10 Best Performance Appraisal Software of 2024

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. 

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. 

Paycor is a comprehensive HCM solution that offers integrated HR management, including payroll, HR software, talent acquisition, talent management, and workforce management. The tool is best known for providing a wide range of HR solutions in one platform, making it a convenient and efficient option for leaders and HR teams.

Why I picked Paycor: I chose Paycor's performance appraisal software because it provides a robust suite of integrated HR management tools that cater to various aspects of employee management, including talent acquisition, talent management, and workforce management. What makes Paycor stand out is its emphasis on continuous feedback and development, which moves beyond the traditional annual performance review, fostering a culture of ongoing improvement and engagement.

Paycor Standout Features and Integrations

Features include AI-powered sourcing, AI job post drafter, large database of candidates, custom workflows, interview scorecards, candidate dashboard, employee onboarding flows and compliance, referral management, multi-job board posting, and reporting and analytics tools.

Integrations include HireTech, Emburse Certify, Zillion, Points North, FMLA, Tapcheck, Instant Pay, Sterling, Wageworks, and Ignite.

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. 

Peoplebox is a comprehensive platform that integrates talent analytics, performance management, and employee engagement tools, making it the best choice for organizations looking for a comprehensive solution for managing and analyzing their talent.

Why I picked Peoplebox: I chose Peoplebox because it provides a holistic platform that encompasses performance management, strategy execution, employee engagement, and people analytics. Its distinctive capability to conduct performance reviews directly within Slack, coupled with features like automated engagement surveys and anonymous messaging, makes it a unique offering in the market.

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.

Paylocity is a cloud-based human capital management (HCM) platform that combines HR, payroll, talent management, benefits administration, employee experience, and workforce management functionalities into an all-in-one solution.

Why I picked Paylocity: The performance management features of this software are designed to encourage employees to take a more active role in their development and growth. Employee self-evaluation is facilitated through the platform and employees can track their progress with the journal feature, adding text or video to keep a record of their accomplishments and milestones.

Performance assessment templates give a clear outline of what's being evaluated and help managers spot opportunities for promotions and upskilling. Managers and employees can set performance goals together in the software, and come back to them regularly to maintain alignment. 360 feedback helps create a clearer, more well-rounded assessment of employee performance.

Paylocity Standout Features & Integrations

Features include 360 feedback, performance appraisal templates, employee journal, video and text notes, self-evaluations, goal setting and tracking, employee recognition, and peer recognition.

Integrations include Azure, Clover, Concur, Expensify, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Oracle NetSuite, QuickBooks, Sage Intacct, Square, Xero, 24HourFlex, and 4MyBenefits. An API can also be used to configure additional integrations.

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.

Ceridian Dayforce is a cloud-based human capital management (HCM) solution designed to unify multiple functionalities, including human resources (HR), workforce management, and talent management in one place.

Why I picked Ceridian Dayforce: In addition to payroll and benefits tools, you can also find talent management features to support ongoing employee development and performance appraisal in the software. Employees can set goals in the system that align with team, cross-functional, and organizational objectives. Performance reviews can be completed by employees, their peers, and their manager for a holistic perspective, and personalized development plans can be built collaboratively by employees and managers.

What's unique about the software is its learning and development tools. Online learning, webinars, and training can be facilitated through the platform to develop key skill sets and maintain regulations. Employees can also engage in peer-to-peer coaching and development, adding content and exchanging information with one another for learning purposes. All of these features contribute to a culture of growth, encouraging improved performance and ongoing development among staff.

Ceridian Dayforce Standout Features & Integrations

Features include self-evaluations, peer evaluations, and manager evaluations; cascading goals; customized development plans; online learning, webinars, and in-person learning tools; peer-to-peer knowledge exchange; and dedicated learning channels.

Integrations include Beekeeper, Brainier, Databasics, DocuSign, Emburse, Equifax, First Advantage, Oracle NetSuite, Salary.com, Talent Plus, Truework, and Verified First.

Cornerstone OnDemand is an all-in-one platform dedicated to employee growth and development.

Why I picked Cornerstone OnDemand: This software enables you to design and develop a performance management process that's customized to your organization. It allows you to automate the basic review process and integrate it with your company or team goals and competency assessments. Employees and managers can build development plans that align growth goals with the company trajectory, and the software facilitates feedback and check-ins on progress.

A unique feature the software offers is its skills graph. The tool is designed to help leaders spot employee potential and uncover skills gaps within their workforce through 180-degree and 360-degree feedback, self-evaluations, and custom-built competency models. It helps managers notice future potential leaders and opportunities for lateral and upward mobility at the organization. This helps employees see a future with your company, thereby reducing turnover and attrition.

Cornerstone OnDemand Standout Features & Integrations

Features include company-wide goal alignment, performance reviews and competency assessments, skills mapping, compensation management, observation checklists, feedback exchange, check-ins, job descriptions, employee engagement surveys, and individual development plans.

Integrations are not currently listed by the company.

Engagedly is a cloud-based performance appraisal software that helps HR professionals oversee employee performance, growth, and progress in real time. Users can track talent information, provide ongoing feedback, identify areas of skill development, and create organizational goals. It allows managers to design development plans and career paths for employees to continue to grow, learn, and succeed within the organization.

The software offers a real-time feedback mechanism that enables businesses to file, access, and view performance feedback data from managers and employees. The software provides a clear analysis of an employee's strengths and weaknesses based on performance overviews, which helps them map their individual development goals. The feature allows employees to identify lacking skills, enhancing their growth potential and increasing productivity. Engagedly also provides personalized learning paths to help employees develop skills and close competency gaps.

Engagedly allows businesses to view insights from various perspectives—direct managers, customers, peers, and direct staff. This feature ensures the feedback process gets a more thorough outlook and enables businesses to identify hidden talent or skills that may lead to promotion opportunities. The software lets companies generate individual goals for each employee based on their skill gaps and track progress regularly with updated reports. Tracking progress helps compare employee performance against business goals leading to performance improvement.

The platform provides a framework for managers to conduct employee performance reviews quickly and efficiently and offers customizable templates and automated workflows to streamline the review process. Its recognition and rewards feature allows managers and peers to publicly recognize an employee's excellent work, boosting employee morale and motivation to perform even better.