When you're building a startup, every cent — and every hour — matters. You're wearing 10 hats, your team is evolving fast, and performance management probably isn't top of your list... until it becomes essential.
The good news? You don't need a giant HR budget to track goals, run feedback cycles, and build a performance-driven culture. Whether you're managing 5, 15, or 25 people, there are cost-effective (even free) tools that can help.
Let's break down the best options by team size — and see how they scale as you grow.
For Teams of Under 5: Stay Lean, Stay Fast
At this stage, you just need clarity and consistency. Forget complex review cycles — you want a light way to track goals and check in regularly.
Best Free or Low-Cost Tools
Tability – Great for solo founders or early teams to track OKRs.
Weekdone – Free for up to 3 users, with weekly check-ins and team dashboards.
Odoo Community (Self-hosted) – If you're technical, this open-source system offers HR + performance tools for $0.
Zoho People Free – Free for up to 5 users, with basic HR functionality and limited goal setting.
Ideal for lean teams building structure without slowing down.
For Teams of Under 15: Introduce Structure Without Bureaucracy
Once you're past 5, you'll need goal alignment, review cycles, and the start of employee development. It's time to move beyond spreadsheets.
Best Scalable Tools
BambooHR (Performance Add-On) – Clean UI, lightweight HRIS with optional review module (~$11/user).
Leapsome – Highly flexible tool with OKRs, 1:1s, and feedback, perfect for culture-driven teams.
Odoo Enterprise – Affordable full-suite option if you also want to manage payroll, timesheets, and hiring.
OrangeHRM (Open Source) – A bit old-school, but it's free and does the job for reviews and basic HR.
Pick based on how much structure your team needs — and how much admin time you can spare.
For Teams of Under 25: Time for Full Performance Cycles
At this point, you're building a company culture — and that means performance reviews, 360° feedback, and employee growth matter more than ever.
Best Growth-Ready Platforms
Leapsome – Designed for fast-scaling teams, with OKRs, development paths, engagement surveys, and great UX (~$10/user).
PerformYard – Streamlined and affordable review system (~$7/user), great if you just want solid cycles.
Odoo Enterprise – Scales well into 50+ employees, with enterprise-grade tools for a fraction of big-name prices.
This is where many companies graduate from free tools into platforms that can grow with them.
Monthly Cost Comparison by Team Size
Tool | 5 Users | 15 Users | 25 Users |
Odoo Community | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Odoo Enterprise | $125 | $375 | $625 |
Leapsome | $50 | $150 | $250 |
BambooHR + Perf. | ~$55 | ~$165 | ~$275 |
PerformYard | $35 | $105 | $175 |
Weekdone | Free | $90 | $150 |
Tability | Free | $80 | $140 |
Self-hosted tools like Odoo or OrangeHRM have no licensing costs but require setup and hosting (~$5–10/month).
What to Consider When Choosing
Factor | Prioritize This... |
No budget | Odoo Community, Weekdone, OrangeHRM |
Quick setup | BambooHR, Leapsome, PerformYard |
Tech-savvy team | Odoo Community or Enterprise |
Culture + feedback | Leapsome |
Just want reviews | PerformYard |
Final Word: Start Small, Build Smart
You don't need to commit to a bulky enterprise system to manage your team's performance. Whether you're writing OKRs on sticky notes or running full review cycles, the key is choosing tools that match your stage, not just your ambition.
Start simple. Scale smart. And build the kind of company people love working for.