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Calamari — HR & Recruiting

from $0.60/employee/mo

Calamari (HR & Recruiting): Calamari is a cloud HR suite for leave management, time & attendance, and core HR in one place. Pricing: from $0.60/employee/mo. (data verified August 2026)

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About Calamari

What is Calamari?

Calamari is a cloud-based HR software suite designed for high-performing teams. It replaces spreadsheets with dedicated tools for time-off requests, timesheets, time & attendance tracking, performance reviews, approval workflows, and secure employee document storage. Built for hybrid and remote work, it centralizes everyday HR processes in one place.

Who is it for?

Calamari is a fit for startups, SMBs, and enterprises operating with distributed or international teams. It supports multi-language, multi-country absence policies, and works well for HR teams, managers, and employees. It is not designed for large-scale ERP-driven HR transformation where deep workforce planning is required — Calamari focuses on fast, practical HR operations.

Key use cases

Real-world uses include automating leave requests via Slack or Google, logging time sheets for payroll reporting, storing employee data in a secure online space, and running performance review surveys. With integrations for Slack, Microsoft 365, Google, Jira, Asana, and Basecamp, it fits into existing workflows without major disruption.

Why Calamari?

Calamari stands out for its ease of use and quick implementation (typically 3-5 days). It avoids the complexity, cost, and maintenance of all-in-one ERP systems. With a monthly subscription (no long-term commitment), teams can be up and running fast.

Key features

  • Time Off Management — Unlimited absence types, automatic carry-over, and multi-country policies.
  • Time & Attendance — Simple time logging, timesheet approval workflows, and accurate reports for payroll.
  • Core HR — Secure storage for employee information, contracts, and documents.
  • Performance Review — Configure surveys, collect feedback, and monitor the entire process in one place.
  • Approval Processes — Multi-step approval flows with back-up approvers and auto-approval options.
  • Reports for Payroll — Payroll-ready reports showing days requested and time worked, exportable to Excel.
  • Integrations — Native connections to Slack, Microsoft 365, Google, Jira, Asana, and Basecamp.

SaaSpartout Score

7.5 /10
Ease of use 8.5
Features depth 7.5
Value for money 8.0
Support quality 7.0
Integrations 8.0
Scalability 6.5
Documentation 6.0
Onboarding speed 8.5

Editorial score from our review methodology — not user ratings.

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Calamari Pricing

Calamari pricing: from $0.60/employee/mo.

For comparison: the median starting price in HR & Recruiting is $24.50/month, measured across 152 tools we track. See the full SaaS Pricing Index →

Time Off (from $0.60/employee/mo)

Includes unlimited absence types, absence calendar, automatic carry-over, multi-country policies, automatic balances, approval workflows, email/mobile/Slack notifications, and data import/export.

Time & Attendance (from $0.60/employee/mo)

Adds simple time logging, timesheet management, approval workflows, and accurate reports for payroll integration. Pricing shown as $0.60/employee/mo billed yearly (with Time Off); minimum total for selected products is $0 at 0 employees.

Core HR (from $0.06/employee/mo)

Store employee information and documents securely. Often bundled with Time Off or Time & Attendance.

Performance Review (from $0.60/employee/mo)

Configure surveys, collect team feedback, and monitor the entire process with automated reminders.

Add-ons: SAML Integration is $0.06/employee/mo. Free 14-day trial available—no credit card required.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does Calamari cost?
Calamari pricing starts at $0.60 per employee per month for the Time Off module (billed yearly). Modules can be purchased separately and combined. A 14-day free trial is available without a credit card.
Is Calamari free?
Calamari does not offer a permanent free plan, but it provides a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. After the trial, paid plans start from $0.60 per employee per month.
Who is Calamari best for?
Calamari is ideal for startups, SMBs, and enterprises with distributed teams that need simple, fast HR tools for time off, time tracking, and core HR. It is especially useful for companies using Slack, Google, Microsoft 365, Jira, Asana, or Basecamp.
How does Calamari work?
Calamari replaces spreadsheets with automated tools. Employees submit time-off requests and timesheets, managers approve them via an approval flow, and HR gets accurate reports for payroll. Data syncs with calendars and apps like Slack.
What are the top alternatives to Calamari?
Popular alternatives include BambooHR, Gusto, Deputy, and When I Work. Compared to these, Calamari often stands out for its simple module-based pricing and quick setup.
What is the main limitation of Calamari?
Calamari is not a full HR-ERP system. It does not offer deep advanced workforce planning, payroll processing, or extensive recruiting features inside the same platform. For complex HR transformation, look elsewhere.

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