Best Performance Appraisal Software Shortlist
Here’s my shortlist of the best performance appraisal software systems that I’ll cover in this article, with detailed tool summaries below:
- Trakstar
Best performance appraisal software for skill gap identification
- PerformYard
Best performance appraisal software for self-assessments
- ClearCompany
Best performance appraisal software for custom employee evaluations
- Workday
Best performance appraisal software for guided career development paths
- bob
Best performance appraisal software for 360-degree performance reviews
- Lattice
Best performance appraisal software for one-on-one feedback
- Eden
Best performance appraisal software for peer reviews
- IntelliHR
Best performance appraisal software for actionable performance insights
- Kallidus Perform
Best performance appraisal software for self-development
- BambooHR
Best performance appraisal software for automated review cycles
Performance appraisal software lets HR specialists and business managers understand how efficient their teams are. These solutions help leaders assess the output of individuals and departments, allowing them to make objective, data-driven decisions regarding their employees.
Read my review and learn more about the best performance appraisal software you can use today. The review includes descriptions and screenshots of each tool that made the list, along with a comparison chart so you can pick out the right solution for your particular needs.
Selection Criteria
Wondering how I selected the best performance appraisal software for this article? Here’s a summary of my selection and evaluation criteria:
- User Interface (UI): Performance appraisal tools should help your team perform their tasks without wasting time. I selected solutions that offer clean, intuitive interfaces, so your team members can find the right functionalities and share feedback, rate their co-workers, and review each others’ performance.
- Usability: Performance appraisal solutions should be easy to use because they should enable all your team members to share continuous feedback, no matter their tech skills. I chose software solutions that simplify the performance review process and encourage your team to share their opinions at regular intervals.
- Integrations: Performance appraisal shouldn’t be siloed. It should be an integral part of your review process. As a result, I chose performance appraisal tools that integrate with the rest of your human resources tools, such as your human capital management (HCM) tool, human resource information system (HRIS), talent management solution, and so on.
- Value for $: Most performance appraisal tools offer a wide variety of features and functionalities. I selected solutions that help you achieve multiple goals so you can get a nice return on your investment.
Overviews of the 10 Best Performance Appraisal Software
Here’s a brief description of each performance appraisal software to showcase each tool’s best use case, their noteworthy features, and pros & cons. I’ve also included screenshots to give a snapshot of their user interface too.
Trakstar
Best performance appraisal software for skill gap identification
Trakstar is an employee performance management software that helps managers identify skill gaps and recommend personalized training modules.
Why I picked Trakstar: Trakstar helps you assess your employees and provide actionable advice on how they can reach their career goals. The platform helps you measure employee competency for over 100 distinct competencies, enabling team leaders to identify skill gaps. Team leaders can also build training modules and courses for employees to help them develop their skills.
Trakstar enables managers and HR professionals to schedule regular check-ins, build improvement plans to increase the effectiveness of their team members, and collect data to make business decisions. The platform makes it easy to track the performance of all employees, and the automated reporting feature helps you understand how your strategies affect your workforce, so it’s ideal for medium and large organizations with a lot of employees.
Trakstar Standout Features and Integrations
Features include automation, succession planning, goal tracking, engagement surveys, competency assessments, and employee coaching.
Integrations are available natively with many tools, including ADP Workforce, Google Workspace, Paylocity, Salesforce, and Slack.
Pros
- Encourages instant feedback
- Great for employee development
- Efficient learning management system
Cons
- Cannot sort training modules by category
- Some automated emails may end up in the spam folder
PerformYard
Best performance appraisal software for self-assessments
PerformYard is a cloud-based performance management system that helps businesses to identify top performers based on self-assessment metrics.
Why I picked PerformYard: PerformYard allows employees to set their own goals and track their progress. The software makes it easy for team members to access and complete self-assessment forms, and it compiles the data into actionable progress reports. A user’s growth progress can be shared with co-workers, which is a great way for employees to motivate themselves and summarize their accomplishments for others.
Managers and HR professionals who use PerformYard save time when running recurrent review cycles. The platform’s automation feature enables you to schedule recurring reviews ahead of time, and the solution’s notification system lets you know when you have to complete manual steps.
PerformYard is a good HR solution for organizations that value employee growth.
PerformYard Standout Features and Integrations
Features include goal management, continuous feedback, 360 degree reviews, one-on-one feedback, quarterly check-ins, and self-assessments.
Integrations are available natively with multiple apps, including ADP, BambooHR, Gusto, Rippling, and Workday.
Pros
- Easy task and goal tracking
- Benchmarking tool allows managers to compare employee evaluations
- Encourages employee coaching
Cons
- Surveys cannot be edited after launch
- Every user creates their own goals without templates, which can lead to confusing results
ClearCompany
Best performance appraisal software for custom employee evaluations
ClearCompany is a configurable HR management system that helps companies identify top performers using their own evaluation processes and criteria.
Why I picked ClearCompany: ClearCompany is a great performance management solution for organizations that want to build their own reviews and evaluations. Besides offering pre-built review templates, the software also gives you the ability to build assessments from scratch and create your own templates.
ClearCompany enables you to build your own forms with different sections, questions, measurement scales, and multi-stage evaluation processes. You can add timed stages, approval breaks, and track your team’s evaluation progress.
Thanks to the customizable assessments it helps you create, the system is a great option for organizations that have a highly-trained workforce and need specific evaluations. ClearCompany is best for companies based in the U.S. and Canada.
ClearCompany Standout Features and Integrations
Features include new hire reviews, performance reviews, competency and role-based reviews, 360-degree reviews, and time-based reviews.
Integrations are available natively with dozens of tools, including AccuTrace, BambooHR, Checkr, Glassdoor, and Indeed.
Pros
- Real-time feedback
- Helpful goal-tracking and alignment tools
- Highly customizable evaluations
Cons
- No boolean search
- The interface looks somewhat dated
Workday
Best performance appraisal software for guided career development paths
Workday is a complete HCM solution that enables managers to appraise the performance of their employees and guide them toward the next step in their careers.
Why I picked Workday: Workday is an HR software that includes a comprehensive employee performance appraisal tool. Their system acts as a central database for all your employee data, allowing you to keep accurate records of performance reports, annual reviews, and ad-hoc feedback.
Workday stands out as a performance appraisal software thanks to its ability to create career development paths for your team members. Their system uses machine learning to analyze an individual’s survey answers, skills, and goals, and guide their development experiences.
Workday is a good performance appraisal tool for organizations that value internal hiring and upward mobility.
Workday Standout Features and Integrations
Features include career development tools, talent reviews, job interest assessments, a talent marketplace, goal management, a talent pipeline, and internal mobility tools.
Integrations are available natively with hundreds of apps, including ADP, Docusign, LinkedIn Microsoft Teams, Okta, Recruiter, and Salesforce.
Pros
- Good software localization options
- Simple onboarding
- Efficient self-service portal
Cons
- Limited customization options
- Search feature could be more granular
bob
Best performance appraisal software for 360-degree performance reviews
Bob is an HR platform that enables organizations to create 360-degree employee profiles with the help of a variety of evaluations and assessments.
Why I picked Bob: Bob is a configurable platform that allows you to tailor it to your needs. As a performance appraisal tool, Bob stands out thanks to the variety of survey and evaluation templates it offers. The platform is also great at centralizing employee data, compiling all the information you can find in self-assessment reports, direct reviews, and management reports to create 360-degree performance reviews.
Bob is flexible and allows department leaders and employees to choose their assessments. This is great for SaaS or tech organizations that often hire people who are difficult to appraise using standard forms.
Bob Standout Features and Integrations
Features include one-on-one reviews, performance reviews, continuous reviews, applicant tracking, goal setting, and performance mapping.
Integrations are available natively with multiple apps, including Greenhouse, JazzHR, Lever, SmartRecruiters, and Workable.
Pros
- Configurable assessment templates
- Integrated performance review cycles
- Good automation features
Cons
- Everyone can post on the homepage, so the homepage can become chaotic at times
- Data visualization could be improved
Lattice
Best performance appraisal software for one-on-one feedback
Lattice is a performance appraisal solution that helps businesses schedule, run, and manage 1:1 feedback.
Why I picked Lattice: Lattice is a lightweight performance management tool that integrates with dozens of solutions. The software enables your team members to provide feedback in real-time from wherever they work, and makes it easy for them to share a few words about a co-worker or manager. The solution also enables employees to request feedback, set goals, and take ownership of their performance development.
Lattice enables HR professionals and managers to schedule and run pulse surveys, objectives and key results (OKR) reviews, and one-on-one interviews. The platform’s 1:1s are easy to manage by both team leaders and employees, and you can connect your other surveys and reviews to the 1:1 meeting agenda so they can serve as talking points or reminders.
Thanks to its variety of helpful features, Lattice is a great HR software for businesses of all sizes.
Lattice Standout Features and Integrations
Features include 360-degree feedback, one-on-one interviews, goal setting, public recognition, continuous feedback, and analytics.
Integrations are available natively with hundreds of solutions, including BambooHR, Jira, Microsoft Teams, Okta, Slack, and Zenefits.
Pros
- Enables employees to provide discreet feedback directly to managers
- You can add comments and action items to reviews
- Great one-on-one review feature
Cons
- Interface can be a little cumbersome at times, nesting some features under multiple menus and submenus
- Using pulse, weekly, 1:1s, and OKR reminders can disrupt your employees
Eden
Best performance appraisal software for peer reviews
Eden is a performance management software that helps businesses appraise their employees based on peer reviews.
Why I picked Eden: Eden is a continuous performance management solution that takes employee experience into account. The software has a clean design and sends out unintrusive forms to collect employee feedback.
Eden enables you to customize your organization’s review cycles, allowing you to select a specific review cadence and create personalized workflows for each team or department. The software uses the data it collects to create 360-degree performance reports and enables you to compare your team’s results to historical data.
Eden is a good choice for mid-size organizations that want to improve employee satisfaction.
Eden Standout Features and Integrations
Features include 360-degree reviews, self-reviews, peer reviews, live and historical reporting, and in-app collaboration.
Integrations are available natively with many tools, including Brivo, Kisi, Google Workspace, Microsoft Teams, Okta, and Slack.
Pros
- Simple onboarding
- Helpful drop-in feature
- Good questionnaire templates
Cons
- Navigation can be confusing at times
- Mobile app could be improved
IntelliHR
Best performance appraisal software for actionable performance insights
IntelliHR is a complete HR platform that enables managers and HR specialists to make data-driven decisions based on its reports.
Why I picked intelliHR: IntelliHR offers some great performance appraisal features, such as goal setting, goal alignment, development and goal tracking, or one-click performance summaries. But what really makes it stand out from other solutions is its reporting feature. The reporting feature enables you to identify trends and cultural shifts before they become problematic, and they also help you prevent negative performance changes.
IntelliHR allows you to create and run your own pulse surveys. The software’s algorithm analyzes the emotions behind your team’s responses and helps you understand the mood within a team, department, or across your organization.
IntelliHR’s ability to collect and interpret data makes it ideal for medium or large organizations that want to proactively improve the mood of their workforce.
intelliHR Standout Features and Integrations
Features include performance reviews, pulse surveys, self-assessments, configurable workflows, goal tracking, and advanced analytics.
Integrations are available natively with dozens of tools, including DocuSign, Google Workspace, Lever, Microsoft Outlook, Perkbox, and Slack.
Pros
- Responsive support team
- Simple goal tracking and alignment
- Very advanced people analytics
Cons
- Onboarding material could be more comprehensive
- No anonymous surveys, so employees are less likely to provide honest feedback about managers
Kallidus Perform
Best performance appraisal software for self-development
Kallidus Perform is an employee performance review software that helps organizations build a culture of self-development.
Why I picked Kallidus Perform: Kallidus Perform offers a variety of features that help managers improve their company culture. The software makes the self-development process fun and accessible with gamification features that encourage employees to complete courses and training modules. Managers can identify skill gaps through surveys, assessments, and one-on-ones, and set specific objectives for their employees, helping them progress toward their career goals. Employees can also browse the content library and enroll in courses on their own.
Kallidus Perform allows your team members to manage their goal progression and development. Those who complete courses receive awards and can share their achievements with their colleagues for a motivation boost.
Kallidus Perform is great at motivating your teammates to learn more, so it’s a good choice for organizations of all sizes that value self-development.
Kallidus Perform Standout Features and Integrations
Features include continuous feedback, goal tracking, goal alignment, flexible reviews, and interactive learning.
Integrations are available natively with multiple solutions, including Meta for Business, Microsoft Outlook, Natural HR, Reward Gateway, and Tazio.
Pros
- Easy to create review templates
- Mobile-friendly UI
- Good learning hub
Cons
- Notification system can be buggy at times
- Lack short-term action items you can track and offer feedback on, such as day-to-day tasks
BambooHR
Best performance appraisal software for automated review cycles
BambooHR is a complete HR solution featuring powerful performance management features that can help businesses use automation to identify high-performing individuals.
Why I picked BambooHR: BambooHR offers a great performance management module, allowing you to automate your performance appraisal processes. The software enables you to schedule multi-step review cycles, and every team in your organization can customize their processes and measure their performance in their own way.
BambooHR helps you speed up your onboarding process with regular check-ins for new hires and one-on-one reviews. The software also enables you to schedule assessments alongside work anniversaries, allowing you to gather data consistently. Managers can run impromptu assessments or they can allow their teams to skip scheduled assessments, giving them the flexibility to motivate their teams as they know best.
Thanks to its helpful automation, BambooHR is a great solution for SaaS startups and small businesses that don’t have fully-staffed HR departments.
BambooHR Standout Features and Integrations
Features include self-assessments, manager assessments, review cycle customization, custom evaluations, automated reminders, and analytics.
Integrations are available natively with dozens of apps, including 15Five, Checkr, Deputy, Human Interest, and Leapsome.
Pros
- Simple onboarding
- Helpful mobile app that’s compatible with iOS and Android devices
- Good workflow customization options
Cons
- Automated logout time is rather short, which can be irritating to employees
- Self-service portal could be more comprehensive
Need Expert Help Selecting The Right Performance Appraisal Software?
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10 Best Performance Appraisal Software Summary
This comparison chart summarizes basic details about each of my top performance appraisal software selections. You can view pricing details and the availability of free trials or demos side-by-side to help you find the best software that works for your budget.
Tool | Free Option | Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Trakstar Best performance appraisal software for skill gap identification | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
2 | PerformYard Best performance appraisal software for self-assessments | Free demo available | From $5-$10/user/month | Visit Website |
3 | ClearCompany Best performance appraisal software for custom employee evaluations | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
4 | Workday Best performance appraisal software for guided career development paths | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
5 | bob Best performance appraisal software for 360-degree performance reviews | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
6 | Lattice Best performance appraisal software for one-on-one feedback | Free demo available | From $11/employee/month | Visit Website |
7 | Eden Best performance appraisal software for peer reviews | Free demo available | From $2.25-$4/user/month | Visit Website |
8 | IntelliHR Best performance appraisal software for actionable performance insights | Free demo available | From $4.50-$11.70/employee/month | Visit Website |
9 | Kallidus Perform Best performance appraisal software for self-development | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
10 | BambooHR Best performance appraisal software for automated review cycles | 7-day free trial | Pricing upon request | Visit Website |
Other Options
Here are a few more options that didn’t make the best performance appraisal software list:
- eloomi
Best performance appraisal software for continuous performance improvement
- Leapsome
Best performance appraisal software for automated engagement surveys
- Zoho People
Best performance appraisal software for competency tracking
- Synergita
Best performance appraisal software for cultural engagement
- Primalogik
Best performance appraisal software for real-time feedback
- GoCo
Best performance appraisal software for internal hiring
- 15Five
Best performance appraisal software for holistic assessments
- Culture Amp
Best performance appraisal software for employee listening
- Spidergap
Best performance appraisal software for supported evaluations
Performance Appraisal Software: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a performance appraisal?
Are there different types of performance appraisals?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using performance appraisal software?
Other Resources
Feedback helps you boost your team’s performance and improve your company culture. And performance appraisal software can help you keep track of your team’s evolution and respond to it proactively. As Lindsay Gainor from Kent Power said,
“The more frequent the feedback, the less heavy and daunting the formal performance conversations become. The greatest tool for this is having a 1:1 with each person on your team on a regular, frequent basis. This allows you to connect deeper than the day-to-day conversations in passing. It is a time to check in personally, talk about performance wins and challenges, and discuss development plans.”
Not sure which one of these solutions is right for your needs? We have an article on How To Choose The Right Performance Management System For You that can help.
Also, to help you get the most out of your performance appraisal software, I recommend reading these guides too:
- How To Conduct A Better Performance Review
- Top 7 Techniques For Effective Performance Management
- Why Is Performance Management Important?
Lastly, if you want to receive expert advice on how to motivate your employees directly in your inbox, subscribe to the People Managing People newsletter.