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Software · head to head

Bonusly vs Firstup

Bonusly logo

Bonusly

Software

Employee recognition that builds culture

From
$3/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Firstup logo

Firstup

Software

Intelligent communication platform for workforce engagement

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Bonusly the free plan is capped at 8 users; Firstup none of the three packages carries a published price; every tier shows Get a Quote and the page directs buyers to Talk to sales
  • They diverge on capability: Bonusly covers Peer-to-peer recognition, Firstup covers AI-powered delivery.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bonusly and Firstup actually diverge.

Attributes where Bonusly and Firstup differ
AttributeBonuslyFirstup
Starting price$3/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsWeb, Ios, Android, ApiWeb
Founded20122008

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Bonusly

  • Peer-to-peer recognition
  • Points-based rewards
  • Manager awards
  • Reward catalog
  • Automated milestones
  • Public recognition feed
  • Analytics & insights
  • Custom company values

Only in Firstup

  • AI-powered delivery
  • Personalized content
  • Multi-channel communication
  • Analytics and insights
  • Mobile app
  • Campaign management
  • Employee segmentation
  • Integrations

Both cover

  • Slack
  • Workday

What people use each for

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

Bonusly

  • Peer-to-peer recognition with points employees give each othernot Firstup
  • Redeeming points for gift cards and rewardsnot Firstup
  • Recognition inside Slack or Microsoft Teamsnot Firstup
  • Tracking recognition patterns across teamsnot Firstup
  • Company-wide awards programmes on the top tiernot Firstup

Firstup

  • Targeted internal communications to email, mobile app and desktop channelsnot Bonusly
  • Reaching frontline and deskless employees who lack corporate emailnot Bonusly
  • Automated employee journeys for onboarding and lifecycle momentsnot Bonusly

Where each one falls short

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

Bonusly

  • The free plan is capped at 8 users
  • Reward funding is separate from the subscription: a $10 gift card costs $10 on top of the per-user fee
  • The Bizy AI assistant costs $2 per user per month more, at $5 against $3
  • SAML single sign-on, awards programmes and a dedicated success manager are on the quote-only Organization tier
  • Advanced analytics and automations start at the Team tier

Firstup

  • None of the three packages carries a published price; every tier shows Get a Quote and the page directs buyers to Talk to sales
  • AI content creation, intelligent delivery timing, translations and user generated content all require the Professional package
  • Employee journey automation, the flow builder and journey analytics require the top Premier package
  • Intranet capabilities are a paid add-on on top of any package rather than part of the platform
  • No free tier, trial price or self-serve signup is published

Pricing, plan by plan

Bonusly

$3/month
  • Core$3/month
    • Peer-to-peer recognition
    • Points-based rewards
    • Reward catalog
  • Pro$5/month
    • Everything in Core
    • Manager awards
    • Automated milestones
  • Custom$undefined/month
    • Everything in Pro
    • Custom rewards
    • API access

Firstup

On request
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • AI personalization
    • Multi-channel delivery
    • Analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose Bonusly if

  • You need peer-to-peer recognition.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want points-based rewards.
Bonusly review

Choose Firstup if

  • You need ai-powered delivery.
  • You also want personalized content.
Firstup review

Questions people ask

Is Bonusly or Firstup better?
Neither clearly leads. Bonusly starts at $3/month and Firstup at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bonusly or Firstup?
Bonusly starts at $3/month and Firstup at On request.
Does Bonusly or Firstup run on more platforms?
Bonusly runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api. Firstup runs on Web.
What is Bonusly best used for?
Bonusly is most often used for peer-to-peer recognition with points employees give each other, redeeming points for gift cards and rewards, recognition inside slack or microsoft teams, tracking recognition patterns across teams. Of those, peer-to-peer recognition with points employees give each other and redeeming points for gift cards and rewards are not what Firstup is typically brought in for.
What can Bonusly do that Firstup cannot?
Bonusly covers Peer-to-peer recognition, Points-based rewards, Manager awards, Reward catalog. Firstup covers AI-powered delivery, Personalized content, Multi-channel communication, Analytics and insights. Both handle Slack, Workday.
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