Independent comparison of PerformYard and Culture Amp 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
⭐️ 4.7/5 (1,200+ reviews)
Based on G2 & Industry Benchmark user reviews
⭐️ 4.5/5 (1,600+ 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: PerformYard: At $5/user/month, PerformYard sits at the low end of this category while including 1:1s, engagement surveys, career pathing, and AI insights that rivals sell as separate modules. There is no self-serve trial, so evaluation runs through a guided demo, and review-cycle configuration is where implementation time is actually spent.
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.
The HR Stack Guide Take
If you need genuinely custom review cycles without an enterprise implementation project, PerformYard is the stronger call for Scaleups: its template flexibility and bundled feature set at $5/user undercut modular competitors on all-in cost. If instead engagement measurement and people-science benchmarks are the actual reason you are buying, Culture Amp is the better shortlist candidate: its survey methodology and benchmark dataset are the strongest evidence base in the category.
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 Configurable Mid-Market Reviews PerformYard | Best for Engagement Science & Benchmarks Culture Amp |
|---|---|---|
| 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 PerformYard vs Culture Amp.
| Capability | PerformYard | Culture Amp |
|---|---|---|
| Compliance Standards | Compliance Standards:
| Compliance Standards:
|
| Native Integrations | Native Integrations:
| Native Integrations:
|
| Support & SLAs | Support & SLAs: Dedicated CSM, Ticketed SLA, Knowledge Base | Support & SLAs: Dedicated CSM, Enterprise SLA, Knowledge Base |
| Deployment Type | Deployment Type: Cloud / SaaS | Deployment Type: Cloud / SaaS |
| Ideal Headcount | Ideal Headcount: 50–250 seats | Ideal Headcount: 250–1000+ enterprise |
4 dealbreaker questions to bring to your vendor sales calls before signing.
Ask both PerformYard and Culture Amp the same four questions so the answers are comparable before you commit.
Question 1
Ask PerformYard and Culture Amp: “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 PerformYard and Culture Amp: “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 PerformYard and Culture Amp: “Are pricing tiers locked to strict headcount thresholds, and does reducing seats mid-contract reduce our monthly bill?”
Question 4
Ask PerformYard and Culture Amp: “Is there a mandatory onboarding setup fee or dedicated account manager surcharge not listed on your public pricing page?”
PerformYard is the better overall fit for technology buyers, startups, and scaleups. Based on The HR Stack Guide's 2026 evaluation, PerformYard edges out the competition for Scaleups due to its superior score (4.7/5), strength in OKR tracking, continuous feedback loops, and performance calibration, and strong support for OKR cascading, structured review cycles, and manager coaching workflows.
PerformYard starts at $5/user/mo; Per user / month with configurable review cycle modules. Culture Amp starts at Custom quote; Custom quote (Engage / Perform / Develop bundles). Beyond the headline rates, here is the fine print. PerformYard: At $5/user/month, PerformYard sits at the low end of this category while including 1:1s, engagement surveys, career pathing, and AI insights that rivals sell as separate modules. There is no self-serve trial, so evaluation runs through a guided demo, and review-cycle configuration is where implementation time is actually spent. 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.
Yes, both platforms sync employee organization charts directly with core HRIS platforms to automate review cycle participant rosters.