Recognizing employees' accomplishments is essential to fostering a healthy work environment and boosting employee engagement. At Matter, we understand the importance of meaningful recognition in driving employee satisfaction and productivity. While Kudos has become a popular choice for facilitating peer recognition, it might not be the perfect fit for every business. Whether you're seeking more personalized rewards, enhanced analytics, or smoother integration with platforms like Microsoft Teams and Google Workspace, this guide will walk you through the top Kudos alternatives for 2024.
We’ll explore the leading alternatives, focusing on standout features such as peer feedback, employee awards, and even employee birthday gifts. Whether your goal is to boost productivity, increase employee satisfaction, or align recognition efforts with your organization’s values, these platforms offer a variety of features to meet your needs.
What is Kudos?
Kudos is a platform designed to promote employee engagement through peer-to-peer recognition. Kudos aims to create a more positive and cohesive work culture by enabling employees to acknowledge and reward one another. The platform integrates with tools such as Microsoft Teams, allowing for real-time recognition and tracking of engagement trends.
Why consider Kudos alternatives?
While Kudos is a robust recognition platform, it may not cater to all organizational requirements. Businesses might need additional features such as more customizable recognition programs and advanced integration capabilities; alternatively, thorough analytics might provide insights into staff performance and morale. Exploring alternatives to Kudos allows you to find a platform that better aligns with your company's specific needs, offering a more comprehensive solution for enhancing employee engagement and satisfaction.
10 Kudos alternatives: employee recognition & rewards software
1. Matter
About Matter: Matter is a leading employee recognition platform designed to enhance workplace culture through continuous feedback and social recognition. It integrates seamlessly with popular workplace tools like Microsoft Teams and Slack, enabling teams to effortlessly celebrate achievements and provide feedback in real time. The platform emphasizes fostering a culture of appreciation, with features like Feedback Friday and customizable kudos templates that encourage regular recognition and engagement.
In addition to recognition, Matter provides a comprehensive rewards system that enables employees to accumulate and redeem Matter coins for various incentives, such as custom company-branded options, charitable donations, and gift certificates. Matter is renowned for its intuitive interface and potent analytics, which enable organizations to make data-driven decisions that continuously improve employee morale and retention and enhance the workplace environment. It also assists organizations in gaining insights into team dynamics.
Matter main features:
- Integration with Slack and Microsoft Teams
- Beautiful kudos card images and customizable templates
- Automation of gift card rewards delivery, birthdays, and work anniversaries
- Custom employee surveys
Matter pricing:Starts with a free plan, $1 per user per month for Basic, $3 per user per month for Pro, and $5 per user per month for Pro + Surveys. For more details, visit Matter's pricing page.
Matter G2 score: Matter has an average G2 score of 4.7/5.
Notable Matter customers: Sephora, Petco, Shell, JiffyLube, Microsoft.
What Matter's customers are saying on G2: “Matter helps our employees feel more valued, rewarded, and recognized. It’s a very fun and easy-to-use platform that has created a positive experience and engagement for our people while also helping to reinforce our core values daily.” - Taylor Rapp, Director of People & Culture "Being a high-performance team, Matter helps us take a moment out of our busy day to share heartfelt gratitude with kudos." - Sam Udotong, CTO & Co-founder at Fireflies.ai
2. Bonusly
About Bonusly: Bonusly is an employee recognition platform that enables employees to express their gratitude to one another by accumulating points that can be redeemed for a diverse array of rewards. The software integrates with Slack and Microsoft Teams, making incorporating recognition into daily workflows accessible. Bonusly's easy-to-use interface increases staff involvement and promotes a culture of gratitude inside businesses.
Bonusly main features:
- Points-based rewards system
- Integration with Slack and Microsoft Teams
- Customizable rewards catalog
- Real-time reporting and analytics
Bonusly pricing: For more details, visit Bonusly's pricing page.
- Appreciate: $2/user/month, billed annually
- Connect: $5/user/month, billed annually
- Achieve: $7/user/month, billed annually
Bonusly G2 score: Bonusly has an average G2 score of 4.7/5.
Notable Bonusly customers: Toast, Tactile Medical, Seat Geek, Qualtrics, Palo Alto Networks.
What Bonusly customers are saying on G2: It's a nice concept and a positive way to incentivize people, quite easy to use, and customer support responded prompty, but without an actual solution." - Alexandru M., Digital Marketing Operations Circle Lead
3. Nectar HR
About Nectar HR: Nectar HR is a cloud-based employee recognition platform that emphasizes peer-to-peer recognition and customizable rewards. It facilitates the real-time recognition of colleagues and the selection of rewards that correspond to their preferences by integrating with well-known tools such as Microsoft Teams and Slack.
Nectar HR main features:
- Peer-to-peer recognition with customizable messages
- Integration with Slack and Microsoft Teams
- Extensive reward catalog, including gift cards and charitable donations
- Detailed analytics to track employee engagement and participation
Nectar HR pricing: For more details, visit Nectar HR's pricing page.
- Plus: $5/user/month, billed annually
- Premium: $6/user/month, billed annually
- Custom: Book a demo for a quote.
Nectar HR G2 score: Nectar HR has an average G2 score of 4.7/5.
Notable Nectar HR customers: Redfin, SHRM, Lasko, Heineken, MLB, Calendly, Golden State Warriors.
What Nectar HR customers are saying on G2: "I like the purpose of it - to better employee culture at my company. I don't like the UX and UI very much. I cannot view many messages at once and am not able to easily see all my messages in one place." - Verified User in Design.
4. Motivosity
About Motivosity: Motivosity is a people management platform focused on building a positive workplace culture through peer recognition, rewards, and real-time feedback. The platform integrates with existing HRIS systems, making it easy to manage recognition programs and track employee engagement.
Motivosity main features:
- Peer recognition and rewards
- Real-time feedback and performance tracking
- Integration with existing HRIS systems
- Comprehensive reporting and analytics
Motivosity pricing: Pricing varies depending on the plan, with a minimum annual spend of $3,000. For more details, visit Motivosity's pricing page.
Motivosity G2 score: Motivosity has an average G2 score of 4.7/5.
Notable Motivosity customers: Atlabank, Bosch, KPMG, WGU, GreatClips, Cotopaxi.
What Motivosity customers are saying on G2: "I love the idea of what it will be. I love the focus on positivity and improving the culture of your company. I'm very disappointed in the customer care. You have to schedule an appointment to get help and it's very frustrating. We paid for the more expensive package and haven't even been able to accurately use it because they don't have the lead completely working correct. We spent A LOT of money to not get the help or compensation at least until they get the kinks worked out." - Tresa B., Owner.
5. Workhuman
About Workhuman: Workhuman is a platform that emphasizes the development of a culture of human connection and appreciation through recognition and rewards. The platform offers tools for peer-to-peer recognition, employee rewards, and performance management, making it easy for companies to foster a positive workplace culture. Workhuman's integration with Slack and Microsoft Teams allows for seamless recognition within daily workflows.
Workhuman main features:
- Peer-to-peer recognition and rewards
- Performance management tools
- Integration with Slack and Microsoft Teams
- Advanced analytics and reporting
Workhuman pricing: Pricing is not listed on the website. To learn more about pricing, you'll need to schedule a demo/sales call with Workhuman.
Workhuman G2 score: Workhuman has an average G2 score of 4.7/5.
Notable Workhuman customers: Cisco, ADP, UnitedHealth Group, Citizens Bank, LinkedIn.
What Workhuman customers are saying on G2: "The gift options are lacking significantly. The company is charged a certain amount of money per point, however the available prize options to the employee do not translate to anything close to the cost paid for the points. For example, 1,000 points could cost the company $100, however the prizes available to the employee for 1,000 points can vary from a fair market value of $15-$75. This doesn't reward employees with the full reward the employer is paying for and Workhuman is making money off of this." - Sarah W., Senior Tax Analyst.
6. WorkTango
About WorkTango: WorkTango is a platform that utilizes recognition and engagement to assist organizations in cultivating a culture of feedback and appreciation. The software offers tools for peer-to-peer recognition, employee rewards, and performance management, making it easy for companies to foster a positive workplace culture. WorkTango integrates with Slack and Microsoft Teams, allowing for seamless recognition within daily workflows.
WorkTango main features:
- Peer-to-peer recognition and feedback
- Employee rewards and performance management
- Integration with Slack and Microsoft Teams
- Advanced analytics and reporting
WorkTango pricing: Pricing is not listed publicly on the website. For more details, visit WorkTango's pricing page.
WorkTango G2 score: WorkTango has an average G2 score of 4.6/5.
Notable WorkTango customers: HUB, KIA, Goodwill, Rexall, Accruent.
What WorkTango customers are saying on G2: "The reporting is very lacking! Unable to reconcile escrow account unless request reports each month from Kazoo Support. Then learn that employee can redeem points for a product and if it has to go through the approval process then the price of the product could have changed during that wait for approval process (without any notice to anyone). However, Kazoo will deduct points from employee for what original posted price is, but charge the employer the full increased price. We learned this the hard way and the price of product actually doubled." - Verified User in Financial Services.
7. Guusto
About Guusto: Guusto is a platform designed to facilitate employee recognition and awards, enabling firms to establish a culture of gratitude. The platform allows managers and peers to send gift cards as a form of recognition. Guusto is a favored option for organizations that desire to promptly and efficiently compensate their personnel due to its adaptability and simplicity of operation.
Guusto main features:
- Peer-to-peer and manager-driven recognition
- Digital gift cards with extensive brand options
- Real-time analytics and reporting
- Integration with Slack and Microsoft Teams
Guusto pricing: For more details, visit Guusto's pricing page.
- 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
Guusto G2 score: Guusto has an average G2 score of 4.9/5.
Notable Guusto customers: Carlton Cards, Bell Media, The Body Shop, DLA Piper, Harry Rosen.
What Guusto customers are saying on G2: "The limited number of merchants in the list. Also an offer was provided if we give a G2 review. It was a bogus offer as I have not seen that offer." - Verified User in Insurance.
8. Achievers
About Achievers: Achievers is a comprehensive platform for employee recognition and rewards intended to increase employee engagement through performance management, meaningful recognition, and peer-to-peer recognition. The platform supports various recognition programs, from service awards to real-time recognition, allowing companies to celebrate achievements and align recognition efforts with company values.
Achievers main features:
- Real-time recognition and rewards
- Integration with Microsoft Teams
- Performance management tools
- Advanced analytics and reporting
Achievers pricing: Pricing is not listed on the website. To learn more about pricing, you'll need to schedule a demo/sales call with Achievers.
Achievers G2 score: Achievers have an average G2 score of 4.7/5.
Notable Achievers customers: Discover, Samsung, General Motors, Kellanova, Dyson, Scotiabank.
What Achievers customers are saying on G2: "As the company admin on the account, I am usually troubleshooting issues for our employees myself and when communicating from our CSM we hardly ever hear back. There is simply not enough support from the employer's side of things. The features are also very limited. Many competitors have a social platform and have customized recognitions, and Achievers seems very lackluster compared to the top tier competitions. It does appear that they are trying new things and rolling out new features but these have been disappointing and don't really help us achieve our main goal of retention and recognition." - Verified User in Information Technology and Services.
9. Awardco
About Awardco: Awardco is a rewards and recognition platform that collaborates with Amazon Business to provide a diverse selection of reward options, such as gift certificates, experiences, and company swag. The platform integrates with Slack and other workplace tools, making it easy for employees to recognize their peers and redeem rewards. Awardco is known for its extensive rewards catalog and flexible recognition programs.
Awardco main features:
- Amazon Business rewards integration
- Comprehensive rewards catalog
- Integration with Slack and Microsoft Teams
- Employee performance tracking
Awardco pricing: Pricing is not listed on the website. You'll need to schedule a demo/sales call with Awardco to learn more about pricing.
Awardco G2 score: Awardco has an average G2 score of 4.8/5.
Notable Awardco customers: Visionworks, ClickUp, Ultradent, Pilot, and Texas Roadhouse.
What Awardco customers are saying on G2: “My company just switched to Awardco. It sounds good in theory. But it's not used to reward hard work or going above and beyond like they pitch it. Most of the managers don't know how to give extra points. Yes, there's a lot of options for redeeming points, but it's near impossible to get points outside of a predetermined points schedule.” - Verified User in Facilities Services
10. Vantage Circle
About Vantage Circle: Vantage Circle is a platform for employee engagement that provides a comprehensive array of features, including employee recognition, wellness programs, and rewards management. The platform aims to aid organizations in enhancing employee engagement, increase motivation, and promote a positive workplace culture. Vantage Circle facilitates employee engagement and recognition initiatives by seamlessly integrating with prevalent tools such as Microsoft Teams and Slack.
Vantage Circle main features:
- Employee recognition and rewards
- Corporate wellness programs
- Real-time analytics and reporting
- Integration with Slack and Microsoft Teams
Vantage Circle pricing: Pricing is customized based on the organization's needs. For more details, visit the Vantage Circle's pricing page.
Vantage Circle G2 score: Vantage Circle has an average G2 score of 4.7/5.
Notable Vantage Circle customers: Wells Fargo, Bosch, DHL, Infosys, Wipro.
What Vantage Circle customers are saying on G2: "Easy to use with a useful option to recognize my colleagues. However, not integrated within my daily working apps." - Verified User in Non-Profit Organization Management.
Which is the best Kudos alternative?
Selecting the ideal Kudos alternative requires careful consideration of several factors. Here are some key points to evaluate when exploring different platforms:
- Integration with Daily Workflows: Guarantee that the platform seamlessly integrates with your current tools, including Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Google Workspace. This will allow recognition to become an effortless part of everyday tasks.
- Customization and Flexibility: Choose a platform that provides customizable programs for recognizing achievements, prizes, and surveys to enhance employee engagement. Customization ensures that recognition aligns with your company's culture and core values.
- Analytics and Insights: A robust platform will offer detailed analytics and insights into recognition trends, employee satisfaction, and engagement levels. These insights are essential for the development of data-driven decisions that improve workplace culture.
- Rewards Variety: Consider the range of rewards available on the platform, including options for tangible rewards, charitable donations, and wellness programs. A diverse rewards catalog can help boost morale and increase job satisfaction.
- Ease of Use: The platform should provide a user-friendly and straightforward interface, which will promote increased adoption rates and sustained engagement in recognition activities.
Given these considerations, Matter is preferred for enterprises looking for a comprehensive and configurable recognition platform that seamlessly connects with existing workflows.
Why companies choose Matter over Kudos alternatives
Matter is frequently selected over other Kudos alternatives because of its extensive feature set, ease of use, and focus on enhancing employee engagement. In addition to the features discussed earlier, Matter provides a variety of distinctive tools and resources that distinguish it from others:
- Real-Time Recognition: Matter allows for instant recognition, making it easy for employees to acknowledge one another's contributions, which fosters a positive work environment and boosts morale.
- Customizable Rewards: Matter's extensive rewards catalog includes options for tangible rewards, charitable donations, and wellness programs. This flexibility enables companies to offer rewards that resonate with their employees' values and preferences.
- Engagement Surveys and Analytics: Matter provides comprehensive analytics and engagement surveys that offer valuable insights into recognition trends and employee satisfaction. These tools enable organizations to monitor and enhance engagement levels across the workforce.
- Seamless Integration: Matter integrates effortlessly with tools like Microsoft Teams and Google Workspace, ensuring that recognition activities fit naturally into daily workflows without disruption.
Matter's combination of advanced features, customization options, and seamless integration makes it a top choice for organizations looking to improve their employee recognition and engagement programs.
Final advice on Kudos alternatives
Selecting the suitable Kudos alternative is crucial for fostering a positive and engaged workplace culture. The ideal platform should align with your organization's unique values, integrate seamlessly with your existing tools, and offer customizable rewards that resonate with your employees. Choosing a solution tailored to your needs can significantly boost morale, enhance employee engagement, and drive long-term success.
Consider trying Matter today if you're ready to elevate your employee recognition program. Get started with Matter for free and discover how it can transform your workplace culture and boost employee engagement.
