Top 14 Free Performance Review Software

We’re nowhere close to performance review season, but it’s always good to be prepared for the next one with our free performance review software suggestions!

Performance reviews are an essential part of employee management since they provide managers with an opportunity to evaluate an employee’s performance, find areas for improvement, and develop plans for career advancement.

However, conducting performance reviews can be time-consuming and challenging, especially if you’re an organization with a large workforce to go through thousands of them. 

As we discussed in countless other articles, performance reviews as a concept is one that has come under a lot of scrutinies over the past couple of years.

There are some who find performance reviews to be a time-consuming, cumbersome, and outdated process. The real problem doesn’t stem from performance reviews as a concept but from the way people are conducting them.

If the process isn’t streamlined, automated, and simplified with the help of performance review software, then it many of the criticism sent in the way of performance reviews gains accuracy.

When employers use performance review software efficiently, however, it results in some priceless insights that any people leader would cherish.

There are some underlying questions surrounding this discussion such as:

• What to look for in performance review software?
• How often should performance reviews be conducted?
• Should performance reviews include self-appraisals?

Before diving into the list, lets us answer the first question right away. Every organization has different needs when it comes to performance review software.

With each performance review software in the market offering lots of unique features, it would be very hard to boil them down to specific criteria. That being said, there are five bases your performance review software should cover in order to be considered viable.

• Review Cycle Automation
• Performance Review Templates
• 360-Degree Feedback
• Complete Integration
• Customizability

The performance review software you choose to invest in should help you automate your review cycles with ease, offer you customizable performance review templates with a built-in 360-degree feedback option, and have great integrations with the rest of your software.

We understand that not all companies are ready to spend lots of money on implementing performance review software. You may be hesitant and just want to try it first, or you may not have the budget for it yet. Don’t worry! That’s why we’ll look at the top 10 free performance review software options available today in this blog post and examine the features and benefits of each software, as well as their pros and cons. 

So, if you’re ready to simplify your performance management process and achieve better results, let’s dive in and explore the world of performance review software free of charge! 

Criteria for Selecting Performance Review Software 

When searching for a performance review software, it’s important to find a tool that aligns with your organization’s goals and objectives. Every organization needs different features to handle performance management processes, and there are plenty of different options to choose from in the market! Before going on with the list of software we will mention, let’s take a look at the features to look for in a performance management software.  

User-friendly interface 

One key feature you should consider when choosing a performance management software is the user-friendliness and interface. A user-friendly software will help save time and avoid confusion, which could lead to frustration for managers and employees alike. No one wants to waste hours and hours on learning to use a performance management software! Choosing a software with an easy-to-use interface will also ease the integration of your new software of choice to the organization.  

Customizability 

Another feature we recommend checking out before choosing a performance review software is customization options. Each organization has its own unique needs and objectives, and a performance review software should be able to accommodate your specific needs. For instance, if your company wants to use a specific rating system or customize the feedback questions, the software should allow for that. The more customizability, the better! Some software even offers a whole performance review template gallery to guide your review season, as we will mention soon.  

Security 

The security aspect of a performance review tool should never be overlooked! With the sensitive nature of employee information, it’s important to ensure that the software provides a high level of security. You should double check for features such as multi-factor authentication, encryption, and access control. Better safe than sorry guys!  

Integration  

Seamless integration with your choice of communication tool may be one of the most important features to look for. The performance review software you use should be able to integrate with your existing tools and systems, such as HR management or communication software to ensure that data can be easily shared across different tools and avoid the need to manually enter information into each system. For example, if your organization uses Microsoft Teams for collaboration like we do, you should consider a performance review software that integrates seamlessly with it. No one wants to use 5 different tools for these tasks when you can do them in one place!  

Tool Name	Best for	Price
Teamflect	Microsoft Teams integration	$0 – $5 per user/month
BambooHR	HR management	$5.25 – $8.75 per user/month
Motivosity	Peer-to-peer recognition	$2 per user/month
Lattice	360-degree feedback	$4 per user/month
Leapsome	Employee engagement surveys	$8 per user/month
Primalogik	One-on-one meetings	Starting from $159 per month
AssessTEAM	Customer evaluation	$3 per user/month
Small Improvements	Pulse surveys	$5 per user/month
Trakstar	Automation	Starting from $249 per month
Workday	Human capital management	Starting from $40 per user/month
CultureAMP	Anonymous feedback	$4 per user/month
7Geese	Analytics	$12 per user/month
15Five	Goal-setting	$4 per user/month
Namely	Flexibility	$16 per user/month

Top 14 Free Performance Review Software

1. Teamflect

Teamflect is an all-in-one performance management solution that not only covers all five bases mentioned above and functions perfectly as a performance review software but also takes care of all your other performance management needs.

If you are an organization that uses Microsoft Teams, then Teamflect is the right performance review software for you. With their complete Microsoft Teams integration, they offer their users the opportunity to complete all aspects of performance management without ever having to leave Microsoft Teams.

You can automate reviews to be conducted at any interval of your choice or pick a template and start one right away.

You can access customizable performance review templates inside Microsoft Teams streamlining the entire review process. You can integrate sections into the review such as:

• Goal Completion Rates
• Self Review
• Employee Development Plan
• 360-Degree Feedback Results
• 9-Box Talent Grid

Teamflect’s extensive performance review template gallery features a wide array of heavily customizable templates that can be rolled out and automated with only a couple of clicks. This offers their users the luxury of having an incredibly strong base that they can customize however they like.

Once you’re done with reviews, you can present them inside meetings.

Whether you are conducting performance review cycles, setting tasks, tracking goals & OKRs, or simply looking for a customizable employee recognition tool for Microsoft Teams, Teamflect is the answer for you.

Key Features:

• The best performance management tool for Microsoft Teams
• Keeps the performance review cycles within a single app
• 360-degree feedback
• Goal setting & tracking
• Highly efficient one-on-one meetings with built-in task assignments and note-taking tools
• User-friendly design
• Customizable and automated review cycles with built-in templates

2. BambooHR

BambooHR is an end-to-end performance management solution for businesses looking to gain a more accurate picture of their workforce. We think BambooHR is more than just a free performance management software since it offers a wide range of features designed to streamline HR processes and provide valuable insights into the workforce. In addition to performance management, BambooHR offers features such as time tracking, salary management, employee satisfaction, and more. This comprehensive suite of tools makes it a versatile and indispensable asset for businesses of all sizes.

One of the best parts of BambooHR is that you can generate detailed reports on employee performance across the entire organization that will provide an accurate and comprehensive picture of how each individual is performing, allowing your organization to identify both high performers and areas of improvement. You can use this data to make informed decisions about promotions, raises, and training opportunities, ultimately leading to a more productive and engaged workforce.

BambooHR also provides a comprehensive performance report that gives an in-depth look at how well an employee has done on a given task or project which can be useful for individuals as they can see their progress and areas where they need improvement. 

Key Features:

• Benefit and payroll administration
• Employee and manager self-service
• Applicant tracking system
• Time and attendance tracking
• Performance management
• Reports / Analytics

3. Motivosity

Motivosity is a cloud-based performance review software that makes it easy for organizations to recognize and reward their employees with performance reviews and recognition initiatives. This free performance management software tracks and compares employee performance to identify top performers by offering a comprehensive set of tools and features and simplifying the process of performance reviews and fosters a culture of appreciation within the workplace.

One of the standout features that sets Motivosity apart is its user-friendly and highly customizable interface. The software provides a well-designed dashboard that can be tailored to suit the needs of different teams and individuals which allows your organization to monitor progress, set goals, and track performance metrics relevant to their specific roles and responsibilities.

Motivosity goes beyond traditional performance management systems by incorporating a peer-to-peer recognition feature. We have talked about the importance of peer-to-peer recognition before, but briefly, this feature creates a platform for employees to acknowledge and appreciate each other’s contributions and accomplishments.

Key Features:

• Peer to peer recognition
• Rewards
• Organization Charts
• Milestone Section
• Personality assessment
• Digital Gifts

4. Lattice

Next up, we have Lattice! With Lattice, you have a user-friendly tool at your fingertips that allows you to effortlessly monitor and nurture the progress of your team. Gone are the days of manual and time-consuming performance evaluations. Lattice streamlines the process, making it easier than ever to send and receive timely 360-feedback reviews.

But Lattice is so much more than just a feedback tool. You can create customized reviews that are tailored to your unique needs and organizational culture using Lattice, which means you can gather constructive feedback from both your peers and managers, gaining valuable insights into your strengths and areas for improvement.

One standout feature of Lattice is its emphasis on self-review. It encourages you to reflect on your own performance and identify areas where you can grow. This self-awareness is a key driver of personal development, and Lattice ensures that you have the tools to foster it.

Key Features:

• Employee Progress Tracking
• KPI Monitoring
• Individual Development Plan
• Pulse Surveys
• Feedback Management
• Benchmarking

5. Leapsome

Leapsome is a performance management tool that helps companies improve their management processes. Their performance review cycles can be customized and scheduled to recur automatically according to predetermined timelines. 

Other key features include 360-degree feedback, skill frameworks that help define roles within projects, development paths for employees’ careers—all of which are automated so they’re easy to manage. In addition to 360-degree feedback surveys, Leapsome also provides employee engagement surveys that can track changes in your employees’ satisfaction over time. 

Key Features:

• Recruitment Management
• Surveys & Feedback
• Review Cycle Tracking
• Negative Feedback Management
• Response Management
• Weighted Performance Measures

6. Primalogik

Primalogik is a user-friendly and customer-oriented performance review software. Primalogik provides a number of performance review assessments, 360-degree feedback and engagement surveys to help employees gain insight into their individual performance. It also gives frequent 1:1 check-ins with managers so people can get fast feedback on how they’re doing in the workplace. Primalogik offers a wide array of different performance review question types as well.

One of Primalogik’s most innovative features is its one-stop shop for asking for feedback from multiple sources. Managers can choose their own rating scales and decide whether they want to keep the responses confidential. Managers and administrators can send out requests for feedback about their employees; ask for responses from specific co-workers, if necessary; set reminders for themselves to provide feedback by a certain date. 

Key Features:

• Pulse surveys
• OKRs
• 360-degree feedback
• Automated performance reviews
• ROI measurement

7. AssessTEAM

AssessTEAM is a performance management system that provides you with an effective way to assess your organization’s culture. The tool offers many different types of evaluations, from traditional top-down assessments to real time feedback. 

It makes it easy to set reminders, so that employees will get timely responses from employees. In addition, the software collects information about employees and compiles it so that managers can make decisions about promotions and compensation. You can evaluate an employee’s performance by combining multiple forms of feedback, such as peer evaluations, self-evaluation and customer evaluation. 

Key Features:

• Continuous Feedback
• Progress Tracking
• Engagement Analytics
• Activity Tracking
• ROI measurement

8. Small Improvements

Small Improvements is a robust and feature-rich tool for conducting performance reviews. The 360-degree feedback feature, automated notifications and goal setting allow managers to give timely feedback, track employees’ progress towards goals and monitor performance. 

The software’s ability to conduct organization-wide pulse surveys is a major selling point because the information gathered through these polls can be used so effectively to improve employee performance. You can do an employee engagement survey without going through every employee one by one. 

Key Features:

• 1:1 Meetings
• Employee praise
• Pulse Surveys
• 360 Degree Feedback

9. Trakstar

Trakstar is a cloud-based performance management system that automates the review process, making it faster and more efficient. Trakstar’s review system supports timely employee reviews by reminding employees by sending notifications. The software is designed to facilitate real-time feedback from multiple sources within the organization, making it easier for employees to receive constructive criticism from supervisors and peers. 

A unique function of Trakstar is its ability to let team leaders specify activities and assign them to individuals within their teams. Because its integrated performance management system allows your team to track progress towards a goal, this tool is the perfect complement for any high-functioning department. 

Key Features:

• Training course creation
• Engagement surveys
• Goal setting
• Applicant tracking
• Benchmarking

10. Workday

Workday is a software platform that enables HR managers to monitor the performance of their employees and come up with strategies for improving efficiency. If you are looking for a cloud-based solution that will help you manage your human capital and the processes involved in hiring, managing, and retaining employees, Workday is an excellent choice.

Workday provides solutions that offer a full range of capabilities from accounting to talent management — all from one integrated platform. With Workday Performance Management, managers can quickly transition from paper-based reviews to an automated reporting tool without having to learn new software or change how they work. 

Workday is one of the most complex software solutions on the market today—but there are plenty of educational materials available. To be able to offer your employees interesting training materials and opportunities, you will want them trained on the performance tracking tool well before it is used for real purposes 

Key Features:

• Talent Management
• Time Tracking
• Employee Self-Service
• Payroll Management
• Human Resource Management

11. Culture Amp

Culture AMP is a cloud-based performance review software that helps companies with employee engagement, performance reviews and 360-degree feedback.With its innovative suite of features and tools, CultureAMP empowers you to optimize your talent management processes and drive continuous improvement.

One of the standout features of CultureAMP is its interactive workbook builder, which allows users to create engaging and customized performance reviews. With CultureAMP, you can leverage the drag-and-drop functionality and a wide range of templates to design dynamic and interactive review experiences. This flexibility ensures that the review process aligns with your organization’s unique needs and objectives, fostering a more productive and insightful feedback exchange.

CultureAMP’s 360 assessments tool enables employees to gather comprehensive feedback on their leadership skills from both their colleagues and peers. This holistic approach provides individuals with a well-rounded perspective on their strengths and areas for development, enabling them to make more informed decisions about their professional growth.

Key Features:

• Compensation Management
• Customizable Review Templates
• Training Management
• Company Goals & OKRs
• Historical data

12. 7Geese

7geese is a performance management solution that helps you improve employee engagement and productivity. At the core of 7Geese are its four powerful modules: Employee Performance Reviews, 360 Degree Feedback, Recognition and Goal Setting. These modules work in harmony to streamline and optimize the performance management process.

Through the Employee Performance Reviews module, organizations can conduct regular and meaningful performance evaluations, providing employees with valuable feedback and setting the stage for growth and development. The 360 Degree Feedback module allows for a comprehensive assessment of employees’ performance, leveraging insights from colleagues, managers, and subordinates. This multi-perspective approach offers a holistic view of an individual’s strengths and areas for improvement. The Goal Setting module enables employees to set and track their objectives, aligning individual goals with organizational targets and promoting accountability and alignment.

Key Features:

• Social Recognition and Rewards
• Learning and Development
• Performance Reviews and Check-ins
• Goal Setting and Alignment

13. 15Five 

15Five is a performance review software tool that helps managers run effective 1:1s, team meetings, and 360-degree feedback. It is designed to help managers create accountability by providing employees with regular feedback. 15Five truly understands the needs of both managers and employees when it comes to performance reviews. With this software tool, you are provided with a powerful platform to enhance communication and foster a culture of feedback.

Something that aparts 15Five from other performance management software is its weekly email updates. These updates ensure that you stay in the loop about important company news and developments, such as new hires or exciting projects. No longer will you have to wonder what’s happening behind the scenes—now, you can stay up to date with ease.

Not only does 15Five keep you informed, but it also empowers managers to have meaningful and frequent check-ins with their team members. Through regular contact, you can establish a stronger rapport with your manager and address any concerns or questions that may arise. Frequent communication aligns with the preferences of today’s workforce, where open lines of dialogue are highly valued.

Key Features:

• Self Appraisal
• Custom Workflows
• 1-on-1 Meetings
• Goals & OKRs
• Rewards & Recognition
• 360-Degree Feedback

14. Namely 

Namely provides a single platform for organizing HR data, with an interface focused on employees’ needs. Because it is built for flexibility, Namely can meet the unique business requirements of different organizations. The company’s software integrates with many different systems, including payroll and benefits providers, unlike other solutions that only work with one. Namely also offers various integrations for companies who already use third-party HR systems. 

Managers can customize the review experience for their team members and this flexibility is especially important for experienced managers. In addition, Namely makes it easy to prioritize goals, so you will not have trouble deciding which ones should receive more attention than others. Keeping employee information in one place is crucial as the workforce grows. Namely does a great job of consolidating employee records and making them easy to access. 

Key Features:

• Payroll management
• Benefits
• Time off management
• Performance management
• Human resources information system

Conclusion

As we’ve discussed earlier in this post, performance reviews are essential for organizations to evaluate their employees’ progress, provide feedback, and identify areas for improvement. Performance review software can help automate the process, providing features such as goal setting, feedback collection, and progress tracking. This saves time and resources while ensuring that the review process is conducted effectively and efficiently. 

To help you find the right software for your organization, we’ve put together a list of the top 10 free performance review software options available on the market. These software options are a great starting point and offer a range of features to help streamline your organization’s performance review process. 

In summary, selecting the right performance review software can make a significant impact on your organization’s overall success. With a range of features and factors to consider, it’s important to take the time to research and select software that aligns with your organization’s needs and goals. We hope this post has been helpful in guiding you toward the right software solution for your organization. Schedule a demo with Teamflect if you want solid performance review software that you can use for free!

FAQ

What to look for in performance review software?

When looking for performance review software, it is important to consider features such as automated reminders, customizable templates, and the ability to track employee performance over time. The software of your choice should be one that allows for easy collaboration between managers and employees, as well as the ability to provide feedback and recognition.

How often should performance reviews be conducted?

Performance reviews should be conducted as often as possible. Conducting performance reviews once a year is an extremely outdated practice. At the bare minimum, you should be conducting performance appraisals at least twice a year in the form of mid-year performance reviews and annual performance reviews. Conducting performance appraisals monthly or quarterly is some of the best ways you can go about arranging performance reviews. Completing performance reviews in small performance review cycles results in the elimination of recency bias from the performance appraisal process, benefiting both parties.

Should performance reviews include self-appraisals?

Yes, performance reviews should include self-appraisals. Self-appraisals are an important part of the performance review process, as they allow employees to reflect on their own performance and provide feedback to their managers. Self-appraisals can also help managers gain a better understanding of how their employees view their performance and identify areas of improvement. Additionally, self-appraisals can help employees take ownership of their performance and set goals for themselves.

Self-appraisals should be conducted in a constructive manner, with employees being encouraged to provide honest and accurate feedback. Managers should also be prepared to provide feedback and guidance to help employees improve their performance. Ultimately, self-appraisals can help create a more productive and engaged workforce, which can lead to improved performance and better results.

What are Some Must-Have Features for Performance Review Software?

Performance review software are quite an investment for an organization. They go beyond just being a financial investment for your team.

The way a review software is used can have great effects on employee engagement, overall employee performance, as well as metrics such as employee retention or employee attrition.

Here’s a breakdown of essential features that top-notch employee performance review software should possess, ensuring that it not only simplifies the review process but also enhances its impact.

1. 360-Degree Feedback Capability

Employee performance is a complex and continuous metric that requires multiple different perspectives and a holistic approach to truly grasp.

A holistic view of an employee’s performance often includes insights from various relevant parties, including peers, direct reports, and managers.

Performance review tools that support 360-degree feedback provide a more nuanced and complete picture of an employee’s strengths and areas for improvement.

When performance appraisals are an integrated feature of a complete, all-in-one performance management software, this process becomes a lot easier and simpler.

2. Goal Setting and Progress Tracking

Effective performance review software should integrate goal-setting and progress-tracking features. Goals should be an integral part of performance reviews.

Performance reviews such as quarterly, bi-annually, or end-of-the-year performance appraisals benefit heavily from having access to goal completion rates.

The correlation between performance reviews and goal setting doesn’t just relate to goals that were set previously within the review period.

The best performance management software also allow for goal-setting through the performance appraisal, allowing reviewers and reviewees to collaborate on employee development plans and goals for the upcoming review period.

3. Self-Assessment Features

Self-review is an integral part of every performance appraisal. That is why the best performance review software need to have a self-review section in their reviews.

Self-assessment inside performance reviews should also have a space for the reviewer to comment on the reviewee’s self-appraisal and interact with it.

In previous articles on the best performance review software and employee performance review experience, we discussed some of the best practices surrounding self-reviews inside performance appraisals.

You can access them right here: Self-Review Best Practices!

4. Customizable Performance Review Templates

Performance reviews need to be flexible. There are plenty of different occasions for performance appraisals such as 30-60-90 day reviews, project closure reviews, end-of-the-year reviews, and more.

Not only does the best performance review software need to have all these templates and then some readily available, but these performance review templates also need to be fully customizable.

A great example of this is Teamflect’s customizable performance review template gallery. As the best performance review software for Microsoft Teams users, Teamflect allows users to create review templates with multiple different question types that can be sent out without leaving Microsoft Teams.