Softwr

HR & Recruiting · head to head

15Five vs BetterUp

15Five logo

15Five

HR & Recruiting

Performance management that drives results

From
$4/month
Rated
-
BetterUp logo

BetterUp

Employee Engagement

Unlock human transformation

From
On request
Rated
-

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; BetterUp sold to employers rather than to individuals, so access depends on your organisation buying it
  • They diverge on capability: 15Five covers Weekly check-ins, BetterUp covers 1-on-1 coaching.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where 15Five and BetterUp differ
Attribute15FiveBetterUp
Starting price$4/monthOn request
CategoryHR & RecruitingEmployee Engagement
Founded20112013

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Web, Ios, Android, Api), 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 BetterUp

  • 1-on-1 coaching
  • Mental health support
  • Leadership development
  • AI-powered matching
  • Progress tracking
  • Team analytics
  • Mobile coaching
  • Skill assessments

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Microsoft Teams
  • HRIS systems
  • SOC2 Type II
  • GDPR

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 BetterUp
  • Performance reviews and continuous feedback cyclesnot BetterUp
  • Setting and tracking OKRsnot BetterUp
  • 360 degree feedback and talent matrix reviewsnot BetterUp
  • Compensation review cycles as a paid add-onnot BetterUp

BetterUp

  • One-to-one professional coaching provided as an employee benefitnot 15Five
  • Manager development programmesnot 15Five
  • Leadership development at enterprise scalenot 15Five
  • Measuring coaching impact across a workforcenot 15Five

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

BetterUp

  • Sold to employers rather than to individuals, so access depends on your organisation buying it
  • Pricing is not published
  • Split into four products, Lead, Manage, Grow and Ready, so coverage is a purchasing decision

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

BetterUp

On request
  • Care$undefined/month
    • Mental health coaching
    • Stress management
    • Work-life balance
  • Coaching$undefined/month
    • 1-on-1 coaching
    • Leadership development
    • Career growth
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • All coaching tiers
    • Executive coaching
    • Team coaching

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.

Choose BetterUp if

  • You need 1-on-1 coaching.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want mental health support.

Questions people ask

Is 15Five or BetterUp better?
Neither clearly leads. 15Five starts at $4/month and BetterUp at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 15Five or BetterUp?
15Five starts at $4/month and BetterUp at On request.
Does 15Five or BetterUp run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
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 BetterUp is typically brought in for.
What can 15Five do that BetterUp cannot?
15Five covers Weekly check-ins, 1-on-1 meetings, OKRs & goal tracking, Performance reviews. BetterUp covers 1-on-1 coaching, Mental health support, Leadership development, AI-powered matching. Both handle Slack, Microsoft Teams, HRIS systems, SOC2 Type II.

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