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HR · head to head

Breathe HR vs People HR

Breathe HR logo

Breathe HR

HR

Simple HR software for SMEs

From
£13/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
People HR logo

People HR

HR

HR software that does the HR hard work

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only People HR has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Breathe HR pricing is banded by headcount, starting at £24 per month for 1 to 10 people, £44 per month for 11 to 20 and £99 per month for 21 to 50; People HR pro and Elite+ HR plans require contacting sales; exact features unclear
  • They diverge on capability: Breathe HR covers Document Storage, People HR covers Document Management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Breathe HR and People HR actually diverge.

Attributes where Breathe HR and People HR differ
AttributeBreathe HRPeople HR
Starting price£13/monthFree
Free tierNoYes

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (HR), founded (2012).

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 Breathe HR

  • Document Storage
  • HR Reporting
  • Performance Management
  • Training
  • QuickBooks

Only in People HR

  • Document Management
  • Performance
  • Recruitment
  • Self-Service Portal
  • Sage

Both cover

  • Employee Database
  • Absence Management
  • Slack
  • Google Workspace
  • Microsoft 365
  • Xero
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Breathe HR

  • Holiday, absence and sickness tracking for a UK small businessnot People HR
  • Storing HR documents, contracts and e-signaturesnot People HR
  • Performance reviews and onboarding workflows for small teamsnot People HR

People HR

  • HR management for startups and growing teamsnot Breathe HR
  • Integrated payroll and HR operationsnot Breathe HR
  • Employee management with compliance featuresnot Breathe HR

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Breathe HR

  • Pricing is banded by headcount, starting at £24 per month for 1 to 10 people, £44 per month for 11 to 20 and £99 per month for 21 to 50
  • Plans are capped by band up to 151 to 200 people, so it is not sold to organisations above that range on the published ladder
  • The free trial is 14 days
  • Health and safety, e-learning and other modules are sold as add-ons on top of the core HR plan
  • Pricing is quoted in pounds and the product is marketed to UK SMEs

People HR

  • Pro and Elite+ HR plans require contacting sales; exact features unclear
  • Payroll SaaS Pro and Elite+ pricing not published
  • Combined plans mark no distinction between HR and payroll components

Pricing, plan by plan

Breathe HR

£13/month
  • Core$13/month
    • Employee Database
    • Absence Management
    • Documents
  • People Management$18/month
    • All Core features
    • Performance
    • Goals

People HR

Free
  • Starter$3/month
    • per-employee pricing
    • ideal for startups
  • Core$5.5/month
    • per-employee pricing
    • growing teams
  • Pro$8/month
    • per-employee pricing
    • larger companies
  • Elite+$9.5/month
    • per-employee pricing
    • advanced HR

Which should you pick?

Choose Breathe HR if

  • You need document storage.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want hr reporting.
Breathe HR review

Choose People HR if

  • You need document management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want performance.
People HR review

Questions people ask

Is Breathe HR or People HR better?
Neither clearly leads. Breathe HR starts at £13/month and People HR at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Breathe HR or People HR?
People HR has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at £13/month for Breathe HR and Free for People HR.
Does Breathe HR or People HR run on more platforms?
Breathe HR runs on Web, Ios, Android. People HR runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use People HR for free?
Yes. People HR has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Breathe HR starts at £13/month.
What is Breathe HR best used for?
Breathe HR is most often used for holiday, absence and sickness tracking for a uk small business, storing hr documents, contracts and e-signatures, performance reviews and onboarding workflows for small teams. Of those, holiday, absence and sickness tracking for a uk small business and storing hr documents, contracts and e-signatures are not what People HR is typically brought in for.
What can Breathe HR do that People HR cannot?
Breathe HR covers Document Storage, HR Reporting, Performance Management, Training. People HR covers Document Management, Performance, Recruitment, Self-Service Portal. Both handle Employee Database, Absence Management, Slack, Google Workspace.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Breathe HR: Is there a free trial available?

Yes, Breathe HR offers a free trial with no credit card required to get started.

Source
People HR: How is PeopleHR pricing calculated?

Pricing is per employee per month (PEPM). Starter: £3, Core: £5.50, Pro: £8, Elite+: £9.50. Users can add/remove employees as needed.

Source
Breathe HR: Are there long-term contracts required?

No. Breathe HR explicitly states there are no long-term contracts, no hidden costs, and you have the freedom to cancel anytime.

Source
People HR: Do I get a discount for annual billing?

Yes, annual customers receive discounts compared to monthly billing. Exact discount percentages not specified on the pricing page.

Source
Breathe HR: What company sizes does Breathe HR support?

The software is designed to support businesses with up to 250 employees. Organization size options mentioned include 1-10, 11-50, and 51-250 employees.

Source
People HR: What add-ons are available?

Optional add-ons cost £1.50-£2 PEPM for most features. Specific add-ons not listed on the pricing page.

Source
Breathe HR: Are there different features for different plans?

Yes, flexible subscription-based plans exist with some features like Polls & Surveys available only for regular and above plans. The page does not specify plan names or detailed feature breakdowns.

Source
People HR: Can I combine HR and Payroll services?

Yes, combined HR + Payroll plans are available: Core+ (£7 PEPM), Pro+ (£9.50 PEPM), Ultimate+ (£11 PEPM). Support and implementation included.

Source
Breathe HR: What happens if I want to cancel my subscription?

You can cancel anytime without worrying about hidden costs. Breathe HR emphasizes no long-term commitment and the freedom to leave whenever your needs change.

Source
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