Softwr

HR · head to head

CharlieHR vs HiBob

CharlieHR logo

CharlieHR

HR

HR software built for small businesses

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
HiBob logo

HiBob

HR

Modern HR for modern businesses

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only CharlieHR has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: CharlieHR starter plan price increases to £20/month after 6-month promotional period; HiBob pricing not publicly displayed; requires contacting sales for custom quote
  • They diverge on capability: CharlieHR covers Employee Database, HiBob covers Core HR.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CharlieHR and HiBob actually diverge.

Attributes where CharlieHR and HiBob differ
AttributeCharlieHRHiBob
Starting priceFreeOn request
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, Mobile (iOS/Android)Web, iOS, Android

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (HR), founded (2015).

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
  • Performance Reviews
  • Team Engagement
  • Company Directory
  • Microsoft 365
  • Zapier

Only in HiBob

  • Core HR
  • Performance Management
  • Compensation
  • People Analytics
  • Engagement
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Greenhouse
  • Lever

Both cover

  • Time Off Management
  • Onboarding
  • Slack
  • Google Workspace
  • 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 HiBob
  • Employee onboarding and time off managementnot HiBob
  • Performance reviews and employee engagementnot HiBob

HiBob

  • Core HR system of record with automated workflowsnot CharlieHR
  • Performance management, learning and skills trackingnot CharlieHR
  • US and UK payroll, benefits and time trackingnot CharlieHR
  • Workforce planning and compensation review cyclesnot CharlieHR
  • Employee self-service for a distributed workforcenot 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

HiBob

  • Pricing not publicly displayed; requires contacting sales for custom quote
  • Limited payroll functionality compared to dedicated payroll platforms
  • Smaller integration ecosystem compared to larger HR platforms

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

HiBob

On request
  • Bob$undefined/month
    • Core HR
    • Onboarding
    • Time Off

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 performance reviews.
CharlieHR review

Choose HiBob if

  • You need core hr.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want performance management.
HiBob review

Questions people ask

Is CharlieHR or HiBob better?
Neither clearly leads. CharlieHR starts at Free and HiBob at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CharlieHR or HiBob?
CharlieHR has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CharlieHR and On request for HiBob.
Does CharlieHR or HiBob run on more platforms?
CharlieHR runs on Web, Mobile (iOS/Android). HiBob runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use CharlieHR for free?
Yes. CharlieHR has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. HiBob starts at On request.
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 HiBob is typically brought in for.
What can CharlieHR do that HiBob cannot?
CharlieHR covers Employee Database, Performance Reviews, Team Engagement, Company Directory. HiBob covers Core HR, Performance Management, Compensation, People Analytics. Both handle Time Off Management, Onboarding, 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
HiBob: What modules does HiBob include?

HiBob includes Core HR, Time & Attendance, Performance & Goals, Compensation Management, Global Operations, and Analytics modules that can be selected based on organizational needs.

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
HiBob: How is HiBob pricing calculated?

HiBob pricing is customized based on company size (1-49, 50-199, 200-999, or 1,000+ employees) and the specific modules selected. Pricing is on a per-employee basis.

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
HiBob: Does HiBob offer a mobile app?

Yes, HiBob includes mobile app access as part of all plans, allowing employees to manage their HR tasks on the go.

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
Share

Related pages

More on CharlieHR

More on HiBob

Keep looking

Other head to heads