Softwr

HR · head to head

15Five vs Darwinbox

15Five logo

15Five

HR

Performance management that drives results

From
$4/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Darwinbox logo

Darwinbox

HR

Indian AI-native HCM platform for next-generation HR management

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; Darwinbox no pricing information is published on the website.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where 15Five and Darwinbox differ
Attribute15FiveDarwinbox
Starting price$4/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, ApiWeb
Founded2011Unknown

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (HR).

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 Darwinbox

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

Darwinbox

  • Automating HR workflows with AI-powered talent managementnot 15Five
  • Improving employee experience through self-service HR portalsnot 15Five
  • Streamlining recruitment and onboarding processesnot 15Five
  • Managing payroll and leave administration centrallynot 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

Darwinbox

  • No pricing information is published on the website.
  • The main page is promotional only and directs users to request early access or explore the product rather than disclosing costs.

Pricing, plan by plan

15Five

$4/month
  • Engage$4/month
    • Employee Engagement Surveys
    • Targeted Assessments
    • Action Planning
  • Perform$11/month
    • Engage features
    • AMAYA
    • Insights Dashboard
  • Total Platform$16/month
    • Perform features
    • Manager Training Microlearnings

Darwinbox

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Darwinbox 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 Darwinbox if

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

Darwinbox review

Questions people ask

Is 15Five or Darwinbox better?
Neither clearly leads. 15Five starts at $4/month and Darwinbox at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 15Five or Darwinbox?
15Five starts at $4/month and Darwinbox at On request.
Does 15Five or Darwinbox run on more platforms?
15Five runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api. Darwinbox 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 Darwinbox is typically brought in for.
What can 15Five do that Darwinbox cannot?
15Five covers Weekly check-ins, 1-on-1 meetings, OKRs & goal tracking, Performance reviews.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

15Five: What are 15Five's core plan tiers and pricing?

15Five offers Engage ($4/user/month), Perform ($11/user/month, marked Most Popular), and Total Platform ($16/user/month). All prices are billed annually. Perform adds AI-assisted performance reviews, OKRs, and 360-degree feedback compared to Engage.

Source
Darwinbox: How much does Darwinbox cost?

Darwinbox does not publish pricing on its website. To obtain pricing information, users must request early access or contact the company directly through their website.

Source
15Five: What add-on products does 15Five offer?

Manager Content costs $49/manager/month (annually billed). Manager Coaching is $399 per credit (1-on-1 coaching = 1 credit; group coaching = 5 credits). Kona AI Meeting Assistant is $2/employee/month. Kona AI Coach is $19/manager/month. Compensation add-ons start at $9/user/month for base package or $11/user/month with salary benchmarking.

Source
Darwinbox: What is Darwinbox's pricing model?

Darwinbox's pricing model is not publicly disclosed. The company promotes Darwinbox Cortex as an AI-Native HCM solution but requires direct consultation to discuss pricing with potential customers.

Source
15Five: Are 15Five contracts flexible?

All 15Five plans require annual billing and contracts. Support is included as dedicated human support with all plans.

Source
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