CoDash vs Breathe
A fair look at a well-loved UK HR platform - and where an all-in-one system that adds performance, listening and recognition takes a different path.
Breathe is a simple, affordable, UK-based platform that does core HR really well; CoDash is an all-in-one platform that keeps core HR strong and adds performance, listening and recognition in the same login, with privacy built into the architecture. Both are built for UK rules, so this isn't a compliance argument. If you want lightweight, easy core HR for a small team, Breathe is a lovely choice. If you also want 1:1s and reviews, surveys and anonymous voice, and a recognition feed - without a second system - CoDash is built for that.
Where Breathe is strong
Credit where it's due. Breathe is a well-established, UK-based platform - Brighton born - and it has earned a loyal following among small and medium businesses:
- Simple and easy to use. Breathe is known for being genuinely approachable - quick to set up and easy for a small team to pick up without training.
- Affordable, with published pricing. It offers tiered plans listed openly on its website, which makes it easy to budget and compare - something we respect and do ourselves.
- Strong core HR. People records, holiday and leave, sickness tracking and document storage are solid and well-tested - the day-to-day basics done reliably.
- A helpful content library. Breathe offers a useful library of HR templates and guidance, handy for small teams without a dedicated HR person.
- A recognised UK brand with good support. A trusted name in UK SME HR, with a reputation for responsive, human support.
If those are your priorities - simple, affordable, well-supported core HR for a smaller team - Breathe deserves a place on your shortlist.
Where CoDash is different
CoDash isn't trying to out-simple Breathe. It's built for UK teams that want the whole of HR - operations, culture and growth - in one place, so that performance, listening and recognition don't need a second system.
- Performance in depth, not an afterthought. 1:1s, goals and OKRs, review cycles and 360 feedback come with the Growth plan, next to the day-to-day - so development lives in the same login as leave and people records.
- Listening with privacy in the architecture. Anonymous voice and suggestions are stored with no author column, and manager-facing mood, eNPS and survey aggregates are gated by k-anonymity - enforced in code, not promised in a settings page.
- Surveys and eNPS built in. Regular pulse surveys and eNPS are part of the platform, so you can measure engagement over time rather than bolting on a separate tool.
- A coach, not a scoreboard. The AI manager coach spots patterns and suggests what to raise with a team; it never ranks managers against each other.
- Recognition as a core, not an add-on. A community feed with kudos and celebrations is part of the product, so appreciation and milestones live where people already work.
CoDash vs Breathe at a glance
| CoDash | Breathe | |
|---|---|---|
| Core HR (people, leave, documents) | Strong | Strong - a core focus |
| Home market | UK, built for UK rules | UK, built for UK rules |
| Transparent public pricing | Public: £99/mo incl. 10 people | Yes - tiered pricing published openly |
| Performance (1:1s, goals, reviews, 360) | Included from Growth | Limited; not a core focus |
| Surveys & eNPS | Included | Not a core focus |
| Anonymous voice with k-anonymity in code | Yes | Not offered this way |
| AI manager coach (suggests, never ranks) | Yes | Not a comparable feature |
| Community feed, kudos & celebrations | Core to the product | Limited |
| HR template & content library | Guides and templates on the site | Well-regarded content library |
| Try before talking to sales | Shared live demo, self-serve | Free trial on signup |
Who should pick which
Choose Breathe if you want simple, affordable core HR for a small team - people records, leave, sickness and documents - with a helpful content library, a trusted UK brand and responsive support.
Choose CoDash if you want that core HR plus performance, listening and recognition in one login - 1:1s and reviews, surveys and eNPS, anonymous voice and a recognition feed - with privacy built into the architecture and pricing you can read today.
Frequently asked questions
Is CoDash a good Breathe HR alternative for UK companies?
For UK teams wanting core HR plus performance, listening and recognition in one login, yes. Both are built for UK rules, so this is about breadth, not compliance. CoDash adds 1:1s and reviews, surveys and eNPS, anonymous voice and an AI coach alongside people records and leave. Breathe remains an excellent choice for simple, affordable, well-supported core HR for a small team.
How does CoDash pricing compare with Breathe?
Both publish pricing openly, which we think is right. CoDash charges from £99/month including 10 people, with no setup fees or minimums. Breathe also lists tiered pricing on its website. Check each vendor's current pricing directly, as plans change.
What does CoDash include that Breathe is lighter on?
Both cover core HR well. CoDash adds performance in depth (1:1s, goals, reviews and 360 from Growth), surveys and eNPS, anonymous voice with no author column and k-anonymity gates, an AI manager coach that suggests and never ranks, and a community feed with kudos and celebrations - in the same login. Breathe is more focused on core HR and lighter on performance, engagement and anonymous listening.
Prices and features move. Everything here was checked on the date shown against each vendor's own published pricing, and we link to it so you can confirm rather than take our word for it. If we have a detail wrong, tell us and we will correct it.
Check it yourself: Breathe publishes its own terms - see their pricing page. Checked 17 August 2026. Prices and packaging move, and theirs are theirs to state, so confirm before you decide.
Keep comparing: All 12 comparisons · CoDash pricing · 30 free templates
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Don't take our word for it - open the live demo and try the parts that matter to you: book leave, run a survey, test the privacy gate. Then tell us about your team.
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