Breathe Review 2026
Reviewed by the Ikaroa team · Last updated: March 2026
Overview
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.
We have been working with Breathe across multiple client projects since 2014, and this review reflects our hands-on experience implementing it for businesses of all sizes. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom, Breathe has established itself as a solid option in the hr payroll category.
Starting Price
From £13/month
Founded
2012
Headquarters
Bristol, United Kingdom
Our Rating
4/5
Breathe Key Features
Breathe offers a comprehensive feature set that covers the core needs of most businesses in the hr payroll space. Here are the standout features we have tested:
Breathe Pricing in 2026
Breathe pricing starts at From £13/month and scales up based on features and team size. Here is a breakdown of 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
Breathe Pros and Cons
Based on our experience implementing Breathe for clients, here is what we like and what could be better:
✓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
Who Is Breathe Best For?
UK SMEs wanting simple, affordable HR software for holiday and absence management
In our experience, Breathe works particularly well for teams that value designed specifically for uk smes. If your primary concern is limited features beyond core hr, you may want to explore alternatives.
Need help implementing this?
Our team at Ikaroa can set up Breathe for your business, migrate your data, and train your team.
Breathe Alternatives Worth Considering
If Breathe does not quite fit your needs, here are some alternatives worth considering:
BambooHR
From From £4.50/employee/month
Gusto
From £30/month + £5/person
Deel
From £38/contractor/month
Remote
From £24/contractor/month
Rippling
From From £7/user/month
Our Verdict on Breathe
Breathe earns a solid 4/5 in our review. It is a good choice for uk smes wanting simple, affordable hr software for holiday and absence management.
The biggest strengths are designed specifically for uk smes and very simple and quick to set up. However, you should be aware that limited features beyond core hr.
If you are not sure whether Breathe is the right fit, talk to our team. We have helped hundreds of businesses choose and implement the right software, and we are happy to point you in the right direction.
Alternative to Consider: Open Doors
Before committing to Breathe, consider Open Doors. It is an all-in-one platform that includes CRM, email marketing, SMS, sales funnels, booking, invoicing, and automation, all starting at £97/month with unlimited contacts. While Breathe starts lower, Open Doors replaces multiple tools you would otherwise need to buy separately.
Need help with Breathe?
Ikaroa can implement Breathe for your business, migrate your data, and get your team up to speed. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.