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With so many different OKR software available, figuring out which is right for you is tough. You know you want to track your company-wide objectives and create better goal alignment across your organization, but need to figure out which tool is best. In this post, I'll help make your choice easy by sharing my insights on the best OKR software on the market to help you narrow in on the best fit for you.

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The 10 Best OKR Software: Comparison Chart

This comparison chart summarizes basic details about each of my top OKR software selections. You can view pricing details and the availability of free trials or demos side-by-side to help you find the best OKR software for your budget and business needs.

Tools Price
Leapsome From $8/user/month
Lattice From $11/user/month
OKR Board for Jira by Oboard Pricing upon request
PerformYard From $5-$10/user/month
Peoplebox From $7/user/month
Hirebook From $10/user/month
15Five From $4/user/month (billed annually)
Profit.co From $7/user/month
Culture Amp Pricing upon request
Quantive Results From $18/user/month
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How to Choose OKR Software

OKR software can help you organize your goals and objectives at each level of your company. To help you figure out which OKR software best fits your needs, you need to pinpoint your key users and document their specific challenges first.

As you work through your own unique OKR software selection process, keep the following points in mind:

  • What problem are you trying to solve - Start by identifying the feature gap you're trying to fill to pinpoint the features and functionality the OKR software needs to provide.
  • Who will need to use it - To evaluate cost and requirements, consider who will be using the software and how many licenses you'll need. You'll need to evaluate if it'll just be your senior managers and team leads who need access or your entire staff list. Once that's clear, it's also useful to rank the needs of your different users to identify your key priorities for your OKR software power users, managers, and employees, to ensure they're all met.
  • What other tools it needs to work with - Clarify what tools you're replacing, what tools are staying, and the tools you'll need to integrate with, such as performance management systems, employee recognition platforms, or task tracking tools. You'll need to decide if integrating these tools is possible, or alternatively, if you can replace multiple tools with a new system.
  • What outcomes are important - Determine the results that the software needs to deliver to be considered a success. Review the capabilities you want to gain or improve, and how you will be measuring success. For example, you may want to increase individual productivity, enhance accountability, and improve teamwork. You could compare OKR software features until you’re blue in the face but if you aren’t thinking about the outcomes you want to achieve, you'll waste a lot of valuable time.
  • How it would work within your organization - Consider the software selection alongside your existing workflows and systems. Evaluate what's working well, and the areas that are causing issues that need to be addressed. Remember every business is different — don’t assume that because a tool is popular that it'll work in your organization.

Best OKR Software Reviews

Here’s a brief description and comparison of each OKR tool that made it into my top 10 list. I’ve highlighted their main features, including some pros and cons, to help you make the best choice for your business. I’ve also included screenshots to show you their user interface too. Plus, I’ve included 20 additional bonus suggestions below, if you’d like even more options to consider.

Best OKR software for performance-oriented companies

  • 14-day free trial
  • From $8/user/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.8/5

Leapsome is an OKR platform that helps organizations to focus on strategic objectives and enhance their people management processes. Trusted by companies like Spotify, Northvolt, and Babbel, the platform enables a continuous cycle of goals & OKR setting, tracking and reporting at the company, team, and individual level.

Why I picked Leapsome: Their software helps you go beyond simple tracking by sharing and requesting feedback on OKRs at every phase. Stakeholders and actors can leave comments to provide context and discuss the progress of single tasks or entire projects.

It also gives you the ability to relate individual, team, and company goals to one another and generate an OKR tree to easily oversee progress, ownership, and the dependencies on the path to success.

Furthermore, Leapsome comes with features that increase accountability across the organization with goal dashboards and progress timelines which you can update in real-time and filter by owner, contributors, and teams.

Leapsome Standout Features and Integrations:

Leapsome also has other standout features, such as the depth of its performance management features. In addition to its ability to track goals and OKRs, Leapsome includes modern capabilities such as 360-degree feedback and performance reviews designed around key competencies for each role.

Other key features include flexible goal frameworks, recurring goal cycles, team collaboration tools, progress updates, one-on-one meeting tools, performance reviews, goal trees and dependencies, and real-time analytics.

Integrations are available with Personio, BambooHR, HiBob, GSuite, OneLogin, Okta, Active Directory, Slack, Jira Software, Microsoft Teams, and Calendar Apps.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Ease of giving feedback to peers
  • Robust self evaluation tools
  • Interface is user-friendly

Cons:

  • Difficult to set “lower than” goals (cost or time reduction, etc.)
  • Must enquire to get pricing

Best OKR software solution with integrations to support OKR progress tracking

  • Free demo available
  • From $11/user/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.7/5

Lattice is a cloud-based people management platform you can use for performance reviews and OKR tracking.

Why I picked Lattice: You can use Lattice to set strategic company objectives with input from your whole team. You can also use Lattice to increase employee engagement by enabling you to connect your employee's individual goals to your company's goals.

Lattice Standout Features and Integrations:

If you want to integrate productivity tools into your OKR software, then Lattice is your best option because it allows you to integrate a wide selection of productivity tools. Lattice lets you access a useful suite of tools to improve how your company deals with goals and objectives, like integrating Slack for direct reminders and updates for 1-on-1s or task deadlines.

Other key features include actionable goals, individual and business goals, one-on-one check-in tools, status updates, performance management, growth plans, career tracks, and analytics.

Integrations are available with a host of productivity tools, including ADP, BambooHR, Gmail, G Suite, Gusto, Humaans, Jira, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Teams, Okta, Personio, Rippling, Salesforce, Slack, TriNet, UKG Pro, Workday, Zenefits, and others.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Goals & OKRs module can be purchased separately or combined with their Performance Management module
  • Includes modern features like 360-degree feedback
  • All plans include Lattice University to help with employee upskilling

Cons:

  • No free trial available

Best OKR software for Jira users

  • Free demo available
  • Pricing upon request

OKR Board for Jira by Oboard is a SaaS product that helps teams and organizations manage their Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) right within their Jira environment. Users can set, track, and align their OKRs with their work in their project management system, so they can stay focused on achieving their goals without having to switch between multiple tools.

Why I picked OKR Board for Jira: For teams and organizations that are already using Jira for their project management needs, or who are looking for an option to combine OKRs and project management, this software is a good choice. The integration allows you to link your OKRs with issues, epics, and projects. This way, you can track how your work is contributing to your OKRs as you progress.

The software offers a flexible and customizable OKR hierarchy, so you can set up your OKRs in a way that makes sense for your organization. You can create multiple levels of objectives and key results, and even group them by teams or departments. It also has powerful reporting and analytics features, so you can track your progress and identify areas for improvement.

OKR Board for Jira Standout Features and Integrations:

Features include annual, quarterly, and monthly OKRs; roadmaps; custom weights; custom levels; private workspaces; and reporting and analytics tools.

Integrations include Jira, Confluence, and Salesforce. The software's REST API allows you to build integrations with other tools and systems if needed.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Easy implementation and quick time to value
  • Simple interface, friendly to any user
  • Bring your OKRs right into your Jira environment

Cons:

  • Not ideal for teams not using Jira
  • Lacking in other software integrations

Best OKR software for goal-setting + performance management

  • Free demo available
  • From $5-$10/user/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.8/5

PerformYard's goal-setting and performance management software provides flexible features for HR and a simple employee experience. With PerformYard, HR teams get the tools they need to build out any goal-setting strategy while your employees get a streamlined experience so they can focus on quality feedback and effective performance discussions.

Why I picked PerformYard: Their software is designed to be a flexible OKR solution. With PerformYard you can customize the software to fit the strategy that's right for your organization: cascading, tagging, check-ins, goal types, and/or scoring.

PerformYard provides a simple employee experience that facilitates effective goal-setting. PerformYard also provides dedicated customer success managers for every customer. From onboarding to employee training, to ongoing support, you'll have someone at your side to help you set up your OKR tracking system successfully.

PerformYard Standout Features and Integrations:

Other standout features for PerformYard include their performance management tools like 360-degree reviews, project-based reviews, customizable rating scales, continuous feedback, and succession planning tools. These work together to help managers prioritize long-term career development plans for their staff, to tap into the future advancement potential of their star employees.

In addition, PerformYard also includes cascading goal structures, goal dependencies, goal owners, timelines, individual OKRs, clear visualization tools, and team-wide visibility.

Integrations are available with most major HRIS/Payroll systems including ADP, BambooHR, Gusto, Rippling, UKG, Paycom, Workday, and Paylocity.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Can be customized for enterprise organizations
  • Their performance module includes modern elements like self-assessments and 360-degree feedback
  • You can request performance feedback from external stakeholders

Cons:

  • Price per user is vague - depends on the number of employees you have
  • No free trial or free version available

Best enterprise-grade OKR platform with built-in business reviews

  • 14-day free trial
  • From $7/user/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.7/5

Peoplebox is the next-gen OKR & performance management platform designed for hyper-growth startups to drive better business growth through OKRs, feedback, 1:1s, reviews, and check-ins. They work with over 500 startups such as HackerRank, Razorpay, SocialBee, Mirriad, Exotel, Dunzo, Khatabook, Plum, and Nova Benefits.

Why I picked Peoplebox: Their software provides a single place where all strategic priorities, goals, and initiatives are always aligned and updated through native integrations with all work tools.

Along with updated goals, it also creates auto-populated review dashboards with the ability to add narratives, action items, and RCA (root cause analysis) details to make your review meetings more effective and actionable. Peoplebox also syncs goal data with 1:1s, check-ins, and performance reviews so you can manage team performance continuously.

Peoplebox Standout Features and Integrations:

Peoplebox's features work together to help organizations bridge the gap between their OKR strategy and their OKR execution. It accomplishes this by making it easy to track action items, and hits & misses, with the intention of identifying blockers or bottlenecks before they impact productivity. Other features include OKR management, KPI tracking, productivity check-ins, pre-defined nudges, automated performance reviews, people insights, survey templates, and feedback management.

Integrations are available with a number of tools, including Asana, Google Sheets, Jira, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Teams, Okta, Slack, Salesforce, and others.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Very easy to use, single page application, Deep integrations with many work tools
  • Slack integration and notifications, including the ability to conduct check-ins
  • Business Reviews Dashboard makes it easy to review item status at a glance
  • Ability to automate reports and launch recurring employee engagement and pulse surveys is helpful
  • Useful feedback features including performance reviews, 1:1, and Coffee Connect

Cons:

  • Anonymous feedback not available
  • Long load times for longer task lists

Best OKR management software for customer support services

  • Free trial available
  • From $10/user/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.9/5

Hirebook is an experienced performance and motivation tool used by companies like IBM and Boeing for high-level OKRs strategy. Their customer support team goes above-and-beyond to help companies of all sizes chase quantifiable goals through automated check-ins, virtual meetings, OKRs and KPIs, and a comprehensive org chart.

Why I picked Hirebook: Hirebook’s platform supports more than just OKRs, and offers award-winning workshops and assessments for new companies, While most platforms focus on executives, Hirebook is designed to ensure that every team member in your organization is bought-in and getting quantifiable benefits from OKRs.

Hirebook Standout Features and Integrations:

One standout feature for Hirebook is its organizational chart feature, which is set up like a hierarchal tree diagram based on your existing reporting structure. Employees can use the 'Trace me' feature to locate a co-worker and click on their profile to see their main objectives and responsibilities.

Other features include cascading OKRs, OKR assessments, progress tracking, visualization tools, one-on-one smart agendas, real-time data dashboards, recurring reports, and multi-location management tools.

Integrations are available with many popular software solutions, including Asana, HubSpot, Salesforce, Jira, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and many others.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • All new customers receive hands-on workshops & assessments
  • Free Hirebook University courses for all users
  • Integrates with team and 1-on-1 meetings

Cons:

  • No time tracking functionality
  • Mobile-ready platform, rather than a mobile app

Best OKR software for cross team collaboration, and keeping OKRs top of mind

  • 14-day free trial
  • From $4/user/month (billed annually)
Visit Website
Rating: 4.6/5

15Five Focus is an OKR software that utilizes a science-backed approach to objectives and key results, empowering you to gain alignment across your organization and inspire your teams to work together towards top objectives. The philosophy behind the solution was informed by The Center for Evidence Based Management (CEBMa) and other critical research initiatives, powering the back end with the latest advancements in positive psychology.

The platform emphasizes the importance of real-time feedback, with weekly check-ins that allow employees to provide updates and identify blockers, keep managers informed, and ensure that key objectives remain in focus. The intuitive user interface makes it easy to identify challenges and address them, keeping teams motivated and on track.

Features include company-wide objectives, individual objectives, visual goal-based maps, progress tracking, real-time feedback, weekly check-in tools, one-on-one agendas, and employee recognition tools.

Integrations are available with many of your existing solutions including Slack, BambooHR, Sapling, Gusto, Rippling and Workday, and offers a free mobile app for iOS and Android devices. On top of that, its customizable API allows certain features to be configured to run with Google Calendar, Microsoft Teams, Jira Cloud and Salesforce. 

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • User-friendly visual interface simplifies weekly goal-based check-ins
  • Automated reminders for weekly goals to ensure no items are missed
  • Integrated Pulse Check feature helps managers ensure team members feel aligned with their work

Cons:

  • Some check-in questions are mandatory, but could be made optional
  • Increased ability to customize the product for unique business cases would be ideal

Best OKR management software for a user-friendly interface and user experience

  • 30-day free trial + free plan available
  • From $7/user/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.8/5

Profit.co is an OKR management software built for executing strategies using an OKR-centric approach. Users can take their 1-5 year strategic initiatives and use OKRs to break them down in a prioritized list that you execute quarter over quarter.

Why I picked Profit.co: Their OKR software allows you to iterate faster using the Plan-Execute-Engage-Learn cycle every quarter. You can plan your OKRs at the beginning of the quarter, promote high levels of employee engagement using collaborative features, and use a highly structured reflect and reset process. Since Profit.co is easily customizable, you can get started with OKRs easily and add on other modules as you grow.

Profit.co Standout Features and Integrations:

Many features in their OKR Management module work together to make OKR goals more visually digestible. These include their goal alignment dashboard, cascading goals, and goal visualizations & heatmaps. In addition, Profit.co includes 7 types of key results, 400+ pre-loaded KPIs, customizable KPIs, OKR templates, and team collaboration features. Plus, they also offer different modules for strategy tracking, task management, employee engagement, and employee development as well.

Integrations are available with Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Salesforce, HubSpot, and several other popular business applications. On top of this, you can develop your custom integrations using the Profit Integration Engine.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Includes OKR coaching and certification
  • Facilitates one-on-one and departmental review meetings
  • Offers step-by-step guides and templates

Cons:

  • Only supports 15 languages
  • Feature options may be overwhelming

Best OKR software for customer service & training

  • Free trial available
  • Pricing upon request
Visit Website
Rating: 4.5/5

Culture Amp is an employee engagement, performance, and development tool used by the likes of teams at Canva, Soulcycle, Etsy, Slack, Oracle, and McDonald’s for ongoing people management. They're known for their bright and modern interface and a relatively low learning curve. This makes them a great option for managers new to the HR software space.

Features include goal tracking, multi-source feedback, performance ranking metrics, development-focused reviews, and solutions for better 1‑on‑1s. You’ll be able to easily set up unique objectives and key results that tie into company, departmental, and/or individual initiatives. Employees can easily request or give feedback, either anonymously or named.

Integrations are available with BambooHR, Namely, Personio, Rippling, SAP SuccessFactor, and Workday.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Easy to learn and use
  • Great employee engagement tools
  • Metrics to highlight high performers
  • Can forecast turnover risks

Cons:

  • Administrative functionality could be expanded
  • Pricing not readily available on website
  • Not appropriate for teams under 25 people

Best for creating cross-team alignment on OKRs and KPIs

  • Free plan + 14-day free trial available
  • From $18/user/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.6/5

Quantive Results is a strategy execution platform with OKR tools built-in to help you set goals and create cross-team alignment at your organization.

Why I picked Quantive Results: OKRs are built into the core functionality of this software. But it also does more than goal setting and management. The platform's whiteboards and retrospective templates support a collaborative approach to strategic planning, and help you set up a mission all your teams can align around.

To make a clear action plan around your OKRs, you can create cascading goals and then assign KPIs to specific teams or employees, ensuring a sense of ownership and accountability. There's also AI tools built into the software. The AI features can help with setting KPIs for your goals as well as suggesting relationships and dependencies between OKRs.

Quantive Results Standout Features and Integrations:

Standout features include the 'Alignment' view, which maps out how each team is contributing to the bigger goals of the organization. This helps create clarity around how goals are inter-connected and keeps teams aligned in their efforts. The platform also has multiple access permission configurations, helping you ensure the right people have access to the right information.

Integrations include Slack, Microsoft Teams, Asana, Miro, Jira, SurveySparrow, BambooHR, Workable, Humaans, and Rally, among others. You can also access additional integrations with a paid Zapier account.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Free basic plan with unlimited users
  • Account management and custom onboarding with enterprise plan
  • Ready-made templates available

Cons:

  • All integrations not included in all plans
  • Scale plan limited to 249 users

Other OKR Software

Here are a few more worthwhile options that didn’t make it into my top 10 shortlist for the best OKR software, but are still worth taking a closer look at:

  1. Kallidus Perform

    Best OKR software for team-based performance management

  2. Weekdone

    Best OKR software with weekly planning for real business results

  3. PeopleGoal

    Best employee-led OKRs

  4. Engagedly

    Best OKR cloud software available on PC, Android, and Apple devices

  5. Huminos

    Best OKR software for user experience with affordable pricing

  6. Yaguara

    Best profit OKR software for e-retailers

  7. Unlock:OKR

    Best OKR Software with OKR Coaching and OKR Adoption Guarantee

  8. Kazoo

    Best OKR tracking software for peer-to-peer feedback

  9. Ally.io

    Best for OKR collaboration

  10. Heartpace

    Best personal OKR software for individual goal-setting

  11. Betterworks

    Best OKR for enterprises

  12. Workboard

    Best for objectives alignment across a company

  13. Quantive

    Best for implementing OKRs at scale

  14. Simple OKR

    Best for work culture research

  15. monday.com

    Best customizable OKR template with built-in data visualization tools

  16. Workleap Officevibe

    Best for goal setting and employee engagement

  17. Inspire

    Best AI-powered professional and holistic OKRs solution

  18. Trakstar

    Best OKR tool within a performance management system

  19. Paycor

    Best OKR compensation management

  20. Synergita

    Best combined OKR and continuous performance management software

If you still haven't found what you're looking for here, check out these other related tools that we've tested and evaluated:

Selection Criteria for OKR Software

Selecting the best OKR software hinges on understanding the specific functions that align with common organizational needs and challenges, such as difficulty tracking goal progress, lack of clarity, and misalignment among teams.

To uncover the best OKR tools on the market, I started off by using recent market data to prepare a long list of all the top OKR software with positive user ratings and a full set of features. I then drilled down into each OKR tool's features and functionality to see how each system compared to the next.

Lastly, to whittle my selections down even further, I used the selection criteria below as a framework for my final selections. That's why all my top choices in this list score well in the criteria below.

Core OKR Software Functionality (25% of total score): First and foremost, all of the OKR software in this list needed to fulfill these basic core functionalities to move to the next phase of my assessment:

  • The ability to set clear objectives for individual teams or departments.
  • The ability to define each objective with a measurable key result (i.e., a quantifiable metric for each objective).
  • Alignment tools that show how individual, team, and department-level objectives contribute to the organization's highest-level goals.
  • Some form of data analytics and reporting to help assess performance, identify trends, and support data-driven decision-making.
  • Built-in communication and collaboration tools or integrations with other communication systems.

Additional Standout Features (25% of total score): To help differentiate one OKR system from another, I also kept a keen eye out for unique features, including:

  • Advanced analytics and predictive insights that go beyond basic progress tracking, often by incorporating artificial intelligence (AI).
  • Visualization tools to plan and track progress towards milestones, like Gantt charts and Kanban boards, or visual OKR progress reports with analysis drill-downs.
  • Robust security measures that go beyond industry standards.
  • Mobile app features that surpass basic accessibility, such as offline tracking or voice commands.

Usability (10% of total score): To evaluate the usability of each OKR software tool, I considered the following:

  • The design of their user interface, menus, and how intuitive it was to access different features.
  • The existence of OKR templates to help you start your OKR journey off on the right foot.
  • The existence of online communities or forms where you can find answers to common questions independently.
  • A good balance between comprehensive features without overcomplicating the OKR management process.

Onboarding (10% of total score): To get a sense of each software provider's customer onboarding process, I considered the following factors:

  • Whether the software offers quick setup processes and clear guidance for first-time users.
  • The availability of training materials such as videos, tutorials, product tours, or even OKR coaching and training sessions.
  • Support for migrating data from previous systems into the new platform.

Customer Support (10% of total score): OKR software can be a bit complex to set up, at least initially, making customer support even more important. To evaluate the level of customer support each vendor offered, I considered the following:

  • The availability of multiple support channels, including email, phone, and chat.
  • The existence of a self-service knowledge base or community forum to speed up troubleshooting.
  • The overall quality, responsiveness, and helpfulness of the support team during onboarding and post-purchase, as inferred from customer reviews.

Value for Price (10% of final score): To gauge the value of each software, I considered the following factors:

  • The availability of free trials or demo versions to do a test run on the software before purchasing.
  • The existence of transparent pricing models that clearly explain which features are included in each level.
  • Tiered pricing plans that cater to different business sizes, from small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) up to enterprise-level organizations.

Customer Reviews (10% of final score): Evaluating customer reviews is the final element of my selection process, which helps me understand how well a product performs in the hands of real users. Here are the factors I considered:

  • Whether a product has consistently high ratings across multiple review platforms (if they do, this indicates a broad level of user satisfaction).
  • Whether any feedback specifically mentions issues with ease of use, customer support responsiveness, or lacking features.
  • Specific praises, criticisms, or trends in customer feedback that indicate the software's strengths or areas for improvement.

By using this assessment framework, I was able to identify the OKR software that goes beyond basic requirements to offer additional value through unique features, intuitive usability, smooth onboarding, effective support, and overall value for price.

As of 2024, OKR software has continued to evolve to meet the needs for enhanced organizational alignment and strategic planning. Here are the most recent trends impacting the OKR software space currently:

  • Integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) Capabilities: AI and ML capabilities are being increasingly integrated into OKR software to provide predictive analytics, automated goal suggestions, and personalized insights. This trend addresses the need for data-driven decision-making and the customization of objectives to fit the unique context of each team or individual.
  • Enhanced Collaboration Tools: There's a noticeable shift towards improving collaboration features within OKR platforms. Real-time chat, integrated task management, and collaborative goal-setting functionalities are evolving rapidly. These features improve both communication and teamwork, which are crucial for remote and hybrid work environments.
  • Focus on Mobile Accessibility: Mobile accessibility has become more sophisticated, with apps offering full functionality, offline access, and push notifications for goal updates. This trend reflects the growing demand for on-the-go access to OKR tools, allowing team members to stay connected with their objectives anywhere, anytime.
  • Advanced Security Features: As the sensitivity of strategic planning information increases, so does the emphasis on advanced security features. Encryption standards, multi-factor authentication, and compliance with global data protection regulations are becoming more stringent, ensuring that organizational goals and performance data remain secure.
  • User Experience (UX) Enhancements: The user interface and overall experience of OKR software are getting significant upgrades to ensure ease of use, minimal onboarding time, and higher engagement rates. Simplified navigation, customizable dashboards, and interactive goal-setting processes are examples of features that have been refined to meet these needs.

These trends in OKR software reflect a broader shift towards more intelligent, collaborative, and user-friendly tools that can adapt to the dynamic needs of modern organizations. By leveraging advanced technologies and focusing on enhancing user experience, OKR software developers are ensuring that their tools remain indispensable for companies aiming to achieve strategic alignment and operational excellence.

What is OKR Software?

Objectives and key results (OKR) software is a tool that companies use to set and track organizational goals while fostering better transparency, visibility, and goal alignment across all levels of the organization. The OKR software is the framework used to develop the strategy and objectives that connect individual and team goals to top-level organizational objectives. You can use OKR software to build out your initial strategy and track the OKR progress for all the individual objectives involved.

OKR software is a tried-and-true way to improve the alignment between your individual employees and the company's top-level business goals. It does this by creating a transparent and cascading framework that visually shows employees how their own individual OKRs contribute to the company's strategic goals, and vice versa. It's similar to an online goal tracker for all levels of your company.

Features of OKR Software

OKR software is designed to help you set, track, and achieve your company-wide goals. Using OKR software helps align company-wide objectives across different teams, ensuring everyone moves in the same direction towards achieving the common goals. Here are the most important features to look for in OKR software to ensure your company's success:

  • Progress Tracking Tools: Progress tracking is the crux of OKR software. That's why all the systems in this list have tools to track the progress of team OKRs and individual goals - some with more advanced features than others.
  • Cascading Goal Maps: The best OKR software should include tools that visualize how individual and company OKRs tie into higher objectives, such as goal maps, or cascading goal trees. These visualization tools help to align individual responsibilities with greater company goals to give employees a big-picture view of how their daily activities contribute to the company's ultimate success.
  • Customizable OKR Templates: Many systems offer a variety of templates to make it easier to set up OKRs that fit the specific requirements of your company, increasing the speed of your software implementation.
  • Performance Review Tools: Many OKR platforms link OKR progress with employee performance reviews. This might include tools for one-on-one meetings, or automated goal progress updates. Some systems take things a step further by gamifying goal completion to increase employee motivation for achieving key metrics.
  • Feedback Collection Tools: This includes features like employee pulse surveys, 360-degree feedback, and employee engagement tools that monitor the sentiment of feedback to uncover deeper meaning. I assessed these features in detail and noted any peer-to-peer communication features that promote a culture of continuous feedback, such as weekly check-ins and other feedback prompts.
  • Collaboration Tools: Collaboration is key to ensuring that everyone is working together towards common goals. Collaboration tools such as task assignments, comments, discussion threads, check-in tools, and integrations with other communication platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or email make it easier for team members to easily share updates.
  • Notifications & Reminders: Another useful feature is the ability to automate notifications and reminders to ensure your staff stay on top of their OKR-related tasks and deadlines.
  • Mobile Accessibility: Modern OKR software should be accessible via mobile apps or a mobile-friendly user interface for accessing OKRs on the go. This type of accessibility ensures your employees can stay updated and engaged, no matter where they are, providing a better employee experience.
  • Analytics & Reporting: It's important to monitor your analytics to help you make informed decisions and goal adjustments. OKR software includes built-in reports and tracking dashboards that simplify this process to save you time.
  • Security & Data Protection: This set of features includes tools for data encryption, data backup and recovery, two-factor authentication (2FA), role-based access control (RBAC), and regular security compliance checks. These features are essential for protecting sensitive information related to your company's goals and performance.
  • Software Integrations: Software integrations can help you make better use of your data by connecting to other systems. Key systems to note include performance management software, talent management software, or employee management systems. If native integrations aren't readily available, an API that supports custom integrations is also super helpful.

Choosing the right OKR software is a strategic decision that can significantly impact the success of your company. Look for these features to ensure the software meets your needs for tracking company-wide goals, prioritizing main objectives, and ensuring goal alignment. The right tool will not only help in setting ambitious goals but also in achieving them by fostering a culture of transparency, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Benefits of OKR Software

OKR software is designed to help organizations optimize their goal-setting and tracking processes, enhance alignment across teams, and drive operational success.

By selecting the best OKR software for your needs, you can expect to gain the following benefits:

  • Enhanced Goal Alignment and Transparency: OKR software ensures that everyone in the organization understands the company's strategic goals and their role in achieving them. This clarity fosters a sense of purpose and direction, leading to increased engagement and productivity among employees.
  • Improved Focus and Prioritization: By clearly defining objectives and key results, OKR software helps teams and individuals focus on the tasks that matter most. This prioritization ensures that resources are allocated efficiently, driving better outcomes for the business.
  • Better Communication and Collaboration: OKR software provides a platform for ongoing discussions about goals, progress, challenges, and roadblocks. This enhances collaboration across different levels of the organization, breaking down silos and fostering a culture of teamwork and shared success.
  • Real-time Progress Tracking: The ability to monitor progress towards goals in real-time allows for quick adjustments and keeps everyone informed about their achievements or areas needing attention. This immediate feedback loop is crucial for maintaining momentum and ensuring continuous improvement.
  • Data-driven Decision Making: Owing to its comprehensive analytics and reporting features, OKR software offers valuable insights into performance trends and areas for improvement. This data-driven approach supports informed decision-making, strategic planning, and strategy execution, aligning efforts with business objectives.

By leveraging the power of OKR software, organizations can enhance their operational efficiency, foster a high-performance culture, and drive sustained growth in an increasingly competitive business environment.

Costs & Pricing for OKR Software

When considering the cost of OKR software, it's important to consider the value you're gaining for your company. If you're running a small business or startup, you may be able to get away with a free version to track small team goals. However, a free plan won't have the same capabilities as a monthly paid offering.

As a software buyer, it's important to understand the variety of available plans, and the differences in features, support, and prices.

Plan Comparison Table for OKR Software

Plan TypeAverage PriceCommon Features
Free$0Basic OKR tracking, limited users, access to community support
Basic$5-10 per user/monthEnhanced OKR tracking, unlimited OKRs, basic reporting, and email support
Professional$10-20 per user/monthAll Basic features, plus advanced reporting, integration capabilities, and priority email support
EnterpriseCustom pricingAll Professional features, plus custom integrations, a dedicated account manager, 24/7 support, and advanced security features
A breakdown of OKR software plans and pricing details depending on the level of features required.

When considering an OKR software plan, it's essential to evaluate the size of your team, the complexity of your goals, and the level of support you anticipate needing. Each plan is designed to cater to different organizational needs, from small startups to large enterprises.

OKR Software: Frequently Asked Questions

Still trying to wrap your head around what OKR software is and how it can help your organization? These answers to frequently asked questions are a great place to start:

What are OKRs?

OKR stands for Objectives and Key Results, which are goals and objectives for business planning. The OKR framework helps companies define their objectives, track their progress, and analyze their results.

There is typically one Objective, which is a high-level, qualitative goal that a group or team is focused on. Then there are Key Results, usually three of them, which are quantitative metrics that point towards the designated Objective. By quantifying a specific numerical goal, your organization will be able to objectively measure how successful the team was in reaching it.

OKR software (Objective & Key Results software) is the tool organizations use to develop the strategy and process objectives that connect both the team and the organization. In many ways, OKR software is similar to an online goal tracker that covers all levels of an organization.

What are some examples of popular OKRs?

You’ll want to tailor your OKRs specifically to your own organization, and the specific departments responsible for them. For example, you’ll want to specify your HR team’s OKRs and your Operations team’s OKRs. Here’s some general information to get your creative juices flowing:

An HR manager might work towards an Objective of reducing employee turnover from from 20% to 10%. The corresponding key result would be the turnover metric on a quarterly, semi-annual, or annual basis. To achieve a reduction in turnover, the activities could include: increased performance reviews, more team 1:1’s, creating learning and development plans for all employees, offering more employee incentives, etc.

What is the difference between OKRs and KPIs?

OKRs vs KPIs—what are they? Are they just different terms for the same thing? No, they’re not — but they are closely related.

KPIs stand for Key Performance Indicators. They are a series of quantitative goals that compartmentalize progress in bite-sized chunks of measurable data (e.g., social media impressions or sales conversion).

OKRs, on the other hand, are a goal-setting framework. For each goal (or objective), there is a specific metric that will measure whether the team has achieved the goal or not.

The KPI methodology is a straightforward approach to achieving specific goals, and those goals can even be a part of an OKR framework. However, the OKR methodology as a whole is more advanced and ambitious. Typically, OKRs require a big team-wide push to achieve the results, though they should still be attainable.

What's the difference between an OKR and MBO framework?

Management by Objectives, or MBO, describes a process organizations use to connect high-level organizational objectives with individual goals. Once the high-level objectives are determined, managers and employees work together to set individual goals that can contribute to it, which are often measured at the end of a 12 month period. An example of MBO for an organization focused on customer service may include objectives like quicker response times and smoother customer onboarding.

This may sound similar to the OKR framework, however, the difference is rests on the detail how. Even though the objectives in the MBO framework can help achieve the company goal, what’s lacking is the specific way to measure progress: how will the objectives be achieved?

That’s where OKRs come in. The OKR framework builds off on an MBO approach by outlining how, specifically, an objective should be achieved, measured as Key Results. Using the same example, the objectives for the company above could be: reduce the time customers spend on hold by 10% by increasing the number of support staff.

What types of companies have used OKRs successfully?

Many well-known and respected companies have implemented OKRs successfully, especially those dominating the tech sector. Google was one of the first tech giants to get into the OKR arena, starting back in 1999, and all these years later Google (and its parent company Alphabet) still use OKRs even today! Some other company names you’ll immediately recognize include Adobe, Amazon, Dell, Dropbox, Intel, Netflix, Panasonic, Samsung, Yahoo, and many others. However, don’t let this list fool you. The OKR framework can be successfully applied to small businesses as well.

How can you measure the ROI of your OKR software?

Gauging the return on investment of a software can be tricky. But, it makes sense that you would want to quantify the output of a new tool. To measure the ROI of anything means to divide the total value of that thing by its cost. So the question becomes, how do you measure the value of the software? Here are a few factors you could weigh into that calculation:

  • Levels of employee alignment around common goals.
  • How each department’s roadmap corresponds to your overall OKRs.
  • Your ability to track goals through to completion at various company levels.
  • Overall OKR management: is it clear who is responsible for setting, monitoring, and reporting on OKRs?
  • Time saved through automation, for example with the ability to track OKRs through interactive dashboards.

Ultimately, it will be up to you to define the value you get from your OKR management software. This is something worth considering before you invest—your definition of success is directly related to your goals in employing a software solution in the first place. So be sure you have a measurable framework for what you expect to see.

What's the average setup time for OKR software?

The average setup time for OKR software can vary depending on the complexity of the tool, the size of your organization, and how detailed your objectives and key results are. Some systems offer quick setup options that can get you started in a matter of hours or days, especially if they offer pre-built templates.

For more complex implementations, particularly in large organizations with numerous integrations, the setup could take weeks to months. This process involves not just the technical setup but also aligning your team, training users, and ensuring your OKRs are well-defined and integrated with existing workflows​.

To get a better handle on OKR best practices, take a look at our list of the best OKR-focused podcasts for further inspiration.

Are there industry-specific OKR software options?

While most OKR software is designed to be flexible and adaptable across various industries, some solutions offer features tailored to specific sectors, like technology, healthcare, or manufacturing. These specialized tools might include industry-specific templates or integrations with commonly used software in that field. However, the broad applicability of OKRs means that even generalist OKR software can be effectively used across industries by customizing objectives and key results to align with industry-specific goals.

What level of customer support do OKR software companies provide?

The level of customer support for OKR software ranges from self-service resources, like knowledge bases and community forums, to personalized assistance via email, chat, or phone. Some providers, like PerformYard, offer dedicated account managers or access to certified OKR coaches, especially on higher-tier plans. The availability of support can vary; some services provide 24/7 support, while others may have more limited hours.

It’s essential to consider what level of support you’ll need to successfully implement and use the software, including training for your team on best practices for setting and tracking OKRs

Other OKR Tracking and Goal Management Resources

With goal-tracking software already on your mind, I also recommend checking out these other related resources too:

Related Software Reviews

Looking for another type of software to motivate your team members? These other top 10 lists I've prepared are a good place to start:

What's Next?

I hope this article brought you one step closer to finding the right OKR software for you. Have you tried out any goal-tracking software listed above? What goal-setting tools do you use on a daily basis for project management and company objectives? What do you look for in goal management tools? Are there any objective tracking tools or goal software that you would add to this list? Let us know in the comments below.

Avoid issues on the way to reaching your goals by making sure your processes are legally compliant with the help of ethics and compliance software. If you're not sure what that is, this article right here can help!

Lastly, before you go, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on our latest podcasts, articles, and tool recommendations.

By Kim Behnke

Kim Behnke is an HR Tool Expert & Writer for People Managing People. She draws on her 9 years of human resources experience and her keen eye for systematic processes to support her analyses of the top HR tools on the market. She is passionate about maximizing efficiencies and streamlining workflows to ensure internal systems run smoothly. Kim's HR experience includes recruitment, onboarding, performance management, training and development, policy development and enforcement, and HR analytics. She also has degrees in psychology, writing, publishing, and technical communication, and recently completed a Certified Digital HR Specialist program through the Academy to Innovate HR. When away from her desk, she can usually be found outside tending to her ever-expanding garden.