Independent comparison of Culture Amp and ClearCo for teams evaluating performance management and review software.
Disclosure: The HR Stack Guide is an independent comparison guide. We may earn a commission if you sign up through our links at no extra cost to you. Read full disclosure.
Primary Terms & Pricing Audited Q3 2026 | Unbiased Data
⭐️ 4.5/5 (1,600+ 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: Culture Amp: Quote-only, bundled as Engage, Perform, and Develop, and priced for enterprise procurement. Engagement is the flagship and performance is the secondary module, so buying Culture Amp primarily for reviews usually means paying for survey science you will not fully use.
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 engagement measurement and people-science benchmarks are the actual reason you are buying, Culture Amp is the stronger call for Scaleups: its survey methodology and benchmark dataset are the strongest evidence base in the category. 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 Engagement Science & Benchmarks Culture Amp | 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 Culture Amp vs ClearCo.
| Capability | Culture Amp | ClearCo |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance Standards | Compliance Standards:
| Compliance Standards:
|
| Native Integrations | Native Integrations:
| Native Integrations:
|
| Support & SLAs | Support & SLAs: Dedicated CSM, Enterprise SLA, Knowledge Base | Support & SLAs: Dedicated CSM, Ticketed SLA, Knowledge Base |
| Deployment Type | Deployment Type: Cloud / SaaS | Deployment Type: Cloud / SaaS |
| Ideal Headcount | Ideal Headcount: 250–1000+ enterprise | Ideal Headcount: 50–250 seats |
4 dealbreaker questions to bring to your vendor sales calls before signing.
Ask both Culture Amp and ClearCo the same four questions so the answers are comparable before you commit.
Question 1
Ask Culture Amp 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 Culture Amp 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 Culture Amp and ClearCo: “Are pricing tiers locked to strict headcount thresholds, and does reducing seats mid-contract reduce our monthly bill?”
Question 4
Ask Culture Amp and ClearCo: “Is there a mandatory onboarding setup fee or dedicated account manager surcharge not listed on your public pricing page?”
Culture Amp is the better overall fit for technology buyers, startups, and scaleups. Based on The HR Stack Guide's 2026 evaluation, Culture Amp edges ahead for Scaleups despite matching 4.5/5 overall scores, because it covers more of the capabilities that matter here—OKR tracking, continuous feedback loops, and performance calibration—and stronger support for OKR cascading, structured review cycles, and manager coaching workflows.
Culture Amp starts at Custom quote; Custom quote (Engage / Perform / Develop bundles). ClearCo starts at Custom quote; Custom quote (talent suite bundle). Beyond the headline rates, here is the fine print. Culture Amp: Quote-only, bundled as Engage, Perform, and Develop, and priced for enterprise procurement. Engagement is the flagship and performance is the secondary module, so buying Culture Amp primarily for reviews usually means paying for survey science you will not fully use. 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.