15Five has gained recognition as a trusted platform for businesses aiming to improve employee engagement, morale, and performance through continuous feedback and recognition. Built around frequent check-ins, 15Five helps organizations strengthen communication between managers and employees, making aligning individual contributions with business goals more manageable. Its intuitive interface and robust features like goal tracking, one-on-one templates, and performance reviews make it a valuable tool for HR teams and managers. This review provides an in-depth analysis of 15Five’s pricing, core features, strengths, and potential challenges to help businesses assess whether it’s the right solution for their needs.

Overview of 15Five

15Five is a performance management and engagement platform emphasizing continuous feedback and recognition. With features like weekly check-ins, 1-on-1 tools, and recognition systems, the platform is designed to help organizations build a culture of communication, transparency, and growth.

The platform has also expanded its functionality by acquiring an employee engagement platform, providing businesses with tools to measure and act on employee sentiments. Its smart and simple design makes it easy for admins and end-users to engage, while its robust customer support and implementation process ensures a smooth onboarding experience.

The Strengths of 15Five

1. Intuitive and Engaging Design

One of 15Five’s standout features is its user-friendly design, making it highly engaging for admins and employees. The platform’s simplicity reduces learning curves and encourages participation, ensuring that feedback and performance reviews are seamless and effective.

2. Weekly Check-Ins for Continuous Feedback

15Five’s weekly check-in feature promotes ongoing communication between employees and managers. These check-ins help organizations:

• Build a culture of continuous feedback and transparency.
• Track employee morale and engagement over time.
• Quickly address concerns or challenges before they escalate.

Although the weekly check-in is no longer a mandatory feature, it remains one of the platform’s key strengths for organizations aiming to adopt a modern, continuous review process.

3. Improved Manager-Employee 1:1s

15Five enhances manager-employee 1-on-1 meetings by aggregating past feedback, to-dos, and notes into one place. This ensures that managers and employees can:

• Reflect on progress and address past challenges.
• Set actionable goals for future development.
• Foster meaningful and productive conversations.

4. Encourages Peer Recognition

15Five’s high-five feature encourages employees to recognize and celebrate their peers’ achievements. This fosters a positive workplace culture where employees feel valued and appreciated, which can improve overall morale and engagement.

5. Robust Employee Engagement Tools

With its recent acquisition of an employee engagement platform, 15Five has added tools to:

• Measure employee sentiments and engagement levels.
• Provide HR teams with actionable insights into organizational health.
• Support businesses in interpreting and acting on survey data to improve workplace culture.

6. Excellent Customer Support

15Five receives consistently high reviews for its customer support and implementation process. The platform’s support staff is knowledgeable, responsive, and available to assist clients at every step of their journey, ensuring a smooth and successful adoption.

Points to Consider with 15Five

Learn More: Compare 15Five and other leading HR Tech platforms on OutSail's marketplace

1. Weekly Check-Ins May Feel Like “Homework”

While the weekly check-in is one of 15Five’s core features, some employees may perceive it as extra work. This could lead to lower engagement levels if not implemented with clear communication about its benefits. However, since the weekly check-in is no longer mandatory, organizations can choose whether to adopt this feature based on their culture and goals.

2. Maturing Employee Engagement Tools

15Five’s employee engagement platform is relatively new, and businesses may experience some growing pains as the product evolves. While it adds significant value, organizations should be prepared for potential updates and improvements as the feature matures.

Pricing Structure

15Five operates on a per-employee-per-month (PEPM) pricing model, with costs ranging from $9-15 PEPM depending on the features and modules selected.

Key pricing considerations include:

• Base Pricing: $9-15 PEPM for access to core features like performance management and engagement tools.
• Implementation Costs: While 15Five’s implementation process is straightforward, businesses should budget for any internal resources needed to onboard employees effectively.
• Scalability: The platform’s competitive pricing makes it an attractive option for mid-sized companies looking for a scalable performance and engagement solution.

Deciding if 15Five is Right for Your Business

Leveraging Strengths

• Engaging Interface: 15Five’s simple and intuitive design ensures high adoption rates and minimal training requirements.
• Continuous Feedback Culture: Weekly check-ins and peer recognition foster ongoing communication and a positive workplace culture.
• Comprehensive 1-on-1 Tools: Managers and employees can quickly reflect on past feedback, set goals, and track progress.
• Employee Engagement Insights: Adding engagement tools gives HR teams valuable insights to improve organizational health.
• Reliable Support: Excellent customer support ensures a smooth implementation and ongoing assistance.

Addressing Challenges

• Weekly Check-Ins: Organizations should assess whether this feature aligns with their culture or if it might feel burdensome to employees.
• New Engagement Platform: Businesses relying heavily on engagement tools should prepare for potential updates and improvements as the product matures.

Who Should Use 15Five?

15Five is ideal for:

• Mid-Sized Companies: Organizations seeking a scalable platform to foster continuous feedback and engagement.
• Culture-Focused Businesses: Teams aiming to build a positive workplace culture through recognition and transparency.
• Manager-Driven Teams: Businesses looking to improve 1-on-1s and manager-employee relationships with actionable insights.

Conclusion

15Five is an engaging platform focused on performance and employee engagement, emphasizing continuous feedback and recognition. It offers features such as weekly check-ins, one-on-one tools, and peer recognition, which help businesses cultivate a culture of communication, transparency, and growth. The recent introduction of employee engagement tools adds even more value, equipping HR teams with actionable insights into employee sentiments.

While some employees may perceive weekly check-ins as additional work, the feature is no longer mandatory, giving organizations flexibility in using the platform. Additionally, businesses can expect ongoing updates and improvements as the engagement tools mature.

For mid-sized companies looking for a user-friendly and scalable solution to enhance performance and engagement, 15Five is a strong candidate combining simplicity, functionality, and excellent customer support.

FAQs

1. What makes 15Five stand out as a performance platform?
   15Five combines simplicity with powerful features like weekly check-ins, 1-on-1 tools, and peer recognition, making it an intuitive and effective platform for fostering continuous feedback and engagement.
2. What challenges should businesses consider with 15Five?
   Some employees may perceive weekly check-ins as additional work, and the platform’s engagement tools are relatively new and may require updates as they mature.
3. What is 15Five’s pricing structure?
   15Five charges $9-15 PEPM depending on the features selected, making it a cost-effective option for mid-sized companies.
4. Is 15Five suitable for smaller organizations?
   While 15Five is best suited for mid-sized companies, smaller organizations may benefit from its simplicity and scalability.
5. What type of organizations benefit most from 15Five?
   15Five is ideal for businesses that want to build a culture of continuous feedback, improve manager-employee relationships, and foster employee recognition.