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Software · head to head

Guusto vs Kazoo

Guusto logo

Guusto

Software

Gift-based employee recognition platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kazoo logo

Kazoo

Software

Employee engagement and recognition platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Guusto has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Guusto gift card merchants are limited primarily to US brands and digital formats; international options are limited; Kazoo the kazoohr.com domain now redirects to worktango.com, so Kazoo is no longer sold under that name
  • They diverge on capability: Guusto covers Gift card rewards, Kazoo covers Social recognition.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Guusto and Kazoo actually diverge.

Attributes where Guusto and Kazoo differ
AttributeGuustoKazoo
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
Founded20132014

Identical on both: platforms (Web), 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 Guusto

  • Gift card rewards
  • Peer recognition
  • Milestone celebrations
  • Budget management
  • Analytics
  • Charitable giving
  • Multiple gift options
  • Chrome extension

Only in Kazoo

  • Social recognition
  • Performance management
  • Goal setting
  • Learning management
  • Engagement surveys
  • Analytics dashboard
  • Customizable workflows
  • Workday

Both cover

  • Mobile app
  • Slack
  • Microsoft Teams
  • BambooHR

What people use each for

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

Guusto

  • Employee recognitionnot Kazoo
  • Gift givingnot Kazoo
  • Milestone awardsnot Kazoo
  • Social impactnot Kazoo

Kazoo

  • Employee recognition and reward point programsnot Guusto
  • Performance conversations and goal trackingnot Guusto
  • Employee engagement surveys tied to recognition datanot Guusto

Where each one falls short

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

Guusto

  • Gift card merchants are limited primarily to US brands and digital formats; international options are limited
  • Recipients must create a Guusto account to claim rewards, creating friction for deskless workers
  • No physical goods fulfillment or home delivery for tangible merchandise and branded swag
  • Limited customization options for branding and reward options compared to enterprise alternatives
  • Regional restrictions on merchant availability in certain geographic areas

Kazoo

  • The kazoohr.com domain now redirects to worktango.com, so Kazoo is no longer sold under that name
  • No Kazoo-branded pricing, plan or per-employee rate remains published at the original domain

Pricing, plan by plan

Guusto

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Guusto review.

Kazoo

On request
  • Kazoo Platform$undefined/month
    • Recognition programs
    • Performance management
    • Learning paths

Which should you pick?

Choose Guusto if

  • You need gift card rewards.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want peer recognition.
Guusto review

Choose Kazoo if

  • You need social recognition.
  • You also want performance management.
Kazoo review

Questions people ask

Is Guusto or Kazoo better?
Neither clearly leads. Guusto starts at Free and Kazoo at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Guusto or Kazoo?
Guusto has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Guusto and On request for Kazoo.
Does Guusto or Kazoo run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Guusto for free?
Yes. Guusto has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Kazoo starts at On request.
What is Guusto best used for?
Guusto is most often used for employee recognition, gift giving, milestone awards, social impact. Of those, employee recognition and gift giving are not what Kazoo is typically brought in for.
What can Guusto do that Kazoo cannot?
Guusto covers Gift card rewards, Peer recognition, Milestone celebrations, Budget management. Kazoo covers Social recognition, Performance management, Goal setting, Learning management. Both handle Mobile app, Slack, Microsoft Teams, BambooHR.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Guusto: Does Guusto work with deskless and remote employees?

Yes, Guusto is designed for frontline and deskless workers. It delivers recognition through SMS, push notifications, QR codes, and print options, making it accessible to employees without desk access or company email.

Source
Guusto: What reward options does Guusto support?

Guusto cards can be redeemed for hundreds of different gift cards from around the world, branded company swag, charity donations, and custom rewards. However, gift card merchants are primarily limited to US brands.

Source
Guusto: How does Guusto pricing work?

Guusto offers a Free tier with no minimum spend, Essential at $200 per month (annual billing), and Premium at $500 per month (annual billing). You pay face value for gift card rewards; Guusto charges merchants instead, so every dollar goes to employees.

Source
Guusto: Can Guusto integrate with HRIS systems?

Yes, Guusto syncs with HR management systems to automate anniversaries, milestones, birthdays, and other events. It also offers SSO integrations and Slack integration for bringing recognition into daily workflows.

Source
Guusto: Do employees need a Guusto account to receive gifts?

Yes, recipients must create a Guusto account to claim rewards, which some users find inconvenient compared to simpler delivery methods.

Source
Guusto: Does Guusto offer physical goods and merchandise?

Guusto focuses on gift cards and digital rewards. It does not have a robust physical fulfillment arm, so industrial or field workers cannot receive tangible goods delivered to their homes.

Source
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Related pages

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