15Five vs Culture Amp: Complete 2026 Comparison
Compare two powerful employee engagement and performance platforms. Find the best solution for continuous feedback, engagement surveys, manager coaching, and people analytics.
Platform Comparison at a Glance
We've evaluated both platforms across key criteria including features, pricing, usability, and target market. Here's a quick overview to help you make an informed decision:
| Platform | Rating | Pricing | Countries | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Manager effectiveness and continuous feedback with weekly check-ins, 1-on-1s, and strengths-based engagement | 8.6/10 (1100 reviews) | $$ Starts at $4/user/month (Engage); Performance at $10/user/month; Total Platform at $16/user/month | Available globally, primarily US and UK | Small to mid-market (50-1000 employees) |
Science-backed engagement surveys, performance management, and people analytics with deep research-driven insights | 8.7/10 (1600 reviews) | $$$ Custom pricing; typically $5-$12/employee/month depending on modules and company size | Available globally with strong US, UK, Australia, and Europe presence | Mid-market to enterprise (200-10,000+ employees) |
Detailed Platform Analysis
In-depth review of each platform's features, pricing, strengths, and limitations to help you choose the right solution for your employee engagement and performance needs.
15Five
Key Features
- •Weekly check-ins for continuous asynchronous feedback
- •Strengths-based engagement surveys rooted in positive psychology
- •Best-Self Review cycles with calibration
- •Structured 1-on-1 meeting agendas and templates
- •High-five peer recognition system
- •Transform manager coaching and training add-on
Limitations
- •Less robust analytics than enterprise alternatives
- •Compensation management is limited
- •Some features locked behind higher-tier plans
- •Smaller integration library than competitors
Best For:
Small to mid-size teams that prioritise manager effectiveness, weekly feedback rhythms, and a strengths-based approach to engagement.
Watch: What Is 15Five?
Culture Amp
Key Features
- •Science-backed engagement surveys by organisational psychologists
- •Benchmarking against 6,000+ companies worldwide
- •People analytics with predictive turnover insights
- •DEI analytics and inclusion surveys
- •Skills coaching and employee development tools
- •Comprehensive performance review cycles
Limitations
- •Custom pricing requires sales contact
- •Performance module less mature than engagement
- •Can be over-engineered for smaller teams
- •Higher cost for full platform access
Best For:
Mid-market to enterprise companies that want science-backed engagement insights, robust people analytics, and data-driven culture improvements.
Watch: What Is Culture Amp?
Comprehensive Feature Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of key features to help you understand what each platform offers for your employee engagement and performance management needs.
Feedback & Check-ins
Surveys & Analytics
| Feature Category | 15Five | Culture Amp |
|---|---|---|
Feedback Philosophy | Excellent Continuous feedback culture Weekly check-ins create ongoing dialogue between managers and employees | Good Survey-driven insights Periodic deep-dive surveys provide rich data but less continuous flow |
Engagement Approach | Good Strengths-based engagement Rooted in positive psychology, focuses on employee strengths | Excellent Research-backed engagement Designed by I/O psychologists with 15+ years of benchmark data |
Manager Effectiveness | Excellent Purpose-built manager tools Transform coaching, 1-on-1 templates, and weekly check-in workflows | Good Manager action planning Good resources but not the central focus of the platform |
People Analytics | Good Solid reporting dashboard Performance and engagement metrics with trend tracking | Excellent Industry-leading analytics Predictive insights, DEI dashboards, cross-survey analysis |
Ease of Adoption | Excellent Quick setup, high adoption Intuitive UX and lightweight check-ins drive 90%+ adoption rates | Good Moderate setup time More complex configuration but powerful once established |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about choosing between 15Five and Culture Amp for your employee engagement and performance needs.
Which platform is better for small businesses?
15Five is the clear winner for small businesses. Starting at just $4/user/month, it's more affordable and easier to adopt. The weekly check-in format requires minimal admin setup and drives high participation. Culture Amp is designed for larger organisations and can be over-engineered for teams under 200.
Which has better engagement surveys?
Culture Amp leads in engagement survey quality and depth. Their surveys are designed by organisational psychologists and benchmarked against 6,000+ companies. 15Five's surveys are solid and take a unique strengths-based approach, but they don't match Culture Amp's scientific rigour or benchmark depth.
Which platform drives better manager-employee conversations?
15Five excels here. Its weekly check-ins, structured 1-on-1 agendas, and Transform coaching tools are specifically designed to improve manager effectiveness. Culture Amp provides manager action plans based on survey data, but it's less focused on the ongoing conversation rhythm.
Can both platforms handle performance reviews?
Yes. 15Five offers Best-Self Reviews with calibration, and Culture Amp has comprehensive review cycles. Neither is as specialised in performance reviews as Lattice, but both are capable. 15Five's reviews integrate with weekly check-in data, while Culture Amp's reviews connect to engagement insights.
Which is better for remote teams?
15Five is especially well-suited for remote teams. Its asynchronous weekly check-ins work across time zones and keep managers connected without scheduling overhead. Culture Amp works well remotely too, but its strength is in periodic survey data rather than daily/weekly engagement.
How do they compare on pricing?
15Five is significantly more affordable. Its Engage tier starts at $4/user/month and the full platform at $16/user/month. Culture Amp uses custom pricing (typically $5-$12/employee/month) and is generally more expensive, especially for smaller teams. 15Five offers better value for budget-conscious organisations.