Lattice vs Culture Amp vs PerformYard (2024)

Employee engagement and performance are extremely important to the overall success of an organization, but tracking, understanding, and improving employee engagement and performance can be a challenge. That is, unless you have the right software.

There are a lot of software platforms for you to choose from. Two of the most popular are Lattice and Culture Amp.

Both offer a range of performance management solutions, but knowing the differences between Lattice vs Culture Amp can help you figure out which one is right for your organization.

Here are the pros and cons you need to know about Lattice vs Culture Amp so you can make an informed decision.

Lattice vs Culture Amp Overview

Both Lattice and Culture Amp are popular employee engagement and performance management software platforms. Both platforms integrate aspects of performance management and engagement, but the degrees to which they support them differ.

Lattice focuses on progress and productivity through the lens of performance management, while Culture Amp instead focuses on employee feedback and engagement.

Each has its pros and cons, with features that are unique to the platform. Things to keep in mind as you’re comparing Lattice vs Culture Amp include:

Lattice Overview 

Founded in 2015, Lattice is a cloud-based HR-facing performance management tool that focuses primarily on employee progress and productivity with some employee feedback capabilities. It's known for its great customer service and wide range of capabilities within the platform. It supports integrations with other platforms, and it does a great job of offering real-time feedback.

It's used by top organizations like Discord, Loom, and Gusto, but it can be a bit pricey for small operations, so it's a better choice for mid- to large-sized organizations.

Keep reading to learn more about the pros and cons of Lattice.

Pros of Lattice

Lattice is a good performance management software choice if you're looking for a system that focuses on managing employee progress and productivity. The platform offers capabilities like setting goals, tracking performance over time, engaging in employee check-ins, gathering employee feedback, and streamlining the performance review process.

The top pros of Lattice vs Culture Amp include:

• Comprehensive set of performance management features
• Real-time data and continuous feedback
• Outstanding customer support

Comprehensive set of performance management features

Lattice has a lot to offer when it comes to its performance management features. You can:

• Conduct performance reviews
• Provide feedback and recognition
• Administer skill and competency assessments
• Create goals and OKRs
• Engage in succession planning

Managing all these capabilities is made easier with a dashboard that gives you easy access to all of the features you use the most.

Real-time data and continuous feedback

The best decisions are those that are made in a timely manner based on accurate data. Lattice makes it easy for HR and managers to make important decisions quickly because the platform offers a comprehensive analytics and reporting system that is fully customizable. Data is compiled and presented in real-time, which makes continuous feedback, one-on-one meetings, and mentoring a lot easier.

Cons of Lattice

Although Lattice does enable you to gather employee feedback, this platform's primary focus is on performance management—not necessarily work culture or employee engagement. It emphasizes ongoing feedback, coaching, and developing employees instead of tapping into their broader thoughts and opinions about their workload, position, or the company as a whole.

A few other cons of Lattice vs Culture Amp include:

• Limited customization options
• Limited 360 feedback
• Can be pricey for small organizations

Limited customization options

Lattice is often touted as having a user-friendly interface with easy navigation. However, that's mostly the case only if you have experience in HR or with other performance management software in the past.

In addition, customization options are limited compared to other platforms, like Culture Amp. Although there are some things you can personalize, like the navigation bar, there isn’t much you can do in the way of changing formats, appearances, or customizing processes.

Some reviews, like 360 reviews, can be a challenge

Not all of Lattice’s capabilities are intuitive. For example, 360 reviews can be a bit tricky to facilitate because, in order for peers to provide feedback, they have to be nominated by themselves or someone else. Managers also have to approve the peers who are allowed to leave feedback, which adds an additional step that can be time-consuming and irritating for managers.

Can be pricey for small organizations

On the surface, Lattice seems reasonably priced. Bundled features cost $11 per user per month. Costs are also outlined on their website, which means you can get a feel for how much it's going to cost without having to request a quote.

The trouble is that Lattice requires a minimum annual agreement of $4,000. Reaching that amount may not be a problem for mid- and large-sized businesses, depending on the capabilities you choose, but it can make the platform quite expensive for small operations.

Culture Amp Overview 

Culture Amp got its start in 2009 as an anonymous employee feedback survey company. Today, they offer some performance management capabilities, but their cloud-based services remain focused on employee engagement.

They offer a wide range of tools that include the creation of customized employee surveys, performance reviews, and analytics that enable organizations to put their finger on the pulse of employee opinions, sentiments, and experience.

It's used by top organizations like Etsy, McDonalds, and Canva, but with no minimum annual agreement, it could potentially be more affordable for smaller companies too.

Keep reading to learn more about the pros and cons of Culture Amp.

Culture Amp Pros

Culture Amp focuses on employee feedback and engagement, which is important when you consider the fact that companies with the highest rates of employee engagement are 21% more profitable and 17% more productive than companies with disengaged staff.

They offer a range of capabilities that include the ability to create custom employee engagement surveys, schedule follow-up meetings, track goals, assign new responsibilities, and monitor the progress of employees.

The top pros of Culture Amp vs Lattice include:

• Customizable platform
• Robust diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) analytics
• Multiple ways to follow up and follow through

Customizable platform

Culture Amp gives organizations the ability to  customize the  platform based on  values and culture. You can play around with the performance management process, customize workflows, and utilize an interactive dashboard that enables you to analyze and display data in different ways.

Robust diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) analytics

Because Culture Amp is focused on the employee experience, they have taken extra time to include analytics that take diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into account. Your organization can track and measure progress, identify gaps, and create specific strategies based on feedback to better meet inclusion goals.

Multiple ways to follow up and follow through

Culture Amp also has multiple ways for you to follow up on your findings and follow through on everyone’s goals.

For example:

• A performance review system allows you to provide feedback, set goals, and track progress
• Peer-to-peer recognition and rewards allow employees to acknowledge the contributions of others
• Employee well-being tracking allows you to identify potential problems and implement strategies to overcome them
• You can refine and enhance learning initiatives with employee feedback on learning and development experiences
• Team effectiveness surveys help identify areas of improvement that will enhance team performance
• You can create action items, assign responsibilities, and monitor progress on the platform to support meaningful change in your organization

Cons of Culture Amp

The heavy focus on employee feedback and engagement can be a good thing, but it can end up being a bad thing for organizations that decide they want to focus more on performance management and the review process.

A few other cons of Culture Amp include:

• Integrations can be a pain
• Navigating the platform can be clunky and cumbersome
• The abundance of features and options can be overwhelming

One verified reviewer on G2 said they switched from Culture Amp to PerformYard because of user-experience issues:

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"We switched over from Culture Amp, which we found to be very clunky and hard to use. PerformYard has helped us achieve buy-in from leadership and employees, making for a much better performance review experience for our company."

— Christin S. | Senior HR Manager | Mid-Market

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Integrations can be a pain

Although Culture Amp does offer a wide range of integrations with other platforms, it can be difficult to integrate scheduled reviews or meetings with the rest of their features since it doesn't focus on performance management specifically. General performance platform integrations can be a challenge for the same reason.

Navigating the platform can be clunky and cumbersome

Having the ability to customize so much about the platform comes at a cost. The platform isn't as intuitive as others. There’s a learning curve to using a customized platform that isn’t necessarily present with platforms that have fewer customization options.

One user reports that "it wasn't user-friendly navigating between reports, self-reflection, peer feedback, and the manager performance review they were completing for their report. I would prefer them not to be in separate drop-down performance sections.”

The abundance of features and options can be overwhelming

Having so many features is great for customization, but it can be a challenge too, especially when Culture Amp releases new functions. It can feel like users always need additional training or background information in order to use each feature to its full capability.

Lattice vs Culture Amp: Which is Right for You?

Neither platform is inherently better than the other. Instead, you should consider whether the particular features of each platform are right for your organization.

Lattice could be a good fit if:

• You need a solution that focuses on progress and productivity over employee feedback and engagement
• Your business prioritizes taking quick action according to real-time information
• Your team will benefit from having a dedicated account manager and award-winning customer service
• You value upfront, predictable pricing and have an organization that’s large enough to commit to at least $4,000 annually

Culture Amp could be a good fit if:

• You need a solution that focuses on employee feedback and engagement over progress and productivity
• Your business prioritizes creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture and a positive working atmosphere
• Your team will benefit from having the ability to customize the platform to fit your evolving needs
• You want a price and platform that is customized for your budget

How PerformYard Outshines the Competition

Although Lattice and Culture Amp are leading performance management-style software options, they’re far from your only options.

In fact, as one verified reviewer on G2 said, PerformYard may be your best option:

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"We checked out a few other systems (Review Snap, Culture Amp and Lattice), but ultimately decided PerformYard was the best fit for a number of reasons (cost, ease of use, customer service, customization, features, etc.) We also checked references and spoke with clients similar to us who were able to attest to their experience, which PerformYard was willing and ready to provide!"

— Emily P. | Human Resources Manager | Insurance

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If you’re looking for dedicated performance management software that focuses on the review process and integrates progress, productivity, employee feedback, and engagement within a customizable review process, PerformYard is for you.

A few ways PerformYard outshines the competition include:

• A full suite of fully customizable performance reviews
• Engagement surveys with cohort analysis
• Affordable pricing and customer support included in every contract

A full suite of fully customizable performance reviews

There is very little in the way of performance review options available with Culture Amp’s software. Instead, it has to be integrated with the platform. Lattice offers more options, but it’s lacking an intuitive process for some review styles, like 360 reviews.

PerformYard, in contrast, offers a comprehensive suite of performance review tools that support:

• Employee appraisals
• 360 reviews
• Quarterly check-ins
• Project-based reviews
• One-on-ones
• And more

That's not all. The software is specifically designed to eliminate tedious tasks associated with performance reviews, like scheduling, while supporting real-time conversations and detailed visual analysis of data. Getting full support through a comprehensive review process provides employees with the ability to provide feedback while setting goals and focusing on progress at the same time.

Engagement surveys with cohort analysis

PerformYard includes dedicated employee engagement software without the need for separate integrations. You're able to personalize anonymous surveys that allow you to better understand employee needs, monitor their sentiments, and identify steps your organization needs to take in order to improve engagement.

Collecting and analyzing data is a breeze too. An analysis dashboard allows you to gain quick visual insights, while a dedicated cohort analysis option allows you to see how different demographics within your organization respond to certain questions, as well as how their responses change over time.

Affordable pricing

Pricing for platforms like Lattice and Culture Amp can get out of hand quickly. PerformYard keeps things simple with a pricing structure that starts at just $5 per person per month and tops out at just $10 per person per month, with unlimited, dedicated support included in every contract at no extra cost.

Lattice vs Culture Amp vs PerformYard

How do the three platforms compare? Here’s a quick-view look at the features of Lattice vs Culture Amp vs PerformYard:

Lattice vs Culture Amp vs PerformYard Pricing 

Pricing is always an important consideration. Here’s what you need to know about Lattice vs Culture Amp vs PerformYard pricing:

FAQs

What’s the main difference between Lattice vs Culture Amp?

The main difference between Lattice vs Culture Amp is that Lattice focuses on capabilities that allow organizations to focus on the progress and productivity of their employees. Culture Amp, in contrast, focuses on employee feedback and engagement with the goal of prioritizing the ability to create a positive workplace culture.

Which platform is more user-friendly, Lattice or Culture Amp?

Lattice is more intuitively user-friendly for HR professionals who have experience working with similar platforms. Culture Amp is customizable, which means it could take a while to set things up, but once you do, using the platform has the potential to be easier.

How do the pricing models of Lattice and Culture Amp compare?

Lattice features transparent pricing on their website. Subscriptions are priced per user with a minimum annual commitment of $4,000. Culture Amp does not list prices on their website. There is no annual commitment, but you have to call a sales representative who will customize a price based on your needs and the size of your organization.

How does PerformYard compare to Lattice and Culture Amp?

While Lattice and Culture Amp focus on productivity and employee engagement, respectively, PerformYard focuses on the performance management process. Both productivity and engagement can be personalized within a larger, fully customizable process of performance management reviews.

What makes PerformYard a better fit for me over Lattice and Culture Amp?

PerformYard intuitively integrates productivity, employee progress, feedback, and engagement under the larger umbrella of performance management. It enables you to pivot what you focus on and utilize analytics that relate to all of these important factors within a single platform.