Finding software can be overwhelming. We help HR departments choose the right performance management software to digitize performance reviews and monitor development.
Showing 1-20 of 131 products
Since 2004, ClearCompany has empowered thousands of companies to attract, screen, and hire better talent, engage their team, and use strategic insights to keep their recruiting competitive.The ClearCompany Talent Management Platfo... Read more
Zenefits is an all-encompassing HR SaaS platform designed specifically for small to midsize businesses. The Zenefits People Platform includes a robust offering spanning HR, Benefits, Payroll, Well-being and Performance apps that c... Read more
TimeWorksPlus is a cloud-based time, attendance, and leave management system for small to mid-size businesses. This software can capture time data from web-based clocks or physical clocks for employees onsite, mobile, and working ... Read more
BambooHR is a cloud-based HR management software solution for small and midsize businesses. BambooHR offers small and growing companies a human resource information system (HRIS) that includes an applicant tracking system (ATS), t... Read more
Dayforce, provided by Ceridian, is a cloud-based solution for Payroll, Benefits, Workforce Management, Human Resources, Talent Management, Document Management, and Analytics. As a single application, Dayforce provides organization... Read more

Performance Pro FrontRunners 2021
Performance ProFrontRunners 2021
Performance Pro by HR Performance Solutions is a cloud-based performance appraisal solution for HR professionals. Performance Pro is customizable and allows users to align the solution with company’s strategic goals. The system ca... Read more

Trakstar Performance Management FrontRunners 2021
Trakstar Performance ManagementFrontRunners 2021
Trakstar is a cloud-based Human Resource Management (HRM) solution that provides HR professionals employee evaluation functionalities like performance review, goal management, 360-degree feedback and succession planning. With... Read more
PurelyHR is a cloud-based leave management solution for small to midsize businesses. The system’s core modules allow HR departments to track staff leave requests and approvals as well as manage diverse time off policies and hierar... Read more
Collage is a cloud-based human resources (HR) and benefits management platform built for the needs of small and midsize businesses. Collage also digitizes group benefits enrollment and can sync with any insurance provider in Canad... Read more

PerformYard Talent FrontRunners 2021
PerformYard TalentFrontRunners 2021
PerformYard is a cloud-based feedback and corporate performance management solution that allows users to set goals and track performance. The solution also helps in other human resources (HR) processes such as onboarding and organ... Read more
Threads Culture is an HR solution that enables users to measure employees against the business’ core values as well as goals unique to each employee’s position to identify who is adding to and who is detracting from company cultur... Read more
Workzoom by Nortek is the all-you-need cloud-based people management platform that helps clients simplify HR, payroll, benefits, time, recruiting, performance, learning, expense management and much more. Workzoom has all the funct... Read more
Ascentis offers a cloud-based human capital management (HCM) suite designed for midsize companies of all industries. It includes HR and benefits, recruiting and onboarding, talent management, time and attendance and payroll. ... Read more
CRG emPerform is a hybrid employee performance management solution that helps organizations to automate performance reviews and align, develop and retain talent. It can be deployed either on-premise or in the cloud. CRG emPer... Read more
Motivosity is a cloud-based employee recognition solution, which assists small to large organizations with performance tracking and benchmarking. Key features include peer-to-peer social recognition, feedback collection, monetary ... Read more
BerniePortal is a cloud-based human resources software platform for small and midsize employers. BerniePortal’s features address each phase of the employee lifecycle from hiring to COBRA administration including: applicant trackin... Read more
BizMerlinHR is a cloud-based human resource management solution that helps mid to large enterprises manage the entire employee lifecycle, from onboarding to comprehensive employee records to performance management to team retentio... Read more
Spidergap is a cloud-based 360 degree feedback assessment solution designed for businesses of all sizes. Spidergap provides built-in templates or users can create customized questionnaires to gather feedback. Spidergap provid... Read more
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2021 Performance Review & Appraisal Software Pricing Guide
Learn about the key aspects of accurate software pricing before you make your purchase decision.
Includes:
Pricing models & ranges
Unexpected costs
Pricing of popular systems
Employee reviews are arguably the best opportunity an organization has to energize and motivate its employees. Managers get a chance to sit down and have a one-on-one conversation with employees, as well as give and receive 360-degree feedback. For many organizations, though, the process of scheduling, executing and documenting reviews can be incredibly arduous. Relying on traditional methods, managers and human resources (HR) professionals are left with countless paper forms and records to review and file, which takes away from time and energy spent on the review itself.
There are more than 100 different employee performance management software solutions available for modernizing and automating the evaluation processes in an organization. With so many options to review, it’s no small task to find the best fit for your organization. That’s why we have written this buyer’s guide to help you identify the right solution.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
What Is Performance Management Software?
What Type of Buyer Are You?
Benefits and Potential Issues
Market Trends to Understand
The Vendor Landscape
What Is Performance Management Software?
Performance management software automates the cumbersome—and often time consuming—task of regularly evaluating employees. With the right performance management software in place, the challenge of strategically developing your organization's workforce becomes a collaborative effort with tangible results. These systems enable employers to focus on identifying top talent and developing employees to better fit the needs of an organization.
Performance management software also makes it easier for managers to track employees’ goals and performance throughout the year, and then share this information with authorized users across the organization.
The HR software market is growing, and the emergence of new strategic companies has pushed all vendors to increase the pace of innovation. One major change in HR and talent management software has been the move toward cloud computing. Cloud computing, also known as Software as a Service (SaaS), is a model in which the software vendor hosts the application on the web, making it easy for you to securely access the application through any Web browser.
Ultipro employee performance management system dashboard screenshot
One key benefit of Web-based software is that users can access the system from anywhere. With this model, employees can log in and perform self reviews, view past reviews, view recent achievements against goals set and schedule reviews without bothering the busy folks in HR. Managers can set reminders, run performance reports, flag top talent for advancement and then easily share this information among departments. Traditionally, these activities were more limited to the HR department, where a much smaller set of employees had access to older client/server systems.
Employee review software functionality includes:
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Performance notes
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Goal tracking
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Information sharing
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Stack ranking
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Electronic record-keeping
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Interdepartmental communication
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Real-time reporting
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Performance rating
What Type of Buyer Are You?
Before reviewing employee performance evaluation software, it's important to assess what type of buyer you are. We believe that 90 percent of buyers fit into one of these categories:
Best-of-breed buyers. These buyers work for organizations looking for ways to specifically enhance their review processes. The organization may already have an HR system in place, but needs a better solution with measurable results to monitor, track and review employees. These buyers want straightforward, simple-to-use tools that can be implemented into their complex HR operation with minimal interruption. High functionality is key, and best-of-breed performance appraisals systems are the best place to start.
Integrated suite buyers. These buyers work for organizations where some of the HR processes have become disjointed and inconsistent. Their current processes for performance reviews may be outdated, and they struggle to easily identify and cultivate key performers. These buyers are interested in improving existing human resources systems across the board to create a more efficient, effective process for both managers and employees. Integrated HR suites with a robust portfolio of applications, including well-developed employee evaluation systems, offer the best solution for these buyers.
Cost-conscious buyers. These buyers work for organizations looking to roll out a modernized performance appraisal process that improves employee engagement and motivates their talent to its fullest potential while keeping costs low. Although there are inexpensive on-premise options available, the SaaS model—which runs on a monthly service fee is changing the industry. That means organizations with more limited resources can now take advantage of feature-rich performance appraisal solutions for less.
Benefits and Potential Issues
Thanks to recent developments in the employee evaluation software market, updating processes to engage, energize and retain talent is less daunting. It’s just a matter of performing thorough performance management software comparisons and finding the right system that can handle your unique needs today and in the years to come. By implementing a new system and modernizing your approach to reviews and workforce development, your organization has a great opportunity to build culture, while attracting and retaining top talent.
Many managers lack the time required to effectively execute annual reviews. Reviewing paper records, submitting forms and manually tracking performance throughout the year can be a hassle. Consequently, organizations often miss out on the full value of the information generated in the review process. Not to mention, development and retention strategies are difficult to enforce, and top talent can slip through the cracks. By failing to take advantage of the performance appraisal software available to them, organizations run the risk of hurting their bottom line.
Market Trends to Understand
When researching employee performance review software, there are a number of market trends you should understand:
Software-as-a-Service. Cloud computing has changed the way we do HR. SaaS provides a user-friendly, Internet-based option for adding new functionality and accessibility for your employees. By giving them access to employee evaluation solutions anywhere they have Internet access, SaaS connects all parties involved, making the review process much more collaborative. With SaaS, HR solutions are also easier to implement than ever, which means faster adoption and improved user accessibility. Although the best-of-breed SaaS options offer best practices and allow for configuration to meet your needs, it's important to note that specific customization options can be limited.
Consolidation. Larger software companies have aggressively acquired many best-of-breed solutions to strengthen the arsenal of their integrated suites. For buyers, this means increased functionality and integration with the rest of your HR system. This is especially important in the employee review process, as it broadens the scope of reviews to encompass an employee’s entire lifecycle within an organization. Employee information that previously existed in silos is now centralized and highly visible for managers, enabling organizations to identify top performers and focus their retention efforts strategically. Be sure to lock in rates and service terms, though, as disruption in service can occur when vendors are acquired.
Strategic HR. Basic HR such as payroll, benefits management and human resource management systems (HRMS) now serve as the backbone for a much larger, more complex organism. This complex organism, or “strategic HR,” encompasses the functions and processes associated with talent management and workforce management. HR software developers have turned out a number of products aimed at making concepts like talent pooling, proactive management and strategic development more tangible and attainable for organizations. The emergence of SaaS has had a strong impact on the emerging relevance of strategic HR, and organizations would be wise to tap into performance appraisal systems that put the right tools in their hands.
The Vendor Landscape
These types of buyers... | Should evaluate these systems... |
Best-of-breed buyer | iCIMS Talent Platform, ReviewSNAP, Plateau |
Integrated suite buyer | Ascentis, Sage Abra, SAP ERP Human Capital Management |
Cost-conscious buyers | TrakStar, SuccessFactors, Sonar6 |
Your Guide to Top Performance Review & Appraisal Software, January 2021
Software Advice uses reviews from real software users to highlight the top-rated Performance Management Software products in North America.
Learn how products are chosen