Breathe Reviews

“Simple UI with great features

Pros

I love being able to see when my coworkers have time off, which helps me choose dates that are more likely to be approved. Recording sick days is easy and it's simple to look back at previous entries when needed.

Cons

Cancelling holidays requires authorization before I can book anything else, which causes delays. I think this might be an extra paid feature. HR users aren't listed with the rest of the company, so I have to search for them separately and they're not included in the group calendar either which means I can't see when they're off. For small businesses, having visibility of everyone, including HR and Managing Directors would be really helpful.

“Clear team calendar visibility

Pros

I love that I can peek at the calendar and see when my teammates are off. It makes planning my own vacation so much easier because I can pick dates when I know the office won't be super busy. Logging a sick day is also really simple and it's handy to be able to look back if I need to.

Cons

I think you have to pay extra for this. If someone cancels a holiday, we have to say yes before they can book something else. This can slow things down. Also HR people do not show up in the main staff list. You have to look for them. They also do not show on the team calendar. So you cannot see when they are off. In a small company, it helps to see everyone, even the boss and HR.

“great tool for HR tracking

Pros

Once I had everything set up, it really made tracking leave requests and employee supervision a lot easier. I use it almost daily now.

Cons

The system only gives results based on what you input, so our team has to constantly enter data to keep our HR tasks up to date and manageable.

“my daily go to tool

Pros

Okay, so there's a bit of a setup at the start but once you have got it configured, it just makes everything so much simpler. I am in there almost every day whether it's to book some leave or log a training session. It really helps me stay on top of my stuff.

Cons

You only get back what you put in. If we want to stay on top of HR, we have to add the information first.

“Works well but could be enhanced

Pros

It's incredibly easy to use and learn and I can find the information I need in no time. Everything is well-organized, making it effortless to stay efficient.

Cons

Using it really helps me get things done, which is great. However, it can be a double-edged sword when I'd prefer to focus on something else.

“does the job efficiently

Pros

to be honest, this software is user friendly and being able to view all my team members at once is super handy. Overall, it works great for our daily tasks.

Cons

I'd prefer a different scoring method instead of just using the Bradford factor.

“All in one solution!

Pros

I was nervous trying a new system but honestly, this was easy to figure out. Managing staff holidays is now so simple and a feature I actually really love is that it handles expenses too. It's a nice surprise to have it all together.

Cons

If I am on Breathe, it means I am working!

“Great guides with limited sick tracking

Pros

I am a newbie, only been using it for about five weeks and I was so relieved by the online help guides. I managed to figure everything out on my own without having to bug my coworkers with a million questions which is a win for everyone.

Cons

wish there was another way to track sick days. Not just the Bradford score.

“Helpful HR Management Tool

Pros

The support it gives to our small business has been a huge time-saver, letting us focus on other important things. Our team finds it simple to use and it's now our go-to for keeping everyone updated.

Cons

I haven't run into any issues yet since we're still exploring all the different features it offers.

“Simple and stress free

Pros

best part for me is how simple it is to find my way around. No hunting for things, I can just get in, get my work done and get out.

Cons

Nothing bad so far. We are still trying out all the tools.

“best for non-tech users

Pros

I'm usually nervous with new tech but this platform was surprisingly easy to use. Managing staff holidays is a easy and I really like how it handles expense management seamlessly.

Cons

The verification through the authenticator gets frustrating when I can't find my phone, even though I understand it keeps our account secure.

“Secure but slightly inconvenient

Pros

It's just so easy to use. I can pull up anyone's info in a flash and the whole thing just works without any glitches.

Cons

it keeps our account safe. But the code from the app can be a pain if I lose my phone.

“Simple setup & easy to use

Pros

Finding my way around is easy and I can get things done without any issue.

Cons

Having to rely on the help chat whenever I try something new can be frustrating since there's no user guide available, especially when it's my first time using a feature.

“great functionality at a good price

Pros

I find both the self-service portal and HR sections really easy to use and work with.

Cons

I wish there were more features, especially when it comes to reporting capabilities. More advanced reporting options would be really helpful. We also looked into using the recruitment feature but it was disappointing that we couldn't add an application form to the process.

“Feature rich but needs better guides

Pros

super user friendly tool it is�. We are in it all the time and I am always impressed by how much detail we can capture without it feeling cluttered.

Cons

user guide should be more simple. When I try something new, I have to use the chat for help.

“Helpful for small teams

Pros

What I appreciate most is how it helps us run our small business. It handles so much of the background HR stuff that it actually frees up my time to focus on other things. My team finds it easy to use too which is key and it's a great way to keep everyone in the loop.

Cons

I would like more tools for reports. Better reports would help. We looked at the hiring tool. But we were sad we could not add a job form.

“Powerful yet hard to operate

Pros

honestly the ease of use is the main thing for me. I also like that they are always rolling out updates and improvements and if I ever get stuck, their support team is actually helpful.

Cons

Some things are hard to find. Like Kudos or new hire tasks. They are there but kind of hidden. I wish I could share the team chart. Or see all training at once, not just one person at a time. I also have to add new hire tasks one by one. It would be faster to pick many people at once.

“Insightful and easy to use

Pros

It is a great tool for spotting trends in the team like who's due for a performance chat or tracking sickness patterns. It's all very easy to use and I know support is there if I ever need a hand.

Cons

Maybe the only bad thing is there is a lot of info. It can feel like a lot.

“performance insights that matter

Pros

it's about being able to really see how the team is doing. Running reports on staff performance is a game-changer and helps me manage much better.

Cons

The chat can be slow. Sometimes I wait hours to talk to someone. I also wish the work review part was better. It feels bumpy and not smooth.

“All in one

Pros

This is a one-stop shop for everything...the calendar, leave requests, training records, company policies... it's all in there. My team does not struggle with it and having everything in one place is just brilliant. From an admin point of view, it makes it so easy to stay organised and on top of things.

Cons

I am new, so I do not hate anything yet. But right after I started, they changed things. It was a little annoying to find where stuff moved.

“Clear layout with room to automate

Pros

the layout is so clear and logical. It's a doddle to update people's info or run a report. They have got a ton of great features already but if they ever added a way to automate some of the routine stuff, that would be the absolute cherry on top.

Cons

It can cost a lot to add new staff.

“Great visibility

Pros

thing that stands out to me is the visibility. I appreciate that I can see all my employees in one place with just a couple of clicks.

Cons

the way the plans work, adding more people gets pricey.

“Easy to use with tough account changes

Pros

Both the self-service side and the HR admin side are really easy to get to grips with. No headaches there.

Cons

my one big problem is changing who runs the account. If someone leaves, it is very hard to get help from customer support to fix it!

“Stress free setup and smooth use

Pros

the process of becoming a partner and getting set up with it was a piece of cake. It was totally stress-free from my side.

Cons

Nothing�.it is easy to use. I have no problems with it.

“brilliant for growing teams

Pros

We use it for our business and I have to say, it's a brilliant kit. It's a really easy application to use which is crucial because we use it to keep track of over 70 members of staff!

Cons

There is nothing I do not like about Breathe.

“Flexible for consultants

Pros

as a remote consultant, it makes my life so much easier. I can hop between different client portals without any fuss. Having all the documentation centralised and a platform that's simple to use means I can help both the employees and the employers efficiently, no matter where I am.

Cons

Before, I could not change work times or holiday days in advance. That was a big problem. but the new update fixed this, which is great. I do wish the Time and Attendance part was easier to understand. Some of my clients use clock-in tools and do not want to switch to it. I also do not know it well enough to tell them why it is good. I have a call with my Account Manager to help with this. It would also be good to add many company files at once. doing them one by one takes too long!

“Simple layout... zero complaints

Pros

I'm a big fan of the layout. It's just really user-friendly and simple to understand. You don't need a manual to figure it out.

Cons

I cannot think of anything I do not like.

“Perfect fit for SMEs

Pros

I love how consistent the icons are throughout the system...it makes using all the different features really easy. We specialise in working with SMEs and it is perfect for that market, working across so many industries. It's also cost-effective compared to other software which is a huge plus for our clients. It keeps all their people data in one place and saves them heaps of time. And if we ever need anything, the Partner Managers are so friendly and quick to help out.

Cons

it is made for small and medium companies with under 250 people. Bigger companies might need other tools. But it can still work for them. it tries to fit what you need. But sometimes there are small things you have to work around.

“reliable HR Tool for SMBs

Pros

What I appreciate most about this tool is just how user-friendly it is. It's clearly designed for small to medium businesses like the ones I work with. It's so simple and accessible that my clients don't get bogged down in complexity, they can just get on with managing their key HR tasks. It's a really reliable system that makes HR admin a whole lot simpler.

Cons

I would really like a way to sign documents inside it. Like DocuSign. It would make managing papers so much easier.

“Easy to use with helpful guides

Pros

It's very user-friendly and honestly, the help section has an answer for pretty much everything I have ever needed to know.

Cons

I want to know how to use it better�. I feel like I am missing some things.

“User friendly

Pros

I find it generally very user friendly. The support information they provide is great, most of the time it answers my questions before I even have to think about contacting anyone.

Cons

holiday calendar does not link to our company website. I wish it did.

“powerful value

Pros

its the perfect combination: it's easy to use, has a really wide range of functionality and the price is excellent.

Cons

Sometimes it is hard to find certain tools. they are not always easy to spot.

“Clear and affordable

Pros

I am still fairly new to Breathe but I was amazed at how clear the system is and how quickly I picked it up. I was so impressed, I have already recommended it to another charity! I really like the way it looks and how useable it is and the price point is good too.

Cons

I want all staff to see each other's emergency contact info. That would be helpful. Also, letter templates would be nice. Like for passing a work test, work anniversaries or yearly reviews. It would make things even faster.

“very simple system to use

Pros

It holds a ton of key personnel information but it's still really easy to use. No complaints here.

Cons

The training parts are not worth paying for. They are too short and do not teach much.

“Smooth daily use tool

Pros

It's just so easy to use and I can always find exactly what I am looking for without any problem.

Cons

So far, I like everything about this tool.

“Consultant favorite needs e-sign

Pros

As an HR Consultant, it's my go-to. I love having all my clients on there because I know their data is being stored correctly and safely. It genuinely helps both me and my clients save a lot of precious time.

Cons

I wish I could sign papers inside it, like with DocuSign.

“works best for me

Pros

I use it daily for all sorts of things, mostly reporting and people management. It's so easy to use and I can pull out really detailed information and reports whenever I need them.

Cons

no cons so far. I am still learning how to run reports.

“Works like a charm

Pros

It's just so easy to use. I don't think I've ever had a single issue with it. It works like a charm.

Cons

As a new person, it can be a little hard to find my way around at first.

“friendly support, still exploring

Pros

For me, it's the combo of being very user-friendly and having great support staff. It makes all the difference.

Cons

I need to use it more before I can say. I have to spend more time with it first.

“Easy across app and web

Pros

I find it really easy to use and understand. I am happy using both the app and the website, whichever is handiest at the time.

Cons

Sometimes moving between staff pages is hard. I cannot always see what I need right away.

“Simple system but needs more custom tools

Pros

I've been using it for almost two years now and it's been a fantastic tool for managing holidays, keeping on top of policy documents, all that stuff. Getting around it is just so simple.

Cons

It would help if we could change things to fit our work better. More custom tools would be good.

“Great holiday tracking tool

Pros

It is really easy to use. The holiday calendar and the bit that shows my remaining allowance are super useful for keeping track of what I've booked and what I have left.

Cons

I wish it was one complete system like an app. That is my only small problem.

“Modern all in one powerhouse

Pros

We've completely modernised everything with it....both our internal HR and our clocking-in system. We honestly use it for everything! The rota and time clock functions are amazing, they work perfectly with geotagging for our different office locations and they even handle working from home easily. It's so user-friendly.

Cons

you have to spend time setting it up at the start. But once it is ready, it can do everything!

“Feature packed with smoother onboarding

Pros

What I like most is just how easy it is to use and the sheer number of features packed into it. It does so much.

Cons

The first steps when you join could be better. It could be faster and smoother. A checklist would help so you know what comes next. But after you are set up, it is very easy. The team is also quick to help.

“Brilliant for small business teams

Pros

I manage a few different clients through it. It really covers all the bases for a small business like ours. Having holidays, personal records, reviews and documents all in one place has saved us so much admin time. It's brilliant.

Cons

I wish we could add goal papers to staff reviews. We can save them in other places now. But it would be good to have everything in one spot. It is only a small thing.

“simple database with tricky login setup

Pros

Once you are able to log in, it's a really simple database to use and get around.

Cons

Setting up was easy except for the two-step login. That was a big problem to get working.

“Interactive and polished experience

Pros

It looks great, it's very easy to use and it's interactive...so you don't have to struggle to get the hang of it.

Cons

It would be nice if holiday math was better. It would save time. This would help when staff change their hours part way through the year.

“easy start but still learning

Pros

I am a new user, so I'm still finding my way around but the system is really easy to use and making changes is pretty simple..

Cons

nothing much so far. But I need to look closer at all the tools.

“easy holiday planning at a glance

Pros

I love how easy it is to request and approve holidays. Being able to see who is off before I book anything is a lifesaver. We actually embed the calendar on our company Intranet, so the whole team can see who's available at a glance.

Cons

Sometimes I have a hard time finding what I need. The new look helps, though.

“Simple for teams

Pros

so user-friendly, whether you are a manager or an employee. The design is simple and easy to use which means everyone in the team can understand it without any confusion.

Cons

it is for small and medium companies with up to 250 people. If you plan to grow past 250, it might not work for you.