Bonusly Versus the Competition

Bonusly is an employee recognition and rewards platform that specializes in gift cards. Available in dozens of countries, their international rewards catalog is impressive.

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

Ratings

4.7

Ease of Use

Best For

Key Differentiator

Price

Custom Pricing

Free Trial

Yes

PROS

  • 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

  • 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.

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Bonusly Review

Bonusly’s global offering makes it easy for multicultural teams to send gift cards to recognize excellence and reward their peers.

Users choose a reward, select the country from the drop-down menu, and pick gift cards from available partners. Options also include local establishments. Recipients can "cash out" and spend the money on services (housekeeping, for example) or donate their bonus.

In addition to streamlining the process for rewards, Bonusly also lets users recognize employee accomplishments by broadcasting to the entire company or with selected teams. When someone is singled out for doing good work, Bonusly will help users shout it from the rooftops (safely within the confines of the platform, of course).

Bonusly can make building rewards into the manager’s daily routine easier. Impromptu team-wide or individual rewards are easy to give, and users can set up goodies for "delivery" for recurring events like birthdays and work anniversaries. Additionally, each employee is provided with a monthly allowance for peer-to-peer recognition.

Along with all the revelry, Bonusly has also created a swag integration, namely AXOMO. Users choose the swag, connect to the AXOMO store to the Bonusly Reward catalog, and employees can directly redeem their points for company swag in addition to the usual reward choices.

What users think of Bonusly

Reviewer's Rating
9/10

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.

What do you like about Bonusly?
  • 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.
Why did your organization buy Bonusly, and how long have you used it for?

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.

What do you dislike about Bonusly?
  • 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.
How is Bonusly different than their competitors?

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

Bonusly works well for companies of any size, from small teams of five to large enterprises with 15,000 employees.

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

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.

Reviewer's Rating
7/10

Bonusly is ideal for hourly, non-exempt workforce populations; these folks are engaged and thrive off the recognition. Management applauds this valuable tool and its support of teams and people across capabilities, departments and projects. Bonusly is also used as a means to donate to different charities. The reporting feature is helpful to understanding employee engagement.

What do you like about Bonusly?

Bonusly offers diverse opportunities to acknowledge and commend team contributions in a meaningful and impactful way. The UI is quite easy to navigate and integration with Slack makes it so easy to send "fun recognition" to colleagues. The ability to utilize Bonusly across the globe is also a great benefit.

Why did your organization buy Bonusly, and how long have you used it for?

I've used Bonusly with different organizations over the years. Bonusly absolutely achieves collaboration across teams/departments. It is a great way for peers to give kudos to each other via Slack (or other integrated platforms, as needed). I have multi-generational teams including Boomers to Gen Z-ers. Team members enjoy the ease of use, and the ability to recognize their teammates any time, day or night, and the ability to make it fun by adding memes, GIFs etc. to their posts.

What do you dislike about Bonusly?

The rewards are limited; not a lot of variety in gift cards. The need for a message and a mandatory hashtag can seem redundant and inconvenient. Automatic reminders to users to redeem points before they expire should be a standard feature. Additional choices for international employees would definitely be welcome!

How is Bonusly different than their competitors?

Bonusly is a great platform for daily recognition. I don't feel that Bonusly can truly compete with platforms such as Snappy, which offer more impactful gifts. Organizations truly do need both as an opportunity for keeping teammates and colleagues engaged.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?
  • Integrations are important, especially with Slack or any main workplace communication tool.
  • Reporting is pivotal to determining how to best use peer recognition tools within the workplace.
  • Having a functional, easy-to-use dashboard is a must-have, as is the ability to customize based on business needs.
How has Bonusly changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?

Bonusly's possibilities for integrations and mobility is constantly evolving, as are the rewards and charitable donation options.

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

Bonusly is excellent for remote and global workforces, as well as hourly and entry-level employees and their managers. Bonusly is a successful tool in any sector of industry; as it is a universal tool that encourages peer recognition, appreciation, rewards and charitable giving.

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

I believe Bonusly to be a beneficial tool for any organization/sector of industry.

Reviewer's Rating
10/10

We use Bonusly through the desktop and mobile version, and the team uses it on average about once a week. The team can use Bonusly to recognize their teammates for great work, or for their alignment with our core values. We also use it to give larger quarterly recognitions for client compliments or large wins.

What do you like about Bonusly?

It has an easy to use interface. It is easy to set up team members on it. It can be customized to align with our core values.

Why did your organization buy Bonusly, and how long have you used it for?

We were looking to integrate recognition into our workflows. We wanted it to be distributed across the organization, so it wasn't leadership only but everyone participated. We also wanted to align recognition with our core values. We've been using Bonusly for just over a year, and it has helped our team pause each month and recognize people for their efforts.

What do you dislike about Bonusly?

While Bonusly offers several beneficial features, there are areas that could be improved to enhance user experience and functionality. One of the drawbacks is the clunky and challenging nature of the Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) process, particularly when using it on mobile devices. Simplifying and streamlining the 2FA procedure would make it more user-friendly and accessible. Another area of concern is the Signals feature, which falls short when it comes to conducting employee surveys. The limited scale options of 1-5 restrict the ability to capture nuanced feedback, as some questions may require a more extensive rating scale. Providing customizable scales would allow for greater flexibility in survey design. Moreover, the lack of customization options for survey questions itself is a drawback. Enabling users to personalize and tailor questions to their specific needs and objectives would enhance the effectiveness of data collection. Lastly, improving the process of extracting and integrating survey results into analysis systems would facilitate data analysis and reporting. By addressing these cons and implementing the suggested improvements, Bonusly could offer a more seamless and customizable experience, enhancing its usability and value as an employee engagement tool.

How is Bonusly different than their competitors?
What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?

One of Bonusly’s key strengths is the ability to customize company awards and rewards, allowing organizations to tailor recognition programs to their specific needs and culture. This flexibility ensures that employees feel appreciated in meaningful and personalized ways. Additionally, Bonusly has a user-friendly mobile interface, enabling seamless access and participation on the go. This makes recognition accessible anytime, anywhere. Another standout feature is its integration with Google Chat, which streamlines use within our team’s workflow. When searching for an employee engagement software, these qualities—customization, mobile interface, and integration—should be top considerations, and Bonusly excels in all these areas, making it an ideal choice for fostering a culture of recognition and appreciation.

How has Bonusly changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?
What specific type of user or organization is Bonusly very good for?

It has worked great for our small company

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

People who are not tech savvy, and I can see it getting expensive for larger companies.

Bonusly Alternatives:

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

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

C.A. Short Company

C.A. Short is a great option if you value high-touch support, deep customization, and a strong mix of digital and physical rewards and recognition programs for employees. Its peer-to-peer recognition features allow for both digital and physical forms of acknowledgment, while the dedicated support team makes sure the entire system is customized to your needs.
Popularity Score
4 / 5
User Score
4.5 / 5
Product Score
4.1 / 5
Visit Website

C.A. Short Company

C.A. Short is a great option if you value high-touch support, deep customization, and a strong mix of digital and physical rewards and recognition programs for employees. Its peer-to-peer recognition features allow for both digital and physical forms of acknowledgment, while the dedicated support team makes sure the entire system is customized to your needs.
Popularity Score
4 / 5
User Score
4.5 / 5
Product Score
4.1 / 5
Learn More

Bonusly

Bonusly’s specialty lies in its global rewards catalog and its ability to connect recognition with rewards to drive employee performance. The platform packs over a thousand gift cards and curated physical gifts. Teams of 50–5,000 can roll out Bonusly quickly, and nonprofits especially benefit from its discounted pricing.
Popularity Score
4.1 / 5
User Score
4.8 / 5
Product Score
4.2 / 5
Visit Website

Bonusly

Bonusly’s specialty lies in its global rewards catalog and its ability to connect recognition with rewards to drive employee performance. The platform packs over a thousand gift cards and curated physical gifts. Teams of 50–5,000 can roll out Bonusly quickly, and nonprofits especially benefit from its discounted pricing.
Popularity Score
4.1 / 5
User Score
4.8 / 5
Product Score
4.2 / 5
Learn More

Who shouldn't buy Bonusly

  • Those looking for a wide variety of reward types, including in-person experiences or physical goods, should look elsewhere.
  • A team with slumping morale, high attrition, bad reviews, or other widespread company culture problems should not use Bonusly. No single tool can "fix" a team with deep systemic issues.

Bonusly Customers

The software has over 3,100 companies from 100+ countries. Some of them are ZipRecruiter, TOAST, SurveyMonkey, and Chobani.

Bonusly: Best Platform for Peer to Peer Recognition
visit Bonusly

Bonusly Key Features

  • Peer-to-peer recognition: Employees can easily acknowledge each others’ contributions.
  • Automated milestones: Automation of gifts for important dates (birthdays, work anniversaries).
  • Incentive programs: Foster a positive culture with incentives.
  • Rewards options: Employees can choose from gift cards, charitable donations, cash, or company swag.
  • Integrations: Built-in integrations with numerous collaboration tools.
  • Social media style interface: Add gifs, images, links, and emojis to recognition.
  • Accessibility: Open API, web-based, and iOS/Android friendly.
  • Recognition Analytics: Identify trends, monitor changes, and monitor the employee recognition program’s efficiency.

Bonusly Key Integrations

  • Chat & Collaboration Software: MS Teams, Google Chat, and Slack integrations.
  • Human Resource Information System (HRIS): BambooHR, Workday, Namely, Zenefits, Paycom, ADP, Gusto, and more.
  • Custom Tools: Open API & Widget.

Bonusly Pricing

Bonusly offers three annual plans: Appreciate, Connect, and Achieve. Pricing for these plans is not publicly disclosed. A free trial is available for the Appreciate plan.

Bonusly is Best For

Small and large teams (50 to 5,000), and those who want to shape company culture with employee recognition. Also an excellent choice for peer-to-peer recognition in remote and hybrid work modes.

How has Bonusly Changed Over Time?

Bonusly Implementation

Bonusly is cloud-based, so companies can sign up and use it almost immediately. However, as the employee recognition program gets more complex, it can help with a launch strategy, manager resources, and training, resulting in streamlining the implementation process.

Bonusly Customer Success

  • Help Center.
  • System status site.
  • Typical response under 24 hours.
  • Contact support is done through an online form.
  • Customer support teams are based in Seattle, Boulder (HQ), and New York.

About Bonusly

Headquartered in Colorado with teams in Seattle and NYC, Bonusly has been around since 2012, which, along with their client list and track record, makes them one of the first names in the employee rewards and recognition software space.

Current CEO Raphael Crawford-Marks founded the company in. Speaking to Crunchbase, Crawford-Marks said that his previous work experience at several startups made him realize that employee experience would become integral to business success. The software was likely the way to measure and improve the said experience.

Interestingly, ​​Crawford-Marks was also a Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras and an instructor for Year Up. He dropped out of High School to work as a software engineer in the mid-nineties. He eventually returned to school, getting a BA in Cognitive Science at Hampshire College.

Bonusly was named one of the most successful companies in America by Inc. Magazine and one of the top 50 places to work in the US by Outside Magazine in 2019.

Company HQ

Boulder, Colorado

Number of Employees

11-50

Year Founded

2012

Amount Raised

12.5M

FAQ

Does Bonusly have a free trial?

Yes, it gives access to all the features and their customer success team and doesn’t require users to provide any payment information to start.

Who uses Bonusly?

While most Bonusly customers are midsize and large corporates, such as Hulu, ZipRecruiter, and SurveyMonkey,  their pricing plans make them very accessible to small teams.

About SSR

We spend hundreds of hours researching the best HR and recruiting software so you don’t have to. We never take money from vendors during our research phase and rely heavily on practitioners and experts to help us recommend the right software. However we may earn a small fee if you click on vendor links on this page.

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Bonusly Alternatives

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
Awardco

Best for employee reward personalization

Popularity score
4.6 / 5
user score
4.7 / 5
Product score
4.4 / 5
Motivosity

Best for mobile-friendly, social rewards

Popularity score
4.7 / 5
user score
4.7 / 5
Product score
4.4 / 5
C.A. Short Company

Best for white-glove customer support

Popularity score
/ 5
user score
4.5 / 5
Product score
4.1 / 5
ITA Group

Best for global and distributed teams

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

Best for teams of 500+ employees

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

Best for robust rewards automation capabilities

Popularity score
4.8 / 5
user score
4.5 / 5
Product score
4.4 / 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
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
Assembly

Best for flexible, SMB-friendly pricing structure

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

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