Factorial vs. Breathe

Factorial is one of the top-rated business software solutions for small and midsize companies, purpose-built to streamline operations, automate repetitive tasks, and centralize employee management in the cloud. Recognized for its intuitive interface, powerful functionality, and scalability, Factorial empowers HR teams, finance departments, and managers to work smarter—not harder. With a 4.5/5 rating across trusted platforms, Factorial stands out as a business management software that connects all core functions: HR, time tracking, payroll, recruiting, performance management, training, expenses, and more. It eliminates the need for disconnected tools, offering instead a single platform that integrates seamlessly with your existing workflows and grows with your business. Whether you're creating custom PTO policies, managing complex shift schedules, approving expenses, or running payroll, Factorial ensures every process is accurate, automated, and compliant. And with real-time insights and reports, leadership teams can make confident, data-driven decisions. Backed by more than 13,000 businesses globally, Factorial is the cloud business management software of choice for companies that want to boost productivity, improve employee experience, and gain full visibility into people and operations. If you’re looking for top-rated software for small business management, Factorial delivers everything you need—without the complexity.

If your employee details are spread across spreadsheets, emails and disconnected apps, Breathe brings them together. It's a UK HR platform launched in 2012 for small and medium-sized businesses. More than 17,000 of them use it, along with over 1,000 UK HR consultancies. Three everyday HR problems Breathe fixes Information everywhere: one central, accurate record for every employee. Endless chasing: staff book leave, sign documents electronically and follow shared workflows. A small HR team: start with the essentials and add more as you grow. The essentials: Core HR Store records and documents securely, manage holiday and leave, track sickness and absence, and let staff update their own details. Collect e-signatures, set goals, run one-to-ones and reviews, and spot trends with built-in reports. Optional extras Rota, Time and Attendance: plan shifts and track hours Expenses: claims, receipts and manager sign-off Recruitment: advertise roles and follow each candidate Health and Safety: risk assessments, incidents and compliance evidence e-Learning: assign UK-specific courses and see who's completed what Breathe is also building an AI Assistant to answer HR and policy questions, and plans to launch payroll in late 2026. Who gets the most from it UK organisations with up to 200 people, particularly charities, schools, healthcare, retail, start-ups and professional services firms with lean HR. If you need multinational payroll, global compliance or enterprise workforce planning, weigh it up first. Pricing, support and security Plans start from £24 a month for your whole organisation, with no long-term contracts or hidden fees. Try it free for 14 days, with UK-based support from setup onwards. Breathe holds ISO 27001 and ISO 42001 accreditation and keeps your data in UK data centres, protected by encryption and access controls.