Ruth, Vendr's AI negotiation agent, reveals pricing and winning negotiation tactics instantly

Vendr's purple icon logo
Vendr's purple icon logo

$24,679

Avg Contract Value

73

Deals handled

21.46%

Avg Savings

$24,679.92

Avg Contract Value

73

Deals handled

21.46%

Avg Savings

How much does 15Five cost?

Median buyer pays
$24,680
per year
Based on data from 67 purchases, with buyers saving 21% on average.
Median: $24,680
$10,733
$69,538
LowHigh
See detailed pricing for your specific purchase

Introduction

15Five is a performance management and employee engagement platform designed to help organizations build high-performing teams through continuous feedback, goal tracking, and people analytics. The platform combines weekly check-ins, OKR management, performance reviews, and engagement surveys into a unified system that aims to improve manager effectiveness and employee development.

Understanding 15Five's pricing structure is essential for HR and People Operations teams evaluating the platform. Pricing varies significantly based on employee count, selected features, contract length, and negotiation approach. Published list prices represent starting points, and actual costs often differ based on company size, deployment complexity, and timing.


Evaluating 15Five or planning a purchase?

Vendr’s pricing analysis agent uses anonymized contract data to show what similar companies typically pay and where negotiation leverage exists—whether you’re estimating budget, comparing options, or reviewing a quote. Explore 15Five pricing with Vendr.


This guide combines 15Five's published pricing with Vendr's dataset and analysis to break down 15Five pricing in 2026, including:

  • Transparent pricing by tier and feature bundle
  • What buyers commonly pay across different company sizes
  • Hidden costs including implementation, training, and add-ons
  • Negotiation levers that create pricing flexibility
  • How 15Five compares to alternatives like Lattice, Culture Amp, and BambooHR

Whether you're evaluating 15Five for the first time or preparing for renewal, this guide is designed to help you budget accurately and negotiate with clearer market context.

How much does 15Five cost in 2026?

15Five uses a per-employee, per-month pricing model with tiered feature bundles. Pricing depends on three primary factors: the number of employees covered, the feature tier selected, and contract length. The platform offers three main tiers—Engage, Perform, and Total Platform—each unlocking progressively more advanced performance management and engagement capabilities.

Pricing structure:

15Five’s pricing is based on active employees (not just managers or users who log in regularly). The platform typically requires annual contracts, though multi-year agreements often unlock better per-employee rates. List pricing starts around $4–$8 per employee per month for basic engagement features, scaling to $14–$18+ per employee per month for the full platform with advanced analytics and strategic HR capabilities.

Key cost drivers:

  • Employee count: Per-employee pricing decreases at volume thresholds (typically 100, 250, 500, and 1,000+ employees)
  • Feature tier: Basic engagement tools vs. full performance management suite vs. total platform with advanced analytics
  • Contract length: Annual vs. multi-year commitments
  • Add-ons: Manager training programs, custom integrations, dedicated customer success support
  • Implementation services: Onboarding, configuration, and change management support

Observed pricing patterns:

Based on anonymized 15Five transactions in Vendr's platform, buyers commonly negotiate below published list rates, particularly when committing to multi-year terms or covering larger employee populations. Volume-based discounting is standard, and competitive evaluation often creates additional pricing flexibility.

Benchmarking context:

Compare 15Five pricing with Vendr to see percentile-based benchmarks for your specific employee count and feature requirements.

What does each 15Five tier cost?

15Five structures its platform into three primary tiers, each designed for different organizational maturity levels and performance management needs. Understanding what's included—and what drives cost differences—helps teams budget accurately and avoid paying for unused capabilities.

How much does 15Five Engage cost?

15Five Engage is the entry-level tier focused on employee engagement and continuous feedback. It's designed for organizations prioritizing regular check-ins, recognition, and basic pulse surveys without requiring full performance review cycles or OKR management.

Pricing Structure:

List pricing for Engage typically ranges from $4 to $8 per employee per month, depending on employee count and contract length. This tier covers the core engagement features including weekly check-ins, 1-on-1 meeting agendas, peer recognition, and basic engagement surveys.

What's included:

  • Weekly check-ins and pulse surveys
  • 1-on-1 meeting templates and tracking
  • Peer recognition and kudos
  • Basic reporting and engagement analytics
  • Mobile app access
  • Standard integrations (Slack, Microsoft Teams, HRIS platforms)

Observed Outcomes:

Buyers often achieve below-list pricing through volume commitments or by bundling Engage with higher tiers during initial evaluation. Organizations with 200+ employees commonly negotiate rates toward the lower end of the published range.

Benchmarking context:

See what similar companies pay for 15Five Engage including percentile ranges and negotiation outcomes by employee count.

How much does 15Five Perform cost?

15Five Perform adds comprehensive performance management capabilities to the engagement foundation, including performance reviews, goal tracking, and competency frameworks. This tier is designed for organizations implementing structured performance cycles and manager development programs.

Pricing Structure:

List pricing for Perform typically ranges from $8 to $14 per employee per month. This tier includes everything in Engage plus performance review cycles, goal and OKR management, competency assessments, and enhanced manager effectiveness tools.

What's included:

  • All Engage features
  • Performance review cycles (360-degree, manager, peer, self)
  • Goal setting and OKR tracking
  • Competency frameworks and career development planning
  • Manager effectiveness assessments
  • Advanced analytics and reporting
  • Custom review templates

Observed Outcomes:

Volume-based discounting becomes more significant at this tier, particularly for organizations with 300+ employees. Multi-year commitments commonly yield discounts in the 15–25% range off list pricing.

Benchmarking context:

Based on Vendr transaction data, Perform represents the most commonly purchased tier. Get your custom 15Five Perform price estimate based on your employee count and contract structure.

How much does 15Five Total Platform cost?

15Five Total Platform (formerly called Focus) represents the complete suite, adding strategic HR capabilities including advanced people analytics, engagement action planning, and dedicated customer success support. This tier is designed for organizations treating performance management as a strategic function with executive-level visibility.

Pricing Structure:

List pricing for Total Platform typically ranges from $14 to $18+ per employee per month. This tier includes everything in Perform plus advanced analytics, engagement action planning, manager training programs, and dedicated customer success management.

What's included:

  • All Perform features
  • Advanced people analytics and predictive insights
  • Engagement action planning and intervention tools
  • Manager training and certification programs
  • Dedicated customer success manager
  • Priority support and implementation assistance
  • Custom integrations and API access
  • Executive dashboards and strategic reporting

Observed Outcomes:

Buyers at this tier often negotiate based on strategic value and competitive alternatives. Organizations committing to multi-year agreements or expanding from lower tiers commonly achieve pricing below the published range.

Benchmarking context:

Total Platform pricing varies significantly based on employee count, implementation complexity, and included services. Explore Total Platform pricing benchmarks for percentile-based ranges across different organizational profiles.

What actually drives 15Five costs?

Understanding the specific factors that influence 15Five pricing helps teams budget accurately and identify negotiation opportunities. While per-employee pricing appears straightforward, several variables create significant cost variation across similar deployments.

Employee count and volume thresholds:

15Five's pricing model includes volume-based discounting at specific employee count thresholds. Organizations crossing 100, 250, 500, or 1,000 employees typically unlock lower per-employee rates. Buyers near these thresholds should consider whether projected headcount growth during the contract term justifies negotiating based on anticipated employee counts rather than current headcount.

Feature tier selection:

The gap between Engage, Perform, and Total Platform pricing reflects both feature access and intended organizational maturity. Teams should evaluate actual usage patterns—many organizations purchase Total Platform but primarily use Perform-level features, creating opportunities to right-size during renewal.

Contract length and payment terms:

Multi-year commitments (typically 2–3 years) create pricing leverage. Based on Vendr transaction data, buyers committing to multi-year agreements often achieve 15–30% lower per-employee pricing compared to annual contracts. Prepayment (annual vs. quarterly billing) may unlock additional discounts of 5–10%.

Implementation and onboarding services:

While not always included in per-employee pricing, implementation services can add $5,000–$25,000+ to total cost depending on employee count, customization requirements, and change management support. Organizations with complex HRIS integrations or custom competency frameworks should budget separately for these services.

Manager training and certification programs:

15Five offers optional manager training programs that can add $50–$150 per manager. For organizations with 50+ managers, this can represent $2,500–$7,500+ in additional annual costs. These programs are often negotiable as bundled add-ons rather than per-manager charges.

Add-on modules and integrations:

Custom integrations, advanced API access, and specialized modules (such as engagement action planning tools) may carry separate fees. Organizations requiring non-standard integrations should clarify whether these are included in tier pricing or billed separately.

Timing and fiscal calendar:

15Five operates on a calendar fiscal year. Buyers negotiating in Q4 (October–December) may encounter additional pricing flexibility as sales teams work toward year-end targets. Renewal timing also matters—buyers renewing mid-year may have less leverage than those renewing during 15Five's peak sales periods.

What hidden costs and fees should you plan for?

Beyond per-employee subscription fees, several additional costs can impact total 15Five ownership. Understanding these upfront helps teams budget accurately and avoid surprises during implementation or renewal.

Implementation and onboarding fees:

15Five typically charges separate implementation fees ranging from $5,000 to $25,000+ depending on employee count, customization requirements, and onboarding complexity. Organizations with 500+ employees or requiring custom competency frameworks, review templates, or HRIS integrations should expect implementation costs toward the higher end of this range. Some buyers negotiate implementation fee waivers or reductions as part of multi-year commitments.

Manager training and certification programs:

While optional, 15Five's manager training programs represent a significant additional cost for organizations prioritizing manager effectiveness. Training fees typically range from $50 to $150 per manager, which can add $5,000–$15,000+ annually for mid-sized organizations. These programs are sometimes bundled into Total Platform pricing but are often quoted separately for Engage and Perform tiers.

Custom integration development:

Standard integrations with major HRIS platforms (Workday, BambooHR, ADP, etc.) are typically included, but custom integrations or API development may carry separate fees. Organizations with proprietary systems or requiring specialized data flows should clarify integration costs during scoping. Custom integration projects can range from $2,500 to $15,000+ depending on complexity.

Data migration and historical data import:

Migrating historical performance review data, goals, or engagement survey results from legacy systems may require additional services. While 15Five provides templates and guidance, complex migrations often require professional services support, adding $2,000–$10,000 to implementation costs.

Additional user licenses beyond employee count:

15Five pricing is based on active employees, but organizations sometimes need to cover contractors, part-time workers, or external collaborators. Clarify whether your employee count includes all workers requiring platform access, as adding users mid-contract may trigger pricing adjustments or overage fees.

Premium support and customer success:

Standard support is included in all tiers, but dedicated customer success management is typically reserved for Total Platform or available as an add-on for lower tiers. Organizations on Engage or Perform seeking dedicated CSM support should expect additional fees of $10,000–$25,000+ annually depending on employee count and support requirements.

Annual price increases:

15Five contracts typically include annual price increase clauses, often tied to CPI or ranging from 3–7% per year. Buyers should negotiate caps on annual increases (e.g., "not to exceed 5% annually") or lock pricing for multi-year terms to avoid compounding cost growth.

Overage fees for employee growth:

Contracts typically allow for some employee growth without immediate pricing adjustments, but exceeding agreed-upon thresholds (often 10–15% above contracted employee count) may trigger mid-contract true-ups or overage fees. Clarify how employee growth is handled and whether pricing adjustments occur quarterly, annually, or at renewal.

What do companies typically pay for 15Five?

Actual 15Five costs vary significantly based on employee count, feature tier, contract structure, and negotiation approach. While list pricing provides a starting point, Vendr data reveals meaningful variation in what buyers ultimately pay.

Based on anonymized 15Five transactions in Vendr's platform, buyers commonly achieve below-list pricing through volume commitments, multi-year agreements, and competitive evaluation. The following patterns reflect observed outcomes across different organizational profiles:

Small organizations (50–200 employees):

Organizations in this range typically focus on Engage or Perform tiers. Buyers often achieve favorable pricing outcomes with multi-year commitments or competitive evaluation against alternatives like Lattice or Culture Amp.

Mid-sized organizations (200–500 employees):

This segment represents a significant portion of 15Five's customer base. Buyers commonly negotiate Perform or Total Platform pricing, with volume-based discounting becoming more significant. Multi-year agreements and competitive positioning often yield favorable pricing outcomes.

Larger organizations (500–1,000+ employees):

Enterprise buyers typically negotiate custom pricing structures that may include bundled implementation, training, and dedicated customer success support. Volume-based discounting is substantial at this scale, and competitive evaluation creates meaningful pricing flexibility.

Observed negotiation outcomes:

Vendr transaction data shows that buyers who prepare carefully and evaluate alternatives often secure meaningfully better pricing. Multi-year commitments, competitive evaluation, and strategic timing (such as negotiating during 15Five's fiscal year-end) commonly create pricing leverage.

Benchmarking context:

Vendr's 15Five pricing benchmarks provide percentile-based ranges specific to your employee count, feature requirements, and contract structure, helping you assess whether a given quote aligns with recent market outcomes.

How do you negotiate 15Five pricing?

Negotiating 15Five pricing effectively requires understanding the vendor's sales dynamics, your own leverage points, and recent market patterns. The following strategies are based on anonymized 15Five deals in Vendr's dataset and reflect tactics that have created pricing flexibility for buyers across different organizational profiles.

1. Engage early and establish competitive context

15Five operates in a competitive performance management market with strong alternatives including Lattice, Culture Amp, BambooHR Performance, and Leapsome. Establishing that you're evaluating multiple platforms creates pricing flexibility, particularly if you're willing to conduct parallel proof-of-concept evaluations.

Buyers who mention specific alternatives during initial conversations often receive more aggressive pricing proposals. Even if 15Five is your preferred platform, demonstrating that you're conducting a thorough evaluation signals price sensitivity and creates negotiation leverage.

 


2. Anchor to budget constraints, not list pricing

Rather than negotiating discounts off 15Five's list pricing, anchor conversations to your available budget. Frame pricing discussions around what you can afford rather than what 15Five typically charges. For example: "Our approved budget for performance management is $X per employee per month. We're evaluating several platforms that fit within this range. Can 15Five work within this budget, or should we focus on alternatives that align better with our financial constraints?"

This approach shifts the conversation from "how much discount can you offer" to "can you meet our budget," which often creates more pricing flexibility.

 


3. Leverage multi-year commitments strategically

Multi-year agreements (typically 2–3 years) create significant pricing leverage with 15Five. Vendr data shows that buyers committing to multi-year terms often achieve 15–30% lower per-employee pricing compared to annual contracts.

However, multi-year commitments also reduce flexibility. Consider negotiating:

  • Annual price caps: Lock pricing for the full term or cap annual increases at 3–5%
  • Opt-out clauses: Include provisions allowing you to exit or renegotiate if employee count decreases significantly or if 15Five is acquired
  • Feature guarantees: Ensure that features included in your tier remain available throughout the contract term without additional fees

 


4. Negotiate implementation and training fees separately

Implementation fees, manager training programs, and custom integration costs are often more negotiable than per-employee subscription pricing. Buyers committing to multi-year agreements or larger employee counts should request:

  • Waived or reduced implementation fees
  • Bundled manager training programs (rather than per-manager charges)
  • Included custom integration support for standard HRIS platforms

These concessions can reduce total first-year costs by $10,000–$30,000+ without impacting ongoing subscription pricing.

 


5. Time negotiations strategically

15Five operates on a calendar fiscal year, with Q4 (October–December) representing a key sales period. Buyers negotiating during this window may encounter additional pricing flexibility as sales teams work toward year-end targets.

Similarly, buyers renewing during Q4 or early Q1 may have more leverage than those renewing mid-year. If your renewal timing is flexible, consider aligning it with 15Five's fiscal calendar to maximize negotiation leverage.

 


6. Clarify employee count definitions and growth provisions

15Five pricing is based on active employees, but definitions vary. Clarify whether your employee count includes:

  • Full-time employees only, or also part-time workers and contractors
  • Current headcount or projected headcount at contract midpoint
  • All employees or only those actively using the platform

Negotiate provisions for employee growth that allow 15–20% headcount increases without triggering mid-contract price adjustments. This creates budget predictability and avoids surprise true-up fees.

 


7. Request pricing transparency and benchmarking data

Ask 15Five to provide pricing transparency by sharing how your proposed pricing compares to similar organizations. While vendors rarely disclose specific customer pricing, requesting this context signals sophistication and may prompt more competitive proposals.

Alternatively, use external benchmarking data to validate proposals. Vendr's dataset includes 15Five deals across a wide range of organizational profiles, providing percentile-based benchmarks that help assess whether a given quote aligns with recent market outcomes.

 


Negotiation Intelligence

These insights are based on anonymized 15Five deals in Vendr's dataset across a wide range of company sizes and contract structures. Buyers can explore these insights directly using Vendr's free pricing and negotiation tools:

 


How does 15Five compare to competitors?

15Five operates in a competitive performance management and employee engagement market. Understanding how 15Five's pricing compares to alternatives helps buyers assess value and create negotiation leverage. The following comparisons focus on pricing structures, contract terms, and observed cost differences for similar organizational profiles.

15Five vs. Lattice

Lattice is 15Five's most direct competitor, offering a similar performance management and engagement platform with comparable feature depth. Both platforms target mid-market and enterprise organizations seeking comprehensive performance management solutions.

Pricing comparison

Pricing component15FiveLattice
Entry-level tier (per employee/month)$4–$8$4–$11
Mid-tier (per employee/month)$8–$14$11–$15
Full platform (per employee/month)$14–$18+$15–$22+
Typical contract minimumAnnualAnnual
Implementation fees$5,000–$25,000+$5,000–$30,000+
Estimated total (500 employees, mid-tier, annual)$48,000–$84,000$66,000–$90,000

Pricing notes

  • Lattice's published list pricing tends to be slightly higher than 15Five's, particularly at mid-tier and enterprise levels
  • Both vendors offer volume-based discounting at similar employee count thresholds (100, 250, 500, 1,000+)
  • Based on Vendr transaction data, both vendors commonly negotiate below list pricing for multi-year commitments
  • Lattice's implementation fees can be higher for organizations requiring extensive customization or change management support
  • Compare 15Five and Lattice pricing using Vendr's benchmarking tools to see percentile ranges for your specific requirements

15Five vs. Culture Amp

Culture Amp focuses primarily on employee engagement and feedback, with performance management capabilities added more recently. Culture Amp's strength is engagement surveys and people analytics, while 15Five emphasizes continuous performance management and manager effectiveness.

Pricing comparison

Pricing component15FiveCulture Amp
Engagement-focused tier (per employee/month)$4–$8$5–$9
Performance + engagement (per employee/month)$8–$14$10–$16
Full platform with analytics (per employee/month)$14–$18+$15–$20+
Typical contract minimumAnnualAnnual
Implementation fees$5,000–$25,000+$10,000–$40,000+
Estimated total (500 employees, full platform, annual)$84,000–$108,000$90,000–$120,000

Pricing notes

  • Culture Amp's pricing tends to be higher, particularly when including advanced analytics and engagement action planning
  • Culture Amp's implementation fees are often higher due to more extensive survey design and analytics configuration
  • In Vendr transactions, both platforms show similar discounting patterns for multi-year agreements
  • Organizations prioritizing engagement surveys over performance reviews may find Culture Amp's engagement-only tier more cost-effective than 15Five's full platform
  • See what similar companies pay for Culture Amp and 15Five across different employee counts and feature configurations

15Five vs. BambooHR Performance Management

BambooHR offers performance management as part of its broader HRIS platform. Organizations already using BambooHR for core HR functions may find bundled pricing attractive, though BambooHR's performance management capabilities are generally less comprehensive than 15Five's dedicated platform.

Pricing comparison

Pricing component15FiveBambooHR Performance
Performance management (per employee/month)$8–$14$5–$10 (bundled with HRIS)
Standalone performance module (per employee/month)$8–$14$8–$12
Full platform with engagement (per employee/month)$14–$18+Not directly comparable
Typical contract minimumAnnualAnnual
Implementation fees$5,000–$25,000+$3,000–$15,000 (if already on BambooHR)
Estimated total (500 employees, performance management, annual)$48,000–$84,000$30,000–$60,000 (bundled)

Pricing notes

  • BambooHR's performance management pricing is most competitive when bundled with its core HRIS platform
  • Organizations not already using BambooHR for HRIS may find standalone performance management pricing less competitive
  • 15Five offers more comprehensive performance management features, particularly around continuous feedback, OKRs, and manager effectiveness
  • Based on Vendr data, buyers choosing between 15Five and BambooHR often prioritize feature depth (15Five) vs. HRIS integration simplicity (BambooHR)
  • Compare 15Five and BambooHR pricing to understand total cost of ownership for your specific HRIS and performance management requirements

15Five vs. Leapsome

Leapsome is a European-based performance management and employee engagement platform with growing North American presence. Leapsome offers similar feature depth to 15Five at competitive pricing, particularly for organizations with European operations.

Pricing comparison

Pricing component15FiveLeapsome
Entry-level tier (per employee/month)$4–$8$4–$8
Mid-tier performance management (per employee/month)$8–$14$8–$12
Full platform (per employee/month)$14–$18+$12–$16
Typical contract minimumAnnualAnnual
Implementation fees$5,000–$25,000+$3,000–$20,000
Estimated total (500 employees, mid-tier, annual)$48,000–$84,000$48,000–$72,000

Pricing notes

  • Leapsome's pricing is often more competitive than 15Five's, particularly at mid-tier and enterprise levels
  • Leapsome's European heritage means stronger data privacy and GDPR compliance features, which may matter for multinational organizations
  • In Vendr's dataset, both vendors show similar negotiation patterns and discounting behavior
  • Organizations with significant European employee populations may find Leapsome's regional support and compliance features valuable
  • Explore Leapsome pricing with Vendr to see how Leapsome compares to 15Five for your geographic distribution and feature requirements

15Five pricing FAQs

Finance & Procurement FAQs

What discounts are available for 15Five?

Based on anonymized 15Five transactions in Vendr's platform over the past 12 months:

  • Multi-year commitments commonly yield discounts off list pricing, with 2-year agreements typically achieving stronger discounts than 3-year terms
  • Volume-based discounting becomes significant at 250+ employees, with additional pricing improvements at 500 and 1,000+ employee thresholds
  • Competitive evaluation creates pricing flexibility—buyers actively evaluating Lattice, Culture Amp, or other alternatives often achieve better pricing than single-vendor evaluations
  • Annual prepayment (vs. quarterly billing) may unlock additional discounts
  • Implementation fee waivers or reductions are commonly negotiated for multi-year agreements or organizations with 500+ employees

Vendr's dataset shows teams with 500+ employees committing to multi-year agreements often achieved lower per-employee pricing through volume-based negotiation and competitive positioning.

Benchmarking context:

See what similar companies pay for 15Five based on your employee count, contract structure, and feature requirements, including percentile-based discount ranges.


How much should I budget for 15Five?

Based on 15Five transactions in Vendr's database:

  • Small organizations (50–200 employees): Budget accordingly depending on tier selection (Engage vs. Perform) and contract length
  • Mid-sized organizations (200–500 employees): Budget for Perform or Total Platform, including implementation
  • Larger organizations (500–1,000+ employees): Budget for Total Platform with bundled services

These ranges include subscription fees and typical implementation costs. Organizations requiring extensive manager training, custom integrations, or dedicated customer success should budget additional amounts above base subscription costs.

Negotiation guidance:

Vendr's pricing benchmarks provide percentile-based ranges specific to your employee count and requirements, helping you set realistic budget targets and identify negotiation opportunities.


What are typical 15Five contract terms?

Based on Vendr transaction data for 15Five deals:

  • Contract length: Annual contracts are standard, with 2-year agreements representing a significant portion of observed deals and 3-year agreements less common
  • Payment terms: Annual prepayment is most common, though quarterly billing is available (often at higher total cost)
  • Auto-renewal clauses: Most contracts include auto-renewal with 30–90 day cancellation notice requirements
  • Annual price increases: Contracts typically include annual price escalation clauses, often tied to CPI or stated as fixed percentages
  • Employee growth provisions: Contracts commonly allow employee growth before triggering mid-contract pricing adjustments

Buyers should negotiate caps on annual price increases (e.g., "not to exceed 5% annually") and clarify how employee growth is handled to avoid surprise mid-contract fees.

Negotiation guidance:

Access 15Five contract negotiation playbooks for specific tactics on auto-renewal clauses, price escalation caps, and employee growth provisions.


How does 15Five pricing compare to competitors?

Based on anonymized transactions in Vendr's platform for similar organizational profiles:

  • 15Five vs. Lattice: Lattice's list pricing tends to be higher than 15Five's at comparable tiers, though both vendors negotiate similarly
  • 15Five vs. Culture Amp: Culture Amp's full platform pricing is typically higher than 15Five's, particularly when including advanced analytics
  • 15Five vs. BambooHR: BambooHR's bundled HRIS + performance management pricing can be lower than standalone 15Five, but feature depth differs significantly
  • 15Five vs. Leapsome: Leapsome's pricing is often more competitive than 15Five's at mid-tier and enterprise levels

These comparisons reflect list pricing and typical negotiated outcomes. Actual costs vary based on employee count, feature requirements, and negotiation approach.

Competitive benchmarks:

Compare 15Five to alternatives using Vendr's benchmarking tools to see side-by-side pricing for your specific requirements.


What hidden costs should I watch for with 15Five?

Based on 15Five deals in Vendr's dataset, common hidden costs include:

  • Implementation fees: Depending on employee count and customization requirements (often negotiable or waived for multi-year commitments)
  • Manager training programs: Per-manager fees, adding costs annually for mid-sized organizations
  • Custom integrations: For non-standard HRIS integrations or API development
  • Data migration services: For importing historical performance data from legacy systems
  • Annual price increases: Unless capped during negotiation
  • Employee overage fees: Mid-contract true-ups if employee count exceeds contracted thresholds

Vendr's dataset shows that buyers who clarify these costs upfront and negotiate bundled pricing often reduce total first-year costs compared to those who accept standard proposals.

Negotiation guidance:

Vendr's negotiation playbooks include specific tactics for negotiating implementation fee waivers, bundled training, and price escalation caps.


When is the best time to negotiate 15Five pricing?

Based on 15Five's fiscal calendar and observed negotiation patterns in Vendr's database:

  • Q4 (October–December): 15Five operates on a calendar fiscal year, making Q4 a strong negotiation window as sales teams work toward year-end targets
  • Early Q1 (January–February): New fiscal year budgets and quota resets can create pricing flexibility, particularly for larger deals
  • Renewal timing: Buyers renewing during Q4 or early Q1 typically have more leverage than those renewing mid-year
  • Competitive evaluation periods: Conducting parallel evaluations with alternatives (Lattice, Culture Amp) during any quarter creates pricing leverage regardless of fiscal timing

Buyers negotiating during Q4 often achieve better pricing than those negotiating during Q2 or Q3, based on Vendr transaction data.

Negotiation guidance:

Access timing-specific negotiation tactics for 15Five based on your purchase or renewal timeline.


Product FAQs

What's the difference between 15Five Engage, Perform, and Total Platform?

15Five structures its platform into three tiers based on organizational performance management maturity:

  • Engage: Entry-level tier focused on employee engagement, weekly check-ins, 1-on-1 meetings, peer recognition, and basic pulse surveys. Best for organizations prioritizing continuous feedback without formal performance review cycles.
  • Perform: Mid-tier adding comprehensive performance management including review cycles (360-degree, manager, peer, self), goal and OKR tracking, competency frameworks, and manager effectiveness tools. Best for organizations implementing structured performance processes.
  • Total Platform: Full suite including everything in Perform plus advanced people analytics, engagement action planning, manager training programs, dedicated customer success, and executive dashboards. Best for organizations treating performance management as a strategic function.

Most buyers in Vendr's dataset select Perform or Total Platform, with Engage representing smaller organizations or those piloting engagement-only initiatives.


Does 15Five integrate with my HRIS?

15Five offers standard integrations with major HRIS platforms including:

  • Workday
  • BambooHR
  • ADP Workforce Now
  • Namely
  • Rippling
  • Gusto
  • Paylocity
  • UKG (Ultimate Kronos Group)

Standard integrations typically sync employee data, organizational structure, and manager relationships automatically. Custom integrations or API development for proprietary systems may require additional fees depending on complexity. Organizations should clarify integration scope during initial scoping to avoid surprise implementation costs.


Can I start with a lower tier and upgrade later?

Yes, 15Five allows tier upgrades during the contract term. However, pricing and contract terms for upgrades vary:

  • Mid-contract upgrades: Typically require contract amendments with pricing based on remaining contract term
  • Renewal upgrades: Often provide better pricing than mid-contract changes
  • Feature access: Upgrades are typically effective immediately upon contract amendment

Buyers planning to expand should negotiate upgrade pricing and terms during initial contract negotiation to avoid unfavorable mid-contract pricing.


What kind of support does 15Five provide?

Support levels vary by tier:

  • Engage and Perform: Standard support including email, chat, and knowledge base access with typical response times of 24–48 hours
  • Total Platform: Priority support with faster response times plus dedicated customer success manager
  • All tiers: Access to 15Five's online community, training resources, and best practice guides

Organizations on Engage or Perform seeking dedicated customer success support should expect additional fees depending on employee count.

Summary Takeaways: 15Five Pricing in 2026

Based on analysis of anonymized 15Five deals in Vendr's dataset, pricing varies significantly based on employee count, feature tier, contract structure, and negotiation approach. Recent data from Vendr shows that buyers who prepare carefully and evaluate alternatives often secure meaningfully better pricing than those accepting initial proposals.

Key takeaways:

  • 15Five uses per-employee, per-month pricing across three tiers (Engage, Perform, Total Platform), with volume-based discounting at specific employee count thresholds
  • Multi-year commitments, competitive evaluation, and strategic timing create significant pricing leverage
  • Implementation fees, manager training programs, and annual price increases represent common hidden costs that are often negotiable
  • Competitive alternatives including Lattice, Culture Amp, BambooHR, and Leapsome create pricing flexibility and should be evaluated in parallel
  • Buyers should clarify employee count definitions, growth provisions, and price escalation caps to avoid mid-contract surprises

Regardless of platform choice, the most important step is clearly defining requirements, understanding total cost drivers, and benchmarking pricing against comparable deals before committing.

 

Vendr's pricing and negotiation tools analyze anonymized transaction data to surface percentile-based benchmarks, competitive comparisons, and observed negotiation patterns, helping buyers assess how a given 15Five quote compares to recent market outcomes for similar scope.

 


This guide is updated regularly to reflect recent 15Five pricing and negotiation trends. Consider revisiting it ahead of any new purchase or renewal to account for changing market conditions. Last updated: February 2026.