The Small Improvements Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Small Improvements in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Small Improvements
The Insider’s Guide
Performance reviews, 360 feedback, 1:1s and pulse surveys
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among HR software, read from Small Improvements’s own pages.
Made by Small Improvements · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Small Improvements’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Small Improvements’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 41 of the 63 other HR software we grade
Small Improvements is a performance management platform for companies of roughly 50 to 750 people, as its homepage describes it. It covers review cycles, 360 feedback, objectives, 1:1 meeting agendas, pulse surveys and public praise, with AI features for drafting objectives and spotting patterns across reviews. Pricing is per user with a minimum user count on every plan.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Small Improvements, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It syncs with HR systems and needs reviews built before it is useful.
- 1
Best for performance reviews from $3 a seat, 20 minimum
Small Improvements does reviews, 360 feedback, 1:1s and pulse surveys, from $3 a user a month on yearly billing.
- 2
Paid plans start at $3 a month for each person
As its pricing page puts it: $3 per user / month, billed annually.
- 3
You can try it first
30-day free trial
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Performance reviews
Review cycles launch from included templates with automated notifications. Calibration can be added to compare ratings across teams.
- 6
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.
- 7
Objectives
Objectives can cascade from company to team to individual, and an AI Objectives Coach helps turn feedback into objectives.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 41 of 63
That is against the other HR software we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of Small Improvements you could make: goals, surveys and reports. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Small Improvements at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $3 per user / month, billed annually
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 30-day free trial
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Small Improvements, since 2011
- Category
- HR Software
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for performance reviews from $3 a seat, 20 minimum
Small Improvements does reviews, 360 feedback, 1:1s and pulse surveys, from $3 a user a month on yearly billing. Every plan has a minimum of 20 or 30 users, and the useful parts sit on the dearer plans.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Free plan and trial | C | A 30-day free trial. The listing does not say whether it needs a card, and there is no free plan. |
| Features | C | Reviews, 360 feedback, objectives, 1:1s, pulse surveys and AI features. Launch covers essential reviews and praise only, and it is not an HRIS. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. It syncs with HR systems and needs reviews built before it is useful. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web only, with Slack, Google Workspace, Okta, BambooHR, Personio, Rippling, Workday and Workable listed. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Small Improvements is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Mid-sized companies that want reviews, objectives and engagement surveys in one tool
- HR teams that already run a separate HRIS and only need performance management
- Teams that want 1:1 agendas tied to objectives and feedback
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$3
A month to start, for each person
Small Improvements is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $3 per user / month, billed annually.
The listing does not say whether it needs a card, and there is no free plan.
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.
Trying it first
30-day free trial
Read from small-improvements.com on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Performance reviews, 360 feedback, 1:1s and pulse surveys. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, goals, surveys, reports.
Launch covers essential reviews and praise only, and it is not an HRIS.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Slack
- Google Workspace
- Okta
- BambooHR
- Personio
- Rippling
- Workday
- Workable
Small Improvements is made by Small Improvements, and has been around since 2011.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
41/63
Other HR software it is graded above
Small Improvements's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 41 of the 63 other HR software we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (B, above 22 of 63) and worst on features (C, above 1).
Its paid plans start at $3 a month for each person, against a middle price of $5.36 for the category: 9 of the 36 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 64 HR software we grade, cut by the letter each got. Small Improvements’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 5 of 63
- CFree plan and trialAbove 40 of 63
- CFeaturesAbove 1 of 63
- CEase of useAbove 1 of 63
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 22 of 63
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 38 HR software. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Small Improvements is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
The plain part of Small Improvements you could make: goals, surveys and reports. What surrounds it you could not. The 4 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It costs $36 a year.
What you could make
- Goals, surveys and reports: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- It is priced for each person, which means accounts and billing for a team.
- It plugs into other products, Slack, Google Workspace and Okta among them.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
- People on the other end: coaches. No app builder makes those.
What this rests on. Small Improvements’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Lattice, Culture Amp, 15Five, Leapsome and Workleap
The 5 tools Small Improvements is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 1.6GPA
Lattice
From $4/mo
Performance reviews, goals and engagement surveys for HR teams.
- Lattice also covers meeting notes and AI agents.
- 1.8GPA
Culture Amp
Paid
Engagement surveys, performance reviews and development together.
- 1.8GPA
15Five
From $4/mo
Performance reviews, 1-on-1s, OKRs and engagement surveys.
- Only 15Five lists iOS and Android apps.
- 15Five also covers meeting notes and AI agents.
- 2.2GPA
Leapsome
Free trial · from $7/mo
HR platform with reviews, OKRs, surveys, learning and pay modules.
- Small Improvements also covers reports.
- Leapsome also covers time tracking, applicant tracking, employee records and time off.
- 1.6GPA
Workleap
From $4,999/yr
AI assistant for people managers, with reviews, surveys and goals.
- Workleap also covers AI agents.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Small Improvements free?
No, Small Improvements is a paid product, but you can try it first. 30-day free trial.
How much does Small Improvements cost?
Small Improvements lists 3 plans. Launch: $3 per user / month, billed annually.
What platforms does Small Improvements work on?
Small Improvements is available on Web.
Does Small Improvements have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Small Improvements is listed for Web.
Does Small Improvements have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Small Improvements is listed for Web.
Is Small Improvements open source?
Small Improvements is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
What does Small Improvements integrate with?
Small Improvements's listing names Slack, Google Workspace, Okta, BambooHR, Personio, Rippling, Workday and Workable.
Who makes Small Improvements?
Small Improvements is made by a company of the same name. It dates from 2011.
What are the alternatives to Small Improvements?
The closest alternatives to Small Improvements in our directory are Lattice, Culture Amp, 15Five, Leapsome and Workleap.
How does Small Improvements compare with other HR software?
Small Improvements's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 41 of the 63 other HR software we grade, and level with 8.
Is Small Improvements good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Small Improvements C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $3 a month for each person, against a middle price of $5.36 for the category: 9 of the 36 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Small Improvements?
The plain part of Small Improvements you could make: goals, surveys and reports.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Small Improvements’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Small Improvements's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Small Improvements. Prices change, so check small-improvements.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
5,038
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
5,038
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Small Improvements, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/small-improvements
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Small Improvements: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/small-improvements
Know someone choosing between HR software?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/small-improvements/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded HR software after Small Improvements, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- HR Software Insider's GuideEvery one of the 64 HR software we grade, compared
- Breathe Insider's GuideUK HR software for small firms, priced per business, not per person2.6 GPA
- Leave Dates Insider's GuideAnnual leave planner and absence tracker for small teams2.6 GPA
- TalentHR Insider's GuideHR records, time off, hiring and reviews for small teams2.6 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Small Improvements’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Small Improvements is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Small Improvements. Prices and plans change: check small-improvements.com before you buy.