Compare/Head to head

Sparrow vs Tilt

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

Sparrow

Sales-quoted

Sparrow is an outsourced leave administrator for mid-size and large US and Canadian employers that want a specialist, not just software, to run parental, medical and ADA leaves. It files state and insurance claims, tracks FMLA and builds a pay plan for each leave. There is no public price; Sparrow quotes a custom proposal after a sales call, with nonprofit discounts available.

Where Sparrow fits

  • Distributed US employers juggling multiple state paid leave programs
  • People teams without in-house leave expertise
  • Payroll teams that struggle to calculate pay during leave
  • Companies that want a high-touch employee experience during parental leave

Tilt

$2.50/employee/mo

Tilt sells US leave software at $2.50 per employee per month for Essentials and $3.50 for Professional. Platform Only leaves decisions with the employer. Premium Support adds Tilt specialists.

Where Tilt fits

  • US employers that want HR to run FMLA, ADA, and state paid leave in house
  • Teams that want payroll facing leave math on the Professional plan
  • Companies already on Rippling, BambooHR, Workday, Paycor, or Paylocity
  • Programs that may add a specialist later instead of outsourcing every case

At a glance

DetailSparrowTilt
Starting priceSales-quoted$2.50/employee/mo
Free tier–No–No
MCP server–No–No
Public API–No–No
Listed underBenefits administration, HR compliance, Leave managementLeave management, HR compliance
Capterra4.8 from 57 reviews4.6 from 28 reviews

Where they pull apart

Sparrow

Stands out: Sparrow pairs every customer with a dedicated leave specialist and files state and carrier paperwork for the employee, which its site says cuts employee filing time from 10 to 20 hours to about 15 minutes. The personalized payroll plan and reconciliation work is unusual for a leave vendor.

Watch out: HRIS and payroll connections run by file feed rather than a published API, and pricing is only available through sales. Coverage is limited to leaves in the United States and Canada.

Not the right fit for

  • Small teams that only need a PTO request and approval tool
  • Employers with most staff outside the US and Canada

Tilt

Stands out: AbsenceIQ is the vendor leave intelligence system, and Tilley is an AI phone assistant sold as a paid add on. Essentials lists all leave types and state PFML programs.

Watch out: Add ons change the headline price: integrations, premium support and the Tilley phone assistant are extra on Essentials, and adding premium support brings a $5,995 minimum contract. Coverage is US federal, state and company leave only.

Not the right fit for

  • Employers outside the United States
  • A buyer who wants a fully outsourced administrator and no internal leave work

Pros and cons

Sparrow

  • A named leave specialist supports HR, payroll and the employee on every leave
  • Handles state program and insurance claim paperwork for employees
  • Payroll plans and reconciliation reduce pay errors during leave
  • No public pricing; a sales call is required for a proposal
  • Integrations use file feeds, with no public API documented
  • Only covers leaves in the United States and Canada

Tilt

  • Published per employee prices at $2.50 and $3.50
  • Separate software only and specialist support modes
  • Named HRIS connections on the pricing page, included with Professional
  • US leave laws only, not international statutory leave
  • Add ons and a $5,995 support minimum change the $2.50 headline
  • Buying starts with a demo

What each one costs

Sparrow

Sales-quoted

Sparrow does not publish a price list. Its FAQ says the sales team builds a custom proposal after a call, nonprofits get special discounts, and implementation timelines vary by complexity. Two service levels are named: Sparrow Concierge, where leave specialists file claims for employees, and Sparrow Guided, launched in March 2026, where employees file their own claims with step-by-step guidance. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Tilt

$2.50/employee/mo

Essentials is $2.50 per employee per month and Professional is $3.50. Essentials add ons: standard integrations $0.30, premium integrations $0.60, premium support $1.50 and Tilley phone support $0.50 per employee per month. Professional premium support is $2.50 per employee per month. A $5,995 minimum contract applies when premium support is added. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Can you try Sparrow or Tilt for free?
Neither carries a free tier on our listing.

Not the pair you wanted?

All Sparrow alternatives All Tilt alternatives Every Benefits administration tool

Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?