The Ultimate Guide to OKR Software: How to Choose the Right Tool for Your Business

You’re a startup or scale-up, and you know how crucial it is to keep your team aligned with your company’s objectives. You’ve already implemented OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) but realized that managing them efficiently is a different challenge. Relying on spreadsheets and manual updates can quickly become overwhelming as your team grows and projects multiply.

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That’s why dedicated OKR software exists. 

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OKR software is designed to simplify the process of setting, tracking, and achieving objectives. But with so many tools available, how do you choose the right one for your business? This guide will help you navigate the options. Let’s get right into it. 

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What is OKR Software?

OKR software is designed to help organizations define, track, and manage their Objectives and Key Results (OKRs). It centralizes the OKR process, allowing businesses to set clear goals, assign ownership, and monitor progress in real time.

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By using OKR software, teams can align their individual goals with the company’s objectives. This alignment ensures that everyone is working toward the same outcomes, helping to keep the company focused and on track. Additionally, most OKR software automates many tedious tasks involved in manual OKR management, like progress tracking, updating key results, and setting reminders for regular check-ins.

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Why Your Business Needs OKR Software

You’ve probably tried using spreadsheets or basic project management tools to track your OKRs. Maybe it worked for a while. But as your team grows and projects expand, you’ll likely encounter some familiar problems: missed updates, lack of alignment, and endless manual follow-ups.

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That’s why using OKR software isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential.

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The Problems with Manual Tracking

Without dedicated OKR software, managing objectives and key results becomes a hassle:

• Time-Consuming Updates: Updating OKRs across spreadsheets manually takes valuable time that could be better spent on actual progress.

• Lack of Alignment: It’s hard to ensure everyone works towards the same goals when updates are scattered, and team progress isn’t visible in one place.

• Missed Deadlines: When teams don’t have a centralized way to track progress, it’s easy to lose sight of deadlines or key results that aren’t on track.

• Inconsistent Follow-Ups: Without automatic reminders or check-ins, someone always has to chase after team members for updates, which can be frustrating and inefficient.

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The Benefits of OKR Software

OKR software helps solve these challenges by providing an all-in-one solution to manage, track, and update OKRs. Here’s why your business needs it:

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Efficiency: No more chasing team members for updates. OKR software automates much of the process—tracking progress, sending reminders, and updating dashboards.

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Alignment: A dedicated OKR tool ensures that every team member is aligned with your company’s most important goals. Everyone can see how their work contributes to the bigger picture.

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Real-Time Monitoring: OKR software allows you to monitor progress in real time. Instead of waiting for the next quarterly review to spot roadblocks, you’ll get early warnings when an objective is off track.

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Visibility: Transparency is key to achieving OKRs. With OKR software, leaders and team members can see exactly where they stand, making it easy to address bottlenecks or celebrate wins.

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Scalability: OKR software grows with you. Whether you’re a team of five or 200, it provides the structure to manage OKRs efficiently, regardless of size.

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Key Features to Look for in OKR Software

Let’s face it. There are many OKR software solutions in the market. So which one do you choose? To make sure you select a tool that works for your team’s specific needs, here are the key features to prioritize when evaluating OKR software:

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1. Easy-to-Use Interface

A complicated tool can be a barrier to getting started. Look for OKR software that’s intuitive and simple to use so your team can jump right in without a steep learning curve. Your OKR software should make it easy for anyone on your team—regardless of technical skill—to set and update objectives.

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2. Real-Time Progress Tracking

The ability to monitor progress in real time is crucial. Good OKR software will allow you to instantly see how far along you are with each objective and whether key results are on track, off track, or at risk. Real-time tracking gives you the insight to make data-driven adjustments and avoid potential bottlenecks.

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3. Goal Alignment and Cascading

One of the main benefits of OKRs is aligning individual, team, and company-wide objectives. Look for OKR software that offers cascading goals, meaning higher-level objectives are broken down into smaller, actionable key results for teams and individuals. This ensures that everyone is working toward the same company vision.

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4. Automated Check-Ins and Reminders

No one wants to chase after team members for updates constantly. Your OKR software should automate the process by sending reminders for regular check-ins and prompting team members to update their progress. This ensures consistency in tracking and ensures nothing falls through the cracks.

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5. Integration with Other Tools

Suppose your team already uses project management, communication, or task-tracking tools like Slack, Asana, Jira, or Google Workspace. In that case, finding OKR software that integrates seamlessly with them is important. This allows you to track OKRs without switching between multiple platforms, saving time and reducing friction.

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6. Analytics and Reporting

To get the most out of your OKR process, you need the ability to track performance over time. Advanced OKR software includes built-in analytics and reporting features so you can measure how well teams perform against their objectives. This will help you identify areas for improvement and celebrate wins.

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7. Scalability

Your OKR tool needs to grow with your business. As your company expands, the OKR software should accommodate more users, teams, and objectives without sacrificing ease of use. Scalability is crucial for long-term success.

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Comparing Popular OKR Software Options

With so many OKR software options available, choosing the right one for your business can be difficult. In this section, we’ll compare some of the most popular OKR tools on the market, outlining their strengths and weaknesses to help you make an informed decision.

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Loach

Loach is designed specifically for startups and scale-ups. It offers a simple and intuitive interface that makes setting, tracking, and updating OKRs easy. It’s built to grow with your company, and its focus on automation helps keep teams aligned without the need for manual check-ins.

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Unique Features:

• Automated reminders and check-ins to ensure consistent progress tracking.
• Real-time reporting and analytics that give you deep insights into performance.
• Built-in task management features that allow you to assign tasks directly from OKRs.

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Pricing: Loach offers a freemium model, allowing up to 5 users for free. Paid plans start at just €2.99 per user, making it one of the most affordable OKR tools for small teams.

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Best for Startups and small businesses looking for a cost-effective, user-friendly OKR solution that’s easy to implement and grows with their needs.

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Perdoo

Perdoo is a well-established OKR platform that focuses on aligning strategy and execution through goal management. It’s designed to help companies set and track OKRs and cascade them throughout the organization.

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Unique Features:

• Roadmaps and KPIs: Besides OKR tracking, Perdoo includes features like strategic roadmaps and key performance indicators (KPIs) to give a more holistic view of company performance.
• OKR Coaching: Perdoo provides access to OKR coaching and learning materials, helping teams implement OKRs effectively.
• Custom OKR Templates: Users can access customizable OKR templates to streamline the goal-setting process.

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Pricing: Perdoo offers a free plan for up to 5 users, with paid plans starting at around €6.40 per user per month, with a minimum of 10 users, depending on the features needed.

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It is best for larger companies and teams looking for a comprehensive tool that includes OKR tracking and broader strategic alignment features like roadmaps and KPIs.

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Tability

Tability is a lightweight OKR and goal-tracking tool that simplifies the goal-setting process. It focuses on helping teams stay aligned and productive. It stands out by using AI to assist in writing clear and actionable OKRs, making goal-setting easier and more effective.

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Unique Features:

• AI-Generated Goals: Tability’s AI feature helps users craft better, more specific goals, ensuring alignment with the company’s broader objectives. This feature makes creating actionable and measurable OKRs easier, which is essential for tracking progress effectively.
• Standups: Tability allows teams to conduct quick daily check-ins. This keeps everyone focused and on track throughout the week without overwhelming them with unnecessary updates.
• Progress Snapshots: The platform offers visual progress snapshots, allowing users to see how close they are to achieving their objectives at any time.

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Pricing: Tability starts at $4 per month per seat, with a minimum of 10 seats required to get started. Additionally, they offer a 14-day free trial, allowing teams to experience the tool before committing.

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This solution is best for Small—to mid-sized teams looking for a straightforward OKR solution that uses AI to streamline goal setting and includes daily check-ins to maintain focus.

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How to Choose the Right OKR Software for Your Business

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Choosing the right OKR software isn’t a one-size-fits-all decision. Each business has unique goals, team size, and operational challenges. To help you make the best choice, here are the key factors you should consider when evaluating OKR software:

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1. Define Your Business Needs

The first step is understanding what your business needs from an OKR tool. Are you a startup looking for a simple, intuitive platform to get your team on the same page? Or maybe you’re a scale-up that needs advanced features like real-time analytics and deep integration with existing tools.

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Ask yourself questions like:

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• How complex are your OKRs?
• Do you need the ability to manage both individual and company-wide goals?
• Are you looking for something that integrates with your existing tools, like project management or communication platforms?

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Knowing what problems you’re trying to solve will help you narrow down your choices.

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2. Consider Your Team Size and Growth Plans

Your company’s current size and projected growth are important factors when choosing OKR software. What works for a small startup may not necessarily scale as your business expands.

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If you’re a small team, you’ll want a tool that’s easy to set up and use without much complexity. However, as you grow, your needs will change. Look for OKR software that can grow with you, offering flexibility regarding the number of users and the ability to handle more complex goal structures.

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3. Look for Ease of Use

The best OKR software should be easy for your entire team, not just your managers, to adopt and use. It should have an intuitive interface that even non-tech-savvy team members can navigate effortlessly. Tools with clean dashboards, clear instructions, and minimal setup time will ensure higher user engagement.

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After all, OKRs only work when everyone is using the system consistently.

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4. Budget

Startups and small businesses often need to be mindful of their budget, so balancing features with cost is important. Luckily, many OKR tools, like Loach, offer freemium models or affordable pricing tiers that allow you to get started without significant upfront investment.

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When considering your budget, consider the long-term value. Free tools are great, but sometimes, paying a small monthly fee can unlock crucial features like automated check-ins, real-time tracking, and reporting—features could save your team valuable time and keep them focused on key objectives.

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5. Test It

Finally, always test the software before committing. Most OKR platforms, including Loach, offer free trials or freemium models, so you can get a feel for how the tool works before deciding. This trial period allows you to see if the software fits your workflow, aligns with your business needs, and is intuitive for your team.

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Conclusion

Choosing the right OKR software can make all the difference in keeping your team aligned, tracking progress effectively, and driving meaningful results for your business. From ensuring real-time updates to simplifying the process of managing objectives, the right tool will streamline your workflows and scale your business as it grows.

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By understanding your team’s needs, evaluating the key features that matter most, and testing various options, you can select an OKR software that truly supports your goals. And if you’re looking for a solution that combines simplicity, affordability, and powerful features, Loach is built with startups and small businesses in mind.

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With Loach, you can manage your OKRs and initiatives in one place, automate check-ins, and track progress in real time—all without breaking the bank. Best of all, you can start for free today and see how it transforms your OKR process.

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Take the next step toward better OKR management and start with Loach for free now.