The Best Performance Management Tools: Top 18 Solutions

In the ever-evolving world of work, finding the ultimate performance management tools is like discovering the perfect playlist for productivity. 

That doesn’t mean it’s an easy task to find the best performance management tool for your business’s specific needs. The endless options available can be overwhelming. To help, we’ve searched the web to curate the ultimate list of the top 18 performance management tools that are ready to take your office by storm. Your employees will be more engaged than ever!

Get ready to jazz up your management game, break out the confetti cannons, and join us in a celebration of tools that make work not just efficient but downright fabulous!

Your HR department will thank us later!

• The top 18 best performance management tools 
• What are performance management tools?
• Benefits of performance management tools
• Performance management techniques 
• Performance management 101: Where to get started 

Breakdown of the 18 best performance management tools:

1. Process Street
2. Workday
3. Paylocity
4. BambooHR
5. 15Five
6. Betterworks
7. PerformYard
8. Culture Amp
9. Engagedly
10. Peoplebox
11. ClearCompany
12. Deel
13. Lattice
14. Leapsome
15. Insperity
16. Stackify
17. Trakstar
18. Synergita

The top 18 best performance management tools

Process Street

Process Street is a versatile performance management software that streamlines workflows, ensuring efficient task execution and collaboration. With its intuitive checklist-based approach, it empowers teams to create, automate, and monitor processes seamlessly. The platform enhances accountability, transparency, and productivity, making it an invaluable tool for organizations striving for operational excellence.

Key features:

• Checklist automation: Streamline workflows with customizable checklists for task management.
• AI process creation: Design and implement detailed processes to standardize operations using AI.
• Collaboration tools: Foster team communication and collaboration within the platform.
• Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly integrate with other tools and applications for a unified workflow.
• Task assignment and tracking: Assign tasks, set deadlines, and monitor progress in real time.
• Template library: Access a repository of pre-built templates for common processes, saving time and ensuring consistency.
• Conditional logic: Create dynamic processes based on user inputs.
• Form fields: Collect and store data within checklists.

Pros:

• Intuitive interface for easy process creation and management.
• Highly customizable checklists and workflows to suit your needs.
• Generates reports and tracks process performance.
• Strong data security and access control features.
• Access and use the platform on mobile devices.
• Quickly and easily generates workflows using AI.

Cons:

• There’s a steeper learning curve when using more complex features.

Pricing: Process Street pricing page.

Workday

Workday is a cloud-based enterprise software suite offering a unified platform for HR, finance, planning, and analytics. Renowned for its user-friendly interface and scalability, Workday empowers organizations with real-time insights, agile planning, and efficient workforce management, making it a comprehensive solution for modern business needs.

Key features:

• Human capital management (HCM): Comprehensive tools for HR functions, from recruitment to talent management.
• Financial management: Streamlined finance processes, including accounting, procurement, and analytics.
• Workforce planning: Agile planning tools for optimizing workforce efficiency.
• Payroll management: End-to-end payroll processing and compliance features.
• Time tracking: Accurate recording and management of employee work hours.

Pros:

• Integrates HR, finance, planning, and analytics in a single cloud-based solution.
• Frequent updates and improvements to keep the system current and efficient.
• Robust security features to protect sensitive data.
• Supports multinational organizations with diverse regulatory requirements.

Cons:

• You need to contact sales to get pricing.
• Requires dedicated resources for maintenance and system administration.

Pricing: Workday sales page.

Paylocity

Paylocity is a cloud-based human capital management and payroll software solution. Catering to small to mid-sized businesses, it offers features like payroll processing, talent management, time and labor tracking, and HR analytics. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive functionalities, Paylocity simplifies workforce management, ensuring efficiency and compliance.

Key features:

• Payroll processing: Efficient and accurate payroll management.
• Talent management: Tools for recruitment, onboarding, and performance management.
• Time and attendance: Tracking and managing employee work hours.
• Employee self-service: Empowers employees with access to personal information and tasks.
• Benefits administration: Streamlined management of employee benefits and open enrollment.

Pros:

• Helps ensure adherence to legal and regulatory requirements.
• Data-driven insights for strategic decision-making.
• Efficient monitoring of employee work hours.
• Intuitive design for easy navigation and use.

Cons:

• Some users find customization options to be limited.
• Some users mention challenges with scalability for larger organizations.

Pricing: Paylocity pricing request.

BambooHR

BambooHR is a cloud-based human resources software designed for small to medium-sized businesses. Known for its simplicity and versatility, it offers features like employee data management, onboarding, performance tracking, and time-off management. BambooHR streamlines HR processes, fostering efficient workforce management and enhancing the employee experience.

Key features:

• Employee database: Centralized repository for managing employee information.
• Onboarding tools: Streamlined processes for efficient employee onboarding.
• Time-off tracking: Comprehensive management of employee leave and time off.
• Performance management: Tools for tracking and evaluating employee performance.
• Customizable workflows: Tailor workflows to align with specific HR processes.

Pros:

• Efficient management of employee information.
• Manages employee benefits and tracks enrollment.
• Secure storage and organization of HR-related documents.
• Intuitive design for easy navigation.

Cons:

• May not be as suitable for multinational organizations with complex needs.
• May not be as robust for organizations with extensive recruitment needs.

Pricing: BambooHR pricing request.

15Five

15Five is a performance management and employee engagement platform designed to facilitate continuous feedback and communication within organizations. 15Five fosters a culture of transparency and growth, empowering teams to stay aligned and motivated.

Key features:

• Weekly check-ins: Facilitates regular feedback and communication between managers and employees.
• Goal tracking: Enables the setting, tracking, and monitoring of individual goals.
• Employee recognition: Promotes peer-to-peer recognition and appreciation.
• Feedback surveys: Conducts surveys to gather employee feedback and insights.
• Performance reviews: Streamlines the performance review process.

Pros:

• Fosters a company culture of ongoing feedback and communication.
• Connects with other tools for a more comprehensive workflow.
• Aligns teams with organizational objectives using objectives and key results (OKRs).
• Helps organizations improve their performance management strategy.

Cons:

• Limited customization options may not meet specific organizational needs.
• Customer support responsiveness may vary based on user experiences.

Pricing: 15Five pricing page.

Betterworks

Betterworks is an agile employee performance management tool designed to align, develop, and activate a company’s workforce. Betterworks helps organizations foster a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration, driving employee engagement and overall business success.

Key features:

• Continuous performance conversations: Enables ongoing feedback and communication between employees and managers.
• Performance analytics: Provides data-driven insights for evaluating and improving performance.
• Development plans: Supports the creation and tracking of individual employee development plans.
• 360-degree feedback: Gathers feedback from peers, managers, and subordinates for a comprehensive view.
• Recognition and rewards: Encourages employee recognition and rewards for achievements.
• Integration capabilities: Seamless integration with other tools and systems for a unified workflow.

Pros:

• Identifies and nurtures future leaders within the organization.
• Measures and improves employee engagement levels.
• Supports the creation and tracking of personalized employee development plans.
• Facilitates alignment of individual and team goals with organizational objectives.

Cons:

• Responsiveness of customer support may vary based on user experiences.
• Primarily focused on performance management rather than recruitment.

Pricing: Betterworks plans and pricing page.

PerformYard

PerformYard is a performance management and employee development platform that empowers organizations to align goals, provide continuous feedback, and enhance employee performance. PerformYard fosters a culture of transparency and collaboration. Its user-friendly interface and customizable workflows make it a versatile solution for optimizing workforce productivity and engagement.

Key features:

• Continuous feedback: Facilitate ongoing performance conversations between employees and managers.
• Employee development plans: Create and monitor personalized development plans for employee goals.
• Recognition and rewards: Encourage positive reinforcement and acknowledge achievements.
• Customizable workflows: Tailor processes to fit specific organizational needs.
• Analytics and reporting: Access data-driven insights for performance analysis.

Pros:

• Seamlessly integrates with other tools for enhanced functionality.
• Intuitive design for ease of use and user adoption.
• Provides a holistic view through feedback from multiple perspectives.
• Facilitates effective goal setting, tracking, and alignment.

Cons:

• Some users may find limitations in the mobile app compared to the desktop version.
• May not be as well-suited for multinational organizations with diverse needs.

Pricing: PerformYard pricing page.

Culture Amp

Culture Amp is an employee feedback and analytics platform designed to help organizations understand and improve their workplace culture. Culture Amp gives organizations the ability to make data-driven decisions, fostering a positive and inclusive work environment for sustained success.

Key features:

• People analytics: Utilizes data analytics for informed decision-making on HR and talent initiatives.
• Onboarding surveys: Collects feedback during the onboarding process for continuous improvement.
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) tools: Supports initiatives for fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace culture.
• Employee surveys: Conducts insightful surveys to gather feedback and assess employee sentiment.
• Performance management: Facilitates ongoing performance conversations and evaluations.

Pros:

• Provides data-driven insights to measure and enhance employee engagement.
• User-friendly interface for easy navigation and adoption.
•  Offers in-depth insights through comprehensive and customizable employee surveys.

Cons:

• Doesn’t always integrate well with all existing tools.

Pricing: Culture Amp pricing page.

Engagedly

Engagedly is a comprehensive performance review software designed to enhance employee engagement and productivity. With Engagedly, organizations can create a culture of growth and collaboration. Its user-friendly interface and customizable tools make it a versatile solution for modern workforce management.

Key features:

• Learning and development: Supports employee progress through training and development initiatives.
• Continuous feedback: Encourages ongoing employee feedback and communication.
• Goal setting and tracking: Facilitates the creation, tracking, and alignment of individual and team goals.
• Performance reviews: Conducts regular performance evaluations and assessments.
• Customizable workflows: Tailors processes to meet specific organizational needs.

Pros:

• Pricing is great for small businesses and other organizations on a budget.
• Encourages positive reinforcement and acknowledges achievements.
• Collects employee feedback and gauges sentiment through surveys.
• Gathers insights from peers, managers, and subordinates.

Cons:

• Certain features may be perceived as more complex than necessary.
• Some users have reported poor customer service.

Pricing: Engagedly pricing page.

Peoplebox

Peoplebox is an employee performance management tool that facilitates continuous feedback, goal setting, and development conversations. Peoplebox aims to enhance team collaboration and individual growth. Its user-friendly interface and customizable tools make it an effective solution for fostering a positive workplace culture.

Key features:

• Continuous feedback: Facilitates ongoing feedback and communication between employees and managers.
• Goal setting and tracking: Enables the creation, monitoring, and alignment of individual and team goals.
• Performance analytics: Provides real-time data insights for performance evaluation and improvement.
• Development conversations: Supports discussions and plans for employee growth and career development.
• 360-degree feedback: Gathers feedback from peers, managers, and subordinates for a comprehensive view.

Pros:

• Encourages positive reinforcement and acknowledges achievements.
• Delivers data-driven insights for timely decision-making.
• Adapts processes to meet specific organizational needs.
• Seamlessly integrates with other tools for enhanced functionality.

Cons:

• Users may need time to adapt to the platform’s features.
• Responsiveness of customer support may vary based on user experiences.

Pricing: Peoplebox pricing page.

ClearCompany

ClearCompany is a comprehensive talent management platform that streamlines the entire employee lifecycle. From recruitment and onboarding to performance management and workforce planning, ClearCompany offers an integrated solution. 

Key features:

• Applicant tracking system: Manages the recruitment process from job posting to candidate selection.
• Onboarding: Facilitates a smooth onboarding experience for new hires.
• Workforce planning: Helps organizations plan and manage their workforce effectively.
• Employee recognition: Encourages positive reinforcement and acknowledges achievements.
• Learning management system: Supports employee training and development initiatives.

Pros:

• Comprehensive suite covering the entire employee lifecycle for seamless talent management.
• Tools for monitoring and improving overall employee engagement.
• Identifies and develops potential leaders for future organizational needs.

Cons:

• The setup and implementation process may take time, impacting immediate usability.

Pricing: ClearCompany pricing request.

Deel

Deel is a global payroll and compliance platform designed for remote teams. It simplifies international payments, compliance, and onboarding processes, offering a seamless experience for businesses with distributed workforces. Deel ensures smooth operations, facilitating legal and financial compliance in various countries, making it an invaluable tool for remote workforce management.

Key features:

• Global payroll: Simplifies international payroll processing for remote teams.
• Compliance management: Ensures legal and financial compliance in various countries.
• International payments: Facilitates seamless and secure cross-border payments.
• Contractor onboarding: Streamlines onboarding processes for remote contractors.
• Localized employment contracts: Provides customizable contracts adhering to local regulations.

Pros:

• Automates tax calculations and deductions for different jurisdictions.
• Supports payments in multiple currencies for global teams.
• Offers benefits management for diverse employee needs.
• Users have reported good customer service.

Cons:

• While designed for global use, specific functionalities may vary by country.
• There is a learning curve that may prove to be steep for some teams.

Pricing: Deel pricing page.

Lattice

Lattice is a modern performance management software that elevates employee engagement and development. Lattice gives organizations the power to foster a culture of growth and collaboration. Its intuitive interface and customizable tools make it an effective solution for optimizing workforce productivity and satisfaction.

Key features:

• Employee engagement surveys: Measures and analyzes employee engagement levels for continuous improvement.
• OKRs implementation: Aligns teams with organizational objectives through Objectives and Key Results.
• Development plans: Supports the creation and monitoring of personalized employee development plans.
• Career pathing: Assists employees in mapping out their career progression within the organization.
• Recognition and rewards: Encourages positive reinforcement and acknowledges employee achievements.

Pros:

• Tailors processes to meet specific organizational needs for enhanced flexibility.
• Conducts comprehensive and insightful evaluations.
• Facilitates setting, tracking, and aligning individual and team goals with organizational objectives.

Cons:

• May not be as well-suited for multinational organizations with diverse needs.

Pricing: Lattice pricing page.

Leapsome

Leapsome is a comprehensive employee management platform that combines performance management, employee engagement, and learning and development tools. Leapsome helps create a culture of growth and collaboration. Its user-friendly interface and integrative approach make it an effective solution for optimizing workforce productivity and satisfaction.

Key features:

• People analytics: Provides data-driven insights for strategic decision-making.
• Customizable surveys: Tailors surveys to gather specific insights on employee sentiment and experiences.
• Recognition and rewards: Encourages positive reinforcement and acknowledges employee achievements.
• Integration capabilities: Seamlessly integrates with other tools for enhanced functionality and workflow optimization.

Pros:

• Gives HR professionals a complete view of insights from multiple perspectives.
• Enables instant and ongoing communication between employees and managers.
• Facilitates setting, tracking, and aligning individual and team goals.

Cons:

• Requires a stable internet connection for optimal use.

Pricing: Leapsome pricing request.

Insperity

Insperity is a comprehensive HR solution providing a range of services to help businesses streamline their human resources functions. From payroll and benefits administration to workforce optimization and talent management, Insperity aims to empower companies with tailored HR solutions, allowing them to focus on their core operations and achieve long-term success.

Key features:

• Workforce optimization: Strategic tools for workforce planning and management.
• HR outsourcing: Outsourced HR services to streamline operations and compliance.
• Employee assistance programs: Support services for employees’ personal and professional challenges.
• Custom HR solutions: Tailored HR services to meet specific organizational needs.

Pros:

• Has strategic tools for efficient workforce planning and management.
• Automated tracking of employee working hours.
• Has tools for goal setting, reviews, and employee development.

Cons:

• Focuses primarily on HR services rather than comprehensive recruitment solutions.

Pricing: Get pricing information by contacting the sales team on the Insperity landing page (linked above).

Stackify

Stackify is a robust application performance management and monitoring platform. It gives developers tools to detect and resolve application issues efficiently. With features like error tracking, log management, and performance monitoring, Stackify ensures optimal software performance, helping teams deliver high-quality applications and exceptional user experiences.

Key features:

• Error tracking: Detects and diagnoses errors to facilitate quick issue resolution.
• Log management: Centralized log aggregation for effective debugging and analysis.
• Code profiling: Identifies performance bottlenecks in application code.
• Server monitoring: Monitors server health and resource usage.
• Database performance monitoring: Tracks and optimizes database performance.

Pros:

• Provides actionable insights into application behavior.
• Customizable alerts for timely issue response.
• Tracks changes and their impact on application performance.
• Identifies and mitigates security vulnerabilities in applications.

Cons:

• Some users may find limitations in the mobile app compared to the desktop version.
• Depending on the subscription, there may be limitations on log storage.

Pricing: Stackify pricing page.

Trakstar

Trakstar is an employee performance management platform designed to streamline performance appraisal processes. Trakstar allows organizations to enhance employee engagement and development. Its user-friendly interface and customizable tools make it a valuable solution for optimizing workforce productivity and satisfaction.

Key features:

• Performance analytics: Provides data-driven insights for performance evaluation and improvement.
• Competency management: Evaluates and develops employees based on specific competencies.
• Succession planning: Identifies and prepares potential future leaders within the organization.
• Development plans: Supports the creation and monitoring of personalized employee development paths.
• Customizable workflows: Tailors processes to meet specific organizational needs.

Pros:

• Promotes a continuous feedback loop between employees and leadership.
• Gives managers a comprehensive overview of employee insights.
• Creates personalized development plans for employees.
• Offers lots of third-party integrations.

Cons:

• Some of the features of complex and difficult to learn.

Pricing: Trakstar pricing request.

Synergita 

Synergita is a cloud-based employee performance management platform designed to enhance engagement and productivity. Synergita facilitates a holistic approach to talent management. Its comprehensive tools empower organizations to nurture a culture of growth and collaboration for sustained success.

Key features:

• Learning and development: Supports employee growth through personalized development plans.
• Analytics and reporting: Provides data-driven insights for strategic decision-making.
• Customizable workflows: Adapts processes to meet specific organizational needs.
• Integration capabilities: Seamlessly integrates with other tools for enhanced functionality and workflow optimization.

Pros:

• Fosters a culture of continuous improvement.
• Assesses and develops employees based on specific competencies.
• Identifies and prepares potential future leaders within the organization.

Cons:

• May not be as well-suited for multinational organizations with diverse needs.

Pricing: Synergita pricing page.

What are performance management tools?

Performance management tools are software applications or platforms designed to facilitate and streamline the processes involved in assessing, monitoring, and enhancing the performance of individuals, teams, and organizations within a workplace. 

These tools aim to align individual and collective efforts with organizational goals, enhance productivity, and contribute to continuous improvement. 

Key features often include: 

• Goal setting and monitoring
• Continuous feedback mechanisms
• Personal development planning
• Employee recognition tools
• Integration of artificial intelligence for analytics
• A centralized platform for accessing and analyzing performance data. 

By providing a systematic approach to performance evaluation and development, these tools help organizations make data-driven decisions, foster employee growth, and ensure that individual contributions contribute to overall organizational success.

Benefits of performance management tools

Performance management tools offer several benefits that can greatly enhance an organization’s performance management process. Here are some of the top benefits:

Improved goal alignment

These tools help ensure that individual goals are aligned with the organization’s strategic objectives. By providing a centralized platform for goal setting and monitoring, performance management tools keep everyone focused on common priorities.

Increased productivity

Clear and specific goals, tracked through performance management tools, motivate employees and drive productivity. By regularly reviewing performance and progress toward goals, managers can identify and address any performance issues promptly.

Enhanced feedback and communication

Performance management tools facilitate ongoing feedback, replacing traditional annual reviews. Managers and peers can provide real-time feedback, fostering a culture of open communication and continuous improvement.

Personal development and growth

Performance management tools include features such as personal development plans, which help employees identify areas for improvement and create actionable growth plans. This promotes professional development and contributes to a skilled and adaptable workforce.

Data-driven decision-making

With the use of AI and analytics, performance management tools provide insights and analytics on individual and team performance. This allows for data-driven decision-making, identifying trends and potential issues, and enabling managers to provide targeted support and coaching.

Performance management techniques

Performance management techniques are strategies and processes designed to improve individual and organizational performance within a company. These techniques help organizations set goals, monitor progress, and provide feedback to employees. Here are some commonly used performance management techniques:

Goal-setting

This technique involves setting SMART goals that align with the organization’s strategic objectives. Clear goals provide direction and focus for employees.

Continuous feedback

Regular and ongoing feedback is crucial for employee development and improvement. Managers should provide constructive feedback to employees consistently, not just during annual performance reviews.

Performance appraisals

Performance appraisals involve evaluating an employee’s performance against predefined criteria. These appraisals can be done annually or on a more frequent basis to provide feedback and identify areas for improvement.

Coaching and mentoring

Managers can support employee growth and development through coaching and mentoring. This technique involves providing guidance, support, and resources to help employees reach their full potential.

Performance improvement plans

When an employee’s performance falls below expected standards, a performance improvement plan may be implemented. This plan outlines specific actions and targets to help the employee improve their performance.

Recognition and rewards

Recognizing and rewarding employees for their achievements and contributions is a powerful performance management technique. Rewards can be in the form of bonuses, promotions, or non-monetary recognition, such as public praise.

Performance management 101: Where to get started

Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry! Most of the performance management tools in the list above offer free demos and/or free trials, so take advantage of them! Try out as many as you need before you find the right one for your business.