Startups and small teams recognize the need for structure to drive performance and development, but HR tools like Leapsome often come with a substantial price tag and a steep learning curve. What works for enterprises can feel overwhelming when you don’t have a dedicated HR team or the budget for a full suite of features.
For many small businesses, this creates a dilemma: they either overspend on HR software they can’t fully use, or they stick with spreadsheets and basic HR tools for startups that don’t scale. Neither option truly supports effective 360 feedback, one-on-ones, and goal tracking.
The good news? There are Leapsome alternatives designed for smaller teams. They’re simpler, more affordable, and focus on the features that actually matter for talent development without locking you into an expensive HR system.
What small teams actually need in an HR tool
The reality is that small businesses don’t need an all-in-one enterprise platform. They need practical HR tools for startups, systems that make it easy to support team growth without overwhelming managers or draining budgets.
Here’s what matters most:
360 feedback, 1:1s, and career goals
The foundation of talent development is straightforward: continuous 360 feedback, regular one-on-ones, and clear goals. These three elements account for 80% of what drives employee development.
A good HR tool for small teams doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel; it makes these basics easy to run, document, and track.
💡 Business Insider notes that small businesses are switching to continuous feedback, addressing issues in real-time, and fostering a culture where employees feel safe sharing their ideas.
Affordable pricing plans
Budgets are tight, and flexibility is critical. Small teams should look for HR tools for startups that let them start for free or with a lightweight plan, and then scale as the organization grows.
A good system reduces the risk of commitment. You can try it, see if it works, and expand later without wasting money on unused licenses.
Real customer support, not just onboarding
Most platforms offer a guided onboarding process, but what happens after that?
Small teams need more than a one-time walkthrough. They need ongoing support from experts who can answer questions, offer suggestions for improvement, and adapt the system as the team’s needs change.
The right talent management tool feels less like software and more like a partner.
How to choose the right Leapsome alternative
When choosing Leapsome alternatives, focus on what fits your team's needs rather than on which one has the longest feature list. For small teams, the right tool is the one you’ll actually use every week, not the one that looks best in a comparison chart.
Here are three questions to ask before making a decision:
- What do we really need?
Focus on the basics that support employee development: continuous 360 feedback, one-on-one meetings, and career goals. If you don’t have an HR team, advanced modules like compensation management or large-scale surveys may add cost without value.
- How big is our team?
A 10-person startup doesn’t need the same system as a 200-person scale-up. Pick a tool that supports your current growth stage, but that you won’t outgrow in a year.
- How much time can we spend on admin?
If setup takes weeks and managers need constant training, it might not be a good fit for you. The best choice for small teams is a platform that can be rolled out in days, not months.
The bottom line: if you’re a small team, simpler HR tools for startups almost always bring a faster ROI than enterprise-style systems. They provide the structure you need without adding the overhead you can’t afford.
Best Leapsome alternatives for small teams
There are plenty of HR platforms marketed as Leapsome alternatives. But most are designed for mid-sized organizations with established HR processes. That’s why small teams often struggle to find a tool that supports real development without enterprise-level cost or complexity.
Below are three popular options, including the one built specifically for small, tech-driven teams.
Kadar
Kadar was built for startups that want a simple, structured approach to performance reviews, feedback, and career development without needing an HR team to run the process.
It focuses on the most impactful parts of talent development:
- Performance reviews tied to transparent, skill-based expectations
- 360 feedback from managers, peers, reports, and even clients
- One-on-one meeting software that keeps development moving
- Career goals & leveling that give growth clarity
- Talent management insights that replace scattered spreadsheets
It’s free for small teams, with affordable plans as you scale — and no pressure, contracts, or heavy setup. More importantly, Kadar's product experts don’t disappear after onboarding. Their team stays involved to help adapt processes as you grow so you get value from day one.
If you’re choosing a Leapsome alternative because cost and complexity don’t make sense for your team size, Kadar aligns directly with that need.
Take action: start with the talent basics that support employee development. Try Kadar for free, no card required, no pressure.
15Five
15Five is a respected performance platform with a strong focus on feedback and OKRs. It helps teams build consistent check-ins and recognition habits, which can be helpful as companies grow toward more structured talent management.
Their Perform plan — which includes reviews, OKRs, and 360 feedback — starts at $11 per user per month (billed annually), while more limited engagement plans start at around $4 per user per month.
However, early-stage teams often activate only a fraction of the functionality. Without a clear performance process in place, the investment can outweigh the return, especially under 30 employees.
15five is a good option if you already run structured OKRs and reviews. Less ideal if you’re still defining how employee development works.
Lattice
Lattice is one of the most popular performance management software, particularly for companies with a dedicated HR team. It offers a wide suite of modules, from performance and goals to engagement surveys, career frameworks, and compensation management.
Pricing starts around $11 per user per month for performance and goals, with additional costs for surveys, career growth tools, or compensation.
Lattice is the best when you’ve scaled into HR maturity, not when you’re building that structure for the first time.
HR tools for startups that grow with your team
Leapsome is a strong platform for larger organizations with established HR functions and the budget to support complex systems. In that context, its broad set of modules makes sense. But when small teams search for Leapsome alternatives, the criteria shift: they need something lean, affordable, and quick to implement. Otherwise, the tool ends up being more work than help.
A great tool provides a simple framework for your team to use, not one that simply checks off every box on a feature list. When your team is under 50 people, you don’t need compensation planning modules or enterprise survey dashboards. You need 360 feedback loops, effective 1:1 meetings, and clear goals.
This is where Kadar fits. Built by a tech team for tech-driven companies, it’s designed to feel natural for managers and employees, with no HR overhead.
And unlike many HR tools for startups, Kadar doesn’t stop at onboarding. Our team provides ongoing support to help you adapt processes and get value from day one. For small organizations, that combination means you can stop overpaying for features you’ll never use and start running structured conversations that move your people forward.
If you’re evaluating Leapsome alternatives, Kadar is a simple way to build a performance foundation that scales with you without the enterprise complexity.
Try it free with one team and see how it fits, with no setup stress and no contracts.
