When PTO requests pile up in spreadsheets or scattered messages, small tracking mistakes turn into payroll confusion, scheduling gaps, and frustrated employees who feel like no one knows what’s going on.

I reviewed 6 paid time off tracking software tools and compared them by ease of use, leave automation, and scheduling visibility.

Use these picks to simplify PTO tracking, avoid coverage issues, and keep your team and payroll running smoothly.

If you don’t have the time to read through our research, jump down to our quick comparison table.

App Best for Starting Price Key Considerations
Connecteam Teams managing hours, PTO, absences, and staffing together Just $29/month for the first 30 users Best for having PTO, scheduling, and timesheets in one place with deep policy controls
Buddy Punch Small businesses that want PTO tied to a simple punch clock $4.49/user/month + $19/month Good for simple PTO plus punch-clock workflows; lacks minimum notice rules for requests
OnTheClock SMBs handling basic PTO alongside payroll-ready timesheets $4/user/month + $5/month Works for basic PTO and payroll-ready time tracking; approved leave not connected to schedules
QuickBooks Time QuickBooks users syncing PTO and tracked hours to payroll $8/user/month + $20/month Ideal for QuickBooks Payroll workflows and flexible accruals; timekeeping exceptions need manual review
ClickTime Professional services tracking PTO against billable work $12/user/month Flexible PTO approvals and reporting; limited approval workflows
Timecamp Project teams tracking PTO alongside task-based hours $2.99/user/month Great for task tracking and desktop monitoring; lacks mobile PTO tools

What’s New in This Update (May 2026)

  • Replaced Jibble, BambooHR, and Clockify with OnTheClock, QuickBooks Time, ClickTime, and TimeCamp.
  • Shifted from a more general PTO software roundup to a more detailed comparison focused on leave automation, scheduling visibility, time tracking connections, and payroll impact.
  • Reworked the review sections to focus more directly on PTO, time tracking, scheduling, and reporting.

Our Top Picks

  1. 1

    Best for Teams managing hours, PTO, absences, and staffing together

  2. 2

    Best for Small businesses that want PTO tied to a simple punch clock

  3. 3

    Best for SMBs handling basic PTO alongside payroll-ready timesheets

Why trust us?

Our team of unbiased software reviewers follows strict editorial guidelines, and our methodology is clear and open to everyone.
See our complete methodology

21

Tools considered

13

Tools reviewed

6

Best tools chosen

How I Ranked the Best PTO Tracking Software

Here are the features I looked at to help teams request time off quickly and give managers a clear view of who is out and when.

Must-have PTO tracking features:

These are the core features every strong PTO tracker should have.

I prioritized:

  • Simple time-off requests: Employees should be able to quickly submit vacation, sick leave, personal days, and other requests. 
  • Clear approval workflows: Managers need an easy way to approve, deny, or review requests. I prioritized tools that make approval steps clear and organized.
  • Accurate PTO balance tracking: The software should automatically track accruals, used time, remaining balances, and carryover rules.
  • Shared calendar visibility: Teams need to see who is out, when they are off, and where scheduling gaps could happen.
  • Time clock and scheduling support: The tools should connect PTO tracking with shift planning and time tracking, so approved time off reflects in schedules, coverage plans, and payroll records.
  • Mobile access: Employees and managers should be able to request, approve, and check time off from their phones. 
  • Notifications and reminders: Good PTO software should send updates when requests are submitted, approved, denied, or still pending.

I also looked at how it performs day-to-day: 

Beyond the basics, I considered how the software holds up for everyday use.

  • Ease of use: The tool should be simple to learn and easy to use for both admins and employees.
  • Customization: The software must let teams adjust policies, time-off types, accrual settings, approval chains, and holiday calendars.
  • Scalability: The software should be able to support more employees, more managers, more locations, and more complex policies as a company grows.

Finally, I considered operational controls to reduce risk:

  • Reporting: Managers should be able to see time-off trends, absenteeism patterns, balance summaries, and policy usage without doing manual math.
  • Compliance support: The tool should help manage leave policies, carryover rules, and recordkeeping requirements. 
  • Manager visibility: The software needs to help managers spot conflicts, avoid understaffing, and make fair decisions without extra admin effort.

The 6 Best PTO Tracking Software of 2026

  1. Connecteam — Best for Teams managing hours, PTO, absences, and staffing together

    Connecteam pto interface

    Connecteam is the best choice for businesses that want PTO, scheduling, and time tracking in one app. It’s especially strong for teams that need clear leave policies, accurate balances, and better day-to-day coverage without the extra admin work.

    Why I chose Connecteam: I ranked Connecteam #1 because it was the most complete option for PTO tracking, especially in areas like policy flexibility, balance visibility, and accurate accrual tracking. 

    PTO requests and approvals

    Employees can submit time-off requests from Connecteam’s mobile or desktop app. They just choose a policy, request full or partial days, add a note, and send it off, without needing any emails or manual forms. Once submitted, managers can review requests, and approve or decline them.

    Connecteam also adds useful controls around documentation. For example, admins can require approvals, set advance notice rules, and ask for attachments when needed, like a doctor’s note. Employees upload files or images directly with their requests, keeping records clean and organized.

     

    An illustration showing Connecteam’s time off from manager view
    Connecteam makes it easy to request and approve time off. 

    Flexible time-off policies

    Connecteam gives managers a lot of control over time off management, so it’s easy to build PTO policies for your team. You can create paid or unpaid policies, then customize them for different groups, such as full-time, hourly, or specific departments.

    Policies can be tracked in hours or days, set as limited or unlimited, and run on calendar-year, custom, or anniversary cycles. I really appreciated this flexibility, because it means you’re not stuck forcing real policies into a generic system.

    The policy setup is also super helpful. You can set fixed or earned-per-hour accruals, carryover limits, yearly caps, and even tenure-based rules, all within one policy. There’s also support for minimum-hours requirements and cycle-based accruals, so time off is earned in a way that actually reflects how your team works.

     

    Time Off
    You can create flexible PTO policies with Connecteam.

    Better balance visibility

    Connecteam gives both managers and employees a clear view of PTO balances. Employees can easily see their policies, balances, and request history. 

    Managers gain real-time visibility into what’s taken, approved, or still pending, plus detailed breakdowns of accruals and usage. They can adjust balances when needed and set limits on how far into a negative balance employees can go, which I found useful.

    An illustration showing Connecteam’s scheduling interface
    Connecteam helps you plan schedules and track time from one place.

    Scheduling and time tracking

    Connecteam really stands out for how well paid time off is incorporated into the employee scheduler and employee time clock. Approved time off shows up directly in schedules and timesheets, so managers can see who’s out, plan coverage accordingly, and avoid last minute gaps. 

    You can also add holiday time in bulk, which flows into timesheets for payroll, and saves you from updating records one by one. 

    I like how practical it is to tie PTO to actual hours worked through the time clock. There are even options like cycle-based calculations and minimum-hours thresholds, so time off reflects real work, not just a fixed yearly number.

    HR and payroll integrations

    Connecteam’s PTO tracking software integrates with the HR and payroll tools you already have, including PrismHR, BambooHR, ADP, Xero, Paychex, and more.

    And so much more…

    Connecteam is a full workforce management solution and offers more than just paid time off tracking, including:  

    • Company knowledge base: Store PTO policies, leave rules, and employee guidelines in one searchable place. Use the built-in AI agent to get instant responses right from company documents. 
    • Online team chat: Keep work conversations organized and easy to manage. Share updates, files, and shift details in one-on-one or group chats. 
    • Employee onboarding: Speed up onboarding with role-specific packets, digital forms, and e-signatures. Required fields, policy confirmations, and sign-offs make sure nothing gets missed.
    • Employee training software: Use the AI Course Creator to quickly build onboarding and policy training to get employees up to speed from day one.

    When Connecteam isn’t a good fit

    Connecteam isn’t the best choice for companies that only need a simple PTO tracker. Its strength comes from the added control and operational features, so smaller office teams with straightforward leave policies may find it more advanced than necessary. If you just want basic leave requests and approvals with minimal setup, a lighter tool may feel easier to manage.

    Connecteam also offers a free for life plan – Get Started Now!

    0
    • Time Tracking
      9.8
    • Employee Scheduling
      9.8
    • Team Communication
      9.7
    • Training
      9.6
    • Forms
      9.5
    • Setup
      9.7
    • Web App
      9.1
    • Mobile App
      9.8
    • Integrations
      9.1
    • Security Features
      9.4
    • Reporting & Analytics
      9.1
    • Customer Support
      9.9

    Key Features

    • Paid and unpaid time off policies 
    • Flexible PTO accrual settings
    • Admin approvals and edits
    • Detailed balance log
    • Mobile time-off requests
    • Scheduler and time clock

    Pros

    • Clear balance transparency 
    • Strong policy customization
    • Deep admin controls 
    • Hour-based and tenure-based accruals

    Cons

    • Complicated setup for teams with simple leave policies 

    Pricing

    Free-for-life plan availablePremium plans start at $29/month for 30 users

    14-day free trial, no credit card required

    Start your free trial
  2. Buddy Punch — Best for Small businesses that want PTO tied to a simple punch clock

    Screenshot of the buddypunch webpage

    Key Features

    • Mobile PTO requests and alerts
    • Fixed and hourly PTO accruals
    • GPS time tracking
    • Drag-and-drop employee scheduling

    Pros

    • Built-in leave types 
    • Approved PTO visible in schedule

    Cons

    • No minimum notice period for PTO 
    • Manual clock-in verification

    Buddy Punch is a time off tracking software that also offers employee time tracking and scheduling. 

    Why I chose Buddy Punch: I liked that Buddy Punch goes beyond basic PTO by incorporating it into its time tracking and scheduling tools.

    Time off tracking

    In our full Buddy Punch review, we tested how well the PTO tracking works with the rest of the platform. I appreciated that most of the common leave types are already set up, so it’s easy to get started. You can also add your own custom policies, but it’s nice that there are already settings built in.

    Employees can request leave on the mobile app, and real-time notifications help managers stay on top of approvals. I liked that approved time off appears on the schedule, so teams have better visibility into coverage.

    Buddy Punch supports fixed and hour-based accruals, plus blackout dates for busy periods. The main drawback for me is that it doesn’t support minimum notice requirements, which can make last-minute requests harder to manage.

    A look at how Buddy Punch displays employee schedules and time-off side by side — compared to Connecteam's streamlined scheduling experience.
    When we tested Buddy Punch, the tool displayed employee time-off on the employee schedule.

    GPS time tracking

    Buddy Punch tracks regular hours, breaks, overtime, and double-time across web and mobile, while recording GPS data at each clock-in. There are also geofence and facial recognition features to help prevent off-site clock-ins and buddy punching. 

    While helpful, we found the facial recognition just takes a picture of the employee at clock-in and attaches it to their timecard. It’s up to managers to verify the employee’s identity after the fact, which is more manual than I would have liked. There’s also no offline mode, which could be inconvenient if you’re in an area with limited connectivity. 

    Scheduling, job tracking, and availability tools

    Buddy Punch’s scheduler was pretty straightforward. Managers can assign shifts from day, week, or month views, and the drag-and-drop setup makes it simple to move shifts around or fix coverage gaps. I also liked the recurring shift feature for teams with repeat schedules. Employees can swap shifts, find coverage, and update their availability.

    That said, scheduling automation seemed limited. There are no schedule templates or shift-copying tools, so managers still have to build schedules manually. It also lacks controls for daily or weekly hour limits and rest periods, which may be a drawback for businesses with stricter labor or safety requirements.

    What users say about Buddy Punch

    Overall, it’s been very easy to use and accurate with keeping everyone’s time entries up to date and the PTO feature is the favorite of the employees

    Marisela D.
    Legal Assistant

    Read review here.

    There is no option for bereavement leave. Too bad I can’t edit a PTO request once it is submitted.

    Joanne C.
    Program Director

    Read review here.

    0
    • Pricing
      8.5
    • Usability & Interface
      8.5
    • Mobile App
      7
    • Time Tracking
      8.5
    • GPS Tracking
      7
    • Employee Scheduling
      8.5
    • Job Tracking
      8.5
    • Security Features
      8
    • Reporting & Analytics
      7.5
    • Customer Support
      7

    Pricing

    Starts at $4.49/user/month + $19/month Trial: Yes — 14 days Free Plan: No

  3. OnTheClock — Best for SMBs handling basic PTO alongside payroll-ready timesheets

    Screenshot from OnTheClock showing interface for small business

    Key Features

    • Time off management
    • Time tracking
    • Geofence and compliance controls
    • Drag-and-drop scheduling

    Pros

    • Flexible PTO policies 
    • Simple to request time-off

    Cons

    • PTO customization is limited
    • Time off doesn’t sync to schedule 

    OnTheClock is a time tracking tool that also helps small and medium businesses with scheduling and leave management.

    Why I chose OnTheClock: I liked OnTheClock because it’s a strong option for businesses that want essential workforce tools, including time-off management, without a more advanced setup.

    Paid time off

    In our full OnTheClock review, managing PTO was pretty simple. Employees can request time off from any device, and managers can review and approve requests on the go. I also like that it supports both accrual-based and allotment-style PTO policies, which gives businesses some flexibility.

    That said, the setup feels more basic than some competitors. We found that you can’t apply PTO policies company-wide, so managers need to assign them individually or by group. OnTheClock also only supports four PTO categories by default: vacation, holiday, sick, and personal. You can rename them, but you can’t create new categories, which may feel limiting for companies with more detailed leave policies.

    Another area to note is that approved time off doesn’t sync directly with scheduling, so managers could still accidentally assign shifts to employees who are unavailable.

    A closer look at OnTheClock's PTO settings page for managing individual employee paid time off configurations.
    We created individual and group PTO policies with OnTheClock.

    We created individual and group PTO policies with OnTheClock.

    Time tracking and compliance

    OnTheClock lets employees track regular hours, overtime, double-time, and breaks. There are also built-in controls for preventing time theft, including geofencing, device restrictions, fingerprint punching, and real-time location tracking.

    The overtime tools are another plus. OnTheClock includes preset overtime rules for different states, including California, and alerts managers before employees hit overtime. However, break tracking seemed more limited. The platform supports automatic break deductions, but it doesn’t handle stricter break compliance rules very well, which could be a drawback for businesses in states with tighter labor requirements.

    Shift scheduling

    With OnTheClock, managers can quickly create shifts, add details like jobs and locations, include notes, and use drag-and-drop scheduling to move shifts around. I also liked that you can copy shifts and schedules to save time when building recurring schedules.

    Yet, the scheduling experience felt limited compared to stronger workforce platforms. During testing, there were issues with schedule publishing, and employees couldn’t properly manage shifts from mobile. OnTheClock also doesn’t support shift swapping, trading, or accepting and declining shifts, which could be challenging if you’re trying to manage shift coverage.

    What users say about OnTheClock

    Extremely user-friendly, with quick and easy onboarding that makes it simple to get started. Adding Bulk PTO is my favorite feature.

    Shalisa B.
    Clinic Manager

    Read review here.

    There are not many downsides, but I don’t like that I don’t get notification if someone is requesting PTO and that I manually have to log in to see if there have been any requests.

    Eric A.
    Director of Operations & Finance

    Read review here.

    0
    • Setup
      7.5
    • Web App
      8
    • Mobile App
      7.5
    • Time Tracking
      7.5
    • Overtime Tracking
      7.5
    • Employee Scheduling
      8
    • GPS Tracking
      9
    • Time Off Management
      8
    • Team Communication
      7.5
    • Integrations
      6.5
    • Security Features
      7.5
    • Reporting & Analytics
      6.5
    • Customer Support
      9

    Pricing

    Starts at $4/user/month + $5/month Trial: Yes — 30 days Free Plan: No

  4. QuickBooks Time — Best for QuickBooks users syncing PTO and tracked hours to payroll

    Screenshot of the QuickBooks Time webpage

    Key Features

    • Time-off management
    • Timesheet approvals and exports
    • Time tracking and geofencing
    • Employee scheduling

    Pros

    • Flexible PTO accrual rules 
    • Strong integration with QuickBooks Payroll

    Cons

    • Geofencing can be bypassed 
    • Overtime calculations require manual review

    QuickBooks Time is a time tracking tool that also offers scheduling and time-off management. 

    Why I chose QuickBooks Time: QuickBooks Time is a good choice for businesses that need PTO tracking software connected to QuickBooks accounting tools.

    Time off tracking

    QuickBooks Time lets admins create paid or unpaid time-off codes, assign them to individuals or groups, and automatically apply accrual rules across the company. It also offers common leave categories like vacation, sick time, holidays, and personal leave.

    What stood out to me most is the flexibility around approvals and accruals. Employees can request time off by the hour or day, check their projected balances before submitting requests, and view balances from the mobile app. Once submitted, managers can approve requests, enter time off in bulk, edit balances, and choose whether approvals are required at all. Approved time off also appears in schedules once approved

    The accrual setup is also pretty customizable. Businesses can base accruals on yearly rules, pay periods, or hours worked, with options for balance caps, negative balances, delayed accruals, resets, and use-it-or-lose-it policies.

    A screenshot of the QuickBooks Time mobile app
    We could clock in and add a timesheet note on the QuickBooks Time mobile app.

    Employee time clock

    With QuickBooks Time, employees can clock in from web, mobile, or a shared kiosk app. They can also start breaks and switch between tasks during shifts so hours are tracked against the right jobs or projects. 

    The platform also includes tools to reduce inaccuracy, like geofencing, clock-in reminders, and facial recognition on kiosk devices. However, we found that employees can still clock in outside the geofence by adding a note. Those entries are flagged for review, but it’s still something to keep in mind.

    Another issue we ran into was with overtime tracking. While QuickBooks Time supports overtime and double-time rules, including California-specific settings, during testing the app didn’t calculate overtime correctly.

    The biggest advantage of QuickBooks Time is its native integration with the broader QuickBooks ecosystem, making it easy to move approved timesheets directly into payroll for faster processing.

    Employee scheduling

    QuickBooks Time makes it easy to plan shifts and projects. Managers can use the drag-and-drop scheduler and add details like times, locations, assigned employees, customer info, and notes. Employees also get notifications when schedules are published or updated.

    We found that QuickBooks Time doesn’t support shift swapping, employee shift acceptance, automatic reminders, or calendar integrations like Google Calendar and Outlook. So while the scheduler works well for planning, it may be less fitting for teams that rely on employee self-service and fast schedule changes.

    What users say about QuickBooks Time

    I love the level of ease when using QuickBooks Time. It’s very user-friendly and accurate. Time off requests are easy for staff to enter and for admins to review. I find it very easy to navigate, and it works well for our business and employees.

    Brittany R.
    General Manager

    Read review here.

    There is no way to personalize PTO accruals. (ex, employees get 3 more days when they have worked 6 months, an extra 2 days at 12 months, etc… but everything resets at beginning of the year) so this has to be done manually

    Krista G.
    VP

    Read review here.

    0
    • Pricing
      3
    • Usability & Interface
      8
    • Mobile App
      7
    • Time Tracking
      8
    • GPS Tracking
      8.5
    • Employee Scheduling
      8
    • Project Management
      7
    • Reporting & Analytics
      7.5
    • Mileage Tracking
      8.5
    • Payroll
      10
    • Security Features
      7
    • Customer Support
      7

    Pricing

    Starts at $8/user/month + $20/month Trial: Yes — 30 day Free Plan: No

  5. ClickTime — Best for Professional services tracking PTO against billable work

    Screenshot of the ClickTime webpage

    Key Features

    • PTO requests and approvals
    • Custom leave types
    • Multiple time tracking methods
    • Timesheets and reports

    Pros

    • Strong visibility and reporting tools 
    • Clear balance tracking for accruals

    Cons

    • Accrual rules not tied to hours worked 
    • Only one PTO approver per employee

    ClickTime is a time tracking platform that ties PTO controls, approvals, and reporting to timesheets.

    Why I chose ClickTime: I chose ClickTime because its PTO management is structured well within the time-entry system.

    Paid time off tracking

    ClickTime gives businesses pretty good control over PTO requests and approvals. I liked that it separates leave types between ones that require approval and ones that don’t, so it’s easier to handle different policies. Employees can request time off, track request status, and view balances from the mobile app, while managers can approve or reject requests on the go.

    You can also create custom leave types, assign approvers, control eligibility by employee type, set company holidays, and configure accrual rules with balance caps and monthly accrual rates. There are also reporting tools, which I liked because they give teams a clear view of balances, accruals, adjustments, and leave history over time.

    The main downside for me is that PTO setup is less flexible than some other platforms. Accruals only work on a monthly cycle, not by hours worked, employees can only have one approver, and multi-day requests have to be fully rejected if one day needs changes. These limitations aren’t a dealbreaker, but they are something to be aware of, especially if your business has complex leave policies, multiple approval layers, or PTO rules tied closely to hours worked and shift-based scheduling.

    ClickTime's time off management feature page, highlighting employee time off requests and automatic sick and vacation time accrual.
    Screenshot of ClickTime’s time off features.

    Time tracking and approvals

    Employees can log hours with ClickTime in a few different ways, including manual entry, stopwatch tracking, and start/end times with unpaid break tracking. You can also add project details, notes, and submit timesheets directly from the mobile app

    The approval workflow is strong: managers can review, approve, reject, and lock timesheets, filter submissions by employee or status, and approve entries in bulk. I liked that pending PTO requests can hold a timesheet in a “Waiting for Time Off Approval” status, so teams catch leave issues before final approval.

    Reporting and payroll

    ClickTime offers 60+ built-in reports covering people, projects, clients, tasks, payroll, and time off, with filters, export options, and customizable views. For PTO, managers can track balances, accruals, adjustments, and future scheduled leave. For worked hours, ClickTime supports detailed time-entry, billing, and payroll reports, plus customizable exports for deeper analysis.

    I also liked that it supports payroll exports for popular providers, so it’s easier to move approved time into payroll workflows. Combined with company holiday tracking and automated holiday entries, the reporting setup feels really useful for businesses that want stronger visibility into both worked time and leave balances.

    What users say about ClickTime

    I find ClickTime very easy to access, which makes it convenient for entering my time in and out. I enjoy using the expense button and being able to request time off, both features are easy to work with.

    GLadis Y.
    N/A

    Read review here.

    I would like there to be an easier way to track my time off balance and the accrual of my time off. The way it is right now, it makes it very difficult to see what my time off will be in the future.

    Anna M.
    N/A

    Read review here.

    Pricing

    Starts at $12/user/month Trial: Yes — 14-day Free Plan: Yes

  6. Timecamp — Best for Project teams tracking PTO alongside task-based hours

    A screenshot of the TimeCamp website

    TimeCamp is a time tracking and productivity monitoring tool that helps businesses manage PTO, projects, and tasks.

    Why I chose TimeCamp: TimeCamp is a good fit for teams that need to tie PTO and time tracking to desktop activity. 

    Time off management

    In our full TimeCamp review, we found it a bit difficult to navigate to the time off feature. It’s part of the attendance module, and it supports common leave types like vacation, sick leave, parental leave, and personal days. Requesting time off on the web version took us more time and clicks than we expected, and was overall more complicated than necessary.

    The biggest drawback for me is that there’s no mobile support for time-off requests. Employees can only request leave through the web app, and managers can only approve requests from the dashboard. You also can’t create custom leave categories, which could be limiting for businesses with more detailed PTO policies. 

    A day type configuration modal in a scheduling tool, showing options for non-working days, working hours, and break time settings.
    Requesting time off in TimeCamp was more complicated than we expected.

    Automatic time tracking

    TimeCamp includes time tracking, with a keyword tracker that can recognize apps, websites, and document titles and automatically log time to the right task. Employees can submit timesheets for approval, and once approved, those entries become locked from editing.

    During testing, the timer started before we could select a task, which created uncategorized entries, left for managers to clean up manually. For teams that rely on accurate payroll, billing, or labor costing, that extra cleanup could become frustrating.

    Productivity monitoring

    TimeCamp’s desktop monitoring tools are impressive. It tracks websites, apps, activity levels, screenshots, and away time in the background, so managers have a detailed view of how employees spend their workday. I liked how activity is automatically grouped into categories like communication, office work, or unproductive activity, which makes reports easier to understand at a glance.

    TimeCamp automatically stops tracking after a set period of inactivity, but employees can reassign that time to meetings or offline work if they need. There are also controls to prevent overlapping time entries, which helps reduce inaccurate or padded timesheets.

    What users say about TimeCamp

    It assists me in recording the hours I have worked and logging my time. Also, the main thing I liked about Time Champ is I do not have to start it manually, as it starts automatically when I log in to my working system

    Prerak J.
    Associate team lead

    Read review here.

    A bit clunky and buggy but still worked. Sometimes when I’m a hurry it was a pain to go past the bugs.

    Nicos P.
    System Designer

    Read review here.

    Key Features

    • Time off requests on web
    • Automatic time tracking
    • Timesheets with approvals
    • Away time and inactivity tracking

    Pros

    • Keyword tracker for task-based work 
    • Detailed desktop activity monitoring

    Cons

    • No mobile PTO requests or approvals   
    • Complex navigation to basic features

    Pricing

    Starts at $2.99/user/month Trial: Yes — 14 day Free Plan: Yes

Compare the Best PTO Tracking Software

Topic Start for free
Reviews
4.8
4.8
4.7
4.7
4.6
4.7
Pricing
Starts at just $29/month for the first 30 users
Starts at $4.49/user/month + $19/month
Starts at $4/user/month + $5/month
Starts at $8/user/month + $20/month
Starts at $12/user/month
Starts at $2.99/user/month
Free Trial
yes
14-day
yes
14 days
yes
30 days
yes
30 day
yes
14-day
yes
14 day
Free Plan
yes
Free Up to 10 users
no
no
no
yes
yes
Use cases
Best for Teams managing hours, PTO, absences, and staffing together
Best for Small businesses that want PTO tied to a simple punch clock
Best for SMBs handling basic PTO alongside payroll-ready timesheets
Best for QuickBooks users syncing PTO and tracked hours to payroll
Best for Professional services tracking PTO against billable work
Best for Project teams tracking PTO alongside task-based hours
Available on

What is PTO Tracking Software?

PTO tracking software is a tool that helps businesses manage employee time off in one place. Instead of relying on spreadsheets, email chains, or handwritten notes, teams can use it to track vacation days, sick leave, personal time, and other paid leave policies more clearly. 

The software gives employees a simple way to request time off, while giving managers a better way to monitor balances, approvals, and upcoming absences. It’s used to reduce confusion, prevent tracking mistakes, and make leave management more organized across the business.

How Does PTO Tracking Software Work?

PTO tracking software keeps leave requests, approval rules, and employee balances in one shared system. Here’s how it works: an employee submits a time-off request, the software sends it to the right manager or approver, and the request is either approved, denied, or sent back for changes. Once a request is approved, the employee’s leave balance updates automatically.

Most tools also connect time-off data to a team calendar, work schedule, or time clock so managers can see how approved leave affects daily coverage. It turns time-off planning into something more practical, not just administrative. Instead of checking several tools at once, teams can often see leave balances, upcoming absences, and staffing gaps in one workflow.

Some platforms go further by sending reminders, applying accrual rules, and syncing approved leave with payroll or HR systems. 

The Benefits of PTO Tracking Software

Less manual admin

A good PTO tracker cuts down on the emails, spreadsheet updates, and follow-ups that usually slow leave management down. It reduces the workload for busy managers and HR teams that don’t have time to chase down every request.

Fewer mistakes

When balances, approvals, and leave records update in one place, there’s less room for human error. That means fewer payroll issues, fewer disputes, and less confusion about who has time off left.

Better coverage

PTO affects staffing just as much as it affects HR records. When approved leave shows up clearly in calendars or schedules, teams can plan coverage earlier and avoid last-minute scrambles.

Faster approvals

A clear process helps managers respond to requests more consistently. This also makes the experience feel fairer to employees, since everyone follows the same rules and approval path.

Stronger trust

Employees want to know their balances are accurate and their requests are being handled properly. When the process feels transparent, people spend less time guessing and more time feeling confident that time off is managed correctly.

Cleaner records

As teams grow, leave policies can get harder to manage. PTO tracking software gives businesses a cleaner record of requests, balances, and policy use, which makes reporting, audits, and policy management much easier over time.

How Much Does an Employee PTO Tracker Cost?

Most PTO tracking software uses a monthly subscription model based on the number of employees you have. Pricing usually starts around $2.99 – $12 per user per month, with some providers also charging a base fee between $5 and $20 per month. Generally, lower-cost plans cover basic leave tracking, while higher-tier plans may include features like automated approvals, reporting, compliance support, scheduling tools, and payroll integrations.

Connecteam’s Small Business Plan is 100% free for up to 10 users and includes everything you need to manage PTO in one place. Paid plans start at $29/month for up to 30 users, with Advanced at $49/month and Expert at $99/month, all covering up to 30 users.

FAQs

Inaccurate PTO tracking can lead to wage disputes, compliance violations, and fines, especially in regions where unused leave must be paid out. It also increases the risk of employee claims.

Keep policies clear, accessible, and consistent. Store them in one place, automate approvals, and send updates when changes happen. With Connecteam, you can share policies, track acknowledgments, and ensure everyone stays on the same page.

It gives employees visibility into their time off, makes requesting leave simple, and ensures fair approvals. This builds trust and encourages people to actually take breaks, helping prevent burnout.

The Bottom Line on PTO Tracking Software

PTO tracking software helps businesses that want a simpler, more reliable way to manage employee time off without the usual chaos. When choosing a tool, focus most on accurate balance tracking, clear approvals, schedule visibility, and how well it connects with time tracking and payroll. 

Connecteam stands out as my top pick because it brings PTO, scheduling, and time clock tools together in one easy system. If you want fewer mistakes and smoother time-off management, start with Connecteam—try it for free today!