Software · head to head
CharlieHR vs Freshteam
The short version
- Only Freshteam has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: CharlieHR limited payroll integration capabilities compared to dedicated payroll platforms; Freshteam freshworks HRMS (formerly Freshteam) paid tiers as captured 19 February 2023 combined a per-employee monthly charge ($1.20 to $2.40+/employee/month) with a separate flat platform fee ($71 to $119+/month), on top of a $0 free tier
- They diverge on capability: CharlieHR covers Employee Database, Freshteam covers Applicant Tracking.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which CharlieHR and Freshteam actually diverge.
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 CharlieHR
- Employee Database
- Time Off Management
- Performance Reviews
- Team Engagement
- Company Directory
- Zapier
Only in Freshteam
- Applicant Tracking
- Time Off
- Employee Directory
- Time Tracking
- Documents
- Org Chart
- Freshdesk
- Freshsales
Both cover
- Onboarding
- Slack
- Google Workspace
- Microsoft 365
- Web support
- Ios support
- Android support
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Freshteam
- Freshworks HRMS (formerly Freshteam) paid tiers as captured 19 February 2023 combined a per-employee monthly charge ($1.20 to $2.40+/employee/month) with a separate flat platform fee ($71 to $119+/month), on top of a $0 free tier
Pricing, plan by plan
CharlieHR
£5/month- Core HR (Teams 1-4)$5/month
- Employee onboarding
- Time off management
- Document storage
Freshteam
Free- FreeFree
- 50 Employees
- Basic ATS
- Time Off
- Growth$1.2/month
- All Free features
- Onboarding
- Time Tracking
- Pro$2.4/month
- All Growth features
- Custom Reports
- Advanced Workflows
Which should you pick?
Choose CharlieHR if
- You need employee database.
- You work on Web, Mobile (iOS/Android).
- You also want time off management.
Choose Freshteam if
- You need applicant tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want time off.
Questions people ask
- Is CharlieHR or Freshteam better?
- Neither clearly leads. CharlieHR starts at £5/month and Freshteam at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, CharlieHR or Freshteam?
- Freshteam has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at £5/month for CharlieHR and Free for Freshteam.
- Does CharlieHR or Freshteam run on more platforms?
- CharlieHR runs on Web, Mobile (iOS/Android). Freshteam runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- Can I use Freshteam for free?
- Yes. Freshteam has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. CharlieHR starts at £5/month.
- What can CharlieHR do that Freshteam cannot?
- CharlieHR covers Employee Database, Time Off Management, Performance Reviews, Team Engagement. Freshteam covers Applicant Tracking, Time Off, Employee Directory, Time Tracking. Both handle Onboarding, Slack, Google Workspace, Microsoft 365.
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.
SourceCharlieHR: 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.
SourceCharlieHR: 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.
SourceCharlieHR: Is CharlieHR GDPR compliant?
Yes. CharlieHR is GDPR-compliant and ISO 27001-certified, providing strong data security and privacy compliance for European businesses.
SourceCharlieHR: 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

