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HR · head to head

CharlieHR vs Factorial

CharlieHR logo

CharlieHR

HR

HR software built for small businesses

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Factorial logo

Factorial

Recruitment

HR software that employees love

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: CharlieHR starter plan price increases to £20/month after 6-month promotional period; Factorial no published tier names or feature-based pricing breakdown
  • They diverge on capability: CharlieHR covers Employee Database, Factorial covers HR Management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CharlieHR and Factorial actually diverge.

Attributes where CharlieHR and Factorial differ
AttributeCharlieHRFactorial
PlatformsWeb, Mobile (iOS/Android)Web, Ios, Android
CategoryHRRecruitment
Founded20152016

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (subscription), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 CharlieHR

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

Only in Factorial

  • HR Management
  • Time Off
  • Time Tracking
  • Documents
  • Payroll
  • Performance
  • Recruiting
  • Shift Management

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Google Workspace
  • Microsoft 365
  • Zapier
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

CharlieHR

  • HR management for small to large teamsnot Factorial
  • Employee onboarding and time off managementnot Factorial
  • Performance reviews and employee engagementnot Factorial

Factorial

  • Managing employee records, onboarding and offboardingnot CharlieHR
  • Tracking time off, attendance and shiftsnot CharlieHR
  • Running recruitment and performance reviews alongside HR datanot CharlieHR

Where each one falls short

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

CharlieHR

  • Starter plan price increases to £20/month after 6-month promotional period
  • Pricing based on team headcount brackets, not per-user
  • Add-ons (Charlie Recruit, Charlie Advice) cannot be purchased standalone
  • Charlie Advice and Recruit require base Charlie subscription
  • Prices shown exclude 20% UK VAT

Factorial

  • No published tier names or feature-based pricing breakdown
  • Pricing customization requires sales consultation

Pricing, plan by plan

CharlieHR

Free
  • Starter (1-4 team members)$5/month
    • Introductory rate for first 6 months
    • Then £20/month
  • Small (5-14 team members)$45/month
    • Covers 5-14 employees
  • Medium (15-29 team members)$105/month
    • Covers 15-29 employees
  • Large (30-99 team members)$180/month
    • Covers 30-99 employees

Factorial

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic HR
    • Time Off
    • Documents
  • Business$5/month
    • All Free features
    • Payroll
    • Performance

Which should you pick?

Choose CharlieHR if

  • You need employee database.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile (iOS/Android).
  • You also want time off management.
CharlieHR review

Choose Factorial if

  • You need hr management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want time off.
Factorial review

Questions people ask

Is CharlieHR or Factorial better?
Neither clearly leads. CharlieHR starts at Free and Factorial at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CharlieHR or Factorial?
CharlieHR starts at Free and Factorial at Free.
Does CharlieHR or Factorial run on more platforms?
CharlieHR runs on Web, Mobile (iOS/Android). Factorial runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use CharlieHR for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is CharlieHR best used for?
CharlieHR is most often used for hr management for small to large teams, employee onboarding and time off management, performance reviews and employee engagement. Of those, hr management for small to large teams and employee onboarding and time off management are not what Factorial is typically brought in for.
What can CharlieHR do that Factorial cannot?
CharlieHR covers Employee Database, Time Off Management, Onboarding, Performance Reviews. Factorial covers HR Management, Time Off, Time Tracking, Documents. Both handle Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Zapier.

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
Factorial: What is Factorial's starting price?

Factorial starts at $8 per month per user. The company offers modular pricing where customers select features across categories including time management, talent management, finance management, and IT management.

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
Factorial: Can I customize my Factorial plan?

Yes. Factorial offers customizable plans for all businesses and budgets. A specialist will design a plan based on specific business needs. All plans include the Factorial Core platform with employee directory, onboarding/offboarding, payslip distribution, legal e-signature, and custom notifications.

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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