Independent comparison of 15Five and ClearCo for teams evaluating performance management and review software.
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Primary Terms & Pricing Audited Q3 2026 | Unbiased Data
⭐️ 4.6/5 (1,900+ reviews)
Based on G2 & Industry Benchmark user reviews
⭐️ 4.5/5 (600+ reviews)
Based on G2 & Industry Benchmark user reviews
The headline prices above rarely survive contact with a real quote. Here is what each vendor bills on top.
Pricing Nuance: 15Five: From $4/user/month, 15Five is priced per module: Engage, Perform, and Total Platform are separate tiers, so the $4 entry rate rarely covers reviews and engagement together. Manager coaching content is an additional line item, which matters because coaching is the main reason teams pick it.
Pricing Nuance: ClearCo: Performance is quoted as part of the wider ClearCo talent suite, so the economics only work if you are also buying ATS and onboarding. Bought standalone, its performance depth does not justify the suite price against dedicated specialists.
The HR Stack Guide Take
If your real bottleneck is manager capability and you want a weekly check-in habit to stick, 15Five is the stronger call for Scaleups: its check-in cadence and coaching layer change manager behaviour rather than just recording reviews. If instead you are consolidating ATS, onboarding, and performance under a single vendor, ClearCo is the better shortlist candidate: hiring data flows into performance cycles with no integration project because it is all one suite.
This guide provides the baseline comparison for general technology buyers. If you are evaluating software for a specific team size or workflow, select your profile below:
| Feature | Best for Manager Coaching & Weekly Check-ins 15Five | Best for Talent Suite + Performance Bundle (ClearCo) ClearCo |
|---|---|---|
| OKRs & Goal Cascading | ||
| Continuous Feedback | ||
| 360 Degree Reviews | ||
| 1:1 Meeting Tools | ||
| Engagement Surveys | ||
| Compensation Calibration | ||
| Career Pathing | ||
| AI Performance Insights | ||
| Slack/Teams Integration | ||
| Free Trial Available | ||
| Ready to get started? |
Compliance standards, native integrations, support SLAs, deployment type, and ideal headcount for 15Five vs ClearCo.
| Capability | 15Five | ClearCo |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance Standards | Compliance Standards:
| Compliance Standards:
|
| Native Integrations | Native Integrations:
| Native Integrations:
|
| Support & SLAs | Support & SLAs: Live Chat, Dedicated CSM (higher tiers), Knowledge Base | Support & SLAs: Dedicated CSM, Ticketed SLA, Knowledge Base |
| Deployment Type | Deployment Type: Cloud / SaaS | Deployment Type: Cloud / SaaS |
| Ideal Headcount | Ideal Headcount: 50–250 seats | Ideal Headcount: 50–250 seats |
4 dealbreaker questions to bring to your vendor sales calls before signing.
Ask both 15Five and ClearCo the same four questions so the answers are comparable before you commit.
Question 1
Ask 15Five and ClearCo: “What is the exact written notice window required to prevent auto-renewal, and what happens to historical payroll data upon contract exit?”
Question 2
Ask 15Five and ClearCo: “Are 1:1 meeting tools, manager coaching prompts, and engagement surveys included in the base per-user fee, or sold as separate add-on modules?”
Question 3
Ask 15Five and ClearCo: “Are pricing tiers locked to strict headcount thresholds, and does reducing seats mid-contract reduce our monthly bill?”
Question 4
Ask 15Five and ClearCo: “Is there a mandatory onboarding setup fee or dedicated account manager surcharge not listed on your public pricing page?”
15Five is the better overall fit for technology buyers, startups, and scaleups. Based on The HR Stack Guide's 2026 evaluation, 15Five edges out the competition for Scaleups due to its superior score (4.6/5), strength in OKR tracking, continuous feedback loops, and performance calibration, and strong support for OKR cascading, structured review cycles, and manager coaching workflows.
15Five starts at $4/user/mo; Per user / month (Engage, Perform, and Total Platform tiers). ClearCo starts at Custom quote; Custom quote (talent suite bundle). Beyond the headline rates, here is the fine print. 15Five: From $4/user/month, 15Five is priced per module: Engage, Perform, and Total Platform are separate tiers, so the $4 entry rate rarely covers reviews and engagement together. Manager coaching content is an additional line item, which matters because coaching is the main reason teams pick it. ClearCo: Performance is quoted as part of the wider ClearCo talent suite, so the economics only work if you are also buying ATS and onboarding. Bought standalone, its performance depth does not justify the suite price against dedicated specialists.
Yes, both platforms sync employee organization charts directly with core HRIS platforms to automate review cycle participant rosters.