Best Employee Recognition Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Bonusly is ranked #1 of 35 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of Guusto and Assembly. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Guusto. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Bonusly at $2/mo.
A recognition program might center on peer appreciation, manager awards, nominations, or rewards. Compare how each tool supports those practices through peer recognition, manager awards, and award nominations, then look at custom award types and budget controls. Bonusly, Guusto, and Assembly are among the entries to explore. Recognition channels and a rewards catalog offer additional points of comparison. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing can help you assess cost alongside the features, based on the kinds of recognition and rewards your organization wants to support.
35 employee recognition software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
3 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BonuslyWeb · Windows · Mac · Android · iPhone · API | Three bars | — | 5 of 6 | $2/mo | 6.7 | |
| 2 | GuustoWeb · Android · iPhone · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | $4/mo | 6.6 | |
| 3 | AssemblyWeb · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $3/mo | 5.6 |
| 4 | BucketlistWeb · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 5 | Culture CloudWeb · Android · iPhone · API · Extension | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 6 | MoWeb · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 7 | MotivosityWeb · Android · iPhone · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 8 | Nectar RecognizeWeb · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 9 | Dpanda Employee RewardsWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 10 | ELEV8Web · Android · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 11 | Terryberry Be EngagedWeb · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 12 | TradlerWeb · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | 3 of 6 | €2/mo | 5.4 | |
| 13 | WorkmatesWeb · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 14 | encorePeopleWeb · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 15 | KudosWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 16 | WambiWeb · Android · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 17 | Action RecognitionWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 18 | ApplauzWeb · Android · iPhone | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $3.75/mo | 5.2 |
| 19 | Awardco EngageWeb · Android · iPhone · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 20 | InspirusWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 21 | Listen LeonWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 22 | RecognizeWeb · Android · iPhone · API · Extension | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 23 | HuddleCardWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 24 | KudoskyWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 25 | Tap My BackWeb · Android · iPhone · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $2/mo | 5.1 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Peer recognition | Manager awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bonusly | 6.7 | Free plan | $2/mo | Yes | 3 /user/mo | Yes | Yes |
| 2 | Guusto | 6.6 | Free plan | $4/mo | Yes | 4 /user/mo | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | Assembly | 5.6 | No | $3/mo | Yes | 3 /user/mo | Yes | Yes |
| 4 | Bucketlist | 5.6 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 5 | Culture Cloud | 5.6 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 6 | Mo | 5.6 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 7 | Motivosity | 5.6 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 8 | Nectar Recognize | 5.6 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 9 | Dpanda Employee Rewards | 5.4 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10 | ELEV8 | 5.4 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 11 | Terryberry Be Engaged | 5.4 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 12 | Tradler | 5.4 | Free plan | €2/mo | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 13 | Workmates | 5.4 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 14 | encorePeople | 5.3 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 15 | Kudos | 5.3 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 16 | Wambi | 5.3 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 17 | Action Recognition | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 18 | Applauz | 5.2 | No | $3.75/mo | No | 3.75 /user/mo | Yes | Yes |
| 19 | Awardco Engage | 5.2 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 20 | Inspirus | 5.2 | No | — | — | — | Yes | Yes |
| 21 | Listen Leon | 5.2 | No | — | — | — | Yes | — |
| 22 | Recognize | 5.2 | No | — | No | — | Yes | Yes |
| 23 | HuddleCard | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | 2.5 /user/mo | Yes | — |
| 24 | Kudosky | 5.1 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
| 25 | Tap My Back | 5.1 | No | $2/mo | No | 2 /user/mo | Yes | — |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which employee recognition software is ranked first on Freedom251?
Bonusly is ranked #1 of 35 with a score of 6.7. Guusto is second and Assembly third.
How many of these have a free plan?
3 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Bonusly has the lowest first paid tier we found: $2/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation.