Awardco Versus the Competition

Thanks to their Amazon Business integration, Awardco is unique in basically putting Amazon’s product catalog at your disposal for employee rewards. They also have a points system for hotels, tickets, charitable donations and more.

If you're ready to get a Awardco demo, we suggest getting in touch for a look at the product and quote. Otherwise, read on!

Ratings

4.6

Ease of Use

Best For

Key Differentiator

Price

$2500 minimum annual fee

Free Trial

No

PROS

  • 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

  • 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.

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Awardco Review

Although they stand out mainly for their Amazon integration and reward catalog, Awardco is also interesting because of its many modules. Within a single platform, they have the tools you’d expect for rewards and recognition, like a social media feed, shout outs, and a points system. But they also have the Celebrate, Earn, and Manage modules.

Celebrate is for recognizing employees when reaching a certain milestone in their career or other meaningful moments. The folks at Awardsco felt that the usual rewards, like a gift-card or company swag or even a plaque, could feel bland compared to the meaning of say, reaching a certain tenure within the company or getting a promotion.

So, they devised this module with reward offerings like trips, experiences, and digital memory books. As with most of the platform, you can set up automated reminders for dates like birthdays and service anniversaries. This also saves you the legwork of getting managers to sign off on an initiative or colleagues to sign a card for instance, thanks to the automated emails feature. 

Then we have Earn, of which we already explained a bit in the features section of this review. This basically grabs their entire catalog and makes it available to tie certain rewards to an individual or team objective. It can be used to incentivize performance or participation within an internal program. For example, an employee can get a certain amount of points if they reach 90% of their KPIs for the month, or get a gift card for attending a seminar and then sharing notes with the rest of the team. 

Finally, ‘Manage’ is the part of the portal where you keep track of everything going on with your rewards and recognition activity. It’s where you’ll set a budget, handle taxes related to the rewards and recognition expenses, manage HRMS and other integrations, and get reports which can be exported to .csv.

What users think of Awardco

Reviewer's Rating
8/10

I spent around three days a week in Awardco. I was responsible for setting up programs, handling reporting requests, and assisting employees with support topics. Program setup involved defining eligibility criteria, ensuring the budget was set properly, and uploading images and descriptions for each program.

Programs ranged from volunteer events to completing questionnaires with colleagues—Awardco allowed us to track these activities and reward employees easily. I also maintained the rewards catalog that employees used to redeem their points.

What do you like about Awardco?
  • Programs were easy to set up and highly customizable.
  • Permissions were clear and allowed us to maintain proper security protocols.
  • Integrations were seamless, and SSO setup was a significant benefit for our employees.
Why did your organization buy Awardco, and how long have you used it for?

I used Awardco for about a year and a half, including during the implementation phase. Our company was looking for ways to improve employee engagement through program participation and foster a culture of positive, public feedback. We encouraged managers to recognize their direct reports and peers to recognize peers across departments.

From a systems perspective, we also wanted to consolidate other rewards programs onto one platform for easier tracking. We sought a standalone recognition platform with available integrations.

What do you dislike about Awardco?
  • Funding and managing budgets was tricky and required additional support during the first few months.
  • Reporting could be difficult and often required multiple reports to gather the necessary information.
  • Branding functionality was limited.
How is Awardco different than their competitors?

I have not used another dedicated employee recognition platform.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?

Companies should consider how much emphasis they want to place on employee recognition. If it is not a priority, simply implementing a tool will not create a culture of recognition.

Companies should also determine if they intend to provide monetary rewards to employees and consider the costs associated with that. Many HRIS platforms have feedback modules or features that allow employee recognition without the need to distribute monetary rewards.

How has Awardco changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?

Throughout the time I used Awardco, there were no major changes or updates to the platform.

What specific type of user or organization is Awardco very good for?

Awardco is well suited for companies that have employees or teams focused on employee engagement. The platform is only as effective as the organization makes it—the more effort, usage, and programs in place, the better the experience for employees.

What specific type of user or organization would Awardco not be a good fit for?

If a company does not have the time and resources to properly market the tool and manage programs within Awardco, adoption and usage will be limited.

Similarly, if the company does not have the financial resources to reward employees, there is little benefit to using this tool.

Reviewer's Rating
8/10

I primarily use the Peer-to-Peer recognition and Manager recognition functions. I enjoy recognizing coworkers who have helped me or collaborated with me on projects as a way to show my appreciation.

As a manager, I use the platform to acknowledge my employees' birthdays, work anniversaries, and key achievements. These features have helped foster a positive work environment. Awardco makes it easy to celebrate milestones and reinforce a culture of recognition.

What do you like about Awardco?
  • I appreciate the wide variety of reward options employees can choose from.
  • The automated messages we have set up for employee birthdays and anniversaries are a great touch.
  • The ability to create separate pools for award money, including both peer and manager pools, provides flexibility in our recognition strategy.
Why did your organization buy Awardco, and how long have you used it for?

Our company was looking for an employee recognition tool to integrate into our tech stack. We have used it for about three years, and I have personally used it for the past year. We wanted a system that was easy for employees to navigate while being simple to administer and maintain.

Awardco provided the functionality we needed to recognize and reward employees efficiently. It has helped create a culture of appreciation within our organization.

What do you dislike about Awardco?
  • I wish the notifications were more customizable to better suit individual preferences.
  • The notification options are too broad, leading many employees to opt out entirely to avoid being overwhelmed.
  • More flexibility in reporting features would be helpful to track recognition trends more effectively.
How is Awardco different than their competitors?

Awardco is straightforward and easy to use, which has led to higher adoption rates compared to other platforms we considered. The wide range of reward options, including gift certificates, branded merchandise, and experiences, sets it apart. The simplicity of the platform has made it a preferred choice within our organization.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?

A tool like this is only effective if employees actively use it, so ease of use is critical. It is also important to understand how points can be allocated to ensure spending remains balanced. Considering the level of customization available in notifications and reporting can further enhance the user experience.

How has Awardco changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?

We haven't observed many changes over time—what we initially set up is still what we are using today. The platform has remained consistent in its functionality and design.

What specific type of user or organization is Awardco very good for?

Awardco is well-suited for a variety of organizations, depending on their recognition goals. We are a medium-sized company, and it has been a great fit for us.

What specific type of user or organization would Awardco not be a good fit for?

I can't think of any specific type of organization that wouldn't benefit from it.

Reviewer's Rating
9/10

Awardco excels in employee recognition. One of its key strengths is that it creates a network for employees to express and demonstrate appreciation for their peers. This promotes more positive feedback and collaboration.

Awardco plays an integral role in performance and culture management by generating artifacts that HR personnel can reference during evaluations. This feature is particularly useful for performance reviews.

What do you like about Awardco?
  • Awardco has a sleek, user-friendly interface.
  • Reward points provide structured recognition for employees and can be redeemed for various rewards.
  • The customer service is excellent.
Why did your organization buy Awardco, and how long have you used it for?

I worked with a client who needed to integrate Awardco with our Workday implementation. As a result, I was involved in their tech stack management workflow. I was part of this engagement for approximately 1.5 years.

The key benefits Awardco provides include a robust employee engagement system, culture management, recognition and rewards infrastructure, and dollar-for-dollar incentives.

Organizations seek this tool to establish a structured approach to recognizing and rewarding employees and peers in a meaningful way.

What do you dislike about Awardco?
  • Awardco offers multiple redemption options, but there may still be limitations when it comes to gift cards.
  • The system can be expensive.
  • It may not be practical for small organizations or teams that do not rely on positive feedback loops or collaboration.
How is Awardco different than their competitors?

Competitors like Culture Amp focus more on data insights rather than user interface. Integration can sometimes be more challenging compared to Microsoft Viva Engage, which offers strong social features within the Microsoft ecosystem. Budget and organization size are key factors to consider when choosing between these tools.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?
  • Organization size—consider how large your workforce is and whether they will adopt a social-based interface.
  • Budget—determine whether your organization is prepared to invest in employee recognition and if the expected ROI justifies the cost.
How has Awardco changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?

Awardco has not introduced any major breakthroughs in recent years, but they continue to focus on improving the user interface, making it more intuitive and visually appealing.

What specific type of user or organization is Awardco very good for?

Awardco is good for mid-to-large enterprises with highly collaborative teams or team-centric workflows.

What specific type of user or organization would Awardco not be a good fit for?

Awardco is not good for small enterprises with highly segregated employee workflows.

Awardco Alternatives:

Assembly

Assembly makes rewarding employees easy and friendly towards SMBs with a flexible pricing structure, good integration options, and support for both peer and top-down rewards.
Popularity Score
4.1 / 5
User Score
4.7 / 5
Product Score
4.1 / 5
Visit Website

Assembly

Assembly makes rewarding employees easy and friendly towards SMBs with a flexible pricing structure, good integration options, and support for both peer and top-down rewards.
Popularity Score
4.1 / 5
User Score
4.7 / 5
Product Score
4.1 / 5
Learn More

Motivosity

Motivosity lets employees choose personalized, exciting rewards; automates service awards and birthdays; and leverages gamification to drive engagement in company initiatives.
Popularity Score
4.1 / 5
User Score
4.7 / 5
Product Score
4.4 / 5
Visit Website

Motivosity

Motivosity lets employees choose personalized, exciting rewards; automates service awards and birthdays; and leverages gamification to drive engagement in company initiatives.
Popularity Score
4.1 / 5
User Score
4.7 / 5
Product Score
4.4 / 5
Learn More

Nectar

Nectar's catalog covers an extensive range of reward programs for employees, from company swag to Amazon goods, gift cards, and charity donations. If that’s not enough, you also have the option to add custom rewards that are tailored to the relevant recipient(s), and save 10% on pricing with your SHRM membership.
Popularity Score
4.2 / 5
User Score
4.5 / 5
Product Score
4.3 / 5
Visit Website

Nectar

Nectar's catalog covers an extensive range of reward programs for employees, from company swag to Amazon goods, gift cards, and charity donations. If that’s not enough, you also have the option to add custom rewards that are tailored to the relevant recipient(s), and save 10% on pricing with your SHRM membership.
Popularity Score
4.2 / 5
User Score
4.5 / 5
Product Score
4.3 / 5
Learn More

Awardco

Awardco helps you give thoughtful and personal reward programs to employees. Besides Amazon rewards, it features Bonus Boxes, digital MemoryBooks, and extensive redemption options, letting you appreciate people in creative ways.
Popularity Score
4.1 / 5
User Score
4.7 / 5
Product Score
4.4 / 5
Visit Website

Awardco

Awardco helps you give thoughtful and personal reward programs to employees. Besides Amazon rewards, it features Bonus Boxes, digital MemoryBooks, and extensive redemption options, letting you appreciate people in creative ways.
Popularity Score
4.1 / 5
User Score
4.7 / 5
Product Score
4.4 / 5
Learn More

Achievers

We chose Achievers because its international reward system performed more smoothly than most we’ve tested. Local vendor partnerships across 200-plus countries reduced friction for employees receiving rewards, and the platform’s real-time budgeting features kept things predictable at scale.
Popularity Score
4.3 / 5
User Score
4.7 / 5
Product Score
4.4 / 5
Visit Website

Achievers

We chose Achievers because its international reward system performed more smoothly than most we’ve tested. Local vendor partnerships across 200-plus countries reduced friction for employees receiving rewards, and the platform’s real-time budgeting features kept things predictable at scale.
Popularity Score
4.3 / 5
User Score
4.7 / 5
Product Score
4.4 / 5
Learn More

Who shouldn't buy Awardco

Awardco has plans that could be suitable for small businesses (1-100 employees), mid-market (100-1000) or enterprise (>1000). They do cater to businesses in several parts of the world and, as you can see from their client list, a variety of industries.

As far as rewards and features go, Awardco is one of the most complete tools we’ve seen. Hence, if you’re looking for a quick and simple solution to get started with rewards and recognition, for instance, a platform to send out gift cards and send shout outs, Awardco would definitely be more than what you need.

Awardco Customers

Amazon, Ford, Pinterest, Cornell, Chick-fil-A, Paramount, Pacific Life, and Hertz.

Awardco: Huge Selection of Rewards
visit Awardco

Awardco Key Features

  • Employee Recognition: From the same platform, you can recognize an individual or multiple team members at a time, tag a specific type of action, program, or network you’re recognizing them for, and then write a small text explaining why. Recognitions can be points or a simple “thank you”.
  • Employee Incentives: Awardco also stands out for having the “Earn” module, where you can incentivize employees to reach specific goals or be part of internal initiatives (for example, a safety training) in exchange for points. The remarkable thing about this module is that it lets employees take ownership of their rewards.
  • Zero Markup Rewards: Awardco’s partnership with Amazon Business means you pay the same price for products as if you purchase them yourself. You also save on shipping thanks to the eCommerce giant’s infrastructure, and avoid imports. For instance, do you have an employee in Amsterdam? Amazon Netherlands will send their product from a local warehouse. 

Awardco also has capabilities for: 

  • Spot Recognition
  • Social Feed
  • Budget Manager
  • Reporting & Dashboards
  • Bulk Recognition
  • Birthday Automation
  • Onboarding Programs
  • Branded rewards and UX

Awardco Key Integrations

  • Okta
  • Slack
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Compatible with all sorts of HRIS systems, mostly through an API or SFTP method
  • Only supports SAML 2
  • SSO is an option

Awardco Pricing

Awardco has a $5,000 minimum annual fee. The final pricing structure would vary according to your company size and reward needs.

Awardco is Best For

How has Awardco Changed Over Time?

Awardco Implementation

According to their sales page, implementing Awardco will take 4-12 weeks. Times will vary depending on the state of your recognition program and how many people it’s going to serve. With any implementation, there's a dedicated team to help with technical configurations and overall strategy.

Awardco Customer Success

As an Awardco client, you get a Client Success Manager that’s available by phone or email should you need any assistance. As part of their Customer Success efforts, Awardco also offers a User Support FAQ, they constantly publish content on best practices to increase the internal adoption of recognition programs. Also, their personal support is handled through Zendesk.

About Awardco

Although their LinkedIn lists their founding year as 2015, Awardco actually traces its origins back to 2012. Then, the company was a couple of people working on a picnic table. They started as a basic reward and recognition software platform, which we can say was a fairly novel idea at the time. The idea spread, the company kept growing and they were able to land their deal with Amazon Business a couple of years later. In turn, this enabled them to get other partnerships and keep growing their reward offering. For instance, now they can offer holiday packages or in-town experiences as rewards. Awardco are now able to cater to over 3 million users globally, in over 140 countries.

Company HQ

Provo, Utah

Number of Employees

370+

Year Founded

2015

Amount Raised

Last round was $65M in Series A funding in the fall of 2021.

FAQ

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Awardco Alternatives

Assembly

Best for flexible, SMB-friendly pricing structure

Popularity score
4.9 / 5
user score
4.7 / 5
Product score
4.1 / 5
Motivosity

Best for mobile-friendly, social rewards

Popularity score
4.7 / 5
user score
4.7 / 5
Product score
4.4 / 5
Nectar

Best for ever-growing rewards features and SHRM partnership

Popularity score
4.8 / 5
user score
4.5 / 5
Product score
4.3 / 5
Achievers

Best for teams of 500+ employees

Popularity score
/ 5
user score
4.7 / 5
Product score
4.4 / 5
Bonusly

Best for intuitive points-based rewards

Popularity score
4.7 / 5
user score
4.8 / 5
Product score
4.2 / 5
WorkTango

Best for robust rewards automation capabilities

Popularity score
4.8 / 5
user score
4.5 / 5
Product score
4.4 / 5
ITA Group

Best for global and distributed teams

Popularity score
4.9 / 5
user score
4.7 / 5
Product score
4.2 / 5
Guusto

Best for teams with frontline workers, free plan available

Popularity score
4.9 / 5
user score
4.7 / 5
Product score
4.2 / 5
Connecteam

Best for free plan covering rewards, time off, and training

Popularity score
4.6 / 5
user score
4.6 / 5
Product score
4.6 / 5
Workstars

Best for linking employee rewards to company values

Popularity score
4.8 / 5
user score
4.7 / 5
Product score
4.1 / 5

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