Quick summary
- OfficePortal vs 15Five in one line: OfficePortal is a complete HRMS with performance management built in; 15Five is a performance and engagement tool that needs another HR system.
- OfficePortal Premium costs $4 per user per month billed yearly and covers performance reviews, goals, attendance, leave and payroll.
- 15Five Perform costs $11 per user per month, billed annually, for performance features alone.
- 15Five has no payroll, attendance or leave.
- At 50 employees, OfficePortal costs $200 a month against $550 for 15Five Perform.
Why OfficePortal is the best 15Five alternative
OfficePortal is built as one system for HR teams. Performance management, attendance tracking, the leave management system and payroll software share one employee record, so nothing has to be synced between tools.
- One system instead of two. Appraisals, attendance, leave and salary sit together. With 15Five, you'd still pay for and maintain a separate HRMS.
- Payroll included. Payslips, salary templates, loans and reimbursements run on the Premium and Elite plans, in the same system as attendance and leave.
- Appraisals flow into pay. Increment decisions from a review cycle feed straight into the payroll run.
- Flexible billing. Pay monthly or yearly, with no annual-only contract.
- Start free. The Standard plan is free for up to five users with no time limit, and you can move to Premium when you're ready for appraisals.
- Mobile apps. Android and iOS apps let managers complete reviews, approve goals and check team performance on the go.
- Secure and reliable. AES-256 encryption, SOC 2 compliant infrastructure and 99.9% uptime.
- Hands-on onboarding. The OfficePortal team helps with setup, data migration and training, so you're not left to roll it out alone.
- Connects to your tools. Office 365 single sign-on on Premium, integrations with Slack, Microsoft Teams and Google Workspace, and a REST API.
OfficePortal vs 15Five on performance management
OfficePortal covers the full review cycle most companies run. HR sets up quarterly, half-yearly or annual review cycles, writes assessment questions for each employee band, and runs self and manager assessments. Goals cascade from company to team to individual, managers track progress through the cycle, and results feed into performance bands, training needs and increment decisions. Managers hold one-on-one review discussions to go over goals, ratings and feedback, and automatic reminders keep each cycle on schedule. New to the process? Start with our guide to performance reviews or how to measure and improve employee performance.
15Five also handles reviews and goals, but only from its Perform plan at $11 per user per month. Its entry Engage plan is surveys only, with no performance reviews at all.
OfficePortal vs 15Five pricing
OfficePortal costs far less for the same job. Comparing the plans that include performance reviews, billed yearly:
- 10 employees: OfficePortal $40 a month; 15Five $110.
- 50 employees: OfficePortal $200 a month; 15Five $550.
- 200 employees: OfficePortal $800 a month; 15Five $2,200.
The 15Five figures still leave out payroll, attendance and leave, which OfficePortal's price already includes. The pricing page lists everything in each plan.
15Five disadvantages: why companies look for alternatives
- No payroll. 15Five doesn't run payroll, so you need a separate payroll product.
- No attendance or leave. Check-ins, shifts, leave balances and approvals all need another system.
- Needs a separate HRIS. 15Five pulls employee data from HR platforms such as ADP, BambooHR, Workday or Rippling, so you run and pay for two systems.
- Annual billing only. Every 15Five plan is billed annually, with no monthly option.
- No free plan. Its pricing page lists no free plan; you book a demo instead.
- Reviews cost extra. Performance reviews start on Perform at $11 per user per month; the $4 Engage plan is surveys only.
- Add-ons add up. Compensation tools cost $9 to $11 per user per month, manager learning content $49 per manager per month, its AI coach $19 per manager per month, and live coaching $399 per credit.
- Learning curve. Some reviewers on software review sites mention an overwhelming interface, limited customisation and reporting issues.
What to look for in a 15Five alternative
When you compare 15Five alternatives, check for these, and how OfficePortal covers each one:
- Performance and HR in one system, so review outcomes reach payroll without exports. OfficePortal links appraisals, increments and payroll on Premium.
- Configurable review cycles and questions for different teams and employee bands. OfficePortal supports quarterly, half-yearly and annual cycles with band-specific questions.
- Goal tracking that cascades from company to team to individual, with progress visible during the cycle.
- Mobile access so managers and employees can complete reviews anywhere. OfficePortal has Android and iOS apps.
- Reporting that shows performance across teams and departments, not just one person at a time.
- Transparent, flexible pricing, with a free way to start and no annual-only contract.
Is 15Five ever the better choice?
Only in a narrow case: you already run a separate HRMS and payroll you're happy with, and you mainly want engagement surveys and manager coaching on top. For a company that wants HR, payroll and performance in one place, OfficePortal is the simpler and cheaper choice.
How to switch from 15Five to OfficePortal
- Export your employee data and review history from your current tools.
- Book a demo. The OfficePortal onboarding team helps with setup, data migration and training, and maps your salary structures.
- Run one month of payroll in parallel before you switch fully.
- Start a pilot team on the free Standard plan, then move to Premium for appraisals.
Comparing more tools? See how OfficePortal stacks up on our HR software alternatives page.