If you’re wondering whether Breathe or CharlieHR is the right solution for your team, you’re in the right place.  

HR software can streamline operations, cut down admin, and support auditing for small businesses in the UK. But not all platforms are built the same. 

In this head-to-head comparison, we’ll explore the strengths and differences between Breathe HR software and CharlieHR - covering pricing, performance tools, usability, and more.  

 

At a glance: Breathe HR vs CharlieHR

Pros and cons: Which HR software is right for you

Feature highlights: Comparing Breathe HR and CharlieHR

Pricing breakdown Breathe HR vs Charlie HR (2025)

Why Breathe leads for growing UK businesses

Final verdict: Which HR software should you choose? 

 

At a glance: Breathe HR vs CharlieHR

Feature	Breathe	Charlie HR
Target audience	SMEs (1–250+ employees) for all industries	Startups and micro-teams for tech industries
Essential HR functions	Employee records, holiday management, sickness and absence tracking, document and policy management, reporting library	Entry-level HR features
Performance management	One to ones, objectives, employee and company goals, reviews	Structured reviews and templates
Integrations	Payroll, spend management, employee benefits, ATS, rota, AI support via instant messaging platform (Slack, Teams, WhatsApp)	Payroll, ATS, benchmarking + others
Analytics & reporting	Ready-to-go dashboards and advanced reporting capabilities	Basic reports only
Document & policy storage	Unlimited, secure and permission-based	Plan-restricted
Self-service portal	Employee access	Self-service with plan-based limits
Customer support	UK-based support, live chat, 89% customer satisfaction score	Email and chat based
Free trial	✅ 14 days	✅ 7 days
Billing model	One-off monthly/annual subscription based on company size	One-off cost per company size
Manage hiring	Streamlined recruitment process with integrated tools	Limited hiring management features

 

 

Pros and cons: Which HR software is right for you?

Breathe HR software – feature-rich HR software for growing UK teams

Why businesses choose Breathe

• Pricing scales fairly as your team grows (with options to change plans as and when you need)
• Wide range of features including performance, holiday and sickness tracking, documents, expenses, and more 
• Strong UK-based support with free training options 
• Broad integration ecosystem (payroll, rota, recruitment, etc.) 
• Secure cloud storage and intuitive reporting dashboards 
• Excellent self-service experience for employees 
• Compliance tracking helps keep all your important employee information in one place and makes sure your business follows the rules - ready for auditing at any time 
• Engagement surveys to measure employee satisfaction and gather regular feedback 
• Offers a free 14-day trial, so you can test it out for long enough to see how it works for you
  

Ideal if: You want a scalable, all-in-one HR system that’s built for long-term growth. 

CharlieHR - simple, fixed-price HR for start-ups 

Why start-ups pick CharlieHR: 

• Flat monthly pricing based on per-user charges 
• Clean user interface focused on ease of use 
• Comes with built-in review cycles and performance feedback tools 
• Streamlined payroll, benefits, and attendance tracking 

Best for: Early-stage tech companies with fewer than 50 employees and minimal integration needs. 

Things to consider:

• Limited support and no phone/chat channels  
• Minimal third-party integrations 
• Some features reserved for higher-tier plans only 
• Offers a shorter 7-day free trial  

Feature highlights of modern HR software: Comparing Breathe HR and CharlieHR

Choosing the right HR software is a critical decision for any UK business or organisation, particularly for small to medium-sized enterprises looking to streamline processes and improve employee experiences. 

Two popular choices, Breathe HR software and CharlieHR, offer overlapping features but differ significantly in how they approach HR management, user support, scalability, and engagement. Below, we explore their similarities and differences to help you make an informed choice.  

Core HR functions and administration 

Both Breathe HR software and CharlieHR deliver on essentials like employee data management, absence tracking, and integrations with payroll systems. 

However, Breathe HR provides deeper integrations with payroll and accounting tools like Xero, coupled with more granular control over absence types, holiday management, and time-tracking features.  

CharlieHR, on the other hand, offers a simpler approach with automated absence workflows and a focus on essential HR admin but with fewer customisation options. 

For businesses looking for a more scalable solution, Breathe leads the way. 

Employee management and engagement

When it comes to managing and engaging employees, Breathe HR offers a more rounded suite of tools. It enables employees to manage their own data, request time off, and access documents through an intuitive self-service portal.  

Performance management features in Breathe are comprehensive, allowing for structured one-to-ones, goal-setting, and feedback cycles that help drive engagement and productivity. 

CharlieHR also supports self-service capabilities and provides performance review templates, but these are more templated and offer fewer customisation options.  

Its focus leans toward recognition tools and perks, providing a lighter approach to engagement that may suit smaller or more informal teams. 

For businesses seeking a holistic approach to employee experience and wellbeing, Breathe offers more depth and flexibility. 

Recruitment and onboarding

Recruitment and onboarding are areas where Breathe offers a user-friendly experience. It allows businesses to manage the entire recruitment journey from vacancy posting and applicant tracking to onboarding with customisable checklists and automated workflows. 

CharlieHR offers applicant tracking and onboarding task lists within its premium plans. The onboarding experience is simple and less configurable, making it best suited for companies with more straightforward hiring processes. 

If you’re looking to create a seamless and structured hiring and onboarding experience, Breathe offers an option for organisations looking to grow and scale.

Compliance, security and reporting

Both Breathe HR and CharlieHR take compliance and data security seriously, with both platforms holding ISO 27001 certifications and strong data encryption standards.  

This gives businesses confidence that employee data is handled securely and in compliance with GDPR and UK employment laws. 

Where Breathe HR takes the lead is in its audit-ready compliance features, structured documentation, and an extensive reporting suite.  

Businesses can generate detailed reports on absence, turnover, and performance, providing valuable insights that help with strategic decision-making.  

In addition, Breathe's Learn add-on helps organisations to keep on top of mandatory training.  

CharlieHR includes essential compliance documentation and reporting, but with simpler dashboards and fewer customisation options.  

For businesses that require greater visibility, compliance support, and advanced reporting, Breathe HR offers a more comprehensive solution - as well as a Partner network that can offer consultancy support. 

Support, training and usability

One of the standout differences between Breathe HR and CharlieHR is the approach to support and training.  

Breathe HR software offers UK-based support, live chat, webinars, onboarding support, and dedicated customer success managers, ensuring users are well-guided from day one. 

CharlieHR provides helpful self-serve resources and chat support but offers fewer personalised touchpoints.  

While both platforms are designed for ease of use, Breathe’s focus on customer success and proactive support makes it a more attractive choice for businesses that value ongoing assistance and smooth onboarding. 

Pricing breakdown (2025)

Why Breathe leads for growing UK businesses

While both Breathe HR and CharlieHR provide essential HR tools, Breathe emerges as the more comprehensive, scalable, and support-focused solution, particularly for growing UK businesses that need a balance of automation, compliance support, and employee engagement.  

With deeper functionality across performance management, onboarding, and compliance, as well as integrations and workflows for HR, payroll, and time-tracking, Breathe HR software ensures businesses can scale their HR operations seamlessly.  

Coupled with strong UK-based customer support, onboarding services, and scalable pricing, it helps businesses to save time and reduce costs as they grow. 

In contrast, CharlieHR offers a simpler, flat-fee solution best suited to very small or early-stage teams who prioritise basic HR admin and absence tracking without the need for broader HR functionality or advanced reporting.  

For businesses focused on future-proofing their HR processes, Breathe stands out as the platform that grows with you.

Final verdict: Which HR software should you choose?

If you’re a start-up of fewer than five people and need a basic, low-cost HR tool, CharlieHR might do the job.

But for any SME and business planning to grow, manage performance, or integrate systems, Breathe offers the depth and support you need.

✅Scalable pricing that grows with your team

✅Broad feature set with a suite of add-ons

✅Proven support and onboarding resources

✅Built for UK SMEs, with compliance in mind

✅Reliable data security measures to protect sensitive information

✅User-friendly cloud-based HR system to streamline HR processes

Still curious? Check out our best UK HR software comparison page. 

FAQs

How does Breathe HR software compare to Charlie HR? 

Breathe includes more integrations, deeper functionality, and better support, making it ideal for businesses with plans to grow.  

It also offers robust human resources software that streamlines HR operations and includes essential features like payroll integration, which automates payroll tasks and reduces administrative burdens.  

CharlieHR suits micro-teams that need a simple, cost-effective solution. 

Can I integrate Breathe with other software? 

Yes. Breathe integrates with a wide range of tools, including payroll platforms, spend management, rota systems, applicant tracking software, and AI support connected through your instant messaging systems like Slack, Teams and WhatsApp.  

Additionally, it offers expense tracking functionalities to streamline financial activities and improve efficiency in managing employee expenses.  

Breathe also enhances HR management capabilities with employee tracking features, automating reminders and consolidating employee data for efficient performance monitoring, time-off management, and onboarding processes. 

Is there a free trial for Breathe HR software? 

Yes. You can explore Breathe risk-free with a 14-day free trial. No card required.