Performance review software is essential for modern people management. For years, employers have relied on static files to track performance, but these just don’t cut it anymore. So, what’s the best software for performance reviews in 2025?
- Key features for performance review software
- Perform365
- HiBob HRIS
- Culture Amp
- BambooHR
- Lattice
- Free demo – performance review software
Attitudes to performance reviews have changed significantly, as highlighted by CIPD’s factsheets. Modern should be framed as conversations with give and take, and should use data-driven insights to mitigate human error.
Features like workflow automation and real-time data collection help you deliver reviews that accurately reflect employee performance. Using outdated static documents, the workload required to deliver these kinds of results is wildly unrealistic. The best software for performance reviews, however, delivers scalable performance management to any number of employees.
Key features for performance review software
There are countless ways to design any software solution, but if you want to improve performance conversations, you’ll need some specific tools. All the best software for performance reviews tends to provide at least the majority of these features:
- Automated reminders and scheduling: The best platforms can automate and route prompts and updates through desktop and mobile apps, as well as email, or comms apps like Microsoft Teams.
- Customizable review templates: What’s a performance review worth if it’s not tailored to the individual? Customizable templates streamline review prep, allowing HR to be prepared for any number of role types or complex circumstances.
- 360° feedback integration: Performance appraisal software often includes 360° feedback functionality. Feedback from a variety of leaders and colleagues can decrease the risk of bias, and results in more nuanced praise and critiques.
- Goal-setting and tracking: The bread and butter of day-to-day performance management. They’re also vital documentation for annual review software. The best platforms give you multiple goal-setting options, like goals for teams and individuals, or OKRs for collaboration.
- Employee self-assessment tools: Two-way feedback makes it easier for managers and employees to get on the same page. You might conduct self-assessment surveys leading up to performance reviews, or better yet, ask these questions consistently during regular check-ins.
- Analytics and reporting: The best software for performance reviews includes data-driven analytics and reporting for objective performance insights. Extra points if these metrics can be easily found in a ready-made or custom dashboard.
The problem with static documents
Much like traditional performance reviews, reliance on static documentation has become an outdated practice. We’ve touched on some of the main reasons why, but let’s explore them.
First, there’s the time-consuming nature of manual upkeep. It takes human analysts incredible effort and countless work hours to sift through large bodies of data. Each step is pain-staking. Modern algorithms, on the other hand, can sort through huge volumes in the blink of an eye and even highlight trends in dashboards or reports.
Then there’s human error. It’s easy to misread a number or put something in the wrong place. Automated processes monitored by humans significantly lowers the risk of mistakes in performance documentation.
1. Perform365
With all that out of the way, let’s look at some of the best software for performance reviews available in 2025. To set the tone, let’s start with Zensai’s own software, Perform365. As part of our Human Success Platform, Perform365 offers agility, ease of use, and extensive Microsoft integrations.
Core features of this performance review software
The full Perform365 platform has plenty of features we could talk about, but today, let’s focus on those that make it some of the best software for performance reviews on the market:
- Best-practice performance conversations: Perform365’s customizable templates make it much easier to set up for performance reviews, development planning, goal-setting meetings and more. Reviews can even incorporate 360° feedback results for greater balance.
- Goals and OKRs: Goal-tracking is an essential measure for accurate performance appraisals, which is why Perform365 lets you mix and match OKRs and SMART Goals for the best outcomes.
- Workflow automations: Automate up to 90% of the admin and prep-work for performance reviews and similar conversations, saving valuable time while keeping performance conversations scheduled and on-track.
- Performance insights: Perform365’s analytics takes goal-tracking and other data from employee check-ins and breaks it down in real-time, so that managers always have the full moving picture of employee performance
Selling points
Perform365 has plenty to offer for businesses looking to improve their performance review processes, with the following key selling points:
- Streamlined performance reviews: Along with Perform365’s intuitive UI, its templates and workflow automation take a lot of the headache out of performance reviews. This enables far more effective, continuous performance management supported by check-ins and conversations throughout the year.
- A highly integrated platform: We built Perform365 on Azure for unparalleled Microsoft 365 integration for apps like SharePoint, Excel, and full access via Microsoft Teams. In addition, Perform365 has integrations for numerous HR platforms, including competitors like HiBob and BambooHR.
- AI-assisted performance management: Goal-setting and performance tracking are AI-powered in Perform365, ensuring everything stays organized and up to date. In addition, managers can get data-driven coaching tips to help them make decisions and guide employees during the review process.
Limitations of this performance review software
While Perform365 is certainly some of the best software for performance reviews, there are a couple of caveats to mention. In the interest of objectivity, here are the limitations of our performance management module that you should know about.
- Works best with the full Human Success Platform: Although Perform365 functions well independently, you’ll get the most out of it when combined with our other modules, Engage365 and Learn365. Without them, you could miss out on useful extended functionality.
- Best-suited for Microsoft users: The extent of Perform365’s Microsoft integration is a major selling point. While it’s still perfectly fine without them, those who don’t use Microsoft’s apps may not appreciate the full range of our platform’s bells and whistles.
Best fit and pricing
With a free trial available, and a highly flexible price structure, Zensai has made Perform365 accessible and suitable for teams and businesses of all sizes. The Human Success Platform has more than 2 million users at over 500 companies, ranging from consulting companies like PowerON, to HR services companies like Eastern Suburbs Sydney HR.
Here’s a quick overview of our pricing:
- $: Perform365 with Success Basic support.
$$: The full Human Success Platform with Success Basic support.
$$$: The full platform with Success Plus support, advanced analytics and automation.
$$$$: The full platform with Success Premium support, for expert assistance for custom enterprise needs.
2. HiBob HRIS
When you’re pitching software to your CEO, it’s important to consider your options. So, let’s move onto our next contender to be the best software for performance reviews. HiBob HRIS is, as its name suggests, a HR system with performance review functionality. Let’s dive in.
Core features of this performance review software
HiBob has several useful features to improve your performance reviews, such as:
- Agile and customizable performance review cycles with notifications and reminders.
- Goal-setting that can be tracked as part of a review.
- 360° performance reviews for feedback from leaders, peers and direct reports.
- Report data generated from performance review management for additional tracking detail.
Selling points
As you can see by its feature list, HiBob certainly has a lot to offer as a multi-purpose HR tool. That’s why we made sure to include an integration for it in Perform365. Its main selling points include:
- Simple and intuitive UI: HiBob’s UI features a clean, simple design that’s easy for users to navigate. For organizations used to struggling with performance reviews, this ease-of-use can be a real game-changer.
- Excellent platform reputation: As one of the top-rated platforms by G2 and Capterra, HiBob is arguably a safe bet for organizations changing their performance management or HR software.
Limitations of this performance review software
Although HiBob HRIS is certainly a strong competitor, it has a couple of drawbacks that keep it from quite being the best software for performance management:
- HR-first functionality: HiBob’s high ratings are mostly for its role as a HRIS platform. This can make it hard to tell how popular its performance review features actually are.
- Setup and integration issues: Users report a complex setup process, which could be quite time-consuming. Some also report limitations and difficulties with the platform’s various integrations, which may be an issue if you don’t want a standalone system.
Best fit and pricing
HiBob’s performance review features definitely seem scalable to business needs, and its broad HR functionality will certainly appeal to some.
Its lack of available price structure makes it hard to say whether HiBob is affordable for start-ups or smaller businesses. That said, they do offer “custom pricing” for businesses seeking a quote.
3. Culture Amp
Culture Amp may well be the best software for performance reviews, as it’s another contender with a stellar brand reputation. It has a fair bit in common with Zensai’s Human Success Platform, as they share a focus on employee engagement.
Core features of this performance review software
Given the focus of today’s article, we’ll be focusing on Culture Amp’s Perform module. Its main features include:
- Performance reviews with calibration functions and automated reminders.
- 1:1 management with shared agendas for meetings like performance reviews.
- Science-backed OKR software for comprehensive employee tracking.
- Data-driven insights with custom rating scales to identify top performers.
Selling points
Culture Amp earns its reputation and overall name recognition with these major strengths:
- Excellent review scheduling and reminders: Shared agendas and reminders for managers and employees make it easy to work out the best time for a performance review meeting.
- Calibrations for review customization: Built-in calibrations help you quickly tailor performance reviews and eliminate bias. You can even integrate 360° feedback for increased breadth of performance insight.
Limitations of this performance review software
While it’s certainly an excellent platform, Culture Amp has a couple of key drawbacks you’ll want to take into consideration:
- Lacks full Microsoft integration: Although Culture Amp offers a good number of integrations, the only one that caters to Microsoft 365 is the one for Teams. If you’re looking for something extensively compatible with tools like SharePoint and Copilot, look elsewhere.
- Has a bit of a learning curve: Culture Amp isn’t as immediately user-friendly as some entries on this list, so be sure to factor training into its implementation.
Best fit and pricing
Since Culture Amp has its share of things in common with Perform365, we have to admit it’s a good fit for businesses of all sizes. Their impressive client list includes Etsy, McDonald’s, and Major League Baseball. Here’s the gist of their price structure:
- $: Individual modules
- $$: Bundle rate for full platform
- $$$: Custom enterprise pricing
4. BambooHR
BambooHR is another popular HR platform that Perform365 has an integration for. They offer a wide range of tools and services, but as usual, we’ll be looking at what they can bring to your performance reviews.
Core features of this performance review software
Although BambooHR’s performance management tools are just one part of its employee experience suite, they still manage to offer a respectable range of features:
- Customizable reviews with 360° feedback, including peer feedback and self-assessment.
- Status reports for individual and team-level goal-tracking.
- Automated reminders with customizable frequencies.
- Performance reports with simple visuals.
Selling points
Next up, let’s look at BambooHR’s main strengths as performance review software:
- Extensive customization options: BambooHR emphasizes customization in its review management tool. Tweaking things like questions, format and frequency lets you tune review processes to your work culture.
- Simple and intuitive UI: BambooHR is another platform that emphasizes ease-of-use in its design, which should help managers, employees, and admins get to grips with it.
Limitations of this performance review software
For everything BambooHR has done right, its niche performance management functions also work against it:
- Not primarily performance review software: Like HiBob, BambooHR is a core HR platform first. As such, it can be harder to take general praise at face value.
- Performance management isn’t a core feature: Performance management features like review software aren’t part of BambooHR’s core services but instead require a Pro subscription or higher.
Best fit and pricing
As a HR platform, BambooHR is popular with businesses of all sizes. The price barrier for performance review functions, however, may make it less affordable for small businesses. Customers include Fulkrum, Hope for Haiti, and the Centre for Family Medicine.
Here’s BambooHR’s basic price structure:
- $: Core, which covers most of their HR software.
- $: Pro, which is necessary for performance review functionality.
- $: Elite, for advanced reporting and premium services.
5. Lattice
Last up is Lattice, which offers a more equal split between HR and performance management. Theirs is another platform with a great reputation, so let’s see if it has what it takes to be the best software for performance reviews in 2025!
Core features of this performance review software
As its name suggests, Lattice offers a combination of features to support comprehensive performance reviews:
- Performance and talent reviews with adjustable scheduling.
- Customizable, automatic rules that can be adjusted mid-cycle.
- Integrate goals and OKRs into performance reviews.
- People analytics for performance insights.
Selling points
BambooHR’s feature list talks the talk, but are its strengths enough for it to walk the walk? Let’s find out:
- Highly flexible review cycles: The ability to play with review scheduling and rules mid-cycle lets you experiment to find the best cadence and structure for your business.
- Supports automation: Speaking of rules, Lattice’s custom rule automation lets admins be more hands-off with key workflows, freeing them up to manage other areas of performance review policies.
Limitations of this performance review software
Of course, no platform is perfect. Here are Lattice’s main limitations:
- Lacks seamless integration features: Lattice offers a good number of integrations, and more for Microsoft than Culture Amp, but these integrations aren’t as seamless and fully functional as other providers.
- Unintuitive UI: Users complain of a difficult user interface with a steep learning curve. While the platform can no doubt be effective, it may take some adjustments.
Best fit and pricing
Lattice primarily targets large and mid-sized organizations, with customers including Webflow, Vantage West, and Cahill Contractors.
Lattice’s Talent Management platform, which includes performance management, goals, and OKRs, can be purchased together or individually. Higher price tiers add engagement and HR functions that aren’t directly relevant to performance reviews.
How to choose the best performance review software
Now that you’ve got a rundown of the best software for performance reviews, it’s time to do your own research. Here are some key considerations for comparing different options, whether they’re traditional tools or annual review alternatives:
- Organization size: Business size can determine the best option. Lighter weight, cheaper options might not be scalable for enterprises, while complex systems can be wasted on small start-ups.
- Workforce needs: Consider what admins and employees need from review software. Like scheduling and reminders so employees can prepare, or automation features so admins can manage their workloads.
- Integration requirements: Are you throwing out everything but the kitchen sink or not? Make sure new software integrates with existing HR and performance management tools.
- ROI vs ease of implementation: How cost-effective is your chosen software, and have you factored implementation into your cost assessment? This is what your pitch may boil down to for CEOs.
- Vendor support: What’s your vendor’s reputation for customer support? Consider things like response times and support for custom enterprise needs.
Move from static documents to a modern platform
If you’ve relied on manual upkeep for performance reviews and documentation until now, then switching to the best software for performance reviews will be like night and day. Modern software automates, streamlines and opens up more effective communication between reviews.
Of course, first-hand experience is essential when choosing software. So, reach out to our support team and book your Perform365 demo today!
