Choosing the right employee recognition platform fosters a positive company culture and increases employee engagement. Bonusly and Kudos are leading platforms that offer businesses valuable tools to create impactful recognition programs. While Bonusly focuses on peer-to-peer recognition with a fun, social aspect, Kudos provides a more comprehensive system, emphasizing company values and employee engagement through its robust kudos platform.
In this unbiased comparison, we'll analyze the features, integrations, pricing, customer support, and user reviews of both Bonusly and Kudos, helping you decide which platform aligns with your organization's needs. Additionally, we'll introduce Matter as a compelling alternative to both.
Bonusly vs. Kudos: Overview comparison
Both Bonusly and Kudos offer comprehensive solutions for employee recognition, but they target slightly different needs and business sizes. Understanding how they approach recognition and engagement can help determine which employee rewards platform aligns better with your company's objectives.
Bonusly focuses on peer-to-peer recognition, allowing employees to give and receive points for contributions that can be redeemed for various incentives, such as donations and gift vouchers. Bonusly integrates smoothly with collaboration tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams, promoting a fun social recognition system that strengthens day-to-day engagement. It's an excellent solution for small to midsized businesses that want to encourage real-time, frequent recognition.
On the other hand, Kudos offers a more comprehensive platform aimed at recognizing and enhancing company culture. It focuses on performance recognition tied to core company values, enabling businesses to recognize efforts through AI-powered analytics, award programs, and pulse surveys. Kudos also integrates rewards that range from merchandise to experiences and charitable donations, making it ideal for larger companies or enterprises that want to build a holistic recognition and employee engagement system.
Summary:
- Bonusly is ideal for companies looking for a peer-to-peer recognition system integrated with collaboration tools like Slack, focusing on frequent, real-time recognition.
- Kudos provides a more robust, analytics-driven platform that integrates recognition with employee engagement initiatives, making it a great choice for larger enterprises looking to measure performance and culture effectively.
Bonusly vs. Kudos: Features
Both Bonusly and Kudos offer a range of features designed to enhance employee recognition, improve company culture, and increase employee engagement. However, they approach these goals from different perspectives. Here's a full summary of each platform's essential features:
Bonusly features:
- Peer-to-peer recognition: Bonusly is centered around peer recognition, enabling employees to recognize one another in real time with points that can be redeemed for various rewards. This focus on social recognition helps foster collaboration and boost employee morale. It's especially useful for midsized businesses looking to create interactive and engaging recognition software.
- Customizable rewards: With Bonusly, employees can exchange their points for rewards, such as gift cards, charitable donations, and company-branded merchandise. This flexibility allows organizations to provide a recognition program that aligns with their team's preferences and the company's goals.
- Integration with collaboration tools: Bonusly integrates with major collaboration platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams, enabling employees to easily give and receive recognition without leaving their workstations. This connection ensures that recognition becomes part of everyday workflows.
- Analytics and reporting: Bonusly provides basic reporting and analytics that allow managers to track employee recognition trends, monitor engagement, and make data-driven improvements to their recognition programs. These insights help HR leaders and managers measure the impact of recognition on overall business productivity.
Kudos features:
- Values-based recognition: Kudos goes beyond simple peer recognition by tying recognition to core company values, allowing employees to recognize each other for efforts that reflect the organization's mission. This approach reinforces cultural alignment and helps companies develop a recognition software that connects daily actions with long-term business goals.
- Awards and nomination programs: Besides peer-to-peer recognition, Kudos offers formal recognition through award and nomination programs. Managers can nominate employees for specific perks and awards, allowing companies to celebrate daily achievements and larger milestones like employee anniversaries.
- AI-powered people analytics: Kudos leverages AI to provide insights into employee behavior and engagement. These analytics help managers and HR teams understand the effectiveness of their recognition programs and track employee performance at a granular level.
- Pulse surveys and engagement tracking: Kudos offers tools like pulse surveys to help companies measure employee satisfaction and engagement over time. This enables HR teams to gather feedback and adjust their strategies to maintain high employee engagement and improve the overall workplace experience.
- Comprehensive rewards catalog: Kudos also offers various rewards, from gift cards to experiences and charity donations, providing employees with meaningful rewards that motivate and engage them.
Summary of differences: While Bonusly focuses on peer-to-peer recognition and strongly emphasizes integration into existing workflows, Kudos offers a more robust, values-driven platform. Kudos excels at providing AI-powered analytics, formal awards, and a comprehensive employee rewards system that aligns with employee performance and long-term cultural goals. Both platforms offer valuable tools, but Bonusly is ideal for businesses looking for a simple social platform. At the same time, Kudos is better suited for organizations wanting to tie recognition directly to company values and track engagement with deeper analytics.
Bonusly vs. Kudos: Integration options
Both Bonusly and Kudos offer robust integration options that enhance their utility within the everyday tools your teams already use. These integrations make it easier for employees to engage with recognition programs in real-time while maintaining productivity.
Bonusly integration options:
- Collaboration tools: Bonusly integrates seamlessly with Slack and Microsoft Teams, allowing employees to give recognition directly from their workspace. This ensures peer-to-peer recognition is an organic part of daily communication.
- HRIS systems: Bonusly also integrates with popular HRIS systems like BambooHR and ADP, streamlining employee recognition and rewards management by syncing employee data and recognition records.
- API for custom integrations: Bonusly offers an open API for businesses needing custom setups, allowing developers to build integrations tailored to specific needs. This flexibility helps organizations connect Bonusly with proprietary tools.
Kudos integration options:
- Collaboration tools: Similar to Bonusly, Kudos integrates with Slack and Microsoft Teams, facilitating effortless recognition among personnel inside their frequently utilized platforms. This ensures recognition happens in real-time without disrupting workflow.
- HRIS and payroll systems: Kudos integrates with major HRIS platforms like Workday, BambooHR, and UKG. This allows HR teams to track employee engagement and recognition while maintaining accurate records within their existing systems.
- Advanced API and custom integrations: Kudos provides an API for businesses that want to develop custom recognition programs or integrate the platform into unique systems, offering flexibility for larger organizations with complex needs.
Summary of differences: Both Bonusly and Kudos offer integrations with key collaboration and HR systems, but Kudos offers more advanced integration options with AI-powered analytics and deep HR system compatibility. Bonusly, however, is ideal for companies prioritizing real-time social recognition within collaboration tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams. Kudos also stands out with its customizable API, making it a better fit for larger companies creating more tailored recognition workflows.
Bonusly vs. Kudos: Pricing and plans
When selecting an employee recognition platform, pricing is an important factor for many businesses. Bonusly and Kudos offer flexible pricing structures engineered to satisfy the requirements of businesses of various sizes. Still, their approaches differ in how they structure costs and what they offer.
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 plans and pricing.
Kudos pricing: Pricing is not listed on the website. You'll need to schedule a demo/sales call with Kudos to learn more about pricing.
Summary of differences: Bonusly is ideal for small to midsized businesses with its affordable and predictable per-user pricing model, offering flexibility for companies with growing teams. With its flat-rate model and tailored plans, Kudos is a better option for larger organizations that need more customization and scalability without the risk of hidden fees.
Bonusly vs. Kudos: Customer support
Regarding customer support, both Bonusly and Kudos provide comprehensive services to ensure users get the most out of their employee recognition platforms. Still, their support offerings differ slightly based on the scale of the organizations they serve.
Bonusly customer support:
- Email and chat support: Bonusly offers email and live chat support to help users resolve issues quickly. This level of support is particularly effective for small to midsized businesses, ensuring smooth platform management. Bonusly also provides a well-maintained help center with FAQs and resources to help users troubleshoot common problems independently.
- Comprehensive onboarding: Bonusly offers custom onboarding experiences for larger enterprises to help businesses get up and running quickly. This includes guidance on setting up peer-to-peer recognition programs and managing reward systems.
Kudos customer support:
- 24/7 support: Kudos excels with its 24/7 customer support via phone, chatbot, or email, guaranteeing that users have access to assistance at all times. This is a great feature for larger organizations with global teams operating across time zones.
- Dedicated onboarding and strategy: Kudos provides a dedicated onboarding team to personalize the platform for your organization. This includes helping businesses align the platform with their core values and setting up a recognition strategy that engages employees effectively.
- Ongoing strategic support: Kudos goes beyond technical support by offering continuous engagement advice and strategic planning to help companies maximize the impact of their recognition programs.
Summary of differences: Bonusly offers reliable, straightforward support that works well for small to midsized businesses, with email and live chat options. Conversely, Kudos provides more robust 24/7 support and offers personalized strategic onboarding and planning, making it ideal for larger enterprises that need deeper engagement with their employee recognition systems.
Bonusly vs. Kudos: Customer reviews
Real-world experiences provide valuable insights when comparing employee recognition platforms. Let's explore what users say about Bonusly and Kudos on G2, a trusted software review platform.
Bonusly customer reviews
G2 review: Bonusly holds a G2 score of 4.7/5 based on over 3,500 reviews.
- Bonusly is appreciated for its ease of use and peer-to-peer recognition system, which integrates well with tools like Slack. However, some users wish the reward catalog offered more variety.
- "Much like tipping, this system shifts the responsibility of compensation from the employer to someone else (patron for tipping, employee for Bonusly). I don't know the full details of the financials behind this program, but there's no way management would have gone for it if it were MORE expensive than handing out bonuses to everyone yearly. Instead of cutting or doing away with bonuses, ownership has now implemented social media, subject to the same whims and cliqueness found in standard social media, to take the place of direct financial compensation. Instead of people/families looking forward to little boost for the holidays etc, now you have to worry about office politics and how popular you might be with others to score some extra cash. And by extra, I mean a pitiful amount. 5000 nuggets will get you the same $500 bonus as before, which will take most people well over a year to acheive. And that's if you know to use the cash out option, which is buried amongst all the charitable contributions you can make or the gift cards you can redeem." - Verified User in Hospital & Health Care (Customer G2 Review).
- "The recognition method and how it can interact with the whole team. It is a great idea to use the Social Media way of posting. Reports and settings are a bit unstable, and the format will not load correctly occasionally." - Diego V., VP of Operations & HR.
- "The aspect of gifs and uploading photos and a fun UI with funny messages about bugs is nice. Creates a system of a popularity contest. It's added a bit of fun. But not a replacement for lousy workplace culture." - Verified User in Apparel & Fashion.
Kudos customer reviews
G2 review: Kudos holds a G2 score of 4.8/5 based on over 1,600 reviews
- Kudos is praised for its flexibility in aligning recognition with company values and providing in-depth analytics. However, a few users feel that the recognition system can sometimes lead to employee competition.
- "There are limited options for sending Kudos without the awards (only 4 categories) And the Low categories (ie "Thanks") are of very low monetary value and feel cheap to send and unimportant to receive. It is also unnecessary and annoying to have to choose qualities for each Kudos you send. Companies should be able to add additional gift cards to the gift card page, apart from the custom rewards which work in a different and less simple way. Adding business and cards to the regular page would be much better. Although the report sections are pretty comprehensive some of the options for showings things are not as simple as they could be and some of the option defaults don't make sense. The interface of the app online could be make this more unified and/or easy to navigate. I wish there was a native ipad app as our employees generally use Kudos on their ipads. The iphone app doesn't look pleasing to the eye on the ipad. - Paul-Philip M. (Customer G2 Review).
- "It's possible that, if we had better internal communication channels, like Slack, we wouldn't need a platform like Kudos as badly to foster connections across locations and departments. Also, adding attachments like images is harder than it needs to be, and animated gifs are currently not supported, which is a HUGE missed opportunity in my opinion. - Kyle M. (Customer G2 Review).
- "It would be nice to be able to redeem more mainstream items/services w/ points. (ex. retail or online gift cards, electronics, brand name items). In addition, when giving an "award" the user should be able to create their own "badge" as opposed to being limited to the options already uploaded." - Koren I., Brand Manager at Mike & Ike.
Bonusly is well-regarded for its ease of use and real-time recognition capabilities, especially for mid-sized businesses. Kudos is favored for its focus on company culture and value-based recognition, although some users find it less ideal when the system fosters competition.
Bonusly vs. Kudos: Which is the right tool for you?
Choosing between Bonusly and Kudos depends on your company's size, goals, and the type of employee recognition program you want to implement. Both platforms offer valuable solutions for employee engagement, but they cater to different business models. Here's a breakdown to help you decide which platform aligns with your needs.
Choose Bonusly if:
- Your company prioritizes peer-to-peer recognition that integrates seamlessly with Slack and Microsoft Teams, fostering real-time social recognition.
- You're a small to midsized business looking for easy-to-use employee recognition software with a flexible rewards system that encourages daily engagement.
- You need basic analytics and reporting to track recognition trends and improve employee satisfaction.
- You prefer a simple pricing model with predictable costs, making Bonusly one of the most accessible Bonusly alternatives.
Check out our Bonusly vs. Matter guide for a full comparison.
Choose Kudos if:
- You're looking for a platform that ties recognition to company values through customizable recognition programs.
- Your company prefers a comprehensive system with AI-powered analytics, offering deep employee performance and engagement insights.
- You need pulse surveys, award programs, and formal recognition options aligning with everyday recognition and major milestones.
- Your business needs a platform supporting large-scale employee engagement, making Kudos one of the most robust alternatives.
Check out our Kudos vs. Matter guide for a full comparison.
Bonusly and Kudos offer powerful tools for employee recognition, but the right choice depends on your company's needs. Suppose you're seeking employee recognition software that combines the best features with even more flexibility. In that case, Matter offers a customizable solution that scales with your business to boost engagement.
Matter: The best alternative to Bonusly and Kudos
With its innovative and flexible approach to employee recognition, Matter stands out as a top Bonusly and Kudos alternative. Combining powerful features with ease of use, Matter provides businesses a platform seamlessly integrating recognition into their communication tools.
Why Matter stands out:
- Slack-first and Teams-first integration: Matter integrates directly with Slack and Microsoft Teams, allowing employees to give and receive recognition without leaving their workflows. Unlike other platforms, Matter is built specifically for these environments, ensuring effortless engagement.
- Customizable kudos cards: Matter's peer-to-peer recognition system allows employees to send personalized kudos cards, enhancing team camaraderie and aligning recognition with company values.
- Automation and ease of use: With features like Feedback Friday, Matter encourages frequent recognition while automating processes like milestone celebrations. The platform's quick setup, just a 2-minute installation, ensures minimal time investment for ongoing management.
Celebrations and rewards:
- Matter automatically celebrates important milestones like birthdays and work anniversaries, offering personalized reward options, including digital gift cards or charitable donations. Employees can easily manage their celebration dates, ensuring no one is left out.
- Flexible rewards system: Matter offers a variety of reward options, such as digital gift cards, custom-branded merchandise, and experiences. The platform's coin system resets weekly, promoting frequent and meaningful recognition.
Key features of Matter:
- Peer-to-peer recognition with kudos cards: Beautiful, customizable kudos cards make recognition more engaging and meaningful.
- Automation and ease of use: Features like Feedback Friday and milestone celebrations ensure continuous recognition with minimal management.
- Custom rewards and coins: The coin system resets weekly, encouraging consistent participation, and employees can redeem coins for various rewards.
- Incentivized surveys: Matter encourages employee feedback through rewards, making surveys more engaging and ensuring high participation rates.
Matter is a powerful alternative to Bonusly and Kudos, offering customized recognition, automated engagement, and flexible reward options. Its seamless integration with Slack and Microsoft Teams makes it easy to use and perfect for businesses of any size looking to improve employee engagement and foster a positive company culture. Whether focused on simplicity or scalability, Matter provides a complete solution that grows with your business.
Bonusly vs. Kudos: FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions to help you determine whether Bonusly or Kudos is the best choice for your employee recognition program.
Q: How do Bonusly and Kudos compare in terms of features?
A. Bonusly emphasizes peer-to-peer recognition, allowing employees to receive real-time recognition via Slack and Microsoft Teams integrations. This makes it a strong fit for companies seeking a social, engaging platform.
Kudos, conversely, is a more comprehensive solution with AI-powered analytics, pulse surveys, and award programs, making it ideal for larger businesses that need in-depth insights.
Q: Which platform is better for mid-sized businesses versus large enterprises?
A. Bonusly is perfect for small to midsized businesses looking for simple software that fosters daily engagement with a flexible rewards system.
Kudos is tailored to larger enterprises with its customizable recognition programs, AI-driven analytics, and scalability for complex recognition needs.
Q: What pricing models do Bonusly and Kudos offer?
A. Bonusly uses a per-user pricing model, making it predictable for growing teams. Companies can choose monthly or annual billing.
Kudos offers a flat-rate model and custom pricing for enterprises, ideal for companies needing scalable solutions without hidden costs.
Q: How do Bonusly and Kudos handle customer support?
A. Bonusly provides email and live chat support and a detailed help center for troubleshooting, making it great for mid-sized companies.
Kudos offers 24/7 support, dedicated onboarding, and continuous strategic assistance, making it better for larger organizations that require more hands-on help.
Q: What are the best alternatives to Bonusly and Kudos?
A. If you're looking for Bonusly alternatives or Kudos competitors, Matter is an excellent option. Matter integrates with Slack and Microsoft Teams, offering customizable recognition software that combines peer-to-peer recognition with scalable employee rewards systems. It is one of the top recognition platform alternatives available.
Both platforms provide excellent features, but the right choice depends on your company's size, recognition strategy, and whether you need more analytics and scalability. For those seeking a balance of ease of use and flexibility, Matter provides an ideal solution.
Bonusly and Kudos offer excellent employee recognition solutions, but they cater to different business needs. Bonusly is ideal for small to midsized businesses seeking a simple, peer-to-peer recognition system that integrates easily with everyday tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams. Conversely, Kudos offers more comprehensive software with AI-powered analytics and deeper engagement tracking, making it suitable for larger enterprises.
If you're looking for a flexible alternative that combines the best features of both, try Matter, a customizable recognition platform designed to enhance employee engagement. Get started with Matter for free today!
