CharlieHR Review 2026
Reviewed by the Ikaroa team · Last updated: March 2026
Overview
CharlieHR 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.
We have been working with CharlieHR across multiple client projects since 2017, and this review reflects our hands-on experience implementing it for businesses of all sizes. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in London, United Kingdom, CharlieHR has established itself as a solid option in the hr payroll category.
Starting Price
£4/employee/month
Founded
2015
Headquarters
London, United Kingdom
Our Rating
4.1/5
CharlieHR Key Features
CharlieHR 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:
CharlieHR Pricing in 2026
CharlieHR pricing starts at £4/employee/month and scales up based on features and team size. Here is a breakdown of 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
CharlieHR Pros and Cons
Based on our experience implementing CharlieHR for clients, here is what we like and what could be better:
✓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
Who Is CharlieHR Best For?
UK small businesses and startups wanting simple, affordable HR software
In our experience, CharlieHR works particularly well for teams that value built specifically for uk small businesses. If your primary concern is limited features for larger companies, you may want to explore alternatives.
Need help implementing this?
Our team at Ikaroa can set up CharlieHR for your business, migrate your data, and train your team.
CharlieHR Alternatives Worth Considering
If CharlieHR 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 CharlieHR
CharlieHR earns a solid 4.1/5 in our review. It is a good choice for uk small businesses and startups wanting simple, affordable hr software.
The biggest strengths are built specifically for uk small businesses and very affordable pricing. However, you should be aware that limited features for larger companies.
If you are not sure whether CharlieHR 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 CharlieHR, 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 CharlieHR starts lower, Open Doors replaces multiple tools you would otherwise need to buy separately.
Need help with CharlieHR?
Ikaroa can implement CharlieHR for your business, migrate your data, and get your team up to speed. We have done it dozens of times.
Free consultation. No obligation.