Choosing the right employee recognition platform is essential for enhancing employee engagement, boosting productivity, and cultivating a positive company culture. Bonusly and Guusto are popular platforms that help businesses streamline their recognition and rewards programs. However, they cater to various business demands and provide distinct benefits. In this unbiased comparison, we will explore the features, integrations, pricing, customer support, and real-user reviews of Bonusly and Guusto. We'll also introduce Matter, an excellent alternative to both platforms, offering a highly customizable and user-friendly experience for businesses looking to create a winning workplace.
Let's dive into how Bonusly and Guusto compare and help you decide which platform best fits your organization.
Bonusly vs. Guusto: Overview comparison
Bonusly and Guusto are both employee recognition platforms designed to enhance employee engagement and company culture, but they take different approaches to their recognition and rewards systems.
Bonusly focuses on social, peer-to-peer recognition, where employees can give and receive points that can be redeemed for other rewards like gift vouchers, donations, and company-specific items. Bonusly integrates easily with tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams, making it perfect for mid-sized companies looking to foster fun and engaging recognition culture. Its real-time recognition and ease of use make it a strong choice for companies prioritizing employee appreciation and daily interactions.
Guusto, on the other hand, is a flexible recognition platform that simplifies the rewards process. It emphasizes scalable rewards programs and offers a variety of gift card options, charitable donations, and custom rewards. Unlike point-based platforms, Guusto allows direct reward distribution with no markups (i.e., $1 equals $1). It is particularly well-suited for companies with frontline or deskless employees. It allows for printed rewards or digital QR codes, making it ideal for healthcare, retail, and hospitality sectors. Guusto also integrates with popular HRIS systems to make recognition programs easy to manage.
Both platforms help companies boost morale and retain employees. Still, while Bonusly focuses more on real-time peer recognition and social features, Guusto excels in offering reward flexibility and efficiency for frontline workers.
Bonusly vs. Guusto: Features
Bonusly and Guusto offer various features to enhance employee engagement and improve recognition programs. Still, they focus on different aspects of recognition to meet the needs of various businesses.
Bonusly features:
- Peer-to-peer recognition: Bonusly's core feature is its easy-to-use, peer-to-peer recognition system that allows employees to give recognition points to one another for their efforts. This approach fosters a positive company culture by encouraging frequent recognition, boosting morale, and enhancing employee relationships.
- Customizable rewards: Employees can use their points to get a range of prizes, including gift cards, charitable donations, and branded corporate merchandise. This level of customization allows companies to offer meaningful rewards aligned with their business success.
- Real-time recognition and integration: Bonusly seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Teams, Slack, and other workplace collaboration tools, promoting real-time recognition and ensuring that employees can receive praise where they work the most.
- Actionable insights and reporting: Bonusly provides detailed analytics that help managers and HR leaders track recognition trends, assess the impact of recognition on productivity, and use data-driven decisions to enhance employee engagement.
Guusto features:
- Simple, scalable reward programs: Guusto allows businesses to quickly set up recognition and reward programs without using a complex points-based system. Rewards are sent as gift cards or donations with no markups, ensuring that every dollar spent goes directly to the reward.
- Flexible reward delivery: With Guusto, companies can send rewards through multiple channels, including web, mobile apps, QR codes, and even printed rewards for deskless or tech-averse employees. This makes Guusto an excellent choice for healthcare, retail, and manufacturing industries.
- Non-monetary recognition: For companies looking to manage recognition programs without large budgets, Guusto offers features like Shoutouts for non-monetary recognition. This helps foster a culture of appreciation without the need for constant spending.
- Automated milestone celebrations: Guusto offers built-in automation for recognizing important milestones like work anniversaries, birthdays, and performance goals, allowing businesses to streamline recognition without missing key moments.
- Powerful reporting: Like Bonusly, Guusto allows managers to monitor employee engagement, taxable benefits, and overall performance within the company through actionable insights and reporting features.
Summary of differences: While both platforms are designed to improve employee recognition and engagement, Bonusly focuses on peer-to-peer recognition and integrates well with everyday collaboration tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams. Guusto, however, excels at providing flexible reward options and is particularly well-suited for companies with frontline workers or those looking for a cost-effective recognition platform without using points-based systems.
Bonusly vs. Guusto: Integration options
Both Bonusly and Guusto offer essential integration options to help businesses streamline their employee recognition and rewards programs within existing systems. However, they focus on different integration tools to meet the needs of various organizations.
Bonusly integration options:
- Collaboration tools: Bonusly integrates smoothly with popular collaboration platforms, including Microsoft Teams and Slack, allowing employees to give recognition without leaving their primary workspaces. These integrations enable real-time recognition that's embedded into everyday interactions, making it easy to maintain a continuous culture of appreciation.
- HRIS systems: Bonusly also integrates with HRIS systems like BambooHR and ADP, which helps companies streamline the process of managing employee data and recognition simultaneously.
- API for custom integrations: For businesses that require unique integrations, Bonusly provides an open API that allows developers to create custom solutions to fit their specific needs.
Guusto integration options:
- Flexible reward delivery: Guusto offers integrations that allow rewards to be delivered through various channels, including web, mobile apps, QR codes, and printed rewards. This ensures that companies with frontline workers or tech-averse employees can still use a comprehensive recognition program.
- HRIS and single sign-on (SSO) providers: Guusto integrates with HRIS platforms and SSO systems to ensure seamless user management, making tracking employee recognition activities and managing rewards across departments easier.
- No complex setup: Guusto allows businesses to quickly implement and scale their recognition programs without requiring extensive setup or onboarding, making it particularly suitable for companies that want to launch programs quickly and efficiently.
Summary of differences: Bonusly is ideal for businesses that rely heavily on collaboration platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams for day-to-day communication, offering deeper integration with those tools. Guusto, however, shines in its ability to reach deskless employees and offer flexible, multi-channel delivery options, making it perfect for companies with frontline employees or those needing quick and simple implementation of recognition programs.
Bonusly vs. Guusto: Pricing and plans
Pricing is a key consideration when choosing an employee recognition platform, and both Bonusly and Guusto offer flexible plans tailored to meet different organizational needs. However, their pricing structures are designed to cater to different types of businesses, with
Bonusly using a more traditional subscription-based model and Guusto offering flexibility based on usage.
Bonusly pricing:
- Appreciate: $2/user/month, billed annually
- Connect: $5/user/month, billed annually
- Achieve: $7/user/month, billed annually
Have a look at a more detailed overview of Bonusly's pricing and plans.
Guusto pricing:
- Free: $0 per month, Single user account
- Lite: $40 per month, Single user account
- Essential: $120 per month, Starts with 30 seats
- Premium: $400 per month, Starts with 80 seats
Have a look at a more detailed overview of Guusto's pricing and plans.
Summary of differences: Bonusly is best suited for businesses looking for straightforward per-user pricing with predictable costs and monthly or annual billing options. In contrast, Guusto is a flexible, pay-per-recognition platform where companies only pay for the rewards sent, making it a cost-effective solution for businesses that want to scale their programs without overcommitting on budget. Guusto's free tier and return of unclaimed gifts also make it attractive for organizations aiming to maximize their recognition budget.
Bonusly vs. Guusto: Customer support
When selecting an employee recognition platform, customer support is an indispensable consideration, as having the right level of support ensures smooth program management. Bonusly and Guusto offer customer support options, but their approaches differ regarding availability and personalized assistance.
Bonusly customer support:
- Email and chat support: Bonusly provides email and live chat support for all users, making resolving issues as they arise easy. While this is sufficient for most small to mid-sized businesses, some users have noted that response times can vary, especially when dealing with more complex problems.
- Help center and resources: Bonusly offers a comprehensive help center with articles, FAQs, and guides, enabling users to independently resolve issues and locate answers to frequently asked inquiries.
- Limited personal support for smaller teams: While Bonusly's customer support works well for small businesses, larger companies may require more dedicated support, which can be limited unless you're on an enterprise plan.
Guusto customer support:
- Personalized onboarding: Guusto provides dedicated onboarding for new users, especially for businesses rolling out larger-scale recognition programs. This includes live online training sessions and direct assistance with setting up recognition programs.
- 24/7 customer support: Guusto offers 24/7 email and live chat support, guaranteeing that businesses can obtain assistance anytime. This level of round-the-clock availability makes Guusto a reliable option for companies with international teams.
- Comprehensive help center: Like Bonusly, Guusto also offers a robust help center filled with FAQs, guides, and articles to assist users in independently resolving common issues and navigating the platform.
Summary of differences: Bonusly provides email and live chat support, which works well for smaller teams but may be less responsive for large enterprises needing more hands-on assistance. Guusto, on the other hand, excels with 24/7 support, personalized onboarding, and direct assistance, making it a stronger choice for companies that need continuous and dedicated customer support as they scale their recognition programs.
Bonusly vs. Guusto: Customer reviews
Real-world experiences offer valuable insights into how these platforms perform in practice. Here's what users have to say about Bonusly and Guusto on G2, a trusted software review platform.
Bonusly customer reviews
G2 review: Bonusly holds a G2 score of 4.7/5 based on over 1,000 reviews.
- Users appreciate Bonusly's ease of use and real-time recognition features. Many note its seamless integration with Slack and Microsoft Teams, making giving and receiving recognition easy. However, some users have expressed that they would like to see more customization in reward options.
- "We've used the service for years until it has slowly diminished in both quality and usability. We used to have a wider variety of rewards available, which has significantly shrunk to the point where we have one or to options available which are constantly in and out of service. At the time of writing the service is almost unusable and the Bonusly support team have done nothing in terms of informing or providing a clear path to a resolution." - Verified User in Marketing and Advertising (Customer G2 Review).
- "I love the idea of rewarding co workers for their assistance and attitude in the office. Although I think the idea is great, I have purchased 2 $25. visa cards to be mailed to me but never received them…" - Verified User in Legal Services.
- "I dislike the fact that the rewards catalogue has almost no options, the country switch was removed due to taxing issue like that is a users problem, which is not. We pay for this service, it's not free, but we get nothing but the same copy paste reply from support that nothing can be done to add either vouchers for existing vendors or new vendors, but they can add donations from various countries around the world that have nothing to do with my area. How can you spam us to donate for USA and when we ask for amazon vouchers it cannot be done?" - Verified User in Computer Software (Customer G2 Review).
Guusto customer reviews
G2 review: Guusto holds a G2 score of 4.9/5 based on over 3,500 reviews.
- Guusto is highly praised for its simplicity and flexible rewards options. Users love that it offers no markups on gift cards, meaning employees receive the full value of rewards. Many HR leaders find it easy to implement for deskless employees.
- "Initial login takes some finesse. Figuring out how to redeem your gift card takes some finesse." - Marilyn H. (Customer G2 Review).
- "I have only been using guusto for a little bit. The only thing I find I don't like is that when I log in it redirects me to the website instead of letting me log in via the app." - Verified User in Hospitality (Customer G2 Review).
- "I like the rewards and the frequency of them, but it makes me log in every single time." - David B.
Summary of differences: Bonusly is well-loved for its social and peer-to-peer employee rewards system, perfect for enhancing daily engagement. Guusto, on the other hand, is favored for its flexibility in offering rewards without extra fees and its simplicity, making it suitable for companies needing efficient reward distribution. Both platforms are highly rated, but their strengths cater to different business needs.
Bonusly vs. Guusto: Which is the right tool for you?
Choosing between Bonusly and Guusto depends on your company's specific needs, culture, and recognition strategy. Both platforms offer effective solutions for boosting employee engagement but cater to different business models and priorities. Here's a breakdown to help you decide which platform best aligns with your goals.
Choose Bonusly if:
- Your company prioritizes peer-to-peer recognition, allowing employees to easily give and receive recognition through a social recognition platform that integrates with tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams.
- You want a system that offers real-time recognition to help build a continuous culture of appreciation.
- Your company is a mid-sized business looking for an affordable, scalable platform with a free trial today and customizable reward options like gift cards and donations.
- You prefer a platform with strong employee engagement features, including reports and insights to track recognition trends and boost morale.
Check out our Bonusly vs. Matter guide for a full comparison.
Choose Guusto if:
- You need a cost-effective recognition platform with no markups on rewards, ensuring that every dollar spent on rewards goes directly to your employees.
- Your company works with frontline employees or deskless teams, and you need flexible reward options delivered via QR codes, mobile apps, or printed rewards.
- You want a simple, pay-per-recognition model that helps you only pay for actively used recognition, making it an ideal Guusto alternative to traditional per-user models.
- Your business values non-monetary recognition options, like shoutouts, to foster a strong company culture without the constant need for monetary rewards.
Check out our Guusto vs. Matter guide for a full comparison.
Bonusly and Guusto offer valuable employee recognition and rewards solutions. The right choice depends on your company's size, budget, and the type of recognition system you want to implement. Suppose you're looking for a Bonusly competitor platform that blends the ease of use of Bonusly with the flexibility of Guusto. In that case, Matter offers a powerful alternative that scales with your business as it grows.
Matter: The best alternative to Bonusly and Guusto
While both Bonusly and Guusto provide effective employee recognition and rewards solutions, Matter stands out as a versatile and customizable alternative. Designed to foster employee engagement through peer-to-peer recognition, Matter offers a balanced approach, combining the best features of Bonusly's social recognition with Guusto's flexible reward options. Whether you're a small business or a larger organization with unique needs, Matter adapts seamlessly to fit your company's goals.
Why Matter is the best alternative:
- Seamless integrations: Like Bonusly, Matter integrates smoothly with Slack and Microsoft Teams, allowing employees to send customizable kudos cards directly from their daily communication platforms. This ensures that recognition happens organically as part of the daily workflow, encouraging frequent and meaningful employee interactions.
- Customizable rewards: Matter offers a flexible rewards system that includes digital gift cards, charitable donations, and even company-branded merchandise. This aligns with Guusto's approach of offering flexible, no-markup rewards, allowing every dollar spent to go directly toward the reward.
- Automated milestone celebrations: Matter makes automating key recognition moments like birthdays, work anniversaries, and other significant achievements easy. This feature helps companies celebrate their employees in a personalized and efficient way without requiring manual intervention.
- Incentivized feedback and engagement: Matter's Feedback Friday feature encourages regular recognition by prompting employees to send kudos at the end of each week, creating a culture of appreciation that consistently boosts employee engagement. Additionally, Matter's flexible coin system, which resets weekly, ensures that recognition remains a regular part of the employee experience.
Matter blends the social aspects of Bonusly with the flexibility of Guusto, offering a comprehensive solution to businesses that are interested in optimizing their employee recognition initiatives.
With its customizable rewards, seamless integrations, and automated features, Matter is an excellent choice for businesses that want to improve employee satisfaction and foster a positive workplace culture.
Bonusly vs. Guusto: FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions to help you determine whether Bonusly or Guusto is the best fit for your company's employee recognition platform.
Q: How do Bonusly and Guusto compare in terms of features?
A. Bonusly excels in peer-to-peer recognition, offering real-time recognition through Slack and Microsoft Teams integrations. It's a social platform that helps mid-sized businesses create a culture of appreciation.
Guusto, on the other hand, offers flexible reward options with no markups, making it cost-effective. It's great for businesses with frontline employees, offering QR codes and mobile app-based rewards.
Q: Which platform is better for managing budget and reward options?
A. Guusto is more budget-friendly for businesses that want to avoid hidden costs, as it offers a pay-per-recognition model with no markups on rewards.
Bonusly uses a per-user pricing structure, which is predictable but may not be as flexible.
Q: How do Bonusly and Guusto integrate with existing tools?
A. Bonusly integrates with major collaboration tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams, making it perfect for businesses that rely on these platforms for daily communication.
Guusto integrates easily with HRIS systems and provides flexible reward delivery via the web, mobile apps, or even printed rewards.
Q: What type of customer support do Bonusly and Guusto offer?
A. Bonusly provides email and chat support, with a help center for additional guidance.
Guusto offers 24/7 customer support and dedicated onboarding, making it an excellent choice for companies that need continuous assistance as they scale.
Q: Are there any Bonusly alternatives or Guusto competitors?
Yes, Matter is a fantastic Bonusly alternative for companies looking for the flexibility of Guusto combined with the social engagement features of Bonusly. Matter offers customizable peer recognition integrated with Slack and Microsoft Teams, along with flexible rewards and non-monetary recognition options.
Both Bonusly and Guusto are powerful tools for creating winning workplace cultures, but the right choice depends on your company's size, budget, and recognition strategy. If you're looking for a platform that balances both ease of use and scalability, Matter is a competitive option designed to grow with your business.
In summary, Bonusly and Guusto are both excellent platforms for fostering employee recognition and improving company culture, but they cater to different business needs. Bonusly is ideal for companies seeking a peer-to-peer recognition system that integrates seamlessly with tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams. Guusto, with its pay-per-recognition model and no hidden fees, is better suited for businesses looking for flexible, cost-effective reward options.
If you're looking for a powerful Guusto competitor combining the best of both, Matter offers a highly customizable platform to boost employee engagement. Get started with Matter for free today!
