The 8 best OKR software for Startups in 2024

OKRs have become a trending topic in the business world in the last year or two. More and more companies of all sizes are adopting a goal-tracking framework. With that demand came tons of new apps that can help your team strategise around OKRs or some flavour of it.

But with more and more solutions, it gets harder to understand: which one really is the best?!?

If you go to G2.com's "best" Objectives and Key Results software list, the first 9 results don't even mention OKR in their main description (for real). That's like searching for the best sandwich in town and getting grocery stores as the first 9 results. Yeah, I'm sure they have sandwiches, but that's not really what they do.

This guide will show you how to evaluate the differences between platforms. We will also go over software that do OKRs (for real) and, of course, talk a little about why Tability is worth checking out.

So let's start with the problem we're solving.

The problem: Teams need accountability

Popularised at Intel and Google in the 90s as a framework to help drive productivity and employee performance, this three-letter acronym, OKR, is so popular that it has become synonymous with a whole range of cultural and productivity issues that teams face:

• Lack of direction or clarity of business objectives
• Lack of transparency on how teams are performing or progress on desired outcomes
• Knowing what projects to work on but not knowing how you contribute to the business
• Having a centralised plan and a pulse on your business

Though this is what OKRs are designed to solve, every product out there will solve this differently—different features, set up process, learning curves, and emphasis on methodology.

Finding the best OKR software for YOU

OKRs are complex. They have many moving parts, and every company's needs are different. It isn't a one-size-fits-all solution, so you can't just throw OKRs at your team and expect everything to be fixed.

Before we dive in, let's take a step back and understand some criteria on what we should be looking for in terms of OKR software needs.

Define cultural fit and team need

Before diving into feature lists, assess your organisation's unique requirements. How large is your team? Do you need a tool that can scale as your company grows? Consider whether your organisation requires highly customisable workflows or if pre-built templates suffice. Think about how your teams work—do they need detailed dashboards, or are they looking for a simpler solution to track progress?

There are many stages to OKR adoption, so make sure you match the solution to your team's needs and maturity level during the process.

Prioritise key features

The best OKR software offer functionalities tailored to help teams succeed. Look for software that supports cascading OKRs to align company-wide goals with individual and team objectives. Robust reporting and analytics are essential to measure progress and identify bottlenecks. Visual dashboards that provide real-time updates on goal status can keep everyone on track. Ensure the software integrates seamlessly with the tools you already use, like Slack, Jira, or Google Workspace, to streamline workflows.

Focus on collaboration

One of OKRs' most significant advantages is fostering alignment and teamwork, so the software you choose should facilitate collaboration. Look for tools that offer cross-team visibility to ensure everyone understands how their work contributes to broader goals. Continuous Feedback and Recognition (CFRs) features are valuable for encouraging engagement and celebrating progress. Integrating with communication tools like Zoom or Microsoft Teams can further enhance collaboration if your team is remote or hybrid.

Assess scalability and flexibility

Your organisation's needs today might look very different a year from now. The right OKR software should scale alongside your business, accommodating more teams, goals, and complex hierarchies as you grow. Flexibility is also key—can you tailor workflows, update goal structures, or add new metrics as your strategy evolves? Scalable and adaptable software ensures a long-term fit for your organisation.

Review pricing and usability

Pricing is always a consideration, but balancing cost with the features and functionality your team requires is important. Many tools offer free or entry-level plans for small teams, with more advanced features in premium tiers. Take advantage of free trials to test the software's usability. This lets you explore its features and allows your team to weigh in on whether it aligns with their workflow preferences.

Types of OKR software

As I said in the intro, a suggested OKR software is often not OKR software at all. Many adjacent productivity apps have dipped into this space, knowing that their users need OKR support. With add-ons or shoe-horned features, many tools nowadays will claim to support OKRs.

There are three types of tools you'll see in a typical "best of" list:

• A dedicated OKR software to integrate with your existing tools
• HR management or project management tool (some also claim to be "all-in-one solutions")
• Spreadsheets/DIY

Let's dive into the pros and cons of each 👇

Project management or "all-in-one" tools

Project management tools like Jira, Asana, monday.com, and Trello can also be used to manage OKRs. If your team already uses these platforms, it's convenient to avoid adopting and learning a new tool. Adding OKRs to an existing workflow can streamline adoption and reduce the friction of adding new software to your stack.

However, OKR features in these tools are often add-ons with separate pricing and functionality that differ from the base tool. These add-ons tend to be less complete and more "shoe-horned in," as OKRs are not the core focus of project management software. While these solutions may lack depth compared to dedicated OKR software, they can still be valuable for teams transitioning from a task-driven workflow to a more organised, results-oriented approach.

Software in this category:

• Asana
• Clickup
• Jira
• Lark
• Wrike

Good for: Teams that are task-driven but want to claim that their tasks are related to some greater objective

HR/performance management tools

TLDR: don't do this 🙅‍♀️

HR and performance management platforms like Lattice, 15Five, and BambooHR include OKR tracking as part of their offerings. These tools make connecting objectives to individual performance reviews, feedback, and employee development easy. Organisationally, this approach is a logical way to align personal goals with broader company objectives.

However, we don't recommend melding performance management and OKRs. Tying employee performance, bonuses, or pay to OKRs can discourage stretch goals and experimentation, which are essential for growth. Employees may become more conservative with goal-setting to avoid potential risks, leading to limited innovation. This setup also increases the risk of misreporting, as employees may manipulate outcomes to safeguard their compensation.

OKRs should foster a positive feedback loop, promoting team collaboration and growth rather than individual accountability tied to monetary incentives. Keeping OKRs team-focused and separate from individual performance metrics ensures they remain a tool for alignment and success rather than pressure and fear.

Software in this category:

• Leapsome
• CultureAmp
• Lattice
• 15Five
• Betterworks

Best for: Don't use an HR tool; it's not the same thing.

Spreadsheets and DIY approaches

Frankly, if you've never seen an OKR before, this isn't a bad place to start. Tools like Google Sheets and Excel are a great way to get your ideas down on paper and start thinking about what it takes to set, track, and report on goals properly.

But think of it like building a house with a handsaw and a screwdriver. Ready for some power tools? Hop in, we're going to Bunnings 👷

While free and highly flexible, spreadsheets require manual updates and significant maintenance. As teams grow, spreadsheets quickly become cumbersome, lacking automation, visual dashboards, collaboration features, and you know, all the things.

Best for: Small teams or organisations experimenting with OKRs for the first time.

Dedicated OKR software

Dedicated OKR software like Tability, Weekdone, and Quantive are specifically built to manage OKRs. These platforms include advanced features such as cascading goals, progress grading, visual dashboards, and integrations with other tools. They are designed to simplify OKR adoption and ensure teams stay aligned and focused on results.

Because these tools are purpose-built, they provide a more focused and complete solution compared to general-purpose tools. However, they can come at a higher cost and may require a learning curve, especially for teams new to OKR methodologies.

Things you won't get in other solutions:

• Proper onboarding and training around the OKR process
• Encouraging good habits and company culture through rituals and check-in automation
• Foster better conversations around what really matters in your company
• Full transparency into what teams are focused on

While you'll still need your HR and project management tools, as your team grows and your team gets serious about OKRs, you'll realise that a proper solution is needed. It's a crucial connector between the top-level vision and what your teams at the bottom layer are working to realise that vision.

Here's how your tool stack should break down:

• OKR software: What are we trying to achieve as a team?
• Project management tools: How do we get there? What needs to be done to achieve our goals?
• HR: How are my employees doing? How are they doing on their performance targets?

Best for: Organisations that are serious about OKRs and seeking a focused, advanced solution for goal management.

The 8 best OKR software in 2024

Tability

Tability is a lightweight, user-friendly platform designed for tracking Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) and other business goals. It simplifies the process of monitoring progress, maintaining accountability, and ensuring alignment across teams without the complexity often associated with traditional project management tools. Tability focuses on reducing manual reporting efforts, boosting team engagement, and helping organizations stay focused on achieving their strategic outcomes.

‍Key Features of Tability

OKR Tracking: Provides a straightforward way to set, track, and update OKRs, ensuring teams stay aligned with organizational goals.

Check-Ins and Updates: Encourages regular updates on progress with automated reminders to maintain momentum and engagement.

Visual Progress Tracking: Offers intuitive dashboards and visual indicators for a quick overview of goal progress and alignment.

Integrations: Works seamlessly with tools like Slack, allowing teams to embed Tability into their existing workflows.

Collaboration Tools: Promotes transparency and accountability by making it easy for team members to understand how their contributions impact overall goals.

Tability is particularly well-suited for startups and mid-sized scale-ups looking to maintain focus and alignment on their strategic goals without the burden of excessive administrative overhead. It emphasizes simplicity and regular engagement, making it an appealing choice for companies that prioritize outcomes over processes.

We can safely say that:

• Tability is the best OKR software for small to mid-size Startups
• Tability is loved by teams implementing OKRs for the first time because we have so many resources and in-app learning tools
• Tability is rated one of the easiest-to-use OKR software on G2.com
• Tability is also one of the best ROI on G2.com

Every team has different needs when it comes to goal tracking, but we guarantee that Tability is a good place to start.

Perdoo

Perdoo is a popular OKR and strategy execution software designed to help businesses effectively implement and manage their strategic goals. It provides a structured process that includes crafting a winning strategy, identifying key objectives, and regularly reviewing progress to ensure goals are met. The platform offers features such as a strategy map view, mission and vision sections, and a user-friendly interface that facilitates goal alignment across various organisational levels.

The app has a more modern look than competitors, but some users say the solution has a hard time scaling while maintaining simplicity in use. “We haven't understood yet how to increase the number of users and OKRs by keeping it simple for the users,” says one customer.

Pros:

• Customisable cascading views: Using the strategy map, you can see how OKRs align
• Visual Progress Tracking: Provides clear metrics and visual tools to monitor progress, keeping teams accountable.
• Integration Capabilities: Allows seamless integration with other tools, enhancing workflow efficiency.
• Comprehensive OKR Framework: Facilitates alignment of team goals with overall strategic objectives.

Cons:

• Initial Setup Complexity: The setup and customisation process can be time-consuming for new users.

• Limited Language Support: Some users have expressed a need for additional language options to accommodate non-English speaking team members.
• Mobile Usability: The strategy map view may not be optimised for mobile devices, affecting accessibility.
• Feature Customisation: Complicated UI and competitors offer more visually appealing and customisable team pages.

Perdoo offers a Free plan for up to 5 users. The Premium plan starts at €8.00 per user per month, which supports the basics for doing OKRs properly. The Supreme plan, starting at €10.00 per user per month, includes additional features such as KPI boards, private goals, and online OKR training.

Quantive

Quantive is an AI-powered platform designed to assist businesses in strategic planning, execution, and evaluation. It enables organizations to swiftly transform challenges and opportunities into actionable plans, ensuring alignment across teams and driving impactful outcomes. By adopting an “Always-on” strategy, Quantive promotes adaptability, decentralization, and rapid decision-making, allowing companies to respond promptly to market changes.

Users appreciate the platform’s comprehensive features that facilitate effective decision-making and measurable growth. Quantive’s capabilities in aligning strategic initiatives with execution have been highlighted as beneficial for achieving organizational objectives. However, some users have noted that certain features may require a learning curve, and there is room for improvement in user interface intuitiveness. Quantive also have their own consultation service, so being harder to onboard is likely part of their offering.

Pros:

• Effective Decision-Making: Facilitates quick transitions from insights to action plans, enhancing responsiveness.

• Measurable Growth: Drives focused execution and alignment to achieve tangible results.

• Strategic Agility: Enables rapid adaptation of strategies to capitalize on market opportunities.

• Comprehensive Features: Offers a wide range of tools for strategic planning and execution.‍

Cons:

• Learning Curve: Some features may require time for users to fully understand and utilize effectively.

• Complicated user Interface: There is potential for improvement in the intuitiveness of the user interface.

• Feature Updates: Users have expressed a desire for more frequent updates and enhancements.

• Integration Challenges: Integrating with existing systems can be complex and may require additional resources.

Quantive starts at $9 per user per month, but does not offer transparent pricing for Premium or Enterprise pricing tiers. These tiers include features like KPI projections, goal milestones, SSO, as well as all of their AI-related offerings. Contact them directly for more info.

Weekdone

Weekdone is an OKR software designed to help business leaders and teams set structured goals, track activities, and align efforts towards the company’s vision. The platform emphasizes transparency, allowing employees to understand expectations and plan their weekly activities accordingly. It offers features such as automated weekly and quarterly status reports, live dashboards, and integration capabilities with tools like Microsoft Teams, Slack, Jira, and Asana.

Users appreciate Weekdone’s ability to facilitate collaboration and provide a clear overview of organizational goals. However, some users have noted that the web interface can be clunky, with an overemphasis on dashboard views, which look interesting but actually lack in usability.

Pros:

• Structured Goal Setting: Facilitates alignment of activities throughout the organization via OKRs.

• Progress Tracking: Provides visual dashboards to monitor weekly progress, keeping teams accountable.

• Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly connects with tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, and Asana, enhancing workflow efficiency.

• Multilingual Support: Available in multiple languages, accommodating globally distributed teams.

Cons:

• Interface Complexity: Some users find the web interface clunky, with an overemphasis on dashboards.

• Feature Overload: The abundance of features may be overwhelming for users seeking a straightforward OKR management tool.

• Customization Challenges: Setting up and customizing the platform to fit specific organizational workflows can be time-consuming.

• Mobile Accessibility: The strategy map view may not be optimized for mobile devices, affecting accessibility.

Weekdone offers a single Premium plan starting at $10 per user per month (or $9 paid annually). Up to 3 users can explore the platform’s features before committing to a subscription with a free trial.

Profit.co

Profit.co is a comprehensive platform that facilitates the implementation and management of Objectives and Key Results across organizations of various sizes. It offers a structured approach to defining and aligning objectives at the company, department, team, and individual levels, ensuring that all efforts contribute towards overarching strategic goals.

Profit.co is highly customisable and could be appealing to upper management and leaders who want extensive customisation on how they do OKRs. However, beacuse of this, the tool is often seen as clunky and overly complicated to get started. It may require support and consultation to set up properly.

Pros:

• Comprehensive OKR Management: Offers a structured framework with step-by-step guides, templates, and a vast KPI library, simplifying the OKR creation and tracking process.

• Integrated Modules: Combines OKR management with task management, performance evaluations, and employee engagement tools, providing an all-in-one solution for strategy execution.

• Flexible Alignment Options: Supports multiple alignment types, including top-down, bottom-up, and cross-functional, ensuring organizational coherence in goal setting.

• Real-Time Analytics: Features dashboards and reports that offer up-to-date insights into OKR progress, facilitating proactive management and decision-making.

Cons:

• ‍Complicated interface: The user interface isn't very intuitive and feels a bit outdated.

• Cost Considerations: While offering a free tier for up to 5 users, advanced features and broader access require subscription to higher-tier plans, which may be a consideration for smaller organizations.

• Integration Challenges: Despite offering integrations with various tools, setting up and customizing these integrations to fit specific organizational workflows can be time-consuming.

• Feature Overload: The abundance of features, while beneficial, can be overwhelming for users seeking a straightforward OKR management tool.

Profit.co does not offer transparent pricing. According to other review sites, the pricing seems to be around $7-9 per user per month. They do offer a free trial, but in order to do so you have to provide a phone number. And believe me, they will call you, A LOT.

Microsoft Viva Goals

Microsoft Viva Goals is an OKR management solution that’s included in the Microsoft ecosystem, including tools like Outlook and Teams. This integration facilitates the alignment of team objectives with organizational goals, enhancing collaboration and communication. Users appreciate its intuitive interface and the ability to track progress effectively within their existing workflows. Many have complained about slow performance and lack of support.

If you're not already on Viva Goals, we would highly recommend not using this product as they have already announced that they will be sunsetting Viva Goals and will completely shut it down by December 2025.

(See a more detailed review of OKRs in Viva Goals)

Pros:

• Seamless Integration with Microsoft tools: Works well with Microsoft tools like Outlook and Teams, streamlining workflows.

Cons:

• Sharing Limitations: Some users find it difficult to share goals across different platforms.

• No standalone product or pricing: You have to purchase the entire suite to access, so if you're not a Microsoft user already, it doesn't make much sense.

• Archaic design: UX and UI that is reminiscent of Windows 97.

• Learning Curve: Users new to OKR methodologies may require additional training.

Viva goals is part of the Microsoft Viva Suite, which starts at $12/user/month with a one-year commitment. It is not a standalone product and must be used with the suite of Microsoft Viva products.

Cascade

Cascade Strategy is a platform designed to help organizations plan, execute, and track their strategic initiatives by aligning goals across departments. It offers features such as centralized strategy planning, real-time metrics tracking, and visualization tools to map relationships and dependencies within the organization. Additionally, Cascade integrates with tools like Microsoft Outlook, Jira, Slack, and Asana to facilitate collaboration and streamline workflows. While these features appear comprehensive, the platform may not fully meet the needs of every organization due to certain limitations in usability and adaptability.

(See a more detailed review of OKRs in Cascade)

Users appreciate Cascade’s ability to centralize planning and its progress visualization tools, which provide a bird’s-eye view of strategy execution. However, its complexity and the learning curve required to navigate certain features can hinder its effectiveness, particularly for teams unfamiliar with extensive strategy tools. Some users find that the user interface, while functional, lacks the intuitiveness expected of a modern software solution, which can slow down adoption rates and overall team engagement.

Pros:

• Centralized Planning: Simplifies the organization of strategies and ensures alignment across teams.
• Focused on strategy: Emphasises the necessary features needed to properly connect strategy to execution.
• Great support: Users have mentioned having great experiences working with the support teams.

Cons:

• ‍Unfinished Features: Users have mentioned that the software feels incomplete in some areas, affecting overall functionality.

• User Interface Challenges: Certain features, while useful, lack the intuitiveness expected of a modern solution.
• Costly for Advanced Features: Access to more sophisticated capabilities often requires higher-tier plans, which may not provide sufficient ROI for all users.

Cascade does not offer transparent pricing. They do offer a free plan for up to 4 users.

Workboard

WorkBoard is an enterprise strategy execution platform designed to help organizations align and manage Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) across teams. It offers features like OKR alignment, automated business reviews, and tools for tracking organizational goals. Companies like Intel, AstraZeneca, and Workday rely on WorkBoard to streamline their strategic execution. However, despite its broad feature set, many users have noted significant challenges in usability, customization, and overall flexibility.

While WorkBoard provides transparency into how individual goals align with company objectives, its limitations often undermine its utility. The platform lacks integration with artificial intelligence (AI), which could significantly enhance capabilities like predictive analytics or automated insights. Additionally, users have pointed out a steep learning curve and customization constraints, making it difficult to adapt the tool to unique organizational workflows.

It's clear that Workboard is made for enterprises with complex set ups, which has led to a more cumbersome onboarding experience for those trying to get started on their own.

Pros:

• Transparency: Provides visibility into organizational goals, helping teams align their work effectively.
• Customer Support: Offers a dedicated customer success team to help with OKR implementation.
• Comprehensive Features: Includes automated business reviews and OKR alignment tools to enhance strategy execution.
• Adoption by Large Enterprises: Trusted by well-known companies for their strategy execution needs.

Cons:

• Steep Learning Curve: Many users report that the platform is not intuitive and requires significant effort to fully understand and utilize.
• Lack of AI Integration: Does not offer advanced analytics or automated insights, limiting its functionality compared to competitors.
• Customization Limitations: The platform’s rigidity in adapting to unique workflows reduces its appeal for diverse teams.
• High Cost and Opaque Pricing: Pricing is not readily transparent, and the platform may feel expensive for its feature set when compared to other tools.

Workboard does not offer transparent pricing, but some other review sites mention that they cost around $9 per user per month.

The OKR software that doesn't suck

We just listed a lot of OKR tools, and to be frank, it's hard to recommend most of them. A lot of available solutions have archaic design, bad UX, clunky features and performance, and lack flexibility that modern teams need. It's no wonder teams often fall back onto product management or HR tools to solve their OKR needs.

It's easy to say that Tability stands out as a modern solution to the OKR problem.

While other tools are stuck doing OKRs the way it was done at Google in the 90s, Tability bring a fresh take on how to do OKRs better, more modern way.

The OKR space is owned by archaic software and enterprise giants, where Tability brings a modern and intuitive interface that makes OKRs simple, accessible, and even enjoyable. Whether you’re just starting with OKRs or refining an existing process, the platform’s design ensures that everyone on your team can jump in and start seeing results right away—without getting bogged down by complexity.

Perhaps most importantly, Tability fits seamlessly into your existing workflow. Its affordable pricing makes it accessible to teams of all sizes, and its extensive integrations ensure it works effortlessly with the tools you already rely on. It’s not just an OKR tool—it’s a solution that enhances your productivity and helps your team stay focused on what really matters.

Tability is free to try — Sign up and see for yourself what the future of your OKRs could look like. If you aren't convinced, book a free 30 min assessment with us. We can go over your needs, show you around the tool, and even help you figure out where to get started (Tability or not!)

Not convinced? See also: What Matter's best paid OKR tools