CharlieHR vs HubSpot CRM
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of CharlieHR 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, CharlieHR (4.1/5) may be the better fit if you prioritise UK small businesses and startups wanting simple, affordable HR software. Read on for the full breakdown.
CharlieHR vs HubSpot CRM at a Glance
CharlieHR
★ 4.1CharlieHR is a UK-built HR platform designed specifically for small businesses. It handles onboarding, time off, performance reviews, and employee engagement with a focus on being simple and delightful to use. Popular with UK startups and small teams for its affordable pricing and genuinely useful features.
Starting from: £4/employee/month
Best for: UK small businesses and startups wanting simple, affordable HR software
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 →CharlieHR vs HubSpot CRM Feature Comparison
Here is how CharlieHR and HubSpot CRM compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.
| Feature | CharlieHR | HubSpot CRM |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Available | No | Yes |
| Starting Price | £4/employee/month | £0/month |
| Best For | UK small businesses and startups wanting simple, affordable HR software | Small to mid-sized businesses wanting a free starting point with room to grow |
| Our Rating | 4.1/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Mobile App | Yes | Yes |
| Email Marketing | No | Yes |
| Automation | Limited | Yes |
| Reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Extensive | Extensive |
| API Access | Limited | Limited |
| Ikaroa Exclusive Discount | N/A | N/A |
CharlieHR vs HubSpot CRM Pricing
Pricing is often the deciding factor. Here is a full breakdown of what each platform charges at every tier:
CharlieHR Pricing
Team
£4/employee/month
- ✓Onboarding
- ✓Time off
- ✓Company directory
- ✓Document storage
Perform
£6.50/employee/month
- ✓Everything in Team
- ✓Performance reviews
- ✓Goals & OKRs
- ✓1-to-1s
Engage
£8/employee/month
- ✓Everything in Perform
- ✓Engagement surveys
- ✓Pulse checks
- ✓eNPS tracking
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 CharlieHR and HubSpot CRM for clients. We can help you decide based on your specific needs.
CharlieHR Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Built specifically for UK small businesses
- •Very affordable pricing
- •Genuinely simple and easy to use
- •Good onboarding workflows
- •Responsive UK-based customer support
✗Cons
- •Limited features for larger companies
- •No payroll included
- •Fewer integrations than larger platforms
- •Reporting is basic
- •No recruitment tools
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: CharlieHR vs HubSpot CRM
Both CharlieHR and HubSpot CRM are solid options, but they serve different needs. Having implemented both for multiple clients, here is our recommendation:
Choose CharlieHR if you need UK small businesses and startups wanting simple, affordable HR software. With a starting price of £4/employee/month and a rating of 4.1/5, it offers built specifically for uk small businesses.
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 CharlieHR 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 CharlieHR or HubSpot CRM for your business, migrate your data, and train your team. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.