TimeLeaf vs Calamari: Which Leave Tool is Right for Your Team?

If you're evaluating leave management software, Calamari is probably on your shortlist. It's a solid tool with a modular approach. But depending on your team size and needs, it may not be the most cost-effective option.

Here's an honest comparison.

Pricing model

Calamari charges per module, per employee:

• Time Off: $2.50/employee/month
• Core HR: $2.50/employee/month
• Time & Attendance: $3.00/employee/month
• Performance Review: $3.00/employee/month
• SAML add-on: $1.00/employee/month

To run the full platform (leave, HR, time & attendance, performance, and SSO), a 25-person team pays $300/month ($12/employee across all five modules).

TimeLeaf bundles everything into one plan. Every plan includes 10 employees, then a flat per-person rate above that, with no separate module fees:

• Starter: $50/month (10 employees included, +$5/extra)
• Professional: $90/month (10 employees included, +$9/extra)
• Business: $120/month (10 employees included, +$12/extra)

That same 25-person team pays $225/month on TimeLeaf Professional ($90 base + 15 × $9). That's 25% less than Calamari's full stack, and that single price already bundles shift scheduling, contracts, e-signatures, and directory sync that Calamari doesn't sell at any price. Pay annually and save another 10%.

Feature comparison

Where Calamari wins

• 14-day free trial without credit card. TimeLeaf requires a credit card for its 7-day trial.
• Modular flexibility. If you only need leave tracking and nothing else, Calamari's Time Off module at $2.50/employee is affordable.
• Performance reviews. Calamari has a dedicated performance-review module; TimeLeaf doesn't offer one.
• Longer track record. Calamari has been around longer and has more reviews on G2.
• SAML SSO. Calamari's SAML add-on works with identity providers like Okta; TimeLeaf's SSO covers Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace only.

Where TimeLeaf wins

• Everything in one plan. Leave, time tracking, shifts, contracts, overtime and time-banking, SSO, and directory sync are all included, with no stacking five separate per-employee modules or doing line-item math. Matched against Calamari's full module stack, TimeLeaf runs about 25% cheaper while adding capabilities Calamari doesn't sell at all.
• Shift scheduling. Calamari doesn't offer this, so you'd need a third tool.
• Contracts and e-signatures. Built in, not available in Calamari at all.
• Overtime management and time banking. More robust than Calamari's basic tracking.
• Directory sync. Auto-import employees from Azure AD or Google Workspace.
• Blackout periods. Block leave during peak seasons, which is not available in Calamari.

Cost comparison at different team sizes

That's TimeLeaf's complete bundle against Calamari's complete bundle. TimeLeaf doesn't include a standalone performance-review module. Instead the same plan adds shift scheduling, contracts and e-signatures, and directory sync that Calamari can't match. Annual billing takes another 10% off the TimeLeaf column.

Bottom line

If you only need basic leave tracking for a small team, Calamari's Time Off module is a fine choice at $2.50/employee.

If you need leave + time tracking + shifts + contracts + integrations, TimeLeaf gives you all of that in one bundled plan for about 25% less than Calamari's full module stack, plus shift scheduling, contracts, and directory sync Calamari doesn't offer at all, on a single predictable bill instead of per-module, per-employee math.