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Absenca

Absenca vs BambooHR

Absenca vs BambooHR

BambooHR and Absenca solve different-sized problems. BambooHR includes applicant tracking in every plan and performance management from Pro; payroll, benefits and time and attendance are paid add-ons.1 Absenca does one thing: leave and absence tracking, in depth. If time off is the part you need, here's how they compare, with a source and a date for every BambooHR fact.

In short

If you want a complete HR system, BambooHR is the more comprehensive choice, and Absenca isn't trying to replace it. If you only need to manage time off, Absenca is a dedicated leave tool with a free plan. Absenca costs less than BambooHR's Core plan for teams of 10, 20, 30 and 50 people.1

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Which is the better fit?

Choose Absenca

Teams that only need to track who's off, with allowances, approvals and accruals, without paying for or rolling out a full HR suite.

Choose BambooHR

Companies that want a complete HR system in one platform. BambooHR includes applicant tracking in every plan and performance management from Pro; payroll, benefits and time and attendance are paid add-ons.1

Absenca vs BambooHR at a glance

Absenca compared with BambooHR
Absenca BambooHR
Free plan Free for up to 10 people None1
Price Pro: $37.50 a month for up to 50 people $10 to $25 an employee a month; from $250 flat up to 25 people1
Buying Self-serve sign-up A quote request1
Contract Month to month Month to month or longer2
Full HRIS (hiring, performance, payroll) No; Absenca tracks leave only Yes; payroll and time tracking are add-ons1
Carry-over Yes, with caps and expiry, on every plan Yes, with expiry up to a year3
Seniority entitlements Seniority tiers, on every plan Tenure milestones4
Slack A bot for requests and approvals, on Pro Its own Slack app5
Microsoft Teams No Teams bot yet Through third-party apps6
Leave attachments Yes, on the request Yes7
Public holidays 190+ countries 180+ countries8
Calendar sync Google and Outlook sync, on every plan iCal feeds7

What a team pays each month

Monthly price by team size on Absenca and on BambooHR Core
TeamAbsencaBambooHR Core
10 peopleFree$2501
20 people$37.50$2501
30 people$37.50$3001
50 people$37.50$5001

Monthly prices in US dollars, before tax. Absenca bills Pro for all 50 seats, so every team from 11 to 50 people pays $37.50.

Switching from BambooHR? The step-by-step move is on the BambooHR alternative page →

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Frequently asked questions

Is Absenca a BambooHR alternative?

For leave and time off, yes: Absenca covers PTO tracking, allowances, accruals, approvals and absence analytics. It isn't a full HRIS, so it won't replace BambooHR's hiring, performance or payroll features. BambooHR includes applicant tracking in every plan and performance management from Pro; payroll, benefits and time and attendance are paid add-ons.1

Is Absenca cheaper than BambooHR?

Absenca costs less than BambooHR's Core plan for teams of 10, 20, 30 and 50 people.1 BambooHR lists Core at $10, Pro at $17 and Elite at $25 per employee per month; companies of 25 employees or fewer pay a flat $250, $425 or $650 a month.1 Absenca is free for up to 10 people. Pro is $37.50 a month for up to 50 people, or $33.75 a month billed annually ($405 a year).

Why use Absenca instead of BambooHR just for leave?

If time off is all you need, a dedicated tool costs less and is faster to set up. BambooHR says full implementation generally takes four to six weeks; companies under 25 employees use a self-guided QuickStart.2 Absenca also goes deeper on leave, with TOIL, Bradford Factor analytics on Pro, and approvals in Slack.

Can Absenca work alongside BambooHR?

Yes. Many teams run a dedicated leave tracker for day-to-day time off: Absenca bulk-imports your people from a CSV, and BambooHR keeps the wider HR record.

Other comparisons

Absenca vs Vacation Tracker Absenca vs Timetastic Absenca vs Calamari Absenca vs Day Off Absenca vs LeaveBoard Absenca vs Leave Dates Absenca vs absence.io Absenca vs Factorial Absenca vs Flamingo Absenca vs Personio Absenca vs Sage HR Absenca vs Breathe HR Absenca vs PTO by Roots Absenca vs absentify Absenca vs WhosOff Best leave management software What leave management software costs How to choose leave management software Pricing

Every BambooHR fact on this page links to its source and the date we checked it. Features and prices change, so check BambooHR's own pages before you decide.

Sources

  1. bamboohr.com/pricing, checked
  2. bamboohr.com/faq, checked
  3. bamboohr.com/product-updates/set-expiration-dates-for-carryover-time-off-balances, checked
  4. bamboohr.com/resources/guides/customize-bamboohr-nonprofit, checked
  5. bamboohr.com/integrations/listings/slack, checked
  6. bamboohr.com/integrations/listings/pyn, checked
  7. help.bamboohr.com/s/article/639584, checked
  8. bamboohr.com/product-updates/add-holidays-in-bulk-by-country, checked