Small Improvements alternatives: 12 tools compared (November 2026)

Leapsome is a Berlin-founded HR platform for performance management, engagement, learning and core HR data, used by companies from about 20 to more than 2,000 employees, with AI agents that draft reviews, automate onboarding steps and answer policy questions.

Key functions

• AI Development Coach prepares managers for one-to-ones and reviews using goal and feedback history
• AI PeopleOps Partner runs onboarding, role changes and offboarding as automated end-to-end workflows
• AI HR Helpdesk answers policy questions in Slack or the app and can execute authorized actions

Compared with Small Improvements

• Has a German interface; Small Improvements does not list one.
• Names 2 security certificates, Small Improvements 0.
• Different pricing model: per employee instead of per user.

Check before buying: Before adopting Leapsome, check the per-employee prices for the modules you need and ask sales about multi-module and volume discounts, since contracts run for at least one year, and decide which AI features to enable, because the subprocessor list also allows AI processing outside the EU, for example by OpenAI in the US. Because the AI agents draw on performance and engagement data, German works councils typically hold co-determination rights under Section 87 (1) BetrVG, and using them for performance evaluation falls under the EU AI Act's high-risk category from December 2027.

Lemonbase is a South Korean performance management platform that pulls feedback, goals and 1:1 notes into one system, with AI built in at no extra cost to summarize meetings and collect review evidence automatically.

Key functions

• AI automatically summarizes meeting notes
• Automatic collection of performance evidence for reviews
• AI assistance writing review text

Compared with Small Improvements

• States no EU hosting option; Small Improvements has one.
• Strongest elsewhere: South Korea.

Check before buying: Lemonbase's interface and support are oriented toward Korean-speaking teams, so confirm whether an English-language rollout works for any international staff. Clarify the exact AWS hosting region for your data. Because the platform collects performance evidence tied to individuals, PIPA lets employees demand an explanation of fully automated decisions that significantly affect them and refuse ones without meaningful human involvement. Workplaces with 30 or more employees must have a Labor-Management Council, a standing forum to raise concerns about new systems.

Betterworks is a real-time performance management platform that connects goals, feedback and skills data with AI built in, aimed at midsize and large employers moving away from once-a-year reviews toward continuous performance conversations.

Key functions

• AI suggests goals matched to strategy and role
• Automatic summaries from 1:1s and check-ins
• Skill inference from goals and feedback

Compared with Small Improvements

• Built for larger organizations than Small Improvements's smallest customers.
• Names 3 security certificates, Small Improvements 0.
• Starts higher: from $8 per user/month, Small Improvements from $3 per user/month.

Check before buying: Before buying, confirm whether you need the EU hosting option in Ireland or the default US hosting, and check integration with your existing HR system. Betterworks lists per-user pricing from $8 a month, but the Talent Intelligence add-on and Enterprise tier cost more. Because the platform infers skills from goals and feedback, check whether those profiles feed promotion decisions, which in New York City can trigger Local Law 144's bias audit.

Workpath is a German enterprise platform for strategy execution and OKR management, helping large organizations connect corporate strategy to team-level goals with AI agents that draft, check and coach on OKRs.

Key functions

• OKR generator creates drafts from strategy documents
• OKR Quality Checker reviews goal wording
• OKR Coach (built on ChatGPT Plus) as an AI assistant for daily use

Compared with Small Improvements

• Built for larger organizations than Small Improvements's smallest customers.
• Has a German interface; Small Improvements does not list one.
• Names 2 security certificates, Small Improvements 0.

Check before buying: Before buying, work through a demo to see actual pricing, since Workpath licenses modules and roles individually with no published rates, though a 14-day trial and a 3 to 4 month proof of value are available. Clarify hosting setup and integration with existing planning tools. Because OKR and risk data can reflect individual or team performance, German employers should involve the works council under Section 87(1) no. 6 BetrVG and confirm a data processing agreement under Article 28 GDPR.

15Five is an AI-assisted performance management platform combining reviews, check-ins, engagement surveys and manager coaching for mid-market and enterprise employers, aimed at improving engagement, performance and retention.

Key functions

• Kona AI coach for managers
• AI-assisted performance reviews
• Focus Briefs give managers a weekly summary of where to focus, what needs attention and where the team is progressing

Compared with Small Improvements

• Built for larger organizations than Small Improvements's smallest customers.
• States no EU hosting option; Small Improvements has one.
• Starts higher: from $4 per user/month, Small Improvements from $3 per user/month.

Check before buying: Budget separately for the Kona AI coach, which is an add-on to the per-user tiers. 15Five hosts data in the United States only, with no published regional option. Because AI-drafted reviews and engagement analysis touch individual performance data, check how they feed promotion decisions, since Illinois bans AI that discriminates by protected class. California's CCPA covers that employee data the same way as consumer data.

Culture Amp is an Australian employee experience platform for companies of most sizes, combining engagement surveys, performance tools and people analytics with AI features built into the workflow rather than a separate add-on.

Key functions

• AI Coach with instant, data-based suggestions for managers
• Automatic summarization of open-text survey comments
• AI-based recommendations for HR teams from survey data

Compared with Small Improvements

• Has a German interface; Small Improvements does not list one.
• Names 4 security certificates, Small Improvements 0.
• Different pricing model: per employee instead of per user.

Check before buying: Before rollout, ask which modules (Engage, Perform, Develop) the quote includes, since pricing depends on employee count, the products chosen and the service tier. If the MCP connector is enabled, agree with IT which external AI tools may query workforce data. Survey and performance data on California staff falls under the CCPA, which covers employees like consumers. In Australia, a new AI system that significantly affects staff can trigger the consultation clause every enterprise agreement must include.

Lattice is a US-headquartered performance management platform for small, midsize and large employers, built around goal setting, feedback, one-on-ones and engagement surveys, with an AI agent that coaches employees, analyzes people data and drafts reviews.

Key functions

• AI agent coaches employees and managers on conversations, performance and growth
• AI-assisted analysis of engagement surveys
• Automatic summarization of feedback and reviews

Compared with Small Improvements

• Has a German interface; Small Improvements does not list one.
• Starts higher: from $4 per user/month, Small Improvements from $3 per user/month.
• Strongest elsewhere: United States.

Check before buying: Because Lattice's AI summarizes performance reviews, analyzes engagement surveys and tracks goals, check how its output feeds promotion decisions, since Illinois bans AI that discriminates by protected class. Lattice states it is SOC 2 Type II certified and lets customers choose US or EU data hosting under matching security standards. According to its trust FAQ, EU hosting (Frankfurt, backup in Dublin) is available to new customers only, and data is still processed outside the EU. OpenAI is a subprocessor for the AI features.

Humaans is an HR information system from London for growing companies that keeps employee records, time off, onboarding, performance and workflows in one place and adds an AI companion that answers people data and policy questions.

Key functions

• AI Companion answers questions on time off, org structure, compensation, documents and policies within each user's permissions, billed via AI credits
• AI performance review summaries surface strengths and growth areas for each employee
• The separate agent platform Athena answers employee requests in Slack and Teams and runs processes in connected systems

Compared with Small Improvements

• Has a German interface; Small Improvements does not list one.
• Names 2 security certificates, Small Improvements 0.
• Strongest elsewhere: United Kingdom.

Check before buying: Prices are quote-only and AI Companion needs AI credits on top, so ask for both. According to the DPA, AI processing defaults to the EEA or Switzerland, while some AI subprocessors use US data centers; confirm this for your data. In the UK, the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 and UK GDPR govern people data. Performance summaries feed evaluations of staff, so check how managers use them.