Employee recognition is essential in cultivating a positive workplace culture and boosting employee morale. Companies can improve employee engagement, motivation, and overall productivity with the right employee recognition platform. Nectar has established itself as a popular choice for facilitating peer-to-peer recognition and enhancing workplace culture, but it's not the only option available. Depending on your company's particular requirements, looking for Nectar substitutes can result in a platform that fits your objectives more. This guide will walk you through the top 10 Nectar alternatives, highlighting their features, pricing, and reviews to help you make an informed decision.
What is Nectar?
Nectar is an employee recognition software designed to support peer-to-peer recognition, boost morale, and create a positive work environment. It offers various features such as social recognition, customizable rewards, and integrations with tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams. As a cloud-based employee engagement platform, Nectar enables organizations to acknowledge and reward their employees' efforts, contributing to a more positive culture and enhancing overall employee satisfaction. Despite its strengths, some companies may find that their specific needs require different solutions, which is why considering Nectar alternatives is worthwhile.
Why consider Nectar alternatives?
While Nectar is a well-regarded platform for employee recognition, it may not be the perfect fit for every organization. Businesses often evolve, and their need for recognition programs, employee engagement tools, and performance management capabilities may outgrow what Nectar offers. Exploring alternatives can provide access to features that better align with your organization's core values, workplace culture, and employee experience goals.
- Enhanced flexibility and customization: Many organizations seek more customizable reward options and flexible recognition programs that can be tailored to their specific company culture. Nectar alternatives may offer more personalized rewards, allowing employees to choose rewards that resonate with them, from corporate discounts to charitable donations.
- Advanced analytics and reporting features: For companies focused on making data-driven decisions, platforms with robust reporting features and advanced analytics can be more appealing. These tools provide valuable insights into engagement levels, allowing managers to track performance, monitor morale, and adjust recognition strategies accordingly.
- Better integration with existing tools: Integration with existing workplace tools like Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, or other communication platforms is critical for seamless operations. Some Nectar alternatives offer more comprehensive integrations, ensuring that recognition activities are smoothly embedded into daily workflows.
- Scalability for growing organizations: As organizations grow, they need a recognition platform that scales with them. Alternatives to Nectar may offer more robust features for continuous feedback, performance tracking, and support for larger teams, ensuring that recognition programs remain effective as the company expands.
- Unique features and innovations: Each employee recognition software brings its own set of unique features. Whether it's gamified recognition, enhanced social feeds, or real-time feedback, exploring Nectar alternatives can reveal tools that provide employees with a more engaging and practical recognition experience.
By considering these factors, organizations can find a platform that matches their current needs and supports their long-term goals, enhancing workplace culture and driving employee engagement.
10 Nectar alternatives: employee recognition & rewards software
1. Matter
About Matter: Matter is a dynamic employee recognition tool that connects easily with Microsoft Teams and Slack, making peer-to-peer recognition an effortless part of daily workflows. One of its flagship features, Feedback Friday, encourages teams to share recognition and feedback regularly, supported by gamification elements like streaks and nudges that boost participation. Additionally, Matter's kudos feature allows for real-time recognition through customizable templates that align with your company's values, fostering a culture of appreciation and engagement.
Matter goes beyond recognition with its comprehensive rewards system, where employees can earn and redeem Matter coins for a wide range of rewards, including gift cards, donations, and custom company-branded options. The platform also ensures that essential milestones, such as birthdays and work anniversaries, are celebrated with automated messages, keeping everyone connected. With advanced analytics, Matter provides valuable insights into employee engagement and cultural alignment, helping organizations make data-driven decisions to enhance their workplace culture.
Matter main features:
- Feedback Friday: This weekly initiative encourages regular peer-to-peer recognition and feedback with gamification elements.
- Kudos: Customizable real-time recognition templates seamlessly integrated with Slack and Microsoft Teams.
- Rewards system: Allows employees to earn and redeem Matter coins for various rewards, including gift cards and custom company-branded options.
- Celebrations and advanced analytics: Automated milestone celebrations and detailed analytics to track engagement and cultural alignment.
Matter pricing: Matter provides a complimentary plan, with the Basic package commencing at $1 per user per month through paid plans, $3 per user per month for Pro, and $5 per user per month for Pro + Surveys. Visit Matter's pricing page for more details.
Matter G2 score: 4.7/5 average rating
Matter's notable customers: Sephora, Petco, Shell, Siemens
What Matter's customers are saying on G2: "Matter helps us encourage behaviors that align with our company values and can allow us to recognize and reward those who exemplify our values." - Autumn Amescua, Chief Culture & People Officer at SXSW
2. Bonusly
About Bonusly: Bonusly is an employee recognition platform that encourages peer-to-peer recognition and offers a wide array of reward options. Bonusly's social recognition feed allows employees to publicly recognize each other's efforts, fostering a positive workplace culture. The platform also includes performance tracking and valuable insights through advanced reporting features, making it an excellent tool for boosting morale and improving employee satisfaction.
Bonusly main features:
- Social recognition with a public feed.
- Extensive reward options, including charitable donations and corporate discounts.
- Advanced analytics and reporting features for tracking employee engagement.
- Integration with Slack, Microsoft Teams, and other workplace tools.
Bonusly pricing: Pricing starts at $2.70 per user per month. Visit Bonusly's pricing page for more details.
Bonusly G2 score: 4.7/5 average rating
Bonusly's notable customers: Chobani, Cerebral, Care.com, Canine Companions
What Bonusly's 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 promptly, but without an actual solution." - Alexandru M., Digital Marketing Operations Circle Lead
3. Awardco
About Awardco: Awardco is a flexible rewards platform that integrates with Amazon to offer many reward options. It is designed to drive employee engagement by providing personalized rewards and recognition programs. Awardco also includes robust analytics and reporting features, helping managers track recognition trends and make data-driven decisions to enhance workplace culture.
Awardco main features:
- Integration with Amazon for extensive reward options.
- Customizable recognition programs and personalized rewards.
- Detailed analytics and reporting features.
- Seamless integration with workplace tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams.
Awardco pricing: Pricing details are available upon request. Visit AwardCo's pricing page for more details.
Awardco G2 score: 4.8/5 average rating
Awardco's notable customers: Visionworks, ClickUp, Ultradent, Pilot
What Awardco's 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
4. Assembly
About Assembly: Assembly is a user-friendly platform focused on peer recognition, employee engagement, and team collaboration. It connects teams easily using platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams so they may acknowledge one another's contributions. Assembly also offers customizable recognition programs that align with company culture, making it a flexible solution for various business needs.
Assembly main features:
- Peer recognition with customizable programs.
- Integration with Slack and Microsoft Teams.
- Tools for team collaboration and communication.
- Reporting tools and analytics to monitor degrees of participation.
Assembly pricing: Starts at $2.00 per user per month. Visit Assembly's pricing page for more details.
Assembly G2 score: 4.8/5 average rating
Assembly's notable customers: NESCO, StubHub, Coca-Cola, Perforce
What Assembly's customers are saying on G2: "The UI is clunky and hard to navigate. There's not a notifications feature, so if you want to see something specific you have to search in the search bar. The email notifications don't help because there's so many of them. Need training to use all of its features (not intuitive)." - Verified User in Computer Software
5. Empuls
About Empuls: Empuls is an employee engagement and recognition platform that combines social recognition, continuous feedback, and customizable reward options. It is designed to enhance workplace culture by promoting positive social interactions and providing detailed analytics for tracking engagement levels. Empuls is a complete solution for companies trying to increase employee engagement and happiness since it interacts effortlessly with well-known office tools.
Empuls main features:
- Social recognition and continuous feedback.
- Customizable rewards and social interactions.
- Detailed analytics and reporting features.
- Integration with Slack and Microsoft Teams.
Empuls pricing: Pricing starts at $3 per user per month. Visit Empuls pricing page for more details.
Empuls G2 score: 4.6/5 average rating
Empuls' notable customers: Grammarly, Adobe, Freshworks, Pepsi
What Empuls customers are saying on G2: "Has significantly lost its quality. Requires multiple login's across platforms without success which makes it frustrating to say the list. The dashboard is one of the most convoluted I have ever seen. Cannot find half of the notifications in the app that you receive on email." - Verified User in Human Resources
6. Kudos
About Kudos: Kudos is a comprehensive employee recognition platform emphasizing social recognition, communication, and continuous feedback. Kudos are designed to enhance workplace culture by making recognition a daily habit. It also offers tools for tracking engagement levels and generating detailed reports to help organizations make data-driven decisions.
Kudos main features:
- Social recognition and communication tools.
- Continuous feedback and real-time recognition.
- Advanced analytics and reporting features.
- Customizable rewards and recognition programs.
Kudos pricing: N/A. Visit Kudos for more information.
Kudos G2 score: 4.8/5 average rating
Kudos' notable customers: Engie, Chewy, Make-A-Wish, MTN
What Kudos' customers are saying on G2: "It was nice to hear praise from co-workers. It quickly became a popularity contest so certain people could earn rewards, one group of employees left almost meaningless comments in order to boost their scores and thus get prizes. Also the level of points to earn a prize made it difficult to 'cash in'." - Sharon H.
7. Evergreen
About Evergreen: Evergreen is an employee recognition platform emphasizing sustainability and positive culture. It integrates recognition with eco-friendly rewards, allowing companies to align their recognition programs with environmental values. Evergreen offers customizable rewards and continuous feedback features, making it a unique solution for organizations focused on social responsibility.
Evergreen main features:
- Eco-friendly rewards and sustainability-focused recognition.
- Customizable recognition programs.
- Continuous feedback and social recognition tools.
- Integration with workplace tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams.
Evergreen pricing: Pricing starts at 3.99$ a month. Visit Evergreen's pricing page for more details.
Evergreen G2 score: 4.7/5 average rating
Evergreen's notable customers: Coverwallet, Octopus Energy, Earnest Ice Cream, NITRO
What Evergreen's customers are saying on G2: "Giving out seeds can feel a little hollow for bigger praise." - Sebastian A., Senior Software Engineer
8. HeyTaco
About HeyTaco: HeyTaco is a lighthearted, easy-to-use employee recognition platform that gamifies the recognition process. It integrates with Slack, where users can send "tacos" as tokens of appreciation. HeyTaco is particularly popular among small teams and startups for its simplicity and fun approach to peer recognition.
HeyTaco main features:
- Gamified peer recognition using "tacos."
- Seamless Slack integration.
- Customizable rewards and recognition options.
- Analytics to track engagement levels.
HeyTaco pricing: Starts at $3 per user per month. Visit HeyTaco's pricing page for more details.
HeyTaco G2 score: 4.8/5 average rating
HeyTaco's notable customers: N/A
What HeyTaco's customers are saying on G2: "The most popular, social/collaborative, or vocal team members always end up getting the most tacos. Would be great to include features that prompt users to acknowledge more introverted and/or individual workers. I also find the gifts a bit pointless and don't use them -- they don't even give tacos!" - Jill D.
9. HiThrive
About HiThrive: HiThrive is an employee recognition platform that builds positive work cultures through continuous feedback and social recognition. The platform allows organizations to customize rewards and recognition programs to align with their company culture. HiThrive also provides robust reporting features to help managers track engagement levels and make data-driven decisions.
HiThrive main features:
- Continuous feedback and social recognition tools.
- Customizable rewards and recognition programs.
- Detailed reporting features for tracking engagement levels.
- Integration with popular workplace tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams.
HiThrive's pricing: Pricing details are available upon request. Visit HiTHiThrive's pricing page for more information.
HiThrive G2 score: 5/5 average rating
HiThrive's notable customers: CloudBees, SauceLabs, UCSF, Quantum Metric
What HiThrive's customers' s are saying on G2: "A simple way to thank colleagues and managers. Too much notifications, and can't save points from passed months." - Oren S., Full Stack Engineer
10. Workleap
About Workleap: Workleap is an employee engagement and recognition platform that combines continuous feedback, social recognition, and customizable rewards. Workleap enhances workplace culture by providing tools that help organizations track engagement levels and improve employee satisfaction. Teams can quickly adapt and apply the platform since it is meant to be user-friendly.
Workleap main features:
- Continuous feedback and social recognition.
- Customizable rewards and recognition programs.
- Detailed analytics and reporting features.
- Integration with workplace tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams.
Workleap pricing: Pricing details are available upon request. Visit Workleap's pricing page for more information.
Workleap G2 score: 4.3/5 average rating
Workleap's notable customers: Dyson, SIEMENS, IKEA, Fujitsu
What Workleap's customers are saying on G2: "Good integration with Slack. Helps getting participation rate. What you get is pretty much set. You can create Custom Surveys but the reports are impossible to manage and support does almost nothing to help. - Verified User in Computer Software
Which is the best Nectar alternative?
Choosing the best Nectar alternative depends on your organization's needs and priorities. When evaluating options, consider the following factors:
- Integration with workplace tools: Look for a platform that integrates seamlessly with your existing digital workplace, such as Microsoft Teams or Google Workspace. This ensures that recognition activities are embedded into daily workflows, making them a natural part of your team's routine.
- Customization and flexibility: The best alternatives offer customizable recognition programs and rewards that align with your company culture. This includes personalizing rewards, recognition templates, and even how recognition is delivered—whether through public social feeds, private messages, or automated notifications.
- Advanced analytics and reporting: Platforms that provide detailed reports and advanced analytics can help you track engagement levels, monitor the effectiveness of recognition initiatives, and make data-driven decisions. This is crucial for organizations looking to continuously improve their employee engagement strategies.
- Scalability: As your organization grows, you'll need a platform to scale. Think about solutions with real-time feedback, performance control tools, and the capacity to manage an increasing user count and recognition tasks without sacrificing speed.
- User experience: Ensuring employees use the platform depends on a user-friendly interface. Look for substitutes that cut the learning curve and promote more excellent adoption rates by being straightforward.
- Cost and value: Evaluate the pricing plan to ensure it provides the required features within your means. Some platforms may offer a free plan or a cost-effective solution with essential features like customizable rewards and detailed reporting.
Considering these elements will help you choose the ideal Nectar substitute that satisfies your present demands and supports your long-term objectives for employee involvement.
Why companies choose Matter over Nectar alternatives
Matter stands out among Nectar alternatives for several reasons:
- Seamless integration: Matter's integration with Slack and Microsoft Teams makes it a user-friendly platform, allowing employees to give and receive recognition without leaving their workflow.
- Customizable rewards and templates: Matter offers customizable reward options and kudos templates, enabling organizations to align recognition initiatives with their company culture.
- Advanced analytics: Matter provides powerful tools for tracking engagement levels and generating detailed reports, helping companies make data-driven decisions.
- Positive culture impact: Matter's emphasis on fostering a positive work culture through continuous feedback and social recognition has garnered high user satisfaction and strong testimonials.
These features, combined with Matter's focus on enhancing employee experience, make it a preferred choice for companies looking to drive employee engagement and create a positive work environment.
Final advice on Nectar alternatives
Choosing the right employee recognition platform is crucial for aligning your recognition programs with your company's goals and enhancing workplace culture. While Nectar is a strong contender, exploring alternatives like Matter can help you find a solution that best meets your organization's unique needs. Whether you prioritize seamless integration, customizable rewards, or advanced analytics, there's a platform out there that can help you drive employee engagement and achieve your business objectives.
Consider trying Matter today if you're ready to take your employee recognition program to the next level. Get started with Matter for free and see how it can transform your workplace culture.
