Breathe ESG vs StepChange: Which ESG Platform Fits Your Team in 2026?
Breathe ESG supports all major global reporting frameworks, from BRSR and GRI to ISSB, CSRD, CDP and CBAM, all from one governed dataset.
Last reviewed: 28 September 2026. Breathe ESG publishes this page. Details about StepChange come from its public website and listings on that date. Products change, so if anything here is out of date, tell us and we will fix it.
StepChange and Breathe ESG both help Indian enterprises measure emissions and report on ESG. They start from different places.
StepChange leans into climate and nature risk, with a strong offer for banks, insurers and asset managers. Breathe ESG is built around enterprise ESG data, carbon accounting and reporting across operations and the value chain.
Here is an honest look at where each one fits.
Breathe ESG vs StepChange: the short answer
Choose StepChange if you are a bank, insurer or asset manager that needs financed emissions under PCAF, portfolio ESG scorecards and physical or transition risk modelling in one place.
Choose Breathe ESG if you are a corporate or industrial company that needs BRSR-ready reporting, Scope 3 supplier data, product carbon footprints and materiality in one governed dataset, with an AI layer that cleans your data as it lands.
Breathe ESG vs StepChange at a glance
| Breathe ESG | StepChange | |
|---|---|---|
| Core focus | End-to-end ESG data, carbon accounting and multi-framework reporting for enterprises | Carbon management, ESG intelligence and climate and nature risk, with a strong financial institution offer |
| Main modules | ESG data management, carbon accounting (Scope 1 and 2), Scope 3, value chain, product carbon footprint, materiality assessment, decarbonisation planning, reporting, audit trail | Carbon management (including portfolio and financed emissions), operational and vendor ESG, portfolio ESG scorecards, climate and nature risk, data registry |
| Frameworks supported | All major global reporting frameworks, including BRSR and BRSR Core, GRI, ISSB (IFRS S1 and S2), CSRD and ESRS, TCFD, CDP and CBAM | GRI, BRSR, ISSB, IFRS, TCFD, TNFD, Basel, SBTi, NZBA, GFANZ, PCAF |
| AI | INARA AI layer flags data errors, fills gaps, standardises units and links every recommendation to source data | Describes AI-powered workflows for data assimilation |
| Services | ESG consulting, fractional CSOs, training through Breathe Academy, implementation and dedicated support | Professional services, plus free materiality and gap assessments |
| Free way to start | Yes. Free INARA plan with 100 AI credits | Free materiality and gap assessment offered |
| Pricing | Quote based, by products, users, business units and implementation scope | Not published |
Where StepChange is strong
StepChange has built real depth for financial institutions. Its public materials highlight:
- Financed and portfolio emissions aligned to PCAF, a must for lenders and investors.
- Physical, transition, extreme weather and nature risk assessment, including TNFD.
- Named customers such as Union Bank of India, ICICI Bank and ITC Limited.
- A claim of 350+ enterprise platform integrations.
How Breathe ESG is different
Built for the reporting cycle of a real company
Breathe ESG is organised around how corporate sustainability teams actually work: collect data from sites and business units, validate it, calculate emissions and publish reports. Our ESG data management workflow replaces spreadsheet chasing with one governed dataset.
Value chain and product-level carbon
If your pressure comes from customers and EU buyers rather than regulators of banks, you need Scope 3 depth and product carbon footprints. Breathe ESG covers both, with supplier workflows that track who responded and what is missing.
AI that fixes data, not just summarises it
INARA, our AI layer, detects errors, merges duplicates, standardises units and infers missing values, with every suggestion linked back to the source. You can try it free before talking to sales.
Materiality and decarbonisation in the same place
Materiality assessment and decarbonisation planning sit next to your reporting data, so priorities and reduction plans stay connected to the numbers.
More than software
Breathe ESG is a platform and a team. Use as much help as you need.
- ESG consulting and fractional CSOs. Senior sustainability leadership and hands-on advisory, without a full-time hire.
- Training through Breathe Academy. Upskill your team on ESG reporting, frameworks and carbon accounting.
- A community in Breathe Zero. Connect with CSOs, supply chain leads and climate operators working on the same problems.
- EHS tracking with Breathe SAFE. Keep environment, health and safety data next to your ESG data instead of in another tool.
Questions to ask in any ESG software demo
Whichever shortlist you end up with, these questions separate a good fit from a good pitch.
- Show me a BRSR Core indicator traced from the published number back to the source invoice or meter reading.
- How do you handle a reporting boundary change, like an acquisition, without breaking last year's numbers?
- Which emission factor libraries do you use, and how are factor updates versioned?
- How do suppliers submit data, and what does your average supplier response rate look like?
- What does implementation look like in weeks, and who from your side does the work?
For a wider view of the market, see our round-up of sustainability reporting software platforms and our guide to BRSR reporting in India.
See Breathe ESG on your own data
Running a corporate ESG programme and weighing StepChange against Breathe ESG? Bring last year's BRSR and we will show you the difference on real data. Book a demo, or start free with INARA from our pricing page.
FAQs
Is StepChange better for banks than Breathe ESG?
For financed emissions, PCAF and portfolio climate risk, StepChange has a deeper public offer for financial institutions. Breathe ESG is a stronger fit for corporates that need operational and value chain reporting.
Do both support BRSR?
Yes. Both list BRSR among supported frameworks. Ask each vendor to walk through BRSR Core assurance evidence in the demo.
Can I try Breathe ESG for free?
Yes. The free INARA plan includes 100 AI credits for document analysis, chat and report summaries.