PTO by Roots alternative
A PTO by Roots alternative with more than just Slack
PTO by Roots (formerly PTO Ninja) is a well-liked, Slack-first PTO bot — request and approve time off without leaving Slack, with a clean approval flow and HRIS connections. Absenca gives you that same Slack-first experience, then adds the things a growing team reaches for: a Microsoft Teams bot, a full web app with a shared calendar and wallchart, accruals, TOIL, Bradford Factor analytics and proper reporting. Free for up to 15 people, then a flat $0.75 per user. Here's an honest, side-by-side comparison.
In short
If Slack is the only place your team lives and a lightweight bot is all you want, PTO by Roots's focus is a genuine strength. But if you want the same Slack flow plus Microsoft Teams, a real web app, calendar, accruals, TOIL and reporting — on a usable free tier and a lower flat price — Absenca is the closer fit, with CSV import so you can switch in minutes.
PTO by Roots vs Absenca
| PTO by Roots | Absenca | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Trial only | Up to 15 users, full features |
| Paid price | ~$3+ / user / mo (some plans on request) | $0.75 / user / mo |
| Chat bots (Slack / Teams / Google Chat) | Slack only | Slack + Teams + Google Chat |
| Full web app (calendar & wallchart) | Limited — Slack-centric | Yes, full web app |
| Google & Outlook calendar sync | Yes | Yes |
| Approval workflow | Yes | Yes |
| Accruals, carry-over & seniority | Basic | Advanced (monthly/quarterly, tiers, pro-rata) |
| TOIL (time off in lieu) | No | Full TOIL tracking |
| Public holidays (190+ countries) | Limited | Yes, auto-import + .ics |
| Bradford Factor analytics | No | Yes |
| Reports (CSV / XLSX / PDF / scheduled) | Basic | Full + scheduled |
| Leave attachments (doctor's notes) | No | Yes |
| HRIS integrations (ADP, BambooHR, Workday) | Yes | No — leave-focused, with API & webhooks |
| EU data residency | Varies (US-based) | EU data residency |
| Migrate from PTO by Roots | — | CSV bulk import |
PTO by Roots (as of 2026): no permanent free plan — a free trial, then billed per user per month, with public listings citing pricing from roughly $3/user/mo and some plans quoted on request. Absenca: free for up to 15 users, then $0.75/user/mo (Pro up to 50, Custom Pack beyond). Competitor figures are based on publicly available information as of 2026 and may have changed.
Why teams pick Absenca
Keep Slack, add Teams and a web app
Absenca has the same Slack-first request-and-approve flow, plus a Microsoft Teams bot and a full web app with a shared calendar and wallchart — not just a bot in one chat tool.
More than a simple PTO bot
Accruals, carry-over, seniority tiers, TOIL, blackout periods and public holidays for 190+ countries — for when 'days off' isn't the whole story.
Analytics and reporting built in
Bradford Factor scoring, team energy insight and CSV/XLSX/PDF reports (including scheduled ones) come standard, not as an upsell.
A free tier and a lower price
Free for up to 15 people, then a flat $0.75 per user — versus a trial-then-paid model that publicly starts higher. Switch via CSV import in minutes.
Switch from PTO by Roots in minutes
Absenca's built-in import wizard brings your people and leave balances across, so moving is painless. Try it free for up to 15 people — no credit card.
Start freeWhere PTO by Roots might be the better fit
- Genuinely Slack-native and dead simple — if your whole team lives in Slack and you only want a lightweight PTO bot, that focus is a real strength.
- Strong reviews for ease of setup and value, and a polished in-Slack experience that needs almost no training.
- Direct HRIS integrations (ADP Workforce Now, BambooHR, Workday, TriNet) that sync PTO with payroll and HR records — useful if you're standardising on one of those systems.
We'd rather you pick the right tool than the loudest one. If the points above matter more to you than price and a free tier, PTO by Roots is a perfectly good choice.
Frequently asked questions
Is Absenca a good PTO by Roots alternative?
Yes — especially if you've outgrown a Slack-only bot. Absenca keeps the same Slack-first request-and-approve flow and adds a Microsoft Teams bot, a full web app, accruals, TOIL, Bradford Factor analytics and reporting, with a free tier for up to 15 people.
Does Absenca work in Slack like PTO by Roots?
Yes. Absenca has a Slack bot for requesting, approving and seeing who's out, so the day-to-day flow feels familiar. It also adds a Microsoft Teams bot and a full web app on top.
Can I move my data over from PTO by Roots?
Yes — you can bulk-import your users (and historical balances) via CSV when you set up, so switching is quick.
How much does Absenca cost compared to PTO by Roots?
Absenca is free for up to 15 people, then a flat $0.75 per user per month. PTO by Roots has no permanent free plan — a trial, then per-user pricing that public listings put from roughly $3/user/mo as of 2026 (some plans quoted on request). Always check current pricing, as it can change.
Does Absenca connect to HRIS tools like PTO by Roots does?
Not directly to ADP, BambooHR or Workday today — Absenca is focused on leave and absence management. It does offer a read/write API and webhooks, so you can build the connections you need. If a turnkey HRIS sync is essential, PTO by Roots may suit better there.
Other comparisons
Comparison based on publicly available information about PTO by Roots as of 2026. Features and pricing change — please check PTO by Roots's website for the latest details.