Small Improvements vs Trakstar (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Small Improvements grades higher than Trakstar: 2.2 against 1.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Small Improvements grades higher on the free plan and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Small Improvements
Performance reviews, 360 feedback, 1:1s and pulse surveys
Free trial · from $3/mo
Which one is for you
Pick Small Improvements if
- Fits if you run reviews for 20 or more people and already have an HR system
- Works for teams that want 360 feedback and 1:1s in one tool
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you have fewer than 20 people, since every plan has a user minimum
- Pricey if you need 360 feedback, 1:1s or pulse surveys, which start on Grow at $6
- Watch out: volume discounts start at 200 users on Elevate or 1,000 on Grow
- Too light for HR records, as it syncs with an HR system rather than replacing it
Pick Trakstar if
- Fits if you want reviews, hiring and learning from one maker
- Works for HR teams happy to buy modules one at a time
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want a price first, as the pricing page is only a quote form
- Watch out: the pricing page sits on Mitratech's site, which acquired Trakstar in April 2023 according to its homepage
- Skip it if you want to try before buying, since no trial is listed
- Too light for budgeting, as the page does not say what a quote includes
How we grade them
| 2.2GPASmall ImprovementsFair | 1.6GPATrakstarWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C$3 a user a month is in the cheapest quarter, but the 20-user minimum means at least $60 a month, so one person cannot buy it. Grow at $6 and Elevate at $9 are where 360 feedback and 1:1s sit. | CNo price is published, so value sits at the middle of the category by default. |
| Free plan and trial | CA 30-day free trial. The listing does not say whether it needs a card, and there is no free plan. | FNo free plan and no trial on record. The pricing page is a quote request. |
| Features | CReviews, 360 feedback, objectives, 1:1s, pulse surveys and AI features. Launch covers essential reviews and praise only, and it is not an HRIS. | CReviews, engagement surveys, applicant tracking, learning and analytics, split across separate modules. The listing does not say which are in a quote. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record. It syncs with HR systems and needs reviews built before it is useful. | CNo store rating on record. A modular suite has to be set up and the modules picked. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb only, with Slack, Google Workspace, Okta, BambooHR, Personio, Rippling, Workday and Workable listed. | CWeb only, and no integrations are listed in our record. |
| Best for | performance reviews from $3 a seat, 20 minimum | performance and hiring modules, by quote |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Small Improvements and Trakstar. How we grade
Where they differ
- Trakstar also covers applicant tracking.
In commonWebGoalsSurveysReports
At a glance
| Small Improvements | Trakstar | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free trial | Paid |
| Starts at | $3 per user / month, billed annually | Not published |
| Free plan | None | None |
| Free trial | 30-day free trial | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Made by | Small Improvements | Mitratech |
| Price read from | small-improvements.com | Not confirmed |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Small Improvements
- Every plan has a minimum user count: 20 users on Launch and Grow, 30 on Elevate.
- 360 feedback, 1:1 meetings and pulse surveys need Grow ($6) or Elevate; Launch covers essential reviews and praise only.
- Volume discounts are offered only for 200 or more active users on Elevate, or 1,000 or more on Grow.
- It is a performance and engagement tool, not an HRIS: it syncs with HR systems such as BambooHR, Personio and Workday instead of replacing them.
Trakstar
- No prices are published: the pricing page is a quote request form, so the cost is unverified.
- The suite is modular (Perform, Hire, Learn, Insights), and the pricing page does not say which parts a quote includes.
- The pricing page now sits on Mitratech's site, which acquired Trakstar in April 2023, according to Trakstar's homepage.
Key features
Small Improvements
- Performance reviews
- Review cycles launch from included templates with automated notifications. Calibration can be added to compare ratings across teams.
- 360 and anytime feedback
- Teammates can be asked for feedback as part of a cycle, and people can also give feedback outside review periods. Both sit on the Grow plan and above.
- Objectives
- Objectives can cascade from company to team to individual, and an AI Objectives Coach helps turn feedback into objectives.
- 1:1 meetings
- Managers and employees share an agenda and track action items between meetings. 1:1s sync with Google Calendar or Office 365.
- Pulse surveys
- Confidential surveys with heatmaps and trend reports to show which teams need attention.
- AI features
- AI drafts and summarizes in several areas, including insights across reviews, and the vendor says any AI feature can be turned off.
Trakstar
- Performance reviews
- Perform offers customizable reviews with over 100 competencies, 360-degree reviews, goal setting and improvement plans.
- Engagement surveys
- Surveys are listed as part of the performance product alongside reviews and goal tracking.
- Applicant tracking
- Hire covers applicant tracking, collaborative hiring, candidate sourcing, talent pools and reports.
- Learning management
- Learn builds training courses with quizzes, assessments, screen shares and multimedia, with auto-enrollment and content delivery.
- Workforce analytics
- Insights is a dashboard that spans the platform's products and includes benchmarking.
Plans
Small Improvements
Launch$3
per user / month, billed annually
Essential performance reviews, praise, a company directory, HRIS integrations and Google sign-in. Minimum of 20 users.
Grow$6
per user / month, billed annually
Everything in Launch plus 360 and anytime feedback, essential objectives, 1:1 meetings, pulse surveys and the Slack integration. Minimum of 20 users.
Elevate$9
per user / month, billed annually
Everything in Grow plus all features, all integrations, all customizations and advanced analytics. Minimum of 30 users.
Trakstar
Pricing could not be confirmed. See trakstar.com.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Small Improvements or Trakstar?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Small Improvements starts at $3 per user / month, billed annually, and Trakstar has no price we could confirm.
Which has a free plan, Small Improvements or Trakstar?
As of Nov 12, 2026, neither Small Improvements nor Trakstar has a free plan. Small Improvements has a free trial.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.