The success of someone’s career can depend on how they are evaluated and how intensely their growth is nurtured in their workplace.
Performance appraisal software does more than just store ratings and reviews. It offers a transparent approach to measuring subjective metrics, roots out unfair comparisons. It sets the stage for a professional development dialogue that benefits both the organization and employees at large.
Choosing the right software is the secret to getting it right, even if you have the best review process in the world.
Take an informed approach to choosing the right performance appraisal software. Dig into the reviews we’ve collected for you to make your decision-making easier.
| Software | Description | Highlights |
| Peoplebox.ai | A comprehensive people management and performance review software tailored for fast-growing companies. It aligns teams and employees with company goals. Ideal for goal oriented companies. | OKR and goal managementPerformance reviews Real-time feedback |
| Keka HR | HR software that simplifies payroll, attendance, and performance management, making it ideal for small to mid-sized businesses. | Payroll management Employee engagement Time tracking and attendance |
| Profit.co | OKR management platform that enables businesses to track, manage, and achieve organizational goals efficiently. | OKR and KPI tracking performance management 360-degree feedback |
| Bamboo HR | HR software designed for small to medium-sized businesses. It simplifies HR processes such as hiring, onboarding, and employee management. | Employee database Time-off tracking Reporting and analytics |
| Engagedly | A modern performance management software focused on continuous employee engagement and development. | 360-degree feedback Goal alignment Learning and development |
What is Performance Appraisal Software?
Performance appraisal software is a tool companies use throughout their performance cycle to set organization-wide goals, break them down into department and individual targets, track progress with clear metrics, and provide feedback at the end of the review period. It falls under the broader category of HR performance review software, which helps streamline the entire evaluation process.
For HR teams, selecting the right performance appraisal software is a crucial decision. The right tool can streamline processes and reduce workload, while the wrong one can create inefficiencies and unnecessary stress.
It’s a great way of taking a snapshot of the current skill level and productivity of the organization, and a solid backing to assign pay increases and bonuses.
“The reason why managers and employees dread performance appraisals is because companies have forced their people into buckets of performance and it impacts their future pay and career progression. Having a tool that helps do this in an unbiased manner, and with minimal effort is key to getting appraisals done on time.” – Josh Bersin, Industry Analyst and Researcher in the HR industry.
Without the right appraisal software, managers may have to fill out reviews multiple times or work without a proper structure. This can lead to bias, vague feedback, and missed opportunities to identify performance gaps.
“The right performance appraisal tool allows a transparent approach to reviews, and roots out unfair comparison. Consider this: Managers who head a 10-member team take at least 1.5 hours to prepare for their reports’ reviews, conduct reviews for 1 hour each, and follow up on review-related administrative tasks for at least 2 hours. A good appraisal tool will reduce the time taken to review each report and make the managers’ job easier.” – Sue Ingram, a renowned HR Consultant, Facilitator & Coach.
What should you look for in performance appraisal software?
Before you browse hundreds of performance appraisal software options, it’s important to sit down and consider the following:
- What features do you want to retain in your legacy performance appraisal software?
- What’s not working that you want fixed?
- How is the same functionality different, or better in the new software you’re eyeing?
- Can the new system do the same function more efficiently?
- What’s keeping you from scaling up?
- Is the performance appraisal software compatible with your HRIS? Or, do you want a standalone tool?
- What data visualization capabilities suit your needs?
- Is the software easy to use, and with a straightforward learning curve?
- What is the review cadence you’re visualizing?
- What is the pricing of the tool, and how much do customizations cost?
- How responsive is the customer support team?
- What do your competitors, and peers use, and how has their experience been?
- What integrations would you need to make your workflows simpler? (Do you want the performance appraisal software integrated into employee engagement, organization chart, and recognition platform, or do you want them all built into the tool?)
Apart from these, you may also want to consider what information informs the review and how you want the data to flow ,is it project information, goals/competencies, manager feedback, or cross-functional feedback?
As part of the performance review process, managers need to revisit past notes, track progress on action items, and assess what’s working and what needs improvement.
They need to jot down important talking points and come up with an agenda that covers everything they need to cover with the employee in the given timeframe, without compromising on any element.
Since reviews involve considerable preparation, the performance appraisal software you choose needs to have preparatory sections that involve minimal effort, optimal retrieval, and immediate access. These are a few features you need to consider when evaluating your options.
How did we compare the performance appraisal tools?
When evaluating performance appraisal tools, our focus was on identifying software that simplifies performance management, enhances employee engagement, and aligns with business objectives. To ensure a comprehensive comparison, we assessed each tool based on several key criteria:
Ease of Use and User Experience
We considered each platform’s intuitive and user-friendly design. A well-designed interface that allows managers and employees to navigate seamlessly is crucial for effective implementation.
Key Features and Functionality
We examined each tool’s core features, such as performance reviews, real-time feedback, goal setting, and 360-degree feedback. We looked for tools beyond basic functionalities to offer advanced features supporting continuous employee development.
Integration Capabilities
We evaluated how well the software integrates with other systems, such as HRIS, payroll, and communication tools (e.g., Slack). Seamless integration ensures that performance management is not isolated but part of a cohesive HR ecosystem.
Customization and Flexibility
We considered the degree to which each tool can be customized to fit the specific needs of different organizations. This includes tailoring performance review templates, workflows, and reporting.
Scalability
We examined how well each tool can scale with an organization’s growth. This includes assessing whether the tool can handle increasing numbers of employees, more complex performance management needs and expanded feature requirements.
Customer Support and Resources
We also evaluated the availability and quality of customer support, including onboarding assistance, training, and ongoing technical support. A robust support system is essential for ensuring smooth adoption and continued use.
Pricing and Value for Money
Finally, we analyzed the cost of each tool relative to its features and benefits. We aimed to identify tools that provide the best value for money, especially for small to medium-sized businesses.
The Best Performance Appraisal Tools to Choose From
Let’s compare the tools discussed the most in the industry and weigh their pros and cons to help you make the right decision.
- Peoplebox.ai: Best for fast-growing companies that need a comprehensive people management and OKR alignment tool.
- Keka HR: Best for small to mid-sized businesses looking for an all-in-one HR solution that simplifies payroll, attendance, and performance management.
- Profit.co: Best for organizations focused on goal-oriented performance management and OKR tracking.
- Bamboo HR: Best for small to medium-sized businesses that need a user-friendly HR software to manage employee information, hiring, and onboarding.
- Engagedly: Best for organizations aiming to foster continuous employee engagement and development through modern performance management practices.
- 15Five: Best for businesses that prioritize employee engagement and growth, especially for remote working teams.
- Betterworks: Best for large enterprises that need a robust platform for continuous performance management and goal setting.
- Lattice: Best for enterprise businesses with advanced performance management needs, including people management, engagement, and compensation.
- Rippling: Best for companies seeking a unified workforce management platform that integrates HR, IT, and payroll in one system.
- Workday HCM: Best for global enterprises that require a comprehensive human capital management solution with advanced analytics and insights.
- Dayforce HCM: Best for organizations that need a single solution for managing workforce data, payroll, and compliance.
- WebHR: Best for small to mid-sized businesses looking for an affordable, cloud-based HR management system with core HR functionalities.
- Namely: Best for mid-sized companies that need a customizable HR platform with a strong focus on employee experience.
- Leapsome: Best for companies focused on enhancing employee development through continuous performance management and learning initiatives.
Here is a detailed comparison of each performance appraisal software listed above:
1. Peoplebox.ai – 4.8/5
Peoplebox.ai is a performance appraisal software that provides holistic OKR, performance appraisal, and 360-degree review tools with auto-tracking goals and competencies. The platform offers a smooth onboarding experience and offers an amazing interface for team members to collaborate, set goals, track progress, analyze, and offer feedback instantly and thoroughly.
It integrates with your work tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Asana, Hubspot, and Salesforce and makes your employees love performance appraisal.It enables companies to run entire goal alignment and appraisal within Slack/Microsoft Teams, ensuring 100% participation.
The tool is also extensively used for business review presentations without switching between different tools or waiting to transfer data from day-to-day work tools to the OKR tool. The 1:1 and 360-degree feedback modules are raved about by user communities.
Interested to see the software in action? Explore the guided demo of Peoplebox.ai.
Pricing
Peoplebox.ai pricing starts at $7/month/user
Standout features
1. Meetings
Peoplebox.ai streamlines one-on-one meetings with tools for setting agendas, documenting discussions, and tracking action items. AI-guided interactions ensure productive sessions and better manager-employee alignment.
2. Employee Engagement Surveys
Peoplebox.ai helps improve workplace culture by collecting detailed employee feedback. Gain insights into job satisfaction, management effectiveness, and team dynamics, aiding in better workforce retention.
3. OKR and Goal Management
Peoplebox.ai enables teams to set and track clear OKRs that align with company goals, ensuring everyone works towards a shared vision with transparency across departments.
4. Ongoing Performance Review
Managers can monitor employee performance in real time and provide continuous feedback through an intuitive dashboard, promoting growth and development.
5. 360-Degree Feedback
Peoplebox.ai offers customizable 360-degree feedback, providing employees with diverse insights into their performance tailored to fit your organization’s culture and values.
6. Org Charts
Peoplebox.ai provides visual organizational charts to help understand team structures and reporting lines, aiding in talent gap analysis and succession planning.
7. Calibration
Calibration within Peoplebox.ai allows for standardized performance evaluations across teams. This process ensures that performance ratings are consistent and fair, promoting equity in talent management.
7. Automated Review Summaries
Powered by Generative AI, Peoplebox.ai automates review summaries, generating actionable insights to streamline the performance review process.
8. 9-Box Grid
Peoplebox’s.ai 9-box grid provides a powerful tool for talent management, enabling organizations to assess employees based on their performance and potential. The visual representation also allows organizations to quickly identify talent gaps, strengths, and areas for improvement within their workforce.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Slack/Microsoft Team Integration ensures smooth workflows for reviewers and team members. | Not all languages are supported and some features are still in development. |
| Auto-Tracking of Goals is suitable for offering instant, real-time feedback | Features like Performance Development Plan and Career Path are still being developed |
| 9-Box and Manager Calibration helps establish strong team connections across teams | |
| Highly customizable – run appraisals the way you want! Great for employee engagement and pulse tracking. | |
| User-friendly UI – simple and intuitive for employees and managers alike. | |
| Excellent customer support | |
| Ideal for setting and tracking goals and objectives and data visualization | |
| Gives a flexible and smooth integration with plenty of work tools | |
| Numerous pre-built templates for OKRs, and surveys to capture employee pulse and feedback |
2. Keka HR – 4.5/5
Keka HR is a leading HRMS brand for small and medium enterprises. It’s known for adapting, evolving, and scaling your performance function. However,Users report that onboarding takes an unusually long time, and there isn’t much support from the tool.
On the bright side,It has a fantastic integration ecosystem, right from project management to data monitoring tools/software.
Pricing
Starts at $3.98/month/user
Standout features
1. Comprehensive Payroll Management
Keka HR simplifies payroll processing with automated calculations, compliance management, and seamless integration with attendance and leave data.
2. Employee Self-Service Portal
Empowers employees with a user-friendly portal where they can access payslips, apply for leaves, track attendance, and update personal information.
3. Advanced Attendance Tracking
Keka HR offers robust attendance tracking with biometric integrations, geofencing, and real-time monitoring, ensuring accurate timekeeping.
4. Performance Management
Facilitates goal setting, performance reviews, and continuous feedback, helping managers and employees align on objectives and track progress.
5. Customizable HR Workflows
Keka HR allows businesses to tailor HR processes like onboarding, exit management, and appraisal cycles, ensuring they meet specific organizational needs.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Good analytics features and data visualization capability | Navigation within the tool can be really confusing |
| Commendable 360-degree feedback features | Support is slow and not always responsive |
| Good integration capability with Quickbooks, Empuls, WeThrive, Junoi, Plum, SuccessionHR Integrates well with QuickBooks, Empuls, WeThrive, Junoi, Plum, and SuccessionHR | Occasional server downtime issues |
| The performance management is directly linked to the payroll module, reducing hassle in data transfer | Doesn’t provide Slack integration |
| Makes room for flexible peer appraisals | Customer support has very slow response times |
| Lacks compatibility with predominant project management or HRIS tools | |
| Limited customization for unique performance appraisal processes | |
| UI could be more user-friendly, with better survey and feedback options |
3. Profit. Co – 4.7/5
Profit. co is an AI-powered, continuous performance management software that is amazing for creating strategy roadmaps, OKR management, task and performance management, and employee engagement.
Users appreciate its seamless experience in tracking year-long performance and aligning organizational and individual goals. However, frequent updates without adequate training materials can make it challenging for users to adapt.
Pricing
Start at $9/month per user
Standout features
1. OKR (Objectives and Key Results) Management
Profit.co offers a powerful OKR management system that enables organizations to set, track, and achieve strategic goals across all levels of the company.
2. Performance Management
The platform supports continuous performance reviews, 360-degree feedback, and employee development, helping to align individual performance with company objectives.
3. KPI (Key Performance Indicator) Tracking
Profit.co allows businesses to define and monitor KPIs, providing real-time insights into progress towards key goals and driving data-driven decision-making.
4. Integration Capabilities
Seamlessly integrates with popular tools like Slack, Jira, Salesforce, and Microsoft Teams, ensuring smooth workflows and unified goal tracking across platforms.
5. Customizable Dashboards and Reporting
The platform offers customizable dashboards and detailed reporting features, giving users a clear and actionable view of their OKRs, performance metrics, and business outcomes.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Templates make surveys and review questionnaires easy to send out | Tough to go back to finished reviews and complete check-ins for previous weeks |
| Great self-service portals for employees to finish reviews in no time | UI can feel cluttered |
| Great and responsive customer support | It can be expensive to roll out to the entire organization |
| Easy task tracking | The survey feature is pretty basic |
| Add sub-owners easily | Lacks employee engagement features |
| Visibility into individual contributions to company goals | Challenging to upload performance data |
| Strong integration capabilities: Microsoft Teams, Trello, Slack, Jira, Salesforce, HubSpot |
4. Bamboo HR – 4.4/5
Bamboo HR is a well-known HRMS tool in the market that offers a full suite of HR functions. It’s usually preferred by large enterprises to streamline all HR processes and have a single source of truth.
While it streamlines HR processes, some users find it costly and have concerns about its customer support.
Pricing
Starts at $7.50/month per user
Standout features
1. Employee Database and Self-Service
Bamboo HR provides a centralized employee database with a self-service portal, allowing employees to access and update their personal information, view documents, and manage time-off requests.
2. Onboarding and Offboarding
The platform streamlines the onboarding process with customizable checklists and automated workflows, ensuring a smooth transition for new hires and a consistent experience during offboarding.
3. Time-Off Tracking
Bamboo HR simplifies leave management with easy-to-use tools for tracking vacation days, sick leave, and other time-off requests, complete with automated accrual calculations.
4. Performance Management
Bamboo HR offers performance management tools that include goal setting, performance reviews, and feedback mechanisms to help managers and employees stay aligned and focused on growth.
5. Reporting and Analytics
The platform features robust reporting capabilities, enabling HR teams to generate insightful reports on various aspects of the workforce, from turnover rates to employee satisfaction, supporting data-driven decision-making.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Amazing 360-degree feedback feature | No direct link to payroll for reflecting monetary changes post-performance reviews |
| Access to the entire employee database, helping you maintain a single source of truth, along with employee engagement, rewards, and recognition | Lacks proactive features that anticipate HR needs |
| Easy goal-setting and tracking | Limited reporting features that may not provide deep insights |
| User-friendly self-service portal for employees | May not have an integration between BambooHR and the payroll system |
| Helps performance tracking | More modules can only be included without any additional cost |
| User-friendly interface | Performance review templates are rigid, allowing little customization |
| Easy set up and onboarding | Lack of integration with accounting tools |
| You can add performance milestones to track, leave peer reviews anonymously, and carry out simple evaluations | Despite 125+ integrations, the tool still requires you to have middleware to integrate with major project management tools |
| Supports 125+ pre-built integrations, including Google Workspace ,Slack, Officevibe and Lattice. |
5. Engagedly – 4.6/5
Engagedly is a user-friendly, non-overwhelming performance management and employee engagement tool to help organizations improve employee performance and enhance workplace culture with learning and development, succession planning, OKRs, recognition, etc.
Users report that they were onboarded with extensive handholding and excellent support from the team.
Pricing
Starts at $2/month per user
Standout features
1. 360-Degree Feedback
Engagedly offers a comprehensive 360-degree feedback system that allows employees to receive constructive input from peers, managers, and subordinates, promoting well-rounded personal and professional growth.
2. Goal Alignment and OKR Management
The platform helps organizations align individual and team goals with broader company objectives using OKR management, ensuring everyone is working towards shared outcomes.
3. Employee Engagement and Recognition
Engagedly fosters a positive work culture with tools for employee recognition, social rewards, and gamification, enhancing motivation and engagement across the organization.
4. Learning and Development
Engagedly integrates learning management features that allow organizations to create, track, and manage training programs, supporting continuous employee development and skill enhancement.
5. Customizable Performance Reviews
The platform provides flexible performance review templates that can be tailored to fit specific organizational needs, enabling meaningful evaluations that align with company values and goals.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Intuitive, easy-to-use interface | Multi-rater systems and performance features are very complicated |
| Offers very good customer support | Customizing and designing the right templates is a pretty labor-intensive process |
| Prompt issue resolution | Reminders go to all users instead of just pending tasks |
| Fully customizable templates | Involves a steep learning curve to maneuver the tool and inadequate materials |
| Great level of permission controls module and feature-wise | Rewards & recognition modules lack interconnectivity |
| Supports set skills and courses for upgrading employees seamlessly | Goals cannot be edited once set |
| Simple, straightforward dashboard suitable for real-time decision-making | |
| Smooth goal check-in to track performance and 360-degree reviews | |
| Offers the full range of performance management and development – 1:1s, LMS, mentoring, engagement surveys, and feedback loops | |
| Offers integration capabilities with: Slack,Hibob,BambooHR,PaylocityPersonio,Microsoft Azure,Gusto,Namely,LinkedIn, Learning |
6. 15Five – 4.7/5
15Five is a holistic performance management solution designed to enhance manager effectiveness, drive high performance, and boost employee retention. It offers a full suite of tools, including 360-degree performance reviews, employee engagement surveys, OKRs, weekly check-ins, 1:1s, and pulse ratings.
Users love it’s great for goal and productivity tracking. There are also issues with respect to the billing systems and refunds.
Pricing
Starts at $9/month per user
Standout features
1. Weekly Check-Ins
15Five facilitates regular check-ins between managers and employees, allowing for continuous communication, goal tracking, and timely feedback, which helps to address issues before they escalate.
2. Continuous Performance Reviews
The platform supports ongoing performance reviews with features like self-assessments, peer feedback, and manager evaluations, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
3. Real-Time Feedback
Enables instant feedback, allowing employees and managers to give and receive recognition or constructive comments in real time, promoting a more dynamic and responsive work environment.
4. Goal Setting and OKRs
The platform helps teams set, track, and achieve their goals through an intuitive OKR framework, ensuring alignment with the company’s strategic objectives and improving focus.
5. Employee Engagement and Wellbeing
15Five includes tools for measuring employee engagement and wellbeing, such as pulse surveys and wellbeing assessments, providing insights into employee satisfaction and areas for improvement.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| The tooltip and instructions in the tool are excellent | Lacks an analysis tool to view ‘manager-only’ data |
| Great custom integrations with API | Customer support is tricky and unresponsive |
| Minimal training required – pretty straightforward | Limited onboarding training for first-time users |
| Easy to use and development-focused | No built-in data visualization for tracking team performance |
| Great for weekly 1:1s, and periodic check-ins | Requires external tools for comprehensive data management |
| Easy to give public and private kudos and feedback to team members | Difficult to collaborate on reviews with multiple managers |
| Simple to use | Hierarchical structure restricts multi-manager input |
| Offers integration capabilities including BambooHR, Slack, MS Teams, Google Calendar, Okta & more | Difficult to slice and analyze data without exporting manually |
7. Betterworks – 4.6/5
Betterworks is a powerful goal alignment and OKR management tool designed to streamline performance management and employee development. It enables organizations to set, track, and compare corporate and individual goals while providing structured performance management.
Users report the UX is difficult to maneuver and major functionalities are locked according to user type.
Pricing
Custom pricing available
Standout features
1. OKR Management
Betterworks offers a robust OKR (Objectives and Key Results) management system, allowing organizations to set, track, and align goals across all levels, ensuring everyone is focused on achieving strategic objectives.
2. Continuous Performance Management
The platform supports ongoing performance reviews and real-time feedback, enabling managers and employees to have regular check-ins and stay aligned on performance and development.
3. Integrated Goal Tracking
Provides tools for tracking progress on individual and team goals, with visual dashboards and reports that offer insights into how goals are being met across the organization.
4. Employee Engagement Insights
The platform includes features for collecting and analyzing employee feedback, helping organizations understand engagement levels and identify areas for improvement.
5. Flexible Feedback Mechanisms
Betterworks allows for customizable feedback processes, including peer reviews, self-assessments, and manager feedback, tailored to meet the specific needs and culture of the organization.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Great for exclusive OKR management with a single source of truth | Following up on specific tasks is difficult without integrations |
| Easy to set quarterly objectives while staying on track with the organizational yearly goals | Steep learning curve due to complex UI |
| Seamless tracking of ongoing progress | No automatic reminders to review goals before deadlines |
| Simplified annual employee engagement assessment | Survey template customization is limited |
| Comprehensive reporting features | Active and inactive goals are hard to differentiate because of a difficult UI |
| Structured manager-employee check-ins with detailed templates | Needs better integration capabilities |
| Simple but informative dashboard and customizable surveys | |
| Offers integration capabilities: Slack, Asana, Google Sheets, Github, BambooHR, MS Teams, Microsoft Excel, LinkedIn Learning, Workday, SAP, Oracle, Okta, Gmail |
8. Lattice – 4.7/5
Lattice is an AI-powered people management platform to make managers more effective, simplify people operations, and leverage workforce capabilities, which includes effective performance appraisal.
Users state Lattice is a comprehensive tool that manages all their talent management needs – goal setting, feedback, reviews, 1:1s, growth goals, and monitoring performance. One major hassle of the tool is that it makes it tough to integrate with HRIS.
Pricing
Starts at $11/month per user
Standout features
1. Comprehensive Performance Management
Lattice offers a full suite of performance management tools, including goal setting, performance reviews, and ongoing feedback, designed to help employees and managers stay aligned and drive continuous improvement.
2. OKR and Goal Tracking
The platform provides robust OKR (Objectives and Key Results) management, allowing teams to set, track, and align goals with organizational objectives, enhancing transparency and focus.
3. Employee Engagement Surveys
Lattice includes tools for conducting engagement surveys and gathering feedback, offering insights into employee satisfaction, team dynamics, and areas for development.
4. 360-Degree Feedback
The platform supports 360-degree feedback, enabling employees to receive input from peers, subordinates, and managers, which helps them gain a well-rounded view of their performance and areas for growth.
5. Customized Analytics and Reporting
Lattice provides powerful analytics and customizable reporting features, allowing organizations to track performance metrics, analyze trends, and make data-driven decisions to improve workforce management.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy editing of goals and updating tasks | Setting review meetings is very difficult and takes a lot of integration to integrate with meeting software and calendars |
| Quick access to performance feedback | Review notifications contain full reviews, raising confidentiality concerns |
| User-friendly UI for both managers and employees | Tough to measure progress for cross-functional projects |
| Excellent customer service with prompt issue resolution | Extracting reports on reviews and surveys is exceptionally hard and clunky. It involves the double work of cleaning the data every time before using it |
| Simple to review goals and evaluation forms, set 1:1 agendas, 9-box reviews, biannual performance reviews, career tracking, and engagement surveys | Customization options are limited |
| Convenient recognition features to praise employees publicly | Tough to bring all inputs collected throughout the year, and bring them together during reporting or performance plan creation |
| Offers integration capabilities with Slack, Gmail, Google Workspace, MS Teams, Google Calendar, Gusto, Microsoft Outlook, Workday |
9. Rippling – 4.6/5
Rippling is a unified workforce management platform that streamlines the entire employee lifecycle, from HR operations to IT management. It is praised for its intuitive interface, seamless automation, and strong customer support.
However, one of the main hassles of using the tool turns out to be that you treat external people as employees and require them to buy the tool per user, even if they are contractors.
Pricing
Starts at $8/month per user
Standout features
1. Unified HR and IT Management
Rippling integrates HR and IT management into a single platform, streamlining processes such as onboarding, offboarding, and device management with a unified system.
2. Automated Payroll and Benefits Administration
The platform automates payroll processing and benefits administration, ensuring accurate and timely payments while managing health insurance, retirement plans, and other benefits.
3. Employee Self-Service Portal
Rippling provides an intuitive self-service portal where employees can access their payroll information, manage benefits, request time off, and update personal details, enhancing overall efficiency.
4. Compliance and Reporting
It offers robust compliance tools and reporting features to help organizations adhere to regulatory requirements and generate detailed reports on various HR and IT metrics.
5. Integration Capabilities
The platform integrates seamlessly with numerous third-party applications and services, allowing businesses to connect their existing tools and systems for a more cohesive workflow.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Simple goal-setting tool with easy organizational and subordinate goals | Frequent glitches impact user experience |
| Easy and integrated performance tracking, performance management, and succession planning | Advanced workflow automation requires additional purchases |
| Ability to build individual performance plans, including goals and compensation easily | Configuration and onboarding can be complex |
| Track and review performance appraisal status easily | System Updates take long to be configured |
| Track and review performance appraisal status effortlessly | Overwhelming number of email notifications |
| Succession planning capabilities are highly raved about | Credit redemption can be extremely difficult |
| Offers integration capabilities with Quickbooks, Google Drive, Google Docs, PayPal, Slack, Google Workspace and many more |
10. Workday HCM – 4.3/5
Workday HCM is a legacy HR and finance management platform that is widely used by large enterprises. It offers robust workforce planning, performance tracking, and global HR solutions.
Another important issue is that any integration with other tools is highly technical and costs heavily in terms of time and costs. The same applies to any custom requests raised by users.
Pricing
Starts at $50/month per user
Standout features
1. Unified Human Capital Management
Workday HCM provides a comprehensive suite of HR tools, including core HR, talent management, workforce planning, and analytics, all integrated into a single platform for a seamless experience.
2. Advanced Analytics and Reporting
The platform offers powerful analytics and reporting capabilities, allowing organizations to gain deep insights into workforce trends, performance metrics, and strategic HR initiatives with customizable dashboards.
3. Global Workforce Management
Supports global operations with features for managing international compliance, multi-currency payroll, and localized HR practices, making it ideal for multinational organizations.
4. Talent Management and Development
The system includes robust talent management features such as goal setting, performance reviews, career development planning, and succession planning, designed to foster employee growth and align with business goals.
5. Employee Experience and Self-Service
Workday HCM enhances employee experience with a user-friendly self-service portal where employees can manage their personal information, view pay stubs, request time off, and engage with HR services.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Good user system | User experience is terrible |
| Great analytical capabilities in the tool | Rigid system—costly and complex to customize |
| Smooth performance reporting & data extraction | Meeting scheduling is difficult, even for 1:1s |
| Performance reporting and data extraction is smooth and exceptional | Steep learning curve |
| Easy to set goals, provide feedback, and conduct reviews | Frequent performance lags and inefficiencies |
| No overwhelming reminders—just timely notifications | Archaic user interface and inconsiderate customer support |
| Increased transparency in each stage of the performance review | UX is not intuitive, and still needs extensive manual intervention |
| Offers integration capabilities with: ERP, CRM, Adobe Sign, Beeline, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Slack, Unanet, Vertex | Difficult to edit submitted reviews |
11. Dayforce HCM – 4/5
It’s a global people platform and takes care of most performance management , payroll, workforce planning, and talent development in a unified system.and development issues.
However, users frequently report poor customer service, recurring system bugs, and a steep learning curve. Additionally, SQL knowledge is required for customization, and technical expertise is often needed for integrations and advanced features.
Pricing
Starts at $22/month per user
Standout features
1. Unified HCM Platform
Dayforce HCM integrates core HR functions, payroll, time and attendance, talent management, and workforce planning into a single, unified platform, streamlining HR processes and improving data accuracy.
2. Real-Time Payroll Processing
The platform offers real-time payroll processing, allowing organizations to calculate and adjust payroll data instantly, ensuring accurate and timely payroll with up-to-date compliance.
3. Advanced Workforce Management
It provides sophisticated tools for managing employee scheduling, time tracking, and attendance, including predictive analytics and automated alerts to optimize workforce efficiency.
4. Talent Management and Development
The system includes comprehensive talent management features, such as performance reviews, goal setting, learning and development, and succession planning, to support employee growth and align with organizational objectives.
5. Global Compliance and Reporting
Dayforce HCM supports global compliance with features for managing multi-country payroll, adhering to local regulations, and generating detailed compliance reports, making it suitable for international operations.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Performance ratings easily get pulled into salary planning and move into payroll seamlessly | Steep learning curve—difficult for new users |
| Easy to mitigate errors | Frequent system updates cause workflow disruptions |
| Simple and straightforward to use | Unresolved user issues due to unresponsive customer support |
| Easy to work with 360-degree feedback | Notes, documents, and other assets are difficult to locate |
| Ample approval process control | Implementation process has several challenges |
| Easy activity tracking | Generating reports is complex and unintuitive |
| Simple to manage, sync, and monitor meetings | Mediocre customer service SQL knowledge is required for advanced customizations |
| Customizable review and survey templates | |
| Connected to employee engagement modules and has a simple integration into payroll | |
| Offers integration capabilities with DocuSign, Jobvite, Criteria, Assembly, Synerion, Quantum Workplace, iTacit, Lifeworks, Dynamics365, Bridge VMS |
12. WebHR – 4.2/5
WebHR is an HRMS tool designed to scale performance management and streamline HR operations. It is highly customizable and responsive to enhancement requests, making it adaptable to various business needs.
The tool is receptive to enhancement requests. Users report excellent customer support and state they are helpful and friendly.
Pricing
Starts at $2/month per user
Standout features
1. Comprehensive HR Management
WebHR offers a broad range of HR functionalities, including employee management, recruitment, payroll, and performance evaluations, all integrated into a single platform to streamline HR operations.
2. Employee Self-Service Portal
The platform features a user-friendly self-service portal where employees can manage personal information, access pay slips, request leave, and view attendance records, enhancing employee autonomy and efficiency.
3. Customizable HR Workflows
It allows organizations to create and customize HR workflows for processes such as onboarding, leave requests, and performance reviews, ensuring that the system aligns with specific business needs.
4. Time and Attendance Tracking
Provides robust tools for tracking employee time and attendance, including clocking in/out, managing shifts, and generating attendance reports, which helps maintain accurate records and optimize workforce management.
5. Reporting and Analytics
The platform includes powerful reporting and analytics features that allow users to generate detailed HR reports, track key metrics, and gain insights into workforce trends, aiding in data-driven decision-making.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy and user-friendly UI | Limited integrations with the tool |
| Affordable pricing, even for additional modules | Frequent glitches and lag issues |
| Simple and customizable templates for reviews and employee surveys | No built-in automated email system – requires external integrations |
| Very flexible tool and great for adapting to the organization’s capabilities | Performance module lacks total score display |
| Effective 360-degree reviews | Lacks multi-level approvals and rating features |
| Access controls are great | Very basic 360-degree performance review feature |
| Benefits and compensation management after performance appraisals are easy to carry out | No direct link to employee engagement modules Limited automation in performance tracking |
| Simple to conduct surveys and reminders sent occasionally | |
| Offers integration capabilities with Google Drive, Slack, Gmail, Google Workspace, Dropbox, Asana, Microsoft 365, Freshbooks, Zapier, Outlook, LinkedIn, Quickbooks, Hive |
13. Namely – 4.2/5
Namely is an HR solution for mid-sized businesses, and it offers end-to-end HCM solutions including HR, benefits, and payroll functions.
Users appreciate its user-friendly interface and integration capabilities. However, customization is expensive, goal-setting is complex, and customer support is slow to respond.
Pricing
Starts at $19/month per user
Standout features
1. Unified HR Platform
Namely integrates core HR functions, including payroll, benefits, and employee records, into a single, intuitive platform, simplifying HR management and providing a cohesive user experience.
2. Customizable Employee Self-Service
The platform offers a highly customizable self-service portal where employees can access personal information, manage benefits, request time off, and view pay stubs, enhancing engagement and operational efficiency.
3. Advanced Performance Management
It includes features for setting goals, conducting performance reviews, and providing continuous feedback, helping organizations align employee performance with business objectives and foster professional growth.
4. Comprehensive Benefits Administration
The system streamlines benefits administration with tools for managing enrollment, compliance, and reporting, making it easier for organizations to handle employee benefits and maintain regulatory compliance.
5. Integrated Payroll Processing
Offers integrated payroll processing with automated calculations, tax compliance, and reporting, ensuring accurate and timely payroll while reducing administrative burden and errors.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| User-friendly interface | Performance module has complicated workflows |
| Offers good custom integrations | Cluttered and confusing processes |
| Effective 360-degree feedback and surveys | Repetitive manual processes, even after automation |
| Multi-level ratings are supported | Customer support is slow and unresponsive |
| Generate extensive reports, slice and dice as needed | Goal-setting is complex and requires HR intervention at every step |
| Integrated with employee engagement and talent management modules | Difficult to see all reviews and ratings in one place |
| Offers integration capabilities with Slack, Quickbooks, Zapier, Bonusly, Adobe, SignBreezy, HRPingboard, 15Five, NetSuite, Greenhouse, AbsorbLMS |
14. Leapsome – 4.5./5
Leapsome is a powerful performance management and personalized learning tool with exceptional customer support. It enables 360-degree feedback, OKR tracking, and continuous performance management, ensuring a structured and growth-oriented approach.
Users appreciate its onboarding support and willingness to provide custom integrations, but limited built-in integrations, slow upgrades, and UI navigation challenges can be drawbacks.
Pricing
Starts at $8/month per user
Standout features
1. 360-Degree Feedback
Leapsome provides a comprehensive 360-degree feedback system, allowing employees to receive input from peers, managers, and direct performance reports to gain a well-rounded perspective on their performance and areas for improvement.
2. OKR and Goal Setting
The platform supports OKR (Objectives and Key Results) and goal setting with tools for aligning individual and team goals with organizational objectives, ensuring clear focus and progress tracking across the company.
3. Performance Reviews and Continuous Feedback
It facilitates structured performance reviews and continuous feedback, enabling regular check-ins and development discussions to help employees grow and achieve their goals.
4. Learning and Development
Leapsome integrates learning management features, allowing organizations to create, track, and manage training programs and development plans, promoting continuous employee learning and skill enhancement.
5. Employee Engagement Surveys
The platform includes tools for conducting engagement surveys and pulse checks, providing insights into employee satisfaction, team dynamics, and areas for organizational improvement.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| User-friendly interface | The tool is very slow to upgrade |
| Launch meetings, periodic reviews, and surveys across the company easily, regardless of the size of the company | Navigation in reviews can be difficult for managers |
| Easy to share positive feedback with the entire company | Long performance review forms take time to load |
| Excellent customer support | Doesn’t store past feedback after reviews |
| Easy to conduct regular 1:1s and regular check-ins | The UI isn’t intuitive, and it’s hard to switch between different sections |
| OKR setting and carrying out performance reviews are simple | Difficult to set custom reminder intervals |
| Following up on OKRs in terms of conversations, feedback, and recognition is possible using this tool | |
| Survey templates are great to administer | |
| Offers integration capabilities with Slack, Gmail, Google Workspace, Jira, MS Teams, OneLogin, Microsoft Azure, Payfit, Rippling |
Tips for Maximizing the Benefits of Performance Appraisal Software
- Set clear objectives for the tool’s use to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
- Regularly update and maintain accurate employee data for precise appraisals.
- Utilize real-time feedback and goal-tracking features to maintain ongoing performance management.
- Customize the software to fit your organization’s specific performance metrics and processes.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid:
- Avoid using outdated or incomplete data, which can lead to inaccurate evaluations.
- Ensure the software is not used merely for compliance but as a tool for genuine development.
- Steer clear of overloading the system with excessive metrics or complex processes that can overwhelm users.
Engaging Employees in the Appraisal Process:
- Encourage employees to set their own goals and participate in self-assessments.
- Communicate the purpose and benefits of the appraisal software clearly to employees.
- Foster a culture of continuous feedback and open dialogue for ongoing improvement.
- Involve employees in regular feedback sessions to enhance engagement and collaboration
Future of Performance Appraisal Software
As organizations move away from traditional annual reviews, the future of performance appraisal software is set to embrace continuous feedback, real-time performance tracking, and AI-driven analytics. These modern tools ensure timely, actionable feedback, helping employees adjust and improve their performance efficiently.
Additionally, OKR (Objectives and Key Results) integration is becoming a priority, ensuring alignment between individual goals and broader organizational objectives.
Companies adopting AI-powered performance appraisal tools benefit from streamlined processes, enhanced employee engagement, and data-driven decision-making all of which contribute to a more productive and adaptable workforce.
By leveraging innovations such as AI-driven analytics and integrated goal management, companies can make more informed decisions regarding promotions, compensation, and professional development. Ultimately, investing in these advanced tools helps build a more productive and satisfied workforce, driving overall organizational success and adaptability in an ever-changing business landscape.
What Makes Peoplebox.ai the Best Performance Appraisal Software?
Peoplebox.ai stands out by seamlessly integrating OKR management, performance tracking, and people analytics into a single, intuitive platform. This enables businesses to identify, align, and retain top talent, ensuring every team member’s efforts contribute to overall success.
- Dynamic Org Chart – Offers a detailed view of employee profiles, tracking goals, projects, engagement, and compensation with over 50 drill-down parameters.
- Powerful Analytics & Smart Search – Provides real-time insights into performance trends and employee engagement, empowering HR teams with data-driven decision-making.
- Seamless Customization & Integrations – Extensive native integrations allow businesses to tailor Peoplebox.ai to their unique needs while managing employee engagement and feedback in one place.
Why Do Businesses Trust Peoplebox.ai?
✅ Boosts employee engagement through continuous feedback & pulse surveys
✅ Enhances HR efficiency by bringing A-Z of performance appraisals under one platform
✅ Adopted by top SaaS companies like Razorpay & Nova Benefits for effortless performance management
✅ Affordable & fast implementation, ensuring a smooth transition for organizations
Want to create the same for your organization? Sign up for a demo today!
