Breathe vs Semrush
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of Breathe and Semrush. 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
Semrush 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 Semrush 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 →Semrush
★ 4.5Semrush is the most comprehensive SEO and digital marketing toolkit on the market. It offers keyword research, site audits, competitor analysis, backlink tracking, content marketing tools, and PPC research. Used by agencies and in-house marketing teams worldwide as their primary SEO platform.
Starting from: £100/month
Best for: Agencies and marketing teams wanting the most comprehensive SEO and digital marketing toolkit
Read full review →Breathe vs Semrush Feature Comparison
Here is how Breathe and Semrush compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.
| Feature | Breathe | Semrush |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Available | No | No |
| Starting Price | From £13/month | £100/month |
| Best For | UK SMEs wanting simple, affordable HR software for holiday and absence management | Agencies and marketing teams wanting the most comprehensive SEO and digital marketing toolkit |
| Our Rating | 4/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Mobile App | Limited | Limited |
| Email Marketing | No | No |
| Automation | Limited | Limited |
| Reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Limited | Limited |
| API Access | Limited | Limited |
| Ikaroa Exclusive Discount | N/A | N/A |
Breathe vs Semrush 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
Semrush Pricing
Pro
£100/month
- ✓5 projects
- ✓500 keywords to track
- ✓10,000 results per report
- ✓SEO, PPC, and research tools
Guru
£190/month
- ✓15 projects
- ✓1,500 keywords
- ✓30,000 results per report
- ✓Content marketing toolkit
Business
£350/month
- ✓40 projects
- ✓5,000 keywords
- ✓50,000 results per report
- ✓API access
Not sure which to pick?
Our team has implemented both Breathe and Semrush 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
Semrush Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Most comprehensive SEO toolkit available
- •Excellent keyword research database
- •Strong competitor analysis tools
- •Content marketing features included
- •Regular feature updates and improvements
✗Cons
- •Expensive, especially for individuals
- •Per-user pricing adds significant cost
- •Can be overwhelming for beginners
- •Some data can be less accurate for UK-specific searches
- •Learning curve for the full toolkit
Our Verdict: Breathe vs Semrush
Both Breathe and Semrush 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 Semrush if you need Agencies and marketing teams wanting the most comprehensive SEO and digital marketing toolkit. Starting at £100/month with a 4.5/5 rating, it excels at most comprehensive seo toolkit available.
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 Semrush? 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 Semrush for your business, migrate your data, and train your team. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.