AKQA vs ASUS vs Betterworks: Which Is Right for You in 2026?
These three end up grouped together by category tag, not by competition — they don't serve the same buyer or solve the same problem. AKQA is a project-based…
subscription · From $8/user/month (Performance plan)
Best for: HR and people teams needing OKR goal-setting, continuous feedback, and performance review software.
At a Glance
AKQA
ASUS
Betterworks
Primary category
HR
HR
HR
Rating
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Pricing model
custom
custom
subscription
Starting price
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$8/user/month (Performance plan)
Free plan
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Free trial
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Platforms
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Team collaboration
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AI features
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Public API
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Standout Differences
Three different purchases, three different budgets
AKQA is billed as custom agency engagements, ASUS sells physical hardware products, and Betterworks is a per-seat SaaS subscription starting around $8/user/month on its Performance plan. There's no realistic scenario where a buyer chooses between all three for the same line item.
AKQA, ASUS, Betterworks
The only real HR platform of the three
Of these, only Betterworks functions as HR software — combining OKR goal-setting, continuous feedback, performance reviews, calibration, and talent intelligence into one system, priced as a subscription.
Betterworks
Agency work vs. manufactured hardware
AKQA, part of WPP's AKQA Group alongside Grey, delivers custom project-based creative and innovation work for major brands. ASUS designs and manufactures consumer and enterprise hardware, from laptops to ROG gaming gear. Neither one sells self-serve software at all, so neither competes with Betterworks either.
AKQA, ASUS
Feature-by-Feature
What You're Actually Buying
Feature
AKQA
ASUS
Betterworks
Self-serve SaaS subscription
Unavailable
Unavailable
Available
Custom, project-based agency engagement
Available
Unavailable
Unavailable
Physical hardware products
Unavailable
Available
Unavailable
Published starting price
Unavailable
Unavailable
Available
HR Functionality
Feature
AKQA
ASUS
Betterworks
OKR / goal-setting
Unavailable
Unavailable
Available
Performance reviews & calibration
Unavailable
Unavailable
Available
Continuous feedback tools
Unavailable
Unavailable
Available
Pricing Compared
Starting price reflects the lowest paid tier, not the full cost for every team size or usage level.
AKQA
No individual plan breakdown documented yet.
ASUS
No individual plan breakdown documented yet.
Betterworks
Performance — $8/user/month Per user, per month
Performance + Talent Intelligence — $9/user/month Per user, per month
Enterprise — Custom Custom
Pros & Cons
AKQA
Pros
Three decades of experience working with major global brands
Deep bench of design, technology, and strategy talent under one roof
Backing and resources of WPP, one of the world's largest marketing holding companies
Broad service range spanning design, technology, and communications in a single engagement
Long list of blue-chip clients including many Fortune 500 companies
Cons
Not a self-serve product, so there is no published pricing or fixed plans
Project-based engagements typically require significant budget, out of reach for small businesses
Ownership and leadership structure have changed multiple times, including the 2012 WPP acquisition, the 2020 Grey merger, and the founder's 2024 departure
Onboarding and engagement timelines are longer than adopting a SaaS tool
Client experience can vary by office and by the specific team assigned to an account
Choose Betterworks: HR and people teams needing OKR goal-setting, continuous feedback, and performance review software.
AKQA
Enterprise digital transformation — Large brands hire AKQA for end-to-end digital product design and build projects.
Global brand and ecommerce experience design — Marketing and ecommerce teams at major companies engage AKQA for brand and shopping experience design.
Innovation and emerging technology consulting — Enterprises work with AKQA's innovation labs to explore AI and immersive experience concepts.
ASUS
Building or buying a gaming PC — Gamers use ROG-branded motherboards, graphics cards, laptops, and monitors to build high-performance gaming systems.
Everyday computing and productivity — Consumers and professionals buy ZenBook and VivoBook laptops for general productivity, study, and creative work.
System integration and IT procurement — System builders and IT departments source ASUS motherboards, components, and networking hardware at scale.
Betterworks
Enterprise OKR Alignment — Large organizations use Betterworks to cascade company strategy into team and individual OKRs with real-time tracking.
Connected Performance Reviews — HR teams tie goal progress and continuous feedback directly into structured performance review cycles.
Succession and Talent Planning — People analytics teams use calibration and succession planning tools to make consistent talent decisions across the company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do AKQA, ASUS, and Betterworks actually compete with each other?
No. They're grouped under the same category tag but serve entirely different markets: AKQA is a digital design and advertising agency selling custom engagements, ASUS manufactures computer hardware, and Betterworks is HR performance management software sold as a subscription. A buyer evaluating one of these almost never needs to evaluate the other two as alternatives.
Which of these three is actually HR software?
Only Betterworks. It's an enterprise performance management platform combining OKR goal-setting, continuous feedback, performance reviews, calibration, and talent intelligence in one system, priced from about $8/user/month on its Performance plan.
What does AKQA offer, exactly?
AKQA is a global digital design, innovation, and advertising agency founded in 1994 by Ajaz Ahmed. It now operates as part of WPP's AKQA Group alongside Grey, serving major brands through custom, project-based engagements rather than off-the-shelf software — there's no self-serve product or published pricing.
What does ASUS make?
ASUS is a Taiwanese multinational technology company that designs and manufactures laptops, desktops, motherboards, graphics cards, monitors, and networking gear, along with its ROG gaming brand. It's a hardware manufacturer, not a software vendor, so it has no meaningful overlap with either AKQA or Betterworks.
How much does Betterworks cost?
Betterworks is a subscription product with its Performance plan starting at $8/user/month, making it the only one of these three with a published, self-serve-style starting price — AKQA and ASUS pricing is custom and engagement- or product-specific.