A closer look
Explore the 10 Employee Engagement Software options
Use each overview to decide what belongs in your next vendor conversation. The fit notes are our editorial starting points; confirm product capabilities and commercial terms directly with the provider.
Culture Amp is worth considering for connecting employee listening to a manager action plan. Its published product offering covers engagement surveys, performance management and action planning.
Where it fits
Put Culture Amp on your shortlist when your priority is employee listening and action planning. Compare that requirement with your current process before deciding whether you need a focused product or a wider platform.
Product areas to explore
Engagement surveysPerformance managementAction planning
Why consider it
- A relevant starting point for employee listening and action planning.
- Brings engagement surveys into the product conversation.
What to check
Set clear reporting groups and confidentiality rules before launching a survey program.
Bring this to the demo
Ask the vendor to demonstrate employee listening using one of your real scenarios. Confirm the people, permissions, integrations and paid modules involved, then document the handoff back to your team.
Product source: Culture Amp official website
Lattice is worth considering for linking performance conversations with people programs. Its published product offering covers performance reviews, goals and employee engagement.
Where it fits
Put Lattice on your shortlist when your priority is engagement linked to performance. Compare that requirement with your current process before deciding whether you need a focused product or a wider platform.
Product areas to explore
Performance reviewsGoalsEmployee engagement
Why consider it
- A relevant starting point for engagement linked to performance.
- Brings performance reviews into the product conversation.
What to check
Ask which products and reporting capabilities are included in the proposed subscription.
Bring this to the demo
Ask the vendor to demonstrate manager follow-through using one of your real scenarios. Confirm the people, permissions, integrations and paid modules involved, then document the handoff back to your team.
Product source: Lattice official website
15Five is worth considering for building a consistent manager feedback rhythm. Its published product offering covers performance management, engagement and manager development.
Where it fits
Put 15Five on your shortlist when your priority is manager feedback routines. Compare that requirement with your current process before deciding whether you need a focused product or a wider platform.
Product areas to explore
Performance managementEngagementManager development
Why consider it
- A relevant starting point for manager feedback routines.
- Brings performance management into the product conversation.
What to check
Plan for manager adoption and a sustainable cadence rather than adding more check-ins.
Bring this to the demo
Ask the vendor to demonstrate reporting confidentiality using one of your real scenarios. Confirm the people, permissions, integrations and paid modules involved, then document the handoff back to your team.
Product source: 15Five official website
Leapsome is worth considering for combining development and people management. Its published product offering covers performance reviews, goals and employee surveys.
Where it fits
Put Leapsome on your shortlist when your priority is development and feedback. Compare that requirement with your current process before deciding whether you need a focused product or a wider platform.
Product areas to explore
Performance reviewsGoalsEmployee surveys
Why consider it
- A relevant starting point for development and feedback.
- Brings performance reviews into the product conversation.
What to check
Decide which modules will launch first and how they connect to your source HR data.
Bring this to the demo
Ask the vendor to demonstrate program ownership using one of your real scenarios. Confirm the people, permissions, integrations and paid modules involved, then document the handoff back to your team.
Product source: Leapsome official website
Workleap is worth considering for helping managers act on team feedback. Its published product offering covers employee feedback, performance and manager insights.
Where it fits
Put Workleap on your shortlist when your priority is manager action on team insights. Compare that requirement with your current process before deciding whether you need a focused product or a wider platform.
Product areas to explore
Employee feedbackPerformanceManager insights
Why consider it
- A relevant starting point for manager action on team insights.
- Brings employee feedback into the product conversation.
What to check
Confirm which Workleap products supply the surveys and workflows your team needs.
Bring this to the demo
Ask the vendor to demonstrate employee listening using one of your real scenarios. Confirm the people, permissions, integrations and paid modules involved, then document the handoff back to your team.
Product source: Workleap official website
WorkTango is worth considering for employee listening alongside recognition programs. Its published product offering covers employee surveys, recognition and rewards.
Where it fits
Put WorkTango on your shortlist when your priority is listening and recognition. Compare that requirement with your current process before deciding whether you need a focused product or a wider platform.
Product areas to explore
Employee surveysRecognitionRewards
Why consider it
- A relevant starting point for listening and recognition.
- Brings employee surveys into the product conversation.
What to check
Agree how recognition budgets and confidential listening data will be administered.
Bring this to the demo
Ask the vendor to demonstrate manager follow-through using one of your real scenarios. Confirm the people, permissions, integrations and paid modules involved, then document the handoff back to your team.
Product source: WorkTango official website
Awardco is worth considering for running a structured recognition and rewards program. Its published product offering covers recognition, rewards and employee engagement.
Where it fits
Put Awardco on your shortlist when your priority is recognition and rewards programs. Compare that requirement with your current process before deciding whether you need a focused product or a wider platform.
Product areas to explore
RecognitionRewardsEmployee engagement
Why consider it
- A relevant starting point for recognition and rewards programs.
- Brings recognition into the product conversation.
What to check
Separate reward spending from platform costs and define eligibility across employee locations.
Bring this to the demo
Ask the vendor to demonstrate reporting confidentiality using one of your real scenarios. Confirm the people, permissions, integrations and paid modules involved, then document the handoff back to your team.
Product source: Awardco official website
Motivosity is worth considering for making employee appreciation a regular practice. Its published product offering covers peer recognition, rewards and employee connection.
Where it fits
Put Motivosity on your shortlist when your priority is everyday employee appreciation. Compare that requirement with your current process before deciding whether you need a focused product or a wider platform.
Product areas to explore
Peer recognitionRewardsEmployee connection
Why consider it
- A relevant starting point for everyday employee appreciation.
- Brings peer recognition into the product conversation.
What to check
Clarify how rewards are funded and who administers the program across teams.
Bring this to the demo
Ask the vendor to demonstrate program ownership using one of your real scenarios. Confirm the people, permissions, integrations and paid modules involved, then document the handoff back to your team.
Product source: Motivosity official website
Qualtrics Employee Experience is worth considering for an employee listening program with deeper analysis. Its published product offering covers employee listening, experience analytics and action planning.
Where it fits
Put Qualtrics Employee Experience on your shortlist when your priority is enterprise listening programs. Compare that requirement with your current process before deciding whether you need a focused product or a wider platform.
Product areas to explore
Employee listeningExperience analyticsAction planning
Why consider it
- A relevant starting point for enterprise listening programs.
- Brings employee listening into the product conversation.
What to check
Set survey governance, reporting thresholds and the resources needed to interpret results.
Bring this to the demo
Ask the vendor to demonstrate employee listening using one of your real scenarios. Confirm the people, permissions, integrations and paid modules involved, then document the handoff back to your team.
Product source: Qualtrics Employee Experience official website
PerformYard is worth considering for configuring review cycles around an established process. Its published product offering covers performance reviews, goal management and continuous feedback.
Where it fits
Put PerformYard on your shortlist when your priority is engagement alongside reviews. Compare that requirement with your current process before deciding whether you need a focused product or a wider platform.
Product areas to explore
Performance reviewsGoal managementContinuous feedback
Why consider it
- A relevant starting point for engagement alongside reviews.
- Brings performance reviews into the product conversation.
What to check
Bring an existing review form and check the complete cycle, including calibration and reporting.
Bring this to the demo
Ask the vendor to demonstrate manager follow-through using one of your real scenarios. Confirm the people, permissions, integrations and paid modules involved, then document the handoff back to your team.
Product source: PerformYard official website
