Why us
Why Leavigation?
There are other ways to figure out your maternity leave. Each one has real value. Here's how Leavigation fits in, and where it fills the gaps.
| Feature | ⭐ Our pick Leavigation | Parental Leave Consultants | Company HR | Other Online Tools |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free to use | ✓Always free for the core plan | ✕Typically $200 to 500/session | ✓Free but limited to employer policy | ✕Many charge for full access |
| Week-by-week visual timeline | ✓Personalized leave timeline showing every week | ✕Verbal or written summary only | ✕Not typically provided | ✕Most show totals, not week-by-week |
| Real dollar income estimates | ✓SDI, PFL, employer pay broken down by week | ✓Can estimate but based on general knowledge | ✕Employer pay only, won't calculate state benefits | ✕Rarely include state benefit calculations |
| State and federal leave stacking logic | ✓FMLA, state paid leave, employer leave, and STD all stacked correctly for your state | ✓Knowledgeable but expensive for ongoing questions | ✕HR knows employer policy, not state benefit interactions | ✕Most don't handle CA-specific stacking complexity |
| No login or account required | ✓Your data stays on your device | ✓No account, but requires scheduling | ✓No account needed | ✕Most require signup to see results |
| Available 24/7, instant results | ✓Results in 5 minutes, any time | ✕Requires scheduling, often weeks out | ✕Business hours only, response time varies | ✓Usually instant but results may be generic |
| Covers state + federal + municipal | ✓FMLA, state programs for all 50 states plus DC, and municipal ordinances where applicable | ✓Comprehensive but at a cost | ✕Focused on employer policy, not all legal layers | ✕Usually federal only or single-state |
| Personalized to your situation | ✓Built from your specific inputs, salary, birth type, employer policy | ✓Highly personalized, the main value of a consultant | ✕Company-wide policies, not tailored to you | ✕Often generic calculators, not scenario-specific |
| Keeps up with CA law changes | ✓Monitored via Google Alerts, updated regularly | ✓Good consultants stay current | ✕HR teams may lag on state benefit updates | ✕Update schedules vary, often unclear |
| Built by a mom who needed it | ✓Real frustration, real solution | ✕Professional expertise, not lived experience | ✕Corporate perspective, not personal | ✕Typically built by HR tech companies |
| AI assistant that knows your plan | ✓Ask questions about your specific leave plan, answered instantly, verified for accuracy, with sources | ✕Available during scheduled sessions only | ✕Not available, HR answers general policy questions | ✕No other tools offer plan-specific AI Q&A |
Free to use
✓
Leavigation
Always free for the core plan
✕
Parental Leave Consultants
Typically $200 to 500/session
✓
Company HR
Free but limited to employer policy
✕
Other Online Tools
Many charge for full access
Week-by-week visual timeline
✓
Leavigation
Personalized leave timeline showing every week
✕
Parental Leave Consultants
Verbal or written summary only
✕
Company HR
Not typically provided
✕
Other Online Tools
Most show totals, not week-by-week
Real dollar income estimates
✓
Leavigation
SDI, PFL, employer pay broken down by week
✓
Parental Leave Consultants
Can estimate but based on general knowledge
✕
Company HR
Employer pay only, won't calculate state benefits
✕
Other Online Tools
Rarely include state benefit calculations
State and federal leave stacking logic
✓
Leavigation
FMLA, state paid leave, employer leave, and STD all stacked correctly for your state
✓
Parental Leave Consultants
Knowledgeable but expensive for ongoing questions
✕
Company HR
HR knows employer policy, not state benefit interactions
✕
Other Online Tools
Most don't handle CA-specific stacking complexity
No login or account required
✓
Leavigation
Your data stays on your device
✓
Parental Leave Consultants
No account, but requires scheduling
✓
Company HR
No account needed
✕
Other Online Tools
Most require signup to see results
Available 24/7, instant results
✓
Leavigation
Results in 5 minutes, any time
✕
Parental Leave Consultants
Requires scheduling, often weeks out
✕
Company HR
Business hours only, response time varies
✓
Other Online Tools
Usually instant but results may be generic
Covers state + federal + municipal
✓
Leavigation
FMLA, state programs for all 50 states plus DC, and municipal ordinances where applicable
✓
Parental Leave Consultants
Comprehensive but at a cost
✕
Company HR
Focused on employer policy, not all legal layers
✕
Other Online Tools
Usually federal only or single-state
Personalized to your situation
✓
Leavigation
Built from your specific inputs, salary, birth type, employer policy
✓
Parental Leave Consultants
Highly personalized, the main value of a consultant
✕
Company HR
Company-wide policies, not tailored to you
✕
Other Online Tools
Often generic calculators, not scenario-specific
Keeps up with CA law changes
✓
Leavigation
Monitored via Google Alerts, updated regularly
✓
Parental Leave Consultants
Good consultants stay current
✕
Company HR
HR teams may lag on state benefit updates
✕
Other Online Tools
Update schedules vary, often unclear
Built by a mom who needed it
✓
Leavigation
Real frustration, real solution
✕
Parental Leave Consultants
Professional expertise, not lived experience
✕
Company HR
Corporate perspective, not personal
✕
Other Online Tools
Typically built by HR tech companies
AI assistant that knows your plan
✓
Leavigation
Ask questions about your specific leave plan, answered instantly, verified for accuracy, with sources
✕
Parental Leave Consultants
Available during scheduled sessions only
✕
Company HR
Not available, HR answers general policy questions
✕
Other Online Tools
No other tools offer plan-specific AI Q&A
A note on consultants: Parental leave consultants are genuinely valuable, especially for complex situations, negotiations with employers, or legal questions. Leavigation doesn't replace them. We help you show up to that conversation informed, so you get more out of every minute you pay for.