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BreatheHR Alternatives: 12 Options Compared, Including Free (2026)

Explore 12 alternatives to BreatheHR, vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

The 12 free BreatheHR alternatives buyers consider most

Quick answer

The strongest BreatheHR alternatives right now are peopleHum, Asanify and Heartpace. peopleHum takes the top spot with a SpotScore of 9.3 and a 4.19★ rating. Compare the full set of 12 on score, rating, and price below.

There's no single best tool for everyone, so if BreatheHR falls short on cost, features, or ease of use, look here. These 12 hr software free alternatives lead the field, ranked by SpotScore (a blend of real-user satisfaction and market presence), ratings, and pricing. Compare them quickly in the table, then read each profile.

ProductSpotScoreRatingPricingBest for
peopleHumTransforming HR through people, process, and technology.9.3★★★★☆ 4.19(106)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
AsanifyStreamlining HR processes, simplifying payroll.8.9★★★★★ 4.86(106)FreeFree Trial · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
HeartpaceUnleash the power of engaged employees.8.7★★★★★ 4.9(20)FreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
OysterEffortless global employment made simple.8.4★★★★☆ 4.43(388)FreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
TimetasticStreamline your leave management with ease.9.8★★★★★ 4.87(115)FreeFree Trial · Subscriptionsmall & mid-size businesses
BambooHRStreamline your HR processes for better business results.9.8★★★★★ 4.74(1093)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
CalamariStreamline your leave management with Calamari.9.7★★★★☆ 4.47(22)FreeFree Trial · Subscriptionsmall & mid-size businesses
LatticeBoost sales performance with Lattice.9.7★★★★★ 4.67(1206)FreeFree Trial · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
HomebaseStreamline team collaboration with Homebase.9.7★★★★☆ 4.41(131)FreeFree Trial · Freemium · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
PaycorTransform your workforce with Paycor.9.6★★★★☆ 3.9(552)FreeFree Trial · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
WorkableEfficient hiring, simplified for small businesses.9.6★★★★☆ 4.35(225)FreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
Zoho PeopleStreamline your HR tasks with ease.9.6★★★★★ 4.67(204)FreeFree Trial · Freemium · Subscription · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes

9.3

SpotScore

peopleHum - HR Software

peopleHum

Transforming HR through people, process, and technology.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is peopleHum?

peopleHum is an HCM platform targeting mid-market HR teams that need to manage the full employee lifecycle — from applicant tracking and onboarding through performance reviews and exit — with AI-assisted analytics built in. It competes with enterprise HCM suites at a lower price point, making ...

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Free TrialTry Free →·

peopleHum offers custom pricing plan

8.9

SpotScore

Asanify - HR Software

Asanify

Streamlining HR processes, simplifying payroll.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is Asanify?

Asanify Human Resource Management Software is a web based HR management solution. It has features to assist employers in managing all the variable aspects of recruitment, right upto the salary payments and other on time benefits. It's features also make it easy to manage the various ...

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8.7

SpotScore

Heartpace - HR Software

Heartpace

Unleash the power of engaged employees.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is Heartpace?

Heartpace is the perfect HRM and performance management software to help you create amazing outcomes with highly engaged staff. It offers smart tools for digitization, agenda-sharing, and a preparation stage for modernising performance evaluations. Automate extensive reviews and long meetings ...

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Heartpace offers custom pricing plan

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Reach in-market buyersRank above rivals2M+ buyers a year

8.4

SpotScore

Oyster - HR Software

Oyster

Ideal for Startups

Effortless global employment made simple.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is Oyster?

Oyster is a global employment platform that helps companies hire, onboard, pay, and manage international employees and contractors without setting up local entities. It automates compliant contract creation using region-specific labor rules and supports payroll in 140+ currencies from a single ...

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Starts from $25/employee/month

9.8

SpotScore

Timetastic - Leave Management System

Timetastic

Streamline your leave management with ease.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market

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What is Timetastic?

TimeTastic is a Leave Management System, tailored to suit business or organization needs. It provides with improved employee scheduling, improved reporting and analysis of working time, improved payroll processing by integrating with time and attendance systems, and other related services. It ...

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9.8

SpotScore

BambooHR - HR Software

BambooHR

Streamline your HR processes for better business results.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is BambooHR?

BambooHR is an HR platform built for small and mid-sized businesses — typically 10 to 500 employees — covering employee records, onboarding, time-off tracking, and performance management in one system. It replaces fragmented spreadsheets and disconnected tools by centralizing all employee data ...

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Free TrialTry Free →·

BambooHR offers custom pricing plan

9.7

SpotScore

Calamari - Leave Management System

Calamari

Streamline your leave management with Calamari.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market

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What is Calamari?

The Leave Management System by Calamari is a simple and intuitive suite of interactive report cards designed to closely monitor and measure company's performance. Allowing user to view and print comprehensive reports, receive instant notifications and alerts, automatically tailor reports to ...

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Starts from $10/Month

9.7

SpotScore

Lattice - Performance Management System

Lattice

Boost sales performance with Lattice.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is Lattice?

Lattice is a performance management platform for HR teams and people managers at fast-growing companies who run quarterly or annual appraisal cycles with structured goal tracking and 1:1 preparation. It integrates with Slack and Google Calendar to reduce manual data entry between performance ...

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Free Trial·

Starts from $9/User/Month

9.7

SpotScore

Homebase - Employee Scheduling Software

Homebase

Streamline team collaboration with Homebase.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is Homebase?

Homebase is a comprehensive time-tracking software developed by experienced people managers to enhance team collaboration and efficiency. It simplifies employee time tracking, scheduling, and payroll management, reducing administrative workload. The platform allows users to generate insightful ...

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Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $0/ location / month when monthly, also offers free forever plan

9.6

SpotScore

Paycor - HR Software

Paycor

Transform your workforce with Paycor.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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Watch Demo

What is Paycor?

Paycor is a human capital management platform for mid-size businesses and nonprofits that need payroll processing, time tracking, benefits administration, and employee onboarding managed in a single system. It eliminates the need for separate payroll and HR tools by centralizing people ...

Read more about Paycor
Free TrialTry Free →·

Paycor offers custom pricing plan

9.6

SpotScore

Workable

Workable

Efficient hiring, simplified for small businesses.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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Watch Demo

What is Workable?

Workable is the simple, affordable Applicant Tracking System (ATS) purpose-built for small businesses. Features include Integrated Company Management (Shell), Receive, review and approve applicants from desktop or mobile device in real time, Attract more applicants than traditional ATS products ...

Read more about Workable
Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $299/month when yearly

9.6

SpotScore

Zoho People - HR Software

Zoho People

Streamline your HR tasks with ease.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

What is Zoho People?

Zoho People is an HR management platform for small to mid-sized companies that need to manage attendance, leave, timesheets, and performance reviews without a standalone enterprise HCM. It automates routine HR workflows including employee self-service portals, holiday calendars, and shift ...

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Starts from $1.25/User/Month when Billed Yearly, also offers free forever plan

Who competes with BreatheHR?

Buyers comparing BreatheHR usually weigh it against these 12 hr software competitors, starting with peopleHum, Asanify and Heartpace. Each is compared against BreatheHR on rating, pricing and feature coverage below.

Tools similar to BreatheHR

Searches for "sites like BreatheHR" and "apps like BreatheHR" land on the same set of options as "BreatheHR alternatives" — the 12 options below cover both, whether you want a like-for-like replacement or something lighter.

Why each of these made the list

peopleHum9.3Best for teams of all sizes

HR platform with a wide range of functionalities, covering everything from recruitment to retirement.

Watch for: Outdated design elements on the user interface, leading to a perception of being old-fashioned or clunky.

Asanify8.9Best for teams of all sizes

Supports quick payroll processing, often with just a single click, saving time and effort.

Watch for: Some users have found certain features, like leave management, to require further understanding or documentation.

Heartpace8.7Best for teams of all sizes

Supports 1:1 Talks, Surveys, and 360 Evaluations in one platform, giving HR teams tools for performance management and engagement tracking.

Watch for: Some modules, such as OKRs, require an initial learning and configuration period before working effectively.

Oyster8.4Best for teams of all sizes

Clear and consistent communication during the hiring and onboarding process, making it stress-free and straightforward.

Watch for: Occasional delays in handling processes, with specific mentions of tax-related or off-cycle payment issues.

Timetastic9.8Best for small & mid-size businesses

Simplifies the holiday request process, eliminating the need for spreadsheets and enhancing organization.

Watch for: Limited advanced features and customization options may not fully meet the needs of more complex organizations.

BambooHR9.8Best for teams of all sizes

Automates HR processes including document signing, onboarding, and payroll.

Watch for: Lacks advanced features found in more comprehensive HRIS platforms.

Calamari9.7Best for small & mid-size businesses

Easy to manage and quick to learn, with Slack integration for submitting requests without leaving the chat tool.

Watch for: User interface design is dated and needs a visual refresh.

Lattice9.7Best for teams of all sizes

Interface is structured for team appraisals with feedback loops and continuous improvement tracking.

Watch for: Some users find the tool a bit hard to learn initially, suggesting the need for more interactive demos.

Homebase9.7Best for teams of all sizes

Streamlines scheduling processes, making it easy to set and manage employee schedules.

Watch for: Limited customization options in the free version, with some advanced functionalities restricted.

Paycor9.6Best for teams of all sizes

Covers payroll, recruiting, onboarding, performance management, and benefits administration in one platform.

Watch for: Customer service response times are consistently slow, with no assigned representatives and frequent case mismanagement.

Workable9.6Best for teams of all sizes

Simplifies recruitment by centralizing candidate information, increasing organization, and ensuring seamless collaboration across teams.

Watch for: Limited flexibility and customization options, such as restrictions on editing workflows and approval pathways, which can be a challenge for larger organizations.

Zoho People9.6Best for teams of all sizes

User-friendly interface that is easy to navigate, suitable for both technical and non-technical users.

Watch for: Slower learning curve for new users, especially when configuring complex workflows or customizations.

Why teams look for a BreatheHR alternative

Several familiar frustrations tend to drive teams away from BreatheHR:

  • The platform may require time for users to fully familiarize themselves with all the features, especially if they're transitioning from manual processes.
  • Some advanced features for reporting or in-depth analytics may be limited, making it less suitable for businesses needing detailed HR insights.
  • BreatheHR is designed specifically for small businesses, so it may not scale well for larger enterprises with more complex HR needs.

What counts when comparing BreatheHR alternatives

The numbers behind these 12 free alternatives: 12 offer a free tier; and Heartpace is the highest rated at 4.9★ across 20 reviews.

How we ranked these.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Stuck on something? We're here to help with all the questions and answers in one place.

The top-rated alternatives to BreatheHR are Heartpace (4.9★), Timetastic (4.9★), Asanify (4.9★). Compare all 12 alternatives side-by-side above.

When evaluating alternatives to BreatheHR, prioritize: Training Management, Time Off Management, Recruiting Management, Performance Appraisal, Payroll Management, transparent pricing, free trial availability, and integrations with your existing tools. Use the filters above to compare by feature, budget, and team size.

BreatheHR starts from $13 /Month. Many alternatives offer similar functionality at different price points — some with free tiers, others with more flexible per-seat pricing. Use the filters above to narrow by budget.

Migration difficulty depends on how deeply BreatheHR is integrated into your workflows. Most alternatives offer data export/import tools and dedicated onboarding support. We recommend narrowing to 2–3 options, running a free trial, and checking each vendor's migration guides before committing.

Which BreatheHR alternative should you pick?

  • On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — peopleHum, Asanify and Heartpace let you evaluate without paying upfront.
  • If real-user ratings matter most: Heartpace has the strongest star rating (4.9★) among the options with verified reviews.
  • Want the safest pick: peopleHum has the highest Spotsaas Score (9.3) in this list — a strong default if you're unsure.

Migrating away from BreatheHR

Before you move off BreatheHR, export your existing data and confirm your new tool can import it. Check feature parity for the workflows you depend on, then run a short pilot on a free tier or trial before rolling it out. Most tools above offer a free way to test, so you can validate the fit before paying. Keep your BreatheHR account active until the migration is done.

Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].