Breathe HR is a popular UK HR platform trusted by over 17,000 organisations — but its tiered pricing model means you pay more for features like sickness management, additional HR users, and mobile access that other tools include as standard.
If your team signed up for Breathe mainly to manage holiday requests and absences, you are not alone. Many UK SMEs find themselves paying for a full HR suite when all they need is reliable leave management. The most common reasons teams look for a Breathe HR alternative are the tiered pricing that gates core features like sickness tracking and mobile access behind higher plans, the absence of Slack or Microsoft Teams integration for in-chat leave requests, and the fact that Breathe’s pricing increases with employee count rather than staying flat.
This guide evaluates six alternatives to Breathe HR’s leave management module. We compare each on pricing, UK compliance, integrations, and ease of use — so you can find the tool that matches what your team actually needs.
Key Takeaways
- Breathe HR gates key features — sickness tracking, mobile app, and additional HR users require higher-tier plans.
- No Slack or Microsoft Teams integration — employees must use the Breathe portal to request leave.
- Leave Balance offers the best value — GBP £8/month flat rate with unlimited employees and Slack/Teams integration.
- UK compliance varies — some alternatives handle Working Time Regulations better than others.
- Purpose-built beats general-purpose — for leave management, dedicated tools outperform broader HR suites.
Why Teams Look for Breathe HR Alternatives for Leave Management
Breathe HR covers a broad range of HR functions: absence management, document storage, performance management, recruitment, and expense tracking. That breadth is useful for some teams, but it comes with trade-offs for leave-focused users.
Teams that outgrow Breathe’s leave management typically report:
- Feature gating — sickness management, mobile app access, and additional HR users are locked behind plans starting at GBP £99/month
- No Slack or Microsoft Teams integration — employees must log into the Breathe portal to manage leave, creating friction in teams that work in chat apps
- Per-employee pricing — costs increase as headcount grows, making it expensive for scaling teams
- Limited leave policy configurability — complex accrual rules, carryover policies, and multi-country leave types require workarounds
- Portal-dependent workflow — no integration with the tools teams already use daily
What to Look for in a Breathe HR Alternative
Key criteria for UK businesses:
- Pricing model — flat-rate vs per-employee, and what that means at 20, 50, or 100 employees
- UK compliance — support for Working Time Regulations 1998, statutory annual leave (5.6 weeks), sick leave, and SSP requirements
- Integrations — does it work with Slack, Microsoft Teams, Xero, or Sage?
- Setup time — can you be operational in hours, or does it take weeks?
- Scope — do you need a full HR platform, or is dedicated leave management enough?
With that framework in mind, here are the six best alternatives to Breathe HR for leave management in 2026.
1. Leave Balance — Best Overall Alternative for Leave-Only Teams
Leave Balance is a dedicated leave management tool built for teams that need leave tracking without the complexity of a full HR platform. It is the only flat-rate leave management tool with native Slack and Microsoft Teams integration.
Pricing
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Monthly | GBP £8/month (flat) |
| Annual | GBP £80/year (£6.67/mo) |
That price covers unlimited employees and unlimited leave policies. No per-seat fees, no minimum spend, no hidden charges. A 50-person team pays GBP £8/month — the same as a 200-person team.
For comparison, the same 50-person team on Breathe HR would pay approximately GBP £175 to £419 per month depending on the tier.
Key Features
- Slack and Microsoft Teams integration — employees request leave, managers approve, and balances update without leaving the chat app
- Unlimited custom leave policies — configure annual leave, sick leave, bank holidays, and any custom entitlements
- Team calendar — real-time visibility into who is off today, this week, or any date range
- Analytics and reporting — leave trends, utilisation rates, and exportable data for payroll
- Multi-country support — manage leave across the UK, EU, and other regions from one account
- 15-minute setup — connect Slack or Teams, add employees, configure policies, and go
UK Compliance
Leave Balance supports configurable leave policies that align with Working Time Regulations 1998, including statutory annual leave entitlements (5.6 weeks / 28 days for full-time workers), bank holiday management, and pro-rata calculations for part-time employees. It works alongside your existing payroll provider — Xero, Sage, or other UK payroll software — rather than replacing it.
Limitations
Leave Balance is not a full HR platform. It does not include payroll processing, onboarding workflows, performance management, or document storage. If you need those capabilities, a broader tool is more appropriate.
Why It Is the Top Pick
For UK SMEs that already have payroll sorted and primarily need leave tracking, Leave Balance covers the core requirement at a fraction of Breathe’s cost. The Slack and Teams integration means employees actually use it without friction, and flat-rate pricing means your software bill does not grow with every new hire.
Best for: Office-based teams of 10 to 200 employees that use Slack or Microsoft Teams and want dedicated leave management without paying for a full HR suite.
2. Charlie HR — Best for UK Teams Wanting a Simple HR Platform
Charlie HR is a UK-built HR platform designed for small businesses. It covers employee records, leave management, onboarding, and performance in a clean, simple interface.
Pricing
| Team Size | Estimated Cost (GBP) |
|---|---|
| 1–5 employees | ~GBP £50/mo |
| 10 employees | ~GBP £70/mo |
| 25 employees | ~GBP £120/mo |
| 50 employees | ~GBP £200/mo |
Pricing is per business with employee thresholds, similar to Breathe’s model.
Key Features
- Leave management with custom policies and accrual rules
- Employee records and document management
- Onboarding checklists
- Performance review tools
- UK-focused with Working Time Regulations support
Limitations
Charlie HR does not offer Slack or Microsoft Teams integration — employees must use the Charlie portal. The leave management is solid but secondary to the broader HR platform. Pricing scales with employee count, similar to Breathe.
Best for: Very small UK businesses (under 25 employees) that want a simple, affordable HR platform with decent leave management.
3. Personio — Best for Growing UK Companies Needing a Full HRIS
Personio is a European HR platform popular with UK and EU companies. It covers the full employee lifecycle from recruiting to offboarding, with leave management as one module.
Pricing
Personio uses per-employee pricing. For a 30-person UK team, expect approximately GBP £120 to £240 per month depending on the plan. Pricing requires a sales conversation.
Key Features
- Leave management with configurable policies and approval workflows
- Recruiting and applicant tracking
- Onboarding and offboarding automation
- Performance reviews and 1:1 tracking
- Payroll preparation and reporting
Limitations
Personio is a full HRIS, which means leave-only teams will overpay for features they do not use. The platform is strong on compliance and recruiting, but leave management is one module among many. No native Slack or Teams integration for leave workflows.
Best for: Growing UK and EU companies (50–500 employees) that need a comprehensive HRIS with leave management built in.
4. Timetastic — Best Budget Option for Simple Leave Tracking
Timetastic is a UK-based leave tracker known for simplicity and low per-user pricing. It is popular with small teams that want straightforward leave management without complexity.
Pricing
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Standard | GBP £1.30/user/mo |
For a 30-person team, that is approximately GBP £39 per month.
| Team Size | Estimated Cost (GBP) |
|---|---|
| 10 employees | GBP £13/mo |
| 30 employees | GBP £39/mo |
| 50 employees | GBP £65/mo |
| 100 employees | GBP £130/mo |
Key Features
- Simple leave request and approval workflow
- Wall chart calendar for team absence visibility
- Allowance management and basic reporting
- Email notifications for requests and approvals
Limitations
Timetastic lacks Slack and Microsoft Teams integration — leave management happens through its own web portal and email notifications. Reporting is basic, and the platform does not support complex accrual rules or multi-country setups. While the price is low per user, it becomes more expensive than Leave Balance once you pass 6 employees.
Best for: Very small UK teams (under 6 employees) that need basic leave tracking at the lowest possible per-user cost.
5. Factorial — Best for EU Companies Needing HR Compliance
Factorial is an HR platform headquartered in Barcelona covering leave management, time tracking, recruiting, and core HR features across multiple European markets.
Pricing
| Team Size | Estimated Cost (EUR) |
|---|---|
| 10 employees | €50–80/mo |
| 30 employees | €150–240/mo |
| 50 employees | €250–400/mo |
Key Features
- Leave management with country-specific policies
- Time tracking and shift scheduling
- Core HRIS
- Strong European compliance support
Limitations
Factorial’s pricing is opaque and requires a sales conversation. The platform is a full HR suite, so leave-only teams will overpay. No Slack or Teams integration for leave requests.
Best for: EU-headquartered companies that need a full HRIS with strong European compliance features.
6. Calamari — Best for Teams Needing Time Tracking Integration
Calamari offers both leave tracking and clock-in/clock-out time tracking with UK compliance support.
Pricing
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Leave Management | GBP £2.50/user/mo |
| Leave + Time | GBP £4.15/user/mo |
For a 30-person team on the combined plan, approximately GBP £125 per month.
Key Features
- Leave request and approval workflows
- Time tracking with clock-in/clock-out
- Team calendar and absence reports
- Integration with Slack, Google Workspace, and Microsoft 365
Limitations
Calamari’s Slack integration handles notifications but not full in-chat leave workflows. The 10-user minimum means small teams pay for unused seats. Per-user pricing means costs scale linearly with headcount.
Best for: Teams that need both leave management and basic time tracking in a single tool.
Pricing Comparison at a Glance
Here is what each tool costs for a 30-person UK team:
| Tool | 30-Person Monthly Cost (GBP) | Pricing Model |
|---|---|---|
| Leave Balance | GBP £8/mo | Flat rate, unlimited users |
| Timetastic | GBP £39/mo | Per user |
| Charlie HR | ~GBP £120/mo | Per business, thresholds |
| Calamari | ~GBP £125/mo | Per user, 10-user min |
| Personio | ~GBP £120–240/mo | Per employee, custom |
| Breathe HR | GBP £99–419/mo | Per business, tiered |
| Factorial | ~GBP £125–200/mo | Per employee, custom |
Leave Balance’s flat-rate pricing is the most affordable option at every team size. At 50 employees, the gap widens further — Leave Balance remains GBP £8/month while Breathe reaches GBP £175–419/month.
How to Choose the Right Breathe HR Alternative
You mainly used Breathe for leave tracking
Choose Leave Balance. You will save GBP £91 to £411 per month and get a better leave management experience with Slack and Teams integration. Setup takes 15 minutes.
You need a simple HR platform with leave management
Choose Charlie HR. If you want employee records, onboarding, and performance management alongside leave tracking, Charlie offers a clean, UK-focused experience.
You need a comprehensive HRIS with recruiting
Choose Personio. If recruiting, onboarding, and performance management are equally important as leave management, Personio covers the full employee lifecycle.
You want the cheapest per-user option for a very small team
Consider Timetastic for teams under 6 employees. Above that, Leave Balance’s flat-rate pricing becomes cheaper.
You need leave tracking plus time tracking
Evaluate Calamari. If clock-in/clock-out is a requirement alongside leave management, Calamari covers both.
You need a full HRIS with EU compliance
Evaluate Factorial. If you operate across multiple EU countries and need country-specific compliance, Factorial covers the full European landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I migrate my leave data from Breathe HR?
Most teams export their current leave balances from Breathe and set starting balances in the new tool. Leave Balance supports bulk employee onboarding via CSV upload, which makes migration straightforward.
Do I still need payroll software if I switch to a leave-only tool?
Yes. Dedicated leave management tools like Leave Balance handle leave tracking, not payroll processing. You would continue using Xero, Sage, or your existing payroll provider for pay runs, RTI submissions, and pension auto-enrolment. Leave Balance exports leave data for payroll integration.
Is Leave Balance compliant with Working Time Regulations?
Leave Balance supports configurable leave policies that align with the Working Time Regulations 1998, including statutory annual leave entitlements (5.6 weeks for full-time workers), bank holiday management, and pro-rata calculations for part-time employees. It does not perform payroll calculations — for that, you would use your payroll provider.
How does flat-rate pricing work as my team grows?
Leave Balance costs GBP £8 per month regardless of whether you have 10 or 200 employees. There are no tier thresholds, no per-seat charges, and no minimum spend requirements. Your cost stays the same as you hire.
The Bottom Line
Breathe HR is a solid UK HR platform, and for businesses that genuinely use its full suite — document management, performance, recruitment, and compliance — it delivers real value. But if your team primarily uses Breathe for leave management, you are likely overpaying by tens or hundreds of pounds per month for features you do not touch.
The UK market now has strong alternatives that cover leave management at a fraction of the cost. For most office-based SMEs, Leave Balance offers the best combination of pricing, features, and daily usability — GBP £8/month flat, Slack and Teams integration, and a setup that takes 15 minutes instead of weeks.
Try Leave Balance free for 14 days — no credit card required — and see whether it covers what your team actually needs. Most teams know within the first week.
This article is general information, not legal advice.