Which HR software program is true in your organisation?

Should you’re weighing up your choices for HR software program, likelihood is you’ve come throughout each Breathe and BrightHR. These platforms are standard amongst companies throughout the UK – however which one is the higher match in your wants? 

On this side-by-side comparability, we’ll discover how every platform stacks up throughout options, pricing, efficiency instruments, integrations, and extra.  

Whether or not you’re trying to minimize down on admin, keep compliant and audit-ready, or streamline your HR processes with the precise HR software program instruments, we’ll enable you discover the most effective instrument in your crew. 

At a look: Function comparability

Why companies and organisations select HR software program

Deep-dive: How Breathe and BrightHR evaluate

Pricing breakdown (2025)

Professionals and cons: Which is best for you?

Actual use instances: Which must you select?

Ultimate verdict: Is Breathe HR software program or BrightHR higher for UK companies?

At a look: Function comparability

Why companies and organisations select HR software program

As we speak’s small groups face a rising listing of HR duties – from monitoring day off and managing paperwork to making sure compliance and conserving employees engaged.  

That’s the place platforms like Breathe HR software program and BrightHR are available in. 

HR software program may help you: 

• Automate repetitive duties and cut back admin 

• Keep compliance with UK employment legal guidelines, so that you’re audit-ready 

• Centralise worker knowledge securely 

• Make it simple for workers to handle their very own data with self-service instruments 

• Monitor efficiency and run structured opinions 

• Save money and time by working smarter, not more durable 

These platforms are particularly worthwhile for companies trying to scale effectively. 

Deep dive: How Breathe and BrightHR evaluate

Efficiency and other people administration

• Breathe consists of easy efficiency instruments like one-to-ones, worker and firm objectives, and overview templates – splendid for companies centered on worker growth. Moreover, Breathe’s instruments profit new hires by streamlining communication and integration for a smoother onboarding expertise.  

• BrightHR additionally has efficiency administration performance. 

Automation and admin

• Breathe gives automations to handle depart requests, doc approvals, bills, and onboarding/offboarding. Breathe’s automated workflows make HR duties simpler, serving to anybody handle them rapidly and effectively, even with restricted tech expertise. 

• BrightHR handles fundamental admin effectively, however automation is extra restricted and centered on normal compliance templates. Managing compliance paperwork helps make recruitment and onboarding simpler, conserving admin duties easy from hiring by means of to coaching. 

Compliance and safety

• Each platforms help UK compliance wants however Breathe gives structured audit-ready instruments and ISO-certified knowledge safety, making certain the safety of delicate HR knowledge with superior safety applied sciences. 

• BrightHR stands out for its 24/7 employment regulation recommendation line, splendid for companies that need steerage built-in, and gives well being and security options, splendid for extremely regulated companies. However after all, this comes with the next price ticket.  

Integrations

• Breathe integrates with payroll software program, spend administration, ATS, AI help instruments by way of prompt messaging methods like Slack, Groups and WhatsApp. It additionally integrates different instruments, providing a complete resolution for companies with various HR wants. Selecting the correct HR software program helps small companies work extra effectively, particularly when groups are working remotely or in a mixture of workplace and residential. 

• BrightHR has fewer third-party integrations and depends extra on proprietary add-ons like BrightSafe and BrightAdvice. 

Worker engagement and help 

• Breathe HR software program places a powerful deal with empowering staff. This consists of engagement surveys, kudos, efficiency administration options like one-to-ones and objective monitoring, and worker dashboards.  

  These instruments assist staff take possession of their growth and keep related to their progress, boosting morale and productiveness. Breathe additionally helps versatile working with depart and absence monitoring, and a clear, user-friendly interface that’s accessible on any system. 

• BrightHR, alternatively, gives strong options for fundamental admin and compliance, however is much less centered on engagement.  

  Whereas it supplies instruments for managing holidays and absences, it lacks deeper engagement instruments like worker NPS, firm bulletins and a burnout monitor. Its energy lies in providing doc templates and compliance help, slightly than creating long-term worker engagement. 

  
  

Person expertise and interface

A user-friendly interface needs to be intuitive and straightforward to navigate, offering staff and HR groups with a seamless expertise. 

Breathe is praised for its user-friendly design, making HR duties accessible for non-technical customers. A reviewer shared: 

“Breathe has streamlined our HR processes and saved us time on admin. Breathe is extremely user-friendly, even for many who aren’t tech-savvy. 

I particularly like how clear and intuitive the interface is, the whole lot from reserving depart to reviewing efficiency is simple. It’s simple to navigate, requires little or no coaching, and offers a transparent overview of our crew at a look.  

The self-service performance has empowered our crew to handle their very own information, which saves us a lot time.”

BrightHR is recognised for its user-friendly interface. One reviewer shared what they like:

• Person pleasant interface

• Simple to maintain observe of worker document

• Supply further assets like templates and guides supplied to assist with HR compliance

• Simple to handle on depart request and observe absences

Implementation and onboarding

Implementing and onboarding HR software program can appear daunting, however with the precise help, it may be a simple course of. Many HR software program suppliers supply free coaching and implementation help to assist companies get began.  

It’s important to think about the implementation and onboarding course of when selecting an HR software program, as it might probably considerably affect the success of the system.  

By offering a complete onboarding course of, HR software program suppliers may help companies cut back the chance of errors and guarantee a easy transition to the brand new system. 

• BrightHR gives an easy-to-navigate ‘Assist Centre’, onboarding templates, and CPD-accredited coaching by way of BrightLearn. Customers additionally get entry to dwell chat, cellphone, and e-mail help for a easy setup. 

Time and attendance administration

Each BrightHR and Breathe HR software program supply time and attendance administration, however their approaches differ. 

BrightHR delivers a complete, mobile-first resolution, together with: 

• Blip clock-in/out app with GPS and selfie verification 

• Automated timesheets linked to rotas 

• Actual-time attendance dashboards and absence monitoring 

• Superior shift scheduling and rota administration  

However at a premium.  

Breathe, whereas primarily centered on easy absence and depart monitoring, gives a Rota add-on, which incorporates: 

• Shift planning and Rota creation 

• Visibility of hours labored and scheduled 

• Time monitoring and timesheets can be found by means of integrations with instruments like RotaCloud 

• Clear visibility of worker depart balances and requests 

• Customisable absence classes and reporting 

This makes Breathe extra aggressive for companies wanting fundamental scheduling alongside core absence administration. 

Pricing breakdown (2025)

Breathe is good for rising companies that want scalable pricing per thirty days and adaptability.

BrightHR gives fixed-fee plans that will attraction to firms centered on easy pricing and contracts.

Professionals and cons: Which is best for you? 

Breathe HR software program – the ‘all-in-one’ HR resolution for scaling companies ✅

• Scales with what you are promoting measurement 

• UK-based help and coaching 

• Sturdy integration ecosystem 

• Free 14-day trial with no dedication 

• Excels in HR administration by streamlining recruitment, worker engagement, and expertise administration 

• Person-friendly HR methods designed for non-technical customers, with an intuitive interface and strong compliance instruments to maintain you audit-ready 

Greatest for: SMEs on the lookout for flexibility, affordability, audit-trails, efficiency instruments, and customisation. 

Vivid HR – Compliance-first ✅

• Authorized helpline and doc templates 

• 24/7 recommendation line for employment points 

• Bundled pricing for simplified budgeting 

BrightHR’s software program helps companies streamline HR operations like recruitment, onboarding, and efficiency administration – however maintain a glance out for what’s included in your important package deal and what comes at an additional value.

This software program is designed to avoid wasting time by simplifying complicated administrative processes, lowering the time spent on these actions and minimising potential errors. 

Greatest for: Companies in search of built-in authorized safety and doc management with fewer integration wants. 

Actual use instances: Which must you select?

Select Breathe software program if…

• You are a enterprise on the lookout for an ‘all-in-one’ resolution to streamline your HR processes and centralise your individuals’s knowledge in a single easy-to-use system, together with vacation and absence administration, efficiency opinions, doc storage, and worker self-service. 

• Your small business is rising and wishes scalable, customisable workflows to handle recruitment, onboarding, efficiency, and compliance. 
• You like an HR resolution that integrates flexibly with different platforms, reminiscent of payroll or specialist time-tracking instruments, slightly than relying solely on inbuilt options. 
  
• Your precedence is empowering managers and staff by means of self-service portals and streamlined admin processes, slightly than heavy compliance options. 

• You need to add fundamental shift scheduling by means of Breathe’s Rota add-on, providing you with visibility over crew availability and hours with out including complicated instruments. 

Select BrightHR if… 

• Your small business is extremely regulated and requires a compliance-focus to mitigate enterprise threat with entry to 24/7 HR and authorized recommendation, together with doc templates, insurance policies, and notifications. 

• You want time and attendance instruments built-in, such because the Blip clock-in/out app with GPS and selfie verification, making it simple for managing cell, distant, or field-based groups. 

• You require superior shift scheduling, rota administration, and real-time absence monitoring, with dashboards and reporting that assist handle productiveness and absence tendencies. 

• You need to pay extra for an HR toolkit with added wellbeing, well being & security, and efficiency instruments, all managed by means of BrightHR’s desktop and cell platforms. 
  

Ultimate verdict: Is Breathe HR software program or BrightHR higher for UK companies?

Should you’re a enterprise within the UK aiming to develop, empower your crew, and streamline operations, Breathe HR software program is the extra feature-rich and scalable selection at a worth that does not break the financial institution. 

Its intuitive interface, versatile pricing, and important HR performance make it a powerful companion for long-term success.  

Moreover, Breathe gives knowledgeable e-learning programs and facilitates efficient crew coaching, making it a cheap resolution for scaling your coaching efforts. 

If authorized recommendation and compliance documentation are your high priorities, and you favor a bundle package deal, BrightHR might go well with you higher, particularly if what you are promoting isn’t centered on efficiency and worker engagement simply but.  

FAQs

What are the most effective HR software program UK choices for SMEs?

For small and medium-sized organisations within the UK, Breathe and BrightHR are standard selections. They provide complete HR options that may streamline HR processes and improve the worker expertise.

Does both platform supply a free trial?

Breathe gives a 14-day free trial. BrightHR requires a sales-led demo.

Which is best for rising groups?

Breathe’s pricing and add-on options make it a more sensible choice for scalable progress.

Which platform integrates with payroll?

Breathe HR software program integrates with a number of payroll methods. BrightHR focuses extra on in-house instruments.

Is Breathe or BrightHR higher for efficiency administration?

Breathe consists of objective setting, one-to-ones, and overview instruments – BrightHR solely gives these options at an additional value.

What absence administration options do these platforms supply?

Breathe supplies efficient absence administration instruments that assist observe and handle worker absences effectively, which is essential in hybrid and distant working environments. BrightHR additionally gives absence administration options, however they’re much less complete in comparison with Breathe HR software program.