Workstars alternatives are crucial for companies that enhance employee recognition and reward programs. Organizations often look for platforms that acknowledge their employees' contributions while aligning with specific business goals and values. As companies grow and change, the need for a recognition and rewards platform that offers greater flexibility, customization, and seamless integration with tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams becomes more significant.
Matter understands that businesses strive to create a culture where employees genuinely feel valued and appreciated. Whether through beautiful kudos for meaningful recognition, automated prompts like Feedback Friday to encourage weekly recognition, or gathering insights via survey feedback tools, choosing the right platform is vital. This guide explores the importance of employee recognition and how various Workstars alternatives can be effectively implemented to meet your company's specific needs.
What is Workstars?
Workstars is a comprehensive employee recognition platform designed to enhance employee engagement by making recognition simple, social, and impactful. It allows companies to create customized recognition programs that align with their values and celebrate milestones like service anniversaries, onboarding completions, and exceptional performances. Workstars provides a variety of recognition methods, including peer-to-peer recognition, manager-to-employee awards, and team-based initiatives, which help foster a culture of appreciation and inclusivity within the organization.
The platform is highly flexible, offering a wide range of rewards, such as digital gift cards, prepaid cards, and custom rewards, which can be managed in-house or outsourced to other providers. Workstars is designed to be globally scalable, allowing for multi-language and multi-currency capabilities, cost-of-living adjustments, and easy connection with popular programs such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, and HR systems. It also features extensive analytics and reporting options that provide real-time insights into employee engagement trends, manager performance, and overall recognition effectiveness.
Why consider Workstars competitors?
While Workstars provides a robust platform for employee recognition, companies may consider exploring Workstars competitors to find alternatives that better fit their unique needs and organizational goals. There are several reasons why a business might seek an alternative solution:
- Broader range of features: Some Workstars competitors offer additional features beyond basic recognition, such as in-depth employee engagement surveys, career development tools, and performance management capabilities. These features can help companies gain comprehensive insights into employee satisfaction and productivity.
- Customizability and flexibility: Different companies have unique cultures and specific requirements for their recognition programs. Competitors to Workstars may provide greater flexibility in customizing recognition workflows, awards, and reward types to better align with an organization's culture and values.
- Integration capabilities: Many organizations rely on specific tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and various HRIS systems for their daily operations. Competitors may offer superior integration options that ensure smoother workflows, reducing administrative burdens and encouraging more frequent recognition and engagement activities.
- Cost efficiency: Some alternatives offer more cost-effective pricing models, especially for small to mid-sized businesses looking for powerful recognition tools without the high price tag. Workstars competitors might have pricing structures that better align with a company's budget while still providing essential features.
- Global reach and multi-currency support: For multinational companies, it's crucial to have a platform that supports multi-language and multi-currency options and cost-of-living adjustments. While Workstars offers global features, other competitors may provide enhanced capabilities or additional resources for managing recognition across diverse geographies.
By evaluating these factors, companies can determine whether an alternative platform might offer better value, more suitable features, or improved integration capabilities that align with their strategic objectives and foster a stronger recognition and employee engagement culture.
10 Workstars competitors: employee recognition & rewards software
This is a list of 10 alternatives to Workstars, each offering unique features to enhance employee recognition and engagement:
1. Matter
About Matter: Matter is a versatile employee recognition tool created to promote a culture of appreciation and constant feedback within enterprises. As a Slack-first and Teams-first application, Matter integrates directly into these platforms, allowing for seamless peer-to-peer recognition. With its customizable kudos cards, Matter makes recognition more meaningful and engaging by enabling employees to express gratitude in creative ways that align with company values or celebrate unique achievements. Additionally, the platform offers the Feedback Friday feature, which automates weekly recognition prompts, encouraging consistent acknowledgment of colleagues' contributions and helping teams end the week on a high note.
Matter also provides tools that enhance employee engagement and gather valuable insights. Its survey feedback features allow companies to easily collect and analyze employee opinions, fostering a feedback-rich culture that promotes continuous improvement. The platform offers various rewards, including digital gift cards, charity donations, prepaid Visa/Mastercards, and custom-branded items, catering to diverse employee preferences. With automated tools for celebrating milestones such as birthdays and work anniversaries, Matter helps maintain high employee satisfaction and retention levels by recognizing all significant moments.
Matter main features:
- Seamless integration with Slack and Microsoft Teams for real-time recognition.
- Customizable kudos cards that promote peer-to-peer recognition aligned with company values.
- Automated Feedback Friday prompts to encourage weekly recognition.
- Incentivized survey feedback tools to gather actionable employee insights.
- A diverse range of reward options, including digital gift cards, charitable donations, prepaid Visa/Mastercards, and custom-branded rewards.
- Automated tools for celebrating important milestones like birthdays and work anniversaries.
Matter pricing:
- Free Forever: $0/user/month
- Basic: $1/user/month, charged annually
- Pro: $3/user/month, charged annually
- Pro + Surveys: $5/user/month, charged annually
For more information, please visit the Matter pricing page.
Matter G2 score: Matter has a G2 score of 4.7/5 based on user reviews.
Notable Matter customers: Sephora, Petco, Shell, Siemens, JiffyLube, Microsoft, SXSW, and Bolt.
What Matter 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. Recognize App
About Recognize App: Recognize App is an employee engagement platform that focuses on peer-to-peer recognition, allowing employees to acknowledge each other's contributions in a social and interactive way. The platform is compatible with common tools such as Microsoft Teams, Slack, Yammer, Outlook, and SharePoint, making it simple for employees to offer and receive praise right in their regular processes. Recognize App also offers features like automatic service awards, birthday recognitions, and a variety of employee engagement tools to maintain a positive work culture. The platform uses a badge-based recognition system where employees can earn points tied to company values, which can then be redeemed for various prizes, including gift cards, corporate apparel, and experiences. Recognize App supports multiple languages and currencies, making it suitable for global organizations.
Recognize App main features:
- Peer-to-peer recognition with value-based badges.
- Integration with Microsoft Teams, Slack, Yammer, Outlook, and other tools.
- Automated service anniversaries, birthdays, and special recognitions.
- Rewards catalog with gift cards, company merchandise, and experiences.
- Advanced analytics to track employee engagement and recognition trends.
Recognize App pricing:
- Start-Up: $3,999 per year, Under 100 users
- Mid-Market: $4,999 per year, Under 100 users
- Enterprise: $5,999 per year, Under 100 users
For more information, please visit the Recognize App pricing page.
Recognize App G2 score: Recognize App has a G2 score of 4.7/5 based on user reviews.
Notable Recognize App customers: Dev.Pro, Visions Federal Credit Union, Teach First, Goodway Group, and Metro Bank.
What Recognize App customers are saying on G2: "The mobile app needs more work. I tried submitting recognition through the mobile app and I was unable to find the "Send" button after typing up my recognition. I had to retype it on the Desktop version." - Tyler R.
3. Vantage Circle
About Vantage Circle: Vantage Circle is a global employee engagement platform that enhances workplace culture through its rewards and recognition programs. It offers peer-to-peer recognition, social recognition feeds, automated service awards, and a diverse rewards catalog that includes digital gift cards, merchandise, experiences, and Amazon products. Vantage Circle integrates seamlessly with Slack, Microsoft Teams, and HRIS systems, making recognition easy and accessible across various tools used daily by employees. The platform also provides multilingual support and a unique SOLI-based reward system to ensure fair and inclusive recognition across global teams. With its advanced analytics and reporting tools, Vantage Circle enables managers to track engagement trends and make well-informed decisions to improve the employee experience.
Vantage Circle main features:
- Peer-to-peer and social recognition tools with gamified leaderboards.
- Automated service awards, birthdays, and milestone celebrations.
- Global rewards catalog with gift cards, merchandise, and experiences.
- Seamless integration with Slack, Microsoft Teams, and HRIS systems.
- Advanced analytics for tracking recognition impact and employee engagement.
Vantage Circle pricing: Request a demo for pricing. All programs include a one-time setup fee. For more information, please visit the Vantage Circle pricing page.
Vantage Circle G2 score: Vantage Circle has a G2 score of 4.7/5 based on user reviews.
Notable Vantage Circle customers: Wells Fargo, Bosch, DHL, Infosys, Wipro, ACG, Landmark Group, and Blue Star.
What Vantage Circle customers are saying on G2: "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.
4. WorkTango
About WorkTango: WorkTango is a holistic employee recognition and incentives platform developed to increase employee engagement and build an appreciation culture at all company levels. The platform supports various recognition types, including peer-to-peer, top-down, and bottom-up recognition, making it flexible for any company's structure. WorkTango offers public and private recognition options, with or without rewards, and integrates seamlessly with tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Outlook, allowing recognition to be part of the daily workflow. The platform also provides access to a vast rewards marketplace with over 10 million options available in 85 countries, ranging from merchandise to experiences and charitable gifts, ensuring diverse and meaningful reward options for employees.
WorkTango main features:
- Multi-directional recognition (peer-to-peer, top-down, bottom-up) with customizable options.
- Integration with Slack, Microsoft Teams, Outlook, and HRIS systems.
- Comprehensive rewards marketplace with over 10 million options worldwide.
- Automated service awards, birthdays, and milestone celebrations.
- Advanced analytics and reporting tools to measure engagement and recognition effectiveness.
WorkTango pricing: Pricing is not listed on the website. To learn more about pricing, you'll need to schedule a demo/sales call with WorkTango.
WorkTango G2 score: WorkTango has a G2 score of 4.6/5 based on user reviews.
Notable WorkTango customers: HUB, KIA, goodwill, Rexall, and Accruent.
What WorkTango customers are saying on G2: "Sending points is easy, and feels very rewarding. The downside is how often the app makes you re log in." - Verified User in Electrical/Electronic Manufacturing.
5. Kudoboard
About Kudoboard: Kudoboard is an online employee recognition platform designed to celebrate special occasions, milestones, and achievements through collaborative digital boards. The platform allows colleagues to create personalized recognition experiences by contributing messages, images, GIFs, and videos to a shared board. Kudoboard is ideal for celebrating events such as birthdays, work anniversaries, retirements, or team achievements, fostering a culture of appreciation and inclusivity. The platform integrates with tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams, enabling recognition to occur naturally within existing workflows. Kudoboard also offers custom templates and automated reminders for upcoming events, ensuring that all significant moments are recognized meaningfully.
Kudoboard main features:
- Digital boards for group and individual recognition with multimedia support.
- Integration with Slack, Microsoft Teams, and other workplace tools.
- Customizable templates for various occasions and events.
- Automated reminders for upcoming birthdays, anniversaries, and milestones.
- Easy sharing options to encourage participation from remote or in-office teams.
Kudoboard pricing:
- Lite Board: $5.99 per board
- Premium Board: $8.99 per board
- Milestone Board: $19.99 per board
- Business Plan: Tiered pricing, price increases every 50 employees until 500 employees
- Pro Plan: Tiered pricing, price increases every 50 employees until 500 employees
- Enterprise Plan: Talk to sales for pricing
For more information, please visit the Kudoboard pricing page.
Kudoboard G2 score: Kudoboard has a G2 score of 4.8/5 based on user reviews.
Notable Kudoboard customers: University of Arizona, GoFundMe, Gusto, Airbnb, T-Mobile, Atlassian, and Coca-Cola.
What Kudoboard customers are saying on G2: "The only thing is that we have to choose the number of respondents in advance, and it's not always easy to know if we'll exceed 5, 10, or 20 people." - Kathleen T. - Director of Marketing.
6. Assembly
About Assembly: Assembly is a comprehensive employee recognition and engagement software created to encourage a great workplace culture by making recognition simple and accessible. It allows for a variety of recognition types, including peer-to-peer and manager-led recognition, and offers various rewards, such as gift cards, donations, and personalized rewards. Assembly integrates seamlessly with tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and other HRIS systems, ensuring that recognition happens naturally within existing workflows. The platform also includes automated features for celebrating birthdays and work anniversaries, in addition to employee nominations and recognition points that can be redeemed for significant rewards. Assembly provides valuable insights and analytics, allowing organizations to track engagement trends and measure the impact of their recognition programs, all while supporting the transition to hybrid work environments.
Assembly main features:
- Peer-to-peer and manager-led recognition with customizable options.
- Integration with Slack, Microsoft Teams, and other tools for seamless recognition.
- A diverse rewards catalog, including thousands of gift cards, charitable donations, and personalized rewards.
- Automated reminders for birthdays, work anniversaries, and other key milestones.
- Advanced analytics and reporting tools to track engagement and program effectiveness.
Assembly pricing:
- Recognition: $2 per member/month, billed annually
- Engagement: $4 per member/month, billed annually
- Digital HQ: $4 per member/month, billed annually
- Custom: Talk to sales for pricing.
For more information, please visit the Assembly pricing page.
Assembly G2 score: Assembly has a G2 score of 4.8/5 based on user reviews.
Notable Assembly customers: NESCO, StubHub, Coca-Cola, Perforce, Bambee, and Amazon.
What Assembly 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.
7. Cooleaf
About Cooleaf: Cooleaf is a comprehensive employee engagement and recognition platform designed to foster a positive workplace culture through a variety of tools and programs. It offers seamless employee recognition with peer-to-peer and manager-to-employee shout-outs that can be celebrated in public recognition feeds. Cooleaf integrates with popular tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Workday, making it easy to use within existing workflows. The platform also includes employee engagement survey features, virtual wellness and learning programming, and a robust rewards catalog that offers digital gift cards, merchandise, and team swag to keep employees motivated and connected. Cooleaf is ideal for companies looking to drive employee engagement, enhance team morale, and align recognition with company core values.
Cooleaf main features:
- Peer-to-peer and manager-to-employee recognition with public social feeds.
- Integration with Slack, Microsoft Teams, Workday, and other workplace tools.
- Comprehensive rewards catalog, including gift cards, merchandise, and company swag.
- Employee engagement surveys, virtual programming, and performance incentives.
- Detailed analytics for tracking engagement and recognition effectiveness.
Cooleaf pricing: Pricing is not listed on the website. To learn more about pricing, you'll need to schedule a demo/sales call with Cooleaf.
Cooleaf G2 score: Cooleaf has a G2 score of 4.9/5 based on user reviews.
Notable Cooleaf customers: Acosta, Aprio, Bark, BlueLinx, ConneXus, and Georgia's Own Credit Union.
What Cooleaf customers are saying on G2: "It is challenging to use it on the phone app. It keeps logging off regardless of saving credentials. Providing face recognition on the app would be great." - Arturo V., IT Manager.
8. TinyPulse
About TinyPulse: TinyPulse is an employee recognition and engagement platform that assists companies in establishing a culture of appreciation through its signature "Cheers for Peers" program. This function enables employees to identify their counterparts in real time, fostering a positive work environment. TinyPulse integrates seamlessly with popular tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and various HRIS systems, making it easy for employees to participate in recognition activities within their daily workflows. The platform also offers employee engagement surveys, feedback tools, and data insights to help managers identify key contributors and promote a culture that aligns with company values. Additionally, TinyPulse provides various reward options, including digital gift cards redeemable at over 350 vendors, to motivate employees and celebrate successes effectively.
TinyPulse main features:
- Real-time peer-to-peer recognition with the "Cheers for Peers" program.
- Integration with Slack, Microsoft Teams, and HRIS systems for seamless communication.
- Comprehensive employee engagement tools, including surveys and feedback.
- A diverse catalog of rewards, including digital gift cards and culture tags.
- Advanced analytics and insights to measure engagement and recognition effectiveness.
TinyPulse pricing: Pricing is not listed on the website. To learn more about pricing, you'll need to schedule a demo/sales call with TinyPulse.
TinyPulse G2 score: TinyPulse has a G2 score of 4.9/5 based on user reviews.
Notable TinyPulse customers: N/A.
What TinyPulse customers are saying on G2: "Its unfair to the unanonymous effect, its tied through email in our company. so what we think is not known, truly it is by the supervisors. so there isn't anything anonymous." - Kayla S., Clerical Assistant.
9. Workleap
About Workleap: Workleap is a comprehensive employee engagement platform designed to elevate workplace culture by combining meaningful recognition, performance management, and employee feedback. The platform offers various tools, including peer-to-peer recognition, automated pulse surveys, dynamic org charts, and structured onboarding processes. It is an all-in-one solution for fostering a connected and motivated workforce. Workleap integrates seamlessly with popular tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams, enabling teams to easily adopt and utilize recognition features within their daily routines. The platform also provides personalized onboarding experiences, tailored progression plans, and customizable feedback options, making it suitable for organizations looking to enhance employee engagement and retention quickly and effectively.
Workleap main features:
- Peer-to-peer recognition and customizable recognition templates.
- Integration with Slack, Microsoft Teams, and other workplace tools.
- Automated pulse surveys and real-time feedback for employee engagement.
- Tools for performance management, such as continuous check-ins and annual reviews.
- Personalized onboarding and tailored career development plans.
Workleap pricing:
- Free: $0, Single user account
- Essential: $3.50 per person per month
- Pro: $5 per person per month
For more information, please visit the Workleap pricing page.
Workleap G2 score: Workleap has a G2 score of 4.3/5 based on user reviews.
Notable Workleap customers: Dyson, SIEMENS, IKEA, Fujitsu, Wetransfer, Trivago, OneSignal, Moment Factory, and Mont Blanc.
What Workleap 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.
10. HeyTaco
About HeyTaco: HeyTaco is a peer-to-peer recognition platform that builds a positive workplace culture by enabling employees to give recognition fun and engagingly. The platform uses a unique currency — virtual tacos — to celebrate accomplishments and express gratitude among colleagues. Employees can give up to five tacos daily through Slack or Microsoft Teams, making recognition easy and lighthearted. HeyTaco also features gamification elements like leaderboards and achievement levels, which help motivate employees and encourage frequent engagement. This daily limit promotes genuine, timely recognition, fostering a culture of appreciation within the organization.
HeyTaco main features:
- Peer-to-peer recognition using virtual tacos.
- Integration with Slack and Microsoft Teams for easy recognition.
- Gamification with leaderboards and achievement levels.
- Daily recognition limits to encourage frequent, meaningful interactions.
- Support for creating team rewards and custom recognition programs.
HeyTaco pricing: $3 per person/month. For more information, please visit the HeyTaco pricing page.
HeyTaco G2 score: HeyTaco has a G2 score of 4.8/5 based on user reviews.
Notable HeyTaco customers: N/A.
What HeyTaco 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.
Which is the best Workstars competitor?
Choosing the best Workstars competitor depends on your organization's specific goals, culture, and employee engagement needs. Here are some key factors to consider when evaluating different platforms:
- Employee engagement features: Look for platforms that offer comprehensive employee engagement tools, such as peer-to-peer recognition, social recognition feeds, and automated milestone celebrations. These features help build a positive workplace culture, boost morale, and enhance employee satisfaction by making recognition frequent and meaningful.
- Integration capabilities: An ideal platform should integrate seamlessly with the tools your employees already use, like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and various HR systems. Easy integration ensures that recognition can happen naturally within existing workflows, which helps increase adoption and engagement across the organization.
- Rewards flexibility: Consider platforms that provide a diverse range of rewards, such as digital gift cards, branded merchandise, experiences, and charitable donations. Offering flexibility in reward options allows employees to select the most meaningful thing to them, thereby enhancing their motivation and satisfaction.
- User experience and accessibility: A user-friendly interface and mobile accessibility are essential for encouraging frequent participation. Select a platform that is user-friendly and accessible on a variety of devices, ensuring all employees can easily give and receive recognition.
- Advanced analytics and reporting: Look for platforms that provide robust analytics and reporting tools to measure the effectiveness of your recognition programs. This data helps HR managers and leaders understand engagement trends, track program success, and make informed decisions to continuously improve employee engagement strategies.
- Customization and scalability: Ensure that the platform can grow with your organization and offer customization options to align with your specific company culture and goals. A scalable solution will adapt to your changing needs, whether you are a small business or a large enterprise.
By focusing on these key areas, you can find the best Workstars competitor that aligns with your organization's values, enhances employee engagement, and supports your long-term goals. Investing in the right platform will help create a thriving workplace culture where employees feel recognized, valued, and motivated to perform at their best.
Why companies choose Matter over Workstars competitors
Companies often choose Matter over Workstars competitors due to its seamless integration with Slack and Microsoft Teams, making recognition and feedback a natural part of daily workflows. As a Slack-first and Teams-first application, Matter is incredibly easy to set up—requiring just 2 minutes to install and 5-10 minutes to customize, after which it runs almost entirely on autopilot. This level of simplicity encourages high adoption rates among employees and managers alike, fostering a culture of frequent and meaningful recognition.
Matter's platform stands out with its beautiful, customizable, fun, and easy-to-use kudos cards, allowing employees to celebrate each other for specific company values, inside jokes, or personal milestones. The Feedback Friday feature further enhances engagement by automatically prompting employees to share kudos and rewards at the end of each week, creating a consistent habit of recognition. Additionally, Matter offers automated tools for celebrating birthdays and work anniversaries, with a unique self-serve option where employees can manage their own celebration dates.
Matter also incentivizes participation with a wide range of rewards, from digital gift cards and prepaid Visa/Mastercard options to charitable donations and custom-branded rewards like company merchandise or special experiences. The platform's unique coin system, which resets more frequently than those of other competitors, ensures continuous and authentic engagement. Surveys are seamlessly distributed through Slack or Teams, making it easy to collect valuable feedback while rewarding employees for their input, creating a comprehensive solution for fostering employee engagement and satisfaction.
Final advice on Workstars competitors
When selecting the best Workstars competitor, focusing on the features and capabilities that will most effectively meet your organization's needs is essential. Start by evaluating the most important employee engagement tools, such as peer-to-peer recognition, automated milestone celebrations, and customized reward options. These features help create a culture of appreciation, boost employee morale, and drive productivity across your organization.
Look for a platform that integrates smoothly with your existing tools, like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and various HR systems. Seamless integration allows recognition to happen naturally within daily workflows, ensuring consistent engagement and making recognition an easy and regular part of your company's culture.
Also, the flexibility of reward options should be considered. Platforms that offer diverse rewards, from digital gift cards and branded merchandise to unique experiences and charitable donations, provide meaningful incentives that resonate with your employees.
A platform that is easy to use, with a simple and intuitive interface, will further encourage participation and engagement from both employees and managers.
Advanced analytics and reporting tools are critical to understanding the effectiveness of your recognition programs and making data-driven improvements. Platforms that provide robust insights into employee engagement trends, program ROI, and participation rates help you refine your strategy and maximize impact.
Consider Matter for a comprehensive solution that enhances employee engagement, integrates seamlessly with your current tools, and offers flexible and meaningful rewards. With its customizable kudos, automated Feedback Friday, and a wide variety of reward options, Matter is designed to foster a culture of recognition that boosts morale, retention, and overall productivity. Get started with Matter for free today and discover how a tailored recognition platform can transform your organization's culture!
