The Best 7 Free and Open Source Performance Management Software

Updated on :October 19, 2023
By :Andrea Hernanadez

The current generation talent economy is different. Taking feedback, measuring the performance, and understanding the ability of an employee to learn new skills and sustain them, can no longer be done with the traditional performance management approach. Leaders and managers will be able to engage and create impactful experiences if they are technology-enabled. The right way to measure individual performance in organizations can be to invest in performance management software.

What is performance management software?

Performance Management Software is an application that enables managers to write precise job profiles and expectations and helps in generating appropriate objectives that align with the company’s goals and missions. The leaders and managers can effortlessly track, analyze, and evaluate workers using performance management software.

In simple terms, the performance management tool is designed to enhance the performance of the business by encouraging employee productivity.

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What are the key features of performance management software?

Businesses can upgrade their legacy system to a more up-to-date solution by considering the following key features in the performance management system:

  • Set clear goals- The performance management tool can set clear goals for the employees and can create timeframes for these goals. In this way, a two-way communication process is possible between employer and employee, which in turn helps in setting the goals. The administrator can review the performance of the employees based on how the goals are achieved. By setting clear goals, it becomes easy for the employer to analyze the performance of the staff members, and even employees can make out simply what they have to do. 
  • 360-degree feedback- The employees can receive and give useful performance feedback from their peers, managers, and reporting persons with the help of 360-degree feedback functionality. The employees can gain the general idea of their key strengths along with the training needs. Interestingly, the skills and competencies of the employees are considered in this 360-degree feedback method that enables to describe the employee’s performance.
  • Social Collaboration tools- The performance management app aligns well with the social collaboration tools that help employees create meaningful relationships. The employees can simplify the dialogues and share the feedback by making use of social tools. The employees can share their experience with their colleagues by making use of social collaboration tools. 
  • Reports and data analytics – This feature summarizes the gathered performance data. The reports are generated to track the goal progress for employees or departments. The reports are charts or graphs where users can observe employee performance, such as behavior, potential, and much more. 
  • Identify training opportunity- The performance management application enables users or employers to recognize the training opportunities for their employees. The users can train their employees in the areas in which they require training. The employees can become better due to the training process provided by the employer. As a result, the whole company gets benefitted.
  • Self-assessment - Performance management software has the functionality of self-assessment that allows employees to rate and review themselves on the parameters such as completed goals, projects they have worked on, and their (employees) performance in a given period. The employees can stay motivated and focused due to self-assessment functionality. At the same time, the employees can analyze their shortcomings and improve it with the self-assessment feature.
  • Continuous feedback and coaching- The culture of constant growth and improvement is provided due to continual feedback and coaching functionality. Regular assessment for ad hoc measures is conducted to realign the employee’s performance. The relevant reskill/upskill training measure is assigned to a learning system; the trainer delivers interpersonal coaching. The blended learning model is offered with this continuous feedback and coaching functionality.
  • Succession planning- The performance management solution provides the functionality of succession planning to ensure that employees move on to their next role or job. The succession planning functionality helps in transferring the talents and skills to other employees as replacements. The performance management solution encourages training and development.
  • Clear picture of employee performance- The performance management tool offers a clear view of how every employee is performing. The employer can see the employee's performance trajectory, which in turn helps the employer know how much the employee is improving, whether the employee stays on the same level, or whether the employee's performance is declining. The employer can decide the next step based on the performance of the employee.

Other features of performance management software:

  • The performance management software serves as a performance vault that stores feedback and helps in career development progress. 
  • The performance management solution has a customizable reporting feature that enables employers to generate various reports based on performance evaluation needs. 
  • The performance management software solution integrates with other technology that helps in offering data sharing of relevant information as per the requirement.
  • The performance management solution enables employers with actionable insights that help in several aspects of employee evaluations. 

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Why is performance management software essential for businesses?

The top-quality performance management software can do wonders in business by efficiently engaging the employees:

  • Continuous feedback – The performance management software provides constant feedback and dialogues on a real-time basis. In this way, companies can improve team collaboration and higher job satisfaction. 
  • Powerful employee analytics- The employee analytics helps in revealing the performance trend of the employees. The managers of the company can have access to a multitude of reports. With the help of these reports, the managers can formulate a variety of talent management strategies for their employees. 
  • Keeps everyone connected – The performance management software keeps everyone connected in the organization. HR, line managers, and employees can stay up-to-date on progress, objectives, and development plans with the help of cloud-based performance management system software.
  • Motivates the employees- The employees’ effectiveness can be promoted and improved with the help of performance management software. The managers can monitor employee performance and give regular feedback by employing a performance management program. As a result, the employees can better understand what skills they are required to develop to enhance the organization's productivity.
  • Goal Management- The managers can set and prioritize goals according to employee competencies with the help of performance management software. Moreover, the employees can set their purposes following the objectives of the organization. 
  • Understand job responsibilities – The employees can have a better understanding of their daily tasks and can learn role-supportive knowledge with the help of performance management software. 

Moreover, the performance management tool enables employees to improve their skills in current roles.

  • Employee autonomy – The employees can involve actively in the decision-making process. They can use performance management software to view their progress and can efficiently set their business goals.

What are the latest trends in performance management software systems?

The latest trends that can be observed in the performance management software system are as follows:

  • Agile performance management system – The agile approach to performance management can help in setting goals dynamically. This type of method provides source feedback and helps in improving productivity. There can be a high demand to analyze data in real-time.
  • Remote Working – There can be a trend of flexible workplaces. In the coming time, the company can expand the digital footprint and harness new social technology for remote working. 
  • Visual Dashboards – The visual dashboards can provide an overview of company-wide trends along with team-members’ performance. 
  • Artificial Intelligence – The AI technology in performance management gathers data from feedback, goals, and conversations. This technology can provide unbiased data that can help decide who to promote and offer insight regarding who requires additional training that enables better performance.
  • More cloud usage- The performance management software can experience an increase in the cloud deployment. 
  • People analytics – People analytics can be fueled with AI and robotics to help companies improve their ability to lead people and enhance productivity and employee engagement.
  • Integrated with other talent decision-making tools- The performance management system can be combined with talent decision-making tools. The talent ecosystem can include feedback, learning and development, career progression, succession planning, and recruitment process.
  • Emphasis on wellness and mental health- Employers can make the mental health and wellness matters of the employees a part of the performance management process.

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After knowing the importance of performance management software, let’s discuss the popular performance management tools present in the market. If you are into a small business, then the apt option is to have a free and open source performance management solution that can serve your organization efficiently. 

The article below highlights the core functionalities of free and open source performance review software. Explore the list of free performance appraisal software and pick the one that fulfills your business demands. But before that, let's have a look at the comparison chart of free and open source performance management software. 

Comparison chart of free and open source performance management software

Free and open source performance management software 

1 Odoo Appraisals (free and open source) 

Odoo Appraisals is an open source performance management software that can create appraisals quickly. This free performance management software can efficiently review employees’ performances. The software has the capability to see the appraisal status for each employee or the whole company.

The users can keep track of upcoming evaluations and can effortlessly send reminders to respondents. The user can have an assessment into a printable PDF form. The software is apt for both small business and large corporations.

Odoo Appraisal(Source: Odoo Appraisals )

Core functionalities:

  • Create appraisal plans
  • Organize interviews
  • Sort appraisals
  • Create automatic actions
  • Create and design surveys
  • Create templates 
  • Test surveys
  • 360 degree and continuous feedback
  • Employee development and employee evaluation
  • Goal/objective setting
  • Performance reviews
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Rewards and recognition
  • Skill Assessments

2 Open HRMS (open source)

If you are looking for an advanced open source performance management system for small or large enterprises, then Open HRMS is the apt option for you. This open source performance management solution efficiently manages the HR processes and enables users to take care of their employees.

All the activities from onboarding and attendance management to time tracking and appraisals; are all covered by OpenHRMS.

Open HRMS(Source: Open HRMS)

Core Functionalities:

  • Continuous Feedback
  • Employee Development and Employee Checklist
  • Employee Evaluation and Employee Survey
  • Reporting & Analytics
  • Employee Database
  • Payroll
  • HR administration and HR reports
  • Recruitment and Appraisal
  • Attendance and leaves
  • Loan Management
  • Disciplinary Tracking

3 Sentrifugo (free and open source) 

Sentrifugo is the free performance management software that can effortlessly configure to meet the organizational needs. This powerful open source performance appraisal system is easy-to-setup and use. Both managers and employees can make use of Sentrifugo efficiently.

The businesses can track current employees’ personal information and manage hiring decisions with the help of this performance management software.

Sentrifugo(Source: Sentrifugo)

Core functionalities:

  • Human Resource
  • Performance Appraisal
  • Employee Self-Service
  • Analytics
  • Employee evaluation and employee development
  • Background Checks
  • Leave management
  • Performance Reviews
  • Freed Forward
  • Talent Acquisition
  • Continuous feedback
  • Interview Schedule
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Time Management
  • Dashboard and disciplinary
  • Employee exit/separation

4 TrakStar (free)

Trakstar is the free performance management solution that can efficiently motivate and engage the employees. While working remotely, it is easy for employers to keep their employees aligned and on track with the help of TrakStar.

This free online performance appraisal system helps in providing better communication between managers and employees. The software can deliver performance reviews efficiently. This cloud-based performance management solution offers the features of powerful HR software.

Trakstar(Source: Trakstar)

Core functionalities:

  • 360 Degree Feedback
  • Real-time and continuous feedback
  • Performance Reviews
  • Goal Tracking and Management
  • Employee Development and Employee evaluation 
  • Reporting & Analytics
  • Succession Planning
  • Rewards & Recognition
  • Automation

5 SnapEval (free for ten users)

SnapEval is the free performance management software designed for small and midsize firms. The cloud and mobile-app based continuous performance management solution is ideal for in-facility, remote, and work from home (WFH) team members. The software is free for a maximum of 10 users from one account.

The software empowers managers to coach employees with timely and actionable feedback. SnapEval provides real-time documentation of employee performance. The software automatically prompts managers to capture feedback for each assigned employee periodically.

SnapEval

(Source: SnapEval)

Core Functionalities:

  • Continuous Performance Management
  • Modern Performance appraisals
  • Real-time Performance Recognition
  • Rewards and Recognition
  • Live Organization Charts
  • Custom Push Notifications
  • Employee development and employee evaluation
  • Performance Reviews
  • Reporting and analytics

6 ReviewSnap (free)

ReviewSnap is a free performance management solution that is ideal for small and midsize companies. This web-based performance management solution has a simple user interface. The software has made performance management easy and simple.

The user can log into this secure and easy-to-use performance management software system from any device from anywhere and anytime. This automated software includes e-signatures, automatic archiving, email reminders, notifications, and unlimited job-specific templates.

Reviewsnap(Source: Reviewsnap)

Core Functionalities:

  • 360 Degree Feedback
  • Automated Platform
  • Continuous Feedback
  • Journals and Notes
  • Employee Evaluation
  • Goal/Objective Setting
  • Secure and Accessible
  • Performance Reviews
  • Reporting & Analytics

7 OrangeHRM (free trial of 30 days)

Orange HRM is a performance management software that can track employee performance efficiently. With the help of advanced metrics such as OKRs (Objectives and Key results) to dynamic objectives, all are used for monitoring employee performance.  

This performance management tool provides peer-to-peer feedback and performance reviews. Based on groups of employees and departments, OrangeHRM can create a bulk valuation (appraisals).

OrangeHRM

(Source: OrangeHRM)

Core Functionalities:

  • Employee Development
  • Advanced performance tracking by OKRs
  • Employee Evaluation
  • Revisions and 360-degree workflows
  • Performance Reviews
  • Massive creation of appraisals
  • Reporting & Analytics
  • Competencies pool and mapping
  • Goal setting and track progress
  • Electronic signature and email notification
  • Reports

The above-mentioned list of free and open source performance management software is of top-notch quality and can efficiently meet business demands. Apart from this list, there is also one more renowned performance management software- bambooHR that is gaining popularity in the market. Let’s discuss how this software is valuable for the users.

BambooHR (free trial)(Popular)

BambooHR is the performance management software that helps in organizing and collecting the information gathered throughout the employee life cycle. This software gives insights to focus on the most valuable asset – people during the time of hiring, onboarding, and preparing compensation. 

The software serves as a single system involving all the employee and human resources-related data that helps in managing the performance management activity.

bambooHR(Source: BambooHR)

Core Functionalities:

  • People data and analytics
  • Continuous Feedback
  • Employee Evaluation
  • Employee and manager self-service
  • Goal/Objective Setting
  • eSignature
  • Performance Reviews
  • Reporting & Analytics
  • Performance Management
  • Applicant tracking system
  • Centralized employee database

Wrapping up 

Businesses require an effective performance management system for smooth functioning. The companies can better understand their employee’s performance and productivity with the help of performance management software. 

Moreover, organizations can boost employee engagement; thus, the engaged employee can actively involve themselves in the workplace. Choosing the correct performance management software is essential for organizations.

The list of free and open source performance management software mentioned in this article can help readers to find the perfect system for their organization. Explore the GoodFirms' list of best performance management software pages if you prefer to go for the premium ones with advanced features. 

If you have come across any of the above mentioned free and open source performance management systems, feel free to drop your valuable comments.

If you are looking for other software categories, then click here.

Andrea Hernanadez
Andrea Hernanadez

Andrea Hernandez is a tech blogger and content marketing expert. She writes about disruptive tech trends counting blockchain, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things. Presently, as a senior writer, she is associated with GoodFirms, a pioneering B2B research, review, and rating platform. Follow her on social media for valuable information on the software.

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