In short: absence.io is particularly well suited for companies with 1–100 employees that want to cover leave management, time tracking, personnel files and expense management simply and at transparent prices (€2.99–€7.99 per user/month). Personio is designed for companies with 50–2,000+ employees and additionally offers recruiting and payroll, but has no public price list, instead giving individual quotes and usually a 12-month minimum contract term.
absence.io and Personio compared side by side
| Criterion | absence.io | Personio |
|---|---|---|
| Target group (employees) | 1–100 | 10–2,000 |
| Starting price | €2.99 per user/month | Individual quote, no list prices |
| Price transparency | Yes, public plans | No, quote on request |
| Minimum contract term | None, cancel monthly | Usually 12 months |
| Free trial | 14 days, no credit card | 14 days, no credit card |
| Leave & absence management | Yes (from Starter) | Yes (Core) |
| Time tracking | Yes (from Pro) | Yes (Core) |
| Digital personnel file | Yes (from Pro) | Yes (Core) |
| Expenses & travel costs | Yes (Complete) | Not native, only via third-party providers |
| Recruiting | No | Yes (add-on module) |
| Payroll | No | Yes (add-on module) |
| Setup effort | Self-service, usually a few hours | Guided, with implementation fee, several weeks |
| Server location | Germany | Germany |
Who is absence.io the better choice for?
You need the core HR processes, regardless of team size
Whether you have 2 or 100 employees, if you want to manage absences, time tracking and personnel files in one system, absence.io is a perfect fit for you. Our customers come from a wide range of industries; the following examples are just a small selection: IT service providers, law firms and architecture firms with 4–20 people, or agencies, consultancies and engineering firms with 50–100 employees. absence.io is also the right solution for regulated organizations such as care facilities, education providers or NGOs, where GDPR compliance and a server location in Germany are particularly important. The deciding factor is therefore the features you need, not primarily the size of your company.
Time tracking, absence management and personnel file. These are processes that practically every company has to handle internally, regardless of industry or size.
You value price transparency
With absence.io, you get clear numbers from the very first second: Starter for €2.99, Pro for €4.99 and Complete for €7.99 per user per month. You can find all the details on our pricing page. You can calculate the costs for your team yourself before you even get in touch with us.
You want to get started quickly, without a long implementation process
absence.io deliberately focuses on the core processes, which is why the software can be set up on your own without a complex implementation process, usually within a few hours. The 14-day free trial runs without entering credit card details, so you can try absence.io without obligation at your own pace.
Who is Personio the better choice for?
You need recruiting and applicant management
If you want to manage not only employees but also the entire application process, from the job posting to the hire, directly in the same system, Personio covers that range of functions.
You need integrated payroll
If you want to handle payroll not through an external interface but as integrated payroll directly in the same system, you’re better off with Personio. With absence.io, recorded times and absences can be exported and passed on to a tax advisor or an external payroll provider.
You have the resources for an implementation process
Personio’s broader range of functions comes at a price: there is no public price list, but an individual quote after a needs analysis, usually combined with a longer contract commitment and a guided setup that takes several weeks. This is mainly worthwhile if recruiting and payroll are actually needed, regardless of whether the team has 40 or 400 employees.
Price comparison in detail
Example: With absence.io‘s Pro plan, a team of 50 employees pays €4.99 × 50 = €249.50 per month for absence management, time tracking and personnel file, with no hidden extra costs. With Personio, the price depends on the individual quote. According to publicly available user reports, however, comparable plans are often more expensive.
Frequently asked questions
Is absence.io cheaper than Personio?
That depends mainly on the features you need. If you need the core HR functions of time tracking, absence management and personnel file, you’ll usually come out cheaper with absence.io, with fixed prices from €4.99 per user per month. Personio doesn’t publish a price list; costs are determined individually and often include an implementation fee. Personio’s broader range of functions, with recruiting and payroll, probably makes it relatively expensive for lean needs. If those functions are needed, however, the price difference becomes less significant accordingly.
Can I switch from absence.io to Personio if my company grows?
Yes, switching is possible. What matters, however, is less the sheer number of employees than whether you actually need functions such as recruiting or payroll. As long as only the core HR processes of absences, time tracking and personnel file are relevant to you, there’s no real reason to switch, no matter how much your team grows.
Does absence.io also offer recruiting features like Personio?
No, absence.io deliberately focuses on absences, time tracking, personnel file and expenses. For recruiting, a specialized solution or a larger HR suite is recommended.
How long does it take to set up absence.io compared to Personio?
absence.io can usually be set up in a few hours via self-service. With Personio, a guided implementation process lasting several weeks is common due to the larger range of functions.
Conclusion: the right choice for your team
The right choice for you depends on your actual requirements. If you want to digitize the core HR processes of absences, time tracking and personnel file quickly and without a long implementation process, absence.io is exactly right for you. But if you need recruiting or payroll in the same system, you should take a closer look at Personio. In the end, what counts is not how big your team is, but what your software really needs to be able to do.
Curious? Then the best thing to do is to try absence.io yourself.