ActiveCampaign vs Breathe
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of ActiveCampaign and Breathe. We compare features, pricing, ease of use, and value for money to help you make the right choice in 2026.
Reviewed by the Ikaroa team · Last updated: March 2026
Quick Verdict
ActiveCampaign edges ahead overall with a rating of 4.4/5. However, Breathe (4/5) may be the better fit if you prioritise UK SMEs wanting simple, affordable HR software for holiday and absence management. Read on for the full breakdown.
ActiveCampaign vs Breathe at a Glance
ActiveCampaign
★ 4.4ActiveCampaign blends email marketing, marketing automation, and CRM into one platform. Known for its sophisticated automation builder and excellent email deliverability.
Starting from: £12/month
Best for: Businesses prioritising email marketing and sophisticated automation
Read full review →Breathe
★ 4Breathe is a UK HR software platform designed for SMEs with up to 250 employees. It simplifies core HR tasks including holiday management, sickness tracking, document storage, and reporting. Known for its simplicity and focus on making people management less time-consuming for small business owners.
Starting from: From £13/month
Best for: UK SMEs wanting simple, affordable HR software for holiday and absence management
Read full review →ActiveCampaign vs Breathe Feature Comparison
Here is how ActiveCampaign and Breathe compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.
| Feature | ActiveCampaign | Breathe |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Available | No | No |
| Starting Price | £12/month | From £13/month |
| Best For | Businesses prioritising email marketing and sophisticated automation | UK SMEs wanting simple, affordable HR software for holiday and absence management |
| Our Rating | 4.4/5 | 4/5 |
| Mobile App | Limited | Limited |
| Email Marketing | Yes | No |
| Automation | Yes | Limited |
| Reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Extensive | Limited |
| API Access | Limited | Limited |
| Ikaroa Exclusive Discount | N/A | N/A |
ActiveCampaign vs Breathe Pricing
Pricing is often the deciding factor. Here is a full breakdown of what each platform charges at every tier:
ActiveCampaign Pricing
Starter
£12/month
- ✓Email marketing
- ✓Marketing automation
- ✓Inline forms
- ✓Site tracking
Plus
£42/month
- ✓Everything in Starter
- ✓CRM
- ✓Lead scoring
- ✓Landing pages
- ✓SMS marketing
Pro
£135/month
- ✓Everything in Plus
- ✓Predictive sending
- ✓Split automation
- ✓Attribution
Enterprise
£225/month
- ✓Everything in Pro
- ✓Custom objects
- ✓Single sign-on
- ✓Dedicated account rep
Breathe Pricing
Breathe HR
From £13/month
- ✓Holiday management
- ✓Sickness tracking
- ✓Employee database
- ✓Document storage
- ✓Reporting
Breathe HR + Payroll
Custom
- ✓Everything in HR
- ✓Payroll processing
- ✓HMRC submissions
- ✓Auto-enrolment
Not sure which to pick?
Our team has implemented both ActiveCampaign and Breathe for clients. We can help you decide based on your specific needs.
ActiveCampaign Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Best-in-class marketing automation
- •Excellent email deliverability
- •Sophisticated automation builder
- •Good CRM functionality
- •Strong segmentation capabilities
✗Cons
- •CRM is secondary to marketing features
- •Can be complex for beginners
- •Contact-based pricing escalates
- •Reporting could be more visual
- •Limited social media features
Breathe Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Designed specifically for UK SMEs
- •Very simple and quick to set up
- •Affordable pricing
- •Good holiday and absence management
- •UK-based support team
✗Cons
- •Limited features beyond core HR
- •No recruitment tools
- •Reporting is basic
- •Mobile app is limited
- •Not suitable for companies over 250 employees
Our Verdict: ActiveCampaign vs Breathe
Both ActiveCampaign and Breathe are solid options, but they serve different needs. Having implemented both for multiple clients, here is our recommendation:
Choose ActiveCampaign if you need Businesses prioritising email marketing and sophisticated automation. With a starting price of £12/month and a rating of 4.4/5, it offers best-in-class marketing automation.
Choose Breathe if you need UK SMEs wanting simple, affordable HR software for holiday and absence management. Starting at From £13/month with a 4/5 rating, it excels at designed specifically for uk smes.
Still not sure? Talk to the Ikaroa team. We have helped hundreds of businesses make this exact decision, and we are happy to point you in the right direction.
🎁 Get either product at a discount through Ikaroa Partners
Consider Open Doors Instead
Why choose between ActiveCampaign and Breathe? Open Doors gives you the best features of both in one platform, for less. It is an all-in-one CRM with email marketing, SMS, funnels, booking, invoicing, automation, and more, starting at just £97/month with unlimited contacts.
Need implementation help?
Ikaroa can set up ActiveCampaign or Breathe for your business, migrate your data, and train your team. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.