Breathe vs HubSpot CRM
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of Breathe and HubSpot CRM. 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
HubSpot CRM edges ahead overall with a rating of 4.5/5. 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.
Breathe vs HubSpot CRM at a Glance
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 →HubSpot CRM
★ 4.5HubSpot offers a free CRM with powerful marketing, sales, and service tools. Popular with small to mid-sized businesses for its generous free tier and intuitive interface.
Starting from: £0/month
Best for: Small to mid-sized businesses wanting a free starting point with room to grow
Read full review →Breathe vs HubSpot CRM Feature Comparison
Here is how Breathe and HubSpot CRM compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.
| Feature | Breathe | HubSpot CRM |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Available | No | Yes |
| Starting Price | From £13/month | £0/month |
| Best For | UK SMEs wanting simple, affordable HR software for holiday and absence management | Small to mid-sized businesses wanting a free starting point with room to grow |
| Our Rating | 4/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Mobile App | Limited | Yes |
| Email Marketing | No | Yes |
| Automation | Limited | Yes |
| Reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Limited | Extensive |
| API Access | Limited | Limited |
| Ikaroa Exclusive Discount | N/A | N/A |
Breathe vs HubSpot CRM Pricing
Pricing is often the deciding factor. Here is a full breakdown of what each platform charges at every tier:
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
HubSpot CRM Pricing
Free
£0/month
- ✓Contact management
- ✓Email tracking
- ✓Deal pipeline
- ✓Live chat
Starter
£18/month
- ✓Everything in Free
- ✓Email marketing
- ✓Ad management
- ✓Landing pages
Professional
£720/month
- ✓Everything in Starter
- ✓Automation
- ✓Custom reporting
- ✓Teams
Enterprise
£3,000/month
- ✓Everything in Professional
- ✓Advanced permissions
- ✓Predictive lead scoring
- ✓Custom objects
Not sure which to pick?
Our team has implemented both Breathe and HubSpot CRM for clients. We can help you decide based on your specific needs.
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
HubSpot CRM Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Generous free tier with no time limit
- •Excellent user interface and onboarding
- •All-in-one platform (marketing, sales, service)
- •Huge integration marketplace (1,000+)
- •Strong community and learning resources
✗Cons
- •Gets expensive quickly at Professional tier
- •Free plan has HubSpot branding
- •Limited customisation on lower tiers
- •Annual contracts on paid plans
- •Per-seat pricing adds up for larger teams
Our Verdict: Breathe vs HubSpot CRM
Both Breathe and HubSpot CRM are solid options, but they serve different needs. Having implemented both for multiple clients, here is our recommendation:
Choose Breathe if you need UK SMEs wanting simple, affordable HR software for holiday and absence management. With a starting price of From £13/month and a rating of 4/5, it offers designed specifically for uk smes.
Choose HubSpot CRM if you need Small to mid-sized businesses wanting a free starting point with room to grow. Starting at £0/month with a 4.5/5 rating, it excels at generous free tier with no time limit.
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 Breathe and HubSpot CRM? 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 Breathe or HubSpot CRM for your business, migrate your data, and train your team. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.