Curated list of the best free (or open‑source) time‑off/leave management tools that include built‑in approval workflows for HR teams.
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Free for up to 5 users; lets employees request vacation, sick, and custom leave types. Managers can approve/reject via a simple workflow with email notifications.
All‑in‑one collaboration suite with a free HR module. Employees submit leave requests; approvers receive tasks to approve, with automatic balance updates.
ATS + HRIS with a free leave management feature. Customizable approval chains, calendar sync, and email alerts keep the process transparent.
Self‑hosted open‑source HR platform. Includes a leave module where employees request time off and managers approve via configurable workflows.
Open‑source leave management system with multi‑level approval, entitlement tracking, and calendar integration. Ideal for small to midsize teams.
Free HRMS with a comprehensive leave management module. Supports custom leave policies, automated accruals, and hierarchical approval routing.
Simple web app for tracking vacation, sick, and personal days. Employees submit requests; managers approve with one‑click buttons and receive Slack notifications.
User‑friendly leave calendar. Requests go through an approval workflow that can be set to single or multi‑level, with email reminders.
Free cloud‑based HR suite with leave management. Employees request time off; approvers get a dashboard to approve/reject and view remaining balances.
Lightweight PHP application for leave requests. Supports configurable approval chains, email notifications, and exportable reports.
Open‑source HR platform featuring a leave module with automated accruals and multi‑step approval workflows.
Free CRM/HR combo that includes a leave request form. Managers approve via the Apptivo workflow engine, with real‑time balance updates.
Free for up to 10 users. Employees submit leave; approvers receive push notifications and can approve directly from mobile or web.
While not permanently free, BambooHR offers a 7‑day free trial that includes its robust leave management and approval workflow system.
No‑code workflow builder that includes a leave request template. Employees file requests; managers approve via a drag‑and‑drop workflow.
Primarily an employee engagement tool, but its free tier includes a simple time‑off request form with manager approval via the dashboard.
Free Zoho Cliq chat can be linked to Zoho People's leave module, enabling employees to request time off directly from chat and managers to approve within the conversation.
Using Google Forms + Google Sheets, teams can build a free leave request system with email notifications and simple approval steps via Google Apps Script.
Leverages Teams for request submission and Power Automate for an approval workflow. No additional cost for basic usage within Microsoft 365 free tier.
Open‑source HR platform with a dedicated leave management module, supporting custom approval hierarchies and real‑time balance tracking.