Betterworks vs. UKG
UKG maintains the system of record.
Betterworks powers performance.
UKG works well as a system of record — payroll, compliance, scheduling. Running performance inside it means manual calibration, bolt-on feedback, and goals set and forgotten. Betterworks integrates directly with UKG, keeping it your system of record, while giving teams a performance platform built for enterprise scale.
Over two million employees run performance on Betterworks
4.5 on Gartner
Good enough isn't the same as good
The old way
UKG doesn't create the engagement
UKG Performance comes bundled with the HCM suite most organizations already use for payroll and workforce management. It helps document reviews, goals, and talent processes — but it doesn't create the engagement or flexibility needed to drive performance year-round.
The Betterworks way
Betterworks was purpose-built for performance
Goals, feedback, calibration, and talent decisions work together in one platform — so performance drives business execution continuously, not just a process HR runs periodically. It runs alongside UKG, not instead of it — so your system of record stays exactly where it is.
Where Betterworks leads
Four places the difference shows up
01
Calibration your HR team can actually run
Calibration should help leaders make evidence-based, consistent talent decisions. In UKG, calibration is more manual and less flexible, often requiring spreadsheets or offline facilitation to support common talent review processes.
Explore CalibrationWhy Betterworks
Betterworks lets HR run calibration cycles anytime, with any box configuration, 25+ configurable talent fields, audit history, and outcomes that write back to the talent profile — so decisions are easier to run, explain, and trust.
01
85%
OKR adoption in the first 45 days
02
Goals connected to real work
Goals should drive execution throughout the year, not live as documentation for review season. In UKG, goals can be created and cascaded, but they're not connected to the systems where work gets done.
Explore Goals & OKRsWhy Betterworks
OKRs sync automatically through Salesforce, Jira, Asana, and Google Sheets, with AI Goal Assist keeping goals relevant and connected to check-ins, feedback, and reviews all year.
02
03
AI embedded in the performance workflow
AI should reduce manager effort and improve the quality of performance conversations. UKG's AI investment is more broadly focused across the HCM suite, with limited support inside everyday performance workflows.
Explore AI for HRWhy Betterworks
AI is embedded across goals, feedback, reviews, 1:1s, and talent profiles — running on Betterworks' own private infrastructure, and opt-in so admins control rollout.
03
04
Performance in the flow of work
Performance only creates value when managers and employees engage with it throughout the year — not just during review season. In UKG, rigid workflows and disconnected experiences create friction that limits adoption.
Explore Performance ManagementWhy Betterworks
Designed for continuous engagement with flow-of-work integrations, AI assistance, connected goals, and simple workflows that make performance easier to adopt across the organization — helping teams stay aligned, managers take action, and leaders drive better business outcomes.
04
How Betterworks compares to UKG
Betterworks
vs
UKG
Goals & OKRs
Betterworks
UKG
Calibration
Betterworks
UKG
Performance reviews
Betterworks
UKG
360 / continuous feedback
Betterworks
UKG
AI in the performance workflow
Betterworks
UKG
Reporting & analytics
Betterworks
UKG
Flow-of-work integrations
Betterworks
UKG
Compensation management
Betterworks
UKG
Trusted by scaling teams turning
performance into impact
Leading organizations use Betterworks to connect goals, feedback, skills, and talent intelligence — helping HR leaders improve alignment, support managers, and make better decisions.
“Partnering with Betterworks has allowed us to enable year-round performance conversations with our workforce. A dynamic platform where we can modify goals, track progress, and get feedback on a regular basis.”
Humera Shahid
VP of Talent Development, Intuit
“Betterworks is helping us build a culture of regular 1:1 conversations, ongoing feedback and recognition, and goals aligned to our common objectives”
Dolça Freixes Pascual
Talent & Culture Advisor, Ferrer
“Betterworks has helped define employee-manager expectations on both business and behavioral outcomes, leading to increased efficiency and engagement, stronger collaboration, and higher morale.”
Sanjana Sambantham
HR Application Specialist, Collinson
“We wanted to ensure there is transparency, visibility, and alignment across the firm for all the big, audacious goals that matter to us, and we realized that Betterworks is one of the best platforms that can help us turn this philosophy into reality for our employees.”
Vincy Philip
Vice President, Organization Design & Talent Development, Arcesium
98%
completion rates for reviews
“The partnership was very clear, right from the first person I spoke with. There’s a whole team working together to help us succeed — and that’s been true from the support we received through integration to the support we receive today from our client success manager.”
Andrea Malec
Manager of Talent Management and Development, The Driving Force Group of Companies
88%
Employee Role Clarity
“The Betterworks platform has given us the tools to streamline engagement, and it doesn’t feel like a chore. Employees can come in, get it done, and move on knowing that they’ve done what they needed to do to the right level.”
Matthew Meech
Talent Development Manager, LivePerson
75%
Faster Feedback Delivery
“Betterworks has helped us see where we are in relation to our goals, pressure ourselves to think differently, and to be honest with ourselves. …Betterworks helped show us we were not where we needed to be, and more importantly, to understand why we were not there. ”
Mónica Monserrat Cabrera Solís
Manager of Corporate Strategy, Grupo Posadas
97%
OKR Adoption
Experts along the way
Named experts, not a help center. For every customer.
Every Betterworks customer gets a named Program Architect and a designated CSM — with a custom SOW, defined success metrics, and executive business reviews built in from day one.
Our implementation team includes organizational psychologists and change management specialists averaging 10+ years of experience, with 2 months of hypercare support standard after go-live.
Implementation isn't a handoff. It's the start of an ongoing partnership.
90+
Implementation NPS Score
14+
Average years of HR experience on the implementation team
187,000
Largest employee count implemented
Everything Integrated
No need to rip and replace
Already running UKG for payroll, scheduling, and workforce operations? Betterworks integrates directly with UKG, so it stays your system of record while Betterworks becomes the engine behind how your people actually perform.
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Works alongside UKG Ready and UKG Pro
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Key data flows between systems
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No disruption to workforce operations, payroll, or compliance
Ready to get started?
Connect with a Betterworks Expert
We can help your organization drive business impact through performance.
Self-guided product tour
See how Betterworks connects goals, feedback, skills, and talent intelligence.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Is UKG good for performance management?
UKG is a strong system of record for payroll, scheduling, and compliance. Organizations often outgrow its performance capabilities as they look for more flexible calibration, continuous goal management, richer reporting, and AI embedded throughout the performance workflow. Betterworks was built specifically to support those needs while integrating directly with UKG.
What's the best UKG alternative for performance management?
Betterworks is purpose-built for performance and talent intelligence — with configurable calibration, connected goals, and AI across the entire workflow — and integrates directly with UKG so it can remain your system of record.
Can Betterworks work alongside UKG?
Yes. Betterworks integrates with UKG so you don't have to choose between them. UKG stays your system of record for payroll and workforce operations, while Betterworks becomes your dedicated performance and talent intelligence layer.
How is Betterworks different from HRIS performance modules?
Platforms like UKG are built first for payroll, compliance, and workforce operations, with performance included as part of that suite. Betterworks was built specifically for performance and talent decisions — because how people execute is just as strategic to the business as the workforce data itself.
Does Betterworks replace UKG?
Not entirely — and it doesn't need to. Betterworks replaces UKG's performance module specifically: goals, feedback, reviews, calibration, and talent decisions. UKG stays in place as your system of record for payroll, scheduling, and compliance.
Is Betterworks built for enterprise organizations?
Yes. Betterworks supports mid-market and enterprise organizations, including those with large frontline and hourly workforces, with role-based access, localization in 29 languages, and enterprise-grade security.
