Breathe vs Pipedrive

A detailed, side-by-side comparison of Breathe and Pipedrive. 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 Β· Last updated: March 2026

Quick Verdict

Pipedrive 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.

Breathe vs Pipedrive at a Glance

B

Breathe

β˜… 4

Breathe 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 Β£13/month

Best for: UK SMEs wanting simple, affordable HR software for holiday and absence management

Read full review β†’
P

Pipedrive

β˜… 4.4

A sales-focused CRM built by salespeople, for salespeople. Pipedrive excels at visual pipeline management and is known for its simplicity and ease of use.

Starting from: Β£14/user/month

Best for: Sales teams wanting a simple, visual pipeline-focused CRM

Read full review β†’

Breathe vs Pipedrive Feature Comparison

Here is how Breathe and Pipedrive compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.

FeatureBreathePipedrive
Free Plan AvailableNoNo
Starting PriceFrom Β£13/monthΒ£14/user/month
Best ForUK SMEs wanting simple, affordable HR software for holiday and absence managementSales teams wanting a simple, visual pipeline-focused CRM
Our Rating4/54.4/5
Mobile AppLimitedYes
Email MarketingNoNo
AutomationLimitedYes
ReportingYesYes
IntegrationsLimitedExtensive
API AccessLimitedLimited
Ikaroa Exclusive DiscountN/AN/A

Breathe vs Pipedrive 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 Β£13/month

  • βœ“Holiday management
  • βœ“Sickness tracking
  • βœ“Employee database
  • βœ“Document storage
  • βœ“Reporting

Breathe HR + Payroll

Custom

  • βœ“Everything in HR
  • βœ“Payroll processing
  • βœ“HMRC submissions
  • βœ“Auto-enrolment

Pipedrive Pricing

Essential

Β£14/user/month

  • βœ“Pipeline management
  • βœ“Deal tracking
  • βœ“Email integration

Advanced

Β£29/user/month

  • βœ“Everything in Essential
  • βœ“Email automation
  • βœ“Workflow automation

Professional

Β£49/user/month

  • βœ“Everything in Advanced
  • βœ“Revenue forecasting
  • βœ“Team management
  • βœ“Custom fields

Power

Β£64/user/month

  • βœ“Everything in Professional
  • βœ“Phone support
  • βœ“Project management

Enterprise

Β£79/user/month

  • βœ“Everything in Power
  • βœ“Enhanced security
  • βœ“Unlimited reports

Not sure which to pick?

Our team has implemented both Breathe and Pipedrive for clients. We can help you decide based on your specific needs.

Talk to Our Team

Breathe Pros and Cons

βœ“Pros

  • β€’Designed specifically for UK SMEs
  • β€’Very simple and quick to set up
  • β€’Affordable pricing
  • β€’Good holiday and absence management
  • β€’UK-based support team

βœ—Cons

  • β€’Limited features beyond core HR
  • β€’No recruitment tools
  • β€’Reporting is basic
  • β€’Mobile app is limited
  • β€’Not suitable for companies over 250 employees

Pipedrive Pros and Cons

βœ“Pros

  • β€’Beautiful, intuitive visual pipeline
  • β€’Very easy to set up and use
  • β€’Excellent mobile app
  • β€’Good value for money
  • β€’Built-in calling features

βœ—Cons

  • β€’Limited marketing features
  • β€’Reporting could be more advanced
  • β€’No free plan available
  • β€’Email integration can be clunky
  • β€’Limited customer support features

Our Verdict: Breathe vs Pipedrive

Both Breathe and Pipedrive 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 Β£13/month and a rating of 4/5, it offers designed specifically for uk smes.

Choose Pipedrive if you need Sales teams wanting a simple, visual pipeline-focused CRM. Starting at Β£14/user/month with a 4.4/5 rating, it excels at beautiful, intuitive visual pipeline.

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

⭐ Our Pick

Consider Open Doors Instead

Why choose between Breathe and Pipedrive? 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 Β£97/month with unlimited contacts.

β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…4.8/5
|From Β£97/month|Unlimited contacts
🎁 14-day free trial + 30% off first 3 months with code IKAROA30

Need implementation help?

Ikaroa can set up Breathe or Pipedrive for your business, migrate your data, and train your team. We have done it dozens of times.

Free consultation. No obligation.

Breathe vs Pipedrive: Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on your needs. Breathe scores 4/5 and is better for UK SMEs wanting simple, affordable HR software for holiday and absence management, while Pipedrive scores 4.4/5 and excels at Sales teams wanting a simple, visual pipeline-focused CRM. We recommend evaluating both against your specific requirements using our comparison table.

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