Softwr

HR · head to head

Bonusly vs Motivosity

Bonusly logo

Bonusly

HR

Employee recognition that builds culture

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Motivosity logo

Motivosity

HR

Recognition that actually matters

From
$3000/year
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; Motivosity no published per-seat pricing; only broad ranges provided by company size
  • They diverge on capability: Bonusly covers Points-based rewards, Motivosity covers Spot bonuses.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bonusly and Motivosity actually diverge.

Attributes where Bonusly and Motivosity differ
AttributeBonuslyMotivosity
Starting priceFree$3000/year
Pricing modelfreemiumquote
Free tierYesNo
Founded20122013

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
  • Zenefits

Only in Motivosity

  • Spot bonuses
  • Social recognition feed
  • Manager insights
  • 1-on-1 meetings
  • Pulse surveys
  • Rewards marketplace
  • Company values alignment
  • ADP

Both cover

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

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

Motivosity

  • Peer-to-peer recognition and spot bonusesnot Bonusly
  • Service milestones and work anniversariesnot Bonusly
  • Pulse surveys on employee sentimentnot Bonusly
  • Rewards and lifestyle spending accountsnot Bonusly
  • Nominations and awards programmesnot 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

Motivosity

  • No published per-seat pricing; only broad ranges provided by company size
  • Minimum annual spend of 3,000 USD for small business plans; no monthly options available
  • Custom module pricing starts around 1 USD PEPM with no published rate cards

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

Motivosity

$3000/year
  • Small Business$3000/year
    • 20-250 employees
    • Annual investment range 3,000-10,000 USD
    • Platform fee approximately 0-2 USD PEPM
  • Mid-Market$7500/year
    • 250-5,000 employees
    • Annual investment range 7,500-75,000 USD
  • Enterprise$40000/year
    • 5,000+ employees
    • Annual investment range 40,000-300,000+ USD

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 Motivosity if

  • You need spot bonuses.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want social recognition feed.
Motivosity review

Questions people ask

Is Bonusly or Motivosity better?
Neither clearly leads. Bonusly starts at Free and Motivosity at $3000/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bonusly or Motivosity?
Bonusly has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Bonusly and $3000/year for Motivosity.
Does Bonusly or Motivosity 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. Motivosity starts at $3000/year.
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 Motivosity is typically brought in for.
What can Bonusly do that Motivosity cannot?
Bonusly covers Points-based rewards, Manager awards, Reward catalog, Automated milestones. Motivosity covers Spot bonuses, Social recognition feed, Manager insights, 1-on-1 meetings. 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
Motivosity: How much does Motivosity cost?

Motivosity uses custom per-employee pricing (PEPM) model. Small businesses (20-250 employees) invest 3,000-10,000 USD/year; mid-market (250-5,000) invests 7,500-75,000 USD/year; enterprise (5,000+) invests 40,000-300,000+ USD/year.

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
Motivosity: What is the platform fee per employee?

Motivosity charges approximately 0-2 USD per employee per month (PEPM) as a platform fee, with additional module costs starting around 1 USD PEPM.

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
Motivosity: Is there a minimum contract?

Yes, Motivosity requires a minimum annual investment of 3,000 USD for small business plans with annual contract terms.

Source
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