In the world of sales performance management, incentive compensation is both mission-critical and notoriously complex. For many organizations, Xactly has long been seen as the gold standard — a mature platform with deep capabilities that has served large enterprises well. But as market needs evolve, other tools are worth considering too, each with their own strengths and tradeoffs.

1. Anaplan for Sales Performance Management

Main features

• Highly flexible modeling: Allows complex, multi-dimensional compensation models to be built with configuration rather than hard coding.
• Connected planning: Integrates comp planning with broader enterprise planning functions (financial planning, workforce planning, etc.).
• Scenario analysis: Powerful what-if modeling helps organizations see how plan changes impact spend and behaviors before deployment.

Strengths

• Excellent for companies that want to unify compensation planning with larger operational models.
• Strong collaborative capabilities across Finance, Sales Operations, and HR.

Considerations

• Typically requires more specialized modeling expertise.
• Implementation and maintenance can be resource-intensive.
• Best suited for larger enterprise environments with established planning functions.
  
  

2. Varicent

Main features

• Dedicated incentive compensation management (ICM): A long-standing platform focused on payouts and plan administration.
• Advanced analytics: Built-in dashboards and reporting to provide insights into plan performance and attainment.
• Role-based configuration: Supports complex role hierarchies and rules based on territory, product, and team structure.

Strengths

• Robust feature set for managing mid- to large-enterprise compensation complexity.
• Good integration support across CRMs and general ledgers.

Considerations

• Deployment and rule configuration can require significant consulting support.
• Version upgrades and customizations may introduce project risk and cost.
  
  

3. Performio

Main features

• Rules-based engine: Configurable logic for splits, overrides, accelerators, and clawbacks.
• Dashboards and quota tracking: Provides visibility into attainment and earnings for reps and managers.
• Integrations and automation: Connectivity with CRM, billing, and HR systems to automate data flows.

Strengths

• A more mid-market oriented ICM tool with strong configurability.
• Usable without deep developer resources.
  
  

Considerations

• More focused on payouts than holistic performance visibility.
• Reporting and analytics can be less intuitive for non-technical users.
  
  

Xactly — The Established Leader

It’s worth acknowledging why many organizations start their evaluations with Xactly Incent:

• Mature platform: Years of product evolution tailored to large, complex compensation environments.
• Broad ecosystem: Integrations, partner network, and professional services support.
• Deep audit and compliance controls: Important for regulated industries and large scale enterprises.
  
  

Xactly excels when an organization needs enterprise-grade scale and proven industry strength — and its feature set is a benchmark for the category.

So Where Does EasyComp Fit In?

If Xactly is the benchmark for established enterprise compensation systems, then EasyComp is the answer for fast-moving teams that want enterprise-caliber confidence without the enterprise overhead. EasyComp was designed with modern teams in mind and addresses the key pain points that many companies experience with traditional ICM tools:

1. Transparency That Builds Trust

Unlike platforms where payout logic becomes a “black box,” EasyComp surfaces why each number is what it is. Reps, managers, and Finance all see deal linkages, rule logic, and math, which dramatically reduces disputes and shadow accounting.

2. Quick Time to Value

EasyComp can be configured and deployed in days, not weeks or months. For growing teams that can’t afford long implementation cycles, this is a huge advantage.

3. Automation Without Complexity

EasyComp handles complex compensation features — splits, overrides, accelerators, clawbacks, and exceptions — without requiring deep technical expertise to maintain. Modern rule logic is both powerful and auditable.

4. Real-Time Visibility

Where traditional systems often operate on batch cycles, EasyComp delivers near-real-time calculations and dashboards. When performance data feeds change, payouts update quickly — enabling reps and leaders to stay aligned.

5. Designed for the Modern Stack

EasyComp integrates directly with CRMs, billing systems, and other core operational data sources via APIs, eliminating manual exports and reconciliation time. Instead of spending hours gathering inputs, teams spend time on analysis and strategy.

Choosing the Right Tool for Your Needs

Every platform has a role depending on your organization’s size, complexity, and maturity:

• Xactly — Best for large enterprises needing deep compliance and broad ecosystem support.
• Anaplan — Best when compensation planning must be fully integrated with broader enterprise planning.
• Varicent — Strong option for organizations needing a mature ICM system with robust analytics.
• Performio — Good choice for mid-market teams needing core comp automation with moderate complexity.
• EasyComp — Ideal for modern revenue teams that need transparency, speed of deployment, easy maintenance, and real-time confidence without the overhead of legacy systems.
  
  

Final Thoughts

Sales compensation technology has changed. Companies that still rely on spreadsheets or slow, opaque systems aren’t just inefficient — they’re introducing unnecessary risk and friction into one of their most important processes.

Modern revenue teams need systems that are accurate, transparent, and adaptable.

If you’re evaluating alternatives to Xactly and want a platform that delivers clarity, confidence, and speed, EasyComp is built to help.