Which one is cheaper?

Sage HR is the cheaper option, starting at $5/mo vs $20/mo for CharlieHR.

Can I use either one for free?

Neither has a free plan. But CharlieHR and Sage HR offer a free trial.

Both use a per-seat model, so the comparison is straightforward — it comes down to features and limits at each price point.

Which one is a better deal?

Depends on what you need. CharlieHR: The headline £5/month rate is a loss-leader hook for very small teams, but that's a 75%-off promo for the first six months only — real pricing (£20 and up) puts them mid-market among UK HR platforms, not a budget play once the discount expires. Sage HR: At £5/seat base, they're positioned as a mid-market affordable entry point, but the modular pricing means a fully-loaded instance can rival pricier all-in-one competitors. They're targeting SMBs who want to start lean and expand — not enterprises looking for a single comprehensive platform out of the box.

CharlieHR vs Sage HR Pricing (2026)

How do these two stack up on price? Here's what each one costs, what you get, and where the value sits.

	CharlieHR	Sage HR
Starts at	$20/mo	$5/mo
Number of plans	1	1
Free plan	—	—
Free trial
Pricing model	per-seat	per-seat

CharlieHR

Official page

charlie

Popular

$20/mo

Onboarding
Time off
Performance reviews
Employee engagement
Perks & benefits
Docs & employee data

Sage HR

Official page

Sage HR

$5/mo

Core HR + Leave Management

CharlieHR vs Sage HR FAQ

Which one is cheaper?: Sage HR is the cheaper option, starting at $5/mo vs $20/mo for CharlieHR.
Can I use either one for free?: Neither has a free plan. But CharlieHR and Sage HR offer a free trial.
How do they charge?: Both use a per-seat model, so the comparison is straightforward — it comes down to features and limits at each price point.
Which one is a better deal?: Depends on what you need. CharlieHR: The headline £5/month rate is a loss-leader hook for very small teams, but that's a 75%-off promo for the first six months only — real pricing (£20 and up) puts them mid-market among UK HR platforms, not a budget play once the discount expires. Sage HR: At £5/seat base, they're positioned as a mid-market affordable entry point, but the modular pricing means a fully-loaded instance can rival pricier all-in-one competitors. They're targeting SMBs who want to start lean and expand — not enterprises looking for a single comprehensive platform out of the box.

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