Choosing the appropriate platform is essential for raising employee satisfaction levels and promoting a positive workplace culture in the areas of employee engagement and recognition. With numerous options available, two leading contenders for 2024 are Vantage Circle and Guusto. Both platforms are designed to encourage employees, promote a collaborative environment, and provide meaningful rewards that align with company values. However, their specific features, integration capabilities, and pricing models differ, making them suitable for different organizational needs.
In this detailed comparison, we'll explore the key differences between Vantage Circle and Guusto—from their features and pricing to customer reviews and support. Additionally, we'll highlight why Matter may be the best alternative for organizations looking to enhance employee engagement and reinforce company values through a seamless and customizable recognition program. By the end of this guide, you'll have the insights needed to decide which platform best supports your recognition strategies and helps cultivate a positive work environment.
Vantage Circle vs. Guusto: Overview comparison
When comparing Vantage Circle and Guusto, both platforms deliver customizable and effective employee recognition solutions. However, they cater to different types of organizations depending on their size, goals, and employee engagement needs. Vantage Circle is known for its comprehensive rewards platform, which is designed to enhance employee engagement levels through a wide range of features, including peer-to-peer recognition, real-time feedback, and automated milestones. The platform offers a holistic approach to recognizing employees by integrating seamlessly with existing tools such as Microsoft Teams and providing a user-friendly interface for managing recognition programs.
On the other hand, Guusto focuses on simplicity and flexibility, providing a streamlined recognition process with real-dollar rewards and no points-based system. This platform is an ideal solution for companies looking for a cost-effective yet impactful recognition platform. Guusto's flexibility shines through its ability to offer rewards through various delivery methods, including email, SMS, and printed certificates, making it a versatile tool for both office-based and remote workers. With its emphasis on meaningful recognition and customizable rewards, Guusto empowers companies to easily recognize employees and reinforce positive behaviors aligned with company values.
In summary, Vantage Circle offers a more feature-rich platform with advanced analytics and deeper integration capabilities, making it suitable for larger organizations focused on data-driven decisions. Guusto, by contrast, provides a straightforward and cost-effective solution, particularly beneficial for small to medium-sized businesses seeking instant rewards and a simple recognition process.
Vantage Circle vs. Guusto: Features
Vantage Circle and Guusto are two strong contenders in the employee recognition platform space, each offering a distinct set of features designed to improve employee engagement and recognition.
Vantage Circle features:
- Global rewards platform: Gift cards, trips, and goods are just a few of the thousands of options available to employees in Vantage Circle's global rewards catalog. This wide range of options guarantees that workers can select incentives that speak to them, increasing their level of engagement and pleasure. The platform also offers automated recognition for key milestones, such as birthdays and service anniversaries, making recognition timely and meaningful.
- Peer-to-peer recognition: Vantage Circle enables peer-to-peer recognition, allowing employees to send appreciation to their colleagues. This characteristic facilitates regular recognition across the workplace and fosters a cooperative and encouraging atmosphere.
- Advanced analytics: The platform offers comprehensive reporting tools, giving organizations insights into recognition trends, employee engagement levels, and the effectiveness of their recognition programs. These insights support firms in making data-driven choices that enhance their recognition tactics over time.
- Seamless integration: Vantage Circle integrates with popular workplace tools like Microsoft Teams and HRIS platforms like Workday and BambooHR. This seamless integration ensures that recognition can happen within the flow of work, making it easy for employees to recognize peers while staying engaged with their daily tasks.
Guusto features:
- Real-dollar value rewards: Guusto offers real-dollar rewards, allowing employees to redeem gift cards from hundreds of merchants or make charity donations. Guusto's no-markup policy ensures that $1 equals $1, making it a transparent and cost-effective solution for businesses.
- Mobile-friendly platform: Guusto is designed to be inclusive and accessible, with flexible delivery options such as email, SMS, and even printed certificates. This ensures that deskless or frontline workers without regular access to tech tools can still participate in recognition programs.
- Instant recognition: With Guusto, employees can receive real-time recognition, helping to boost morale and keep engagement high. This quick recognition helps reinforce positive behaviors and encourages employees to continue contributing to the company's success.
- Flexible reward delivery: Besides digital options, Guusto's flexible reward delivery methods include physical printouts, ensuring that employees from all environments, whether remote, in the office, or on the frontline, can receive rewards easily.
In conclusion, Vantage Circle excels with its advanced analytics and seamless integrations, making it ideal for larger organizations looking for a comprehensive platform with deep reporting capabilities. Guusto, on the other hand, shines in its simplicity and flexibility, providing an ideal solution for companies with a mix of office-based and remote or deskless employees who need a user-friendly, real-time recognition system.
Vantage Circle vs. Guusto: Integration Options
Both Vantage Circle and Guusto provide robust integration options, enabling organizations to embed employee recognition smoothly into daily workflows. However, each platform's approach and supported systems vary in focus and scope.
Vantage Circle integrations:
HRIS and SSO systems: Vantage Circle offers seamless integrations with several major HRIS platforms, including Workday, BambooHR, and Zoho People, allowing for smooth data synchronization. These integrations help automate milestone recognition for birthdays and work anniversaries, creating a timely and relevant recognition experience. Vantage Circle also supports Single Sign-On (SSO) through providers like Okta and Azure AD, simplifying secure access for users.
Communication tools: Vantage Circle integrates with popular communication platforms like Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Yammer. These integrations enable employees to recognize peers directly within their daily communication tools, fostering an engaged culture without switching between apps.
Guusto integrations:
Microsoft Teams and reward delivery: Guusto's Microsoft Teams integration allows for instant recognition, making it easy for employees to celebrate each other's accomplishments within their primary communication channel. This feature is handy for companies with remote and deskless employees. Guusto also supports flexible reward delivery options, including email, SMS, and printable certificates, ensuring accessibility for all employees regardless of their work environment.
HRIS systems and SSO: Guusto integrates with HRIS platforms such as UKG, helping companies keep employee data up-to-date and automating recognition triggers for key milestones. Additionally, Guusto supports SSO to enhance secure login processes, reduce administrative tasks, and ensure easy access for users.
Both platforms offer comprehensive integration capabilities, yet their focal points differ. Vantage Circle's emphasis on HRIS and a more extensive range of communication tools make it a versatile solution for large, structured organizations. Guusto, by contrast, excels in providing accessible reward delivery methods, making it ideal for businesses with a mix of office-based, remote, and frontline employees who benefit from real-time recognition and flexible reward options.
Vantage Circle vs. Guusto: Pricing and plans
When selecting an employee recognition platform, pricing is a critical factor to consider. Both Vantage Circle and Guusto offer flexible pricing options tailored to different business sizes and needs.
Vantage Circle pricing:
- Pricing Options: Request a demo for pricing. One-time setup cost is applicable on all plans.some text
- Grow
- Transform
- Enterprise
For additional information on Vantage Circle's plans and prices, see their official website.
Guusto pricing options:
- 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
For more information on Guusto's plans, visit their official pricing page.
Vantage Circle offers more detailed and customizable plans, making it suitable for larger organizations with advanced recognition needs. In contrast, Guusto offers a simple pricing structure that is flexible and easily scalable, especially for small firms or teams with tight budgets for recognition.
Vantage Circle vs. Guusto: Customer support
Customer support plays a key role in successfully implementing and using employee recognition platforms. Both Vantage Circle and Guusto provide comprehensive support, but the specifics of their services differ.
Vantage Circle customer support:
- 24/5 support: Vantage Circle offers 24/5 customer support, ensuring that users across the globe receive assistance during business hours on weekdays. This support is available via email, live chat, and other direct channels, helping organizations troubleshoot any issues quickly.
- Dedicated client success team: For larger organizations, Vantage Circle assigns a dedicated client success team to assist with the onboarding process and offer continuous support. This team helps ensure that companies maximize the platform's features and that the implementation process is seamless.
- Self-service resources: Vantage Circle provides an extensive library of self-service resources, including a help center, product guides, and video tutorials, allowing users to find solutions to common issues independently.
Guusto customer support:
- Business hours support: Guusto provides live chat and email support during business hours. While this service is unavailable 24/7, Guusto ensures prompt responses and is known for its personalized customer service, especially when helping organizations optimize the platform for their needs.
- Client success support for premium users: For users on higher-tier plans, Guusto offers a dedicated client success team that assists with onboarding, customization, and ongoing platform management, ensuring businesses can get the most out of their investment.
- Self-service knowledge base: Like Vantage Circle, Guusto offers a self-service knowledge base with articles, how-to guides, and FAQs, helping users resolve common queries and understand platform functionalities.
Key differences:
- Vantage Circle offers 24/5 support, which is slightly more comprehensive than Guusto's business hours-only service. This makes Vantage Circle more suitable for organizations with global teams that require consistent, around-the-clock support. On the other hand, Guusto focuses on delivering personalized service with quick response times during business hours and offers more tailored support for premium users through dedicated account management.
Both platforms offer strong customer support, but Vantage Circle may be more suited for larger, global organizations needing constant support. At the same time, Guusto provides a more personalized experience, especially for small to midsized businesses.
Vantage Circle vs. Guusto: Customer reviews
Real-world experiences provide valuable insights when comparing employee recognition platforms. A great way to assess if a platform fits your company's unique needs is by looking at reviews from real users. Here's what users say about Vantage Circle and Guusto on G2, a trusted software review platform.
Vantage Circle customer reviews: G2 review: Vantage Circle holds a 4.7/5 rating based on over 300 reviews.
- “I like the fact we can personalize our comments with the use of stickers, gifs, and emojis. I hate having to have such a long password!!! I actually hate passwords....having to have a log in process with yet another password is a barrier for me recognize my peers.” - Katie R. Manager
- “Easy to use with useful option to recognize my colleagues. However, not integrated within my daily working apps.” - Verified User in Non-Profit Organization Management
- “There are lots of offers which are not that usefull and require lot to search for the one your can use.” - Verified User in Information Technology and Services (Customer G2 Review)
However, some users mention that while the platform is feature-rich, they occasionally experience delays in customer service responses or confusion around certain features, especially during onboarding.
Guusto customer reviews: G2 review: Guusto holds a 4.9/5 rating based on over 200 reviews.
Guusto is highly regarded for its real-dollar rewards system, which provides flexibility and transparency, allowing employees to redeem rewards without any markups. Many users highlight the platform's simplicity and ease of use, particularly when recognizing remote or deskless workers. However, some users feel that while Guusto is effective, it could benefit from more engagement features to increase employee participation.
- “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)
- “Initial login takes some finesse. Figuring out how to redeem your gift card takes some finesse.” - Marilyn H. (Customer G2 Review)
- “I wish Guusto had more merchants for better flexibility. These days, people want to be more practical. Shops are better than restaurants. I'd like to see more shopping options and gasoline station brands on there.” - Joseph G., Art Director
Key differences: Both Vantage Circle and Guusto receive high marks for their ease of use and the effectiveness of their reward systems. Vantage Circle is appreciated for its comprehensive features and global reach, making it a good fit for larger organizations. Guusto, on the other hand, is favored for its straightforward, cost-effective approach, particularly for teams with remote or frontline employees who need a simple and transparent recognition solution.
Vantage Circle vs. Guusto: Which is the right tool for you?
Choosing between Vantage Circle and Guusto depends on your company's unique needs, workplace culture, and the type of employee recognition program you want to implement. Both platforms offer valuable solutions for boosting employee engagement but cater to different business models and priorities. Here's a breakdown to help you decide which platform aligns best with your business goals.
Choose Vantage Circle if:
- Your organization is looking for a global rewards program that offers a large range of prizes, such as experiences, gift cards, and products, which is perfect for companies with a global workforce.
- You need a comprehensive employee recognition platform integrating peer-to-peer recognition, automated milestone recognition, and advanced analytics to track employee engagement trends.
- Integration with HRIS systems such as Workday and BambooHR is critical for syncing employee data and automating recognition events based on key milestones.
- With comprehensive reporting options that enable you to assess the effectiveness of recognition initiatives, your company places a high priority on data-driven decision-making.
- You're looking for scalable, customizable plans tailored to your business's size, especially if you're operating across different regions.
Check out our Vantage Circle vs. Matter guide for a full comparison.
Choose Guusto if:
- You need a simple, scalable recognition platform that allows you to send real-dollar value rewards to employees without needing a points-based system, ensuring cost transparency.
- Your organization seeks a pay-as-you-go model, which is a cost-effective option for smaller enterprises or organizations with variable staff sizes, in which you only pay for awards that are redeemed.
- You have remote or deskless workers and need flexible reward delivery options via email, SMS, or printed certificates, ensuring everyone can participate in the recognition program.
- You're seeking a mobile-friendly platform that is easy to implement and use, making it a great fit for companies with employees who may not always have access to a computer.
- You want to focus on real-time recognition, providing employees with instant rewards and acknowledgments that help boost engagement and satisfaction, particularly for retail, healthcare, and hospitality industries.
Check out our Guusto vs. Matter guide for a full comparison.
Ultimately, both Vantage Circle and Guusto are strong platforms for enhancing employee recognition and engagement. If your company values global scalability and in-depth analytics, Vantage Circle may be better. On the other hand, Guusto excels at offering simple, flexible, real-dollar rewards, making it ideal for companies with mixed work environments or smaller budgets.
Matter: The best alternative to Vantage Circle and Guusto
With additional insights about Matter, it becomes clear why it stands out as a leading alternative to Vantage Circle and Guusto. Matter offers a flexible, user-friendly, automated employee recognition platform to enhance employee engagement and support a positive workplace culture.
Why Matter stands out:
- Slack-first and Teams-first integration: Matter integrates seamlessly with both Slack and Microsoft Teams, making it ideal for companies that rely on these communication tools. This integration ensures that employees can give and receive recognition directly within their workflows. Unlike many Guusto competitors, Matter is specifically designed with these platforms in mind, prioritizing ease of use and ensuring recognition happens naturally in the flow of work.
- Customizable kudos cards: Matter adds a fun, personalized touch to peer-to-peer recognition by offering customizable kudos cards. Employees can create cards reflecting company values, inside jokes, or special occasions, making recognition more meaningful and building camaraderie among team members.
- Automated and easy-to-use platform: With built-in automation, Matter takes just minutes to set up, requiring minimal ongoing management. Features like "Feedback Friday" automate regular recognition, helping to maintain a culture of continuous appreciation. The platform also automatically celebrates employee milestones, such as birthdays and work anniversaries, ensuring no one is overlooked.
- Celebrations and rewards: Matter supports personalized milestone celebrations by offering digital gift cards, prepaid Visa/Mastercard options, and charity donations. This flexible rewards system ensures that employees access meaningful rewards that resonate with their personal preferences, setting Matter apart from other Vantage Circle competitors.
Key features of Matter:
- Peer-to-peer recognition with kudos cards: Employees can send fully customizable kudos cards, making recognition more engaging and personal.
- Automation and ease of use: Matter offers automated features like Feedback Friday and milestone celebrations, minimizing manual management and ensuring consistent recognition.
- Custom rewards and coins: Matter's weekly-refreshing coin system encourages continuous recognition, allowing employees to redeem various rewards, including digital gift cards and custom experiences.
- Incentivized surveys: Matter incentivizes survey participation by offering rewards distributed via Slack or Teams, driving higher response rates and engagement.
Matter is a highly customizable and automated solution that offers a seamless integration experience with Slack and Teams. For organizations looking to improve engagement and streamline recognition processes, Matter is a strong contender among Vantage Circle competitors. Its focus on continuous recognition and feedback, combined with its flexibility, makes it an optimal choice for businesses of all sizes. Whether your company values ease of use, automation, or diverse reward options, Matter delivers a comprehensive solution designed to scale with your growing business.
Vantage Circle vs. Guusto: FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions to help you determine whether Vantage Circle or Guusto is the best fit for your company's employee recognition program.
Q: How do Vantage Circle and Guusto compare in terms of features?
A: Vantage Circle is known for its global rewards catalog with various gift cards, experiences, and merchandise, along with advanced features like peer-to-peer recognition and automated milestone celebrations. It also offers detailed analytics to track recognition trends and employee engagement, making it a comprehensive platform for large, global teams.
On the other hand, Guusto focuses on providing real-dollar value rewards without any markups, making it a flexible and cost-effective solution. It also excels in mobile accessibility and offers flexible delivery options such as SMS, email, and printed certificates, making it ideal for remote and deskless employees.
Q: Which platform is better suited for large, global organizations?
A: Vantage Circle is more suited for large, global organizations due to its extensive global rewards catalog and seamless integration with major HRIS systems like Workday and BambooHR. Its robust reporting and analytics capabilities are ideal for tracking employee recognition across large teams.
Guusto, while scalable, is better suited for smaller teams or companies looking for simple, cost-effective recognition solutions that can cater to remote and deskless workers.
Q: How do the platforms handle activity tracking and performance management?
A: Vantage Circle provides advanced analytics that allows organizations to track employee engagement, recognition trends, and the overall effectiveness of the recognition program. This helps HR teams make data-driven decisions and optimize their recognition strategies.
Guusto focuses on tracking real-time recognition and rewards but is less focused on deep analytics. It provides insights into participation but is more tailored to companies prioritizing instant recognition and reward distribution.
Q: How do they integrate with existing tools?
A: Both platforms offer seamless integration with popular collaboration tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams, allowing employees to give and receive recognition within their daily workflows. Vantage Circle also integrates with major HRIS systems, making it easier to automate milestone recognition.
Guusto offers similar integration with collaboration tools but is known for its ease of use and quick implementation. It is ideal for small to mid-sized businesses looking for simple setup and operation.
Q: How do Vantage Circle and Guusto handle customer support, and do they offer a live rep?
A: Vantage Circle offers 24/5 customer support via email and chat and access to a dedicated client success team for larger organizations. It also provides a rich self-service knowledge base for users to resolve common issues independently.
Guusto offers live chat and email support during business hours. Guusto provides a dedicated client success team for premium plans to assist with platform optimization and ensure smooth onboarding.
Q: How do these platforms manage recognition automation?
A: Vantage Circle automates key recognition events such as birthdays, work anniversaries, and milestone achievements. This automation reduces manual input and ensures timely recognition across the company.
Guusto similarly automates milestone recognition but adds a social element, encouraging employees to celebrate achievements in real time using platforms like Slack.
Q: Are there any alternatives to Vantage Circle and Guusto?
A: Yes, if you're looking for Vantage Circle alternatives or Guusto competitors, Matter is an excellent choice. It integrates seamlessly with Slack and Microsoft Teams, offering peer recognition through customizable kudos cards. It also automates milestone celebrations and features a flexible coin system that encourages frequent participation.
Q: How do these platforms manage user interaction and connection with the system?
A: Vantage Circle simplifies user interaction with a user-friendly interface that integrates global reward distribution and automates milestone recognition, making it easy for employees to engage without manual input.
Guusto focuses on peer-to-peer recognition and encourages frequent participation by offering simple, real-time reward distribution via various channels, making interactions meaningful and timely.
Both Vantage Circle and Guusto offer effective employee recognition options tailored to different corporate needs. Vantage Circle is ideal for large enterprises with global teams, while Guusto is better suited for smaller businesses focused on simple, real-time recognition.
Ready to elevate your employee recognition and engagement?
Discover how Matter can transform your workplace with seamless Slack and Microsoft Teams integration, customizable kudos cards, and automated recognition features. If you're searching for a Guusto alternative, Matter offers a flexible and user-friendly platform that supports continuous feedback, automated milestone celebrations, and various customizable reward options. Whether you're looking to recognize exceptional performance, boost team morale, or foster a culture of real-time recognition, Matter is designed to grow with your organization.
Start building a culture of recognition today. Get started with Matter for free and experience how it can help your team feel valued and engaged!
