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Software · head to head

Assembly vs CharlieHR

Assembly logo

Assembly

Software

Employee recognition platform for distributed teams

From
Free
Rated
-
CharlieHR logo

CharlieHR

Software

HR software built for small businesses

From
£5/month
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Assembly has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Assembly client counts are capped by tier, at 50 on Starter and 500 on Professional; CharlieHR limited payroll integration capabilities compared to dedicated payroll platforms
  • They diverge on capability: Assembly covers Social recognition, CharlieHR covers Employee Database.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Assembly and CharlieHR actually diverge.

Attributes where Assembly and CharlieHR differ
AttributeAssemblyCharlieHR
Starting priceFree£5/month
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Mobile (iOS/Android)
Founded20212015

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Assembly

  • Social recognition
  • Rewards catalog
  • Points system
  • Mobile app
  • Analytics
  • Manager tools
  • Customizable workflow
  • Reporting

Only in CharlieHR

  • Employee Database
  • Time Off Management
  • Onboarding
  • Performance Reviews
  • Team Engagement
  • Company Directory
  • Microsoft 365
  • Zapier

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Google Workspace

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Assembly

  • Client counts are capped by tier, at 50 on Starter and 500 on Professional
  • Automation tasks are metered, at 100 a month on Starter and 1,000 on Professional
  • Extra internal users cost $29 each on Professional and $59 on Advanced, on top of the plan
  • Full white-labelling requires Advanced at $499 a month and SSO is Enterprise only at $2,000
  • The workspace locks when a trial lapses and the account may be deleted after 30 days

CharlieHR

  • Limited payroll integration capabilities compared to dedicated payroll platforms
  • Pricing structure geared toward UK and Europe, with limited localization for other regions
  • Add-on services like Charlie Recruit and Charlie Advice incur additional costs
  • Smaller employee base (approximately 30 people) compared to enterprise HR competitors

Pricing, plan by plan

Assembly

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic recognition
    • Points system
    • Mobile app
  • Pro$undefined/month
    • Advanced recognition
    • Rewards
    • Analytics

CharlieHR

£5/month
  • Core HR (Teams 1-4)$5/month
    • Employee onboarding
    • Time off management
    • Document storage

Which should you pick?

Choose Assembly if

  • You need social recognition.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want rewards catalog.

Choose CharlieHR if

  • You need employee database.
  • You work on Web, Mobile (iOS/Android).
  • You also want time off management.

Questions people ask

Is Assembly or CharlieHR better?
Neither clearly leads. Assembly starts at Free and CharlieHR at £5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Assembly or CharlieHR?
Assembly has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Assembly and £5/month for CharlieHR.
Does Assembly or CharlieHR run on more platforms?
Assembly runs on Web. CharlieHR runs on Web, Mobile (iOS/Android).
Can I use Assembly for free?
Yes. Assembly has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. CharlieHR starts at £5/month.
What can Assembly do that CharlieHR cannot?
Assembly covers Social recognition, Rewards catalog, Points system, Mobile app. CharlieHR covers Employee Database, Time Off Management, Onboarding, Performance Reviews. Both handle Slack, Google Workspace.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CharlieHR: Does CharlieHR offer a free plan?

CharlieHR does not have a free plan, but offers a 7-day free trial without requiring a credit card. Pricing starts at £5/month for teams of 1-4 employees.

Source
CharlieHR: What are CharlieHR's core features?

Core features include employee onboarding, time off tracking, performance reviews, document storage, employee engagement tools, and benefits management with access to 30,000+ discounts.

Source
CharlieHR: Does CharlieHR integrate with payroll systems?

CharlieHR integrates with major HR tech stacks and offers add-on services like Charlie Recruit for hiring automation. Payroll integration capabilities depend on the specific payroll provider you use.

Source
CharlieHR: Is CharlieHR GDPR compliant?

Yes. CharlieHR is GDPR-compliant and ISO 27001-certified, providing strong data security and privacy compliance for European businesses.

Source
CharlieHR: Does CharlieHR support multi-currency?

CharlieHR's pricing is primarily in GBP (British Pounds). International users can access the platform but currency and localization options may be limited.

Source

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