Lattice vs Culture Amp

Lattice and Culture Amp are both popular HR software platforms, but they serve different primary needs. Lattice is typically a better fit for organizations that want to manage employee goals, performance reviews, feedback, and productivity in one system. Culture Amp is often a better fit for organizations that want deeper employee engagement, survey, and culture analytics.

For teams that want a more dedicated performance management platform, PerformYard is another option to consider. PerformYard focuses on flexible performance reviews, goal management, engagement surveys, and hands-on customer support in one system.

The right choice depends on what your organization needs most. If your priority is performance management, Lattice may be the closer comparison. If your priority is employee listening and engagement, Culture Amp may be stronger. If your priority is a customizable review process with included support, PerformYard may be the better fit.

Here are the pros, cons, pricing details, and key differences to know when comparing Lattice vs Culture Amp vs PerformYard.

Lattice vs Culture Amp Quick Comparison

Both Lattice and Culture Amp are popular employee engagement and performance management software platforms. Both platforms integrate aspects of performance management and engagement, but the degree to which they support each area differs.

Lattice focuses on progress and productivity through the lens of performance management. Culture Amp focuses more heavily on employee feedback and engagement. PerformYard focuses on customizable performance management, with engagement tools included in the broader review process.

Things to keep in mind as you compare Lattice vs Culture Amp include:

When to Choose Lattice or Culture Amp

Choose Lattice if you want a performance management platform that emphasizes progress, productivity, goals, and ongoing feedback.

Choose Culture Amp if you want a platform built around employee listening, engagement surveys, DEI analytics, and culture insights.

Choose PerformYard if you want dedicated performance management software that supports flexible review cycles, 360 reviews, check-ins, goals, engagement surveys, and included customer support.

None of these platforms is inherently better for every organization. The better choice depends on whether your team needs stronger performance management, deeper employee engagement analytics, or a more customizable review process.

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Lattice Overview

Founded in 2015, Lattice is a cloud-based HR-facing performance management tool that focuses primarily on employee progress and productivity. It also includes some employee feedback capabilities. It is known for strong customer service and a wide range of platform capabilities.

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Lattice supports integrations with other platforms and does a good job of offering real-time feedback.

It is used by top organizations like Discord, Loom, and Gusto. However, it can be a bit pricey for smaller operations, so it is often a better choice for mid-sized and large organizations.

Keep reading to learn more about the pros and cons of Lattice.

Pros of Lattice

Lattice is a good performance management software choice if you are looking for a system that focuses on managing employee progress and productivity. The platform offers capabilities like setting goals, tracking performance over time, engaging in employee check-ins, gathering employee feedback, and streamlining the performance review process.

The top pros of Lattice vs Culture Amp include:

• Comprehensive set of performance management features
• Real-time data and continuous feedback
• Strong customer support

Comprehensive Performance Management Features

Lattice has a lot to offer when it comes to performance management. You can:

• Conduct performance reviews
• Provide feedback and recognition
• Administer skill and competency assessments
• Create goals and OKRs
• Engage in succession planning

Managing these capabilities is made easier with a dashboard that gives you access to the features you use most.

Real-Time Data and Continuous Feedback

The best decisions are timely and based on accurate data. Lattice makes it easier for HR teams and managers to make important decisions quickly because the platform offers a customizable analytics and reporting system.

Data is compiled and presented in real time. That makes continuous feedback, one-on-one meetings, and mentoring easier to manage.

Strong Customer Support

Lattice is also known for strong customer support. That can matter during implementation and during active review cycles, when HR teams need confidence that their platform will work as expected.

Cons of Lattice

Although Lattice enables you to gather employee feedback, its primary focus is performance management. It is not necessarily built first around work culture or employee engagement.

The platform emphasizes ongoing feedback, coaching, and employee development. It is less focused on broader employee sentiment about workload, role fit, or the company as a whole.

A few other cons of Lattice vs Culture Amp include:

• Limited customization options
• Some review types, like 360 reviews, can be difficult to manage
• Pricing can be expensive for small organizations

Limited Customization Options

Lattice is often described as having a user-friendly interface with easy navigation. However, that may be most true for people who already have HR experience or previous experience with performance management software.

Customization options are also limited compared with some other platforms, including Culture Amp. You can personalize some things, like the navigation bar. But there is less flexibility when it comes to formats, appearances, and custom processes.

Some Review Types Can Be a Challenge

Not all of Lattice’s capabilities are intuitive. For example, 360 reviews can be tricky to facilitate.

In order for peers to provide feedback, they may need to be nominated by themselves or someone else. Managers also have to approve the peers who are allowed to leave feedback. That adds another step, which can be time-consuming for managers.

Pricing Can Be Expensive for Small Organizations

On the surface, Lattice seems reasonably priced. Bundled features cost $11 per user per month. Costs are also outlined on the company’s website, which means you can get a feel for the price without requesting a quote.

The challenge is that Lattice requires a minimum annual agreement of $4,000. Reaching that amount may not be a problem for mid-sized and large businesses. For smaller organizations, it can make the platform expensive.

Culture Amp Overview

Culture Amp got its start in 2009 as an anonymous employee feedback survey company. Today, it offers some performance management capabilities, but its cloud-based services remain focused on employee engagement.

The platform includes tools for customized employee surveys, performance reviews, and analytics. These tools help organizations understand employee opinions, sentiment, and experience.

Culture Amp is used by top organizations like Etsy, McDonald’s, and Canva. With no minimum annual agreement, it could potentially be more affordable for smaller companies too.

Keep reading to learn more about the pros and cons of Culture Amp.

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Pros of Culture Amp

Culture Amp is strongest for organizations that want to understand employee feedback and engagement.

The platform offers capabilities that include custom employee engagement surveys, follow-up meetings, goal tracking, responsibility assignment, and employee progress monitoring.

The top pros of Culture Amp vs Lattice include:

• Customizable platform
• Robust diversity, equity, and inclusion analytics
• Multiple ways to follow up and follow through

Customizable Platform

Culture Amp gives organizations the ability to customize the platform based on their values and culture.

You can customize the performance management process and build workflows around your organization’s needs. The platform also includes an interactive dashboard that lets you analyze and display data in different ways.

Robust DEI Analytics

Because Culture Amp focuses on the employee experience, it includes analytics for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Your organization can track progress, measure gaps, and create specific strategies based on employee feedback. That can help teams better meet inclusion goals.

Multiple Ways to Follow Up and Follow Through

Culture Amp also has multiple ways to follow up on findings and follow through on employee goals.

For example, the platform includes tools that support performance reviews, peer recognition, employee well-being tracking, learning feedback, team effectiveness surveys, and action planning.

That breadth can be valuable for organizations that want employee listening to connect with broader culture and engagement initiatives.

Cons of Culture Amp

Culture Amp’s heavy focus on employee feedback and engagement can be a good thing. But it may be less ideal for organizations that want to focus more heavily on performance management and the review process.

A few other cons of Culture Amp include:

• Integrations can be a pain
• Navigating the platform can feel clunky
• The abundance of features can be overwhelming

One verified reviewer on G2 said they switched from Culture Amp to PerformYard because of user-experience issues:

"We switched over from Culture Amp, which we found to be very clunky and hard to use. PerformYard has helped us achieve buy-in from leadership and employees, making for a much better performance review experience for our company."

— Christin S. | Senior HR Manager | Mid-Market

Integrations Can Be a Pain

Although Culture Amp offers a wide range of integrations, it can be difficult to integrate scheduled reviews or meetings with the rest of the platform. That is partly because Culture Amp does not focus on performance management first.

General performance platform integrations can be a challenge for the same reason.

Navigating the Platform Can Feel Clunky

The ability to customize so much of the platform comes at a cost. Culture Amp is not always as intuitive as other options.

There is a learning curve to using a customized platform. That learning curve may be less noticeable in platforms with fewer configuration options.

One G2 user reports that “it wasn’t user-friendly navigating between reports, self-reflection, peer feedback, and the manager performance review they were completing for their report.”

The Abundance of Features Can Be Overwhelming

Having many features is helpful for customization, but it can also create complexity.

This can be especially true when Culture Amp releases new functions. Users may need additional training or background information before they can use each feature effectively.

Lattice vs Culture Amp: Which Is Right for You?

Neither platform is inherently better than the other. Instead, you should consider whether each platform’s strengths match your organization’s priorities.

Lattice could be a good fit if:

• You need a solution that focuses on progress and productivity
• Your business prioritizes quick action based on real-time information
• Your team values dedicated account support and strong customer service
• You want upfront pricing and can commit to at least $4,000 annually

Culture Amp could be a good fit if:

• You need a solution that focuses on employee feedback and engagement
• Your business prioritizes culture, DEI, and employee listening
• Your team wants the ability to customize the platform as needs evolve
• You want a custom quote based on your budget and organization size

How PerformYard Compares to Lattice and Culture Amp

Although Lattice and Culture Amp are leading performance management-style software options, they are far from your only options.

In fact, as one verified reviewer on G2 said, PerformYard may be your best option:

"We checked out a few other systems (Review Snap, Culture Amp and Lattice), but ultimately decided PerformYard was the best fit for a number of reasons (cost, ease of use, customer service, customization, features, etc.) We also checked references and spoke with clients similar to us who were able to attest to their experience, which PerformYard was willing and ready to provide!"

— Emily P. | Human Resources Manager | Insurance

If you are looking for dedicated performance management software that focuses on the review process, PerformYard is for you.

PerformYard brings progress, productivity, employee feedback, and engagement into a customizable review process.

A few ways PerformYard stands apart include:

• A full suite of customizable performance reviews
• Engagement surveys with cohort analysis
• Affordable pricing and customer support included in every contract

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PerformYard Offers Fully Customizable Performance Reviews

There is very little in the way of performance review options available with Culture Amp’s software. Instead, performance management has to be integrated with the platform.

Lattice offers more review options, but it can lack an intuitive process for some review styles, like 360 reviews.

PerformYard, in contrast, offers a comprehensive suite of performance review tools that support:

• Employee appraisals
• 360 reviews
• Quarterly check-ins
• Project-based reviews
• One-on-ones
• And more

The software is designed to eliminate tedious tasks associated with performance reviews, including scheduling. It also supports real-time conversations and visual analysis of performance data.

That gives employees a way to provide feedback, set goals, and focus on progress within the same system.

PerformYard Includes Engagement Surveys With Cohort Analysis

PerformYard includes dedicated employee engagement software without the need for separate integrations.

You can personalize anonymous surveys to better understand employee needs, monitor sentiment, and identify steps your organization can take to improve engagement.

Collecting and analyzing data is also simple. The analysis dashboard gives you quick visual insights. A dedicated cohort analysis option helps you see how different groups respond to specific questions. It also shows how responses change over time.

PerformYard Keeps Pricing Simple

Pricing for platforms like Lattice and Culture Amp can get complicated quickly.

PerformYard keeps things simple with pricing that starts at $5 per person per month and tops out at $10 per person per month. Unlimited, dedicated support is included in every contract at no extra cost.

Lattice vs Culture Amp Feature Comparison

How do the three platforms compare? Here’s a quick-view look at the features of Lattice vs Culture Amp vs PerformYard:

Lattice vs Culture Amp Pricing Comparison

Pricing is always an important consideration. Here’s what you need to know about Lattice vs Culture Amp vs PerformYard pricing:

Lattice vs Culture Amp FAQs

What is the main difference between Lattice and Culture Amp?

The main difference between Lattice and Culture Amp is that Lattice focuses more on employee performance, progress, and productivity. Culture Amp focuses more on employee feedback, engagement, and workplace culture.

Is Lattice or Culture Amp better for performance reviews?

Lattice is usually the stronger fit for performance reviews because performance management is more central to the platform. Culture Amp offers performance management features, but its primary strength is employee engagement and feedback.

Is Culture Amp or Lattice better for employee engagement?

Culture Amp is usually the stronger fit for employee engagement because it was built around employee feedback, surveys, and culture analytics. Lattice includes engagement-related features, but its broader focus is performance and productivity.

Which platform is more user-friendly, Lattice or Culture Amp?

Lattice may feel more user-friendly for HR teams that want a more pre-set performance management platform. Culture Amp is more customizable, but that customization can create a learning curve.

How do Lattice and Culture Amp pricing models compare?

Lattice lists pricing on its website and has a minimum annual commitment. Culture Amp does not list standard pricing publicly, so organizations need to contact sales for a custom quote.

How does PerformYard compare to Lattice and Culture Amp?

PerformYard is a dedicated performance management platform that combines customizable reviews, goals, feedback, engagement surveys, and analytics. It may be a better fit for organizations that want a flexible review process with hands-on support.

What makes PerformYard a better fit than Lattice or Culture Amp?

PerformYard may be a better fit if your organization wants performance management software that is easy to customize, simple to price, and supported by a dedicated customer success team.

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