Best Calamari Alternative for PTO Tracking | Vacation Tracker

Why Teams Switch from Calamari to Vacation Tracker

Calamari tries to cover too much ground. It’s not just a PTO tool, it’s also an attendance tracker and HR hub. That split focus means leave management isn’t as simple or customizable as it should be.

Users often find:

• Unnecessary extras: Attendance and time-tracking features most teams don’t need.
• More complexity: A longer setup process and extra admin work to manage policies.
• Limited flexibility: Blackout dates, probation rules, and nuanced accrual setups aren’t as strong as they should be.
• Split attention: Calamari is good at being broad, but not great at being focused.

If all you really want is clean, flexible PTO management, it’s time to switch to a tool built for just that.

The Vacation Tracker Difference

Focused on PTO and Nothing Else

Unlike Calamari, we don’t dilute our efforts with time tracking or HR extras. Vacation Tracker is built only for leave management, so every feature is fine-tuned for accuracy, visibility, and ease of use.

Setup That’s Actually Easy

Get your team running in minutes, not days. With a straightforward setup, Vacation Tracker eliminates the clunky onboarding experience of all-in-one tools.

Policies That Match Your Reality

Blackout dates, probation rules, accrual caps, role- or seniority-based entitlements. Vacation Tracker adapts to your company policies without forcing workarounds.

Seamless Team Integrations

Your team doesn’t need another login. Vacation Tracker lives inside Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, or email, so leave requests happen where work already happens.

Visibility That Helps You Plan

No more “Where’s Alex today?” moments. See at a glance who’s out, when they’re back, and how it affects projects, keeping everyone aligned.

Support That’s Actually There

Need help? Real people answer via chat, email, or video—even during your trial. You won’t be left searching through endless docs.

Compare Features

When deciding between Vacation Tracker and Calamari, it’s important to look at how each platform handles PTO management. While both offer leave tracking and approvals, the way they structure features, integrations, and policies can make a significant difference depending on your team’s needs. The table below highlights the key distinctions between the two solutions.

The Bottom Line

Calamari works if you also need attendance and HR functions. But if your priority is leave management done right, simple, customizable, and embedded in your workflow, Vacation Tracker is the better choice.

Make the Switch Today

Ditch the extras. Keep leave management simple.
Start your free 7-day trial or book a demo now.