Softwr

HR & Recruiting · head to head

15Five vs Bear

15Five logo

15Five

HR & Recruiting

Performance management that drives results

From
$4/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Bear logo

Bear

Productivity

Markdown notes for Apple devices

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 15Five split across three tiers, so performance reviews, OKRs and 360 feedback need Perform at $11 per user per month rather than the $4 Engage tier; Bear built for Apple hardware only, with no Windows, Android or web client

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 15Five and Bear actually diverge.

Attributes where 15Five and Bear differ
Attribute15FiveBear
Starting price$4/monthOn request
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, ApiWeb
CategoryHR & RecruitingProductivity
Founded2011Unknown

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 15Five

  • Weekly check-ins
  • 1-on-1 meetings
  • OKRs & goal tracking
  • Performance reviews
  • High fives recognition
  • Engagement surveys
  • Pulse surveys
  • Manager effectiveness

Only in Bear

Nothing recorded that 15Five does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

15Five

  • Running engagement surveys with heat maps and benchmarkingnot Bear
  • Performance reviews and continuous feedback cyclesnot Bear
  • Setting and tracking OKRsnot Bear
  • 360 degree feedback and talent matrix reviewsnot Bear
  • Compensation review cycles as a paid add-onnot Bear

Bear

No use cases recorded yet. See the Bear review.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

15Five

  • Split across three tiers, so performance reviews, OKRs and 360 feedback need Perform at $11 per user per month rather than the $4 Engage tier
  • Manager training microlearnings are only in Total Platform at $16 per user per month
  • Compensation is a paid add-on at $9 per user per month, rising to $11 with benchmarking
  • The Kona meeting assistant is a further $2 per employee per month and Kona Coach $19 per manager per month
  • Advertised prices are the annual rates

Bear

  • Built for Apple hardware only, with no Windows, Android or web client
  • Free tier is limited to 3 themes, 1 app icon and restricted export formats; iCloud sync requires Bear Pro
  • Bear Pro is $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year after a 7 day free trial

Pricing, plan by plan

15Five

$4/month
  • Engage$4/month
    • Engagement surveys
    • Pulse surveys
    • Action planning
  • Perform$10/month
    • Weekly check-ins
    • 1-on-1s
    • Performance reviews
  • Total Platform$16/month
    • Everything in Engage & Perform
    • Career paths
    • Competencies

Bear

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Bear review.

Which should you pick?

Choose 15Five if

  • You need weekly check-ins.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want 1-on-1 meetings.
15Five review

Choose Bear if

Nothing in the data separates Bear from 15Five on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Bear review

Questions people ask

Is 15Five or Bear better?
Neither clearly leads. 15Five starts at $4/month and Bear at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 15Five or Bear?
15Five starts at $4/month and Bear at On request.
Does 15Five or Bear run on more platforms?
15Five runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api. Bear runs on Web.
What is 15Five best used for?
15Five is most often used for running engagement surveys with heat maps and benchmarking, performance reviews and continuous feedback cycles, setting and tracking okrs, 360 degree feedback and talent matrix reviews. Of those, running engagement surveys with heat maps and benchmarking and performance reviews and continuous feedback cycles are not what Bear is typically brought in for.
What can 15Five do that Bear cannot?
15Five covers Weekly check-ins, 1-on-1 meetings, OKRs & goal tracking, Performance reviews.
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