absence.io vs Shiftbase
absence.io
absence.ioShiftbase
shiftbase.comSide by side
| Figure | absence.io | Shiftbase |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €2.99/mo | €0.50/mo |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 10 |
| Spec score · Leave Management Software | 8.5 (#11) | 8.8 (#6) |
| Company | The maker identifies itself as absence.io GmbH, gives a Munich address, and says the product has been on the market since 2014 and is developed in Munich and Berlin. | LinkedIn lists Shiftbase as a privately held software company founded in 2011 with 51–200 employees and headquarters in Zoetermeer, Netherlands. |
| Headquarters | Munich, Germany | Zoetermeer, Netherlands |
| Integrations | Listed integrations include Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Okta, calendar sync, and an open API; availability varies by plan. | The integration catalog includes payroll, POS, HR, reservations, time-tracking, loyalty and communication connections such as AFAS, Nmbrs, Lightspeed, Personio and Datafox. |
| Product | absence.io is HR software for small and medium-sized businesses that combines time tracking, leave management, and digital personnel files, with expense and travel expense management available as an add-on. | Shiftbase is an online workforce platform for employee scheduling, time tracking, absence management, HR records and payroll preparation. |
| Security | The maker states that data transfers use SSL encryption, its servers and databases are ISO-certified and hosted exclusively in Germany, and data is backed up daily. | Shiftbase states that it is GDPR compliant and ISO 27001 certified, with security documentation available through its Trust Center. |
| Support | The company says its support team is reachable by email, chat, and phone; plan listings distinguish standard support for Starter from priority support for Pro and Complete. | Support is offered through chat, email and phone, while the help center provides searchable guides and troubleshooting articles around the clock. |
| Time tracking | Time tracking supports web and mobile apps, automatic overtime calculation, flexible work schedules, project labels, a digital stopwatch, clock-in terminal, and manual entries. | Employees can record hours through mobile, desktop or a shared tablet, with geofencing options. |
Plans
Shiftbase
- FreeFree
- Compliance+€0.50 a month
- HR Pro€1 a month
- App Center+€20 a month
- Basic€30 a month
- Premium€72 a month
- Boost onboarding€150, paid once
- Plus onboarding€325, paid once
- Enterprise€336 a month
- Expert onboarding€575, paid once
In their own words
Shiftbase
Shiftbase combines staff scheduling, time tracking, and workforce administration for businesses that run shifts. Schedulers can use templates, copy weeks, assign shifts by skill, and flag conflicts with leave or other shifts before publishing. Employees can claim open shifts and suggest swaps for manager approval. They can clock in and out through the mobile app, on desktop, or on a shared tablet; recorded hours are available for approval and payroll export. The iOS and Android app is included with every plan. Premium adds labour cost targets, budget management, skill-based scheduling, and auto-scheduling marked as early access. Its marketplace lists 51 integrations, including AFAS, Lightspeed, Nmbrs, and Connexie, though some require the App Center+ add-on. The free plan is limited to 15 employees, one department, and five teams. Monthly plans are Free at €0.00, Basic at €30.00, Premium at €72.00, and Enterprise at €336.00. Shiftbase serves industries including restaurants, retail, hotels, production, transport, healthcare, cleaning, and security.