15Five vs Lever

Detailed side-by-side comparison

15Five

From $4/mo

15Five is a performance management platform designed to build high-performing teams through continuous feedback, OKRs, and engagement surveys. It streamlines manager-employee communication with weekly check-ins, 1-on-1s, and performance reviews while providing actionable insights into employee engagement and development.

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Lever

Lever is a comprehensive talent acquisition suite that combines ATS and CRM capabilities to streamline the entire hiring process from sourcing to onboarding. It's designed for modern recruiting teams who need powerful automation, collaboration tools, and data-driven insights to attract and hire top talent.

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Feature Comparison

Feature	15Five	Lever
Primary Use Case	Performance management and employee engagement for existing team members	Talent acquisition and recruitment for hiring new candidates
Goal Management	OKR goal setting and tracking with alignment to company objectives and progress monitoring	Not a core feature; focused on hiring pipeline goals rather than employee performance goals
Communication & Feedback	Weekly check-ins, 1-on-1 meeting agendas, continuous feedback, recognition, and 360-degree reviews	Candidate communication through integrated email templates and interview coordination
Analytics & Reporting	Employee engagement analytics, performance trends, and insights into team development needs	Diversity and inclusion analytics, hiring pipeline metrics, and data-driven recruiting insights
Workflow Automation	Automated reminders for check-ins, reviews, and 1-on-1s to reduce administrative burden	Interview scheduling automation, customizable hiring pipelines, and candidate nurturing workflows
Relationship Management	Strengthens manager-employee relationships through structured communication and recognition	CRM functionality for nurturing talent pools and maintaining relationships with passive candidates

Pricing Comparison

15Five starts at $4/month per user, making it accessible for mid-sized companies, though costs can add up for larger organizations. Lever does not publicly disclose pricing, typically offering custom enterprise pricing that may be prohibitive for small businesses but provides comprehensive recruiting capabilities for larger teams.

Verdict

Choose 15Five if...

Choose 15Five if you need to improve performance management, employee engagement, and manager-employee communication for your existing workforce. It's ideal for HR teams and managers who want to implement continuous feedback, OKRs, and structured development conversations.

Choose Lever if...

Choose Lever if you need a robust recruiting and talent acquisition solution to streamline your hiring process from sourcing to offer. It's ideal for recruiting teams and growing companies that need to manage large candidate pipelines, nurture talent relationships, and make data-driven hiring decisions.

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Pros & Cons

15Five

Pros

+ Intuitive interface that encourages consistent manager-employee communication
+ Reduces administrative burden of performance management processes
+ Strong integration capabilities with HRIS and collaboration tools
+ Evidence-based approach with built-in best practices for people management

Cons

- Can be overwhelming for teams new to structured performance management
- Pricing can be steep for smaller organizations
- Some features require training to maximize value

Lever

Pros

+ Intuitive user interface that's easy for recruiters and hiring managers to adopt
+ Strong integration ecosystem with HRIS, background check, and assessment tools
+ Excellent candidate experience with mobile-friendly application process
+ Robust analytics and reporting for data-driven hiring decisions

Cons

- Premium pricing may be prohibitive for small businesses and startups
- Steeper learning curve for advanced features and customizations
- Some users report occasional performance issues with large candidate databases