Softwr

HR · head to head

Bonusly vs Kudos

Bonusly logo

Bonusly

HR

Employee recognition that builds culture

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kudos logo

Kudos

HR

Employee recognition that drives performance

From
$5/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Bonusly has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Bonusly the free plan is capped at 8 users; Kudos no pricing published; requires demo request or direct sales contact
  • They diverge on capability: Bonusly covers Points-based rewards, Kudos covers Manager recognition.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bonusly and Kudos actually diverge.

Attributes where Bonusly and Kudos differ
AttributeBonuslyKudos
Starting priceFree$5/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
Founded20122010

Identical on both: platforms (Web, Ios, Android, Api), user rating (Not yet rated), category (HR).

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

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

Only in Kudos

  • Manager recognition
  • Social recognition wall
  • Points & rewards
  • Awards & nominations
  • Anniversary celebrations
  • Analytics dashboard
  • Company values alignment
  • ADP

Both cover

  • Peer-to-peer recognition
  • Slack
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Workday
  • Zapier
  • SOC2
  • GDPR
  • Data encryption

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 Kudos
  • Redeeming points for gift cards and rewardsnot Kudos
  • Recognition inside Slack or Microsoft Teamsnot Kudos
  • Tracking recognition patterns across teamsnot Kudos
  • Company-wide awards programmes on the top tiernot Kudos

Kudos

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

Kudos

  • No pricing published; requires demo request or direct sales contact

Pricing, plan by plan

Bonusly

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 8 users
    • Peer recognition
    • Slack and Teams integrations
  • Team + Bizy$5/month
    • Unlimited seats
    • Advanced analytics
    • Milestone celebrations
  • Team + Bizy$60/year
    • Annual plan saves 2 months
  • Team Without Bizy$3/month
    • Everything in Team + Bizy except Bizy AI

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 Bonusly if

  • You need points-based rewards.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want manager awards.
Bonusly review

Choose Kudos if

  • You need manager recognition.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want social recognition wall.
Kudos review

Questions people ask

Is Bonusly or Kudos better?
Neither clearly leads. Bonusly starts at Free and Kudos at $5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bonusly or Kudos?
Bonusly has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Bonusly and $5/month for Kudos.
Does Bonusly or Kudos run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, Api, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Bonusly for free?
Yes. Bonusly has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Kudos starts at $5/month.
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 Kudos is typically brought in for.
What can Bonusly do that Kudos cannot?
Bonusly covers Points-based rewards, Manager awards, Reward catalog, Automated milestones. Kudos covers Manager recognition, Social recognition wall, Points & rewards, Awards & nominations. Both handle Peer-to-peer recognition, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Workday.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bonusly: How much does Bonusly Team plan cost?

Bonusly Team + Bizy plan costs $5 per user per month with annual billing offering 2 months free. A Team plan without Bizy AI costs $3 per user per month ($30/year).

Source
Kudos: How much does Kudos cost?

Kudos does not publish standard pricing on its website. To learn pricing, contact Kudos for a 30-minute demo or reach out directly at +1 (888) 915-8367 or [email protected].

Source
Bonusly: Is there a free Bonusly plan?

Yes, Bonusly offers a free plan for up to 8 users, including peer recognition, Slack and Teams integrations, and mobile apps. No credit card is required.

Source
Kudos: How can I get Kudos pricing information?

Contact Kudos through their website demo request form or directly at [email protected] to discuss pricing and setup for your organization.

Source
Bonusly: What does the Bizy AI add-on cost?

Bizy AI add-on costs $2 per user per month separately from the Team plan subscription.

Source
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