Breathe vs Klaviyo
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of Breathe and Klaviyo. 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
Klaviyo 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 Klaviyo 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 →Klaviyo
★ 4.5Klaviyo is the email and SMS marketing platform of choice for e-commerce businesses. Deeply integrated with Shopify, WooCommerce, and other e-commerce platforms, it uses customer data to power highly personalised email and SMS campaigns that drive revenue. Known for its powerful segmentation, predictive analytics, and revenue attribution.
Starting from: £0/month
Best for: E-commerce businesses wanting data-driven email and SMS marketing
Read full review →Breathe vs Klaviyo Feature Comparison
Here is how Breathe and Klaviyo compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.
| Feature | Breathe | Klaviyo |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | E-commerce businesses wanting data-driven email and SMS marketing |
| Our Rating | 4/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Mobile App | Limited | Limited |
| Email Marketing | No | No |
| Automation | Limited | Yes |
| Reporting | Yes | Basic |
| Integrations | Limited | Limited |
| API Access | Limited | Limited |
| Ikaroa Exclusive Discount | N/A | N/A |
Breathe vs Klaviyo 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
Klaviyo Pricing
Free
£0/month
- ✓250 contacts
- ✓500 email sends
- ✓150 SMS credits
- ✓Core features
£16/month
- ✓500 contacts
- ✓5,000 emails
- ✓A/B testing
- ✓Automation flows
Email & SMS
£52/month
- ✓500 contacts
- ✓5,000 emails
- ✓1,250 SMS credits
- ✓Automated SMS flows
Not sure which to pick?
Our team has implemented both Breathe and Klaviyo 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
Klaviyo Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Best-in-class e-commerce integrations
- •Powerful predictive analytics and segmentation
- •Excellent revenue attribution reporting
- •Deep Shopify integration
- •Strong template library for e-commerce
✗Cons
- •Expensive as contact list grows
- •Steep learning curve for beginners
- •Overkill for non-e-commerce businesses
- •Free plan is very limited
- •SMS pricing can add up quickly
Our Verdict: Breathe vs Klaviyo
Both Breathe and Klaviyo 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 Klaviyo if you need E-commerce businesses wanting data-driven email and SMS marketing. Starting at £0/month with a 4.5/5 rating, it excels at best-in-class e-commerce integrations.
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 Klaviyo? 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 Klaviyo for your business, migrate your data, and train your team. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.