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HR · head to head

CharlieHR vs Freshteam

CharlieHR logo

CharlieHR

HR

HR software built for small businesses

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Freshteam logo

Freshteam

HR

Smart HR software for growing businesses

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; Freshteam no pricing information published on the website
  • They diverge on capability: CharlieHR covers Employee Database, Freshteam covers Applicant Tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CharlieHR and Freshteam actually diverge.

Attributes where CharlieHR and Freshteam differ
AttributeCharlieHRFreshteam
PlatformsWeb, Mobile (iOS/Android)Web, Ios, Android
Founded20152010

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

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

What people use each for

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

CharlieHR

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

Freshteam

  • Onboarding new hires through automated employee lifecycle workflowsnot CharlieHR
  • Processing expense and procurement approvals without manual email routingnot CharlieHR
  • Managing maintenance requests with centralized tracking and approval trailsnot CharlieHR
  • Automating contract reviews and document request handlingnot CharlieHR
  • Routing HR, Finance, Facilities, Legal requests through structured catalogsnot 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

Freshteam

  • No pricing information published on the website
  • Requires contacting sales or requesting a demo for pricing details

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

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

Choose Freshteam if

  • You need applicant tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want time off.
Freshteam review

Questions people ask

Is CharlieHR or Freshteam better?
Neither clearly leads. CharlieHR starts at Free 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?
CharlieHR starts at Free and Freshteam at Free.
Does CharlieHR or Freshteam run on more platforms?
CharlieHR runs on Web, Mobile (iOS/Android). Freshteam 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 Freshteam is typically brought in for.
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.

Source
Freshteam: How much does Freshteam cost?

Freshteam (formerly Freshservice HRMS) does not publish specific pricing information. The vendor focuses on describing product features and benefits across HR, Finance, Facilities, and Legal departments on their public website.

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
Freshteam: Does Freshteam offer a free version?

Freshteam includes a 'Start for free' call-to-action on their website, suggesting a freemium model or free trial option. However, specific details about free tier capabilities or duration are not published.

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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