.
For small businesses (below 50 employees), the available plans include:
- Basic
- Essential
- Core
- Complete + ASO
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It
The first thing that stood out to us about Paycor's leave management is the Time Off Advisor. It automates approval for requests that clearly follow policy rules. When an employee requests time off and has the balance to cover it, the system approves it automatically.
Managers only see requests that actually need their judgment, like insufficient balances or potential coverage conflicts. That saves managers from reviewing requests that don't require human decision-making.
User Ratings
Paycor holds over 4.3/5, with most reviewer comments highlighting that they can easily manage their time off requests without any difficulty, but some note that the customer support is slow.
Workday Absence Management provides enterprise-grade leave capabilities designed for large organizations with complex global operations. The platform includes a pre-built library of leave policies for different countries, adapting automatically to changing legislation while integrating deeply with Workday's broader HCM and financial systems.
Pros | Cons |
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Best For
Large enterprises with global workforces needing comprehensive leave policy management across multiple countries and jurisdictions can use this software.
Key Features
- Global Policy Library (200+ Countries)
- Slack-Based PTO Requests
- Configurable Auto-Approval Workflows
- Tiered Absence Leave Pools
- Workday Payroll Integration
Pricing
Workday HCM that houses Absent Management module has a starting price of $34/employee/month. The final price depends on the business type and selected features.
Disclaimer: Pricing references are based on publicly available third-party information and industry benchmarks. Actual costs may vary.
Why We Like It
The Slack integration is what stood out to us. What employees can do is request time off simply by sending a message in Slack or talking to Workday Assistant. This is convenient for employees who usually avoid switching between multiple apps. It even has a global policy library covering more than 200 countries, which is a big plus.
User Ratings
The software has an over 4.1/5 rating, with many users suggesting that it makes it easy to handle everyday HR tasks like checking PTO. That said, some find its mobile app interface non-intuitive.
Factorial HR offers modular leave management designed for scaling SMBs, with unlimited policy creation, multi-level approval workflows, and automatic carryover calculations. The platform's flexibility makes it particularly suited for companies experiencing rapid growth and evolving leave policy needs.
Pros | Cons |
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Best For
This one works well for scaling SMBs needing customizable leave policies with room to grow as organizational complexity increases.
Key Features
- Unlimited Custom Leave Policies (By Location And Contract Type)
- Multi-Level Approval Routing
- Automatic PTO Carryover Calculation
- Team Absence Calendar With Real-Time Balances
- Mobile App For Requests And Approvals
Pricing
The pricing for Factorial starts at $8/user/month. All plans include Factorial Core, which provides the essential tools required for day-to-day HR operations. Additional products for time, talent, and finance management can be added to create a tailored package.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It
One of the most important features we found is Factorial's smart validation system, which catches leave conflicts before managers even see the request. If an employee requests vacation on the same days when a coworker already has approved time off, the system flags it immediately and shows the conflict.
This prevents the situation where you approve someone's PTO and then realize later that you don't have enough people scheduled to cover their work.
User Ratings
This platform has a 3.7/5 rating, with many users highlighting that managing absence through the app is simple while praising the calendar view as valuable for tracking who is on leave more easily. However, some reviewers find the platform less customizable overall.
Namely combines automated PTO calculation with strong compliance tools specifically designed for US-based mid-sized businesses. The platform's State Comparison Tool helps HR teams navigate the complexity of multi-state leave compliance, while native payroll integration ensures accurate pay processing.
Pros | Cons |
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Best For
Any small to mid-sized companies (50-1,000 employees) wanting integrated HR, payroll, and compliance support for leave management can use it.
Key Features
- Automatic PTO Calculation
- Who’s In/Out Dashboard
- PTO Accrual
- Native Payroll Integration
- Mobile App For Time-Off Requests
Pricing
The pricing for Namely starts at $9/employee/month with the Namely Now plan. Further pricing tiers of the software are as follows:
- Namely Plus: Custom pricing
- Namely Plus People: Custom pricing
- Namely Complete: Custom pricing
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It
In terms of integration, Namely stood out. Its leave management system seamlessly connects to HR, time tracking, and payroll. So, whenever employees take time off or work extra hours, that information automatically flows into Namely's payroll solution. There is no need for HRs to manually enter that data.
User Ratings
Namely holds a 4.1/5 rating, and reviewers mostly highlight that the platform is overall intuitive, as they can submit/track time-off requests, but the majority of users mentioned PTO and sick-leave calculation mismatches.
11. Deputy
Deputy built its platform specifically for shift-based workforces across industries like retail, hospitality, and healthcare. And its leave management reflects this focus. The system connects leave requests directly to scheduling, enabling managers to see coverage impacts immediately and even block leave requests during critical periods when full staffing is required.
Pros | Cons |
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Best For
It's best for shift-based businesses and hourly workforces needing leave management integrated with scheduling and time tracking.
Key Features
- Custom PTO Entitlements
- Automatic Schedule Blocking For Leave
- Recurring Unavailability Settings
- Mobile Leave Requests And Approvals
Low Balance Alerts
Pricing
The pricing for Deputy starts at $5.50 per user per month with the Lite plan. Further pricing tiers of the software are as follows:
- Core: $7.25/user/month
- Pro: $10/user/month
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It
What's special about Deputy's leave management is the custom accrual flexibility. You can configure different accrual rates for different employee types. For example, you might set senior employees to earn two hours of PTO per week, while junior staff earn one hour per week. Once you configure these rules, Deputy automatically calculates and adds the right amount to each employee's balance based on their hours worked.
User Ratings
It has a 4.2/5 rating, with the majority of users saying that employees can easily request time off, and once approved, their schedules are linked with their payroll and time tracking services. On the flip side, a few users point out scheduling limitations, especially when trying to copy longer rotating plans.
12. Timetastic
Timetastic delivers dedicated leave management with a laser focus on simplicity and team visibility. The Wallchart view shows at-a-glance who's absent and when, while features like Burnout Board help managers identify employees who haven't taken adequate time off.
Pros | Cons |
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Best For
It performs its best for teams wanting dedicated, simple leave management without the complexity of full HR software.
Key Features
- Central Wallchart Calendar
- Employee Self-Service Leave Requests
- Email-Based Approvals
- Automatic Leave Balance Tracking
- Privacy-Controlled Leave Visibility
- Custom Leave Types
- Burnout Board
Pricing
The pricing for Timetastic starts at $1.50/user/month with the Timetastic plan. Further pricing tiers of the software are as follows:
- Timetastic Pro: $2.50/user/month
Both plans come with a 30-day free trial, and users can switch between plans at any time.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It
The best part about Timetastic that we found is the Wallchart. That is basically a visual calendar showing managers exactly who's out and when across the entire organization. The color-coded icons make it more visible, and it can highlight what type of leave each person is taking.
Another valuable feature we found is the Burnout Board, available in the Pro plan. This feature is beneficial for those employees who are at risk of burnout. Because of this dashboard, managers can identify those employees who haven't taken their leave recently.
User Ratings
With a 4.8 rating, numerous reviewers appreciate Timestatic for how easy it is to manage leave requests and track absences. At the same time, some users experience delays in calendar syncing.
13. LeaveBoard
LeaveBoard offers exceptional value through its professional leave management services. It also provides a permanent free tier for teams of up to nine employees. With LeaveBoard's dynamic entitlement calculation, overlap warnings, and complete calendar synchronization, it is able to offer features that are comparable to paid competitors at a much lower price.
Pros | Cons |
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Best For
It works well for small businesses wanting professional leave management without per-user costs.
Key Features
- Accrual And Carry-Over Management
- ‘Who’s Off’ Calendar View
- Overlapping Leave Warnings
- Dynamic Entitlement Calculator
- Regional And Policy-Based Leave Rules
- Smart Integrations (Google, Office 365, Slack)
Pricing
LeaveBoard has a starting price of $1.35/employee/month for the Pro plan. The vendor also offers a Free plan for teams with up to nine employees. The enterprise plan comes with custom pricing and the final price depends on the organization’s needs and selected feature set. A 14-day free trial is also available for new users.
Disclaimer: The pricing is subject to change.
Why We Like It
Apart from its free plan, what stood out to us is the pro-rata calculation capability. That means that if you hire someone in the middle of a calendar year (or if an employee quits before the end of a fiscal year), LeaveBoard will automatically determine the amount of PTO that individual is entitled to based upon their actual period of service.
User Ratings
It receives 4.5/5 ratings from small and mid-sized businesses, with many users praising how easy it is to manage employee leave. On the other hand, some users experience occasional issues with Slack integration.
Key Buying Advice For Leave Management Software
As businesses grow, they require leave management solutions that provide the ability to manage changes in leave policies, bring on new members to teams, and maintain compliance without creating excessive administrative burdens on HR. Here's a list of major factors you should consider when selecting software that delivers automation with minimal administrative burden.
How To Choose The Right Leave Management Software
When selecting leave management software, the first thing you should focus on is solutions that match your current team size. Companies with fewer than 50 employees usually prioritize dedicated leave management tools, as it is more cost-effective for them than full HR platforms. While mid-sized organizations can get the most benefit from integrated solutions that combine leave tracking with payroll administration.
Overall, it is recommended to choose the software that integrates with the tools your workflow already depends on. For example, if your company uses Slack, Google Workspace, or an HR tool, your leave management solution should seamlessly integrate with them.
What Not To Overlook
- Policy automation—whether the system applies different accrual rules based on employee tenure or location, without manual setup
- Payroll integration depth—does approved leave flow automatically into payroll, or does HR export data manually each pay period
- Mobile approval workflows for managers who aren't at their desks
- Multi-location compliance support if you have employees in different states
- Calendar synchronization with Google Calendar or Outlook
- Employee self-service for viewing balances and submitting requests without HR involvement
- How the platform handles frequent policy updates as your company grows
At the end, we would suggest prioritizing software that has competitive integration with payroll, as well as mobile functionality, and you need to check it for yourself. Other than that, a good leave management software gives managers autonomy - the ability to approve requests, view team availability, and manage coverage.