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Best Employee Rewards Programs

19 Best Rewards Systems for Employees in 2025

The best employee reward programs - reviewed, rated, and compared by our HR software experts. See pros and cons, pricing info & more below.

Huda Idris
Written by
Huda Idris
Tech Editor, Content Ops Manager, and Software Advisor
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Last Updated: Mar 21, 2025
TOP
Top choice for ever-growing rewards feature set
Nectar
4.2
Popularity Score
4.5
User Score
4.3
Product  Score
Visit Website
TOP
Top choice for ever-growing rewards feature set
Nectar
4.2
Popularity Score
4.5
User Score
4.3
Product  Score
Learn More
TOP
Community-focused team recognition and rewards platform
Motivosity
4.1
Popularity Score
4.7
User Score
4.4
Product  Score
Visit Website
TOP
Community-focused team recognition and rewards platform
Motivosity
4.1
Popularity Score
4.7
User Score
4.4
Product  Score
Learn More
TOP
Large reward selection backed by 100+ years of expertise
Terryberry
4.1
Popularity Score
4.6
User Score
4.2
Product  Score
Visit Website
TOP
Large reward selection backed by 100+ years of expertise
Terryberry
4.1
Popularity Score
4.6
User Score
4.2
Product  Score
Learn More
Over 3 million HR leaders trust our advice

Best Employee Rewards Programs

Nectar

: Top choice for ever-growing rewards feature set

Motivosity

: Community-focused team recognition and rewards platform

Terryberry

: Large reward selection backed by 100+ years of expertise

Awardco

: Among the best for gift customization and personalization

Assembly

: Staff rewards software designed with SMBs in mind

Cooleaf

: Nice option for remote teams with 250+ people

Workstars

: Affordable rewards program for U.K.-based businesses

Guusto

: Excellent rewards platform for frontline employees

Connecteam

: Free tool for employee rewards, time off, and training

Matter

: Employee rewards program inside Slack and MS Teams

C.A. Short Company

: Fully customized rewards software with white-glove support

Kudos

: Reward system tailored to companies with 500+ employees

Bonusly

: Crystal clear reward redemption process

Reward Gateway

: Branded mobile-first rewards program

Bucketlist

: Employee rewards program with a massive catalog

WorkTango

: Staff rewards program with competitive pricing

Mo

: Ideal for building consistent employee recognition habits

Vantage Circle

: Highly recommended to global organizations

AdvantageClub.ai

: AI-powered engagement, rewards, and wellness software for global teams

Introduction to Employee Rewards Programs

If you want to motivate staff, strengthen your workplace culture, and attract new talent without exhausting your human resources with piles of extra work, an employee rewards system is a great option.

After testing over 40 options and giving and receiving hundreds of kudos over the years, we’ve experienced how easily powerful an employee rewards platform is for fostering a culture of appreciation, especially when the tool is paired with its sibling employee recognition software.

How come this combo works so well? How much should it cost? What is the best option for my team? These are some of the questions we’ll tackle in this guide.

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Our Criteria: Here's How We Chose The Best Employee Rewards Programs

By chatting with HR thought leaders, gathering user feedback, meeting with dozens of software providers over demos, and digging into each product's feature set, we’ve found that the best-in-class employee reward programs have to excel at flexibility and customization, reporting and analytics, and peer-to-peer engagement.

1. Flexibility and customization

The strength of many workforces lies in their diversity, which means not everyone wants the same perks and rewards. To evaluate how customizable and flexible an employee rewards platform is, we investigated the system’s rewards catalog. We examined the number of available rewards types, merchants, and covered countries and the option for custom company-branded swag.

2. Reporting and analytics

After testing essential rewards features from both the employer's and employee's perspectives, we examined the system’s analytics dashboard. Let’s be honest: One of the best things about having technology by our side is its ability to diligently track data in real time and highlight critical points and trends that deserve our attention.

We pulled standard and custom reports (if any), considering how easy (or hard) it was to get a set of data from the system and whether it’s helpful, actionable, and easy to digest for most users.

3. Peer-to-peer engagement

Employee rewards shouldn't be doled out by bosses alone; the recipients should also have some input on the process.

Recent data supports this idea: Recognition from co-workers is 35.7% more likely to positively impact financial results than recognition only from managers. For that reason, we looked at features like milestone celebrations, kudos, shoutouts, and, really importantly, how easy they were to use.

Learn more about how we research and evaluate HR tech.

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Compare the Best Employee Rewards Programs

Popularity Score
Best for
Key Differentiator
Pricing
Free Trial
Customers
Users Score
Product Score

Nectar

Trending Now
4.2
SMBs and remote-first teams who want peer-to-peer rewards
Tailored, peer-to-peer rewards
Starts at $5/mo
No
1,400+
4.5
4.3

Motivosity

Trending Now
4.1
Mid-market teams on the verge of expansion
Focuses on employee-driven engagement culture
Starts at $4/user/mo
No
N/A
4.7
4.4

Terryberry

Trending Now
4.1
Companies looking to consolidate rewards, recognition, and engagement.
Extensive rewards catalog and global fulfillment
Starting at ~$3 per employee receiving an award
No
Tesco, Epsilon, General Motors
4.6
4.2

Awardco

Trending Now
4.1
Teams wanting full-service rewards & easy automation
Comprehensive rewards platform with Amazon integration
$2500 minimum annual fee
No
N/A
4.7
4.4

Assembly

Trending Now
4.1
Free for teams of 5 or less, affordable SMBs
Intranet comms platform with rewards and recognition
Starts at $2.80/employee
Yes
N/A
4.7
4.1

Cooleaf

Trending Now
4.1
SMBs with 250+, particularly remote and hybrid
Employee sentiment to motivate and engage employees
Custom Pricing
No
N/A
4.7
4.2

Workstars

Trending Now
4.0
US and UK companies with 100-10,000 employees
Flexible employee engagement software
Starts at $1.81/user/mo
Yes
N/A
4.7
4.1

Guusto

Trending Now
4.0
US and Canada companies looking for plug-and-play simplicity
Rewards and recongition, offers humanitarian donations
Starts at $40/user/mo
Yes
N/A
4.7
4.2

Connecteam

Trending Now
4.1
Teams with deskless/remote/hourly employees
Rewards, recognition, training, and time off in one hub
Starts at $0/mo
Yes
36,000+ companies
4.6
4.3

Matter

Trending Now
4.1
SMBs already using Slack and Teams
Rewards and recognition inside Slack and Teams
$3/mo
Yes
4,700+ companies
4.6
4.3

C.A. Short Company

Trending Now
Companies seeking a fully customized rewards platform
Supports both digital and physical recognition
Custom
No
N/A

Kudos

Trending Now
4.1
SMBs wanting a platform with a high-touch expereince
Matches company values to rewards
Custom Pricing
No
N/A
4.8
4.2

Bonusly

Trending Now
4.1
Remote and hybrid teams wanting flexible reward options
Offers an international rewards catalog of gift cards
Starts at $2.70/user/mo
Yes
3,300+ companies
4.8
4.2

Reward Gateway

Trending Now
4.1
Multi-national teams wanting a multi-functional tool
Enterprise-scale engagement, rewards, and recognition
Starts at £6/user/month
Yes
N/A
4.3
4.4

Bucketlist

Trending Now
4.2
English-speaking companies of all sizes
Activity-based rewards with simple competition creation
Starts at $2/user/mo
No
500+ companies
4.8
4.4

WorkTango

Trending Now
4.2
Small and mid-size teams in knowledge worker industries
Intuitive rewards tool with useful analytics
Custom Pricing
No
1,000+ companies
4.5
4.4

Mo

Trending Now
4.1
Companies of all sizes focused on engagement
Strengths-based engagement, rewards, and recognition
Custom Pricing
Yes
100,000+ users
4.6
4.4

Vantage Circle

Trending Now
4.1
Companies of all sizes
Rewards platform in over 100 countries and in 16 languages
Custom Pricing
No
700+ companies
4.4
4.1

AdvantageClub.ai

Trending Now
4.3
Large enterprises and mid-market companies globally
10,000+ redemption options
Custom Pricing
No
1,000+ companies
4.7
4.2
Phil Strazzulla
HR Tech Expert, Harvard MBA, Software Enthusiast

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Detailed Reviews of the Best Employee Rewards Programs

Nectar

Visit Website
Nectar
Learn More
Popularity Score
4.2 / 5
User Score
4.5 / 5
Product Score
4.3 / 5

Why we picked Nectar

Nectar's catalog covers an extensive range of rewards, 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).

PROS

  • Transparent pricing.
  • Volume discounts are available for organizations with 500+ employees.
  • You only pay for the used rewards – unused pointed allowances won’t cost a dime.
  • Regularly releases user-driven features and product updates.
  • New AI-powered internal communications tool with drag-and-drop editor and templates for quick announcements.
  • 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

  • No longer offer a free plan. No free trial available.
  • The rewards selection could feel limited to some teams, especially those looking for more experiences.
  • Requires a minimum annual commitment of $4,000.
  • 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's Employee Rewards Software dashboard screenshot

Nectar Review

Nectar’s employee rewards platform is comprehensive, customizable, and easy to use. We were particularly impressed by its variety of employee reward options. Through a direct integration with Amazon Business, employees can choose from Amazon's vast product catalog for their rewards. For those who prefer gift cards, Nectar offers access to ones from hundreds of different brands all over the world. Employees can also opt to receive company-branded swag shipped directly to their door or donate their rewards to charity. For a more personal touch, you can add custom rewards to Nectar’s catalog like tickets to local events or lunch with the CEO. With this many options, there’s definitely something for everyone and the best part is, if we haven’t clarified this already, employees get to pick their own rewards!

Nectar also automates service awards and birthdays, eliminating the need to manually send gifts for employee milestones. We were able to quickly set up automated birthday and anniversary point awards and social feed shoutouts. Another way to see upcoming events is through Nectar’s calendar, which we’ve found quite straightforward and tells you what’s happening on a given day if you hover over it.

Beyond rewards, you can create challenges aligned with goals or values, have employees self-report completion, and approve submissions. Plus, a new feature for internal communication has been added to the platform, which lets you create an announcement within minutes right within Nectar.

All in all, if you’re looking for a platform to boost engagement and show appreciation to your employees, we think Nectar is worth considering.

Nectar Customers

Nectar is used by many known brands including Redfin, Golden State Warriors, Major League Baseball, and SHRM.

Nectar Pricing

Nectar offers three plans with an annual agreement of $4,000.

  • Plus plan: $5 per employee per month when billed annually.
  • Premium plan: $6 per employee per month when billed annually.
  • Custom plan: Quote-based pricing.

Best For

Organizations with 50-2,000 employees seeking to build a lasting culture of appreciation.

Nectar in action
Reviewer's Rating
8/10

We have managers give recognition at least once a week. Employees use it to get items with their points. They also like to have another way to communicate with each other.

What do you like about this tool?

We like the user-friendly platform. They have great customer service. Our employees are able to use their points towards stuff they enjoy.

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

We purchased it to engage employees and give recognition. We love the idea of employees giving positive feedback to each other. Our employees wanted to be able to give each other recognition as well. We used it for 2.5 years.

What do you dislike about this tool?

Nectar took a while to implement. Our employees would like to see additional / new options to purchase with points. Notifications to employees didn’t always work.

How is this tool different than their competitors?

They are very similar to competitors. Their gift selection seems smaller then others.

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

Consider time of implementation. Make sure that your team uses it on a regular basis. Give incentives for employees to give each other recognition.

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

They are always making updates to improve. They have improved the overall design of the app.

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

Larger companies that aren’t able to recognize and acknowledge every employee all the time.

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

Small companies that interact every day.

Motivosity

Visit Website
Motivosity
Learn More
Popularity Score
4.1 / 5
User Score
4.7 / 5
Product Score
4.4 / 5

Why we picked Motivosity

Motivosity lets employees choose personalized, exciting rewards; automates service awards and birthdays; and leverages gamification to drive engagement in company initiatives.

PROS

  • Motivosity is mobile-friendly. Users can access the platform via phones, desktops, and collaboration apps like Teams and Slack.
  • The company offers free software (namely Connect) with fundamental features for employee engagement.
  • The free trials are available for all paid subscriptions.
  • In addition to rewards, it’s easy to give a shout-out or recognition to another colleague through the platform.
  • The built-in reporting provides helpful insights around potential attrition, most recognized employees, and performance highlights.
  • 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

  • Lack of rules to regulate the distribution of points. For example, a team member could give 100% of their monthly rewards to a friend.
  • Performance management features, like 1:1s and coaching, are no longer available.
  • 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's employee rewards program dashboard screenshot

Motivosity Review

Motivosity helps companies move beyond the standardized and often underwhelming rewards. Through the platform, employees can choose rewards that actually excite them from a customizable online store, containing hundreds of digital and physical gift cards to national brands and local businesses.

We’ve given it a shot and it was easy to add custom rewards to the store. It was also easy to create and set the parameters for custom competitions (these can be a wellness program, book club, or anything you can challenge employees to do, consensually of course) as well as make badges and define awards for those who win. To ensure integrity through competitions, Motivosity lets employees upload proof like steps count and book reviews.

Finally, and like a best-in-class employee rewards software should, Motivosity automates service awards and birthday shoutouts. Recipients get a customized gift and message, and colleagues can add public comments to celebrate coworkers on their special days.

Motivosity Customers

Health Catalyst, Cotopaxi, Health Equity, Instructure, Ivanti

Motivosity Pricing

Motivosity’s core product of Recognition and Rewards is $4 per employee per month. This includes all of their tools for internal communication, rewards, awards, milestones, social connection features, etc. For a comprehensive list of features included in each pricing option, refer to Motivosity's dedicated pricing page.

Best For

Motivosity is best for companies from 10 to 10,000 employees that can drive engagement and improve morale through the platform.

Motivosity in action
Reviewer's Rating
7/10

I used Motivosity for employee engagement, which comprised a small portion of my weekly workflow. We primarily used it to increase connectivity among employees and promote appreciation and engagement. This was particularly relevant for our performance-driven roles in sales, customer service, and account management, where there was an emphasis on making extra efforts for better results. We used it in short intervals when team milestones were achieved or initiatives were launched.

What do you like about this tool?
  • Motivosity has a user-friendly UI that makes employee engagement easy to understand.
  • It is helpful for small businesses that lack a framework for employee engagement.
  • Motivosity improves connectivity among employees in businesses with multiple locations.
Why did your organization buy this tool, and how long have you used it for?

I used Motivosity at a previous employer. I only had the opportunity to use it for about three months, as we needed a way to increase and manage employee engagement. Before implementing this system, we relied exclusively on survey-driven initiatives. Motivosity was intended to bridge the gap in these engagement initiatives and provide a more consistent way to foster engagement.

What do you dislike about this tool?
  • Motivosity is too expensive for the features it offers; I believe there are cheaper options for enterprises looking to invest more in employee engagement.
  • Some of Motivosity's fringe features can be confusing to use or lack clear use cases.
  • Its reporting capabilities are not as advanced as many competitors.
How is this tool different than their competitors?

Motivosity offers a very user-friendly UI that is easy for any employee to use and understand, unlike competitors that often require more administrative management to oversee user experience. It also has features that create community-like interactions, which is especially helpful for companies without other platforms for employee interaction, particularly remote or multi-location companies.

What Instructions should people think about when buying this type of tool?
  • How much are you willing to invest in employee engagement?
  • How much do you already spend on engagement initiatives?
  • What is the size of your business, and do you have multiple locations?
  • How valuable are employee engagement and rewards for your type of company (e.g., sales-heavy roles)?
How has this tool changed or evolved over time to meet users needs?

Motivosity has been investing in improving user experience, aiming to make it feel seamless for employees.

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

Motivosity is good for sales-driven or performance-driven organizations.

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

Motivosity is not good for large enterprises that need more robust and horizontally integrated systems.

Terryberry

Visit Website
Terryberry
Learn More
Popularity Score
4.1 / 5
User Score
4.6 / 5
Product Score
4.2 / 5

Why we picked Terryberry

Terryberry offers a comprehensive rewards platform with one of the industry’s largest rewards selections, including merchandise, gift cards, travel experiences, and custom-crafted awards. The platform’s flexible workflows and pay-upon-redemption billing help manage budgets effectively, while its hybrid-friendly design ensures easy access for all employees.

PROS

  • Pay-upon-redemption billing model with multi-center cost allocation for better budget control.
  • Global fulfillment capabilities with extensive international reward options.
  • Flexible reward programs that can be tailored to company values and engagement goals.
  • Advanced analytics to measure the impact of rewards on employee engagement and sentiment.
  • HRIS integrations to automate and simplify reward management.
  • Mobile-friendly features for deskless and hybrid workforces.
  • Personalized support from implementation to ongoing customer success.
  • 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’s interface design could benefit from a more modern look.
  • No open API yet, although this feature is on the development roadmap.
  • No free trial is offered at this time.
  • While Terryberry is easy to use, its design could look more modern and sleek.
  • No open API, but on the roadmap for the end of 2023.
  • No free trial at the moment.
terryberry dashboard

Terryberry Review

Terryberry’s rewards platform offers a robust solution for companies looking to engage employees through meaningful and customizable rewards. During our demo, we explored Terryberry’s expansive rewards catalog, which includes merchandise, gift cards, travel experiences, company swag, and custom-crafted awards. This variety ensures that companies can provide rewards that resonate with diverse employee preferences.

We found that the platform’s flexibility in configuring reward programs stood out. Organizations can design reward workflows that align with their mission, vision, and values. For example, during our conversation with the product team, they highlighted how value-tagged rewards reinforce company culture by directly linking rewards to specific achievements and behaviors.

Terryberry’s pay-upon-redemption billing model was another standout feature. This approach helps organizations manage budgets more effectively by only paying for rewards when redeemed. Multi-center cost allocation further simplifies financial management for larger organizations.

The platform’s global fulfillment capabilities support rewards delivery in over 150 countries, making it ideal for international organizations. Additionally, the hybrid-friendly design ensures that office-based and frontline employees can participate. We saw how features like QR codes and mobile options make it easy for deskless employees to access and redeem rewards.

Despite its strengths, the platform does have a few drawbacks. The interface could benefit from a more modern design to improve user experience, but this is something that might change in 2025. Additionally, the lack of an open API limits integration possibilities, although this feature is also expected in future updates.

Terryberry Customers

Terryberry serves over 40,000 clients globally, including well-known organizations such as Tesco, Epsilon, General Motors, and Trilogy Health.

Terryberry Pricing

Terryberry offers flexible pricing models based on the specific needs of each organization. Their basic subscription plans typically start at approximately $3 per employee receiving a reward. For a detailed and customized quote, it’s best to contact their sales team directly.

Pricing factors include:

  • Subscription costs based on selected features and reward types.
  • One-time setup fees for implementation.
  • Annual administration fees calculated based on employee headcount and reward redemptions.

Best For

Terryberry’s rewards platform is ideal for mid-market organizations looking to streamline rewards, recognition, and engagement through a single vendor. It offers flexible redemption options for both office-based and deskless workers. The platform is optimized for mid-market organizations in North America and the UK.

Terryberry in action
Reviewer's Rating
8/10

We use Terryberry quite frequently, employees are encouraged to utilize it every day. For HR, we use it to recognize anniversaries monthly as well as employee recognition awards. Employees can interact with each other daily to congratulate each other on birthdays, anniversaries, and other wins. Analytics are easy to access, so we can easily pull the data for projects and analysis. Employees enjoy that they can purchase items through the website.

What do you like about this tool?

The convenience for HR and the employees is a benefit. The engagement and ease of engagement improves employee satisfaction. The ROI on using Terryberry for our company will continue to grow.

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

We bought Terryberry to align our employee recognition program across locations and regions. We have used it since 2016. The benefits of using the platform is that people across locations and regions can recognize each other easily and effectively. You can showcase how locations work together. Terryberry provides a platform to display how aligning to the company values can get you rewarded. It has worked really well for our organizational structure and size.

What do you dislike about this tool?

Some dislike the options of rewards. I feel only a portion of the company uses it - the employees who work independently at a desk. I would like to see more features related to AI.

How is this tool different than their competitors?

We like the one stop solution that Terryberry provides.

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

The number of employees they have. The number of employees who are computer-based and technology savvy. The budget for employee recognition and how the system takes from that cost.

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

It has improved the website design and features.

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

Remote teams mainly.

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

Manufacturing, hourly employees who do not use a computer independently.

Awardco

Visit Website
Awardco
Learn More
Popularity Score
4.1 / 5
User Score
4.7 / 5
Product Score
4.4 / 5

Why we picked Awardco

Awardco helps you give thoughtful and personal rewards to employees. Besides Amazon rewards, it features Bonus Boxes, digital MemoryBooks, and extensive redemption options, letting you appreciate people in creative ways.

PROS

  • The platform is easy to use and navigate.
  • It’s available in 16 languages.
  • Awardco’s integration with Amazon gives employees a wide range of reward options redeemable in many countries.
  • It can integrate easily with many popular tools including Slack, Teams, 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.
  • Some users said that the prices for certain rewards are higher than retail prices.
  • There have been complaints that reward delivery at times takes longer than expected.
  • 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's dashboard screenshot

Awardco Review

Awardco helps you appreciate your people in unique ways. We’ve not seen other platforms offer the same degree of gift customization and personalization as Awardco. For starters, you can create and give out Bonus Boxes, which are creative care packages filled with fun branded items suited to the recipient. Digital MemoryBooks are another way to honor employees' work anniversaries. These interactive books compile messages and photos from colleagues into a cherished keepsake.

The way Awardco automates the rewards process is a major time-saver. It sends automatic reminders about service anniversaries, birthdays, and other occasions, prompting participation from the team. The software also seamlessly integrates with communication tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams, making it easy to give timely shoutouts.

Robust incentive programs are another thing we liked about Awardco. Employees can earn points for achieving goals, then redeem them from an extensive catalog including top brands like Apple and YETI. For sales teams, Awardco partners with Amazon Business to provide the ultimate flexibility - earners can choose their own rewards without any friction.

Overall, we think Awardco succeeds at modernizing traditional employee rewards through creativity, flexibility, integration, and automation. The focus on curating unique experiences sets it apart from generic reward platforms. For any organization seeking to boost engagement, appreciation, and motivation, Awardco is worth strong consideration.

Awardco Customers

Awardco has over 3 million users including known companies like Percepta, Paramount, Hertz, Pacific Life, and Aptive

Awardco Pricing

Awardco has two plans for SMBs, Lite and Go.

  • Lite provides automation for service awards, birthdays, tracking, reporting, and manager notifications to establish a solid foundation for $2,500/year.
  • Go builds on Lite by adding automated onboarding, peer-to-peer recognition, manager-to-employee recognition, value-driven recognition, and budget management for $4,000/year.

As for enterprises, Awardco offers plans that are more custom. The pricing for the enterprise plans depends on the features needed. Contact Awardco’s Sales team for more information.

Best For

Awardco is an excellent choice for growing teams and multinational businesses looking for a powerful and flexible solution to appreciate their employees.

Awardco in action
Reviewer's Rating
9/10

Awardco is integral to our workflows for recognizing employees throughout their lifecycle. I use it daily in my role to manage employee recognition initiatives. Key workflows include driving peer-to-peer recognition through Awardco’s customizable programs and managing points allocation for our employees’ service anniversary program, where milestones are celebrated with points. It also involves utilizing Awardco’s reporting features to monitor employee engagement across teams.

What do you like about this tool?
  • Awardco allows for comprehensive customization of recognition programs to fit organizational needs.
  • The platform consistently introduces upgrades and enhancements.
  • Its reporting capabilities and user-friendly dashboard help track program success effectively.
Why did your organization buy this tool, and how long have you used it for?

My organization sought a reliable recognition platform to promote a consistent culture of employee recognition for our 4,500+ employees worldwide. We needed a solution to enhance our existing recognition programs with a modern interface, an award points allocation system, and diverse redemption options.

Awardco perfectly met these needs. Additionally, it provides robust analytics and reporting features to measure the success of our programs. My organization has been using Awardco for over two years.

What do you dislike about this tool?
  • Awardco could expand its partnerships with brands for gift cards outside the U.S.
  • A feature to retain unused award points in the employer’s wallet would improve cash management.
  • The integration with MS Teams could be enhanced for easier employee access.
How is this tool different than their competitors?

Awardco stands out with its modern and intuitive interface compared to other recognition platforms. It integrates with Amazon, offering a wide variety of rewards to employees. Its redemption options are particularly appealing, making the experience more exciting for users. Awardco’s receptiveness to feedback and quick turnaround on enhancements make it a standout choice. I consider it one of the best recognition platforms available.

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

When purchasing Awardco, consider your budget and secure buy-in from key stakeholders like the CHRO and FP&A, as it represents a significant investment. Assess the internal resources required within HR to manage the platform effectively and maintain employee engagement.

Evaluate how the platform aligns with your organizational goals for recognition and retention to maximize its impact. Proper planning ensures the tool delivers value and meets expectations.

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

Awardco frequently introduces updates and enhancements to improve the user experience and address customer needs. These changes reflect their commitment to adapting the platform in response to feedback and evolving market trends.

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

Awardco is ideal for organizations with over 500 employees, especially those with a multi-generational workforce and geographically dispersed teams. Its customizable recognition programs and diverse reward options effectively engage a wide variety of employee groups.

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

Awardco may not be suitable for very small organizations or those with employees who do not rely on technology as their primary mode of collaboration.

Assembly

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Assembly
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Popularity Score
4.1 / 5
User Score
4.7 / 5
Product Score
4.1 / 5

Why we picked Assembly

Assembly makes rewarding employees effortless with seamless integrations, peer nominations, personalized incentives, and templates that turn appreciation into a habit.

PROS

  • Offers a free version and free trials for their paid plans, with no need for a credit card or demo.
  • Feature-rich for the price point.
  • Customize rewards and set up a points system with automated incentives.
  • Month-to-month plan or a long-term contract (12-month minimum agreement). A large team with a long-term contract can get a custom deal.
  • Explore the platform for free, no need for a credit card or demo
  • Great set of features for the price point
  • Make your own rewards and even set up a points system with automated incentives
  • You have the option to go with a month-to-month plan or a long-term contract. For the latter, you can reach out to their team for a custom deal if it’s a larger team. However, keep in mind that the minimum agreement is 12 months. 

CONS

  • Coins and points expire and do not roll over.
  • SSO is not standard for all plans. In some cases, it must be purchased as an add-on.
  • iOS and Android apps are available, but this information is hard to find on the site.
  • Only supports English.
  • Coins and points do expire, so sometimes they’ll expire by the end of the month before you can use them, although you get more the next period.
  • SSO is only included with some plans. For others, it can be purchased as an add-on.
Our reviewer took screenshot of Assembly's dashboard during the review

Assembly Review

Assembly makes rewarding and recognizing employees effortless. Its seamless integrations with Slack and Microsoft Teams mean you never have to leave your workflow to show appreciation. These social apps are also where team members can publically nominate one another for recognition and rewards. The personalized points system enables employees to redeem rewards tailored to what makes them feel valued, whether that's gift cards, donations to charity, or experiences that enrich company culture.

With Assembly, you can align rewards to core values, ensuring they resonate with what truly matters to your team. Milestones like birthdays, work anniversaries, and achievements big or small are never missed. The software proactively surfaces these moments and prompts personalized messages of appreciation.

The wide variety of reward options ensures there’s something that’ll appeal to everyone, while the variety of built-in templates and automated reminders for milestones empower managers to turn recognition into a lasting habit, driving engagement and retention.

Assembly Customers

Over 2,400 use Assembly, including Casper, Keck School of Medicine, and Perforce.

Assembly Pricing

  • Starter is free for businesses with up to 10 employees.
  • Paying customers are charged between $2.80 and $6.00 per employee per month, depending on the features and monthly vs. yearly pricing plan.
  • ‍The premium plan requires a custom quote.

Best For

With its free version, scalable plans, and vast feature set, Assembly can serve companies both big and small.

Assembly in action
Reviewer's Rating
9/10

Assembly is such a fantastic platform for sharing gratitude with your colleagues, across the organization as a whole, as well as internally and externally between departments. It is straightforward, easy, and fun to use! This tool is especially good for nurturing culture across a remote team. The integration with Slack makes it seamless for the team to use and engage with, and Assembly engages senior leadership with ease.

What do you like about this tool?

Simple, fast platform. Easy set-up and free trial version prior to transition to paid version. Easy implementation and great reporting options and support.

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

In the age of remote, work-from-home, and hybrid models, and all of the inherent challenges it presents, Assembly has allowed us to continue to celebrate business culture and monetize the value of success within our organization. We are able to easily recognize team members and their accomplishments so that those ambiguous moments can become tangible for the entire company to see. Acknowledgements of birthdays, anniversaries, work anniversaries etc. are seamlessly built in, never to be forgotten or overlooked. Coins can be exchanged for gifts, donated to charity, traded in for company-branded gifts, or cashed in for rewards. Our engagement rate is over 90% on the Assembly platform and we are very excited to see how they can continue to evolve its value proposition.

What do you dislike about this tool?

Coins expire if not used in time. UX could be more user-friendly. Larger tiered allotments would be a great improvement.

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

When considering any employee recognition platform, functionality and reporting should always be heavily weighted in the final decision. Recognition platforms go hand-in-hand with engagement surveys; some platforms do not offer this feature or offer. Limited version of this feature. Mobility and accessibility are primary concerns, especially where remote and global teams exist. Also, goal/challenge creation, tracking and attainment features are wonderful enhancements to include.

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

There have been consistent upgrades to the platform and Assembly is very open to feedback and suggestions.

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

Assembly is ideal for small and mid-market organizations.

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

Assembly would not be a good fit for large/enterprise organizations.

Cooleaf

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Cooleaf
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Popularity Score
4.1 / 5
User Score
4.7 / 5
Product Score
4.2 / 5

Why we picked Cooleaf

What’s cool about Cooleaf is that you can automate work anniversary rewards and make your own catalog from a variety of international reward offerings. Plus, the employee rewards app has an option for employees to use reward points to send a gift card to a peer or loved one.

PROS

  • Very user-friendly. Easy to upload, create content, and redeem rewards.
  • A complete platform for employee engagement, not just rewards and recognition.
  • The Slack integration is seamless– posts and recognitions are gathered within the team’s Slack channel.
  • Various rewards include a team store, donations, entertainment, travel experiences, merch, products, and restaurant coupons.
  • Available on both Apple Store and Google Play.
  • 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

  • Users cannot create workplace culture-building challenges and activities.
  • Support is limited to an online form.
  • Undisclosed pricing.
  • No free plan or free trial.
  • Login and single sign-on issues were reported with app use.
  • 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.
Cooleaf dashboard screenshot

Cooleaf Review

Cooleaf offers a seamless and effective way to reward deserving employees. We’ve poked around the platform and found it easy to navigate through its different modules. It was particularly easy to set up rewards and shoutouts for defined goals and milestones. Rewards can range from digital badges to merchandise, gift cards, and swag, so there are options to fit any budget.

You can define a budget for managers to reward performance and incentivize stakeholders as they see fit. This autonomy helps managers surprise and delight their teams with experiences and gifts tailored to what would be most meaningful. From the employee POV, we really like how it’s easy for them to give shout-outs to one another. Beyond just a thank you, these thoughtful recognitions boost morale.

With Cooleaf's customized service awards, manager autonomy, frictionless peer recognition, and data-driven insights, you can successfully build a lasting culture of appreciation. For any organization looking to improve retention and performance, we believe Cooleaf is worth checking out.

Cooleaf Customers

Shipt, SalesLoft, Toyota, Synovus Bank, Kids2

Cooleaf Pricing

Cooleaf offers custom pricing via a monthly subscription model based on the number of employees included in the program. Contact their Sales team for a quote.

Best For

Cooleaf is best for small and mid-sized businesses with an average workforce of 250+ people. Cooleaf is also a good choice for remote or hybrid teams looking to boost employee satisfaction.

Cooleaf in action
Reviewer's Rating
8/10

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.

What do you like about this tool?

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.

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

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.

What do you dislike about this tool?

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.

How is this tool different than their competitors?

Cooleaf is a fun platform. The service is affordable and user friendly. Other platforms like Guusto have slightly better features and redeemable options.

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

How many employees need Cooleaf access? Do you have a remote staff and will any rewards be applicable in their location?

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

I have used Cooleaf since 2021 and since that time, they have improved their customer service response and engagement surveys.

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

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.

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

I would not recommend Cooleaf to large companies because the cost can increase as you expand but it is a solid service.

Workstars

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Workstars
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Popularity Score
4 / 5
User Score
4.7 / 5
Product Score
4.1 / 5

Why we picked Workstars

Workstarts gives you the choice to gift employees from its online rewards and prepaid cards or to create your own catalog of incentives and perks that meet your employees’ liking, redeemable at both a local and global scale.

PROS

  • Pretty simple to launch and navigate.
  • Pricing is transparent—no fees for setting up the system.
  • Cost-effective when compared to similar platforms.
  • Culturally aware, while based mainly in the UK and the 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.
  • 30-day trial with a dedicated support agent.
  • 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

  • No HRMS integrations. To upload employee data, the user must either make do with XML/CSV files or set up the API integrations.
  • No free plan.
  • No HRMS integrations. To upload people data, you’d have to make do with XML or CSV files, or try to have IT set up an integration with an API. 
  • No free plan or free trial
workstars dashboard

Workstars Review

Workstars can help you deliver an exceptional employee experience with its global flexibility, seamless integrations, actionable insights, and strong security. Through the platform, you can access an online catalog of rewards and prepaid cards to incentivize employees, locally or globally. In our testing, we were quite impressed by how the platform let us add and change languages, countries, currencies, and cost of living adjustments without extra fees. It’s got a level of flexibility we’ve not seen on other platforms.

We are also fans of Workstars’ analytics capabilities, giving users valuable insights into workforce engagement trends, undercover achievers, and corporate value effectiveness. It also provides the reports you need for finance, IT security audits, and more.

Workstars also integrates with popular tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Salesforce, and prioritizes security, with robust protocols around data storage, GDPR compliance, and penetration testing. To top it all off, the platform is fully responsive on mobile devices, ensuring employees can access Workstars anywhere.

Workstars Customers

TT Electronics, Trac, and AstraZeneca are some of the many companies that use Workstars.

Workstars Pricing

Workstars offers three subscription plans, billed monthly: Entry, Pro, and Global. The pricing for these plans ranges from £1.50 - £4 per user depending on the number of user seats you need and whether you need to use the platform in multiple languages/currencies.

Best For

Workstars is great for scalability. Their clients have a range of 50-10,000 employees. The bigger the team, the better the price.

Workstars in action
Reviewer's Rating
10/10

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.

What do you like about this tool?

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.

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

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.

What do you dislike about this tool?

Thought it was expensive for the platform. Wish it was more user-friendly. Wish we had one dedicated rep.

How is this tool different than their competitors?

They are very similar to other platforms out there.

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

How often you plan to use it. How many employees you will have using it.

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

I haven’t noticed changes while we used it.

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

Hybrid organization that has employees all over the world.

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

It’s good for all organizations

Guusto

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Guusto
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Popularity Score
4 / 5
User Score
4.7 / 5
Product Score
4.2 / 5

Why we picked Guusto

We are big fans of Guusto’s inclusive approach to rewards, with features that enforce a culture of appreciation across all employees - from the frontline to the executive suite. The platform is also easy to set up, has a straightforward redemption process and a free plan for SMBs.

PROS

  • Guusto is remote-friendly and planet-conscious: All gift cards are digital, so no plastic waste and no shipping.
  • The gifts are real dollar value – no confusing points.
  • You can use the platform on mobile devices thanks to its Android and iOS apps.
  • The subscription fee is for reward givers only. You can add unlimited recipients for free.
  • Guusto partners with One Drop Foundation: the platform donates one day of clean drinking water for every gift sent.
  • International rewards have grown a lot recently, with over 4,000 options available as of Spring 2023.
  • 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

  • Accounts can only be funded with USD or CAD, although gift redemptions can be made in a variety of currencies.
  • For subscriptions, there is a minimum of $40/month for the Lite tier, $80/month for the Essential tier, and $400/month for the Premium tier.
  • Accounts can only be funded with USD or CAD
Our reviewer took screenshot of Guusto's dashboard during the review

Guusto Review

Guusto makes rewards and recognition seamless for dispersed workforces with its inclusive and automated software. We appreciate a simple approach to rewards and Guusto offers just that. Rather than point systems which can be confusing to understand, Guusto uses real dollar value rewards that can be sent to any employee, even if they aren't in the system yet. To make things even better, you only need to pay for users that send recognitions; recipients can be added for free, without any limit.

Another thing we love about Guusto is its focus on frontline and deskless workers, ensuring they’re not left out of any appreciation efforts. These employees are often on the move, and many of them don’t have corporate email access. Their rewards and shoutouts can be sent to them via SMS text messages and physical cards.

The software empowers managers with custom budgets to consistently recognize achievements, reinforce values, and automate milestone rewards. Peer-to-peer shoutouts boost morale across locations, automated drawings help randomly issue rewards and incentives, and employees can redeem their recognitions for hundreds of digital gift cards from top brands worldwide, company swag, donations, and more.

Guusto Customers

Staples, Compass One Healthcare, The Body Shop, Fairmont, Rexall Pharmacies

Guusto Pricing

Guusto has scalable pricing: 

  • Free - $0/month (single user sending rewards)
  • Lite - $40/month (single user sending/scheduling bulk rewards)
  • Essential - $120/month (30 seats included, additional seats cost $4/month)
  • Premium - $400/month (80 seats included, additional seats cost $5/month)

Note: Only recognition senders need user seats. There are no limits on how many recognition receipts there are in the system. Guusto also offers volume discounts for enterprise customers. Contact Guusto's Sales team for more details.

Best For

Guusto is best for companies with frontline employees, particularly in the Healthcare, Retail, Financial Services, and Hospitality industries. They’ve also been actively updating their offering with features to suit the needs of companies with deskless workers.

Guusto in action
Reviewer's Rating
10/10

We have only used it as a consumer, however, we will be speaking with Guusto to get final details and see the best way for our company to get the most out of the programs available.

What do you like about this tool?

We found it very easy for a consumer to sign up and get their gift registered, which is very important for our loyalty program. We are able to monitor how our customers are using Guusto and we can monitor the success of our program. The selection of Canadian companies available was very diverse which will benefit our customers across Canada.

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

This was the first time we have used Guusto. We received a reward and after seeing the ease in which we got set up, decided to use it for our loyalty program and employee incentives.

What do you dislike about this tool?

We have not found any concerns or issues with Guusto. We did not have the need to talk with Customer Service so I cannot vouch for this part of their service.

How is this tool different than their competitors?

The portal that will be accessible is very detailed and will give us all of the tools we need to monitor our programs and determine the success of them.

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

Will it save time and money? Does it have all of the features and tools needed to simplify your process and measure the success? If there are gaps in what the system can do, and what you want to do, look for something that meets them. If you are interested in connecting with other software make sure they are compatible.

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

Unknown

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

Companies that use referral and rewards programs.

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

Fundraising - unless I have missed something.

Connecteam

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Connecteam
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Popularity Score
4.1 / 5
User Score
4.6 / 5
Product Score
4.3 / 5

Why we picked Connecteam

Connecteam is an all-in-one workforce management hub for businesses, big and small with simple yet effective rewards and recognition features.

PROS

  • Intuitive, mobile-friendly user interface.
  • Customizable badges and recognition.
  • Purchased tokens never expire and are refundable.
  • A single platform for rewards and recognition, job scheduling, time management, team communication, and more.
  • Free to use for teams with 10 users or fewer.
  1. One of the only fully-mobile HR tech tools for deskless workers
  2. Very adequately-priced for all it entails, SMB-friendly
  3. Quite open to feedback, having implemented user suggestions as features in the past.

CONS

  • Fewer reward options than specialized rewards and recognition brands.
  • Limited peer-to-peer features.
  • Third-party integrations limited to 4 payroll software providers.
  • API access is for Enterprise plan only.
  • No phone support.
  1. In the communication hub, the app offers no confirmation that messages were sent and/or seen. 
  2. Certain features that some teams consider essential, such as GPS-tracking, are only available in the higher-tier pricing plans.
Connecteam employee rewards tool screenshot

Connecteam Review

Instead of taking the spotlight, Connecteam's rewards and recognition are designed to complement other features this workforce management software offers. And we must say, they totally nailed it.

Unlike Assembly, the tokens you buy from Connecteam never expire, and you can get a refund if you need to. There are fewer gift card options than with competitors like Bonusly or Motivosity, but popular brands like Amazon, Apple, and Best Buy are available.

Unsurprisingly, transaction fees are applied—10% for any purchased gift card in the U.S. and 15% for other countries. What we do appreciate here, though, is that the vendor has always been upfront about its prices. It always informs users about the cost of purchasing tokens and the price of the gift cards so they know the difference before buying.

Connecteam gives you different ways to show appreciation for your employees. You can send recognition messages to individuals, select multiple users to send to everyone, or filter recipients based on specific criteria. Plus, you can create your own customized recognition badges to add a personal touch.

However, Connecteam doesn’t seem to give peer-to-peer recognition the attention it deserves. At the time of writing, there’s no way for employees to gift tokens to others. To give a colleague a shout-out, they either have to rely on the comment section on the admin’s recognition posts or use the chat feature.

Integration is another area this vendor falls short. It can connect natively with just 4 payroll solutions, while its API access is only available on the Enterprise plan.

Connecteam Customers

36,000+ companies, including Siteline, EnviroCon, and Copernicus.

Connecteam Pricing

  • Small Business Plan: Free for up to 10 users.
  • Basic Plan: $29 per month for the first 30 users, $0.5 per additional user.
  • Advanced Plan: $49 per month for the first 30 users, $1.5 per additional user.
  • Expert Plan: $99 per month for the first 30 users, $3 per additional user.
  • Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing with features like personal account managers, SSO, 2FA, biometric lock, and API access.

Best For

Non-desk or distributed teams to celebrate achievements and show employee appreciation.

Connecteam in action
Reviewer's Rating
8/10

Connecteam is a user-friendly software for managing employees, facilitating communication, and enhancing collaboration. It is especially valuable for businesses with many non-desk employees. Connecteam helped us streamline communication, improve daily operations, and develop professional skills. It allowed us to schedule shifts, monitor employee work hours, and send automated reminders. The software was accessible on both desktop and mobile platforms, allowing us to use it anytime, anywhere.

What do you like about this tool?
  • One standout feature of Connecteam is its user-friendly design, offering various options to customize team collaboration.
  • Users can easily upload their own documents and files from any device, making resource sharing simple.
  • The intuitive interface allows you to manage your team from a single dashboard, where you can view the status of tasks at a glance, reducing miscommunication and boosting productivity.
  • Tasks can be assigned directly from the dashboard, eliminating the need for additional communication methods.
Why did your organization buy this tool, and how long have you used it for?

I used Connecteam for three months while on contract with my previous employer. As of late 2024, I believe they are still using the platform. We chose Connecteam because it is a comprehensive employee app designed to streamline communication, optimize daily operations, and boost professional skills. It allowed us to schedule shifts, monitor employee work hours, and send automated reminders, all within a single platform.

What do you dislike about this tool?
  • While Connecteam offers a flexible pricing structure, some users find frequent upgrade prompts frustrating.
  • For smaller teams with fewer than 30 members, the pricing can be relatively high, which might discourage some users.
  • The costs can add up depending on the desired features and team size, so businesses should carefully assess their needs and budget before committing to the platform.
How is this tool different than their competitors?

Connecteam stands out for its ease of use, featuring an intuitive and user-friendly interface. The layout is clean, with clearly labeled tabs for each function, making navigation straightforward.

For example, team members can easily create individual profiles with personal information, promoting better collaboration and engagement within the organization. The app’s simplicity ensures that even users with limited technical skills can navigate it effectively, fostering team integration and productivity.

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

Connecteam offers a flexible pricing structure compared to other employee scheduling tools. The software includes three distinct hubs, each offering five unique plans: Free, Basic, Advanced, Expert, and Enterprise.

Pricing is fixed for the first 30 users, making it affordable for small teams, but as your team grows, additional charges apply. This tiered structure allows businesses to choose a plan that fits their needs while accommodating future growth.

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

Connecteam has evolved by empowering managers to automate business processes, allowing them to focus on growth strategies while helping employees enhance productivity, professionalism, and job satisfaction. By streamlining tasks and reducing administrative burdens, the platform creates a more engaged and efficient work environment, ultimately driving better results for the organization.

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

Connecteam is ideal for teams of 30-50 employees, especially those with non-desk workers who need streamlined communication and scheduling tools.

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

Connecteam may not be suitable for teams that frequently change personnel or those that constantly restructure their workflow, as it might be challenging to manage frequent adjustments.

Matter

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Matter
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Popularity Score
4.1 / 5
User Score
4.6 / 5
Product Score
4.3 / 5

Why we picked Matter

It's rare to find a vendor that can so effectively integrate rewards and recognition within tools we're already using daily. So seeing Matter automate global reward delivery, birthdays, work anniversaries, and employee surveys, all inside Slack or Teams—and it does so beautifully—is truly impressive.

PROS

  • One app for rewards, recognition, and surveys working right inside your Slack or Teams.
  • Gift cards, donations, and prepaid card rewards in 100+ countries.
  • Visually appealing and user-friendly software design.
  • Transparent, affordable plans with discounts for non-profits and educational institutions.
  • Free plan offers unlimited users, customizable notifications, and kudos.
  • 200+ HRIS integrations available.
  • 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

  • You have to use either Slack or Microsoft Teams to be able to use Matter.
  • Coin allowance resets weekly if not fully used. (Kudos coins don't expire though.)
  • Free plan only support 30 days of analytics history.
  • 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.

Matter Review

We love the fact that Matter automates the delivery of global rewards, celebrates birthdays and work anniversaries, and even conducts employee surveys—all within the familiar interfaces of communication platforms Slack and MS Teams. As a remote team that uses Slack daily, it felt natural and incredibly efficient to incorporate the tool into our workflow.

Navigating the software, it became apparent to us that the vendor has paid close attention to their product’s user experience. Matter’s app not only possesses an elegant design but also a straightforward set of functionalities. It only took a few minutes to set everything up: we selected the rewards categories we wanted, used the built-in Rewards Calculator to figure out how many coins to allocate to each team member given our budget, and tweaked the default coin allocation accordingly. Then, all that was left was to approve or reject incoming rewards requests, either in bulk or one by one.

Matter allows companies to reward employees within Slack

The pricing structure is another aspect we found quite reasonable. At $3 per month, it didn't feel like a significant investment, and the fact that there's a free trial and a free plan available made it an even easier decision for small teams like us to give Metter a go.

However, the requirement to use Slack or Microsoft Teams means it wouldn't be suitable for every organization. While we’re aware that Matter does have some very large teams in its customer base, its offerings seem to be most valued by small-to-medium-sized companies with less than a thousand employees.

A bit of a letdown for those looking to start with Matter’s free plan: there’s a 30-day limit on analytics history. Yet, considering the other benefits, it’s something we trust most budget-minded teams would be willing to work around.

Matter Customers

4,700+ companies, including Petco, Shell, and JiffyLube.

Matter Pricing

Matter offers four pricing plans, ranging from free to $5 per month. All features are accessible during a 30-day free trial.

Best For

SMBs that are using communication platforms Teams or Slack and are open to incorporating their rewards programs within these apps.

Matter in action
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C.A. Short Company

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C.A. Short Company
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Popularity Score
/ 5
User Score
/ 5
Product Score
/ 5

Why we picked 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 recognition tools. 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.

PROS

  • 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.
  • 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 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.
  • 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 Review

C.A. Short is not the most modern-looking or feature-rich employee rewards platform we’ve reviewed, but its white-glove, concierge-style support is among the best—especially for businesses that want hands-on guidance in designing and implementing a recognition and rewards program.

Screenshot of employee rewards system C.A. Short Company

We evaluate dozens of new vendors every month, and it’s clear that most platforms are moving toward a fully digital approach. However, C.A. Short is one of the rare few that embraces a hybrid model of peer recognition, combining digital tools with tangible, in-person acknowledgment. This unique approach adds a personal touch that sets it apart.

During our assessment, as employee users, we could send eCards with or without monetary rewards, celebrate achievements with peers in the social feed-style "Rec Room," and even receive on-the-spot recognition cards—physical cards handed out by managers for a job well done. The point redemption process was smooth, too: we scanned a QR code on the card, and our recognition points were redeemed almost instantly.

When it comes to customization, C.A. Short takes a highly personalized approach. In our tests, simply communicating our needs to the customer success team resulted in a system coded to our specifications, complete with fully tailored rewards packages. This makes for a less flexible, self-service experience, but it also significantly reduces the administrative burden—something many companies may prefer over off-the-shelf tools.

On the reporting front, C.A. Short offers a robust tool called C.A. Insights, which provides strong visibility into recognition engagement, usage patterns, and program effectiveness. However, a notable drawback is that the analytics are not built directly into the platform. Instead, they rely on Power BI, requiring users to leave the system to access data. The good news is that the vendor has confirmed full in-app reporting integration is on their roadmap, and we’ll be sure to keep you posted once it’s available.

Another thing to keep in mind is that while the rewards software excels in customization, the user interface is not as intuitive or visually appealing as solutions like Motivosity or Connecteam.

Additionally, though C.A. Short does offer automated secure sFTP folders for data integration, eliminating manual data imports, some might prefer the familiar native integrations with big HRIS vendors like Workday and BambooHR.

C.A. Short Company Customers

Dollar General, Penske, Sysco, and Tractor Supply are some of C.A. Short Company’s customers.

C.A. Short Company Pricing

C.A. Short Company doesn't have a free trial, and pricing is determined on a case-by-case basis.

Best For

C.A. Short Company is best for companies that value personalized service, hands-on support, and fully customized recognition and reward programs.

C.A. Short Company in action
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Kudos

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Kudos
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Popularity Score
4.1 / 5
User Score
4.8 / 5
Product Score
4.2 / 5

Why we picked Kudos

Kudos’ employee rewards storefront is highly configurable, allowing you to tailor rewards that speak to your brand and employees’ needs. Extra support is also provided during and after the tool’s launching phase.

PROS

  • Kudos possesses a set of unique, company culture-oriented features that are present all across the platform.
  • Users love how easy Kudos is to navigate.
  • It has all the bells and whistles out-of-the-box, both on the web and mobile versions.
  • Available in 11 languages.
  • 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

  • An insider's help is needed to get a good idea of the Kudos app from the website, so a demo is necessary.
  • The UX/UI could be improved: some users reported issues with attaching images, .gifs, and emojis.
  • No free version and no trial version.
  • 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 dashboard screenshot

Kudos Review

Kudos offers an engaging employee rewards platform that amplifies recognition and supports stronger company culture. One of the features that stood out for us is its customizable online storefront where employees can redeem their points. We’ve gone through the catalog, which includes popular rewards like gift cards, merchandise, charitable donations, travel experiences, and company swag. It’s also easy to add custom rewards to the storefront and tailor it to what your employees like.

As an employee using the system, it’s easy to rack up points through peer-to-peer shoutouts, manager recognitions, completing learning modules, hitting key milestones, and more. From the employee interface, it’s also easy to track points balance and redeem them for rewards.

Kudos also provides dedicated program management support to ensure seamless execution. Their team helps handle reward sourcing, point tracking, reporting, and communication to drive program success. With their help, you are guaranteed to run effective employee recognition and rewards programs your people will love to be part of.

Kudos Customers

ATCO, Bulgari, Arch Insurance, KidsPeace

Kudos Pricing

Kudos offers a starting price of $3.25 per user per month, catering to organizations with a minimum of 500 employees. The actual pricing is flexible and determined by factors such as the number of users and the duration of the contract.

Best For

Kudos is best for businesses with over 500 employees looking for a rewards-focused program that supports multiple languages and diverse forms of recognition, from shout-outs to gift cards, experiences, and charity.

Kudos in action
Reviewer's Rating
8/10

We use Kudos extensively for projects within the company. During projects, employees can lose confidence or become frustrated, so this tool helps enhance their mood and confidence. It is used to build up the team during busy times, keeping the forward momentum. Recognizing hard work and a positive attitude during chaotic times reassures employees that their efforts are appreciated and worthwhile.

What do you like about this tool?

Goal tracking is a great feature, making it easier to monitor employees' progress. Recognition tools motivate employees to reach their goals, which is a favorite aspect of the program. The user-friendly interface ensures a seamless process every month.

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

Our organization purchased Kudos to provide a seamless way to recognize and reward employees, enhancing morale and productivity. It allows recognition not only from direct managers but also from peers, ensuring employees feel valued and acknowledged. This tool helps to recognize the work and attitude of employees even when management is not always available to observe. By using this tool, we aimed to build confidence, foster a strong sense of character, and create a positive workplace environment. I have been using this tool for several months.

What do you dislike about this tool?

The limited number of kudos available each month is less than ideal, as some months require more recognition. This limitation can lead to some employees feeling their work wasn't good enough or acknowledged. The gift catalog lacks variety, which could be improved to appeal to a broader range of employees.

How is this tool different than their competitors?

Kudos offers a variety of achievement levels for employees, unlike others that only have uniform levels of recognition. This differentiation helps employees feel unique and valued for their efforts. The support provided by this program is exceptional, saving time and resources for IT and HR teams by offering readily available assistance.

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

Consider how you plan to utilize the program within your organization. Evaluate the cost, which is reasonable and provides great value for building employee confidence. The user-friendly nature minimizes the need for extensive troubleshooting. The adaptability of the reward system is excellent, offering different levels and options for recognition. Ensure the tool helps track team wins and recognizes individual achievements, a crucial factor in its effectiveness.

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

Kudos has become more flexible in terms of rewards and their utilization. Its user-friendly design and comprehensive features make it a valuable asset for all companies.

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

Kudos is ideal for companies looking to build their employee base and drive confidence among their current employees.

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

Companies in highly competitive fields such as sales or cold calling might not benefit as much from Kudos. These sectors are typically driven by commission, which serves as its own reward. Additionally, in time-based structures, using this tool might encourage quantity over quality, potentially compromising customer service.

Bonusly

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Bonusly
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Popularity Score
4.1 / 5
User Score
4.8 / 5
Product Score
4.2 / 5

Why we picked Bonusly

Bonusly’s specialty lies in its reward catalog: it packs an impressive number of gift cards that work in dozens of countries. Teams with 50-5000 employees, remote or in-office, can make great use of the tool. Bonusly’s discounts also make it a sound option for nonprofits.

PROS

  • Bonusly has an intuitive user interface where both admin and employee users find it easy to navigate through.
  • The platform is available in German, English, French, and Spanish.
  • There are Android and iOS apps for on-the-go access.
  • Nonprofits and educational organizations get discounted pricing from Bonusly.
  • There is a 14-day, full-featured free trial that anyone can sign up for.
  • 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

  • The Core plan which is marketed for small businesses is capped at 50 users.
  • The analytics and reporting capabilities are relatively limited in functionality and customization.
  • The reward options are centered around gift cards, cash, and donations rather than experiences.
  • Features like requiring hashtags or showing top receivers were unnecessary according to a few users.
  • Unused bonus money does not carry over; you use it or lose it.
  • The starter plan is for small businesses that cap out at 50 users.
  • Analytics and reporting features are relatively underdeveloped.
  • The reward catalog lacks in-person experience and physical goods, and options and focuses on gift cards, cash, or donations.
  • Unused bonus funds don’t roll over: users use it or lose it.
bonusly software homepage

Bonusly Review

Bonusly’s full-featured and flexible employee rewards platform prioritizes choice, meaning, and connection. We’ve gone through their rewards catalog and liked what we saw: 1,200+ gift cards from popular vendors, redeemable in over 200 countries. Employees have abundant options to choose from across apparel, F&B, travel and more.

We find Bonusly’s approach to giving branded company swag quite unique. Through an integration with AXOMO, employees can browse and order company-branded items themselves. We also like how Bonusly gives employees the option to take their rewards in cash, with points redeemable for PayPal transfers, Visa gift cards, and prepaid Mastercards.

Customizable reward options are yet another advantage to Bonusly. You can get creative with experiential rewards like lunch with the CEO, local sports tickets, paid time off, and more. The platform is also connected to over 50 charitable causes, allowing employees to accept rewards in the form of donations to causes that matter to them.

Besides tangible rewards, Bonusly helps you set up automated awards for milestones like work anniversaries and birthdays to foster a culture of continuous appreciation. These public messages encourage social connections, praise, and gratitude between coworkers. You can also tie awards to business goals, driving performance and morale simultaneously.

Bonusly Customers

Bonusly is used by over 3,250 companies, including Cerebral, Baxter, Headspace, and InVision.

Bonusly Pricing

Bonusly has 3 plans. When billed annually, they cost as follows:

  • Core: Designed for small businesses, this plan costs $2.70 per user per month for up to 50 users.
  • Pro: For $4.50 per user per month, this plan can be used by teams looking for more flexibility with reporting, permissions, and integrations.
  • Custom: This plan has custom pricing and is made for larger businesses needing premium SLA and implementation support.

Best For

Bonusly works well for companies ranging from 50 to 5,000 employees looking to build a culture of appreciation.

Bonusly in action
Reviewer's Rating
10/10

We created a slack channel so you can see who is receiving points every day. I give out points to coworkers about 5x a month until my allotted amount is used up. You can easily integrate with slack, use the browser, or the app. Anytime someone helps me out, I send a few points over to say thank you!

What do you like about this tool?

I like that I can recognize coworkers that help me out and that the whole company will see it. I also like that I can get a sense of what each department is working on and with. It allows you to see all that is being done in the company, not just the specific people you work with. Lastly, you can redeem your points for cash prizes which is a great benefit. It is a great engagement tool for the company!

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

Since going fully remote, our company struggled with building culture and engagement. We also wanted a way to show recognition for all the hard work being done on a daily basis. We started using Bonusly 6 months ago and have had a fantastic experience so far. Bonusly allows our team to stay engaged, have fun with each other, see the different projects going on all over the company, and feel valued for their work. It's easy to use and does exactly what we were wanting.

What do you dislike about this tool?

I really don't have any complaints about Bonusly. The Slack integration could use some slight improvements but nothing major. I have not found an auto-billing setting that would save me some time. There could be more email reminders to employees who are not engaging on Bonusly.

How is this tool different than their competitors?

They have a competitive price, easy set-up, great customer service, an easy-to-use website, and awesome options for prizes to redeem your points for.

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

Be sure to budget for the subscription and points you want to give out. You will want to make sure your employees have an easy way to access it. It works well for us because everyone is working on their laptop all day. Decide if you want to give out cash rewards or experiences.

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

We have added more prizes to it and incorporated them into all of our cultural events. Anytime we want to reward someone or give a prize - we use Bonusly!

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

Companies that work primarily on a computer. Can be for in-person or remote settings.

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

Employees that do not have desk jobs would most likely not use it as much since they do not have easy assess to the website.

Reward Gateway

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Reward Gateway
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Popularity Score
4.1 / 5
User Score
4.3 / 5
Product Score
4.4 / 5

Why we picked Reward Gateway

We love Reward Gateway's multiple offerings in a single platform. Keeping rewards, recognition and surveys within each other's reach is just plain smart.

PROS

  • Excellent customer support thanks to their 24/7 help desk team and multiple communication channels
  • Varied rewards, including products from Amazon, customizable ecards, and experiences.
  • Employees will receive the reward budget's total value without processing or admin fees, as all rewards are provided at market pricing.
  • A vast number of employee engagement modules can be purchased separately.
  • Branded mobile apps are available for both Android and IOS users.
  • Remarkably good customer support due to their 24/7 help desk team and multiple communication channels
  • Varied rewards including products from Amazon, customizable ecards, and experiences
  • You can purchase modules separately if you prefer it

CONS

  • No free plan at this time.
  • The reporting side of the platform could be enhanced to provide deeper insights.
  • With mobile being so prevalent now, the lack of a mobile app to access Reward Gateway is a drawback. Having to log in separately on mobile is not ideal.
  • At times, it can take a while for cashback earnings to be credited after a purchase.
  • No free trial
  • The “Reward Gateway for Small Business” version is only available for companies in the UK and Australia
Reward Gateway Dashboard Screenshot

Reward Gateway Review

Reward Gateway is an excellent tool for organizations that determine to have their rewards program centered around retailer gift cards.

As we look into user feedback, the software provides on-the-spot tools for managers to give in-person or digital rewards, tracking benchmarks and making it possible to reward employees once they achieve the set goals.

Reward Gateway Customers

Reward Gateway is used by over 4000 companies, including McDonald’s, Comcast, and Pepsi.

Reward Gateway Pricing

  • Reward Gateway employee reward and recognition solutions can be purchased separately and have custom pricing.
  • The pricing of Reward Gateway’s “for Small Business” version starts at £6 per employee per month with no minimum price commitment.

Best For

Reward Gateway’s rewards program works for in-office, hybrid, and remote teams. Yet mid-size companies (51-500 employees) are the ones that typically make the most out of the software.

Reward Gateway in action
Reviewer's Rating
8/10

We use Reward Gateway daily as part of our employee engagement strategy. The platform is the core of our recognition measures, with a system in place for both peer-to-peer and manager-to-non-manager recognition, supporting employee achievements and effective efforts throughout the organization. Employees redeem recognition points daily for their contributions, which can be exchanged for benefits such as gift cards and unique experiences.

The employee discount feature offers exclusive discounts and cash-back offers from many retailers. We also rely on the well-being programs provided by Reward Gateway, which offer resources on physical, mental, and financial health to support our employees' overall well-being.

The communication tools are used for company news, updates, and surveys to gather important employee feedback. Analysis of engagement analytics helps us monitor and measure the efficacy of our recognition and rewards programs, allowing for data-driven improvements.

What do you like about this tool?

Reward Gateway is easy to use for both employees and administrators. It's highly configurable, allowing us to customize recognition programs and rewards to meet specific organizational needs. The platform offers a comprehensive suite of tools, including recognition, rewards, well-being programs, and communication tools, which helps simplify our HR processes and increase overall engagement.

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

We purchased Reward Gateway to help improve our employee engagement and recognition because there was a gap in providing formal and meaningful rewards and recognition for our employees. We've had it in place for approximately two years. Reward Gateway was chosen for its platform capabilities in combining recognition, rewards, employee discounts, and well-being programs. The organization believed it would add significant value. Additionally, the ability to configure the platform and gain data-driven insights has been a crucial feature for our needs.

What do you dislike about this tool?

The platform is not cheap. The extensive features require professional training for proper use. Integration with existing HR systems can be challenging and may require additional effort from developers.

How is this tool different than their competitors?

Unlike similar tools that focus on one or two areas, Reward Gateway offers an all-in-one solution, making it easier to manage and improving engagement across the board. The platform is user-friendly for both employees and managers and offers high levels of customization to align with our branding. Constant upgrades ensure it remains relevant and scalable as our company grows.

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

Key criteria include the features offered to meet recognition, reward, well-being, and communication needs. Ensure the platform allows easy customization according to organizational needs and branding. Check the integration capability with existing HR systems to ensure seamless functionality. Consider the cost and scalability of the solution. User-friendliness and support services are also crucial for smooth implementation and operation.

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

Reward Gateway has expanded its features beyond recognition and rewards to include well-being programs, communication tools, and engagement analytics, making it a comprehensive platform for organizations with diverse needs.

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

Reward Gateway is ideal for organizations aiming to improve employee morale, satisfaction, and overall engagement through a structured and multifaceted approach.

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

Companies with complex integration needs may need additional solutions or tools that would cover all their needs, and they may not find Reward Gateway to be the best fit.

Bucketlist

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Bucketlist
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Popularity Score
4.2 / 5
User Score
4.8 / 5
Product Score
4.4 / 5

Why we picked Bucketlist

With its vast rewards catalog, easy fulfillment, collaborative team challenges, and more, Bucketlist boosts employee satisfaction and retention. They also offer dedicated support to help you optimize your incentive programs.

PROS

  • Numerous rewards are available. Some users have even mentioned that it’s hard to pick one.
  • Known for adding customer suggestions to its product roadmap and delivering on them.
  • Web and mobile versions are easy to use.
  • A pilot program is available.
  • Available in English, Spanish, and French.
  • 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

  • Rewards in the form of experiences are quite limited compared to cash rewards.
  • Some users found shoutouts, tokens, and goal setup features challenging to use.
  • Only available in English 
  • Little information is available as to the particularities of their concierge service for experience rewards.
Bucketlist dashboard screenshot

Bucketlist Review

Bucketlist’s rewards and incentives platform has all the features you need to boost employee satisfaction, engagement, and retention. For starters, it features a comprehensive catalog of over 2,500 rewards employees can choose from, ranging from gift cards to merchandise to unique experiences. Reward fulfillment is fairly simple, with no markup on rewards.

The UI was easy to navigate in our testing. It was also simple to create different competitions which can be tied to sales goals, community service hours, or any important metric. The progress team members make can be tracked on a leaderboard, and winning members or teams receive the incentives you’ve previously defined. There are also detailed analytics and reports that give you plenty of insight into which incentives or awards resonate most with your employees.

On top of its robust features, Bucketlist also offers dedicated support to optimize your setup and training for all users. The implementation process is quick and easy with seamless integrations with platforms your team already uses like G-Suite and Office 365. Overall, we think Bucketlist is a fantastic platform to streamline and enhance your rewards initiatives while checking all the boxes: easy setup, impactful features, and excellent service.

Bucketlist Customers

The platform has over 470,000 users from 100+ countries. Some of them are First Bank, RBC, Interac, Chick-fil-A, 1-800-GOT-JUNK, Stamford Health, Danone, Majesco, and Applebee’s.

Bucketlist Pricing

Bucketlist plans are priced on a tiered pricing model based on company size. Typically, the range is $2 - $4 dollars per employee per month.

Best For

Bucketlist works best for medium to enterprise-size businesses (200 to 5,000+ employees).

Bucketlist in action
Reviewer's Rating
8/10

I use Bucketlist a minimum of 3 times a week. I use it to set reminders for birthdays and anniversary milestones. This allows my staff to feel valued and part of a team. Being able to send a quick message or an actual reward has made this program valuable to the company. Having motivational tools increases productivity as well as office morale.

What do you like about this tool?

I feel the ease of sending employees rewards is my number one pro of the program. Keeping my team excited and motivated is great. Also, not having to use multiple programs for each task is wonderful. I feel remembering milestones and birthdays is important to my staff and this has very little room for error.

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

My company was using other software programs to set reminders of anniversaries and birthdays. We then would have a separate email program to send recognition awards. It was a hassle and very time-consuming. It was also easy to make errors because of not having a streamlined program.

What do you dislike about this tool?

I feel that sometimes, the number of options in awards can be overwhelming. The news feed could be organized by department, which would make it geared to that area of the company. I also think being able to make the recognition public to all staff could be motivating to everyone.

How is this tool different than their competitors?

Bucketlist was incredibly easy to use, and I feel it is one of the better programs out there. It also is cost-effective and great for time management. I feel that fewer steps taken daily increase HR productivity and keep my team hyped up to do better. It is a great way to encourage staff members to do their best while feeling valued.

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

I would recommend doing their own research as to whether this program fits their company's needs. They offer a free trial, which I highly recommend utilizing. I feel this program is a wonderful tool, and my advice would be to purchase it.

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

They are constantly updating their system, adding new tools, and making it easier to navigate.

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

Tech companies and really, any office with staff members.

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

Companies such as a restaurant since staff members are not always on a computer.

WorkTango

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WorkTango
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Popularity Score
4.2 / 5
User Score
4.5 / 5
Product Score
4.4 / 5

Why we picked WorkTango

Employees can enjoy the freedom of choosing merchandise, gift cards, donations, and other custom rewards from WorkTango’s massive rewards catalog. The platform also ensures that offered rewards align with your business’ culture and core values.

PROS

  • The majority of users find WorkTango to be intuitive and easy to use.
  • Points can be redeemed for a wide variety of gift cards, prizes, and other reward options.
  • Coworkers can publicly or privately recognize one another in any direction, with or without reward points. Public recognition is viewable company-wide in a social media-like activity feed.
  • The platform’s automated recognition ensures timely shoutouts for employee birthdays, work anniversaries, and other milestones.
  • WorkTango is available in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, German, and French, making it accessible to diverse users.
  • Create custom incentives to reinforce your company’s objectives, programs, core values, or any positive actions that help your employees and your business succeed.
  • The reporting and analytics dashboard gives you near real-time insights on how your efforts are faring.
  • 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 dashboard screenshot

WorkTango Review

WorkTango’s all-in-one employee rewards platform makes appreciating and incentivizing employees easy and meaningful. We’ve peeked through their rewards catalog and it is massive, packing over a million rewards from popular retail gift cards to charity donations.

We like how the rewards catalog covers different price ranges, meaning you can incentivize all behaviors and achievements no matter how big or small. Another thing we like is its built-in search and filtering capabilities. Despite how big the catalog is, employees can still search and accurately find rewards that fit their interests best. WorkTango also gives personalized suggestions based on each employee’s past activity and has wishlists, reward points trackers, and an option for group reward redemption to build camaraderie.

Aside from rewards, WorkTango helps you give timely shoutouts for employee birthdays, work anniversaries and more through its automated recognition feature. It also lets you create incentives, gamifying and making it more fun for employees to reach performance goals, demonstrate certain values or positive actions. It’s a win for everyone.

WorkTango Customers

Kia Motors, HUB International, Rexall, Accruent

WorkTango Pricing

WorkTango has custom pricing. Request a demo to learn more.

Best For

WorkTango is great for distributed teams and SMBs, particularly in tech, FSI, healthcare, and business services.

WorkTango in action
Reviewer's Rating
8/10

I use WorkTango regularly, several times a week, at various stages of the employee lifecycle. One of the key things we use it for is the onboarding survey (30 days in). This helped us to fix some new retention issues. We also use it for exit interviews and engagement surveys, as the organization had some issues with staff attrition. Additionally, we use it for culture surveys, which have again helped us improve retention.

What do you like about this tool?

The fresh and welcoming design is perfect for an engagement tool. Constructing lifecycle surveys on this tool is quick and easy. The detailed real-time reporting is great, and I especially like the Excel and PowerPoint reporting.

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

Our existing employee satisfaction surveys were laborious, time-consuming, and rarely acted upon due to a lack of follow-up analytics and reporting. As a result, employee surveys were not welcomed by staff. We wanted a slicker, more automated, and user-friendly engagement survey with sophisticated analytics and reporting. WorkTango offers all of these benefits and more. I have used this tool for about 12 months.

What do you dislike about this tool?

I don't have anything particularly negative to say. WorkTango has nailed it. But, if pushed, the setup could be faster; it took several weeks to be ready. A shorter, more flexible contract term would be desirable. It could also be more affordable with tiered pricing.

How is this tool different than their competitors?

I have used tools like Culture Amp and Motivosity, and I found that WorkTango was harder to set up and administer but had the same functionality and was more cost-effective.

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

Flexible pricing is important so you can get an appropriately priced offering to suit the size of your organization. A range of surveys that cover the entire employee lifecycle and are deliverable on mobile (Android and Apple devices) is crucial. Ease of use and setup, along with excellent reporting and good automation, are also key factors.

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

I have only used it for a year and didn't use it long enough to see any developmental changes.

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

WorkTango is suitable for all sizes of organizations due to its flexible pricing. The tool also works on a broad range of operating systems, making it great for organizations with employees working on different platforms.

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

WorkTango is quite feature-rich and functionality-heavy, which could be overkill for smaller organizations that want to do basic employee surveys.

Mo

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Mo
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Popularity Score
4.1 / 5
User Score
4.6 / 5
Product Score
4.4 / 5

Why we picked Mo

With Mo, you can design and automate your employee rewards program with its easy-to-manage peer-to-peer appreciation, budget controls, and reporting functionalities.

PROS

  • User-friendly UI with a wide range of gift card options.
  • Transparent and reasonable pricing, no rewards fees.
  • Available in twelve languages and growing.
  • Free software onboarding and implementation support for all plan users.
  • Mobile apps are available for both Android and iOS users.
  • 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 no longer discloses its pricing.
  • There is no free plan (but a free trial is available upon request.)
  • Customer support is limited to weekdays, 9 AM - 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.
Our reviewer took screenshot of Mo's Employee Engagement Platform Software during the review

Mo Review

Mo makes rewarding employees incredibly simple, meaningful, and fun. We put it to the test and found the UI quite intuitive. It’s easy to grant credits to deserving employees, which they can redeem from Mo’s extensive rewards marketplace of major brands like Amazon, Nordstrom, and Tesco.

Colleagues can post public or private appreciative “Moments” and react with comments, emojis, and GIFs, nurturing a culture of appreciation from the bottom up. Managers can also use Mo’s unique “Boosts” to regularly prompt team members to recognize one another for day-to-day wins.

Our editors took screenshot of Mo's employee rewards platform dashboard during the review

We like a lot of things about Mo but if we had to choose just one, it’d definitely be their automated Assistant. The Assistant automatically reminds managers to recognize employees on their special days like birthdays, work anniversaries, and other special occasions. It also nudges managers and employees to share appreciation if someone has not been recognized in a while, which is something we’ve not seen on other platforms.

Mo Customers

Mo has more than 100,000 users. Some top customers are SGN, The O2, NHS, Aspen, William Hill, and SHL.

Mo Pricing

Mo offers custom pricing via a monthly subscription model based on the number of employees included in the program. Contact their sales team for a quote.

Best For

Mo works exceptionally well for distributed teams who want to connect and motivate employees within established internal communications platforms like MS Teams and Slack.

Mo in action
Reviewer's Rating
10/10

We use Mo every day across my remit which is back office Operations. We have roughly 1100/1200 people on the platform and an average of 1500 moments shared on it a month. The key processes we use it for are:

  • P2P points scheme - We give everyone in the departments a small financial amount at the start of each month. They can't spend it on themselves, they can only give it to colleagues when sharing moments. It encourages them to recognize each other for things like training, help with a tricky problem or account, support as a friend/colleague, advice or generally being a good egg. This is the most popular activity we use Mo for and has the biggest impact on the shift in culture and engagement.
  • All leadership groups have additional ad-hoc pots that they can reward from which focus more on performance-based recognition.
  • We use the platform for our quarterly awards. The award categories are sent out and everyone nominates their colleagues for different awards. Last month we had 283 nominations from a department of 400. It's then easy to shortlist and pick winners there. The winners can then be celebrated through Moments on Mo, and rewarded at the same time. It's also 1 click of a button to then send out the nominations to every nominee for each award category.
  • More recently we've started using Boosts which are automated triggers set once a week, in line with our agile sprint work. They prompt people to celebrate their weekly wins in a shared setting for everyone to engage with. This also makes it much easier for senior leadership to have a presence on the platform when their time is so limited. We also use it for the start of the week's focusses and goals to keep everyone connected on our objectives.
  • As the budget master I then also use the platform for any additional ad-hoc activity I run such as monthly non-performance-based incentives to further build our culture and connect people.
  • I don't know if I'm allowed to share how much has been cashed in by our colleagues at the inhouse store in Mo over the last 2 years but suffice to say it's an astounding figure and all of it is people saving up what they receive from various things and spending it on exactly what they want as the store is so extensive. It gives them autonomy and choice and makes it really easy which they love. It's been particularly appreciated during the cost of living crisis to go towards supermarket shops or school shoes from Clarks, house renovations from B&Q, as well as AirBnB staycations and so, so much more.
What do you like about this tool?
  • It saves me SO MUCH TIME!
  • It's so simple to use and for other people to pick up
  • Its use grows organically once people start using it
  • The variety of the store gives our people huge autonomy and variety
  • It makes rewarding easy and fun
  • It helps drive a positive culture, a culture of recognition and appreciation
  • I love just how much everyone else loves it
  • The team that works there is so helpful and works with you to always deliver improvements
  • It continues to deliver extra value, we're always finding new ways to get more out of it.
  • It's made my life a million times easier. I could never go back.
Why did your organization buy this tool, and how long have you used it for?

We initially bought it to automate the plethora of manual processes that I was trying to execute manually myself beforehand. This includes managing the general reward and recognition schemes, all nomination processes, awarding, and the peer-to-peer R&R scheme we ran. All purchasing of vouchers, prizes, etc in a hybrid world which requires getting people's addresses, etc.

This range of activities took up almost all of my time and left very little to work on bigger strategic projects. It couldn't continue.

Mo automated all these processes, for example sending out the nominations sent in for our quarterly awards to each nominee. This took the best part of a day to manually send all of these emails for every nomination. Now it takes no more than 30 seconds, I click one button for each category and they all go out. This is a time saving that is replicated across multiple processes and has completely changed the scope of what my role can deliver because of the time it saves.

However, the real value has come since then. With my free time, I've been able to develop our use of Mo to be the centerpiece that everything is built around. We've learned much further on the peer-to-peer scheme and the overarching objectives of engagement are about bridging the gap and connecting people to feel part of a team where community is our culture and fun is in our DNA. Mo allows us to drive this culture shift, connecting people all over the country through positive interactions on the platform, strengthening working relationships and our sense of broader identity. We've been using it for 2 years now, and are averaging 1500 moments shared on the platform a month (each being a recognition, thank you, or award) with c1100 users. It's helped drive a 1.9 increase in our engagement score in Peakon in 1 year.

What do you dislike about this tool?
  • I really can't call out things I dislike. The only feedback I get is:
  • You can't edit a moment once you've sent it (but I understand why that's the case).
How is this tool different than their competitors?

It wraps everything up into one easy-to-use and comprehensive platform. At the same time, it's not cluttered with useless extras. The service you get for the price is extremely good, the customer service is exceptional and the team is an absolute pleasure to work with.

It was the only platform I found that facilitated the peer-to-peer scheme I was running. I was able to completely replicate the model in Mo but have the entire thing automated. Nothing else allowed that level of autonomy for the user but control for the admin too. The store is extremely comprehensive too which makes a massive difference. Others were good but the Mo one is bang on with variety and caters to a wide range of preferences. Once or twice at the start, I had people ask if other stores could be added but I've never had it since.

The Boost functionality and how it helps support our agile ways of working has been a real leap forward and their manager assistant is a really helpful tool for our leadership population. It seems as time goes on, the more and more we can align how we work and what we do to utilize the platform to support us.

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

Think about what you really need, and what problem are you directly trying to solve. That's the first question. The second is what's possible. My view shifted so much once we got Mo to all these other possibilities that I hadn't considered before. Ask the what-if questions, challenge what you are doing, and think what would be the dream scenario. Also, think of it from a bigger cultural piece. What attitudes, behaviors, and cultures are you wanting to drive within your business and what's going to best support you in doing that. Also, does it automate for you? The more it automates, the more time you have to dig deeper into the bigger issues/questions.

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

Since we started using it 2 years ago. It introduced the Boost function and the manager's assistance. These two upgrades more specifically target the leadership population as we/they'd identified that they were the harder population to get engaged with the platform. These upgrades build in routine and simple triggers which are easy for leaders to respond to. The assistant also gives all the key information you need in one easy place (budgets, team activity, etc) but also great in-house articles to get people thinking about management approaches with a more modern and progressive approach which I know has been really well received.

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

I would say a more modern organization or one that wants to modernize. It's probably not good for a traditional working environment so much. It works for big businesses and small businesses too. Its functionality allows you to manage the view in a way that means you can scale as large as you like and not lose the personal touch it offers.

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

As explained above, a traditional working organization that doesn't really want to modernize in how it treats its employees or thinks about things like culture and engagement.

Vantage Circle

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Vantage Circle
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Popularity Score
4.1 / 5
User Score
4.4 / 5
Product Score
4.1 / 5

Why we picked Vantage Circle

Vantage Circle offers a wide range of peer and manager rewards to boost engagement, with the flexibility to support global teams through localized redemption options in over 100 countries and in 16 languages.

PROS

  • Vantage Circle features an excellent user interface that’s modern, clean, simple, and easy to navigate.
  • There’s a wide selection of gift cards and shopping discounts to redeem points.
  • The process for redeeming points for gift cards and vouchers is quick and straightforward. 
  • Users praise Vantage Circle’s support team for being quick to respond and resolve issues. 

CONS

  • There’s a learning curve due to the platform’s feature breadth. The clean and easy-to-navigate interface does make up for it though. 
  • The conversion rate of points to monetary rewards is low according to users. 
  • The mobile app can sometimes be slow or buggy. Reports include occasional technical issues with logging in or displaying points accurately.
Our reviewers took screenshot of Vantage Circle's Employee Rewards Platform during the review

Vantage Circle Review

Vantage Circle offers a comprehensive and user-friendly employee rewards platform that makes it easy to appreciate and engage your workforce. 

The platform stands out for its massive rewards catalog, containing gift cards, merchandise, and curated experiences accessible in over 100 countries. What’s also great about it is that it takes the Standard of Living Index (SOLI) into account, adjusting reward points for international teams to redeem in a fair manner. 

There’s a host of features around peer-to-peer recognition. Employees are empowered to recognize one another's accomplishments via custom awards and badges. There’s also a social feed that showcases all the recognition passed around and a leaderboard that not only tracks but gamifies everyone’s efforts. 

Milestones like birthdays and work anniversaries are never forgotten with Vantage Circle’s automated messages. The platform also helps you create a digital yearbook and service catalog for long service awards. 

With its comprehensive feature set, focus on user experience and powerful administrative capabilities, Vantage Circle ticks all the boxes for an effective employee rewards solution. Companies looking to delight their global workforce should consider this well-thought-out platform.

Vantage Circle Customers

Vantage Circle is used by over 700 companies including Bosch, Tata, and DHL.

Vantage Circle Pricing

Vantage Circle’s pricing depends on the number of employees you have. SMBs with up to 1000 employees can access the Grow plan at a starting price of $200 per month. The other two plans, i.e. Transform and Enterprise have custom pricing. Contact Vantage Circle’s Sales team for an estimate based on the size and needs of your company.

Best For

Companies of all sizes can benefit from Vantage Circle’s employee rewards and recognition offering. Generally though, the more employees you have, the more value you derive out of platforms of its kind.

Vantage Circle in action
Reviewer's Rating
8/10
  • Sharing brand gift cards during birthdays and anniversaries.
  • Allocating Vantage points for receiving client appreciation.
  • Facilitating peer-to-peer appreciation for support.
  • Sending meal gift cards on work anniversaries.
  • Providing a platform for sharing feedback for managers.
What do you like about this tool?
  • All our local brands are available in the gift card section.
  • The platform operates extremely fast; gift cards are generated within seconds.
  • Customer support is excellent; any issues we have are addressed promptly and with priority.
Why did your organization buy this tool, and how long have you used it for?

We were looking for a solution to appreciate our talent and provide them with necessary benefits and perks during remote work mode. Vantage Circle offers a complete solution that helps us celebrate our employees in remote and hybrid environments. We have the option to send gift cards for birthdays and have also implemented a points system where employees can accumulate points through appreciation and strong performance.

What do you dislike about this tool?
  • We are still waiting for some Indian brands that we requested some time ago.
  • Currently, there are no dine-out related offerings.
  • We are also waiting for a joint team-based appreciation mechanism to be implemented.
How is this tool different than their competitors?

Vantage Circle is more affordable compared to similar tools. The solutions are regionally customized, allowing us to deal in INR and engage with locally present brands. Additionally, the customer support team is exceptionally responsive and helpful.

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

Consider the need for employee appreciation in remote or hybrid work environments. Evaluate the presence of relevant brands for gift card options. Look into subscription plans; for example, Vantage Circle creates customized plans based on the number of users.

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

Not sure about the changes they made.

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

This tool is very suitable for organizations operating in remote or hybrid modes with globally distributed teams.

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

It may not be a good fit for small organizations where everyone is working from the office and direct, in-person appreciation is feasible.

AdvantageClub.ai

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AdvantageClub.ai
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Popularity Score
4.3 / 5
User Score
4.7 / 5
Product Score
4.2 / 5

Why we picked AdvantageClub.ai

We picked AdvantageClub.ai because it has everything one would need for employee rewards and recognition in one place, so you can ditch the multiple apps and streamline your process with this easy-to-use platform. Plus, if you want to create a rewards program that matches your company culture, you can customize it with the thousands of redemption options this vendor offers.

PROS

  • 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.
  • 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

  • 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.
  • 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.

AdvantageClub.ai Review

For those who are here for an employee rewards and recognition system that allows you to customize and use AI and has thousands of global redemption options, we highly recommend AdvantageClub.ai. This platform’s global rewards marketplace boasts more than 10,000 brands in over 100 countries and counting. And just as importantly, the redemption process is easy and smooth.

We gave the redemption process a test by selecting a Walmart gift card from the U.S. marketplace. Within seconds, we received our digital gift card, ready for use. From there, we could redeem the earned points through the system’s peer recognition program for shopping, dining, experiences, and even wellness benefits.

AdvantageClub.ai employee reward and recognition software dashboard
We tested AdvantageClub.ai’s redemption process by choosing a Walmart gift card from the US market

The Amazon Marketplace integration also came out really nice. We could convert points directly into purchases across various product categories without any issues.

If you like to give employees more control over how they use their perks, the in-app Flex-Benefits program has options for medical benefits, wellness plans, and fitness memberships— all configurable.

The flexibility is extended to the employer’s side, too. Instead of being a plug-and-play solution, AdvantageClub.ai allows companies to custom-brand their rewards program, from logos and colors to customized award categories.

Within its admin dashboard, we could set up custom award approval workflows, manage budgets, and configure different recognition programs per department or region. The system also worked well when we used bulk uploads for award distribution, which can be very handy for those looking to roll out incentives at scale.

And "ADVA," the AI-driven engagement assistant, impressed us with the gentle nudges to keep employees involved without being too pushy about it. For example, it reminded us that we hadn’t recognized a colleague in two weeks and suggested sending an appreciation message. Similarly, for wellness incentives, it notified us when we had points to use for a health check-up.

One downside of AdvantageClub.ai, however, is that this vendor isn’t upfront about their pricing. Costs can change depending on where your team is based and what features you need, so a talk with their sales is a must to get a quote for your business. Also, unlike some competitors such as Guusto and Workstar, the rewards platform doesn’t offer a free trial.

AdvantageClub.ai Customers

1,000+ companies, including EY, Concentrix, TARGET, Hexaware, BCG, and Turner.

AdvantageClub.ai Pricing

AdvantageClub.ai has custom pricing.

Best For

AdvantageClub.ai is ideal for large enterprises and mid-sized organizations looking for a highly flexible employee rewards and recognition platform with AI-driven automation and a global marketplace for perks and benefits.

AdvantageClub.ai in action
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Benefits of Employee Rewards Systems

An effective employee reward program strengthens workplace engagement, boosts morale and HR efficiency, and reinforces company core values, all while cultivating a positive culture.

Improved Employee Engagement and Retention

With 77% of employees performing their best when engaged and appreciated, rewarding worker contributions have a tangible impact. That does not just stop at better staff performance; it also helps turnover rates. Gallup found organizations that prioritize rewards at work see a 56% decrease in the likelihood of employees seeking new job opportunities

You would also want to consider a program fostering peer-to-peer recognition, as recent data suggests that employees who feel recognized by their peers are five times more likely to feel valued and to invest in their work.

Increased Productivity and Innovation

Employee recognition statistics demonstrate that employees perform better and feel more motivated when their contributions are recognized. According to Gartner, a well-designed recognition program can lead to an 11.1% increase in average employee performance.

Also, when employees receive regular recognition, they are more likely to offer creative solutions and strive for higher performance. For instance, those recognized monthly are 36% more likely to report feeling productive and engaged compared to those recognized quarterly.

Higher HR Efficiency

Too often, HR professionals wear many hats and have multiple aspects they need to attend to, so any opportunity to streamline the processes should be seized. The best solutions have all manner of automation options to ensure that rewards programs are implemented consistently and fairly. These tools can automate everything from milestone celebrations, work anniversaries, and birthdays to onboarding—all in one user-friendly interface.

Strengthened Company Culture and Employer Brand

Implementing a well-planned rewards strategy with the help of employee rewards software is a surefire way to build positivity around your company brand.

Rewards don’t have to be financial, either: Plenty of well-known companies have received positive press coverage for the non-monetary incentives they offer to reward staff.

Pro Tips on Employee Rewards Programs

Employee Reward Software Pricing

Employee reward platforms are typically priced per employee per month or follow a marketplace pricing model.

Per Employee Per Month Pricing Model

A flat per-employee-per-month model is best suited to companies that regularly use the employee rewards platform—typically larger companies for whom paying by usage would be prohibitively expensive.

A typical per-employee-per-month pricing model for an employee reward system might look like this:

 Employees

 Price/Employee/Mo

 Total Annual Cost

 10

 $10

 $12,000

 100

 $9.50

 $114,000

 1,000

 $5.70

 $684,000

Marketplace Model

With the marketplace model, customers pay a variable amount based on their use of the tool rather than a flat rate.

If you don't make extensive use of the rewards software during any given period, your costs stay low. This model works best for smaller companies who may not use the platforms enough to justify the flat monthly fee.

Here’s an illustrative example of a marketplace model fee structure for employee reward programs:

 Employees

 Annual Spend

 Fee as % of Spend

 Vendor Fee

 100

 $40,000

 18%

 $7,200

 1,000

 $400,000

 10%

 $40,000

 10,000

 $4,000,000

 6%

 $240,000

Types of Employee Rewards (with Examples)

There are several ways for rewarding employees in the workplace, but generally, they all fall into two types:

  • Monetary rewards are directly linked to an employee's performance, achievements, or contribution to the organization. Examples of monetary rewards for employees include bonuses that comprise a percentage of their salary, a commission on a sale, and a bonus allocated to reaching a specific metric target.
  • Non-monetary rewards don’t involve direct financial compensation but aim to motivate and recognize individuals by gifting a specific item or experience. Some ideas for non-monetary rewards include an employee award title, peer nominations, an employee wellbeing program, paid days off to rest after hard work to celebrate a big achievement, and company-sponsored training opportunities an employee wants to pursue.

You can use either one or both. The center point here is to ensure that the rewards initiatives (as well as the employee recognition programs) are: 1) meaningful to the recipients (your employees) and 2) aligned with your company values.

How to Set Up a Staff Reward System

Best practices for implementing a successful employee reward system include ensuring smooth integration with your HRIS, monitoring outcomes closely, encouraging feedback from employees, and securing management and employee buy-in at all stages.

  • Integration: Accessing employee data already stored in an HRIS, for example, makes tracking progress toward goals much smoother, while a team-up with team collaboration tools like Slack is a hugely effective way to encourage engagement.
  • Monitoring: Rather than set-and-forget systems, reward programs require regular monitoring and optimization to ensure that rewards for staff are distributed as intended. The work does take time and effort, but the return will be worth it.
  • Encourage feedback: The more engaged the employees are in your reward program, the more on-target it is likely to be. So, involve your people in sharing their thoughts about the tech. They’ll be able to tell you exactly which rewards motivate them (aka what to focus on) and which ones they don’t care for (aka what to cut).
  • Management buy-in: The more that management knows about the upsides (actual and potential) of the software that they have signed off on, the easier it will be to obtain approval for scaling it up or improving it in other ways.

FAQs

What is an employee rewards program?

An employee reward program is a structured method for companies to offer rewards, such as cash, gifts, or non-monetary incentives, to employees for their service and positive behaviors. When effectively implemented, these programs can motivate, attract, and retain top talent, and enhance employee performance.

How do I know if my team needs an employee rewards program?

A staff rewards system should be in place if you experience one of these circumstances with your team:

  • Team members' productivity decreases significantly.
  • Complaints become more frequent among workers.
  • High employee turnover rates.
  • Most engagement surveys and performance review answers suggest a need for better employee experience and retention.

You may also want to check out our experts' advice on what to consider before buying an employee rewards system to ensure success when exploring recognition solutions.

What companies have the best employee rewards programs?

Depending on each business’s needs and priorities, but according to our experts’ testing and evaluations, Nectar’s rewards feature set has always enriched every time we re-visited their site, Guusto’s employee recognition platform works so well for frontline employees, Vantage Circle is ideal for global teams, while Workstars is best for U.K.-based businesses.

What are the main benefits of employee rewards software?

Key benefits of employee rewards software include improved employee engagement and productivity, reduced employee turnover, better teamwork, plus the ability to build your work culture and automate various tasks to save time.

How much does an employee rewards program cost?

Many employee rewards platforms offer free trials. A basic rewards program for small businesses can start at as little as $1 per employee per month, while more comprehensive options can cost thousands of dollars or more, often with annual subscriptions required.

What are some examples of employee rewards?

Amazon gift cards, e-cards, and charitable donations are a few examples of employee rewards. However, rewards don’t have to be financial. Plenty of well-known companies have received positive press coverage for the non-monetary incentives they offer to reward employees.

How do companies motivate and reward employees?

Rewarding employees can come in different shapes and forms, but effective programs all have three things in common:

  • They recognize employee contributions both publicly and privately.
  • They balance out tangible and intangible rewards, and perhaps, most importantly,
  • They are tailored to individual preferences.

Learn more: Ultimate guide and actionable tips for effective employee reward systems

Final Advice on the Best Employee Rewards Programs

Last but not least, don’t forget to integrate your employee rewards and recognition tools with the rest of your HR tech stack (i.e. HRIS/HCM, employee engagement platforms, and performance management systems). Let that happen and you will gain a more comprehensive grasp of your employee experience, which you can use to supercharge your organization's employee appreciation levels.

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