.svg)
AwardCo might not be the only option for creating a culture of appreciation. In today's competitive market, a robust employee recognition strategy is essential for boosting morale, retaining top talent, and fostering a positive work environment. This article explores ten of the best AwardCo alternatives, each offering unique features, pricing structures, and approaches to employee rewards and recognition.
From platforms that seamlessly integrate with your existing communication tools to those offering extensive reward catalogs with millions of options, we'll help you discover the perfect solution to fit your company's specific needs and budget.
Whether you're a small business or a large global organization, find out how to transform your workplace into a space where every contribution is valued and celebrated. Let's dive in and explore the top AwardCo alternatives that can revolutionize your employee engagement strategy.
ThriveSparrow is an employee success platform built for HRs to redefine their employee's experiences and contribute to better and high-performing work cultures.
With access to over 900 gift cards across 80+ countries, including popular picks like Amazon, Nike, and Netflix, your employees can choose rewards they actually want.
The platform goes beyond basic rewards and recognition. Managers can spot engagement trends, identify star performers, and even get AI-powered insights about where to focus their attention.
For HR teams wondering how to make recognition part of everyday work life, ThriveSparrow's seamless integration with most loved internal communication tools such as Slack and Microsoft Teams makes appreciation happen right where work happens. No extra apps to juggle or complicated processes to learn.
Here's what makes ThriveSparrow tick:
- Kudos Module - At $2.00 per user monthly, it's a cost-effective way to build a recognition-rich culture. Think customizable templates, performance leaderboards, and instant Slack notifications when someone gets recognized.
- Engage Module - For $3.00 per employee monthly, you'll get tools to really understand how your team feels. From pulse surveys to heat maps showing engagement patterns, it's all about keeping your finger on the pulse of your culture.
- Performance Module - At $5.00 per employee monthly, this takes feedback to the next level with 360-degree reviews. You'll get clear insights into strengths and areas for growth.
- Goals (OKRs) - Keep everyone moving in the same direction by connecting individual efforts to your company's bigger picture.
Is it the right fit for your team? That depends on what you're looking for. If you want a platform that combines easy-to-use recognition tools with positive cultural impact, ThriveSparrow deserves a closer look.
Book your free demo and get all your queries answered.
MatterApp is a good alternative to AwardCo for employee recognition and appreciation. Rather than treating recognition as a special occasion, this platform also weaves it right into your existing workflow through Slack and Microsoft Teams.
What's unique about MatterApp: MatterApp's Feedback Friday feature gives a weekly reminder to pause and celebrate wins. Plus, there's a clever weekly resetting coin system that keeps recognition fresh and meaningful.
Don't worry about adding another app to your tech stack. MatterApp works right where your team already spends their time. Send kudos, run surveys, or gather feedback without ever leaving your usual communication tools.
The platform offers over 1,600 reward choices. From digital gift cards to charitable donations, even custom-branded rewards - there's something for everyone's taste.
Think about those time-consuming HR tasks - birthday celebrations, recognition reminders, reward distribution. MatterApp handles all of that automatically, freeing up your team to focus on what matters most: building genuine connections.
- Free Forever - Get started with basic features (5 kudos per channel weekly) and 30-day analytics
- Pro - $3.00/user/month yearly or $4.00 monthly, adding gift cards and celebrations
- Pro + Surveys - $5.00/user/month yearly
Is MatterApp the right choice for your team? Find out more here: MatterApp
Bonusly is a recognition solution that turns appreciation into everyday culture. The platform's dashboards tells you exactly how recognition flows through your organization.
Instead of keeping recognition locked in formal reviews or milestone moments, this platform puts the power of appreciation directly in your employees' hands. Team members can award points to recognize great work, and these points add up to real rewards.
Bonusly's reward catalog spans over 1,200 options across more than 200 countries. Your team can choose from:
- Digital gift cards from their favorite retailers
- Charitable donations (50+ causes to support)
- Company-branded merchandise through AXOMO
- Custom perks like extra vacation days
- Simple cash-out options
Bonusly also fits right into your existing tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams, making recognition as natural as sending a message.
What's unique about Bonusly: Bonusly's "Kiosk Mode" lets teams share recognition even on shared devices. Plus, with the mobile app, appreciation happens anywhere, anytime.
Bonusly has 3 pricing plans
- Appreciate: $2.00 per user monthly (billed annually)
- Connect: $5.00 per user monthly (billed annually)
- Achieve: $7.00 per user monthly (billed annually)
Each tier builds on the last - from milestone celebrations to peer recognition, all the way up to performance management tools.
By tying every appreciation moment to company values, it helps build the kind of culture where great work gets noticed - and celebrated.
Spot connection patterns, track participation, and see who's making an impact. See more on Bonusly.
Kudos shines especially bright for small to mid-sized businesses wanting to create genuine connections. Kudos lets you build a reward storefront that actually makes sense for your team.
Kudos lets you build a reward storefront that actually makes sense for your team. Gift cards and other merchandise are something that your employees will genuinely want.
Let's look at what makes Kudos different:
- Never Miss a Moment: The platform automatically catches birthdays and work anniversaries, so no celebration slips through the cracks.
- Show Appreciation Right Where You Work: Jump straight from Microsoft Teams or Slack to give recognition. Plus, it plays nice with your HR systems like BambooHR, ADP, and Workday.
- See Your Culture in Action: Real-time analytics show you exactly how recognition flows through your organization. Spot your rising stars and make sure appreciation aligns with your goals.
- Expert Guidance: Need help? Their engagement specialists are there to help you build a recognition program that works.
Is Kudos perfect for everyone? For organizations serious about building a culture where values matter and recognition means something, it's worth a closer look.
The truth is, recognition isn't just about rewards - it's about making people feel truly valued. That's where Kudos makes its mark, helping build workplaces where appreciation runs deep and every contribution counts.
Nectar holds a 4.7 out of 5 stars rating from over 6,500 reviews. But let's look beyond the stats to see what makes this employee recognition platform different.
Here's something that caught our attention: One company saw their turnover rate plummet from 25% to just 7% after implementing Nectar. That's not just a number - it's teams staying together, relationships growing stronger, and culture taking root.
Nectar makes recognition feel natural through real-time "shoutouts" tied to your company values. No more waiting for annual reviews or major milestones to celebrate good work.
What can your team earn? The reward options keep growing:
- Digital gift cards
- Amazon products
- Company-branded swag
- Custom rewards
- Charitable donations
Their "Culture Suite" brings together:
- Recognition & Rewards - Value-driven peer appreciation
- Internal Communications - Keep everyone in the loop
- Nominations - Spotlight your standout performers
- Analytics & Insights - See your culture in numbers
Pricing
- Plus - $5.00 per user/month (billed annually)
- Premium - $6.00 per user/month (billed annually)
- Custom - Let's talk about what you need
Did you know? HR teams used to spend two full days monthly on birthday and anniversary recognition. With Nectar? It's all automatic.
Is Nectar right for your team? If you're looking to make recognition part of your everyday culture - not just something that happens at quarterly meetings - this platform deserves your attention. After all, great work happens every day.
Most recognition platforms forget about employees without desk access. So the question arises - "What about our frontline employees?"
Awardco competitors often build solutions for office workers, leaving frontline teams feeling left out. That's where Guusto takes a refreshingly different path.
Here's something unique about Guusto: You don't need to create accounts for every employee. Healthcare workers, retail staff, hospitality teams - they can all receive recognition without wrestling with complicated technology.
Frontline workers often lack regular access to work emails or computers. Guusto solved this with multiple ways to deliver recognition:
- Web and mobile apps for tech-savvy teams
- Simple QR codes
- Quick SMS delivery
- TV displays in common areas
- Basic print options requiring zero technology
Pricing
- Free: $0/month (single user)
- Lite: $40/month (single user)
- Essential: $120/month (30 seats)
- Premium: $400/month (80 seats)
For Guusto, every recognition moment creates ripples beyond the organization. For each gift sent, Guusto provides one day of clean water through the One Drop Foundation. Recognition that makes a difference - inside and outside your walls.
What you see is what you get. $1.00 means $1.00 - no hidden fees, no shipping costs. Even better, unclaimed rewards come right back to you. Every dollar goes exactly where it should: recognizing your people.
Since 2002, Achievers has come a long way from its humble beginnings as "I Love Rewards." Now co-headquartered across Toronto, Victoria, and Manchester, this platform takes employee recognition to a whole new level.
The reward marketplace offers over 3 million choices . Whether your team wants gift cards, charitable donations, or company swag, there's something for everyone.
The tech side? Don't panic quite yet. Achievers plays nice with:
- Slack and Microsoft Teams
- Outlook and Google Workspace
- Major HR systems like Workday and ADP
- Custom systems through their open API
Their support team has won multiple Stevie Awards. With 24/7 help in 120+ languages and a dedicated success manager for every client, you're never left wondering what to do next.
The numbers tell an interesting story. Achievers holds a G2 score of 4.7/5 from 1,573 reviews, with their reward catalog scoring an impressive 9.4. Currently, they're helping over 400 companies across 190 countries build stronger cultures.
While they don't publish pricing upfront, you can request a demo to explore options that fit your needs. After all, building a culture of belonging is about finding the right fit, not just the right price.
Workhuman is a cloud-based platform which has become a powerhouse in employee recognition by focusing on something often overlooked - the human element of workplace culture.
Let's look at what makes Workhuman tick
- Social Recognition - Real relationships grow when colleagues can celebrate each other's wins, especially when tied to company values
- Global Reward Store - Your team in Tokyo gets rewards just as meaningful as your team in Toronto
- Workhuman iQ - See exactly how recognition shapes your culture through smart analytics
Workhuman's integration with Workday goes beyond basic connectivity. It helps companies spot patterns between recognition and performance. Plus, your team can share appreciation right from Microsoft Teams or Slack.
Here's what makes Workhuman worth considering
- Global reach for international teams
- Deep focus on workplace culture
- Strong, established customer base
- Round-the-clock support
While the platform speaks 34 languages, most support comes from Ireland. This might matter if your global team needs help in different languages.
The truth is, Workhuman aims to be more than another rewards platform. They're combining smart technology with human insight to help leaders make better decisions about their most valuable asset - their people.
WorkTango takes an interesting approach - you can run recognition programs with or without rewards, points, or tokens. Perfect for teams watching their budgets or testing what works best for their culture.
Here's something that caught our attention: Their reward marketplace offers over 10 million options with zero markup and free shipping. They even provide no-cost rewards and charitable giving options for companies with specific needs.
The platform builds appreciation into your culture through some clever features:
- A lively recognition feed with "High-Fives," emojis, and GIFs
- Smart automation for birthdays and work anniversaries[332]
- Streamlined awards management that keeps budgets clear
- Special spotlights for standout achievements
Don't panic quite yet about adding another tool to your stack. WorkTango fits right into:
- Slack and Microsoft Teams
- Outlook
- Your HR systems
- Mobile devices (both Android and iOS)
For teams looking beyond Awardco, WorkTango offers that sweet spot between flexibility and impact, helping build cultures where appreciation flows naturally.
Sometimes the best recognition happens in everyday moments. Motivosity builds on this simple truth by turning employee appreciation into something that feels like a natural part of your team's social fabric.
The platform's standout feature? The ThanksMatters Card. Unlike typical reward systems, this gives your team members true freedom in how they use their recognition rewards. No more one-size-fits-all gift cards or predetermined prizes.
Recognition flows naturally through your existing tools. The platform connects smoothly with:
- BambooHR
- Workday
- ADP
- Slack
Your team can share appreciation without switching screens or disrupting their day.
Pricing
- Connect: $1.00 per person monthly
- Listen: $2.00 per person monthly
- Recognize: $3.00 per person monthly
- Lead: $6.50 per person monthly
The platform maintains a strong 4.7/5 G2 score from over 400 reviews. Teams particularly love the peer recognition features and flexible ThanksMatters Visa card, though some wish for more reward choices in certain regions.
Motivosity shines brightest when teams want recognition to feel genuine, not forced. By creating spaces where appreciation happens naturally, the platform helps build stronger connections between colleagues. Perfect for organizations who believe the best workplace relationships grow from authentic moments of acknowledgment.
Looking for budget-friendly options? Motivosity starts at just $1.00 per user monthly, while several platforms offer free tiers or trials to get you started.
Need extensive reward choices? WorkTango leads with 10+ million options, though Achievers and Workhuman also impress with their extensive catalogs.
The right choice depends on your priorities - whether that's pricing flexibility, integration capabilities, or reward variety. Take time to compare these features against your team's specific needs.
Q1. What are some key features to look for in an employee recognition platform?
When evaluating employee recognition platforms, look for features like peer-to-peer recognition, customizable rewards, integration capabilities with existing workplace tools, analytics to measure program effectiveness, and mobile accessibility for on-the-go recognition.
Q2. How do these AwardCo alternatives compare in terms of pricing?
Pricing varies widely among AwardCo alternatives. Some platforms like ThriveSparrow and MatterApp offer plans starting as low as $2 per user per month, while others like Kudos and Achievers use custom pricing models. Many providers offer tiered pricing based on features and company size.
Q3. Which platforms are best suited for global organizations?
For global organizations, platforms like Achievers, Workhuman, and Nectar stand out. They offer extensive reward catalogs with options available in multiple countries, support for multiple languages, and features designed to accommodate diverse cultural preferences in recognition practices.
Q4. How important are integrations when choosing a recognition platform?
Integrations are crucial for seamless adoption and usage. Most top alternatives to AwardCo, such as Bonusly, Kudos, and WorkTango, offer integrations with popular workplace tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and various HRIS systems. This ensures recognition becomes a natural part of employees' daily workflows.
Q5. What unique features do some of these platforms offer?
Several platforms offer unique features. For instance, Guusto provides a no-points system ideal for frontline workers, Motivosity creates an internal social network for recognition, and ThriveSparrow offers a comprehensive OKR (Objectives and Key Results) module. Consider your organization's specific needs when evaluating these unique offerings.
