LeaveBalance vs LeaveBoard: Free-Tier Leave Software Compared

Free-tier leave software is tempting. LeaveBoard’s free plan lets small teams track leave without spending anything, and for a handful of employees, it covers the basics. But free plans come with limitations — restricted features, limited support, and the inevitable moment when you outgrow the free tier and face a pricing jump that wasn’t part of your original calculation.

Key Takeaways

• LeaveBoard offers a free tier for up to 9 employees; LeaveBalance charges $10/mo flat for unlimited employees
• LeaveBoard’s paid plans start at $1.50/user/mo and scale with headcount; LeaveBalance doesn’t scale costs
• Teams under 9 employees can use LeaveBoard free; growing teams benefit from LeaveBalance’s predictable pricing

What LeaveBoard Does Well

LeaveBoard’s free tier is genuinely useful for micro-businesses and startups in their earliest stages. Up to 9 employees can track leave, submit requests, and view team calendars without paying anything. The interface is clean, the setup is fast, and the core functionality covers basic leave management needs.

The paid tiers add features like accrual policies, custom leave types, approval workflows, and reporting. LeaveBoard integrates with Google Calendar and Slack, provides employee self-service, and offers basic absence reports. For small teams with simple policies, it’s a reasonable starting point.

LeaveBoard also supports multiple locations and departments, which is useful for small companies with a few offices or team divisions. The public holiday calendar covers several countries, making it viable for small international teams.

Where LeaveBalance Pulls Ahead

The free-to-paid transition is where LeaveBoard’s model creates friction. Once you exceed 9 employees or need features like accrual policies, you’re paying $1.50/user/mo or more. A team of 20 pays $30/month. A team of 50 pays $75/month. LeaveBalance costs $10/month from employee 1 to employee 500.

LeaveBoard’s feature restrictions on the free tier are significant. Without accrual tracking, you can’t automatically calculate how much leave each employee has earned. Without custom leave types, you’re limited to a handful of standard categories. These aren’t edge cases — they’re core to managing leave properly.

LeaveBalance includes every feature at every price point. Custom leave types, accrual policies, carryover rules, department-level configurations, detailed reports, and calendar sync are all available from day one. There’s no feature gate, no upgrade prompt, and no limitation tied to how much you pay.

The administrative experience also differs. LeaveBoard’s reporting is adequate for small teams but lacks the depth that growing companies need. LeaveBalance provides absence cost analysis, trend reports, and department-level breakdowns that give HR teams actionable insights without exporting data to spreadsheets.

Feature Comparison

Feature	LeaveBalance	LeaveBoard (Free)	LeaveBoard (Paid)
Pricing	$10/mo flat	Free (≤9 users)	$1.50+/user/mo
Employee limit	Unlimited	9	Unlimited
Leave requests	Yes	Yes	Yes
Accrual policies	Yes	No	Yes
Carryover rules	Yes	No	Yes
Custom leave types	Yes	Limited	Yes
Calendar sync	Yes	Yes	Yes
Slack integration	Yes	Yes	Yes
Reporting	Full	Basic	Standard
Department policies	Yes	No	Yes
Mobile app	Yes	Yes	Yes

Pricing Comparison

Team Size	LeaveBalance	LeaveBoard (Free)	LeaveBoard (Paid)
5 employees	$10/mo	Free	$7.50/mo
10 employees	$10/mo	Requires paid	$15/mo
25 employees	$10/mo	Requires paid	$37.50/mo
50 employees	$10/mo	Requires paid	$75/mo
100 employees	$10/mo	Requires paid	$150/mo

When to Choose LeaveBoard

LeaveBoard’s free tier makes sense if you’re a solo founder or a micro-business with fewer than 9 employees and absolutely zero budget for tools. If your leave policies are simple — everyone gets the same days, no accrual, no carryover — the free plan covers you.

It’s also a reasonable starting point if you want to trial a leave management approach before committing to a paid tool. The free tier lets you experience the workflow without financial risk, though the feature limitations mean you’re not getting the full picture.

When to Choose LeaveBalance

LeaveBalance is the better choice as soon as you have more than 9 employees or need features that LeaveBoard locks behind its paid tier. The $10/month flat rate is often cheaper than LeaveBoard’s paid plans for teams of 10 or more, and you get every feature without restrictions.

For companies that value cost predictability, LeaveBalance eliminates the “which tier do we need” question. Everyone gets everything, and the price never changes based on headcount. That simplicity has real value when you’re planning budgets and don’t want to model per-user cost scenarios.

Growing companies benefit most. LeaveBoard’s pricing model penalizes growth — every new hire costs more per month. LeaveBalance rewards it. Add 50 employees this year, and your leave management cost stays exactly the same.

FAQ

Is LeaveBoard’s free plan really free?

Yes, LeaveBoard offers a free tier for up to 9 employees with basic leave management features. However, accrual policies, advanced reporting, and certain features require a paid plan.

How does LeaveBalance’s $10/mo compare to LeaveBoard’s free tier?

For teams under 9 employees with simple policies, LeaveBoard’s free tier saves money. For teams of 10 or more, or teams that need accrual tracking and custom policies, LeaveBalance’s flat rate is typically more cost-effective.

What features does LeaveBoard restrict on its free tier?

The free tier limits custom leave types, excludes accrual policies, restricts reporting, and doesn’t support department-specific configurations. These restrictions lift on paid plans.

Can I switch from LeaveBoard to LeaveBalance?

Yes, LeaveBalance supports CSV import for employee data and leave balances. Migration typically takes under an hour for most small teams.