15Five vs TinyPulse: Find the Right Fit for Your Growing Team

15Five and TinyPulse Engage both promise to solve the "we don't know what our people are really thinking" problem—but they take opposite approaches.

15Five builds ongoing conversations through weekly check-ins, goal tracking, and performance reviews all in one place. It's designed for teams wanting comprehensive visibility into individual progress and engagement.

TinyPulse Engage keeps it simple: one weekly question, anonymous answers, and peer recognition. It's built for organizations believing the best insights come from employees who feel safe speaking up without judgment. This isn't about comparing features—it's about choosing between deep performance conversations or quick temperature checks that won't overwhelm busy schedules.

This guide breaks down how each platform actually works and gives you a clear framework for deciding which matches your organization's reality, not just its wishful thinking.

To understand these differences more clearly, let’s take a closer look at what each platform actually offers—starting with 15Five

What is 15Five?

15Five is an AI-powered performance management platform that combines employee engagement surveys, performance reviews, goal tracking (OKRs), and manager training in one comprehensive suite. Designed for HR teams who want to create a culture of continuous feedback and performance alignment.

Key Features

1. Engagement Surveys & Analytics

Measure employee engagement with scientifically validated surveys featuring AI-powered Predictive Impact Model. The platform identifies which areas will have the biggest impact on engagement with up to 98% accuracy, helping you focus your efforts where they matter most.

2. Performance Reviews & 1-on-1s

Streamline performance management with customizable review cycles, continuous feedback tools, and structured 1-on-1 meeting templates. Managers get guidance on what to discuss and how to track progress over time.

3. Objectives & Key Results (OKRs)

Set, track, and align goals at individual, team, and company levels. Visual progress tracking and automated reminders keep everyone focused on what matters most.

4. Manager Training & Coaching

15Five Transform provides data-driven manager training with personalized learning paths. The platform identifies skill gaps and delivers targeted coaching to improve manager effectiveness.

5. HRIS Integrations

Connect with popular HR systems like BambooHR, Workday, and others for seamless data sync and automated workflows.

6. People Analytics

Advanced reporting and analytics help identify trends, predict turnover risks, and measure the ROI of your people initiatives.

15Five Pricing

Modular Plans:

• Engage: $4 per user/month (billed annually) - Engagement surveys and analytics
• Perform: $10-11 per user/month (billed annually) - Performance management, OKRs, 1-on-1s
• Total Platform: $16 per user/month (billed annually) - All features plus manager training
• Transform Accelerator: $220 per manager/month - Advanced manager coaching program

Free Trial: 14-day free trial available with no credit card required

Ideal Customers of 15Five

15Five is a strong fit for:

• Growing companies with 50-1,000+ employees looking for comprehensive performance management
• Tech companies and knowledge workers who value continuous feedback and goal alignment
• Organizations wanting to develop better managers and reduce turnover
• HR teams seeking data-driven insights to improve engagement and performance

Pros

• Comprehensive platform combining engagement, performance, and learning in one place
• AI-powered analytics provide actionable insights with high accuracy
• Strong focus on manager development and effectiveness

Cons

• More complex setup and learning curve compared to simpler tools
• Higher cost per user, especially for full platform access
• May be overwhelming for smaller teams or those wanting basic pulse surveys only

15Five G2 Reviews

Average Score: 4.5-4.7/5 across review platforms

Latest Feature Rollouts (July/August 2025)

Major Platform Integration:

• Fully integrated engagement platform: Eliminated the separate Engage portal, centralizing all functionality within 15Five for a seamless experience
• Manager Action Plans: Managers can now create targeted Action Plans for their teams based on engagement insights
• Enhanced Industry Benchmarks: New benchmarking by industry, company size, and region for more precise insights

AI-Powered Enhancements:

• Predictive Impact Model: Machine learning trained on 600K+ survey responses identifies exactly which factors impact engagement
• AI-powered action recommendations: System automatically generates suggested actions based on engagement survey results
• In-context help chatbot: Real-time guidance within engagement reporting

User Experience Improvements:

• Controlled results access: Preview exactly what different users will see before sharing results
• Spanish language support: Core engagement surveys now available in Spanish

[Source: 15Five]

What Users Are Saying

Positive Feedback:

• "15Five is a compelling tool that bundles individual performance measurement with team-wide positive feedback"
• "Great for employee engagement, fantastic customer service, provides training and development webinars"
• "The High Five tool is fantastic because it allows us to show appreciation for the little things"
  [Source: Capterra]

User Concerns:

• Cost justification: "Because of the cost, we frequently find ourselves asking if it is still worth it"
• Language barriers: Non-English speaking employees struggle with system alerts that aren't editable
  [Source: Capterra]

Issues or Concerns with 15Five

Billing and Customer Service Issues:

• Multiple users report concerns about billing practices and customer service quality
• Users describe customer service as "among the worst" with "nickel and dime" practices
  [Source: TrustRadius]

Usability Challenges:

• Difficulty deleting tasks once created leads to cluttered task lists
• Some managers cannot assign reviewers for their own feedback, limiting flexibility
• Learning curve when configuring advanced modules for the first time

With 15Five qualities in mind, let’s now look at what makes TINYpulse a trusted choice for thousands of companies worldwide.

What is TINYpulse?

TINYpulse Engage is an employee engagement platform focused on anonymous pulse surveys, peer recognition, and suggestion collection. Designed for organizations that want honest, unfiltered feedback without the complexity of full performance management systems.

Key Features

1. Weekly Pulse Surveys

Send one anonymous question per week to employees via desktop, mobile, Slack, or Outlook. Simple 1-5 scale questions with optional open-text responses keep participation high while gathering honest feedback.

2. 100% Anonymous Feedback

All survey responses are completely anonymous, encouraging employees to share honest opinions without fear of repercussions. Managers can engage in two-way anonymous conversations for clarification.

3. Cheers for Peers Recognition

Built-in peer recognition system allows employees to celebrate colleagues' achievements. Recognition can include GIFs and is visible across the organization to build positive culture. Microsoft reports averaging over 50% engagement with this feature.

4. Suggestion Box

Employees can submit suggestions and solutions anonymously at any time. Other employees can vote on suggestions to prioritize what matters most to the team.

5. Real-time Dashboard

Once five responses are collected, results appear on an interactive dashboard with response rates, average scores, benchmarks, and trend analysis.

6. Advanced Analytics & Key Driver Analysis

Segment data by department, location, or custom attributes. The platform now includes Key Driver Analysis (KDA) that identifies which factors most impact engagement, plus AI-powered recommendations for follow-up actions.

7. Integration Ecosystem

Connect with Slack, Microsoft Teams, Gmail, BambooHR, Workday, and other tools employees already use daily.

TINYpulse Pricing

Subscription Model: Per user per month pricing

• Median cost: $23,561 per year for typical organizations
• Estimated range: $3-5 per user per month based on comparable tools
• Enterprise pricing: Custom quotes available for larger organizations

Free Trial: Available through demo request process

Ideal Customers of TinyPulse Engage

TINYpulse Engage is a strong fit for:

• Mid-sized companies (200-5,000 employees) focused on culture and engagement
• Organizations wanting simple, anonymous feedback without complex performance management
• Companies prioritizing peer recognition and transparent communication
• HR teams seeking quick insights into employee sentiment and cultural health

Pros

• Extremely simple to use and deploy - minimal training required
• Strong peer recognition features build positive workplace culture
• Good value for basic engagement measurement needs

Cons

• Limited performance management capabilities compared to comprehensive platforms
• Relies heavily on employee participation - value drops if engagement is low
• Less suitable for organizations wanting goal tracking or manager development

TINYpulse G2 Reviews

Average Score: 4.4-4.6/5 across review platforms

Latest Feature Rollouts (July/August 2025)

Note: TinyPulse's most recent documented feature releases are from November 2023, indicating a slower pace of innovation compared to competitors.

Recent Enhancements (2023-2024):

• Key Driver Analysis (KDA) with Recommendations: Identifies which factors most impact engagement and suggests follow-up questions and actions
• Enhanced Insights: New retention and turnover analysis helps identify at-risk employees
• Onboard 2.1: CSV export capabilities for onboarding survey responses
  [Source: TINYpulse]

What Users Are Saying

Positive Feedback:

• "The anonymous suggestions give individuals confidence to suggest things they'll normally not in an open forum"
• "TinyPulse is incredibly straightforward to use. Individuals appear to like giving each-other feedback and cheers"
  [Source: SoftwareReviews]

User Appreciation:

• Users consistently praise the simplicity and anonymous nature of feedback collection
• Strong positive response to the Cheers for Peers recognition feature
  [Source: Software Advice]

Issues or Concerns with TINYpulse

Platform Limitations:

• Rich features can be overwhelming: Some users find the platform complex despite its simple core concept [Source: spotsaas]
• Technical glitches: Users report submission issues where answers don't submit properly, requiring restart [Source: Software Advice]
• User interface concerns: Some find the interface could be more interactive [Source: spotsaas]

Training and Support Gaps:

• Users request more in-product walkthroughs due to the "large amount of features and functionality"
• Training gaps noted in user experience, with users not fully utilizing features like peer recognition

Anonymous Feedback Challenges:

• Some employees use anonymous feedback to vent without cooperation for resolution
• Difficulty following up on anonymous complaints when employees choose not to engage further

No Major Platform Issues:

• No significant scandals or major platform-wide outages reported as of August 2025
• The platform appears stable with consistent functionality across its customer base

Now that we've explored both platforms in detail—from their core strengths to recent updates and user feedback—let's bring it all together with a side-by-side comparison to help you see exactly where each tool excels.

Which Platform Fits Your Team?

15Five if you want the full performance management package—OKRs, manager training, deep analytics. TinyPulse if you just want quick, anonymous pulse checks without the complexity.

But honestly? Most teams get stuck choosing between TinyPulse's simplicity and 15Five's power.

That's where ThriveSparrow comes in:

• AI insights (like 15Five) but actually simple to use
• Pulse surveys (like TinyPulse) plus goal tracking
• Transparent pricing starting at $3/user—no surprise add-ons

Want to see for yourself? Try ThriveSparrow free for 14 days—no credit card needed.

Signup for free

FAQs

1. Which platform provides better anonymous feedback capabilities?

TinyPulse Engage specializes in 100% anonymous feedback with weekly one-question surveys and anonymous suggestion boxes, making employees feel safe to share honest opinions. 15Five offers optional anonymous surveys but focuses more on open, continuous feedback conversations between managers and employees rather than anonymous communication.

2. How do the pricing models compare between 15Five and TinyPulse Engage?

15Five offers modular pricing from $4-16+ per user/month depending on features, with their full Total Platform at $16/user/month. TinyPulse Engage is estimated at $3-5 per user/month with a typical annual cost around $23,561, making it more budget-friendly for basic engagement measurement needs.

3. Which platform is better for performance management and goal tracking?

15Five excels in comprehensive performance management with OKR tracking, structured 1-on-1s, performance reviews, and manager coaching programs. TinyPulse Engage focuses purely on engagement surveys and peer recognition without performance management capabilities, making 15Five the clear choice for goal-driven organizations.

4. How do their analytics and reporting features differ?

15Five provides advanced AI-powered analytics with a Predictive Impact Model (98% accuracy) and comprehensive people insights for performance trends. TinyPulse Engage offers basic real-time dashboards, Key Driver Analysis, and simple engagement metrics, sufficient for pulse surveys but less sophisticated than 15Five's enterprise-level analytics.

5. Which platform requires less setup time and training for teams?

TinyPulse Engage wins on simplicity with minimal training required and 1-2 week implementation, focusing on one weekly question and peer recognition. 15Five requires 2-4 weeks for full implementation with moderate to high training needs due to its comprehensive performance management features, but offers more long-term value for growing organizations.