15 Best Employee Recognition Platforms 2025 (We've Tested 40+)
We tested 44 employee recognition platforms in total, 15 options convinced us they were the best. Here are detailed comparisons and reviews of each.
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Employee recognition programs handle can handle all types of recognition via personalized messages, custom peer-nominated awards, automated milestone celebrations, and more.
We picked 44 of the most promising vendors in the market and put them to the test. Our favorites are effective in their own right. Whether you’re looking for the top employee recognition platforms for your small business or global company, this guide has all the best options for every type of organization.
To choose the best employee recognition program companies, our experts conducted demos with all tested vendors, tried each option themselves from different user roles, and gathered input from those who use these tools day in, day out. In short, we follow strictly our HR Tech vetting methodology.
We have rated each tool’s performance on a multitude of factors, and the following three were considered the most important for this software type:
- Peer-to-peer recognition: The best employee recognition software empowers your team members to recognize one another for wins, project completions, or simply being awesome colleagues. This feature is often enhanced with functions like automated reminders, nominations, or voting, and the ability to share recognition across other platforms like Slack, Teams, and LinkedIn.
- Custom recognition options: Besides predefined alerts for known milestones like start dates and birthdays, best-in-class employee recognition software should give you some freedom to add a personal touch by tailoring recognition program ideas to specific recipients.
- Reporting and analytics: Sophisticated reporting and analytics capabilities are a hallmark of top recognition platforms. They help you monitor the effectiveness of your recognition program and give you insights into engagement, recognition trends, and participation rates.
Noticing these key criteria are similar to those of employee rewards systems? Good eyes! It’s no coincidence, though, because the best employee recognition software usually excels in the rewards too.
Motivosity
Motivosity helps you take employee experience to a new level via its mobile-friendly solution that incorporates straightforward recognition features, advanced reporting plus goal tracking, and eNPS into a single platform.
PROS
- Amazing user experience with mobile-friendly apps, straightforward functionalities, and easy third-party integrations with major communication tools like Slack and Teams.
- A free, basic version of their software is available for small companies.
- Free trials are offered for all paid subscriptions.
- Peer recognition with shout-outs are easy to quick to give.
- The built-in analytics provide insights on attrition risks, top performers, and coaching needs.
- Employees can access this system from their phones, desktop, and apps they are in at work such as Teams/Slack
- One platform that combines rewards, recognition, employee engagement, and more
- Built in reporting with insights around potential attrition, most recognized employees, managers that need coaching, etc.
CONS
- Several users felt constrained by the fixed monthly budget for giving recognitions. They wanted the ability to add more funds.
- Performance management features like 1:1s and coaching have been entirely removed.
- The platform lacks controls over peer recognition point distribution, allowing potential favoritism or uneven allocation.
- Only has dollar (not points) based rewards. Their research shows dollars is more effective, but many companies want points.
- Some users claimed sometimes it can be a bit buggy connecting to Slack to notify people that an appreciation came through.
- It would have broadened the number of gift card options for users to choose from.
- There could have been an easier way to integrate the software with swag stores. For now, you have to transfer funds to a card and then link that card with the swag store, which slows down a bit the process to cash in funds.
Motivosity takes employee recognition to the next level with its innovative peer-to-peer platform. We’ve given it a try and liked how easy it is to send shout-outs. We also liked how all shout-outs are posted on a customizable homepage, showing appreciation in real-time across the organization.
Motivosity's ThanksMatters digital cards empower employees to redeem their received recognition for Amazon gift cards, restaurant vouchers, or anything that appeals to them. The custom company store and integration with hundreds of vendors take care of all the logistics.
You can also use Motivosity to incentivize company-wide initiatives. We’ve found it easy to create custom badges and awards. It also does not forget about service milestones and birthdays. Individual gifts and peer celebrations through comments make employees feel valued on their special days.
However, it’s quite disappointing to find out that some good performance management features, such as 1:1s and coaching, are no longer offered. Additionally, Motivosity lacks controls over peer recognition point distribution, which can lead to favoritism or uneven allocation of points among employees.
A&W, Bosch, KPMG, Chick-fil-A, and Toyota are some of the companies that use Motivosity.
Motivosity offers its Recognition and Rewards package at $4 per employee per month. This plan encompasses a variety of tools for internal communication, rewards, awards, milestones, social connection features, and more. For a detailed breakdown of features available with each pricing tier, please visit Motivosity's pricing page.
Best For
Motivosity is especially ideal for those seeking high-quality peer-to-peer recognition software.
I use Motivosity on a daily basis, as it is a part of my routine and habit. Here are some key workflows I use it for:
Every morning, I check the social feed to see the recognitions that my colleagues and managers have sent and received. I like to read the comments and reactions, and join the conversation by adding my own.
Throughout the day, I send and receive recognitions, points, and badges for the work that I do and the work that others do. I try to align the recognitions with our core values and goals, and be specific and sincere in my messages.
Every week, I redeem my points for gift cards, perks, or donations. I like to treat myself or others with something that I or they enjoy, or support a cause that is cared about.
Every month, I review the analytics and reports that Motivosity provides. I like to see the impact of recognition on my performance, engagement, and retention. I also like to see the trends, patterns, and insights of the recognition and rewards activities.
Some of the main reasons why I like Motivosity are:
It helps me feel appreciated and valued by my colleagues and managers for my work and contributions.
It allows me to redeem my points for gift cards, perks, or donations that I enjoy or care about.
It integrates with my other tools such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, and ADP making it easy to access and use.
My organization bought Motivosity because we wanted to improve our employee engagement and retention. We had a problem with low morale, high turnover, and lack of recognition among our staff. We needed a tool that could help us create a culture of appreciation and motivation in our workplace.
I have personally used Motivosity for about six months, and I have seen a positive change in our workplace culture. I feel more appreciated and valued by my colleagues and managers. I also enjoy recognizing and rewarding others for their work. I think Motivosity is a great employee engagement platform that helps us achieve our goals and grow as a team.
Some of the main ways that Motivosity can improve or I wish it were different are:
It could offer a free trial for the upper tiers, so that potential customers can evaluate the features and benefits of the platform before purchasing.
It could improve the Android app, so that it is more stable and reliable, and has the same functionality and user experience as the iOS app.
It could provide more direct support options, such as chat, phone, or email so that customers can get faster and better assistance for their questions, issues, or feedback.
Motivosity is different from its competitors in a couple of ways. Here are some of the main differences and how it stacks up:
Motivosity has a unique feature called MVTV, which is a live stream of recognition that can be displayed on TVs, monitors, or screensavers. This feature enhances the visibility and impact of recognition in the workplace. I have not seen this feature in any other platform, and I think it is a great way to celebrate and inspire employees.
Motivosity has a flat pricing model that charges per user per month regardless of the number of users. This makes it easy to budget and scale the platform as the organization grows. Most of the other platforms have tiered pricing models that charge different rates based on the number of users or features. I prefer Motivosity's pricing model because it is affordable, transparent, and easy to use.
Employee engagement software is a type of tool that helps organizations measure and improve the engagement and satisfaction of their employees. When buying this type of tool, people should think about the following criteria:
The tool should offer features and functionality that match the organization's goals and needs for employee engagement. The tool should also be easy to use, customize, and scale.
It should have a high user adoption and feedback rate which means that most of the employees who are invited to use the tool actually use it regularly and provide feedback on their experience. This indicates that the tool is engaging, fun, and valuable for the employee.
Lastly, the tool should have a transparent and affordable pricing model that fits the organization's budget and expectations. The tool should demonstrate a clear and positive return on investment (ROI), which means that the tool helps the organization achieve its desired outcomes, such as improved performance, retention, and culture.
I have noticed two ways in which Motivosity has changed or evolved over time to meet users needs:
It has introduced new features and functionality to enhance the user experience and provide more value to the customers. For example, some of the recent additions are MVTV, a live stream of recognitions that can be displayed a number of ways; ThanksMatters Card which is a Visa card that allows users to use their Motivosity Bucks anywhere Visa is accepted; and 1 on 1's, a tool that helps managers and employees have effective and meaningful conversations.
Motivosity has expanded the integrations and partnerships to make it easier for users to access and use the platform from different platforms and tools. For example, some of the recent integrations and partnerships are Microsoft Teams, a chat and collaboration tool that allows users to send and receive recognitions, points and badges from within the app; Covver, a swag provider that allows users to redeem their points for branded merchandise; and Sweeteners, a perk provider that allows users to redeem their points for discounts and deals.
Motivosity is suitable for teams of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises, across various industries and sectors. It is especially beneficial for remote or hybrid teams, as it helps them stay connected, engaged, and motivated.
Motivosity might not be a good fit for users or organizations that:
Prefer more customization and flexibility for the recognition and rewards features, such as creating their own badges, points, or gift cards.
Require more direct support or contact options from the Motivosity team, such as chat, phone, or email, for their questions, issues, or feedback.
Nectar
Nectar really impressed us with its peer recognition program, which is so flexible and fun to work with. We also had a great time testing out multiple features of the platform, and our favorites were value-based shoutouts, customized challenges, and Amazon redeemable rewards.
PROS
- Extensive rewards, including personalized options.
- AI-powered internal communication tool with drag-and-drop editor and announcement templates.
- Consistently delivers user-requested features and product enhancements.
- A points-based system encourages peer-to-peer recognition.
- Discounts for companies with 500+ employees.
- Regularly introduces new features and enhancements to its products.
- Volume discounts available for organizations with 500+ employees.
- You pay for the rewards that are claimed. Points and allowances that remain unused won’t cost you a dime.
CONS
- There are no free trials at this time.
- The reward options are centered around gifts/gift cards, not experiences.
- It no longer discloses its pricing. A $4,000 minimum annual commitment is required.
- The priced plans are not available to start off as a self-service process. You’d have to book a demo and pay to access some of the premium features.
- The rewards selection could feel limited to some teams, especially those looking for more experiences in offer.
- No longer offer a free plan.
Nectar offers a robust yet easy-to-use solution for peer-to-peer recognition that is aligned with company values. We like how its points-based system empowers all employees, not just managers, to reward coworkers' accomplishments and behaviors.
Peer-to-peer shoutouts are shared for everyone to see via a centralized feed. As for rewards, we’ve found Nectar’s catalog to be quite comprehensive, covering several options like Amazon purchases, gift cards, charitable donations, and company swag. Employees can quickly redeem their recognition points for rewards they value. Alongside peer bonuses, Nectar supports performance-based rewards and spot bonuses from managers.
The employee recognition platform company also offers wellness features and impactful new capabilities like network analysis, which provide HR teams with visibility into cross-team recognition patterns. As a distributed team ourselves, we found the newly added internal communication tool absolutely a delight to foster transparency and help everyone stay informed.
When looking at pricing models, however, we found Nectar’s $4,000 minimum annual commitment to be higher than some competitors like Awardco’s $2,500. Compared to our last review update, it no longer discloses its pricing. And unlike Guusto or Connecteam, Nectar doesn’t provide a free trial, which makes it even harder for smaller organizations to give them a go.
Nectar is used by many recognizable brands, including Redfin, Golden State Warriors, Major League Baseball, and SHRM.
Nectar offers three pricing plans with an annual commitment of $4,000. While the recognition program vendor continues to provide three options—Plus, Premium, and Custom—it no longer publicly shares its pricing information. However, based on our research, the starting price may range from $5 to $6 per monthly employee when billed annually.
Best For
Nectar’s recognition and rewards platform is perfect for midsized companies (50-2,000 employees).
We use nectar for staff and management to reward employees exceptional work with points. Also, it is useful in terms of keeping employees connected with each other and interested in each other's work by allowing them to engage in a way similar to social media. It also was helpful for management to see areas of staff success that otherwise may go unseen, which was particularly helpful in things like formal evaluations. Since staff could comment on each other's posts, it allowed ongoing positive interaction daily to engage with teammates, learn more about each other and collaborate. It also was helpful for management to incentivize positive behaviors via tangible rewards.
I liked how it dramatically improved morale in a short time by giving tangible rewards to staff that felt stronger than just a thank you. Also, the way it connected the staff to each other and fostered collaboration and teamwork was great. I think it improved our retention too, and diminished some of the conflicts we used to see by creating a better sense of community.
We used it for 2 years. When many employees had to go remote due to covid, we were concerned about a lack of engagement and a lack of connection amongst team members. Introducing this tool improved both. It allows team members to interact and reward each other for excellent work, or for going the extra mile. It helped motivate staff to take on tasks and volunteer as they could see it was noticed and the benefits were more tangible than just a thanks. Also, it eliminated the need for staff to approach management or HR to request things like a small thank you gift and having to deal with the budgets involved. So, it has made keeping everyone connected to each other, to the company, and enthusiastic about their work much easier.
Not everyone was a fan and some staff members felt it had the potential to be a bit like a popularity contest and that the competitions it sometimes inspired were not helpful. Some managers were concerned it was too much like social media and could be a distraction. The analytics and reports could have been more in depth.
I think nectar is better than some similar tools in that its interface is really fun for staff and easy to use. I have used two such programs, and preferred nectar mainly because I saw a lot of engagement from the staff and it required very little instruction to get people up to speed on its use.
Does it make sense for the company to invest in these kinds of rewards, as it is an added cost. Also, it is important to have participation, and ideally that should be voluntary, so people should assess if this tool seems to match the culture of the company and would be well received by staff. Also, there is the possibility for some competition, which can be healthy and positive, but people should consider that and be aware and ready to discuss if staff are concerned.
The company seems to have improved its education and sharing of ideas with its users over time.
Remote companies who are concerned about employee connection, engagement and recognition will benefit. I think a young workforce in particular enjoy this kind of tool, and are used to the social media-like aspects.
I think not all older workers may enjoy it. Also, companies where a lot of the employees are very highly compensated and advanced professionals may not be as interested in these kinds of rewards and interactions.
Connecteam
Connecteam offers powerful employee recognition tools that prioritize the needs of deskless workers. With its mobile-centric design, customizable recognition options, and seamless rewards system, it’s easy for managers to celebrate their employees' successes and foster a culture of appreciation.
PROS
- Connecteam is easy to use for managers and employees.
- There are numerous gift card options employees can spend their tokens on, from apparel to tech gadgets and dining experiences.
- Shoutouts and badges can be personalized to each user so recognition is more meaningful.
- Pricing is transparent and there’s a free 14-day trial you can sign up for without needing to input your credit card info.
- One of the only fully-mobile HR tech tools for deskless workers
- Very adequately-priced for all it entails, SMB-friendly
- Quite open to feedback, having implemented user suggestions as features in the past.
CONS
- The platform's numerous features mean an inevitable learning curve for users.
- Despite the platform's excellent scalability, certain essential features are only available on higher pricing plans.
- Compared to most tools on this page, Connecteam’s employee recognition solution can’t be purchased independently; you will need to purchase the full HR & Skills hub to access recognition.
- In the communication hub, the app offers no confirmation that messages were sent and/or seen.
- Certain features that some teams consider essential, such as GPS-tracking, are only available in the higher-tier pricing plans.
Connecteam’s HR & Skills hub packs impressive recognition program features that make it easy to celebrate employees' achievements and milestones, no matter where they are.
We like how recognition is fully customizable. Managers can personalize badges for any occasion, add heartfelt messages, and share the appreciation privately or with the entire team.
What’s more, managers can brighten their employees' day by granting them digital tokens on the spot or by configuring the platform to automatically award tokens based on system usage and special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. These tokens can be redeemed for gift cards from several well-known vendors, including sportswear brands, tech giants, and restaurants.
The recognition platform's analytics dashboard provides a clear overview of how tokens are being used, including who is sending tokens, who is receiving them, and how employees are spending their rewards.
Having this level of insight isn’t just good for tracking purposes but also for managers to constantly improve their rewards and recognition strategies.
However, with the platform’s numerous features comes a learning curve for new users, which can delay initial adoption. While we appreciate the scalability of Connecteam, as a small business, we aren’t a fan of how the employee recognition solution is marketed. The offering isn’t sold separately. You’d need to purchase the full HR & Skills hub to access it.
Connecteam’s customer list boasts many recognizable brands, including Foot Locker, EY, Mango, and Caremark.
Connecteam’s pricing ranges from $29 to $99 per month, depending on the features you need. Note that this range is for 30 user seats and free plans for companies with under 10 employees are available. For more details on all plans, please visit Connecteam's Pricing page.
Best For
Connecteam is among the top employee recognition platforms for deskless and mobile-first teams.
I use the solution to connect and collaborate with the team remotely, to develop work libraries that help our new team understand how we operate, our ethics, and our code of conduct during the orientations at our workplace, I also use the tool to share documents online for the team to work and to provide feedback on through the chat channel
- I like the software pricing of the tool, it is cheap to use for business purposes and hence does not affect the ROI of the company.
- I like the chat feature which you can use to broadcast your messages amongst the team at no extra cost.
- Event notifications make sure that our users never miss our internal meetings and events
Connecteam is faster and easier to use, which has helped us solve the problem of team management, team collaborations, and group work, it is helping us to share documents, and work plans with the team remotely, and, also we use it as decision-making tool where we use the chat feature of the software to chat with our team remotely to make important decision makings to our tool. I have used the solution for three years and eight months as an administrator of the software
The software has a lot of video tutorials that play automatically hence creating inconvenience, one should only play the video when needed and with his or her consent.It does not have a calendar integration which makes it hard for one to integrate a calendar within the software to track personal events and business events to prevent event conflicts, the text editor in the tool is too slow when you are creating event descriptions, it is impossible to add the ALT text on images that you add in the tool.
They have kept the pricing relatively lower to help even smaller businesses use the solution, and they have a responsive customer support team through the live chat
Good for HR, team leaders, and marketing teams
May not be a good solution for support teams
C.A. Short Company
If your organization values a guided implementation, highly customized programs, and a partner who helps you refine your recognition strategy over time, we think C.A. Short is a compelling option. It’s particularly strong for companies that are more traditional and in-office, and it’s refreshing to see a recognition system that places as much importance on human connection as it does on technology.
PROS
- Provides high-touch, concierge service, handling platform customization and program setup.
- Supports digital and physical peer-to-peer recognition, including eCards and on-the-spot recognition cards.
- Robust customization options for tailored milestone programs and reward structures.
- Strong customer support ensures hands-on onboarding, ongoing assistance, and program adjustments.
- Reporting and analytics offer valuable insights into employee engagement trends.
- The rewards and recognition programs are coded to fully match each customer’s needs.
- Combines digital (peer-to-peer eCards, social feed-style recognition) and physical recognition (on-the-spot recognition cards.)
- Dedicated account managers, customer service reps, and an implementation team.
CONS
- The interface feels outdated compared to more modern and visually appealing alternatives like Nectar or Guusto.
- Reporting relies on Power BI, requiring users to leave the platform to access analytics rather than having built-in, real-time insights.
- Lacks direct integrations with major HR systems like Workday or BambooHR.
- The UI is not as modern as some competitors.
- Changes to the system require communication with support rather than self-service configurations.
- Reporting relies on Power BI rather than being embedded within the platform.
C.A. Short Company's employee recognition software offers a unique, high-touch experience that stands out in an industry dominated by sleek, self-service platforms. While the product itself has a somewhat dated look and lacks some modern bells and whistles, the company's deep commitment to personalized service makes it an excellent fit for organizations that prefer a more hands-on approach.
Another highlight of our experience was the peer-to-peer recognition tool. C.A. Short integrates both non-monetary and monetary recognition. It also supports eCards and social recognition in the “Rec Room” (their version of a social feed). Interestingly, unlike many recognition systems that rely entirely on digital shoutouts, this platform even allows for physical “on-the-spot” recognition cards that employees can hand out in person. We can imagine how companies seeking a system that feels more intentional rather than transactional would value this feature.
We also appreciate the vendor’s approach to customization—they take the time to code each platform to a client's specifications. This includes everything from designing personalized career milestone programs to configuring reward structures based on a company's values. It’s quite manual and, therefore, requires more back-and-forth with their support team, but it also removes much of the administrative burden from HR teams and makes the system work so well for organizations that want a guided, concierge-style implementation rather than a DIY software experience.
In terms of reporting and analytics, the platform provides good visibility into how employees interact with recognition programs over time. During testing, we were able to track how frequently employees were being recognized and compare engagement levels across departments and locations. One drawback, though, is that reporting is currently powered by Power BI and requires users to leave the platform to access these insights. C.A. Short has assured us that full integration is on their roadmap, but for now, this extra step may be a hurdle for those looking for real-time, in-app analytics.
One limitation we noticed is the lack of direct connections with major HRIS vendors like Workday and BambooHR. While C.A. Short does offer automated secure sFTP folders for data integration, which eliminates manual data imports, this approach may not be as familiar to most HR professionals as a self-service native integration option.
Although the software itself is functional, as briefly mentioned at the beginning, its interface doesn’t feel as modern or intuitive as some competitors such as Nectar or Guusto. That said, C.A. Short makes up for these shortcomings with a strong customer service team that is deeply involved in onboarding, ongoing support, and program adjustments.
C.A. Short Company's client list includes Dollar General, Penske, Sysco, Tractor Supply, Old Dominion Freight Line, and Sunbelt Rentals.
C.A. Short Company does not offer a free trial and has custom pricing.
Best For
C.A. Short Company is best for companies that value personalized service, hands-on support, and fully customized recognition programs, even if it means a more manual setup process. Businesses seeking a guided implementation rather than a DIY approach will also likely benefit the most from C.A. Short’s offering.
Guusto
We love that Guusto’s employee recognition software pays special attention to companies with frontline, deskless employees. With print-out, web-based, mobile reward redemption options, no one is left out of your appreciation efforts, even if they don’t have an email address or a desktop.
PROS
- Straightforward recognition system that works great for hourly or field employees.
- Mobile apps for Android and iOS allow use on phones.
- Only reward givers pay a subscription fee - unlimited recipients can be added for free.
- Partnership with One Drop Foundation donates clean water with gifts.
- International reward options expanded to over 4,000.
- They partnered with the One Drop Foundation to donate 1 day of clean drinking water for every gift sent.
- All gift cards are actually digital, meaning there’s no plastic waste. This also makes it a very remote-friendly product.
- Guusto is not a points program. All the gifts within the platform are real dollar value.
- As of early 2023, their global rewards options have grown to the thousands.
- In the process of becoming more international, gift redemptions can now be done in almost any currency within the regions they operate in.
CONS
- You can only fund accounts with USD or CAD credit, though gifts can be redeemed in many currencies.
- Essential and Premium plans have monthly minimums of $200 and $560, respectively.
- Accounts can only be funded with USD or CAD
Guusto’s innovative and easy-to-use platform supports recognition programs for employees at all levels, whether they work on the front lines, at the office, or at home.
Many recognition platforms rely heavily on points-based systems that don't resonate with hourly or field employees. But Guusto allows companies to send printable rewards or gift cards that provide tangible value. We’ve given it a shot ourselves and can confirm that there's no learning curve to it: If an employee receives a $5 gift card, they get $5.
The recognition platform also makes it simple to set up peer-to-peer recognition programs, performance goal tracking, anniversary/birthday awards, and more. Managers receive budgets to send spot bonuses or non-monetary "shoutouts" to motivate their direct reports. Everything is configurable based on each company's unique needs and work culture.
Beyond its features, we admire and commend Guusto for its commitment to social impact. The company donates clean drinking water and supports a host of mental health organizations.
We’ve recently noticed that Guusto has updated its pricing structure, and while we’re happy that the Free plan remains, there are some drawbacks. The Lite tier has jumped from $40 to $125 per month, while the Essential tier and Premium requires a minimum spend of $200 and $560 per month, respectively. These increases could be a real burden for budget-conscious teams, we’d imagine.
Guusto is used by many known organizations including Staples, Compass One Healthcare, The Body Shop, Fairmont, and Rexall Pharmacies.
Guusto offers 4 plans:
- A free plan for individual reward senders using a single user account and a top-down program.
- A Lite plan that costs $125 per month for individuals sending and scheduling rewards in bulk.
- An Essential plan that costs $2.50 per seat per month for peer-to-peer rewards and $5 per seat per month for top-down rewards.
- A Premium plan that costs $3.50 per seat per month for peer-to-peer rewards and $7 per seat per month for top-down rewards.
Best For
Guusto is a top employee recognition platform solution for businesses that employ frontline staff, especially in the healthcare, retail, financial services, and hospitality sectors.
I primarily use Guusto to send gifts. I simply log in and load funds to my account at any time. Once funds are in the account it is simple to give gifts in any increments within the balance in the account. All you need is the name and email of the parties you wish to gift, you can even add people to a contact list should you wish. Guusto makes the entire process of giving simple and fast!
I like that you don't have to use the entire balance at one merchant. I appreciate that I can combine multiple gifts into one balance. I also like that you can decide how much of your balance you want to redeem at a merchant and don't have to spend the entire gift in one place.
I have only used Guusto for 5 years but my employer has been using it much longer. It is used by me to quickly and easily send my peers a gift and a thank you. Also, my employer uses Guusto for milestone rewards, achievement awards, and more. Guusto makes giving and receiving gifts simple and fast. Managing your giving account is also quick & easy, and the ability to manage gifts once received is also a breeze.
There isn't much I don't like about Guusto. It does seem like there are more USA & Eastern Canada merchants than Western Canada ones. I would love to see more Western Canada Merchants added to the available options.
I have yet to find a gift card system as user-friendly or accessible as Guusto. I use this system to send gifts at work and in my personal life and won't be looking for another option.
Ease of Use. Easy Integration. Easy Reporting. Easy Tracking
I am not qualified to answer this question
Any user or organization that needs to be able to send financial gifts to people in an easily managed way.
Anyone who wants to give a specific physical gift.
Bonusly
Bonusly’s specialty lies in its ability to make recognition easy, visible, and impactful. Its engaging social feature and point-based system fuels frequent recognition across teams. Plus, its abundant gift card options position it as a top choice for teams of 50-5000 globally.
PROS
- Mobile-friendly and simple recognition process promotes frequent use among all employees.
- Video recognition promotes authenticity and encourages peer engagement.
- Automated milestone celebrations for birthdays, anniversaries, and onboarding moments.
- Supports global teams with multilingual UI and international reward redemption.
- Integrates with Slack, Teams, and major HRIS platforms.
- 14-day free trial available.
- Intuitive user interface.
- Available in German, English, French, and Spanish.
- Supports Android and iOS.
- Discounts for nonprofit and education organizations.
- 14-day, full-featured free trial.
CONS
- Annual billing required; pricing details are not publicly listed.
- Some users report occasional platform downtime or delayed reward redemptions.
- Fewer options for experiential rewards and developmental recognition pathways.
- Analytics and reporting features are relatively underdeveloped.
- The reward catalog lacks in-person experiences and physical goods.
- All our plans are billed annually, and the vendor no longer discloses their pricing.
Bonusly’s recognition-first design is where the platform shines. By making appreciation a daily habit, not just a quarterly or annual gesture, it stands apart from traditional rewards catalogs that emphasize transactions over connection.
Employees receive monthly point allowances to recognize peers, helping keep appreciation active across departments. The process is quick and engaging: pick a teammate, assign points, add a message, and optionally include GIFs, hashtags, or even a short video.
We especially appreciated Bonusly’s public recognition feed, which surfaces all peer-to-peer shoutouts in one visible stream. It encourages participation and makes appreciation more tangible. And we can imagine managers would like this visibility too, as it helps them gain real-time insight into team dynamics and individual contributions.
In addition to recognizing achievements, users can send timely messages for birthdays, work anniversaries, and other special occasions thanks to Bonusly's automated reminders. The tool also integrates directly with Slack, Microsoft Teams, and leading HRIS systems, so recognition flows naturally into the tools your team already uses.
Recent updates have made Bonusly feel even more intuitive and customizable. Now, with Slack and Microsoft Teams integrations, you can give recognition with just one click and see real-time previews. Admins also gained new controls to customize recognition policies, and provisioning tools have been improved too. On the integration front, HRIS connectors now include more options like Rippling, Paylocity, and Workday.
However, if your team prefers experiential rewards, you may not be a huge fan of what Bonusly currently has to offer, as from our assessments, this vendor’s available reward options focus mainly on point-based and gift card rewards.
In addition, Bonusly requires annual billing across all plans and no longer discloses its pricing details. Lastly, some users we spoke with reported occasional reward redemption issues or brief platform outages – nothing deal-breaking, but enough to warrant extra diligence during implementation.
Bonusly serves over 3,000 customers, including companies like Workday, Baxter, Headspace, and Qualtrics.
Bonusly provides three yearly subscription tiers: Appreciate, Connect, and Achieve. Demos and 14-day free trials are offered, though pricing isn't public.
Best For
Bonusly is best for mid-sized to large companies that want to scale peer-to-peer and manager-led recognition with flexible, point-based rewards and automated milestone celebrations.
One of the most effective ways to use Bonusly is by tying it directly to company values. Attaching values to recognition helps reinforce what they look like in action. The tool also gamifies recognition, allowing employees to reward each other in a fun and engaging way.
Employees could redeem their points for rewards, donate to nonprofits, or even support coworkers in times of need—for example, we once set up a special donation fund when an employee's dog required expensive veterinary care. This flexibility made Bonusly a powerful tool for fostering both engagement and community support.
- It's easy to set up and use.
- Employees loved using it, and it was the most widely adopted recognition tool I’ve seen in my career.
- It provided visibility into employees' contributions, which was especially valuable in a remote work environment.
I administered Bonusly for over two years as our primary reward and recognition tool. We used it to celebrate employees, provide positive feedback, and reinforce company values and culture. As a predominantly remote company, we relied on Bonusly to foster connection and encourage behaviors we wanted to see more often.
Full disclosure: I worked for Bonusly when we used it, but I left the company two years ago. One of the reasons we implemented it was to "dog food" the tool—using our own product to better understand its impact.
- I wished it had broader functionality, so we didn’t need separate tools for other recognition-related needs.
- The reporting capabilities were limited, missing opportunities to provide deeper insights into employee engagement.
- They introduced an engagement survey tool, but it couldn't compete with more established solutions in that space.
Bonusly was extremely easy to use and integrate into workflows, especially for companies that rely on Slack. While other HR tools include recognition features, Bonusly’s gamification made it more engaging and widely used. However, it could be a harder sell to executives since some competing platforms bundle recognition with other HR functions.
Think about your goals and how your team works. Avoid traditional mindsets that limit recognition to managers or leadership—peer-to-peer recognition can be just as impactful. Consider how a tool like Bonusly can help amplify your culture and reinforce company values in a meaningful way.
Bonusly has always excelled at core recognition but struggled to expand its functionality beyond that. Recent updates suggest they are working on additional features, and I’m curious to see how those develop. If they continue to evolve, it could become an even stronger tool, particularly for smaller companies.
Bonusly works well for companies of any size, from small teams of five to large enterprises with 15,000 employees.
If a company does not prioritize employee recognition or struggles with engagement, Bonusly may not be the right fit. Without an existing culture of appreciation, adoption and impact would likely be limited.
Matter
Matter is not the only peer-to-peer recognition platform that offers kudos, employee feedback reminders, company values, and analytics and reporting. Yet it’s one of only a rare few vendors we’ve known that do so nicely right within users’ Teams or Slack.
PROS
- Peer-to-peer recognition platform with kudos, engagement survey reminders, company values, and analytics that works right within Slack or Teams.
- Aesthetic and user-centric software design.
- Affordable, transparent plans with discounts for non-profits and educational institutions.
- Free plan includes unlimited users, customizable notifications, and kudos.
- Seamless integration with 200+ HRIS systems.
- Option to reward survey completions with redeemable Matter coins.
- Pulse Survey delivered and responded to right in Slack or MS Teams.
- Pulse Surveys use real-time data from a library of 100 questions to provide insights on cultural categories.
- Survey recipients won't see the same question twice within 90 days.
- Real-time anonymous feedback with custom notifications.
- Affordable and transparent plans with discounts for non-profits and schools.
CONS
- Compatible only with Slack or Teams users.
- Any unused coin allowance (except for Kudos coins) is reset on a weekly basis.
- Free plan offers only 30 days of historical analytics data and 5 kudos sent per channel per week.
- To use Matter, you must have either Slack or Teams installed.
- At this time, the vendor doesn't allow the Pulse Survey questions to be editable.
- Pulse surveys are only available on the highest-priced plan.
What really won us over after testing Matter was the way this peer-to-peer recognition software has streamlined membership management.
Once you sync it with your Slack or Teams, you can automate the whole process of adding or removing team members directly through the settings of these two communication apps.
Giving kudos turned out to be very straightforward both when we were on our computers or using the Slack app on our phones.
We liked that we could select one or more people to recognize at once, choose from one of the nine kudos templates to type our message of praise, or even create our own personalized card. Plus, the ability to add Slack emojis did bring an extra layer of fun to the whole experience.
Another aspect we found pretty cool was the coin system. This feature allows team members to attach coins to their kudos, which the recipient can then redeem for gift cards, charitable donations, prepaid cards, and more to treat themselves.
And Matter’s pricing—it’s highly accessible with a free plan that supports unlimited users, customizable notifications, and kudos.
It's worth mentioning, though, that the free plan allows for just 5 kudos sent per channel per week and only retains 30 days of historical analytics data, so any older data won’t be recorded.
Another thing to bear in mind is that any unused coin allowance, except for Kudos coins, doesn’t carry over. Depending on how you view it, this could either be an engagement booster or a potential waste of money.
4,700+ organizations, including SIEMENS, Bolt, and JiffyLube.
Matter provides four pricing options, ranging from no cost to $5 monthly. You can also access all features the tool has to offer via its 30-day free trial period.
Best For
Matter’s employee recognition software is for small businesses looking to integrate recognition programs directly into Teams or Slack.
WorkTango
WorkTango’s recognition engine checks all the boxes: A company feed, a points system, a broad rewards catalog, and the option to add custom rewards. It also packs an analytics dashboard, giving real-time data on your program’s effectiveness, participation rate, and more.
PROS
- WorkTango’s interface is simple and intuitive, making it easy for users to navigate.
- Users appreciate having a wide selection of gift cards, prizes, and other rewards to choose from when redeeming points.
- You can easily see upcoming employee birthdays, work anniversaries, and other events to send prompt shoutouts.
- The platform supports multiple languages, including English, Spanish, German and French.
- Unlimited surveys available in English, Spanish, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Korean.
- You can add modules as you go and these will be charged on a prorated basis.
CONS
- Billing can only be done annually.
- All plans require a minimum commitment of 12 months.
- Free trials aren't available at this time.
- Billing is only done annually and all plans require a minimum agreement for a 24-month subscription (see our FAQs for more and their pricing page for full details).
- Several users have complained about the rewards redeeming process being not very intuitive.
WorkTango’s employee recognition software is easy to use, amplifies core values, and reinforces positive actions.
What stood out the most for us was how flexible the platform is: Employees can give public or private recognition to their colleagues anytime, anywhere through the desktop or mobile app. This peer-to-peer, bottom-up, and top-down recognition helps enhance the employee experience by making appreciation visible across the organization.
Another thing we like about WorkTango is its focus on community building. Features like social news feeds and the ability to react to and comment on recognitions foster connections company-wide.
Employees gain visibility into recognitions across departments, roles, and locations. Adding customizable emojis, GIFs, and images further humanizes peer appreciation and makes it personal.
Integrations with communication tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams eliminate barriers by enabling recognition directly within employees' daily workflows. WorkTango also integrates with most HRISs to sync employee data seamlessly and without errors.
However, WorkTango’s pricing structure is noticeably stricter compared to other players in the market: the billing can only be done annually, and all plans require a minimum commitment of 12 months.
For any organization looking to strengthen employee experience and retention through a culture of recognition, we believe WorkTango is a worthy investment. Its thoughtful features, flexible tools, and user-friendly design enable impactful recognition that helps bring teams together, but companies should weigh its annual-only billing and lack of a trial period before deciding.
Over 1,000 companies use WorkTango, including Kia Motors, HUB International, Rexall, and Accruent.
WorkTango's pricing is tailored to each customer's unique needs.
Best For
WorkTango's employee recognition program best serves growing companies and enterprises. It caters especially well to industries like healthcare, technology, and financial services.
We use WorkTango daily, monthly, quarterly, and yearly. I find it most effective on a quarterly and yearly basis for performance tracking and rewarding. This tool is also beneficial during project integration, helping to focus and reward employees on specific tasks. For daily and monthly use, it can be applied for more immediate recognition and rewards.
This program's key attribute is its ability to recognize not only employees but also peer-to-peer recognition and reward.
These types of programs are especially useful for remote workers, as those in the office still get to be rewarded with special days, days off, etc. This is a way to reward those who are not able to participate in those times with the other employees who may not be remote.
Lastly, I think the automation aspect of this reward program is a great attribute. I say this because in the world of business, sometimes an employee's time of service can become 2nd sting to other things happening in the company.
However the need to look at why your business is running smoothly is due to the employees keeping your business afloat. So to be able to reward them on a yearly basis when their time of service comes about can be key in keeping those employees engaged and looking forward to the year ahead.
Our organization purchased WorkTango to monitor employee performance, recognize hard work, survey employees, and implement their feedback. It allows us to survey employees about ideas and workplace issues, then integrate their input into our company’s operations. Recognizing employees who excel and ensuring they are aware of their contributions was a key factor in choosing this product. Additionally, tracking employee performance and rewarding it through this tool has been invaluable. I have been using this tool for several months.
There are few cons to this program overall. The analytics could be improved, though this is a common issue with many programs. This tool is primarily a recognition tool rather than an analytics tool.
WorkTango offers more peer-to-peer recognition options than most competitors, which is valuable for building company and employee rapport.
If you need a peer-to-peer recognition program, this is an excellent choice. It’s also suitable for measuring employee performance. However, if you need extensive analytical features, you may need to look elsewhere.
WorkTango has improved its analytics features, though there is still room for enhancement in this area.
WorkTango is ideal for established companies looking to encourage employee progress and development.
Start up companies and those looking for a quick tool to reward their employees may not benefit as much from WorkTango.
Terryberry
Terryberry is one of the most feature-rich platforms for corporate recognition programs. With over 100 years of experience, they have a comprehensive offering that covers recognition, rewards, wellness, and feedback, making them an excellent choice for mid-sized and large global companies based in the US, Canada, and the UK.
PROS
- Comprehensive employee engagement features in one tool, including peer-to-peer recognition, global reward fulfillment, wellness tracking, and surveys.
- One of the widest selections of rewards we’ve seen, including merchandise, gift cards, company swag, travel experiences, and custom-crafted awards.
- Advanced analytics that measure the impact of recognition on employee sentiment, helping organizations refine their engagement strategies.
- They recently expanded their rewards catalog to include Amazon Business, giving U.S. employees even more ways to be recognized with meaningful, practical gifts.
- Multi-language support and accessibility features tailored for hybrid and deskless workforces.
- Highly configurable options for HRIS integrations.
- Customized physical goods as employee rewards
- Wide range of employee engagement features, including rewards, incentives, and a wellness tracker.
- Customer support and account management at Terryberry are quite good. Their reps stand out for being very responsive and attentive, which is evidenced by some of the client testimonials we read.
- The implementation process, while six weeks long, is quite comprehensive, and you get tons of help along the way. For instance, the last two weeks consist of internal and customer testing, as well as user training.
CONS
- The platform design could benefit from a more modern and sleek interface.
- While integrations are strong, there is no open API yet; however, this is on the development roadmap for the near future.
- No free trial is available at this time.
- While Terryberry is easy to use, its design could look more modern and sleek.
- No open API available as of this writing.
- No free trial at the moment.
Terryberry offers one of the most comprehensive feature sets we've seen in an employee recognition platform.
The software provides social recognition tools, employee engagement platform features, a wellness app, service awards and custom jewelry, performance management, incentive programs, and a global rewards catalog.
Thanks to the product demos in December 2023, December 2024, and May 2025, we gained an in-depth look at the platform's expansive capabilities.
With so many features covered in a single call, it was difficult to get a detailed walkthrough of every workflow. For anyone interested in a Terryberry demo, we recommend identifying the specific workflows that are most critical for your needs and asking for those to be covered in greater detail.
It's also worthwhile to explore the employee recognition program’s custom awards offerings. Terryberry can manufacture everything from trophies to belt buckles tailored to your specifications, while also providing the software to identify which employees you want to recognize and reward.
We don't necessarily dislike Terryberry’s UI, although we can't say that it's our favorite. It gives off a dated look, which may impact user experience for teams accustomed to contemporary interfaces. Although it has been a while since the recognition platform announced it would consider launching API integration access, it has still not been released.
Terryberry serves over 40,000 clients worldwide, including notable names like Tesco, Epsilon, General Motors, and Trilogy Health.
Terryberry offers flexible pricing. You can select specific features of the platform to start with and add more later as your needs evolve. Their basic subscription plans start around $3 per employee receiving an award.
In addition to the subscription costs, Terryberry charges one-time setup fees and an annual administration fee that is calculated based on the total employee headcount and number of reward redemptions processed.
Best For
Terryberry is best suited for mid-market organizations in the US, Canada, and UK with hybrid or deskless workforces. It’s particularly valuable for companies seeking to automate milestone recognition while maintaining a personal and value-driven approach to engagement.
Terryberry was used daily for anniversaries and birthday recognition, which was the initial and primary reason for using the platform within the organization. It was also used for occasional recognition from senior leadership, who had the capability to provide rewards to their managed employees within the platform. The system could work on a fairly automated basis with the HRIS, making it largely hands-off, with occasional audits to ensure all information flowed properly to/from the system. The system would also provide reminders of upcoming celebrations so that we could share them through other communication channels within the organization. It is nice to receive reminders.
One pro of Terryberry is that aside from setup and a small annual fee, you pay as rewards are redeemed. An additional pro is that they offer physical rewards, such as plaques, if you want to utilize that option. Another pro is that they were the only service we found that offered physical products as a reward type via an online catalog model.
The organization purchased Terryberry after reviewing several services to replace a prior service. Key pain points that needed to be addressed were HRIS integration capability so the employee life cycle and celebrations would automatically flow to the platform without a file feed requirement, eliminating room for error. Additionally, the capability to work with the company chat system was essential. More expansive rewards/redemption options, including physical product offerings, were also desired. The service has been used for less than one year.
One con of Terryberry is that you have to pay for different subscription tiers, so you do not get everything accessible unless you pay for particular tiers. Not all services my organization reviewed operated like this. Another con is that the user interface gets the job done but seems a little outdated, offering limited customization.
Terryberry is different from its competitors because they have a large amount of reward offerings. You do not see this with many other platforms. Also, the capability for actual physical plaque-type rewards was unique. They are used by many well-known large corporations, as seen on their site and an even longer list provided during our company demo.
Terryberry is a pay-to-play tool. You will access reward options for your company based on how much you'd like to spend for the particular subscription tiers. This is a good option for large companies because the platform is built to accommodate them. If you are in a fast-growing company or a company planning for a lot of growth, this tool could grow easily with you.
Terryberry has been around a very long time (since 1918). They've had to evolve as technology evolved. Outside of the interface itself seeming a little lackluster, it is overall a company that proves itself with both its longevity and customer base.
A company needs to have staff that use a common platform for communication or at least check emails or have access to a computer daily. Employees who work in the field or away from a computer may not experience the full benefit of a product like Terryberry. As previously noted, this would also be a good option for a fast-growing company or a company anticipating growth.
Companies with employees that rarely access a computer or companies that do not utilize company chat systems of some kind may not find Terryberry a helpful addition.
Awardco
Awardco goes further than the average recognition platform. It packs a social feed, peer-to-peer appreciation, and extensive international reward options. It also allows employees to create memory books, boxes, and more for a personal touch.
PROS
- Features like the public feed and AwardCodes make recognition simple, effective, and inclusive.
- Intuitive user interface available in 16 different languages.
- It easily integrates with commonly used software like Slack, Microsoft Teams, HRIS systems, and HubSpot.
- Amazon Business integration, huge reward catalog for a multitude of countries.
- The platform is available in English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, and Simplified Chinese.
CONS
- No free trial is offered.
- Awardco only works with Amazon Business for gift cards.
- A few users reported that prices on some rewards are high or inflated compared to retail prices.
- Rewards delivery is delayed at times.
- Actual pricing is not publicly available, so getting started won’t be a quick and self-service process like with other companies in the space.
- With Awardco, digital and physical gift cards are ineligible for refunds.
- Only Amazon-delivered products are available from Awardco. Goods sold by third-party vendors on Amazon are not available.
- The Awardco mobile app is only available as a Progressive Web Application, not from the App Store or Google Play, which might be less intuitive for some users.
Awardco makes it easy to recognize anyone in your organization for living your values, achieving goals, or simply for being awesome employees. In our testing, it was easy to choose who to recognize, for what, and why.
We’ve also liked the social component, featuring all given recognition on a public feed for everyone to see. Awardco also facilitates remote employee recognition programs through integrations with communication tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams. This boosts engagement further, bringing recognition to platforms your employees already use.
We appreciate Awardco's inclusive approach to recognition. Their newly released feature, AwardCodes, makes it possible to give recognition offline to employees without regular computer access, so they aren’t left out of any appreciation efforts.
Managers provide customized award codes, which employees later scan to receive their rewards. The codes work for any employee, anywhere, anytime, while still enabling tracking and security.
Another thing that caught our attention is Awardco’s service anniversary features. Its level of gift creativity and personalization is something we’ve not seen on other platforms. Employees can create Digital MemoryBooks, which collect teammate contributions into a cherished keepsake for coworkers celebrating milestones.
The employee recognition vendor also has curated gift packages called Bonus Boxes that staff can put together and ship right to the doors of their coworkers to make their day.
However, we would have appreciated this recognition software more if it provided a greater variety of gift card vendors other than Amazon. A few users have reported that prices on some rewards are higher or inflated compared to retail prices, and there have been occasional delays in the delivery of rewards, which is disappointing.
Awardco has over 3 million users including staff at companies like Percepta, Paramount, Hertz, Pacific Life, and Aptive.
Awardco offers two main plans for small and medium businesses.
- Lite provides basic automation for things like service awards, birthdays, and reporting. It establishes a foundation for employee recognition and costs $2,500 per year.
- Go includes everything in Lite plus additional features like peer-to-peer recognition, manager recognition, value-driven rewards, and budget oversight. It is more robust for employee appreciation and costs $4,000 annually.
- Custom for enterprises with more complex requirements.
Best For
Awardco’s comprehensive offering makes it an excellent employee recognition program for fast-growing, multinational companies.
We use it for incentives. Anytime we want to shout out an employee we're able to offer them a bit of points to use at any major site they're interested in. This is great for employee recognition and overall morale. We typically aim to tie it to some measurement of performance.
It's easy to keep track of the expenses towards incentives. It's easy to use on both ends (sender and receiver). Employees also love the idea of receiving $25 in Awardco instead of receiving money on their check that they don't really notice.
We were interested in finding a way to reward employees in an organized fashion. This made taxes easier for us, while also easily creating a budget for each department. It also made it easy for us to track why incentives were being passed to each individual, creating better oversight of expenses.
I don't think there's really all that much I don't like about the software. We would appreciate a lower fee for using it! Other than that, it's truly great and I highly recommend it.
It's simple. It's very user friendly and the money can be spent anywhere.
Ease of use is one. Second would be the stronger sense of oversight.
I don't think there's really been any adjustments over time, but I also don't need it to. It does what its intended purpose is.
Larger organizations that care about culture and want an easy way to budget and control incentive spending.
I would say it's not necessary for smaller companies where you already have the oversight of incentive budgets.
Mo
We think Mo’s got all the features you need to make recognition a habit. With peer-to-peer recognition, automated reminders, and robust rewards redemption, the recognition platform distinctly emphasizes creating meaningful connections and shared moments between employees rather than just distributing material rewards.
PROS
- User interface is easy to navigate and offers a good variety of gift card options.
- Moments and Boosts get employees in the habit of recognizing one another.
- Transparent and competitive pricing with no rewards fees.
- All plans include free onboarding and implementation support.
- Available in 12 languages and growing.
- Customer support is responsive and helpful.
- Mobile apps for both Android and iOS.
- UI is easy to navigate, and users seem to appreciate the varied choice of gift cards they can offer through the platform.
- Transparent pricing starting from $2.25/user/month with no rewards fees.
- Free onboarding and implementation support for all users.
- Robust and feature-rich mobile applications.
- Available in 12 languages and growing.
CONS
- Mo's pricing is no longer publicly available.
- There is no free plan, but you can request a free trial.
- Customer service only available on weekdays from 9 AM to 5 PM GMT.
- HRIS integration absent in Base plan. Possible implementation fee for Slack and Microsoft Teams integrations.
- The customer support hours are limited to weekdays, 9 AM - 5 PM GMT.
Mo aims to help companies boost employee morale and retention through meaningful recognition.
We like its Moments and Boosts features, which empower managers to highlight individual and team achievements, big or small. Boosts can also be used to prompt team members to recognize one another for everyday wins and milestones. Employees can easily post public or private appreciative Moments and react with comments, emojis, and GIFs, spreading a spirit of gratitude.
Another thing we like about this employee recognition vendor is its automated Assistant, which reminds managers of upcoming celebrations so they can show employees they are valued. The Assistant even nudges managers if they haven't recognized someone in a while which is pretty neat. Mo also makes it easy to reward top performers. Managers to instantly grant credits redeemable for rewards from major stores like Amazon, Nordstrom, and Tesco.
We bet you’ve got to also love the straightforward pricing that’s both flexible and budget-friendly for most companies with this recognition platform. Plus, Mo doesn’t raise the prices at all, which is a nice gesture that compensates for the missing free plan.
It’s equally nice to see that Mo has worked on the integration limitations we mentioned in our previous review of the tool. Now the HRIS integrations are offered across all its plans, and Slack and Microsoft Teams integrations no longer come with an extra cost.
Unfortunately, the customer support hours haven’t changed since our last review update. You can only reach Mo’s support on weekdays from 9 am to 5 pm GMT. For distributed teams working across different time zones like ourselves, this honestly isn’t ideal.
To date, Mo has over 100,000 users from companies like SGN, The O2, NHS, Aspen, William Hill, and SHL.
Mo's pricing is a monthly subscription based on the number of employees. Contact sales for a quote.
Best For
Mo’s employee recognition and rewards program works for companies of all sizes and particularly well for those with distributed teams that want to connect and motivate employees.
Cooleaf
We picked Cooleaf for its ability to scale recognition across large, distributed teams while tying it to broader engagement initiatives like surveys, challenges, and performance incentives. In our view, it’s one of the few platforms that makes recognition part of a long-term cultural strategy. Also, it’s quite quick to implement.
PROS
- Managers receive weekly reports on their team’s recognition activity, helping reinforce positive habits.
- New features like printable certificates, award nominations, and robust reporting add key structure to recognition.
- Recognition programs can include multi-level approval workflows for added consistency.
- Cooleaf fulfills global rewards in-house, including physical gifts and international gift cards.
- The platform ties recognition to performance, surveys, and engagement challenges.
- Full platform for all things employee engagement, not just rewards and recognition.
- The Slack integration is very seamless. Challenges, posts, and recognitions can all be gathered within dedicated channels in your team’s Slack workplace, if you want to.
- Wide variety of rewards including a team store, donations, entertainment, travel experiences, merch, products, and restaurant coupons.
CONS
- There’s no free trial or self-service demo available.
- Advanced features may require admin setup and onboarding support.
- Building custom programs can feel complex for new users.
- For some of the workplace culture-building features, like challenges and activities, you can’t create your own, so you rely on how often Cooleaf’s team makes them available.
- We found the support center’s documentation to be somewhat limited in comparison to similar tools. Also, it seems like support is only done through an online form, no other channels are available.
With its robust set of features, Cooleaf enables companies to make appreciation frequent and meaningful.
We’ve put the platform to the test and found it particularly excellent at tying recognition to core values. Managers can send real-time recognitions that highlight how an employee's actions embodied a certain value, such as collaboration or integrity.
This not only motivates the recipient but also reinforces behaviors your company cares about. Cooleaf also provides manager dashboards to track recognitions and see how well values are being integrated.
Celebrating big milestones is easy too. Features like automatic anniversary rewards ensure no career achievement goes unnoticed.
Milestones can be personalized for each level, from an employee's first year to their 10th anniversary. Rewards go beyond the typical gift card - managers can create a catalog of merchandise, experiences, donation gifts, and more that fit their culture.
Whether it's recognizing day-to-day wins or momentous occasions, we love how Cooleaf empowers managers to show appreciation in personalized ways. Its user-friendly interface, customization options, and focus on values make Cooleaf a great choice for companies looking to delight their teams while aligning them to important principles and goals.
We expected Cooleaf to include some fun gamification features like leaderboards or challenges to make recognition more engaging, but unfortunately, it doesn’t. We also really hope the vendor will expand their customer support to offer more options, such as chat and phone, instead of just ticketing. On top of that, a few users have reported login and SSO issues with the mobile app, which makes this vendor less appealing than other mobile-friendly names like Motivosity and Bucketlist.
Cooleaf is used by organizations like Acosta, Aprio, BlueLinx, Georgia’s Own Credit Union, Kids2, and Shipt.
Cooleaf offers custom pricing based on the number of employees participating in the program.
- Subscription billed monthly
- Separate budget allocated for rewards (flexible per organization)
- Implementation and onboarding support included in most plans
Best For
Cooleaf is best suited for global enterprises with 2,000+ employees who want to tie recognition to a holistic engagement strategy and need international reward fulfillment.
I use Cooleaf weekly to check on health and reporting within my clients' companies. It improves social and cultural collaboration. The platform is an easy to use employee management system. Cooleaf makes employee communication fun for the team. Recognizing employee accomplishments through Cooleaf has helped my clients understand employee performance and perspectives.
Cooleaf is very employee friendly. It can be difficult for larger teams to keep track of accomplishments, birthdays etc but this platform eliminates that concern. It has been instrumental in improving engagement for remote team members post-pandemic.
I have used Cooleaf to manage employees for clients since 2021. The service allows HR to track employee engagement and handle employee reporting. Cooleaf allows me to send surveys, improve peer recognition, and offer rewards for staff. It integrates with other software that we use easily. Cooleaf has a fun interface that enables the HR team to keep track of important changes on the go.
There are sometimes issues with the mobile app sending push notifications. Cooleaf’s voucher program can be tedious to track if the employee does not use their points. The voucher system could use an update with more exciting redeemable options.
Cooleaf is a fun platform. The service is affordable and user friendly. Other platforms like Guusto have slightly better features and redeemable options.
How many employees need Cooleaf access? Do you have a remote staff and will any rewards be applicable in their location?
I have used Cooleaf since 2021 and since that time, they have improved their customer service response and engagement surveys.
Cooleaf is good for small-medium sized organizations that focus on employee engagement. It is a customizable service that can get expensive if you have budgetary constraints.
I would not recommend Cooleaf to large companies because the cost can increase as you expand but it is a solid service.
Kudos
Kudos helps you tie recognition to company values, reinforcing your mission statement and delighting employees at the same time. In addition to software, they offer consulting services to companies that need extra assistance.
PROS
- Easy and simple to use for giving recognition and appreciation to coworkers.
- The mobile app is quite robust and has nearly all of the functions of the web version.
- You can use the platform in 10 languages besides English.
- Unique, company culture-oriented features are present all across the platform, such as in the way they approach analytics, or on the actual Culture Accelerator module.
- Excellent relation of mobile / desktop functionality. You basically get all the bells and whistles on both versions.
CONS
- Several users feel that the monthly limit on points you can give to others is too low.
- The reward redemption process isn’t very intuitive and could be improved according to users.
- The platform’s pricing puts it out of reach for small businesses. There also aren’t any free trials to sign up for.
- Unless you get a demo and start exploring the tool with the help of an insider, we’d say it’s somewhat hard to get a good idea of what features are like, how they work, and even what they do, just from their website alone.
- From our research, we could gather that the points system and how this works can get a bit confusing for some users.
Kudos offers a robust employee recognition platform that can help you build a positive, engaged workforce.
Our favorite aspect of this vendor is its peer-to-peer recognition capabilities, which empower employees to acknowledge one another for outstanding work and achievements. Employees can also give kudos for actions or behaviors tied to company values like collaboration or innovation.
Not only does this reinforce those values, but giving specific recognition provides valuable people analytics for managers to track what behaviors are being role-modeled.
All of this peer recognition activity is collected and displayed on the Kudos Wall. This broadcast of appreciation helps employees feel valued and reminds them that they are part of something bigger. It also cultivates an inspiring sense of community.
Rewards can also be given through the system. It’s all gamified, which we’re big fans of. Employees can collect points from giving and receiving kudos, which they can then redeem from an online catalog that covers anything from company-branded swag to gift cards, Amazon products, and charity donations.
Importantly, with Kudos, your employee recognition programs can also be integrated with existing HR systems to pull employee data like birthdays, work anniversaries, and more, so you won’t have to remember or input any of this info manually.
Although the interface looks decent, we found that the reward redemption process is somewhat unintuitive and could benefit from a more streamlined experience. Meanwhile, Kudos’ pricing puts it out of reach for many small businesses.
Kudos is used by thousands of growing businesses and enterprises including MTN, Russel, ATCO, Bulgari, and DHL.
Kudos’ pricing starts at $3.25 per user per month for organizations with at least 500 employees. However, its actual pricing is flexible, based on the number of user seats needed and the length of the contract.
Best For
Kudos is a great choice for big, diverse workforces looking for a flexible employee recognition solution.
My company uses Kudos on a monthly basis to recognize our employees. Some of the key features include access to a comprehensive library of review templates designed to cover every possible review scenario. We have the flexibility to customize each template or create our own to fit specific needs. Additionally, we are able to tailor questions and formats to ensure that our reviews are thorough and aligned with our strategic goals.
It's easy to navigate and a fantastic way to show appreciation for colleagues' hard work. I love how points can be converted into real gift cards for employees. There's no need to wait until mid-year or year-end to recognize people with Kudos.
We use Nectar for staff and management to reward employees for exceptional work with points. This tool is also valuable for keeping employees connected and interested in each other's work, as it allows them to engage in a manner similar to social media. Additionally, it helps management identify areas of staff success that might otherwise go unnoticed, which is particularly beneficial for formal evaluations. With staff able to comment on each other's posts, Nectar facilitates ongoing positive interactions, enabling team members to engage daily, learn more about each other, and collaborate more effectively. Moreover, it allows management to incentivize positive behaviors with tangible rewards.
I wish the Kudos I receive each month to award to team members weren't limited to a certain amount. It would be great to have more Kudos to recognize the various departmental workers I collaborate with. As it is, I have to choose carefully who to recognize each month.
This is the only recognition software I have used.
People should think about price, usability, and user-friendliness, as well as reviews from other companies.
The Kudos system continues to expand its features to recognize all types of situations. They actively incorporate client feedback and implement their needs into the system.
Kudos is good for managers and frontline employees in small and medium sized companies.
Kudos is not beneficial much for executive leadership. While it's beneficial for executives to recognize certain performance and behaviors, they don't need to use the system regularly.
AdvantageClub.ai
AdvantageClub.ai stood out to us for its numerous redemption options and the flexibility it offers to both employees and employers. Employees worldwide can choose from over ten thousand rewards, while employers can leverage AI and customization to enhance employee engagement in their recognition programs.
PROS
- Easy-to-use peer recognition with AI-assisted message generation.
- Social media-style Buzz Feed for public appreciation, reactions, and comments.
- Seamless integrations with Slack, Teams, and other workplace tools.
- Extensive global rewards marketplace with 10,000+ brands across 100+ countries.
- AI-driven ADVA assistant nudges employees to engage in recognition and redeem rewards.
- AI-powered messaging feature streamlines the process of giving and receiving recognition.
- Extensive global rewards marketplace with 10,000+ brands across 100+ countries.
- Flex-Benefits program allows employees to customize how they use perks.
- AI-driven engagement assistant (ADVA) nudges employees to stay active in recognition programs.
- Seamless integrations with HRMS, Slack, Teams, and Outlook for workflow automation.
CONS
- You must contact sales for a quote. No free trial offered.
- Not a good fit for small businesses.
- Users may require additional support to leverage the power of analytics and dashboard features fully.
- No public pricing. No self-service free trial.
- Instead of self-configuration, users may require additional support to leverage the power of analytics and dashboard features fully.
We picked AdvantageClub.ai as one of the best employee recognition solutions because the platform impressed us with how much it helps employees show appreciation to their peers. During our testing, we discovered many appealing features, including Milestone Awards, Peer-to-Peer Recognition, Spot Awards, and Long Service Awards.
AdvantageClub.ai makes it incredibly easy to recognize achievements: Users can send kudos or awards through the built-in recognition feed, and thanks to AI-generated message assistance, employees who struggle with wording can send appreciation messages with just a few clicks. We tested this feature by selecting a peer (Ben), writing a message, and using the AI assistant ADVA to refine our words, which resulted in a warm and professional recognition post.
The platform also excels with its Buzz Feed feature, which allows employees to publicly celebrate achievements, anniversaries, and birthdays in a social media-like interface. The kudos we gave Ben earlier were visible to colleagues in the feed, who could not only view them but also react with customizable emojis and comments—just like they would on platforms like LinkedIn.
We also love the ability to share recognition on external communication apps like Slack and Teams. Being a remote team that relies on these tools daily for team syncs, this sharing feature adds a layer of convenience, making it easier for employees to give and receive peer recognition.
Another major strength of AdvantageClub.ai is its global rewards marketplace. With over 10,000 brands in 100+ countries, it’s an easy choice for multinational organizations looking for a recognition platform with diverse reward options.
If you’re looking for a tool that actively drives engagement in your recognition program, ADVA, the AI-driven assistant, is worth checking out. This feature encourages participation with gentle nudges—for example, without feeling intrusive, it reminded us that we hadn’t given a kudo to a colleague in a while or that we hadn’t redeemed our wellness points for a health check-up.
That said, AdvantageClub.ai has some drawbacks. One major downside is its lack of pricing transparency—costs vary based on your team's location and the features you need, so you’ll have to speak with sales to get an accurate quote. Also, unlike some competitors like Guusto and Workstars, the platform doesn’t offer a free trial, which makes it even harder for extra cautious companies who like to try before buying.
And for those particularly interested in the platform’s analytics and dashboard, bear in mind that fully leveraging these tools often requires some extra support from the vendor side.
1,000+ companies, including TARGET, EY, Concentrix, and BCG.
AdvantageClub.ai has custom pricing only, and no free trial is offered.
Best For
AdvantageClub.ai is best for large enterprises and mid-sized companies, especially those with a global workforce, looking for a highly customizable employee recognition platform with a vast rewards marketplace and AI-driven automation to boost engagement.
Bucketlist
We were drawn to Bucketlist because of its diverse recognition and reward options, including peer-to-peer recognition, customizable rewards, and an intuitive web and mobile experience that enables easy team engagement and continuous appreciation. Importantly, the platform provides dedicated support to all plan users, a feature not offered by many vendors.
PROS
- Intuitive interface on both desktop and mobile for easy navigation.
- Flexible peer recognition system with optional approval settings.
- Wide variety of rewards, including gift cards, donations, and experiences. Customizable reward options also available.
- Dedicated onboarding and account managers for all plans.
- Vast number of rewards available, some users have even mentioned that it’s hard to pick one
- The Bucketlist team has been known for adding customer suggestions to their product roadmap and delivering on them
- When it comes to pricing, they offer to match another offer if you find a better price elsewhere
CONS
- No option to go back when browsing GIFs for shoutouts.
- Somewhat limited experiential reward options compared to cash-based incentives.
- One-time setup fee and monthly per-employee charge may be costly for smaller teams.
- Only available in English
- Little information is available as to the particularities of their concierge service for experience rewards.
One of the first things we noticed when testing Bucketlist was how user-friendly the platform is. Whether on desktop or mobile, navigating the system felt intuitive for both administrator and employee users.
Employees could send recognition messages (or “shoutouts”) to peers, attaching tokens that could later be redeemed for rewards. We liked that companies could choose whether the recognitions required approval or not since this offers a nice balance between spontaneity and structured oversight.
The rewards marketplace was another strong selling point. Employees can redeem points for a wide variety of rewards, including digital gift cards, charitable donations, and experiential rewards. Moreover, the system allows administrators to add additional gift cards that align with company culture and employee preferences. We found this particularly helpful, as it gives organizations more control over their incentive programs.
Having a straightforward UI is great, but having a designated expert who walks you through the process and helps customize features takes it to another level. And we loved that Bucketlist offers just that. Every plan includes a dedicated onboarding manager and a dedicated account manager, a level of service that many recognition platforms lack. Whether it’s tailoring recognition settings, configuring approval workflows, or tweaking reward options, the extra support made the user experience feel smooth and stress-free.
While Bucketlist offers many strengths, we did encounter some challenges. More specifically, searching for GIFs when sending shoutouts was a bit frustrating, as there’s no way to go back to a previous option if you scroll past one you like. This might sound minor, but in practice, it slows down the experience and makes it feel a bit clunky.
Though Bucketlist’s cash-based incentives and gift cards were plentiful, we couldn’t help but feel the experiential rewards catalog is somewhat limited. Many companies are moving toward experience-based rewards, so it would be great to see Bucketlist expand its options in this area.
Lastly, pricing could be a barrier for smaller teams due to the system’s one-time setup fee and monthly per-employee charge. While the high level of customization and customer support helps justify the cost, businesses with fewer than 200 employees looking for a low-cost option might find Connecteam and Matter better alternatives.
500+ companies, including RBC, Chick-fil-A, and Danone.
Bucketlist plans cost around $2-4 per employee per month, plus a one-time setup fee and an annual fee.
Best For
Bucketlist is a strong choice for midsized and large companies looking for a simple, flexible, and highly customizable recognition program.
Our experience has been fantastic. We have a direct account manager who we speak with regularly and we work together to make any changes necessary. If we need help, I know I can reach out to them and will get a response very quickly. it is easy to create and have your account approved.
I appreciate several features of Bucketlist. The activity feed allows me to easily track the recognition others receive. The platform’s user-friendliness is impressive, and the customizable marketplace caters to our specific requirements. I also enjoy exploring the leaderboard and celebrating people’s achievements. Bucketlist’s customizability enables the platform’s look to mirror our brand and image. The web-based interface resembles a typical internet or intranet page.
Among various platforms, none matched the level of customization that Bucketlist provides for our company's Culture, Values, and Reward structure. Additionally, their service, which includes building our system and a hands-on approach during the launch, was unparalleled compared to others. Comparable features at a more budget-friendly price.
I have used the tool for three years and found the system working efficiently. Being able to share positive stories about colleagues’ good deeds in a way that doesn’t embarrass them but is accessible to all members of the company—especially those who wouldn’t typically hear about individual daily acts of kindness—is invaluable. In my experience, this recognition, whether through points or not, fosters a sense of appreciation and well-being.
Bucketlist could enhance its platform by introducing a few key features. Firstly, allowing users to save their location preferences would eliminate the need to repeatedly filter redemption options by location.
Secondly, a comprehensive recognition history page would be valuable, displaying all recognitions received by an individual.
Lastly, when a customer service query is raised, providing a reference number or saving a copy of the query would facilitate efficient follow-up, especially if customer support response times were not as prompt.
Although my suggestion may seem less enthusiastic, I still want to discuss it. When I search for 'Bucketlist' on Google, I encounter numerous unrelated results, with very few relevant to the features that Bucketlist provides. In my opinion, improving the SEO would help Bucketlist stand out in Google search results, making it more accessible.
I appreciate the user-friendly experience. The entire process, from sending recognition to redeeming points, is straightforward to navigate. I also enjoy the playful details like GIFs and emojis, which add a touch of whimsy and meaning to the words and points awarded.
It is easy to customize and use for all businesses and personal use. It is cheap and has no effects of overwhelming. We all want to give recognition and encouragement to our fellow teammates, and this makes it so easy while putting them in a running feed so that everyone can share in the positivity and motivation.
The admin page has been customized in many colors and this has changed many things.
Software companies
Software engineers
Workstars
We picked Workstars for its bold stance on prioritizing peer recognition over reward spend. During the demo, we were also impressed by its flexible, no-markup reward options and reporting that ties every recognition to company values.
PROS
- Recognition is tied to company values by default, reinforcing culture.
- Rewards can be internal, non-monetary, or processed through payroll, at no extra cost.
- Each client receives dedicated onboarding and training regardless of pricing tier.
- Customizable features allow full control over values, behaviors, and visibility settings.
- Management and executive dashboards provide real-time insights into recognition patterns.
- Custom rewards like service awards, top performer awards, nominations, voting, etc
- Cost-effective when compared to similar platforms.
- Culturally-aware; while based mostly in the UK and US, the Workstars team has been known to go the extra mile to adapt to the customs, expectations, and cost of living adjustments of clients in other parts of the world.
CONS
- UI feels less modern compared to sleeker competitors.
- AI features for recognition message drafting are still pending release.
- Customer service operates in UK and US hours only, which may delay responses for other time zones.
- The user interface appears less modern than some competitors.
- Support is limited to UK and US business hours, which could result in delayed responses for international users.
- Neither a free plan nor a free trial is offered.
Rather than following suit to the typical “more rewards = better engagement” formula commonly seen in the employee recognition space, Workstars stands out by centering on creating a culture of recognition rooted in company values and peer connection. From the start of our demo, we could tell this platform is built for HR teams that want to shift their recognition strategy from budget management to culture building.
Where more and more platforms funnel users toward paid rewards, Workstars offers a refreshing alternative: customers can build their own catalog of non-monetary perks (e.g., job shadowing, extra time off, lunch with the CEO) or enable payroll reimbursements and gift cards without being charged fees by Workstars. This makes it more flexible and cost-efficient than recognition platforms that rely on vendor-issued rewards.
Workstars’ behavioral tagging system ties every recognition back to specific company values. This not only reinforces culture but also feeds into the reporting dashboards, which we deemed quite powerful. More specifically, team managers see who is getting recognized, for what values, and where gaps exist. Meanwhile, executive dashboards allow HR leaders to compare departments and track progress against recognition goals. Plus, the onboarding and customer success experience are the cherry on top. Every customer, regardless of tier, receives hands-on implementation and ongoing training.
That said, we think you’ll agree that the current UI does feel a bit utilitarian. What’s more, AI-generated recognition messaging is still in development. Good news is that the upcoming 2026 redesign promises to address both, and based on the product team’s responsiveness, we’re optimistic.
Questrade, Aventum, Weetabix, Acadia
Workstars charges per user/month, tiered by company size and features:
- Entry (£1.50): 50-250 employees; includes recognition, rewards, analytics, and full support.
- Pro (£1.60-£3.00): Adds SSO, social integrations, business hierarchy, and API access.
- Global (£1.90-£4.00): Adds multi-language, multi-currency, and cost-of-living adjustments.
Best For
Workstars is best suited for mid-sized and enterprise companies that want to build recognition-first cultures without over-relying on monetary rewards. It’s especially strong for global teams and values-driven HR leaders.
We use it to say happy birthdays. We use it to wish each other happy work anniversaries. We use it to create a positive environment for our employees. It has helped increase overall morale.
I really like the design of emails. I like that you can custom-make emails that are sent to employees. I like to provide employees with a fun tool.
They decided to use workstars as an additional resource for employee recognition for birthdays. They also wanted to recognize employees for anniversaries. They wanted to be able to give each other props on a regular basis.
Thought it was expensive for the platform. Wish it was more user-friendly. Wish we had one dedicated rep.
They are very similar to other platforms out there.
How often you plan to use it. How many employees you will have using it.
I haven’t noticed changes while we used it.
Hybrid organization that has employees all over the world.
It’s good for all organizations
Top Employee Recognition Platforms Features
Employee recognition tools have many features to help build a strong company culture and employee engagement including:
- Peer-to-Peer Recognition: Allows employees to recognize each other’s contributions, creating a supportive and collaborative work environment. Nectar is, for example, one of the top employee reward and recognition program companies for peer recognition through personal employee awards and appreciation quotes.
- Manager-to-Employee Recognition: Gives managers the tools to recognize their team members’ achievements, reinforce positive behaviour and boost morale. Platforms like Reward Gateway and Bucketlist let managers offer timely and meaningful recognition with many options to choose from.
- Social Recognition: Publicly recognizing achievements helps form an appreciation culture. Motivosity’s social recognition, for instance, creates a community-focused environment where peers can view and engage with recognition.
- Customizable Rewards Catalog: This allows employees to choose the perks and rewards that mean something to them, from custom eCards to charitable donations. For example, Guusto offers extensive reward options, including company merchandise and experiences you can redeem at over 60,000 stores worldwide.
- Automated Milestone Celebrations: Automated milestone celebrations are a way to celebrate significant events like work anniversaries and birthdays. Nectar is one of the employee recognition vendors that make milestone celebrations easy with native automated service awards and birthday recognitions.
- Integration with Team Collaboration Tools: Recognition can be integrated into daily workflows through platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams. Matter serves as a perfect illustration—the employee recognition tool lets employees recognize others directly within Slack and Teams, so they can acknowledge them in real-time.
- Mobile Accessibility: Reward and recognition programs are accessible to remote or deskless workers through mobile-friendly platforms. Kudos is one of many vendors that have mobile-optimized apps for on-the-go recognition program participation.
- Reporting and Analytics: Gives you detailed insights into program performance so you can measure impact and adjust. For instance, Motivosity has real-time analytics and dashboards to see engagement and recognition trends, all of which combines to empower your rewards and recognition strategy.
Benefits of Using Employee Recognition Platforms
Having a recognition program in place is important to both your company’s human and financial capital. Recognition software can bring numerous benefits, including increased employee engagement, access to valuable data, and automated recognition processes.
- More Engaged Workforce: Employee recognition programs make it easier for employees to engage with each other in ways that align with your company’s values and work culture. Employee recognition statistics show that higher engagement is great for the bottom line, too: organizations with high employee engagement levels are 21% more profitable.
- Better Team Well-being: Regular recognition makes employees feel valued and appreciated, which reduces stress and improves mental health. A study found that 69% of employees believe their well-being would improve if they were thanked more often.
- Improved Employee Retention: Recognized employees are more likely to remain with their employer. Statistically, organizations with recognition programs experience 31% lower voluntary turnover compared to those without such programs.
- Attracting Top Talent: Unsurprisingly, a recognition culture makes an organization more attractive to future employees. And organizations that put employee recognition first are in a better position to attract top talent looking for a positive work environment.
- Actionable Employee Data: The best employee recognition platforms often come with engagement measurement capabilities (e.g., pulse surveys), which provide you with all sorts of useful metrics. This data will help you ensure that recognition plans are being executed within a specific budget and time frame and that rewards are fairly distributed.
- Streamlined Recognition Processes: Automatic reminders of work and personal anniversaries, competitions, and monthly awards not only bring consistent recognition across all levels of your business but also streamline the recognition operations for your HR employees.
Employee Recognition Software Pricing
Most employee recognition vendors sort to either marketplace pricing model or per-use-per-month.
- Marketplace Pricing Model: You pay a percentage of your total annual spending. For instance, if you spend $40,000 for 100 employees, an 18% fee would cost you $7,200 annually.
- Per-User-Per-Month Pricing Model: This model charges a flat rate per employee each month. For a team of 10, you might pay $10 per employee, totaling $12,000 a year. This option offers predictable costs and is ideal for frequent engagement.
NOTE: Recognition Platforms’ Potential Hidden Fees to Watch Out For:
Some vendors may charge rewards fees and markups, so it’s advisable you check this with your potential picks before making the purchase.
Additionally, monthly and annual subscription minimums are quite common in this industry. For example:
- Guutso's subscription minimums are $40 for the Lite plan, $80 for the Essential plan, and $400 for the Premium plan.
- Nectar requires a minimum annual commitment of $4,000.
- TerryBerry charges an annual administration fee calculated based on the total number of employees and reward redemptions processed.
How to Use Recognition Platforms Effectively
Integrating the platform with the rest of your tech stack, frequently measuring the impacts of implemented recognition programs, automating workflows, and maximizing peer-to-peer recognition opportunities are all key best practices for HR specialists working with employee recognition programs. Of course, all this is made simpler if you also make an effort to secure management buy-in.
- HR Integration: Before buying a recognition platform, make sure you have the right HR software integrations. Onboarding one that doesn’t work well with your existing tech stack will only hamstring your business. At an absolute minimum, any platform you pick should integrate with your company’s Human Resource Information System (HRIS) as well as team communication tools.
- Regular Program Checkups: Not all employees respond to recognition in the same way, so it’s well worth spending time performing regular checkups to determine whether the current recognition program works and what types of recognition resonate with different employees to make necessary adjustments.
- Recognition Automation: Automating employee recognition where appropriate is another fantastic time saver and likely one of the most popular features of this type of software among HR pros. As mentioned above, even automating simple reminders like work or personal anniversaries frees up significant time.
- Peer-to-Peer Engagement: Peer-to-peer recognition is arguably the most important employee recognition type. Employees should have a say in the rewards and recognition that motivate them the most. Your employee recognition ROI will be levels higher if you encourage engagement throughout your organization rather than settling for a top-down tool that delivers information in one direction.
- Internal HR Tech Buy-in: Present a clear plan of action for integration, checkups and automation, and peer-to-peer engagement. Your organization’s decision-makers need to be able to easily understand the return on investment of your time and their money. Once that’s established, they’re more likely to give your HR team the freedom to implement these best practices as effectively as possible.
Employee Recognition Software FAQs
What is employee recognition?
Employee recognition is the practice of acknowledging and rewarding employees for their accomplishments, hard work, and day-to-day contributions. This acknowledgment can take various forms, such as verbal praise, written commendations, awards, bonuses, or public recognition, and can be handled significantly easier with employee recognition programs. The primary goal is to reinforce behaviors that align with the company's values and objectives while fostering a positive workplace culture.
What is the difference between employee recognition and employee rewards?
Employee recognition involves acknowledging and appreciating an employee's efforts, which can be highly motivating on its own, even without any physical rewards. In contrast, employee rewards are tangible incentives, such as bonuses or gifts, that signify appreciation for a job well done. However, rewards need recognition to hold value. They are essentially a form of acknowledgment of an employee's achievements.
What is employee recognition software?
Employee recognition software is a digital tool designed to help organizations implement employee recognition program ideas, acknowledging teams’ and individuals’ achievements and contributions in a structured and meaningful way, thereby fostering a culture of appreciation.
What are the benefits of employee recognition software?
The main benefits of employee recognition software include improved employee engagement, time savings through the automation of core tasks, and the collection of actionable data.
How much does employee recognition software cost?
Employee recognition software designed for small businesses often costs around $2.25 to $40 per user per month, while recognition platforms for global enterprises typically charge a few hundred dollars per user monthly and most of the time, require annual billing.
What are some examples of employee recognition?
Employee recognition can take many forms. Some great ideas for employee recognition programs include verbal appreciation words, Employee of the Month programs, leaderboards to acknowledge remote employees, and informal recognition such as providing a paid meal.
What is the best employee recognition software for small companies?
Some of the best employee recognition programs for small companies include Nectar, Guusto, Motivosity, Matter, Bonusly, and Mo. For more information, check out our detailed reviews of these tools here.
Is there any free employee recognition software?
Yes, though not common, there are a few free employee recognition tools out there. For example, Motivosity offers free trials for all its paid plans, both Connecteam and Bonusly provide a free 14-day trial, while Guusto and Matter have basic editions that are free forever.
You May Also Like: 22 Free Employee Recognition Ideas That Actually Work
Bonus Tips on Making The Most of Your Employee Recognition Software
Top employee recognition software can significantly improve your company’s bottom line. Nevertheless, without proper planning, it may backfire, even with the best intentions. We have all seen instances where an award felt more like a popularity contest than a recognition of true merit, and we want to avoid that. Recognition that does not align with the organization’s core values or mission wouldn’t do us any good, either.
When rolling out your recognition program, it is, thus, of utmost importance to communicate the financial and cultural return these programs can provide. It’s also crucial to establish a clear protocol for the types of recognition and rewards associated with specific behaviors. Ultimately, every employee deserves recognition that genuinely uplifts and motivates them.
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