Softwr

Software · head to head

BetterUp vs Kudos

BetterUp logo

BetterUp

Software

Unlock human transformation

From
On request
Rated
-
Kudos logo

Kudos

Software

Employee recognition that drives performance

From
$5/month
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: BetterUp sold to employers rather than to individuals, so access depends on your organisation buying it; Kudos kudos publishes no price for any of its three tiers (Basic, Plus, Enterprise); the entire plans page gates every tier behind "Request a Demo" or "Request a Trial" with only a discount for not-for-profit organizations over 100 employees mentioned, no figures given (archived plans page, 22 February 2021)
  • They diverge on capability: BetterUp covers 1-on-1 coaching, Kudos covers Peer-to-peer recognition.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which BetterUp and Kudos actually diverge.

Attributes where BetterUp and Kudos differ
AttributeBetterUpKudos
Starting priceOn request$5/month
Founded20132010

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Web, Ios, Android, Api), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in BetterUp

  • 1-on-1 coaching
  • Mental health support
  • Leadership development
  • AI-powered matching
  • Progress tracking
  • Team analytics
  • Mobile coaching
  • Skill assessments

Only in Kudos

  • Peer-to-peer recognition
  • Manager recognition
  • Social recognition wall
  • Points & rewards
  • Awards & nominations
  • Anniversary celebrations
  • Analytics dashboard
  • Company values alignment

Both cover

  • Workday
  • SAP SuccessFactors
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Slack
  • HRIS systems
  • ISO27001
  • GDPR

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

BetterUp

  • One-to-one professional coaching provided as an employee benefitnot Kudos
  • Manager development programmesnot Kudos
  • Leadership development at enterprise scalenot Kudos
  • Measuring coaching impact across a workforcenot Kudos

Kudos

  • Employee recognitionnot BetterUp
  • Culture buildingnot BetterUp
  • Employee engagementnot BetterUp
  • Retention improvementnot BetterUp
  • Values reinforcementnot BetterUp

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

BetterUp

  • Sold to employers rather than to individuals, so access depends on your organisation buying it
  • Pricing is not published
  • Split into four products, Lead, Manage, Grow and Ready, so coverage is a purchasing decision

Kudos

  • Kudos publishes no price for any of its three tiers (Basic, Plus, Enterprise); the entire plans page gates every tier behind "Request a Demo" or "Request a Trial" with only a discount for not-for-profit organizations over 100 employees mentioned, no figures given (archived plans page, 22 February 2021)

Pricing, plan by plan

BetterUp

On request
  • Care$undefined/month
    • Mental health coaching
    • Stress management
    • Work-life balance
  • Coaching$undefined/month
    • 1-on-1 coaching
    • Leadership development
    • Career growth
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • All coaching tiers
    • Executive coaching
    • Team coaching

Kudos

$5/month
  • Plus$5/month
    • Peer recognition
    • Social recognition wall
    • Points system
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Everything in Plus
    • Awards & nominations
    • Advanced analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose BetterUp if

  • You need 1-on-1 coaching.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want mental health support.

Choose Kudos if

  • You need peer-to-peer recognition.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want manager recognition.

Questions people ask

Is BetterUp or Kudos better?
Neither clearly leads. BetterUp starts at On request and Kudos at $5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, BetterUp or Kudos?
BetterUp starts at On request and Kudos at $5/month.
Does BetterUp or Kudos run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is BetterUp best used for?
BetterUp is most often used for one-to-one professional coaching provided as an employee benefit, manager development programmes, leadership development at enterprise scale, measuring coaching impact across a workforce. Of those, one-to-one professional coaching provided as an employee benefit and manager development programmes are not what Kudos is typically brought in for.
What can BetterUp do that Kudos cannot?
BetterUp covers 1-on-1 coaching, Mental health support, Leadership development, AI-powered matching. Kudos covers Peer-to-peer recognition, Manager recognition, Social recognition wall, Points & rewards. Both handle Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Microsoft Teams, Slack.

Related pages

Other head to heads