HR Software Comparison

Plumm vs BreatheHR: Which HR Platform Is Better for Modern Teams?

Compare Plumm and BreatheHR across HR, payroll workflows, hiring, onboarding, performance, learning and employee wellbeing. BreatheHR is a strong option for simple HR admin, while Plumm is built for growing teams that need a broader all-in-one HR platform with wellbeing built in.

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Quick Verdict

BreatheHR is a strong option for simple HR admin, absence and employee records in smaller teams. Plumm may be a better fit when your team wants HR, payroll workflows, hiring, onboarding, learning, performance and wellbeing connected in one HR platform.

Which Platform is Best
For Your Team?

Choose Plumm if
Recommended
  • You want one platform for HR, payroll workflows, ATS/hiring, onboarding, LMS/learning and performance
  • You want to reduce fragmented HR tools as the team grows
  • You want performance, learning and manager workflows connected to HR
  • You want wellbeing built in as an added employee support layer
Choose BreatheHR if
  • You mainly need simple HR admin, absence and employee records
  • Your team is small and wants a lightweight setup
  • You are not yet prioritising hiring, learning or broader people operations
  • You want to keep HR tooling basic for now

How Modern Teams Run HR

Attendance-2
Payroll, Without the Admin

Run payroll accurately and on time, without relying on separate systems or providers

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Hiring to Onboarding, Simplified

Manage hiring through to onboarding in one flow, without handoffs or delays

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Performance That Stays on Track

Track goals and performance in a way that’s clear, consistent and easy to manage

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Plumm vs BreatheHR:
What Matters Most

See the key differences that matter when choosing the right HR platform for your team.

CORE HR

People & Processes

Plumm simplifies the complex stuff, from time off to tasks, admin to anonymous reporting, so you can focus on what really matters: supporting your team and getting things done.

Feature
pl-log-svg
BreatheHR

Performance Management (AI-Assisted)

Available, built-in Available - performance management; AI assistance not clearly listed

Time Tracking & Attendance

Available as add-on Available as rota, time and attendance add-on

UK Employment Law Support

Available as add-on Available through employment law resources

AI Agent - HR Assistant

Available, built-in Not clearly listed as an AI HR assistant

Document Storage

Available, built-in Available

Reporting & Insights

Available, built-in Available

48-Hour Implementation

Available, as part of Plumm onboarding Standard onboarding available

Performance Management (AI-Assisted)

Available, built-in
BreatheHR
Available - performance management; AI assistance not clearly listed

Time Tracking & Attendance

Available as add-on
BreatheHR
Available as rota, time and attendance add-on

UK Employment Law Support

Available as add-on
BreatheHR
Available through employment law resources

AI Agent - HR Assistant

Available, built-in
BreatheHR
Not clearly listed as an AI HR assistant

Document Storage

Available, built-in
BreatheHR
Available

Reporting & Insights

Available, built-in
BreatheHR
Available

48-Hour Implementation

Available, as part of Plumm onboarding
BreatheHR
Standard onboarding available
MONEY

Finance

Manage payroll, expenses and financial processes with accurate calculations, reporting and compliance handled for you.

Feature
pl-log-svg
BreatheHR

Automated UK Payroll

Available as native add-on Payroll export and Xero integration available; native UK payroll not clearly listed

HMRC Recognised

Available as native add-on Not clearly listed as HMRC-recognised payroll

Expense Management

Available as add-on Available as add-on - expense tracking and claims

Managed Payroll Support

Available as add-on Not clearly listed

Automated UK Payroll

Available as native add-on
BreatheHR
Payroll export and Xero integration available; native UK payroll not clearly listed

HMRC Recognised

Available as native add-on
BreatheHR
Not clearly listed as HMRC-recognised payroll

Expense Management

Available as add-on
BreatheHR
Available as add-on - expense tracking and claims

Managed Payroll Support

Available as add-on
BreatheHR
Not clearly listed
PLATFORM & INTEGRATIONS

Connected Tools
and Workflows

Connect your team with integrations, access, workflows and tools that adapt to how your business runs

Feature
pl-log-svg
BreatheHR

Microsoft AD Integration & Provisioning

Available as add-on Not clearly listed as provisioning

Google Workspace Integration & Provisioning

Available as add-on Not clearly listed as provisioning

Device/Asset Management

Available as add-on Limited asset tracking

ATS with AI CV Screen & Assessments

Available as native add-on with AI screening and onboarding flow Available as add-on; AI screening and onboarding flow not clearly listed

AI-Assisted LMS (500+ Courses)

Available as native add-on with 500+ courses Learning available as add-on with 120+ courses

Whistleblowing + ER Case Management

Available as add-on Not clearly listed as a combined whistleblowing and ER case management feature

Platform Customisation

Available, built-in Available with SME HR configuration options

Automated Workflows

Available, built-in Available for HR admin tasks

Microsoft AD Integration & Provisioning

Available as add-on
BreatheHR
Not clearly listed as provisioning

Google Workspace Integration & Provisioning

Available as add-on
BreatheHR
Not clearly listed as provisioning

Device/Asset Management

Available as add-on
BreatheHR
Limited asset tracking

ATS with AI CV Screen & Assessments

Available as native add-on with AI screening and onboarding flow
BreatheHR
Available as add-on; AI screening and onboarding flow not clearly listed

AI-Assisted LMS (500+ Courses)

Available as native add-on with 500+ courses
BreatheHR
Learning available as add-on with 120+ courses

Whistleblowing + ER Case Management

Available as add-on
BreatheHR
Not clearly listed as a combined whistleblowing and ER case management feature

Platform Customisation

Available, built-in
BreatheHR
Available with SME HR configuration options

Automated Workflows

Available, built-in
BreatheHR
Available for HR admin tasks
WELLBEING

Mental Health & Wellbeing Support

Support your team with access to wellbeing resources, coaching and therapy as part of their everyday work experience

 

Feature
pl-log-svg
BreatheHR

Therapy & Coaching Sessions

Available as add-on Not clearly listed

Monthly Live Webinars

Available, built-in Not clearly listed as employee wellbeing webinars

Real-Time Wellbeing Insights

Available, built-in Limited wellbeing-related reporting

CPD-Certified Mental Health First Aider Training

Available as add-on Not clearly listed

Therapy & Coaching Sessions

Available as add-on
BreatheHR
Not clearly listed

Monthly Live Webinars

Available, built-in
BreatheHR
Not clearly listed as employee wellbeing webinars

Real-Time Wellbeing Insights

Available, built-in
BreatheHR
Limited wellbeing-related reporting

CPD-Certified Mental Health First Aider Training

Available as add-on
BreatheHR
Not clearly listed

Why Teams Move From HR Admin To A
Connected HR Platform

One Connected HR Platform

Keep HR, payroll workflows, hiring, onboarding, learning and performance data working together in one place.

Consistency for Managers

Give every manager the same way to run reviews, goals, 1:1s and check-ins.

Onboarding and Learning That Stick

Bring new starter journeys, compliance and development into the same flow as core HR.

Wellbeing Built-In As An Added Layer

Employees get wellbeing tools, content, AI guidance and support pathways inside the HR experience.

When BreatheHR May
Be A Good Fit

The right choice depends on your team size, priorities and current systems. BreatheHR may be a good fit in these situations.

You only need lightweight HR admin and time off tracking

Your team is small and only needs the basics for now

Payroll and learning are not key buying priorities

You don’t currently need built-in wellbeing support

Everything Plumm Brings Together

Plumm connects the HR workflows modern teams
usually manage across separate tools.

Core HR

Manage employee records, contracts, policies, org charts and everyday people admin in one place.

Payroll Workflows

Keep people data and payroll processes closer together, reducing manual rework and disconnected spreadsheets.

Hiring / ATS

Use Plumm’s hiring module to manage candidate workflows and connect hiring into onboarding from the same people platform.

Onboarding

Connect new starter tasks, documents, training and employee records from day one.

Learning / LMS

Use Plumm’s learning module to support onboarding, compliance, manager training and employee development.

Performance

Run reviews, goals, KPIs, surveys and manager check-ins through Plumm’s built-in performance tools.

Time Off and Absence

Manage holidays, absences, approvals and visibility across the team.

Documents and e-Signatures

Store contracts, policies, e-signatures and employee files securely.

Engagement

Use surveys and people signals to understand sentiment, risk and team health earlier

AI / Automation

Reduce HR admin, answer common people questions and move workflows forward faster.

Wellbeing

Give employees access to wellbeing tools, content, AI guidance and support pathways inside the HR experience.

Managed Services

Get support with managed payroll, managed wellbeing and fractional HR expertise when your team needs extra capacity.

Plumm vs BreatheHR FAQs

Yes. Plumm is a strong alternative to BreatheHR for growing UK teams that need more than core HR admin. BreatheHR is well-suited to employee records, absence management and everyday HR tasks, while Plumm brings HR, payroll workflows, hiring, onboarding, learning, performance management and employee wellbeing into one connected platform.

The main difference is product focus and fit. BreatheHR may be strong for core HR admin and absence in small UK teams, while Plumm is designed as an all-in-one HR platform covering HRIS, payroll workflows, hiring, onboarding, learning, performance and wellbeing.

Yes. Onboarding is available through Plumm’s built-in workflows, documents, tasks and eSignatures. Hiring is available through Plumm’s hiring module, helping teams connect candidate management and onboarding in one platform.

Yes. Plumm offers learning support through its LMS module, helping teams manage onboarding, compliance, manager training and employee development.

Yes. Plumm includes wellbeing tools, content, AI guidance and support pathways inside the platform. One-to-one therapy and coaching can be made available through Plumm’s wellbeing support options, depending on the customer’s package.

Plumm can provide access to therapy and coaching through its wellbeing support options, but one-to-one sessions depend on the customer’s package and are not automatically included for every plan.

Often, yes. Plumm is designed to help teams reduce fragmented tools by bringing HR, payroll workflows, hiring, onboarding, learning, performance, documents, time off, engagement and wellbeing into one connected platform.

Both can serve growing UK teams. Plumm may be a better fit once a team needs HR, payroll workflows, hiring, learning and performance connected, rather than running them as separate tools alongside HR admin.

Real Results From Teams
Using Plumm

Ready to compare your
current HR setup?