Breathe vs Shopify
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of Breathe and Shopify. 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
Shopify 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 Shopify 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 →Shopify
★ 4.5Shopify is the world's leading e-commerce platform, powering millions of online stores globally. It provides everything needed to start, run, and grow an online business, from website building and product management to payment processing and shipping. Known for its ease of use and extensive app ecosystem.
Starting from: £24/month
Best for: Businesses wanting the easiest, most complete e-commerce platform with massive app ecosystem
Read full review →Breathe vs Shopify Feature Comparison
Here is how Breathe and Shopify compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.
| Feature | Breathe | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Available | No | No |
| Starting Price | From £13/month | £24/month |
| Best For | UK SMEs wanting simple, affordable HR software for holiday and absence management | Businesses wanting the easiest, most complete e-commerce platform with massive app ecosystem |
| Our Rating | 4/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Mobile App | Limited | Yes |
| Email Marketing | No | No |
| Automation | Limited | Limited |
| Reporting | Yes | Basic |
| Integrations | Limited | Limited |
| API Access | Limited | Limited |
| Ikaroa Exclusive Discount | N/A | N/A |
Breathe vs Shopify 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
Shopify Pricing
Basic
£24/month
- ✓Online store
- ✓Unlimited products
- ✓2 staff accounts
- ✓Basic reports
Shopify
£59/month
- ✓Everything in Basic
- ✓5 staff accounts
- ✓Professional reports
- ✓Lower card rates
Advanced
£289/month
- ✓Everything in Shopify
- ✓15 staff accounts
- ✓Custom reports
- ✓Lowest card rates
Shopify Plus
From £1,750/month
- ✓Enterprise features
- ✓Unlimited staff
- ✓Dedicated support
- ✓Customisable checkout
Not sure which to pick?
Our team has implemented both Breathe and Shopify 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
Shopify Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Easiest e-commerce platform to use
- •Massive app ecosystem (8,000+ apps)
- •Excellent payment processing (Shopify Payments)
- •Scales from small to enterprise
- •Strong SEO capabilities
✗Cons
- •Transaction fees if not using Shopify Payments
- •Monthly costs add up with apps
- •Limited customisation without coding
- •Content management is basic compared to WordPress
- •Migrating away is difficult
Our Verdict: Breathe vs Shopify
Both Breathe and Shopify 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 Shopify if you need Businesses wanting the easiest, most complete e-commerce platform with massive app ecosystem. Starting at £24/month with a 4.5/5 rating, it excels at easiest e-commerce platform to use.
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 Shopify? 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 Shopify for your business, migrate your data, and train your team. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.