Software · head to head
CharlieHR vs Zoho People
The short version
- Only Zoho People 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; Zoho People slow response times and slow loading on the platform affecting user efficiency
- They diverge on capability: CharlieHR covers Time Off Management, Zoho People covers Time Off.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which CharlieHR and Zoho People actually diverge.
| Attribute | CharlieHR | Zoho People |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | £5/month | Free |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, Mobile (iOS/Android) | Web |
| Founded | 2015 | 1996 |
Identical on both: pricing model (Unknown), 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
- Time Off Management
- Performance Reviews
- Team Engagement
- Company Directory
- Zapier
Only in Zoho People
- Time Off
- Time Tracking
- Attendance
- Performance
- Self-Service
- Zoho CRM
- Zoho Books
Both cover
- Employee Database
- 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
Zoho People
- Slow response times and slow loading on the platform affecting user efficiency
- Limited customization options for leave and performance management workflows
- Mobile app is missing key features available in desktop version, like timesheets and reporting
- Customer support is ticket-based only with no live chat unless on premium plan
Pricing, plan by plan
CharlieHR
£5/month- Core HR (Teams 1-4)$5/month
- Employee onboarding
- Time off management
- Document storage
Zoho People
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Zoho People review.
Which should you pick?
Choose CharlieHR if
- You need time off management.
- You work on Web, Mobile (iOS/Android).
- You also want performance reviews.
Choose Zoho People if
- You need time off.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want time tracking.
Questions people ask
- Is CharlieHR or Zoho People better?
- Neither clearly leads. CharlieHR starts at £5/month and Zoho People at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, CharlieHR or Zoho People?
- Zoho People has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at £5/month for CharlieHR and Free for Zoho People.
- Does CharlieHR or Zoho People run on more platforms?
- CharlieHR runs on Web, Mobile (iOS/Android). Zoho People runs on Web.
- Can I use Zoho People for free?
- Yes. Zoho People has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. CharlieHR starts at £5/month.
- What can CharlieHR do that Zoho People cannot?
- CharlieHR covers Time Off Management, Performance Reviews, Team Engagement, Company Directory. Zoho People covers Time Off, Time Tracking, Attendance, Performance. Both handle Employee Database, 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.
SourceZoho People: Does Zoho People have a free tier?
Yes, the Free plan supports up to 5-10 users with essential HR tools, email support, and 30-day free trial available on all paid plans with no credit card required.
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.
SourceZoho People: What is the pricing for Zoho People?
Pricing starts at $1.25 per user per month when billed annually. The Essential HR plan costs $1.50 monthly per user, dropping to $1.25 annually with five tiers available: Free, Essential HR, Professional, Premium, and Enterprise.
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.
SourceZoho People: Does Zoho People work with other Zoho applications?
Yes, Zoho People integrates with the Zoho ecosystem including Zoho CRM, Zoho Books, and other Zoho applications for unified business management.
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