Best 360 feedback tools 

Giving and receiving feedback should be a natural part of working within a team. While we’re used to hearing feedback from direct managers, there’s another valuable source of insights — your peers.

‍Feedback from peers, also known as 360 degree feedback, enables employees to grow and allows employers to understand an individual’s impact more fully. But it’s not easy to set up this process alone. That’s where 360 feedback tools come in.

In this guide, we’re sharing our recommendations on the best 360 feedback tools available in 2024. It includes software designed for companies of all sizes — including our best picks for small businesses.

How we built this shortlist of the best 360 feedback tools

Before diving into research, I spoke to our in-house HR experts Yasmin Lord-Pottinger and Alisa Mistry to find out more about what HR professionals are looking for in 360 feedback software. They've both worked with lots of small businesses and have a good understanding of what’s essential versus nice to have.

‍Our conversation surfaced plenty of great 360 feedback (and multi-rater feedback) tool suggestions — including those they’ve talked about in conversations, found at events, or seen talked about on industry forums.

With a list of expert suggestions at the ready, I set out to understand what HR professionals, founders and CEOs are looking for when it comes to leadership development tools that feature 360 feedback. What I came away with was a list of five key areas that matter the most for small businesses, and it’s these areas that influenced the creation of this list.

In a hurry? Grab our simple comparison spreadsheet of the software tools on this list.

1- Ease of use

One of the most important aspects of any software tool is that it’s easy to use. That’s especially true for small businesses, where you’re often juggling multiple roles and different types of software.

HR software tools, including 360 feedback tools, that are simple and user-friendly rise to the top of the list. Any software that your team members can just pick up and use, instead of sitting through a complicated learning process, stands out as a winner.

2- Pricing

Cost is often a concern for small businesses, where you want to make sure you’re getting the best value possible for the money you spend.

There’s a huge variety in pricing plans and subscription costs when it comes to HR software tools. I’ve prioritised software tools that feel affordable, so you can find a suitable option no matter what your budget is.

3- Anonymous responses

A much-requested feature is the option to leave anonymous feedback. When you work in a small team, you want to know that the feedback you’re sharing will be treated as anonymously as possible. I’ve chosen to include 360 feedback software tools that allow for anonymous feedback and are suitable for businesses with smaller teams.

4- Customisable

It’s useful to have pre-made templates and expertly-written questions so you don’t have to start from scratch. But alongside this, small business leaders expressed a desire to be able to add custom questions and personalise the experience — something I definitely agree is important.

5- Customer support

Hopefully nothing goes wrong with your HR software, but when it does you want to be able to speak to someone and resolve your issue quickly. The best tools in the industry have a support team readily available to tackle issues and fix any problems you encounter — ideally at any time of day, but at least within UK business hours.

6- Reviews

You can read as many sales and product pages as you like, but they’ll only tell you what’s great about the software. You also want to know what isn’t so impressive, and how real users experience the product. I’ve examined user reviews to understand how each platform performs, and chosen to highlight tools with generally positive reviews. 

A 360 feedback tool guide you can trust

You might be wondering what makes our guide different, and why you can trust us. After all, we do offer a 360 feedback feature within Charlie.

As a product manager, I spend a good amount of my time researching our competitors and putting together comparison documents to find out how we can improve our features. Instead of hiding this research away, I’ve decided to share it with you so you can make an informed decision on the best software for your business.

While I do believe that Charlie offers the best product for UK based small businesses — as you’re exactly who we’ve designed our features for — it’s also important to consider what else is available. That’s why we’ve fairly listed some of the other tools out there, along with the pros and cons of each.

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Get more value from your review process with the HR software tool designed for small businesses

Collecting employee feedback from peers as well as managers makes perfect sense. It allows you to build a more accurate picture of someone’s capabilities, strengths, weaknesses, and progress. Use this guide to help you find a 360 feedback tool to match your needs and start enjoying the benefits of an easier process.

‍If you want to streamline your performance management process in a way that was designed with small businesses in mind, try Charlie. Our HR software was built for UK small businesses and our 360 feedback feature includes both pre-made templates and the ability to customise — giving you flexibility to run the process in your own way.

‍Take a free trial of Charlie today and discover how our software can help you not only with performance management and feedback, but all of your HR operations.

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360 Feedback software tools: FAQs

We hope this guide has helped you find the right 360 feedback tool for your small business. If you still have questions, chances are we’ve answered them below. Here are the most frequently asked questions about 360 feedback and related software tools.

What is a 360 feedback tool?

A 360 feedback tool is an HR software tool that makes the process of planning, facilitating, and reviewing feedback from multiple people easier.

360 reviews — also known as peer reviews or peer feedback — are the process of getting coworkers and team members involved in the performance review process. Instead of only a manager giving feedback, colleagues instead are also invited to share their perspectives. This gives a more holistic view of different development areas and helps combat any unintended bias.

360 feedback tools combine automation, workflows, and templates to give users a more consistent approach to feedback. It turns what can be an admin-heavy process into one that’s less time-consuming.

How do I create a 360 feedback tool without having to spend money?

While we recommend using software to collect feedback and automate processes, we understand that not everyone is in a position to invest in software straight away. If you’re looking for a free alternative, use our 360 feedback template to create your own DIY version using feedback survey software you already have access to.

Why should I invest in a 360 degree feedback tool? 

There are so many great reasons to invest in software that speeds up and simplifies the 360 feedback process. These include:

• Less admin: thanks to templates and automated workflows, the entire process is less time-intensive — ideal for busy human resources professionals
  
• A more holistic view: peer feedback allows you to build a full picture of someone’s experiences at work, compared to a traditional performance review
  
• Promotes self-awareness: asking individuals to take part in self-assessment as part of the process is a useful exercise, alongside personal development plans
  
• Focuses on continuous feedback: introducing a peer feedback system encourages everyone to get involved in the process, and helps create a culture where feedback is welcome
  

Is 360 feedback outdated?

Some people say that 360 feedback is outdated, but it can still have its place in today’s workplace as a way to evaluate employee performance and promote career development. As long as you move through the review process swiftly, this type of peer-to-peer feedback can be a valuable way to collect insights from across the team.

How long should 360 feedback take?

One problem with feedback processes is how long they take to complete. A 360 feedback cycle should take no longer than 1-3 weeks. This gives everyone enough time to answer the questionnaires and contribute fully.

How many people should give 360 feedback?

The number of people involved in the process depends on how many employees you have within the team, department, and organisation. In larger companies, between 7-10 raters is a good number. For a smaller company, you might find 3-5 a more appropriate figure to collect enough actionable feedback.

Does 360 feedback need to be anonymous?

To get the most out of the process, any feedback given should be anonymous. This means that everyone can speak honestly about their experiences and give constructive feedback to anyone — even their manager or a senior leader.

What are the disadvantages of 360 feedback?

360 or multi-rater feedback is a useful way to gather lots of feedback about an individual all at once. It does, however, have some disadvantages. The main disadvantages of 360 feedback include a lack of ways to monitor (and follow up on) anonymous feedback, the length of time it takes to complete feedback reports, and the difficulty involved in running the process effectively.