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A More Complete Performance Platform Without Tiered Trade-Offs
15Five combines performance management with a strong manager enablement focus. PerformSpark delivers the full core performance workflow in one package, with a path to connect compensation and learning over time through the broader Trainery platform.
At a Glance
PerformSpark
Dedicated performance management with connected compensation and learning upside
One price for the full core performance suite starting at $6 per user per month
No feature gating across core performance workflows
Includes reviews, goals, development plans, check-ins, calibration, feedback, 360s, IDPs, PIPs, and TrAI-supported workflows
Built as a dedicated performance platform, not a stripped-down point solution
Connect performance to learning and compensation over time through the broader Trainery platform
Faster deployment without unnecessary tiers or module decisions
Dedicated customer support included
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15Five
Performance management with a strong manager enablement layer
Tiered pricing across Engage, Perform, and Total Platform
Perform starts at $11 per user per month, billed annually
Perform includes performance reviews, OKRs and goals, 360 feedback, talent matrix, and career paths and plans
Total Platform adds Engage plus manager training microlearnings at $16 per user per month
Kona AI Coach and Kona Meeting Assistant are separate products
Better fit for teams prioritizing manager enablement and coaching products alongside performance
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Where PerformSpark and 15Five Differ
One Package vs. Tiered Decisions
15Five's Perform plan at $11 per user per month includes a solid performance feature set: reviews, OKRs and goals, 360 feedback, talent matrix, and career paths. That is a substantial tier.
Where cost and complexity compound is above the Perform tier. Engagement tools, manager training microlearnings, Kona AI Coach, and Kona Meeting Assistant each require separate purchasing decisions. PerformSpark includes the full core performance workflow in one plan at $6 per user per month, with no decisions about what to enable or which tier unlocks what.
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Pricing reference
- PerformSpark: $6 per user per month, full core performance workflow included
- 15Five Engage: $4 per user per month
- 15Five Perform: $11 per user per month
- 15Five Total Platform: $16 per user per month
- Kona AI Coach: $19 per manager per month (separate product)
Full Core Performance vs. Tiered Enablement
15Five has built a differentiated position around manager enablement. Its platform is designed around continuous feedback, manager coaching, OKRs, and engagement as an integrated stack. That is a meaningful philosophy and a genuine strength for teams where manager development is the primary investment.
PerformSpark is built around the full core performance cycle with no feature gating: reviews, calibration, goals, check-ins, feedback, 360s, IDPs, and PIPs in one flat-priced package. Learning and compensation connect over time through the broader Trainery platform. For teams buying primarily for performance management structure and calibrated decision-making, PerformSpark delivers that without tier decisions.
Full core performance cycle with no feature gating: reviews, calibration, goals, check-ins, feedback, 360s, IDPs, and PIPs in one flat-priced package
TrAI vs. 15Five AI: Different Scope, Different Purpose
15Five includes AMAYA, its AI model focused on engagement and retention insights. AMAYA is designed to surface signals about team health, manager effectiveness from an engagement perspective, and retention risk through engagement survey data.
TrAI is built for performance decisions specifically. It analyzes rating distributions across managers and surfaces calibration outliers. It tracks manager coaching participation from a performance activity perspective. It surfaces disengagement signals from performance data patterns rather than engagement survey data. The two AI approaches address different questions: AMAYA asks how teams feel, TrAI asks how performance management decisions are holding up across the organization.
It tracks manager coaching participation from a performance activity perspective.
Faster Deployment for Performance-Focused Buyers
15Five is a well-supported platform. Configuration complexity scales with which tiers and products are purchased. Teams activating Perform, Engage, and Kona products carry more setup decisions than teams activating a single performance layer.
PerformSpark is designed to get HR teams running their first review cycle quickly. The onboarding team handles configuration, HRIS integration, and template design. Dedicated customer support is included at standard pricing.
PerformSpark includes structured PIP workflows as a standard feature.
Feature by Feature
A direct comparison of what is included at each platform's standard pricing.
Feature
PerformSpark
15Five
Performance reviews
Included
Included in Perform tier
OKRs and goals
Included
Included in Perform tier
Continuous feedback
Included
Included in Perform tier
Pulse surveys and eNPS
Included
Separate Engage tier ($4/user)
360-degree reviews
Included
Included in Perform tier
Talent matrix
Included
Included in Perform tier (advanced analytics: Total Platform only)
Career paths and plans
Included
Included in Perform tier
AI-assisted calibration and coaching support
TrAI: calibration bias detection, manager coaching data
AMAYA: engagement and retention insights AI
1-on-1 check-ins
Included
Included in Perform tier
Individual development plans
Included
Included in Perform tier
Performance improvement plans
Included
No structured in-platform PIP workflow confirmed
Manager training microlearnings
Not included
Available in Total Platform tier
AI coaching products
TrAI included in core
Kona AI Coach: separate product at $19 per manager per month
Learning and compensation
Connected Trainery platform extensions
Not included in 15Five's platform
Pricing model
One price, full core performance workflow
Tiered: Engage, Perform, Total Platform
Best fit
Teams prioritizing a dedicated performance platform
Teams prioritizing manager enablement and coaching products
Who Each Platform Is Built For
If you are still evaluating your options, our guide to [choosing performance management software](/blogs/choosing-performance-management-software) covers the full framework HR leaders use to make this decision.
Choose PerformSpark if:
You want every core performance feature in one predictable price
You need calibrated reviews, IDPs, PIPs, and goal management without tier decisions
You want AI focused on performance calibration and manager coaching participation
You want a path to learning and compensation over time without committing upfront
You are looking for a focused 15Five alternative
Choose 15Five if:
Manager enablement, coaching, and continuous feedback are the primary investment
You want engagement survey tools tightly connected to performance
You are interested in Kona AI coaching products alongside performance management
You prefer a platform built around a manager development philosophy
Not sure which fits?
Book a 30-minute call with the PerformSpark team. We will show you a direct comparison for your team size and feature needs, even if the answer is that we are not the right fit.
What Teams Say After Switching
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“We were on 15Five Perform and kept hitting walls every time we needed calibration or structured PIP workflows. PerformSpark gave us both, plus TrAI insights, for less than we were paying for Perform alone.”
“The pricing clarity was the first thing that stood out. With 15Five we were always calculating which tier covered what. With PerformSpark there is nothing to calculate.”
“TrAI caught a rating inconsistency in our first calibration session that we had been missing for two cycles. That alone made the switch worth it.”
FAQ
Common Questions About PerformSpark vs 15Five
Have more questions? Our team is happy to walk you through a direct comparison for your specific team size and review structure.
Ready to Manage Performance Fairly and Effectively?
Create structured, transparent PIPs that guide improvement and protect your organization.
Does PerformSpark include the same features as 15Five's Perform tier?
How does PerformSpark compare on price to 15Five?
Does PerformSpark include manager enablement tools?
What is the path to learning and compensation through PerformSpark?
Ready to See the Difference?
Book a demo and see a complete performance management cycle configured for your team in under 30 minutes.
Make performance reviews your growth lever
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