PTO Fox vs Jibble: when free is enough, and when it isn't
Jibble offers leave tracking free for unlimited users, and that's a real offer. If it does what you need, use it. PTO Fox is for companies of 5 to 250 people who want a tool built only for time off: balances worked out from your policy, a calendar everyone can see, limits on how many people in a position can be out at once, and people who never need an email or login. Every plan has every feature. We'll never charge you more for a feature someone else gets.
“Jibble is free. Why would I pay?”
The straight answer: you shouldn't, if Jibble covers you. Before you choose, check which leave features Jibble's free plan includes (approvals, accruals, balance reports, managers) and what its per-seat plan costs. In PTO Fox, every plan has every feature.
Here's why people pay for PTO Fox anyway:
- It's built only for time off. Jibble is mainly a time-and-attendance product: its site leads with time clocks, GPS, geofencing, and face-recognition and selfie clock-ins. PTO Fox does one thing, the PTO spreadsheet and the wall calendar.
- Everyone can see who's out. In Jibble's time-off calendar, members can only see their own time off. In PTO Fox, everyone sees the names and dates on the company calendar, and only managers see the details.
- Coverage limits per position. Say how many forklift operators or CSRs can be off at once, and the clash is flagged on the day it's requested.
- People who never sign in. A manager can record time off for people with no email address and no account.
- A price that doesn't grow with every name. Jibble's paid plans are billed per seat, and a seat is used as soon as you add someone, invited or not. PTO Fox is one flat price for your size band.
- It prints on one page, so it can still go on the door.
PTO Fox and Jibble, side by side
Competitor prices as published on their websites as of October 14, 2026.
| PTO Fox | Jibble | |
|---|---|---|
| Free option | 30-day free trial with every feature (card required; not charged until the trial ends) | Leave tracking free for unlimited users |
| Paid pricing model | Flat monthly price by company size, from $19 a month ($19 up to 25 people, $29 up to 40, $49 up to 65, $69 up to 100, $99 up to 150, $129 up to 250) | Per seat, paid up front; a seat is used when a user is added, invited or not |
| Features by plan | Every plan has every feature | Check its plans |
| Main focus | Time off only | Time and attendance, plus leave |
| Who can see the team calendar | Everyone sees names and dates; only managers see details | Members see only their own time off |
| Accruals | A yearly allowance computed from hire date and policy: probation, first-year proration, carryover, service step-ups. No monthly or per-hour accrual. | Listed as a feature (plan not confirmed) |
| Ledger and audit trail | Time-off entries can't be edited or deleted. A correction is a new entry or an adjustment, and a cancellation stays in the ledger, struck through, with who did it, when and why. Every action is recorded in an audit trail that can't be changed. | (see their site) |
| Approvals | Request with a preview of the balance after, then approval. Employees with an email are notified when their request is decided. | Multi-level approvals listed as a feature (plan not confirmed) |
Confirmed in PTO Fox; not found on Jibble's site on October 14, 2026: coverage limits per position; people recorded with no email or login; hours or days in quarter hours; a one-page printable month; US holidays with observed dates in one click.
A ledger you can trust
Time-off entries can't be edited or deleted. A correction is a new entry or an adjustment, and a cancellation stays in the ledger, struck through, with who did it, when and why. Every action is recorded in an audit trail that can't be changed.
When Jibble is the better pick
- You want free and will stay that way. Free for unlimited users is hard to beat.
- You also need time clocks, GPS or geofencing, for example a remote or distributed team that clocks in on mobile. PTO Fox doesn't track hours worked.
- You prefer that people see only their own time off.
When PTO Fox is the better pick
- Your office manager runs time off from a spreadsheet and a wall calendar, and wants one tool that replaces both.
- Some of your people don't have work email, or never will sign in.
- You need to cap how many people in a position can be out at once.
- You want every feature without checking which plan has it, at one predictable price.
Questions
Is Jibble really free?
Jibble says its leave tracking is free for unlimited users. It also sells paid plans, billed per seat. Check which leave features (approvals, accruals, balance reports, managers) its free plan includes.
Why pay for PTO Fox if Jibble is free?
If Jibble's free plan covers you, you don't need to. People choose PTO Fox for a calendar everyone can see, coverage limits per position, people who never need a login, and one flat price. Every plan has every feature. We'll never charge you more for a feature someone else gets.
Does PTO Fox do time clocks or GPS?
No. PTO Fox is only for time off.
Do my employees need an email address?
No. Only people who want to request time off and see their own balance need one. Everyone else is recorded by a manager. Employees with an email are notified when their request is decided.
How is PTO Fox priced?
A flat monthly price by company size, from $19 a month ($19 up to 25 people, $29 up to 40, $49 up to 65, $69 up to 100, $99 up to 150, $129 up to 250). It's never charged per person. Every plan has every feature. We'll never charge you more for a feature someone else gets.
Can I move from Jibble to PTO Fox?
Yes. PTO Fox imports your people from a CSV, and guided setup walks you through your policy and opening balances.
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