People HR (formerly Access People HR) offers four pricing tiers from GBP £3 to £9.50 per employee per month — but its per-employee pricing means costs scale with headcount, and key features like Slack or Teams integration are absent.
If your team uses People HR mainly for leave tracking, you may be paying for HR features you do not use — onboarding, expenses, e-signatures, and performance management are bundled into higher tiers. The most common reasons teams look for a People HR alternative are per-employee pricing that increases with every hire, the absence of Slack or Microsoft Teams integration for in-chat leave requests, and limited reporting and analytics compared with dedicated leave tools.
This guide evaluates six alternatives to People HR’s leave management module.
Key Takeaways
- People HR uses per-employee pricing — costs increase with every new hire.
- No Slack or Microsoft Teams integration — employees must use the People HR portal.
- Leave Balance offers the best value — GBP £8/month flat rate with Slack and Teams integration.
- Reporting is basic — analytics and custom reporting lag behind dedicated leave tools.
- Purpose-built beats general-purpose — for leave management, dedicated tools outperform broader HR suites.
Why Teams Look for People HR Alternatives for Leave Management
People HR covers HR essentials, absence management, performance, and timesheets across four tiers. That breadth works for some teams, but leave-focused users report friction:
- Per-employee pricing — costs increase with every hire, making it expensive for growing teams
- No Slack or Microsoft Teams integration — employees must use the People HR portal to manage leave
- Feature gating — performance management, timesheets, and custom workflows require the Pro (£8) or Elite+ (£9.50) plans
- Limited analytics — reporting capabilities trail behind dedicated leave management tools
- Dated UI — the interface feels dated compared with newer competitors
What to Look for in a People HR Alternative
Key criteria for UK businesses:
- Pricing model — flat-rate vs per-employee, and cost at your team size
- UK compliance — Working Time Regulations, statutory leave, bank holidays
- Integrations — Slack, Microsoft Teams, Xero, Sage
- Setup time — hours vs weeks
- Scope — full HR platform or dedicated leave management?
Here are the six best alternatives to People HR for leave management in 2026.
1. Leave Balance — Best Overall Alternative for Leave-Only Teams
Leave Balance is a dedicated leave management tool with native Slack and Microsoft Teams integration and flat-rate pricing.
Pricing
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Monthly | GBP £8/month (flat) |
| Annual | GBP £80/year |
Unlimited employees and leave policies. No per-seat fees. A 50-person team pays GBP £8/month — the same as a 200-person team.
For comparison, the same 50-person team on People HR Starter pays GBP £150/month. On the Elite+ plan, GBP £475/month.
Key Features
- Slack and Microsoft Teams integration — full leave workflow in chat
- Unlimited custom leave policies — annual leave, sick leave, bank holidays, custom types
- Team calendar — real-time absence visibility
- Analytics and reporting — leave trends and exportable data
- Multi-country support — UK, EU, and other regions
- 15-minute setup
UK Compliance
Leave Balance supports Working Time Regulations 1998, including statutory annual leave (5.6 weeks), bank holidays, and pro-rata calculations for part-time employees.
Limitations
Not a full HR platform. No payroll, onboarding, performance management, or document storage.
Why It Is the Top Pick
Leave Balance covers the leave management requirement at a flat GBP £8/month — no per-employee fees, no feature gating, and native Slack/Teams integration that People HR lacks.
Best for: Teams of 10 to 200 employees that use Slack or Teams and want dedicated leave management.
2. Charlie HR — Best for UK Teams Wanting a Simple HR Platform
Charlie HR is a UK-built HR platform for small businesses.
Pricing
| Team Size | Estimated Cost (GBP) |
|---|---|
| 10 employees | ~GBP £70/mo |
| 25 employees | ~GBP £120/mo |
| 50 employees | ~GBP £200/mo |
Key Features
- Leave management with custom policies
- Employee records and document management
- Onboarding and performance tools
Limitations
No Slack or Teams integration. Pricing scales with employee count.
Best for: Small UK businesses (under 25 employees).
3. Timetastic — Best Budget Option for Simple Leave Tracking
Timetastic is a UK-based leave tracker.
Pricing
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard | GBP £1.30/user/mo |
For a 30-person team, approximately GBP £39 per month.
Key Features
- Simple leave request and approval workflow
- Wall chart calendar
- Basic reporting
Limitations
No Slack or Teams integration. No multi-country support.
Best for: Very small UK teams (under 6 employees).
4. Calamari — Best for Teams Needing Time Tracking Integration
Calamari offers leave tracking and time tracking.
Pricing
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Leave + Time | GBP £4.15/user/mo |
For a 30-person team, approximately GBP £125 per month.
Key Features
- Leave management and time tracking
- Slack and Google Workspace integration
- Team calendar and absence reports
Limitations
Slack integration handles notifications only. Per-user pricing.
Best for: Teams that need leave management plus time tracking.
5. Factorial — Best for EU Companies Needing HR Compliance
Factorial is an HR platform covering leave management, time tracking, and recruiting across European markets.
Pricing
| Team Size | Estimated Cost (EUR) |
|---|---|
| 30 employees | €150–240/mo |
Key Features
- Leave management with country-specific policies
- Time tracking and shift scheduling
- Strong European compliance
Limitations
Opaque pricing. Full HR suite means leave-only teams overpay.
Best for: EU-headquartered companies needing a full HRIS.
6. Personio — Best for Growing UK Companies Needing a Full HRIS
Personio is a European HR platform for growing companies.
Pricing
Per-employee pricing, approximately GBP £120–240/mo for a 30-person team.
Key Features
- Leave management with configurable policies
- Recruiting and onboarding
- Performance reviews
Limitations
Full HRIS means leave-only teams overpay. No Slack or Teams integration.
Best for: Growing UK and EU companies (50–500 employees).
Pricing Comparison at a Glance
| Tool | 30-Person Monthly Cost (GBP) | Pricing Model |
|---|---|---|
| Leave Balance | GBP £8/mo | Flat rate, unlimited users |
| Timetastic | GBP £39/mo | Per user |
| People HR Starter | GBP £90/mo | Per employee |
| Calamari | ~GBP £125/mo | Per user, 10-user min |
| Charlie HR | ~GBP £120/mo | Per business, thresholds |
| Personio | ~GBP £120–240/mo | Per employee, custom |
| Factorial | ~GBP £125–200/mo | Per employee, custom |
Leave Balance is the most affordable option at every team size. At 50 employees, Leave Balance remains GBP £8/month while People HR Starter reaches GBP £150/month and Elite+ reaches GBP £475/month.
How to Choose the Right People HR Alternative
You mainly used People HR for leave tracking
Choose Leave Balance. Save GBP £82+ per month with Slack and Teams integration.
You need a simple HR platform
Choose Charlie HR. Clean, UK-focused experience for small businesses.
You want the cheapest per-user option
Consider Timetastic for teams under 6 employees.
You need leave tracking plus time tracking
Evaluate Calamari.
You need a comprehensive HRIS with EU compliance
Evaluate Factorial or Personio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I migrate my leave data from People HR?
Yes. Export leave balances and use Leave Balance’s CSV upload for bulk onboarding.
Do I still need payroll software?
Yes. Leave Balance handles leave tracking, not payroll. Continue using Xero, Sage, or your existing provider.
Is Leave Balance compliant with Working Time Regulations?
Yes. Leave Balance supports configurable policies aligned with the Working Time Regulations 1998.
The Bottom Line
People HR offers a solid range of HR features at transparent per-employee pricing. But if your team primarily needs leave management, the per-employee costs and lack of Slack/Teams integration make it an expensive choice compared with dedicated tools.
Leave Balance offers GBP £8/month flat, Slack and Teams integration, and a 15-minute setup. Try Leave Balance free for 14 days — no credit card required.
This article is general information, not legal advice.