8 Better Empuls Alternatives for Employee Recognition [Tested]

SurveySparrow

Image Source: SurveySparrow

SurveySparrow stands out among Empuls alternatives as a versatile employee survey platform that helps organizations get valuable feedback. After testing many survey tools, I found SurveySparrow works well to create programs that involve employee recognition through interactive surveys.

Key Features of SurveySparrow

SurveySparrow makes employee recognition a natural part of your company culture. The platform has these outstanding features:

• Conversational Surveys: Unlike traditional forms, SurveySparrow creates chat-like survey experiences that feel more personal and boost response rates.
• 360-Degree Feedback: This detailed feature lets you get feedback from managers, peers, and direct reports to show a complete picture of employee performance.
• Sentiment Analysis: The platform sorts responses based on employee emotions, which helps you spot satisfaction levels quickly.
• Automated Recognition: You can set up recurring surveys to celebrate milestones like birthdays and work anniversaries without manual tracking.
• Integration Capabilities: SurveySparrow connects with popular tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and 20+ HR systems. This makes it simple to add recognition into your existing workflows.

The platform also has pulse surveys to check employee sentiment often and supports multiple languages for global teams.

SurveySparrow Pricing

SurveySparrow has flexible pricing options that suit different organizational needs:

• Free Plan: Limited to 75 responses per quarter with simple features
• Basic: USD 19.00/month (billed yearly) with 2,500 responses/year
• Starter: More advanced features at USD 29.00/month with 15,000 responses/year
• Business: USD 49.00/month for 50,000 responses/year and 3 users
• Professional: USD 79.00/month with 100,000 responses/year and 5 users
• Enterprise: Custom pricing for larger organizations with unlimited surveys

SurveySparrow also offers add-ons like extra users (USD 49.00 per user/month), additional responses, and more API calls to grow with your needs.

Pros and Cons of SurveySparrow

Pros:

• Easy-to-use interface that's simple to direct
• Great survey customization options with interactive elements
• Strong analytics for measuring employee engagement
• Smooth integration with workplace communication tools
• Excellent customer support available 24/5

Cons:

• Prices are higher than some competitors
• Users report some limits in features and customization options
• The platform might buffer and crash during custom survey creation
• Large datasets can be hard to extract and export
• Dashboard interface needs visual improvements

Best Use Cases for SurveySparrow

SurveySparrow works best in these scenarios:

1. Retail Industry: Great for customer-focused employee acknowledgment. Managers can highlight exceptional customer interactions and create customized recognition strategies.
2. Healthcare Settings: Healthcare institutions can understand their staff's priorities while balancing high-pressure environments with meaningful appreciation.
3. Remote Teams: The platform's digital recognition options suit distributed teams well. Features include e-gifts, digital certificates, and virtual shout-outs.
4. Small to Mid-Size Companies: Growing organizations benefit from the platform's adaptable recognition solutions.

SurveySparrow offers a 14-day free trial with all premium features. You can create custom employee recognition surveys that line up with your company values and begin collecting meaningful feedback immediately.

SurveySparrow proves to be a solid Empuls alternative that excels at creating surveys that build a culture of recognition and appreciation.

TerryBerry

Image Source: Terryberry

TerryBerry is a 105-year-old alternative to Empuls in the employee recognition space, with its history dating back to 1918. My evaluation of employee recognition platforms revealed TerryBerry's detailed approach to employee recognition. The platform blends traditional recognition methods with modern technology.

Key Features of TerryBerry

TerryBerry's employee recognition platform has several distinctive features:

• Integrated Recognition Suite: The platform merges social recognition, service awards, and performance awards into one unified system to create a detailed approach to employee appreciation.
• Custom Awards Manufacturing: Unlike many competitors, TerryBerry manufactures bespoke recognition items like plaques, trophies, and jewelry.
• Points-Based System: Staff members can earn points for service years or achievements and exchange them for merchandise, experiences, or charitable donations.
• Milestone Automation: The system tracks anniversaries, birthdays, and other important dates automatically so no recognition chance slips through.
• Deep Analytics: The platform connects recognition data with employee sentiment, retention rates, and engagement indicators.

Their social recognition wall lets employees send recognition messages to colleagues publicly or privately while linking them to company values.

TerryBerry Pricing

The platform uses a flexible pricing model tailored to your organization's needs:

• Custom award options begin at USD 10.00 per item
• Admin fees typically run 30-40% below industry average with a pay-for-what-you-use model
• You only pay for points when employees redeem them
• Larger implementations qualify for volume discounts
• Enterprise-level solutions with custom needs or multi-location rollouts start at USD 2250.00 annually

The platform maintains transparency without hidden costs or markups on rewards, which sets it apart from competitors.

Pros and Cons of TerryBerry

Pros:

• 100+ years of expertise in employee recognition
• Global reach with 40,000+ clients across 150 countries
• Powers over 1 million recognition moments yearly
• No markup on Amazon Business rewards with Prime-like delivery
• Analytics that connect recognition to business outcomes
• Remote and frontline workers can access the mobile app

Cons:

• Administrators might need time to learn the platform interface
• Costs more than some simple recognition tools
• Small organizations might find too many features
• Program management needs dedicated admin time
• Users sometimes report technical issues with the platform

Best Use Cases for TerryBerry

TerryBerry shows exceptional results in scenarios where detailed recognition is vital:

1. Financial Institutions: Chelsea Groton Bank's "Acorn Rewards" program achieved double the industry-average participation rates by reinforcing their seven core values.
2. Manufacturing Companies: La-Z-Boy motivates their sales team and communicates uniform sales standards through TerryBerry's PEAK Performance Program.
3. Remote Workforces: Nuna Logistics achieved a 68% increase in employee recognition over two years, with 91% of managers taking part in the program.
4. Healthcare Environments: Tidelands Health saw employee engagement rise from 68% to 77% in their first year with TerryBerry's 360 Recognition Platform.

Organizations looking for reliable Empuls alternatives will find TerryBerry offers a detailed solution that combines traditional service awards with modern social recognition. The platform helps companies measure their investment in employee engagement by connecting recognition data with business outcomes.

O.C. Tanner (Culture Cloud)

Image Source: O.C. Tanner

O.C. Tanner's Culture Cloud stands out among Empuls alternatives with its rich history dating back to 1927. My tests of several employee recognition platforms show that O.C. Tanner's detailed approach to appreciation works exceptionally well for large organizations building meaningful recognition programs.

Key Features of O.C. Tanner

The Culture Cloud platform offers several unique capabilities that set it apart from other Empuls alternatives:

• Social Recognition Tools: The platform makes peer-to-peer appreciation possible, with spot awards and nomination-based recognition tied to company values.
• Service Awards: Their Yearbook feature creates individual-specific milestone celebrations that showcase an employee's achievements throughout their time with the company.
• Culture-Building Services: The platform goes beyond software by offering culture consulting, brand communications, education, and custom award design services.
• Comprehensive Rewards Catalog: Employees can exchange points for gift cards, experiences, merchandise, travel, and charitable donations.
• Advanced Analytics: A Flight Risk Dashboard helps identify employees who might leave based on their recognition patterns.

The platform added innovative features recently. "Say Thanks" lets customers and external stakeholders recognize frontline employees. "Post a Win" and "Boost" help magnify recognition moments.

O.C. Tanner Pricing

The platform uses a custom pricing model based on organization size and requirements:

• Budget recommendations range from USD 200.00-350.00 per employee yearly for optimal recognition results.
• Research from O.C. Tanner Institute shows USD 250.00 per employee yearly provides the best returns—more or less leads to diminishing results.
• The pricing covers daily recognition, service awards, appreciation events, onboarding recognition, and company-wide celebrations.

The numbers speak for themselves: 82% of clients who tracked ROI saw returns within the first year. This makes it an affordable investment despite its premium positioning.

Pros and Cons of O.C. Tanner

Pros:

• A century of recognition expertise offers deep industry knowledge.
• Global reach supporting 40+ languages and 175+ currencies.
• Strong security compliance with WCAG, SOC II, ISO 27001, CCPA, HIPPA and GDPR.
• Research-backed methodology through their O.C. Tanner Institute.
• Real results (GE Appliance reduced attrition by 73% with monthly recognition).

Cons:

• Costs might be too high for smaller businesses.
• Enterprise-level capabilities could overwhelm some organizations.
• Less customization compared to competitors.
• Users report platform issues occasionally.
• The design suits large organizations better than small businesses.

Best Use Cases for O.C. Tanner

My analysis reveals where O.C. Tanner works best:

1. Large Enterprise Deployments: The platform serves 25 clients on the Fortune 100 Best Companies list, showing its strength in supporting major corporations.
2. Global Organizations: American Airlines creates 1.6 million recognition moments yearly across 29 countries using Culture Cloud.
3. Companies Focused on Milestone Recognition: Organizations that value service awards and symbolic recognition benefit from O.C. Tanner's heritage.
4. Organizations Seeking Cultural Transformation: Capital One employed the platform across 51,000 associates and 145 business units to motivate employee contributions.

O.C. Tanner offers a premium option with robust capabilities for organizations looking at Empuls alternatives. Small companies might find better value elsewhere due to its enterprise focus.

Workleap

Image Source: Workleap

My tests of Empuls alternatives led me to Workleap, an AI-powered talent management platform that improves engagement through meaningful recognition. The platform's all-encompassing approach to employee recognition works well for organizations that want to build a more connected workplace culture.

Key Features of Workleap

Workleap distinguishes itself from other Empuls alternatives through these key capabilities:

• Good Vibes Recognition: This accessible feature lets employees send digital recognition cards. They can celebrate wins and acknowledge their colleagues' contributions privately or on a public praise wall.
• Pulse Surveys and Feedback: Teams can give regular feedback through quick, automated surveys that fit naturally into their daily work.
• Anonymous Messaging: Employees have a safe space to share honest feedback without judgment. Managers can address issues before they grow.
• AI-Powered Insights: The platform uses artificial intelligence to analyze surveys, metrics, and feedback. Managers receive clear, useful recommendations to understand what drives engagement.
• 1-on-1 Meeting Tools: Managers and employees can have meaningful conversations with templates, reminders, and guidance.

The platform combines smoothly with popular workplace tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and various HRIS systems. Recognition becomes part of your everyday work.

Workleap Pricing

The platform offers simple pricing for its products:

• Officevibe: USD 5.00 per user/month (billed yearly) or USD 6.25 per user/month (billed monthly). You need at least 10 users.
• Performance: USD 5.00 per user/month (yearly) or USD 6.25 per user/month (monthly). The minimum is 10 users.
• Compensation: USD 5.00 per user/month with a minimum of 100 users.

Companies can add AI+ features for USD 4.00 per user/month. This includes extended assistant access, personalized help with content, and the ability to upload files for better decisions.

Pros and Cons of Workleap

My experience and user feedback reveal these advantages and limitations:

Pros:

• Encourages consistent recognition that builds stronger workplace relationships
• Immediate feedback helps spot disengagement early
• Accessible interface needs minimal training and people adopt it quickly
• Customer support team responds fast and helps well
• AI insights help managers make better decisions

Cons:

• Costs more than simple recognition tools
• Small businesses might struggle with the 10-user minimum
• Users sometimes find navigation difficult
• Some reviewers want more questionnaire customization options
• Custom surveys can be slow to load

Best Use Cases for Workleap

My analysis shows Workleap excels in these scenarios:

1. Global Teams: OPAL-RT Technologies used Workleap's recognition tool to improve their worldwide workplace culture. Their "People's Choice Awards" program increased employee engagement.
2. Remote and Hybrid Workplaces: Digital recognition tools help distributed teams stay connected through virtual appreciation.
3. Companies That Don't Keep Employees: Organizations with high turnover benefit from Workleap's engagement tools. Recognized employees are 45% less likely to leave.
4. Organizations Changing Their Culture: Companies that want stronger connections and better morale find success with Workleap's mix of surveys, recognition, and insights.

Workleap offers more than simple praise. The platform connects engagement to business results through evidence-based insights and AI capabilities.

WorkTango

Image Source: www.worktango.com

WorkTango offers a detailed employee recognition solution that stands out from other Empuls alternatives with its reliable rewards marketplace and innovative social features. My extensive testing shows its recognition tools and employee insights work well for companies that want to build a culture of appreciation.

Key Features of WorkTango

My experience with WorkTango revealed several features that make it a strong Empuls alternative:

• Social Recognition Feed: The platform makes it easy for coworkers, managers, and executives to share recognitions through "High-Fives," comments, emojis, and GIFs in a public feed.
• Extensive Rewards Marketplace: Users can choose from over 10M+ reward options in 85 countries with zero markup pricing and built-in shipping.
• Automated Celebrations: The system celebrates employee anniversaries and milestones automatically to create a flexible recognition culture.
• Incentives System: Companies can encourage health and wellness participation, survey completion, and other priorities through custom incentive programs.
• Actionable Analytics: Users get detailed insights by tracking how teams participate across departments, locations, and job roles.

Yes, it is worth noting that the platform's recognition features align with what makes recognition work: timing, meaning, specificity, and showing the effect.

WorkTango Pricing

The pricing structure is simple:

Annual subscriptions start at USD 8000.00 based on user count. WorkTango differs from competitors because you only pay when employees redeem points, not upfront. This helps predict budgets better.

Companies can use WorkTango with or without rewards, points, or tokens depending on their industry rules and budget. This flexibility helps it fit different organizational needs.

Pros and Cons of WorkTango

Here's what I learned from testing and user feedback:

Pros:

• Promotes a strong appreciation culture through visible recognition
• Zero markup rewards with free shipping save money
• Smooth integration with 50+ systems including Slack and Microsoft Teams
• Reliable analytics help identify culture influencers and future leaders
• Great user experience with an accessible interface

Cons:

• Costs more than some simple recognition tools
• Some users want more customization options
• Platform navigation can be tricky
• Mobile app sometimes less reliable than web version
• Users might get too many notifications

Best Use Cases for WorkTango

WorkTango works best in these scenarios:

1. Financial Services: American Eagle Financial Credit Union saw better performance and increased employee participation after using WorkTango.
2. Technology Companies: Alarm.com got 85.7% of managers to participate by using WorkTango to boost employee morale and strengthen company culture.
3. Organizations Focused on Core Values: Teams can tag recognitions with values to reinforce company principles for new and remote employees.
4. Companies with Distributed Workforces: Mobile features let frontline and remote workers give recognition on the go.

WorkTango proves to be a valuable Empuls alternative for companies that want to build an appreciation culture without much administrative work.

Kudos

Image Source: Kudos

Kudos distinguishes itself from other Empuls alternatives as a social recognition platform that takes an all-encompassing approach to employee appreciation. My extensive testing revealed its recognition-first methodology sets it apart from competitors who focus heavily on rewards in the employee recognition space.

Key Features of Kudos

My hands-on experience with Kudos showed these notable features:

• Peer-to-Peer Recognition: The platform's Performance Recognition methodology links each recognition message to an impact level and company value. This creates valuable people analytics data.
• Group eCards: The platform lets anyone send virtual cards. Colleagues can add personal messages for birthdays, work anniversaries, and milestones. This eliminates the need for paper cards.
• AI Recognition Assistant: This smart tool helps you write personalized messages when words don't come easily.
• Sentiment Surveys: Private surveys help learn about employee feelings and perspectives. This creates a more open work environment.
• Analytics Dashboard: The platform presents clear data to measure culture and enhance performance.

The platform's emphasis on recognition over rewards impressed me most. This keeps the focus on meaningful appreciation instead of point values.

Kudos Pricing

The platform has simple pricing based on organization size and contract length:

• USD 2.00-5.00/user/month with discounts for user count and longer contracts.
• Unlike its competitors, Kudos doesn't increase reward prices or profit from selling points.

Many organizations find Kudos worth the investment cost.

Pros and Cons of Kudos

Pros:

• Simple interface that works well for employees at every level
• Awards you can customize to match company values and performance criteria
• Strong analytics providing evidence-based planning insights
• Open feedback system that builds transparent work culture
• Smooth integration with Slack and Microsoft Teams

Cons:

• Some employees need time to master all features despite the accessible interface
• Some parts of the platform have limited customization options
• Small businesses might find the pricing challenging
• Support team responses can take time
• Too many notifications might overwhelm users

Best Use Cases for Kudos

My evaluation revealed where Kudos works best:

1. Medium to Large Organizations: Perfect for companies that want to build culture through employee recognition.
2. Global Teams: The platform supports multiple languages and currencies in more than 180 countries. This makes it ideal for international teams.
3. Values-Driven Companies: Companies can link recognition to specific values. This creates accountability and aligns with culture.
4. Healthcare Settings: LMC Healthcare uses Kudos to improve patient outcomes by deepening their commitment to company culture.

Guusto

Image Source: Guusto

Guusto stands out from other Empuls alternatives I've tested because it focuses on frontline worker recognition. The platform's simplicity and effectiveness for deskless employees in various industries has really impressed me.

Key Features of Guusto

My testing revealed several standout capabilities that make Guusto special:

• No Points System: Guusto skips complicated points and uses simple dollar values, so recipients get their rewards' full value.
• Flexible Delivery Options: Recipients can get their rewards through web, mobile app, QR codes, SMS, or print options—perfect when you have tech-averse employees.
• Social Impact Initiative: Guusto donates one day of clean water through their One Drop Foundation partnership for every gift sent.
• Budget Controls: Managers can share cost centers where multiple team members draw from the same budget.
• Automated Milestone Recognition: The system tracks work anniversaries and birthdays automatically to celebrate consistently.

The platform excels for companies with deskless workers in healthcare, retail, hospitality, and manufacturing.

Guusto Pricing

Guusto's pricing follows a flexible "crawl-walk-run" approach:

• Free Plan: USD 0.00/month for a single user with unlimited recipients
• Lite Plan: USD 60.00/month (billed yearly) for scheduled branded rewards
• Essential Plan: USD 120.00/month plus USD 6.00/seat/month for peer-to-peer programs
• Premium Plan: USD 600.00/month plus USD 7.50/seat/month with advanced features

You only pay for users who send recognition, not the recipients.

Pros and Cons of Guusto

Pros:

• Your account gets credited back for unclaimed gifts
• Deskless workers don't need company email addresses
• Up-to-the-minute data on reward distribution
• Highest-rated recognition platform (4.9 on both G2 and Capterra)

Cons:

• Customization options are limited
• Navigation can be challenging at times
• Some merchants aren't available in certain regions
• Original funding requirements might strain some budgets

Best Use Cases for Guusto

My experience shows Guusto works best in these scenarios:

1. Retail Environments: Store associates can receive recognition without needing company email addresses thanks to the platform's flexibility.
2. Healthcare Settings: Compass One Healthcare kept 28% more employees who received recognition through Guusto.
3. Companies with Mixed Workforces: Guusto's inclusive approach to recognition benefits organizations with both office and frontline staff.

Achievers

Image Source: Achievers

My experience as a recognition specialist who has reviewed dozens of platforms tells me that Achievers stands out as one of the most resilient Empuls alternatives for enterprise-scale employee appreciation. The platform's science-backed approach works well for organizations that want measurable results from their recognition programs.

Key Features of Achievers

Achievers has several outstanding features that make it unique in the crowded recognition market:

• Comprehensive Recognition Suite: Combines monetary and non-monetary recognition, milestone celebrations, nomination-based awards, and peer-to-peer appreciation in one platform
• Global Rewards Marketplace: Offers 3M+ rewards across approximately 190 countries with no markups or hidden fees
• Seamless Integrations: Works as a certified Workday Innovation Partner with enterprise-grade integrations for major HCM platforms
• AI-Powered Insights: Gives real-time data through customizable reports that help spot engagement trends and recognition gaps
• Inclusive Features: Uses AI-driven inclusive language checks to keep recognition messages appropriate and effective

Achievers Pricing

Achievers keeps its pricing structure transparent:

The platform offers custom pricing based on organization size without hidden fees, shipping charges, or markup costs. You get exactly what you see, and there's no annual points commitment. Organizations can request personalized demos to discuss their specific needs.

Pros and Cons of Achievers

Pros:

• The platform's high adoption rates lead to stronger engagement outcomes
• Support teams work 24/7 in 200+ languages to ensure a consistent user experience
• Engagement metrics improve by a lot (ATB Financial's engagement scores went from 68% to 91%)
• Recognition happens smoothly through many productivity tool integrations

Cons:

• Costs more than some simple recognition tools
• Getting the best results needs dedicated resources
• Users might need time to learn advanced customization features
• Works best for mid-size to enterprise organizations rather than small businesses

Best Use Cases for Achievers

My review experience shows that Achievers works best in these scenarios:

1. Enterprise Organizations: Super Retail Group created 100,000+ recognition moments in just six months
2. Companies Focused on Retention: Organizations using Achievers have cut turnover by up to 22%
3. Global Workforces: Teams worldwide can use the platform in 32 languages
4. Data-Driven Companies: Wesley saw an 18-point increase in Employee Net Promoter Score after implementation

Conclusion

My review of eight Empuls alternatives shows that each excels in different areas of employee recognition. The right choice depends on your company’s size, budget, and goals.

SurveySparrow shines with conversational feedback, while TerryBerry and O.C. Tanner bring deep expertise for larger enterprises. Workleap and WorkTango use data and vast reward options to personalize recognition. Kudos and Guusto focus on meaningful, easy-to-use appreciation tools, and Achievers offers a full enterprise solution.

Ultimately, success isn’t about price or features—it’s about authentic appreciation. Pick the platform that fits your culture and makes recognition effortless. The result: stronger engagement, retention, and team morale.