15Five covers reviews, goals and check-ins well, but costs rise quickly once you add its AI meeting tools. StaffCircle brings performance, skills, succession and AI together for one price, built to work for office and frontline teams alike.
Both cover the performance management basics. Here's where they differ for mid-sized and mixed office/frontline teams.
| Capability | StaffCircle | 15Five |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile access without an Office 365 licence | ✓ | Partial |
| AI meeting Notetaker included, no per-user fee | ✓ | +$2/employee/mo |
| AI coaching for managers included | ✓ | +$19/manager/mo |
| Continuous succession view (Success Circles™) | ✓ | 9-box Talent Matrix |
| AI Competency Framework Builder | ✓ | — |
| ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certified AI management | ✓ | — |
| ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified information security | ✓ | — |
| Published entry price | From £3.85/employee/mo | From $11/user/mo (Perform) |
Comparison based on publicly available product information as of September 2026. Capabilities vary by plan and may change — always confirm current features directly with each vendor. StaffCircle and 15Five are trademarks of their respective owners. See the full 15Five alternatives comparison for six more tools, including Lattice, Culture Amp, Leapsome, Appraisd, BambooHR and PerformYard.
The differences that matter most for mid-sized organisations with mixed office and frontline teams.
StaffCircle's progressive web app works across phones, tablets and desktops with no Office 365 licence required — a stronger fit for manufacturing, construction, retail, hospitality, care and field services than 15Five's desk-first design.
StaffCircle Notetaker and AI Assist are included across the workforce. 15Five charges $2/employee/month for Kona Meeting Assistant and $19/manager/month for Kona Coach on top of the base plan.
StaffCircle holds ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certified AI management alongside ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified information security, with a human-in-the-loop approach — evidence 15Five does not publish.
Modular pricing means you pay for the areas you actually need.
Our full alternatives guide compares StaffCircle, Lattice, Culture Amp, Leapsome, Appraisd, BambooHR and PerformYard side by side on price, features and workforce fit.
StaffCircle is the best 15Five alternative for frontline and deskless teams. Employees can complete reviews, goals, development tasks, and other performance activities from their phones without needing a work computer or Office 365 licence, while managers still get full workforce dashboards and data.
Yes, StaffCircle has a lower published starting price than 15Five Perform. StaffCircle starts at £3.85 per employee per month, billed annually, while 15Five Perform starts at $11 per user per month. Final pricing will still depend on the StaffCircle modules you choose and your team size.
Both include AI, but StaffCircle does not charge separate per-user AI fees. 15Five's Kona Meeting Assistant costs $2 per employee per month extra, and Kona Coach costs $19 per manager per month, while StaffCircle Notetaker and AI Assist are included across the workforce.
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