Best Performance Management Software 2021

Organizing and monitoring how your company gets work done is an integral part of running a successful business, and the fastest way to do so is with the best performance management software on the market. Fortunately, we've found some of the most productive and efficient software available for you.

After some research, we believe the best performance management software you can choose is Namely, with honorable mentions for Workday and UltiPro. This software provides users with easy to use platforms that accurately measure employee performance, based on a wide range of criteria.

These aren't the only impressive performance management tools on the market, though. This competitive field plays host to a number of unique and helpful platforms that can make a huge difference to your company. Now, you just have to find out which one works with your particular needs.

In This Guide:

We've compiled a large list of performance management software providers below. However, if you're looking for the best of the best, we've compared the top three brands to give you a clear picture of which provider is most likely to fit your company.

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	Namely	Workday	UltiPro
Starting Price	$15/month/user	$8.33/month/user	$10/month/user
Best For	All-in-one solution	Ease of use	Reliability
Pros	– Open API – Customizability – Lots of features	– Well designed – Affordable	– Great support options – Works for any-sized business
Cons	– Expensive – Too expansive	– 3-year contract	– Outdated design – Fewer features

Namely

Best for Customizability

Namely is the number one performance management software on this list for a reason. In addition to providing a wide range of helpful features for managing HR, payroll, and benefits – including reviews, goals, and detailed analytics – Namely is built on an open API, allowing for an unprecedented level of customization.

What does this mean for your business? Well, it means you'll be able to add on any number of third party integrations to the platform, while measuring exactly what you want. Thanks to the Connect Marketplace, you'll be able to add and remove these integrations with ease, making Namely one of the most comprehensive all-in-one platforms you can buy.

Unfortunately, with all these embellishments comes a notably higher price tag, especially compared to other software on this list. However, if you're looking for a robust, feature-rich platform that will let you do what you want, Namely can't be beat – even for the price.

Workday

Best for Ease of Use

Adding new programs to your company can be stressful, which is why an easy to use platform like Workday can make a big difference. Between its modern design and its 24/7 support team, you can be sure that your employees will actually utilize this platform to improve productivity.

Specifically designed to highlight internal talent, Workday provides users with goal-setting, talent review, and analytics features that comprehensively give managers and employees a clear picture of the work at hand. Plus, at this lower price point, it offers some serious bang for your buck.

There is a catch, though: Workday users are required to lock into a three-year contract to sign up. You are granted access to a free demo, so you can find out if the software is right for you – but once you've purchased Workday, you're in it for the long haul.

UltiPro

Best for Reliability

Founded in 1990, it's safe to say UltiPro has the experience to provide users with a reliable platform that gets the job done without too much hassle. With 24/7 customer support and efficient workplace features like feedback and learning, you can easily track how your employees are performing, while giving them the power to monitor their progress.

Another advantage of UltiPro is its mobile app, which gives you complete control over HR, benefits, and payroll functionality while on the go. Employees can access documentation, view reviews, and even request time off right from their smartphones.

The only problem with signing on with a software company founded in the 1990s is that its design team hasn't done a great job of evolving with the times. Their outdated interface can be a bit tricky to figure out, and is far from easy on the eyes.

Betterworks

Best for Goal-Oriented Teams

Setting and measuring goals can be difficult in a growing company, which is why Betterworks makes it such a valued priority. Founded in Goal Science, the robust platform provides users with a plentiful bounty of features, aimed at measuring what really matters on your team.

From the hefty feedback system to the well-designed goals and results processes, you'll be able to easily see what your team excels at, and where they struggle. Plus, with third party integrations like Slack, Salesforce, and Jira, you can manage your whole company from one platform.

Feature-rich platforms like Betterworks don't come cheap, though, and it's important to consider this before making a decision. However, as far as value for money goes, you could do a whole lot worse than Betterworks.

BambooHR

Best for Visual Users

Installing performance management software for your company is all about painting a clear picture of how your company functions, and BambooHR provides a wide range of visual tools to help you do so. Its platform is built on graphs, charts, and visual metrics that make it easy for everyone on your team to understand how they're performing.

From employee performance charts with multiple axes to color-coded team engagement scores that can be organized by function, you'll be able to get an in-depth look at your company's strengths and weaknesses.

BambooHR is incredibly easy to use, which is fortunate, considering its customer support options are decidedly lacking. You won't have 24/7 help (more like 12/7), but you will have plenty of online resources to hopefully solve the problem yourself.

Impraise

Best for Team-Centric Tracking

Communication is the key to a solid relationship, and feedback is the key to a well-run company. Fortunately, Impraise provides you with a whole bunch of feedback options, putting the power of performance management in the hands of managers and employees alike.

Perhaps one of the most valuable features of Impraise is its integration with Slack. By providing users with a fast and easy avenue for giving praise and criticism to coworkers and employees, using a program they're already familiar with, Impraise makes feedback a priority beyond any other software on this list.

However, Impraise is more team-focused than individual-focused, which means it's missing independent development features that can help you focus your efforts more specifically.

Performance Pro

Best for Performance and Compensation

If you're looking for software that can do more than just the basics, Performance Pro is a no-brainer. In addition to the many performance management features available, you'll also be able to provide compensation for accomplished goals, and even increase pay based on actionable data found within the platform.

Performance Pro is also notably customizable, giving you the ability to set and adjust goal management and feedback processes. Most fields can be changed and tailored to your specific company, so you'll measure exactly what you need to know.

Unfortunately, with customizability comes complication, which makes Performance Pro far from ideal for new or inexperienced users. Make sure you know what you're getting into – maybe with a free trial – before you pull the trigger on Performance Pro.

SAP Successfactors

Best for Users Who Know What They Want

With over 120 million users across more than 200 countries and territories, SAP Successfactors is certainly equipped to handle your performance management needs. The HR-focused software provides goal, performance, and assessment management features, and offers several customization opportunities, with 500 preloaded goals on the platform.

SAP Successfactors does have one major flaw, though: In addition to being a bit more expensive than the average software, you are required to sign a year-long contract when you buy. To make matters worse, SAP Successfactors doesn't have a free trial, but rather a 15-minute walkthrough, so you better be able to recognize what you want in your software quickly before making a decision.

Lattice

Best for Mid-Sized Businesses

Employing performance management software is useless if none of your employees are using it – which is why Lattice has built-in notifications to keep employees engaged. They'll receive reminders to partake in feedback and reviews on a regular basis, facilitating an open communication between managers and employees.

Because Lattice is relatively new to the performance management industry, it isn't fully equipped to manage a larger company's workforce. However, it's perfect for mid-sized companies who are looking to scale, supported by a business that understands its needs.

Additionally, because Lattice is a bit on the expensive side, it doesn't make sense for smaller companies looking to get off the ground, as the resources dedicated to managing performance would likely be too high. This makes Lattice perfect for mid-sized companies.

Reviewsnap

Best for Large Teams with Money

Reviewsnap is one of the more popular performance management tools in this list, and for good reason. This all-in-one platform provides users with any and all the features they'll need to keep track of their team's progress. Between 360-degree feedback and automated performance reviews, you know you're getting a heavy-duty platform with Reviewsnap.

Additionally, Reviewsnap provides users with a number of helpful third party integrations that turn the platform into a productivity machine. By offering integrations with any Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) app that uses web services or flat file integration, you can effectively make Reviewsnap do anything you need it to.

The price, however, is a bit of a problem. Granted, you're getting a lot of bang for your buck, but the yearly contract combined with the hefty price tag can definitely make some users turn and run the other way.

Zoho People

Best for Automation

While Zoho People has only been around for a decade, the Zoho company has been improving business management since 1996 – meaning you'll have a wealth of experience at your back when you decide on them. Plus, you'll have access to plenty of helpful features designed to track, manage, and customize your team's performance.

Zoho People also makes automation a priority, allowing employees access to a self-service platform that cuts steps out of tedious HR practices. Employees will be able to take care of basics like leave, on-boarding, and training, all online, without taking time away from other employees.

If you have a team that is frequently on the go, however, Zoho People might not be for you – its mobile app is notably inconsistent, and a bit hard to use. Fortunately, its desktop software runs smoothly and simply, so you'll be fine as long as you stay in the office.

Engagedly

Best for Customer Support

When it comes to new, complicated software, having a dedicated customer support team can make a huge difference. With Engagedly, that's just what you get, as its robust, feature-rich software comes with a 24/7 support team that is available via email or phone all day long. Plus, with a wealth of knowledge on its website, you can troubleshoot the problem on your own if you're not in a talkative mood.

As for Engagedly's performance management features, you'll have access to multi-rater feedback and performance review cycles, so that everyone can stay engaged throughout the process. Plus, with its modern interface, it'll be hard to keep employees off Engagedly.

The pricing is fairly competitive, but tragically, there's no free trial. This means you're going to need to show a little faith when it comes to utilizing Engagedly at your company.

Lumesse

Best for Individual Evaluation

While many of the platforms on this list cater to teams and groups, Lumesse is different in that it focuses on individual performance and growth. With specific personal objective overviews and continuous feedback, your individual team members will feel valued and heard within your company.

Lumesse also features a number of self-serve features that let employees take care of their own performance management needs, such as HR tasks and learning opportunities. Plus, with team goal trackers, you can maintain that group attitude while fostering productive employee behavior.

However, Lumesse does have a segmented pricing model, which means each of the specific features you might be interested in will cost extra – which can really add up down the line. This à la carte pricing might work for you, but just be sure you know what you're in for.

PerformYard

Best for Affordability

Sometimes, when it comes to adding new software to your business, affordability is most important – which is where PerformYard comes in handy. It may not be the most robust option on the list, but it's definitely on the cheaper side of the spectrum, without sacrificing too much functionality.

You'll still get all your favorite performance management features, like reviews, goal management, and continuous feedback, while still having access to third party integrations with G Suite, Office 365, Okta, and OneLogin.

However, you won't have nearly as much customer support since teams are limited to business hours only, while some of the fancier features – such as customizability and automation – are nowhere to be found. Still, if you're looking to organize your business while saving money, PerformYard could definitely help.