Just like with any other tools, there are plenty of options available today when it comes to talent management.
But as an HR myself, I get it — finding the right one can feel like a game of trial and error. You don’t want a tool that costs you more time than it saves (been there – done that 🙃).
That’s why I’ve decided to review the top 15 talent management tools. From hiring to developing and retaining your team, these tools make your life easier, boost efficiency, and give you the insights you need to keep things running the way you want.
Using talent management software to empower your greatest asset
As HR, you’re wearing a hundred hats — from recruiter to mediator to strategist. The last thing you need is more busy work slowing you down.
That’s where talent management software comes in. These tools are designed to take the grunt work off your plate, letting you focus on what truly matters: your people. Below, I’m diving into specific challenges we as HRs face daily and how these tools can help solve them.
Pain point #1: Time-consuming manual processes
Manual tasks are the productivity killer of HR. Whether combing through resumes or managing performance reviews on spreadsheets, it’s tedious and error-prone.
✅ Solution:
- Automated Recruiting Tools: Speed up hiring with AI-driven candidate shortlisting, scheduling, and even video interviews.
- Performance Management Software: Centralize goals, feedback, and 360-degree reviews in one easy-to-navigate platform.
Pain point #2: Candidate ghosting and poor onboarding
Ever had a promising hire vanish? Or worse, watch a new employee disengage within weeks because onboarding was a mess?
✅ Solution:
- Engaging Onboarding Software: Turn the first 90 days into a smooth journey with checklists, training, and clear workflows.
- Pre-Employment Screening Tools: Save time and avoid surprises by vetting candidates effectively before they start.
Pain point #3: Employee burnout and disengagement
Keeping employees motivated feels like juggling flaming swords. If engagement dips, retention follows.
✅ Solution:
- Employee Engagement Platforms: Pulse surveys, feedback tools, and recognition programs help you stay connected to your team’s needs.
- Career Management Systems: Offer structured growth paths and skill-building opportunities to show employees their future with the company.
Pain point #4: Compensation and retention challenges
Do you want to reward top talent, but track pay raises, bonuses, and equity manually? A recipe for headaches.
✅ Solution:
- Compensation Management Software: Simplify pay decisions with data-driven recommendations, budgeting tools, and transparent planning.
Pain point #5: Tough goodbyes and missed insights
Employee exits can be tricky—both emotionally and operationally. Without proper processes, valuable feedback and institutional knowledge walk out the door.
✅ Solution:
- Offboarding & Exit Interview Software: Streamline the paperwork and get actionable insights to improve retention for the future.
Let’s find out what tools can help fix these pain points and how.
15 best talent management tools
After reading who-knows-how-many reviews and watching different tutorials, I’ve narrowed it down to the 15 best talent management tools that stand out in features, functionality, and ease of use.
Here's a breakdown.
1. Kadar
Kadar is a talent management platform built to help tech companies grow and retain their best people.
It simplifies key talent management areas—assessing skills, identifying gaps, building career plans, and upskilling—all in one place. Kadar also offers onboarding workshops for both managers and employees plus a 30-day free trial to get you started right away.
On top of that, it focuses on regular feedback collection and customization based on that feedback. This helps HR teams roll out processes smoothly and tackle employee resistance. Moreover, it allows them to tailor the platform to each client's needs, ensuring better integration into their ecosystem.
What makes Kadar a standout in talent management? It focuses on actionable development, with flexible and detailed reporting that adapts to the company's needs.
Unlike other solutions that require clients to export reports to Excel for further adjustments, everything can be done directly within the app, fully automated.
Team managers don't just set goals—they create tailored action plans, skill-building strategies, and 1:1 meeting templates that align with the company's overall growth. Meanwhile, HR teams maintain full visibility and can collaborate with managers without stepping on each other’s toes.
Talent Management Features
- Run 360-degree evaluations to gain an honest, comprehensive view of team skills and performance, with automatic reporting to minimize manual work.
- Set individual growth plans with clear steps, deadlines, and easy progress tracking.
- A learning hub with both pre-built and custom courses aligned to career goals.
- Map out career path frameworks to guide long-term career growth.
- Track well-being to catch burnout signs early with smart, proactive alerts.
- Collect feedback with customizable surveys and reports to shape better growth plans.
- Involve clients in evaluations.
- Organize and structure your 1:1s — keep track of your notes and get automated reports.
Limitations
- Advanced AI features aren’t available yet.
- No integrations with other tools. However, the Kadar team is open to integrating tools for larger clients, so it's something that can be discussed if needed.
- Not designed for tasks like compensation, recruiting, or offboarding.
Pricing
- Free Plan: Includes up to 1 admin, 2 managers, and 10 surveys, ideal for startups and small teams.
- Pro Plan: $4/user/month, unlimited features, perfect for growing businesses, you can try it for free.
- Business Plan: Custom pricing for large teams, includes integrations and priority support, tailored for enterprises.
💡 Key takeaway: Kadar is perfect for HR teams and managers working in flat-structure, client-oriented companies, helping build a culture of growth with templates to strengthen and develop your team.
🚀 Take action. Perform focused skill assessments, build career frameworks, and upskill employees while keeping them engaged. Start for free, no card required.
2. Lattice
Lattice is an AI-powered platform that helps HR teams boost employee performance, engagement, and growth. It handles everything from goal setting to feedback and performance reviews.
Real-time insights help HR pros connect with employees, keep top talent, and create a workplace culture that people actually want to be a part of.
Talent Management Features:
- Goals and OKRs features track individual and team objectives to align with company priorities.
- Gather employee feedback with AI insights to improve retention.
- Compensation cycle management simplifies budgeting and ensures fair reviews.
- Career tracks and IDPs support long-term growth with clear plans and steps.
- HRIS Core keeps employee records, onboarding, and workflows organized in one place.
- Performance reviews make performance cycles faster and easier with clear feedback and documentation.
Limitations
- Add-ons for features like Engagement and Compensation can raise costs.
- AI insights may take some time to fully understand.
- Reporting has limitations: the manager’s rating dominates, and the final 360 score is decided by the manager, not an average.
- Not ideal for flat teams or smaller companies needing detailed skill reviews.
- Clients cannot be included in the app, limiting external feedback.
Pricing
- Talent Management: $11 per seat/month. Includes performance reviews, feedback, updates, 1:1s, goals, and OKRs.
- HRIS Core: $5 per seat/month. Includes introductory pricing for employee records, workflows, and reports.
💡 Key takeaway: Lattice might not be the best fit for smaller companies or those with tight budgets, but it’s a solid choice for mid-sized to larger companies looking to boost business results.
3. Deel
Deel is a global HR platform that makes handling remote teams and international hires super easy. Whether you're bringing on employees or contractors in over 150 countries, Deel takes care of the tough stuff—payroll, benefits, compliance, and more—so you don’t have to.
It helps HR teams simplify everything, stay compliant locally, and give both employees and contractors a smooth experience.
Talent management features
- Hire employees and contractors in 150+ countries with visa support included.
- Simplify payments thanks to local perks with automatic tax filings.
- The compliance feature keeps you aligned with local laws to avoid fines and mistakes.
- Manage global teams in one place, from employee data to time off and performance reviews with HRIS.
- Track costs, headcount, DEI, and more with customizable reports and dashboards.
- Connect Deel to your HR, accounting, and project management tools.
- Make hiring and paying contractors easy with automated invoices and flexible payments through Contractor Management.
Limitations
- Expensive pricing, particularly for small or growing businesses.
- Delays in payment processing and account setups.
- Great for compensation & benefits, but not ideal for evaluations and growth at the moment.
- Analytics are quite limited, lacking depth for meaningful insights.
- No option to schedule 1:1 meetings, which can hinder personalized development.
Pricing
- Deel HR: Free. Offers basic HR features like time off management and people directories.
- Deel Payroll: Starting at $29 per employee/month, includes payroll management, tax payments, and customizable reporting.
- Deel Contractor: Starting at $49/month, for managing contractors globally with compliant contracts and automated invoicing.
- Deel EOR: Starting at $599/month, handles payroll, benefits, taxes, and compliance for employees in countries where you don’t have entities.
💡 Key takeaway: Great if you're looking for an admin solution for remote teams or global employees, but not ideal for evaluations, growth, or skill development.
4. Leapsome
Leapsome is another great talent management tool that brings all your HR stuff into one spot.
It handles everything from automating performance reviews and goal-setting to keeping the crew engaged with constant feedback. Leapsome’s flexible, easy to use, and grows as your business does.
Thanks to AI, it gives you the full picture of how both individuals and teams are doing with suggestions on how to improve it.
Talent Management Features
- Conduct structured performance reviews with customizable templates and real-time feedback.
- Set and track goals at both individual and team levels, ensuring alignment with company objectives.
- Gather employee feedback through surveys and analyze the results to identify areas for improvement.
- Create personalized learning paths and track employee development to foster continuous growth.
- Define and assess competencies to identify skill gaps and develop talent.
- Real-time feedback between managers and employees to promote open communication and continuous improvement.
- AI-powered insights to improve decision-making and improve employee experience.
Limitations
- No built-in payroll management features.
- Employee pulse and 360 features have separate reports, missing a full view.
- Clients are included as peers, making isolated feedback difficult.
- The review process, with multiple steps, suits large companies but can be too complex for smaller ones.
Pricing
- Pricing for Leapsome is available on request via demo.
💡 Key takeaway: It's a great fit for large corporations but may not be the best choice for small startups. It's somewhat limited for service and outsourcing companies and may not work well in fast-paced, flat environments due to its reliance on multi-step processes and heavy manager involvement.
5. Nestor
Nestor helps HRs map out, manage, and develop skills, so they can spot gaps, deploy talent, and offer training that's actually useful.
It’s a real powerhouse when it comes to talent and skills-based performance management. With its huge skills library, personalized learning suggestions, and AI workforce planning, it acts like a super-smart assistant for all your talent needs.
Talent Management Features
- Instantly map and manage your workforce's skills with Skills Library feature.
- Deploy talent efficiently with AI-powered workforce planning.
- Align team skills with goals using reviews, OKRs, and 360 feedback.
- Close skill gaps with personalized learning recommendations from Nestor’s Upskilling & Reskilling feature.
- Track employee skills and identify growth opportunities to improve retention.
- Connect employees with internal opportunities for growth using Nestor’s Talent & Opportunity Marketplace.
Limitations
- Some features may require additional customization for specific business needs.
- Problems with timely and accurate notifications for users.
Pricing
- Pricing is available upon request, tailored to your organization’s size and needs.
💡 Key takeaway: It’s perfect for HR leaders looking to improve workforce agility, upskill employees, and align talent with strategic goals.
6. HiBob
HiBob is a comprehensive talent management system designed to engage and retain your team at every stage of their journey.
It helps dynamic companies transform their HR operations into a more efficient, people-development and centric culture. It makes HR's life easier with automation, simple tools, and data-driven insights.
Talent management features:
- Get feedback and align goals with 360-degree reviews and goal-setting.
- Automate HR tasks and streamline new hires.
- Simplify time tracking and timesheets.
- Manage salaries, bonuses, and equity with real-time payroll sync.
- Access training courses and track time off.
- Gather feedback and keep goals aligned with company objectives.
- Optimize hiring plans and test changes safely with Workforce Planning & Sandbox.
Limitations
- Integration challenges with some third-party software.
- Notification issues can cause some delays or confusion with updates.
- Great for HR admin tools, but less effective for growth, skill development, or 360 evaluations.
- Limited reporting.
Pricing
- Custom pricing depends on your needs. Contact the sales team to get more information.
💡 Key takeaway: HiBob is an awesome tool for businesses of all sizes looking to streamline HR, boost employee happiness, and make data-driven decisions. That said, while it excels at handling admin and core HR tasks, it's not the best fit for evaluations, skill development, or detailed automated reporting in those areas.
7. Talentech
Talentech helps HRs centralize their employee data, manage absence and time tracking, and facilitate employee development and engagement.
It provides insights into workforce metrics, helping businesses make informed decisions on recruitment, upskilling, and employee retention. It also offers a safe and compliant whistleblowing process which is great for improving both operational efficiency and employee engagement.
Talent Management Features
- Centralize employee info, documents, and HR stuff.
- Automate goal-setting and progress tracking with Employee Development Talks.
- Simplify vacation requests, absences, and work hours with self-service options.
- Gather feedback and track happiness with customizable surveys.
- Ensure compliance and safety with a secure, anonymous whistleblowing channel.
- Make better decisions by tracking important HR numbers like headcount, turnover, and development progress.
Limitations
- Limited integration with third-party HR tools outside of the core ecosystem.
- Larger organizations may find it lacking in scalability.
Pricing
- Custom pricing based on the size and specific needs of your business. For detailed pricing information, contact their sales team directly.
💡 Key takeaway: Talentech is a great fit for small and medium-sized businesses looking to make HR easier. Plus, it’s super intuitive which is another plus during the onboarding phase.
8. BambooHR
BambooHR is an award-winning HR software designed to simplify every aspect of employee management, from hire to retire.
It combines payroll, time tracking, benefits, and more, all in one place. Whether you're managing small teams or large organizations, BambooHR’s centralized system helps HR teams stay organized, save time, and improve compliance.
Talent management features:
- Centralize, secure, and organize sensitive employee data.
- Streamline payroll, hours worked, and employee benefits.
- Simplify recruiting, onboarding, and offboarding processes.
- Track employee development, reviews, and goals effectively.
- Let employees update personal info and manage requests easily with Employee Self-Service.
- Track key HR metrics like turnover and time off with 49 built-in reports.
- Access essential HR functions anytime, anywhere with the mobile app.
- Connect with 125+ third-party tools for smoother workflows with Integrations.
Limitations
- Lacks advanced customization in certain areas – e.g. posting features and document signatures.
- There have been complaints about the unresponsiveness of support.
- The setup process for certain features like signature documents and job postings is unintuitive.
Pricing
- BambooHR offers custom pricing based on the size and needs of your business, with a free demo available. Pricing varies depending on features like performance management and payroll services.
💡 Key takeaway: BambooHR is super easy to use and packed with tools. It’s perfect for teams that want to save time and manage employees without the complexity of bigger systems. As the cherry on the top, its smooth app makes it great for on-the-go use.
9. Peoplebox
Peoplebox cuts the HR red tape, aligning goals and managing performance. This all-in-one platform makes performance reviews, feedback, career paths, 1:1s, org charts, surveys, reports, and OKRs super easy.
It works with Slack and Microsoft Teams, and it's fully customizable and AI-powered to fit your team's needs.
Talent Management Features:
- Tailor review cycles, questions, and templates to fit your team's unique needs and priorities.
- Set and track OKRs to ensure team alignment with strategic objectives and monitor progress.
- Conduct performance reviews and 1:1s directly in Slack or Microsoft Teams for seamless collaboration.
- Use the 9-box grid and calibration tools to assess performance, identify top performers, and develop talent.
- Visualize performance data, track growth trajectories, and optimize team structures with detailed charts and insights.
Limitations
- Some users have mentioned that the goal management features could be more robust.
- Slower performance with larger data sets or during busy periods.
Pricing
- Talent Management Plan: $7/month/person. Includes OKRs, performance reviews, 1:1s, engagement surveys, and more.
- OKR Platform Plan: $8/month/person. Includes business reviews, project management, integrations, KPIs board, and 1:1s.
- Full Suite - Professional Plan: $12/month/person. Includes everything in the Talent Management and OKR Platform Plans.
- Full Suite - Premium Plan: $15/month/person. Includes all Professional features plus a customer success manager, onboarding, and training.
- Enterprise Plan: Contact for pricing. Includes all Premium features plus custom integrations and dedicated support.
💡 Key takeaway: It's extremely easy to use, but it's also got some serious power under the hood. It can handle a lot, and you can customize it to fit your exact needs.
10. PeopleSpheres
PeopleSpheres is an all-in-one platform that simplifies and automates hiring, onboarding, performance management, and employee development.
It connects with your existing HR tools, bringing all your data into one dashboard, so you can make smarter decisions, fill talent gaps, and develop top performers—while cutting down on time spent managing administrative tasks.
Talent Management Features
- Create tailored development plans and succession strategies aligned with business goals.
- Streamline scheduling interviews, collecting feedback, and tracking goals.
- Track skill development and performance milestones to support career growth and engagement.
- Manage performance effectively with integrated feedback, goal-setting, and review tools.
- Improve cross-departmental collaboration and knowledge sharing.
- Automate data transfer between candidate and employee profiles for a smooth onboarding process.
- Receive real-time alerts for critical data changes to ensure timely action.
- Ensure data security with role-based access, encryption, and regular security audits.
Limitations
- Full functionality requires integrating with other tools, and some integrations have limitations.
- Setup and customization can be time-consuming, depending on your existing systems.
Pricing
- Pricing is based on a custom quote. Since the platform is highly customizable and integrates with various HR tools, costs will depend on your organization's size and specific requirements.
💡 Key takeaway: PeopleSpheres is great for small and medium businesses that need some talent management help. With its collaborative features, PeopleSpheres helps employees and HRs share info, communicate, and manage tasks more efficiently.
11. Cegid Talentsoft
Cegid Talentsoft offers everything you need to manage HR administration, talent acquisition, performance management, and learning.
From managing your organization chart and automating HR tasks to providing employees with a user-friendly portal, Talentsoft connects all your HR needs under one roof.
Talent Management Features
- Automate HR tasks like data management, reporting, and document handling.
- Streamline your org chart by managing and adjusting positions and staffing levels.
- Track KPIs, employee development, and other key HR metrics in a personalized view.
- Give employees access to training, job openings, performance reviews, and more with the Employee Portal.
- Manage and track employee learning programs to foster growth with Learning & Development features.
- Guide HR decisions, measure performance, and adjust strategies with real-time data.
- Structure your data in the best way for your business, choosing from hybrid, primary, or secondary data models.
Limitations
- While flexible, some users report that deeper customization options are needed, particularly for unique workflows and processes.
- The interface can take some time to get used to — some users have noted a learning curve for new employees.
Pricing
- Cegid Talentsoft offers custom pricing tailored to your organization's specific needs. To get more details, you'll need to reach out to their sales team or request a demo.
💡 Key takeaway: Cegid Talentsoft is especially well-suited for organizations that need detailed analytics, integration with other systems, and tools to foster employee growth. However, smaller businesses or those with very specific customization needs may find it more complex than necessary.
12. Engagedly
Engagedly has a lot “in the mix” – it integrates talent and performance management, learning and development, employee engagement, recognition, and talent mobility into one unified system.
With features like Marissa AI and workflow automation, Engagedly helps businesses reduce the complexity of managing multiple tools while improving collaboration and productivity.
Talent Management Features
- Tailor review processes to suit organizational needs.
- Gather feedback from various sources for comprehensive insights with 360° Feedback & Multirater Assessments.
- Provide regular touchpoints for continuous development with Integrated 1:1 meetings, feedback, and check-ins.
- Assess and calibrate employee performance with visual tools like the 9-box Performance Matrix & Rating Calibration.
- Track skills and create personalized development paths.
- Encourage positive behavior through badges and reward systems.
Limitations
- Can be tough to navigate, especially for administrators managing multiple roles.
- Some users experience eye strain while using the platform, especially in training modules.
Pricing
- Performance Management: $8/user/month. Includes reviews, 360° feedback, OKRs, real-time feedback, and analytics.
- Learn & Grow: $4/user/month. Includes learning platform, skill library, and compliance training.
- Recognize & Reward: $2/user/month. Includes gamified recognition, badges, and praise wall.
- Engage & Listen: $2/user/month. Includes surveys, team pulse, and employee social platform.
- Enterprise: Contact for pricing. Includes all features, custom integrations, and dedicated support.
💡 Key takeaway: Engagedly is super useful for companies that want to combine multiple HR functions like performance management, learning, and engagement into one smooth experience. However, users should be prepared for a learning curve and potential navigation challenges.
13. Workday
Workday brings together AI-powered insights, integrations, and powerful workflows to help HRs optimize their talent acquisition processes.
Its ability to engage candidates, manage the hiring lifecycle, and improve collaboration between teams makes it perfect for HRs aiming for more efficient and effective hiring and everything that comes after it.
Talent Management Features
- Use AI to grade candidates and identify the best fit for your roles with AI-Powered Talent Prioritization.
- Automatically pull top candidates from your existing talent pools, including past applicants, CRM leads, and employees.
- Improve communication and decision-making by integrating with Microsoft Teams and Slack.
- Boost candidate interest with personalized job recommendations and automated campaigns.
- Improve hiring outcomes and ensure compliance with real-time insights.
- Enhance internal mobility by providing AI-powered, personalized job recommendations to employees.
Limitations
- While highly customizable, the platform's breadth can make it challenging to implement and manage initially.
Pricing
- Tailored pricing based on your company’s size and specific needs. Contact the sales team for a personalized quote.
💡 Key takeaway: Workday is a good choice for HRs wanting to make hiring smarter and more efficient. While it can take some time to learn, its powerful features offer a solid return on investment for anyone looking to improve hiring and talent management.
14. PeopleForce
PeopleForce is a versatile HR platform designed to manage your company’s talent, performance, and overall employee experience. It helps HR teams streamline workflows, from recruiting to performance management.
The platform improves efficiency and drives employee satisfaction by automating everyday HR tasks.
Talent management features:
- Automate resume parsing, candidate outreach, and interview feedback collection.
- Simplify performance reviews, including 360-degree feedback and goal-setting.
- Measure employee satisfaction and engagement, helping identify performance drivers, with employee surveys & eNPS.
- Let employees easily access team directories, event calendars, OKRs, and goals with self-service.
- Speed up the hiring process with PeopleSign technology for mobile job offer signings.
- Streamline leave requests and approvals, reducing administrative workload for HR, with flexible leave management.
- Provide insights on talent performance and engagement with custom reports.
Limitations
- Some users mention that the learning curve can be especially tough for beginners.
Pricing
- Standard: $2/month per employee. Includes employee directory, leave management, onboarding, HR automation, document management, and more.
- Professional: $2.40/month per employee. Includes everything from Standard, plus advanced HR automation, API access, and corporate SSO.
💡 Key takeaway: PeopleForce is a strong option for companies looking to optimize talent management, from recruiting to performance reviews – it has it all. The only thing needed – a bit of patience for onboarding.
15. Factorial
Factorial is a central hub where you can manage everything from payroll to recruitment. It’s perfect for freeing up HR teams to focus on more important stuff, while employees can easily access things like pay stubs and time-off requests through the app.
You can track employee hours, onboard new hires, manage performance, and handle payroll all within the same platform.
Talent Management Features
- Automate PTO, time-off requests, documents, recruitment, performance reviews, payroll, and expenses.
- Centralize everything into one simple-to-manage HRIS platform.
- Track hours, schedule shifts, and streamline the performance review process.
- Simplify hiring new employees and help them get set up quickly with recruitment and onboarding features.
- Automate payroll and reduce errors.
Limitations
- A few users mention occasional bugs in the mobile app.
- Some have experienced slow responses from customer service.
Pricing
- Starts at $4.50 per month, per user. Contact for a custom quote.
💡 Key takeaway: Factorial is a solid pick for businesses that want to streamline their HR tasks and give their employees an easier way to manage things like pay and time off. A friendly tip — use it on a desktop rather than the mobile app because there can be occasional glitches and issues.
Summary
Each of these talent management tools comes with a range of advantages and a few drawbacks. What's important is finding the one that clicks for you.
For me, the learning curve was a big deal — I didn’t want to waste time dealing with a confusing, clunky interface where I had no idea where to start.
I tried a couple of them and Kadar won me from the first moment of use. But of course, first impression is not always the measure, so I decided to stick with it a little longer, and now it’s a key part of my workflow. It’s super intuitive and makes managing talent so much easier. From hiring to tracking performance, it really saves me.
My advice? Try out a few for yourself. See which one truly makes a difference in how you work. If it saves you time, speeds things up, and helps you stay organized, congrats — you’ve found your perfect match.
