CharlieHR vs Pipedrive
A detailed, side-by-side comparison of CharlieHR 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 · Last updated: March 2026
Quick Verdict
Pipedrive edges ahead overall with a rating of 4.4/5. 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 Pipedrive 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 →Pipedrive
★ 4.4A 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: £14/user/month
Best for: Sales teams wanting a simple, visual pipeline-focused CRM
Read full review →CharlieHR vs Pipedrive Feature Comparison
Here is how CharlieHR and Pipedrive compare across the features that matter most. We have tested both platforms extensively across client implementations.
| Feature | CharlieHR | Pipedrive |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan Available | No | No |
| Starting Price | £4/employee/month | £14/user/month |
| Best For | UK small businesses and startups wanting simple, affordable HR software | Sales teams wanting a simple, visual pipeline-focused CRM |
| Our Rating | 4.1/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Mobile App | Yes | Yes |
| Email Marketing | No | No |
| Automation | Limited | Yes |
| Reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Extensive | Extensive |
| API Access | Limited | Limited |
| Ikaroa Exclusive Discount | N/A | N/A |
CharlieHR vs Pipedrive 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
Pipedrive Pricing
Essential
£14/user/month
- ✓Pipeline management
- ✓Deal tracking
- ✓Email integration
Advanced
£29/user/month
- ✓Everything in Essential
- ✓Email automation
- ✓Workflow automation
Professional
£49/user/month
- ✓Everything in Advanced
- ✓Revenue forecasting
- ✓Team management
- ✓Custom fields
Power
£64/user/month
- ✓Everything in Professional
- ✓Phone support
- ✓Project management
Enterprise
£79/user/month
- ✓Everything in Power
- ✓Enhanced security
- ✓Unlimited reports
Not sure which to pick?
Our team has implemented both CharlieHR and Pipedrive 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
Pipedrive Pros and Cons
✓Pros
- •Beautiful, intuitive visual pipeline
- •Very easy to set up and use
- •Excellent mobile app
- •Good value for money
- •Built-in calling features
✗Cons
- •Limited marketing features
- •Reporting could be more advanced
- •No free plan available
- •Email integration can be clunky
- •Limited customer support features
Our Verdict: CharlieHR vs Pipedrive
Both CharlieHR and Pipedrive 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 Pipedrive if you need Sales teams wanting a simple, visual pipeline-focused CRM. Starting at £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
Consider Open Doors Instead
Why choose between CharlieHR 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 £97/month with unlimited contacts.
Need implementation help?
Ikaroa can set up CharlieHR or Pipedrive for your business, migrate your data, and train your team. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.