Absenca vs Timetastic
Absenca vs Timetastic
Timetastic and Absenca are both clean, no-nonsense leave planners — a shared calendar, a wallchart, approvals and public holidays. The biggest practical difference is that Timetastic has no permanent free plan (only a trial) and bills per user, while Absenca is free for up to 15 people and adds more advanced policy features as you grow. Here's how they line up.
In short
If you love Timetastic's simplicity but want a free tier you can actually run a team on — plus Teams, accruals, TOIL and absence analytics as you scale — Absenca is the lower-cost match at $0.75/user.
Which is the better fit?
Choose Absenca
Teams that want a real free tier, Microsoft Teams support, and room to grow into accruals, TOIL and Bradford Factor analytics.
Choose Timetastic
Teams that want Timetastic's long-established simplicity and don't need a free plan or advanced policy automation.
Absenca vs Timetastic at a glance
| Absenca | Timetastic | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Up to 15 users | Trial only |
| Leave calendar & wallchart | Yes | Yes |
| Public holidays (190+ countries) | Yes | Yes |
| Chat bots (Slack / Teams / Google Chat) | Slack + Teams + Google Chat | Slack |
| TOIL (time off in lieu) | Full TOIL tracking | Limited |
| Accruals & seniority entitlements | Advanced (monthly/quarterly, tiers) | Basic |
| Bradford Factor analytics | Yes | No |
| Leave attachments | Yes | No |
| Multi-office & timezones | Full multi-office | Limited |
| Reports (CSV / XLSX / PDF) | CSV / XLSX / PDF + scheduled | Basic exports |
| EU data residency | EU data residency | UK-based (as of 2026) |
Timetastic (as of 2026): no free plan — free trial only, then billed per user per month. Absenca: free for up to 15 users, then $0.75/user/mo.
Thinking of switching from Timetastic?
Absenca's built-in import wizard brings your people and leave balances across, so moving is painless. Read the full breakdown on our Timetastic alternative page, or just try it free for up to 15 people — no credit card.
Frequently asked questions
Does Timetastic have a free plan?
No — Timetastic offers a free trial but no permanent free plan; you're billed per user after the trial. Absenca is free for up to 15 people indefinitely, then $0.75 per user per month.
Is Absenca cheaper than Timetastic?
Yes. Timetastic bills every user per month with no free tier. Absenca is free up to 15 users and a flat $0.75/user beyond that, which is typically well below Timetastic's per-user rate.
What does Absenca have that Timetastic doesn't?
A permanent free tier, a Microsoft Teams bot (Timetastic is Slack-only for chat), and more advanced policy tools — accruals, TOIL, seniority-based entitlement and Bradford Factor analytics.
Can I switch from Timetastic to Absenca?
Yes — Absenca's import wizard brings your people and balances across, so you can move in minutes.
Other comparisons
Comparison based on publicly available information about Timetastic as of 2026. Features and pricing change — please check Timetastic's website for the latest details.