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Software · head to head

CharlieHR vs Google Optimize

CharlieHR logo

CharlieHR

Software

HR software built for small businesses

From
£5/month
Rated
-
Google Optimize logo

Google Optimize

Software

A/B testing for Google Analytics

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only Google Optimize 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; Google Optimize google Optimize and Optimize 360 were sunset and are no longer available as of September 30, 2023
  • They diverge on capability: CharlieHR covers Employee Database, Google Optimize covers A/B testing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CharlieHR and Google Optimize actually diverge.

Attributes where CharlieHR and Google Optimize differ
AttributeCharlieHRGoogle Optimize
Starting price£5/monthFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Mobile (iOS/Android)Web
Founded20151998

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
  • Onboarding
  • Performance Reviews
  • Team Engagement
  • Company Directory
  • Slack
  • Google Workspace

Only in Google Optimize

  • A/B testing
  • Google Analytics integration
  • Visual editor
  • Real-time analytics
  • Google Analytics
  • Google Tag Manager
  • Google's security
  • Cloud deployment

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

CharlieHR

No use cases recorded yet. See the CharlieHR review.

Google Optimize

  • A/B and multivariate testing of web pages tied to Google Analytics goalsnot CharlieHR
  • Personalising page content for defined audience segmentsnot CharlieHR
  • Redirect tests between alternative landing page URLsnot CharlieHR

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

Google Optimize

  • Google Optimize and Optimize 360 were sunset and are no longer available as of September 30, 2023
  • Any experiments and personalizations still running on that date were ended by Google
  • Google directs former users to third-party A/B testing tools, naming AB Tasty, Optimizely and VWO, rather than a replacement Google product

Pricing, plan by plan

CharlieHR

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

Google Optimize

Free
  • FreeFree
    • A/B testing
    • Google Analytics integration
    • Visual editor

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 Google Optimize if

  • You need a/b testing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want google analytics integration.

Questions people ask

Is CharlieHR or Google Optimize better?
Neither clearly leads. CharlieHR starts at £5/month and Google Optimize at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CharlieHR or Google Optimize?
Google Optimize has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at £5/month for CharlieHR and Free for Google Optimize.
Does CharlieHR or Google Optimize run on more platforms?
CharlieHR runs on Web, Mobile (iOS/Android). Google Optimize runs on Web.
Can I use Google Optimize for free?
Yes. Google Optimize has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. CharlieHR starts at £5/month.
What can CharlieHR do that Google Optimize cannot?
CharlieHR covers Employee Database, Time Off Management, Onboarding, Performance Reviews. Google Optimize covers A/B testing, Google Analytics integration, Visual editor, Real-time analytics. Both handle Web support.

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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