Breathe HR Visit Website
Core features include Leave & Absence Management, Recruitment Tracking, Performance Management, Rota & Shift Planning, Employee Database, Expenses Management, Online Training Courses. Unique capabilities: Employee Net Promoter Score (NPS), Bradford Factor Calculator, Holiday Calculator, Kudos recognition system, Mobile app for employee self-service.
Description
Breathe HR is an all-in-one HR software solution designed for small to medium-sized businesses with up to 250 employees. It offers comprehensive HR management features including leave management, recruitment, absence tracking, performance management, shift scheduling, and employee data management, all aimed at streamlining HR workflows and reducing administrative burden.
Key Features
- Leave & Absence Management
- Recruitment Tracking
- Performance Management
- Rota & Shift Planning
- Employee Database
- Expenses Management
- Online Training Courses
Similar products
BambooHR
Core features include Payroll, Time & Benefits, Hiring & Onboarding, HR Data & Reporting, Employe...
Rippling
Core features include HCM (Human Capital Management), Payroll, IT Management, Spend Management, G...
You might also like
Humadroid
Recommended

Core features include Employee Directory, Time-off Management, Reimbursement Management, Timeshee...
Reviews
Pricing
As a department head managing a team of 35 people, I've been using Breathe HR for approximately 8 months. The system effectively centralizes our HR functions, reducing the administrative overhead that previously consumed much of my time. The leave management and absence tracking features are particularly valuable, providing clear visibility of team availability and streamlining approval processes. However, the pricing structure has been a significant source of frustration throughout our implementation journey. The free trial was beneficial for initial testing, but the lack of transparent pricing information made budgeting and ROI calculations challenging. After the trial, we discovered pricing is based on a per-employee model that scales with additional modules. While this allows for some customization, costs escalated more quickly than anticipated as we added necessary features. For a department head managing budgets, this unpredictability is problematic and required multiple conversations with finance to justify the ongoing expense. While the core functionality delivers good value, the pricing structure feels deliberately opaque. The sales process involved multiple calls to uncover the actual costs, which felt unnecessarily time-consuming. Additionally, some features that should be standard (like certain reports and integrations) require premium tiers, creating unexpected additional expenses. Department heads should request a comprehensive, written quote that includes all potential costs before committing.
Overall
As a startup founder who implemented Breathe HR during our growth from 12 to 45 employees, I found it strikes an excellent balance between functionality and simplicity. The platform significantly reduced our administrative overhead by centralizing employee data, automating leave requests, and providing a clear framework for performance reviews. The intuitive interface required minimal training for our team, and we were fully operational within two weeks - crucial when every hour counts in a startup environment. While Breathe HR excels at core HR functions, I encountered limitations when scaling. The recruitment tracking works well for basic hiring needs but lacks the sophistication of dedicated ATS solutions - we eventually supplemented it with a specialized tool after reaching 30+ employees. The reporting capabilities, while adequate for compliance purposes, sometimes required exporting data to spreadsheets for deeper analysis. Implementation was straightforward, but customizing the system to match our unique startup culture and processes required workarounds. From an ROI perspective, Breathe HR delivered clear value by freeing approximately 15 hours per week previously spent on manual HR tasks, allowing our operations lead to focus on strategic initiatives. The self-service functionality empowered employees to manage their own information, reducing bottlenecks. For a resource-constrained startup, the system offered the right balance of functionality without overwhelming complexity or cost, though the per-employee pricing model does become a consideration as you scale rapidly.
Overall
As a small business owner who has struggled with HR management, Breathe HR has been a game-changer for our operation. The platform successfully centralizes all HR functions in one accessible interface, which has significantly reduced our administrative overhead. The employee database is intuitive and easy to navigate, while the leave management system has eliminated the confusion and paperwork that previously plagued our time-off requests. Implementation was straightforward, taking about two weeks to fully configure and train our team. The ROI became evident within the first quarter of use, as we reclaimed hours previously spent on manual HR tasks. The performance management tools have standardized our review process, making it more consistent and meaningful for both managers and staff. I particularly appreciate how the system scales with our business - we started with basic features when we had 15 employees and have gradually incorporated more functionality as we've grown to 40+ team members. The mobile accessibility means I can approve requests and check staff information while away from the office. While Breathe HR excels in many areas, it does have limitations. The recruitment tracking functionality is somewhat basic compared to dedicated applicant tracking systems, and the reporting capabilities could be more customizable. Additionally, the initial setup requires thoughtful planning to ensure your HR processes align with the system's workflow. That said, the responsive customer support has helped us overcome most obstacles, and regular updates continue to enhance the platform's capabilities.
Features
As a department head, Breathe HR has significantly improved our HR operations and team management capabilities. The platform offers a well-rounded set of features that address the core needs of managing a department effectively. The employee database serves as a centralized repository for all staff information, making it easy to access and update records. The performance management tools have been particularly valuable for conducting regular reviews, setting objectives, and tracking progress in a structured manner. The leave and absence management functionality has eliminated the administrative headache of tracking time off. My team can request leave through the system, and I receive notifications to approve or deny requests, with automatic calendar updates. The recruitment tracking has streamlined our hiring process, allowing us to move candidates through different stages and maintain communication effectively. While the rota and shift planning tools work well for our regular scheduling needs, they sometimes lack flexibility for last-minute changes. The expenses management feature has reduced paperwork significantly, though it could benefit from more customizable approval workflows to match our department's hierarchy. From a department head's perspective, Breathe HR strikes a good balance between comprehensive functionality and ease of use. The interface is intuitive enough that I didn't need extensive training to get started. The reporting capabilities provide valuable insights into department metrics like absence rates and performance trends. For a medium-sized department like mine, the system scales appropriately without feeling overwhelming or too simplistic. The online training courses integration has also been beneficial for onboarding new team members and ensuring compliance training is completed and tracked efficiently.
Features
As a small business owner who has struggled with HR management, I found Breathe HR to be a refreshingly comprehensive solution that eliminates the need for multiple systems. The employee database serves as a solid foundation, storing all essential information securely while making it easily accessible when needed. What impressed me most was how the leave management system reduced our admin time by about 70% - employees can request time off through the platform, and approvals are handled with just a few clicks. The performance management features have transformed our review process from a dreaded annual event to ongoing conversations. I particularly appreciate the recruitment tracking capabilities, which organize candidate information and streamline the hiring workflow. While the shift planning tool works well for our basic scheduling needs, I found it lacks some flexibility for businesses with complex rotating schedules. The expenses management feature, though functional, feels somewhat basic compared to dedicated expense solutions. Implementation was straightforward, taking about two weeks to fully configure and train our team. The ROI became evident within the first quarter as we reclaimed hours previously spent on manual HR tasks. The mobile accessibility means I can approve requests and check team information while away from my desk, which has been invaluable for maintaining operations when I'm focused on business development.
Pricing
As an Enterprise IT Manager, I've evaluated Breathe HR with a specific focus on its pricing structure. While the platform offers a free trial that allows for initial assessment, the lack of transparent pricing information beyond this trial period is a significant drawback for enterprise budget planning. The absence of clear tier structures, user-based pricing, or additional module costs makes it challenging to forecast total cost of ownership or perform proper ROI analysis before engaging with sales representatives. From an enterprise IT perspective, the platform appears to offer comprehensive HR management capabilities suitable for organizations up to 250 employees, which positions it well for smaller enterprises or departmental implementations. However, the pricing opacity creates unnecessary friction in the procurement process. Most enterprise IT departments require detailed pricing information for budget allocation, approval workflows, and vendor comparison exercises. The free trial is beneficial for testing functionality, but without understanding the long-term financial commitment, it's difficult to recommend for enterprise-wide deployment without further investigation. The value proposition of Breathe HR likely varies significantly based on what the actual pricing model reveals. If competitively priced, its comprehensive feature set covering core HR functions could represent good value, particularly for organizations looking to consolidate multiple HR point solutions. However, enterprise IT managers should be prepared to engage directly with sales to uncover potential hidden costs related to implementation, training, support tiers, and additional modules that may impact the total investment required.
Support
As a small business owner who implemented Breathe HR about 8 months ago, I've been consistently impressed with the level of support they provide. Unlike many software vendors who vanish after the sale, Breathe HR's support team has been responsive, knowledgeable, and genuinely helpful throughout our implementation and daily use. When we encountered issues with setting up our custom absence policies, their support team walked us through the process step-by-step via screen sharing, and even followed up a week later to ensure everything was working properly. The multi-channel support options have proven invaluable for our team with varying technical abilities. The comprehensive knowledge base allows our more tech-savvy staff to troubleshoot independently, while the live chat and phone support provide immediate assistance for urgent matters. We particularly appreciate that support is included in the standard pricing without hidden fees or tiered support levels that would strain our limited budget. Their UK-based support team is available during our business hours, which means we rarely wait more than a few hours for a resolution. What truly sets Breathe HR's support apart is their willingness to incorporate customer feedback. When we suggested improvements to the leave approval workflow, they not only acknowledged our feedback but added it to their development roadmap and implemented changes within two months. This responsive approach to product improvement demonstrates their commitment to small businesses like ours. While the system occasionally experiences minor glitches during updates, the support team always provides advance notice and clear workarounds to minimize disruption to our operations.
Support
As a startup founder who's worn the HR hat among many others, Breathe HR has been a welcome relief for our growing team. Their support infrastructure stands out in an overcrowded HR software market. When we encountered issues with our employee onboarding workflow, their support team responded within hours with clear solutions rather than generic troubleshooting steps. The knowledge base is comprehensive and actually searchable, with video tutorials that saved us significant time during implementation. The support team demonstrates genuine understanding of startup constraints. When we needed to customize certain workflows but lacked technical resources, their team offered pragmatic workarounds rather than upselling consulting services. Their regular check-ins during our first three months helped us optimize our usage, and the community forum connected us with other startups facing similar challenges. However, I've noticed support response times occasionally lag during UK evening hours (they're UK-based), which can be frustrating for US-based companies. Where Breathe HR's support truly excels is during critical HR situations. When we had an urgent compliance question during an investor due diligence process, their team provided documentation within the hour. Their support extends beyond technical issues to actual HR guidance, though they're careful to clarify when you should consult legal counsel. For startups without dedicated HR personnel, this additional layer of human support provides significant value beyond the software itself.
Integration
As an Enterprise IT Manager, I've evaluated Breathe HR primarily through the lens of its integration capabilities with our existing enterprise systems. Breathe HR offers a functional API that allows for basic data exchange with other systems, but it falls short of enterprise-grade integration expectations. While it does provide some standard integration options with popular payroll systems and single sign-on capabilities, the depth and flexibility of these integrations are limited compared to enterprise-focused HR solutions. The platform offers webhook functionality and REST API access, which is sufficient for creating custom integrations, but requires significant development resources to implement effectively. During our implementation, we encountered challenges when attempting to integrate Breathe HR with our existing ERP system and custom internal applications. The documentation is adequate but lacks comprehensive examples for complex integration scenarios. For SMBs with minimal integration needs, this may not be problematic, but for enterprises with complex IT ecosystems, these limitations create additional overhead and potential data silos. From a security and compliance perspective, Breathe HR's integration capabilities meet basic requirements with GDPR compliance and reasonable data protection measures. However, the granular permission controls for API access and detailed audit logging that enterprise environments typically require are somewhat lacking. While the system can certainly function within an enterprise environment, IT managers should be prepared to develop custom middleware solutions or accept some manual processes to bridge the gaps between Breathe HR and more sophisticated enterprise systems.
Integration
As a Department Head managing a team of 35 employees, I've been using Breathe HR for approximately 8 months to streamline our HR processes. The integration capabilities have proven to be one of its strongest features. Breathe HR connects seamlessly with our existing Microsoft 365 environment, allowing for calendar synchronization and single sign-on functionality that has reduced access friction for my team. The API capabilities, while not as robust as enterprise solutions, provide sufficient connectivity with our payroll system and basic integration with our recruitment platforms. Where Breathe HR truly shines from an integration perspective is its data import/export functionality. I can easily extract departmental reports in multiple formats (CSV, Excel) for analysis in other systems or presentation to leadership. The ability to bulk import employee data saved considerable time during implementation, and the regular synchronization with our organizational structure means I don't have to manually update reporting lines when changes occur. However, I've encountered limitations when attempting more sophisticated integrations with our project management tools and custom internal applications, requiring some manual workarounds. The mobile integration deserves special mention, as the responsive design and dedicated app have proven invaluable for approving leave requests and accessing employee information while away from my desk. That said, the notification system could be more comprehensive, as I sometimes miss important updates unless I actively check the platform. For a department head balancing multiple responsibilities, the integration capabilities strike a good balance between functionality and simplicity, though larger or more technically complex departments might find themselves wanting more advanced integration options.
Pricing Plans
Free Trial
- ✓ All features