Payroll processing is not part of Breathe HR itself.
Buyers must retain or select a payroll provider and confirm that the needed data flow is supported.
Evidence source ↗
Breathe HR
Breathe HR is a cloud-based HR platform for UK small businesses, covering employee records, leave, absence, documents, onboarding and optional HR modules.
7 key claims verifiedOur editorial team checked this profile against pricing information, vendor documentation, company information. Supported by 7 documented sources.
Editorial overview
Aggregated Overview
The product offers core HR records, leave, absence, documents, employee self-service and optional modules. Public review pages show generally positive ratings, with some feedback noting integration and customization limits.
This profile combines documented product information and independent evidence where available. It is not a hands-on test unless TechZella explicitly identifies one.
Overview
Breathe HR is a cloud-based HR platform developed for small and medium-sized businesses. It centralizes employee records and supports processes such as leave, sickness, document management, onboarding and performance management.
The product is organized around a Core HR subscription, with additional modules available for needs such as rota scheduling, time and attendance, recruitment, expenses and learning. Breathe connects with selected services and offers an API for custom integrations.
Breathe HR Decision Snapshot
A quick way to understand who this product may suit, where its limits matter, and which facts are most relevant before you compare alternatives.
Best suited to
UK small and medium-sized businesses seeking central employee records, leave and absence processes, employee self-service and optional modules without installing local software.
Look elsewhere if
Organizations needing payroll processing within the HR platform, enterprise-scale HR workflows, or extensive customization should compare alternatives and confirm requirements before buying, and should evaluate alternatives such as Sage HR or CharlieHR instead.
Platforms
Android, Cloud, iOS, SaaS, Web
TechZella assessment
8.1/10
Breathe HR — What Sets It Apart?
These are the product-specific differences that may matter when deciding whether the software fits your workflow. They are based on documented evidence rather than a universal ranking.
- Core HR pricing is shown as a monthly organization-size tier rather than a per-employee fee.
- The product combines core HR with optional modules such as rota scheduling, time and attendance, recruitment, expenses and learning.
- The API documentation describes sandbox and production environments for developers building integrations.
Breathe HR Pros & Cons
Pros
- Publishes Core HR monthly pricing by employee bracket.
- Provides employee self-service for leave and access to HR information.
- Offers API documentation with sandbox testing.
- Supports optional modules for rota scheduling, time and attendance, recruitment, expenses and learning.
Cons
- Does not process payroll directly.
- Rota, time and attendance and other capabilities may add to the Core HR subscription cost.
- Some public reviewers have asked for broader integrations and more flexible reporting or customization.
Breathe HR Gotchas & Operational Limits
These are documented constraints or practical friction points that may matter before you adopt the product.
The rota, time and attendance module is an additional charge.
A business that schedules shifts should compare the combined core and add-on price, not only the core HR subscription.
Evidence source ↗Breathe HR Pricing & Plans
Micro
£24
month
Core HR for 1–10 people. Annual billing is listed at £245.
Check current pricing →Starter
£44
month
Core HR for 11–20 people. Annual billing is listed at £449.
Check current pricing →Regular
£99
month
Core HR for 21–50 people. Annual billing is listed at £999.
Check current pricing →Pro
£175
month
Core HR for 51–100 people. Annual billing is listed at £1,790.
Check current pricing →Premium
£419
month
Core HR for 101–150 people. Annual billing is listed at £4,519.
Check current pricing →Plus
£579
month
Core HR for 151–200 people. Annual billing is listed at £6,255.
Check current pricing →Free trial
£0
14 days
Free trial; Breathe advertises no credit card requirement.
Check current pricing →Pricing may change. Verify current plans on the vendor's website.
Quick Comparison
Compare the product with documented alternatives across the factors that can change a buying decision. Each row is evidence-backed rather than a generic feature checklist.
Breathe HR vs. Sage HR
Documented comparison| Decision factor | Breathe HR | Sage HR |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Monthly organization-size tiers; Core HR starts at £24 per month for 1–10 people. | Core HR and leave management are listed at £5 per employee per month. Source ↗ |
| Core capability | Employee records, leave and absence are accompanied by documents, onboarding and HR self-service. | Core HR and leave management are supplemented by selectable performance, timesheets, shift scheduling, expenses and recruitment modules. Source ↗ |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial; Breathe advertises no credit card requirement. | 30-day free trial; Sage says no payment details are needed for the trial. Source ↗ |
Breathe HR vs. CharlieHR
Documented comparison| Decision factor | Breathe HR | CharlieHR |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Monthly organization-size tiers; Core HR starts at £24 per month for 1–10 people. | Monthly headcount brackets; the pricing page lists a £21 monthly price after the initial 1–4 employee offer. Source ↗ |
| Core capability | Core HR combines employee records, leave and absence with optional modules including rota, recruitment, expenses and learning. | Core subscription includes employee records, onboarding, leave, performance reviews, engagement surveys and employee perks. Source ↗ |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial; Breathe advertises no credit card requirement. | 7-day free trial; Charlie says no credit card is required, while Grow and Recruit are not automatically included. Source ↗ |
Only factors supported by the available research are shown. The comparison is descriptive, not a ranking.
Breathe HR Competitors & Alternatives
Compare similar products directly, then see which alternatives may make more sense when your requirements differ.
At a glance
Productivity Software| Decision factor | Breathe HR | Sage HR | CharlieHR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Monthly organization-size tiers; Core HR starts at £24 per month for 1–10 people. | Core HR and leave management are listed at £5 per employee per month. Source ↗ | Monthly headcount brackets; the pricing page lists a £21 monthly price after the initial 1–4 employee offer. Source ↗ |
| Core capability | Employee records, leave and absence are accompanied by documents, onboarding and HR self-service. | Core HR and leave management are supplemented by selectable performance, timesheets, shift scheduling, expenses and recruitment modules. Source ↗ | Core subscription includes employee records, onboarding, leave, performance reviews, engagement surveys and employee perks. Source ↗ |
| Free trial | 14-day free trial; Breathe advertises no credit card requirement. | 30-day free trial; Sage says no payment details are needed for the trial. Source ↗ | 7-day free trial; Charlie says no credit card is required, while Grow and Recruit are not automatically included. Source ↗ |
Only factors supported by the available research are shown. The comparison is descriptive, not a ranking.
Direct competitors
These products address broadly similar requirements. The descriptions focus on documented reasons a buyer might compare them with Breathe HR.
Sage HRDocumented difference - Pricing model: Core HR and leave management are listed at £5 per employee per month.
Breathe HR Features
Core HR
- Employee records
- Document management
- Employee self-service
- Leave and absence tracking
- Tasks and reminders
People management
- Onboarding workflows
- Performance reviews
- One-to-ones
- Objectives and goals
- HR reporting
Optional modules
- Rota, time and attendance
- Recruitment
- Expenses
- Learning
Integrations and mobile
- API with sandbox documentation
- Xero Payroll integration
- Hireful ATS integration
- Microsoft Outlook calendar integration
- People Portal mobile app
Demo & Screenshots
Breathe HR Specifications
| Deployment | Cloud-based SaaS |
|---|---|
| Hosting region | Breathe states its employee records are stored in a UK-based data centre. |
| Mobile apps | People Portal for iOS and Android |
| API | Developer API with sandbox and production environments |
| Free trial | 14 days |
| Payroll | Does not process payroll directly; connects with payroll providers. |
| Company size | Published Core HR tiers cover up to 200 employees; product pages also describe a target market up to 250 people. |
| Security | Breathe states it is ISO 27001-accredited and GDPR-compliant. |
Deployment & System Footprint
Verified installation, hosting, administration, or environment details that can affect implementation.
| Hosting | Cloud-based service; Breathe states employee records are hosted in a UK-based data centre. Source ↗ |
|---|---|
| Mobile access | People Portal mobile app for iOS and Android; an active Breathe HR subscription is required. Source ↗ |
Migration & Lock-In
Documented portability, standards, export, or switching considerations. No switching-cost score is shown unless the evidence supports one.
Data portability
Breathe's product pages describe payroll-ready data exports. Publicly reviewed sources also include a customer complaint about needing to download employee documents manually when leaving; confirm export coverage and exit procedures with the vendor.
Evidence source ↗Our evidence-based assessment
TechZella Score
A proprietary editorial score based on product capabilities, usability, value, performance, support and user sentiment evidence.
8.1/10Moderate confidence
The product offers core HR records, leave, absence, documents, employee self-service and optional modules. Public review pages show generally positive ratings, with some feedback noting integration and customization limits.
Methodology v1.0. The assessment weighs feature coverage (25%), ease of use (15%), value for money (20%), performance (15%), support (10%) and user sentiment (15%), using researched product evidence and verified review evidence where available. It is a TechZella editorial assessment, not a direct user-review average.
Editorial transparency
Our Review Methodology
Key claims are linked to the sources used to verify them. This evidence record is separate from third-party user ratings.
TechZella evaluates software using documented product capabilities, pricing information, usability and value considerations, independent user evidence where available, and competitive context. The assessment is an editorial review, not a hands-on test unless one is explicitly identified. Our editorial assessment is based on 7 documented sources.
What TechZella adds
- Core HR pricing is shown as a monthly organization-size tier rather than a per-employee fee.
- The product combines core HR with optional modules such as rota scheduling, time and attendance, recruitment, expenses and learning.
- The API documentation describes sandbox and production environments for developers building integrations.
Important limitations
- Breathe states that it does not process payroll directly; its HR system connects with payroll tools instead.
- Rota, time and attendance is presented as an add-on, so buyers needing shift scheduling should include module charges in their comparison.
- Some public reviewers mention a desire for more integrations and reporting or customization flexibility.
Evidence-backed claimsBreathe HR was developed in 2012. Breathe's current published Core HR tiers start at £24 monthly for 1–10 employees. Breathe advertises a 14-day free trial. The product supports integrations including Xero Payroll, Hireful ATS and Microsoft Outlook. Breathe provides an API with sandbox testing. Breathe does not process payroll directly. Public review platforms show ratings of 4.4/5 on G2 and 4.3/5 on Capterra.
Breathe's company page and careers page identify 2012 as the year the software was built or founded.
View source ↗Verified 2026-10-20The official feature and pricing table lists six monthly tiers and employee brackets.
View source ↗Verified 2026-10-20The official product pages promote a 14-day trial; the site says no credit card is required.
View source ↗Verified 2026-10-20Breathe's HR software and API pages name these integrations and describe calendar synchronization.
View source ↗Verified 2026-10-20The developer documentation describes API onboarding, sandbox requests and API authentication.
View source ↗Verified 2026-10-20Breathe's HR management system page says the product connects to payroll providers rather than processing payroll itself.
View source ↗Verified 2026-10-20The public product review pages displayed these ratings and their respective review counts when checked.
View source ↗Verified 2026-10-20FAQ
Does Breathe HR include payroll processing? No. Breathe says it connects with payroll providers rather than processing payroll directly.
Is there a free trial? Yes. Breathe advertises a 14-day free trial and says a credit card is not required.
Does Breathe HR have an API? Yes. Breathe provides API documentation, sandbox testing and production environments.
Which integrations are documented? Breathe identifies Xero Payroll, Hireful ATS and Microsoft Outlook, among others in its marketplace.
Can employees use a mobile app? Yes. The People Portal is available on iOS and Android and requires an active Breathe subscription.
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