Looking for employee recognition software? You'll find plenty of options out there. But here's what most won't tell you upfront: many of these tools typically address surface-level issues while the real engagement challenges your team faces go untouched
The stakes couldn't be higher. Employees who aren't engaged—or worse, actively disengaged—cost the world $8.8 trillion in lost productivity, according to Gallup's State of the Global Workplace: 2023 Report. That figure equals 9% of global GDP.
With the employee engagement software market offering hundreds of platforms to choose from, making the wrong choice doesn't just waste money (according to Gallup, the total cost of a disengaged employee is 34% of their annual salary) – it can also cost you your best people.
The truth is, most employee engagement platforms only fix surface problems. They focus on recognition and call it a day. But real engagement goes deeper than "good job" badges and gift cards.
That's why we approached Applauz differently. We built a comprehensive solution that tackles every aspect of workplace engagement. Yes, we handle recognition (and we do it well), but we also address everything else that makes employees genuinely excited about coming to work.
While most platforms stop at recognition, Applauz goes further. We've developed a comprehensive solution that addresses every dimension of workplace engagement. Recognition is just one piece—we also focus on everything that truly motivates people to bring their best selves to work.
Five key differentiators set Applauz apart from other employee engagement platforms. Here, we'll explore the real, tangible differences that shape how your team experiences engagement every day.
1. Customer Support That Feels Like Teamwork
Real Support That Helps You Build Your Employee Recognition Program
Most employee engagement platforms treat customer support like tech support. You buy the software, they help you install it, and then you're on your own to figure out how to make employee recognition work at your company.
We built our customer success model around a simple truth: software is just a tool. The real success comes from building a thriving recognition and engagement culture at your company. Our customer support goes beyond the software, offering personalized program strategy & consultation.
Our team doesn't just help you set up the platform. We partner with you to launch a successful employee recognition program from day one. Before you even go live, we work with you to:
- Plan your recognition program strategy
- Set up reward structures that fit your company culture
- Train your managers on how to give meaningful recognition
But here's where the partnership really unfolds: we stay involved after launch. While other platforms leave you to figure out employee recognition on your own, Applauz provides ongoing guidance to help your program thrive.
This collaboration creates a ripple effect throughout your entire organization. When your recognition program succeeds, employee engagement goes up. When engagement goes up, your business results improve. Our Hypercare customer service is not just about the software – it's about your success.
Key Point: Applauz isn’t just software as a service – it’s software and a service. Applauz gives you dedicated support that boosts your employee engagement success from the moment you begin using Applauz.
2. Modern Design That Actually Works
How Applauz Delivers an Easy-to-Use Platform Experience
Not all software is built the same. Confusing interfaces, hard-to-use navigation, and reward processes that make you want to scream are way too common.
And when simply getting your team to use a software is a challenge, friendly interfaces are not a nice-to-have – they are a necessity. That's why Applauz took a careful approach to platform design. Our clean, simple interface guides users smoothly through every step. No more searching through seven different menus to find what you need. The information you want is exactly where you'd expect it. That means your team will want to use the software, rather than letting frustration stop them from recognizing their peers.
Here's what makes our modern platform experience truly great:
- Mobile-optimized performance that makes employee engagement a breeze.
- Fast, stable performance that doesn't crash when you need it most.
- Easy integrations with Outlook, Teams, and 40+ APIs that connect with your existing workflow.
Setup time? 24 hours. Not 24 business days – twenty-four actual hours. While other platforms require weeks of setup and training, Applauz gets you up and running faster than you can say "employee engagement."
Key Point: Better user experience drives higher engagement rates. That’s because when platforms are easy and reliable, employees actually want to use them.
3. Better Rewards, Reliable Redemption
A Clear Rewards System Sets Applauz Apart
Picture this: Your top employee finally saves enough points for that gift card they've wanted for months. They go to redeem it, only to find hidden shipping costs, out-of-stock items, or a reward store that looks like a clearance bin.
Most employee engagement platforms treat rewards as an afterthought. They see it as a necessary step, not a core part of the engagement plan.
But keeping your employees happy and feeling valued is the whole point, right? In fact, 86% of workers say that recognition in the workplace is a major driver of motivation, according to FlexJobs survey results.
Applauz offers a clear rewards system that gets rid of the guessing games and hidden costs that other tools are guilty of. When we say "global marketplace," we mean it. We offer a wide variety that actually matches what your diverse team wants.
What makes our rewards approach different:
- No hidden shipping costs (you pay upfront, no surprises)
- Flexible point system that fits your budget and goals
- Competitive pricing with seasonal sales that stretch your rewards budget further
There’s one other thing that we stand behind. We offer a marketplace of rewards with reliable stock. No more disappointing employees with "sorry, that item's out of stock" messages. We keep inventory levels that support our marketplace promises.
This clear approach doesn't just improve the reward experience. It changes how employees see recognition in your company. When rewards feel real and accessible, the entire employee engagement platform works better.
Key Point: Clear rewards improve engagement because employees trust the system. The goal is for employees to feel truly valued, not tricked by hidden costs and limited options.
4. A Complete Engagement Solution
Applauz: More Than Just Employee Recognition Software
Most employee engagement software treats recognition like it's the only thing that matters for workplace engagement. Don't get us wrong – recognition is important. But focusing only on recognition is like trying to build a house with just a hammer. You need the full toolbox.
Instead of creating another single-purpose platform, Applauz goes beyond recognition. We built a complete employee engagement solution that puts multiple tools into one smooth system.
Let's walk you through what other features support engagement:
- Pulse surveys for ongoing feedback (not just yearly surveys that everyone ignores)
- Goal tracking and OKR management that connects individual performance to company objectives
- Social newsfeed that acts as a virtual social space for your team, whether they work remotely or in the office
- Communications integrations that meet employees where they already work – directly within Microsoft Teams and Slack.
- Values-based incentives that gamify engagement without being cheesy.
While competitors offer scattered solutions that need multiple logins and separate training, Applauz provides full performance management and analytics. That means better insights, all in one platform.
It's common for medium-sized companies to juggle multiple different employee engagement tools to do just one job. Survey platform A for feedback, Platform B for recognition, and Platform C for goal and performance tracking. The result? Overwhelmed employees and scattered data, all without delivering the improved engagement the tools promised.
Applauz makes sure your team can access everything they need in one place. Managers can see the full picture of team performance and satisfaction, while HR can manage engagement strategies. Just see how TAS United slashed attrition and made work fun, all with a little help from Applauz.
Key Point: Complete systems drive better engagement results because integrated tools create teamwork rather than competition for employee attention.
5. Fair, Clear Pricing for All Business Sizes
Applauz's Scalable Platform Approach
Platforms aimed at big companies love to play the "contact for pricing" game. As a customer who's genuinely interested in a platform, this can be a painful part of checking out software. First, you fill out their form, and suddenly you're trapped in a sales cycle that needs three meetings just to find out if you can afford their solution.
We believe employee engagement should be a priority for businesses of all sizes. We also believe the platform should speak for itself, without you having to fight to find out pricing while a company tries to sell you on features before you know the price.
Our pricing model is straightforward. Applauz starts at just $1.25 USD per user per month.
No guessing games.
No minimum user requirements that automatically exclude companies with fewer than 2,500 employees.
No hidden costs lurking in the fine print.
Access to pricing matters more than you might think. When companies struggle to find affordable employee engagement solutions, they end up with a patchwork of free tools that barely work together – and engagement suffers.
Our approach removes these barriers:
- No user minimums (accessible to all business sizes)
- Risk-free trial period with 90-day satisfaction guarantee
- Scalable features that grow with your company
But it's not just about being affordable. It's about making modern employee engagement platform capabilities accessible to businesses that need them most. Growing companies often struggle with engagement because they're caught between startup scrappiness and enterprise structure. Applauz bridges that gap.
We even created an employee engagement ROI calculator to help you get a grasp on the real return on your software investment!
Key Point: Clear pricing makes employee engagement accessible to all business sizes, ensuring that meaningful workplace culture isn't just a privilege of large enterprises.
Simple Changes, Big Results
Why This Matters for Your Team
It’s simple, really. Happy workers do better work.
When people feel good at work, they:
- Stay at their jobs longer
- Work harder and smarter
- Help their teammates more
- Come up with new ideas
- Tell others good things about your company
Bad HR tools make work harder. Good tools make work easier and more fun.
Think about your own team. Do they seem excited to come to work? Do they help each other? Do they care about doing good work? If not, the right tools can help fix this.
Many companies try to fix engagement with quick fixes. They buy pizza for the office. They have team-building days. These things are nice, but they don't last. Real engagement comes from systems that make work better every day.
Applauz helps you build these systems. We make it easy to:
- Say "good job" when someone does well
- Ask your team what they think
- Set goals that matter
- Track the metrics that matter
- Offer rewards that people actually want
The best part? You don't need to be a tech expert to use it. We made it simple on purpose. That means your team can start using it right away.
When work gets better, everything gets better. People are happier. They do better work. Your company grows. It's a win for everyone.
What’s Next?
So there you have it – five ways Applauz differs from the crowded field of employee engagement software.
- High-touch customer service that feels like a partnership rather than support tickets.
- Modern user experience that employees actually want to use.
- A marketplace of rewards that eliminate costs and disappointment.
- A complete engagement system that addresses every aspect of workplace culture.
- And, of course, fair pricing that doesn't exclude growing businesses.
These aren't just feature differences – these advantages represent a completely different philosophy about what employee engagement software should accomplish. While most platforms focus on peer-to-peer recognition, there's an opportunity to think bigger. We built a modern employee engagement platform that prioritizes valuable insights and meaningful workplace experiences.
If you're currently evaluating your employee engagement platform, there's one question you should ask yourself: Does your current solution deliver on all these fronts?
Applauz represents what the future of employee engagement software should look like – not just another tool in your HR tech stack, but a complete employee engagement solution that transforms how your organization approaches workplace culture.
The future of employee engagement isn't about having more tools – it's about having the right tools that work together smoothly to create genuinely engaging workplace experiences.
Build a culture of appreciation with the power of recognition and engagement tools.
The future of employee engagement isn't about having more tools – it's about having the right tools that work together smoothly to create genuinely engaging workplace experiences.
