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Let’s be honest — “employee experience” used to just mean birthday cake in the breakroom. These days, it’s a complex challenge that directly impacts retention, engagement, and performance. And getting it right? Easier said than done, especially when our Engagement and Retention Report tells us that 65% of employees say they already have one foot out the door.
That’s where a great employee experience platform comes in. The right one helps you move beyond perks and pulse surveys to actually shape the behaviors that drive culture and results — all while meeting your people where they are.
In this guide, we’re spotlighting the leading platforms — what they do well, where they shine, and how they stack up. You’ll get a clear-eyed look at your options and walk away with the insight (and maybe the nudge) to choose the one that fits your people best.
- Achievers
- Culture Amp
- Lattice
- Qualtrics XM
- Motivosity
- 15Five
- Bonusly
- Workhuman
- Awardco
- O.C. Tanner
- Blink
- Reward Gateway
Benefits of employee experience software
Still on the fence about whether employee experience software is worth it? Here’s what the right platform can unlock for your organization:
- Employee engagement: When employees are engaged, they stick around longer, bring their best every day, and drive productivity across the business. The best platforms help leaders pinpoint what fuels engagement for their people and act fast to make improvements that actually move the needle.
- Employee recognition: Recognition is the number one driver of an engaged, motivated workforce. Yet too many organizations leave it to chance. Employee experience platforms keep appreciation consistent and visible, so employees never have to wonder if their work matters.
- Data-driven insights: You can’t improve what you can’t see. Without real data, it’s guesswork to know what’s working and what’s not. A strong platform delivers real-time insights into what motivates your workforce and where the roadblocks are.
- Positive company culture: Today’s employees want more than a paycheck. They want to feel connected, supported, and part of something bigger. These platforms give them a voice, encourage transparent communication, and help build a culture where belonging isn’t a buzzword — it’s the way things get done.
12 best employee experience platforms
Sure, there’s no shortage of tools promising to “transform” the employee experience. But not all platforms are built to handle the full picture: recognition, feedback, insights, and connection. The best ones meet your people where they are, scale with your business, and actually help you shape culture in a way that sticks.
Below, we’ve rounded up 12 employee experience platforms making an impact in 2025 — what they do well, where they focus, and how they support organizations in building better workplaces.
1. Achievers
When it comes to employee experience, Achievers is a recognition and rewards platform that’s built to drive real change — helping leaders recognize, listen to, and support their people in ways that move the needle on engagement and retention.
Backed by behavioral science and built for ease of use, Achievers makes recognition part of the everyday experience. With more than double the frequency of other platforms and the industry’s highest engagement rates, it’s designed to make meaningful appreciation feel natural — not like another task on the to-do list.
From global rewards to real-time feedback tools, Achievers helps organizations shape culture, reinforce values, and keep employees connected to purpose — no matter where or how they work.
G2 rating: 4.7/5
Key features:
- Recognition & rewards: Real-time, peer-to-peer recognition and a global rewards marketplace with 3M+ items from 2,500+ brands.
- Voice of Employee tools: Gather ongoing feedback with customizable surveys, polls, quizzes, and forms designed to support every stage of the employee lifecycle. Built-in analytics, HRIS integration, and self-serve reporting tools make it easier to track sentiment, measure alignment, and drive continuous improvement.
- Integrations: Seamless integrations with Workday, Microsoft Teams, Slack, and more — so recognition shows up where your people already work.
- Admin & analytics: Custom dashboards and campaign templates, plus an ROI calculator and flexible reporting to track usage, engagement, and behavioral impact.
- Global scale: Localized experiences in 190 countries, 200+ languages, and 24/7 live support for admins and employees alike.
“I’ve had an outstanding experience with Achievers! From the moment I joined, I felt genuinely valued and motivated. The platform is intuitive, engaging, and truly built with the user in mind. What sets Achievers apart is its focus on recognition and employee engagement — it’s not just about rewards, but about building a culture of appreciation and connection.
The recognition tools are easy to use and incredibly impactful. It’s amazing how a simple “thank you” or shout-out can boost morale and foster a sense of belonging. The rewards catalog is diverse and exciting, offering something for everyone. Customer support has also been top-notch — responsive, friendly, and always willing to go the extra mile.” — Kyaisai K., Automotive industry, via G2
2. Culture Amp
Culture Amp is an employee experience platform focused on connecting engagement, performance, and retention. It gives organizations real-time insight into how employees feel, why they might be disengaging, and what actions leaders can take to improve the experience. AI-powered comment summaries and retention signals help teams surface what matters most and course-correct early.
The platform integrates with existing HR systems and offers tools for customizable goal tracking and continuous feedback. It may not be the right fit, however, for businesses without extra resources to support feature customization or reporting. Accessibility for non-expert users can be a challenge, so adoption rates and training capacity are worth considering.
G2 rating: 4.5/5
Key features:
- Real-time visibility into how employees feel and what works for them
- Warning signals for employee turnover to course-correct before it’s too late
- Integration with existing HR systems and data
“Our organization has been using Culture Amp for employee engagement initiatives and the experience has been overall very positive. The platform is intuitive, user-friendly, and has a range of useful integrations that streamline our processes.” — Review via Gartner
3. Lattice
Lattice is a performance management platform that helps organizations support employees throughout the entire lifecycle — from onboarding to development to exit. It’s designed to make performance reviews, goal tracking, and one-on-one conversations more consistent and impactful, helping employees see how their work contributes to broader company goals.
However, it may not be the best fit for companies looking for a broader approach to employee experience, as Lattice leans heavily into performance management. The platform also comes with additional setup and support costs, limited third-party integrations, and may require more manual data management depending on your workflows.
G2 rating: 4.7/5
Key features:
- Objectives and key results (OKR) tracking system to monitor progress and connect goals with business objectives
- Real-time data on how employees feel
- Insights throughout the employee lifecycle
“It offers a comprehensive suite that aligns perfectly with our needs, boosting engagement and supporting our people operations with actionable data. We fully utilize its features — 1:1s, feedback, growth tracking, performance reviews, engagement surveys, and OKRs—all of which are intuitive and effective.” — Margaret, Chief People and Experience Officer, via Capterra
4. Qualtrics XM
Qualtrics XM takes a data-heavy approach to employee experience, with a suite of tools built to track sentiment, analyze behavior, and guide decision-making. Its platform is divided into three core products — People Engage, Lifecycle, and Analytics — each designed to help organizations measure and improve the employee journey from onboarding to exit.
With predictive analytics, personalized recommendations, and automated workflows, Qualtrics XM can help companies respond to employee needs in real time. That said, survey creation can be complex, and while the reporting tools are easy to navigate, they may not offer the same depth as more advanced analytics platforms. Teams with less technical expertise may need additional time or support to get the most out of the system.
G2 rating: 4.3/5
Key features:
- Advanced employee experience analytics for proactive problem solving
- Automated actions for frontline employees to improve both customer and employee experiences
- Integrations with existing systems
“I personally felt using the Qualtrics platform is hassle free and easy to learn by exploring the features of it. I have mostly used the platform to develop the dynamic surveys by using the multiple question types… I personally felt some customisations can be implemented in the stand-alone workflow spaces, typically when running the ETL workflow in the scenario of the automation workflow calls.” — Harshitha R., Software Engineer, via G2
5. Motivosity
Motivosity is an employee experience platform with a strong focus on recognition, communication, and feedback. It enables peer-to-peer appreciation at every level of the organization and supports customizable rewards to help reinforce positive behaviors. The platform also offers tools for pulse surveys, eNPS tracking, and workplace communication, all designed to support a more connected, engaged workforce.
For companies that already use other communication tools, there may be some overlap — so it’s worth considering how Motivosity fits into your broader ecosystem.
G2 rating: 4.7/5
Key features:
- Can be used by employees at every level
- Peer-to-peer recognition capabilities
- Customizable rewards system
“Motivosity for management and leadership development has been a major area we employ. We use this to facilitate one-on-one and small group meetings between supervisors and their teams. It’s been extremely helpful in getting everyone to participate and as they can add agenda items and plan in advance.” — Lisa P., Head of People and Culture, via SelectSoftware Reviews
6. 15Five
15Five is a performance management platform designed to help managers and teams stay aligned, engaged, and on track. It offers tools for structured check-ins, performance reviews, and engagement surveys — all aimed at supporting continuous development and coaching. AI-powered features help automate routine tasks like review writing and insights generation, giving managers more time to focus on people.
While the platform includes some peer-to-peer recognition capabilities, it places less emphasis on recognition and rewards compared to other solutions. Additionally, some users may find its communication tools less intuitive, depending on how they prefer to interact with teams.
G2 rating: 4.6/5
Key features:
- Performance management capabilities
- Structured weekly check-ins
- Public peer-to-peer recognition
“Overall, I think the reporting is top-tier rivaling that of Workday, Peakon, and other well respected performance management platforms on the market. However, the repetitive survey questions over time, coupled with the simple nature of the reward/accolades “high five” feature caused our engagement numbers to do down drastically and what lead us to make the change to Teamflect.” — Chrysa, Digital Manager, via Capterra
7. Bonusly
Bonusly is a recognition platform designed to make it easy for teams to celebrate wins, big and small. It supports peer-to-peer appreciation, automated reward allowances, and a points-based system that lets employees choose the rewards that matter most to them. In addition to recognition, Bonusly offers light tools for goal tracking, feedback, and performance check-ins.
For organizations seeking a simple, recognition-first solution, Bonusly may fit the bill — though companies looking for a more comprehensive employee experience platform may want to explore broader options.
G2 rating: 4.7/5
Key features:
- Allows employees to redeem points for various rewards, depending on their preferences
- Automatic rewards allowance
- Relatively low administrative overhead
“Bonusly is a powerful tool for cultivating appreciation and positive culture, but limitations in point allocation, reward variety, and user interface are drawbacks for some of our users. The potential for recognition bias and the cost for larger companies are also considerations.” — Jason S., Senior Solutions Architect, via G2
8. Workhuman
Workhuman is a recognition-focused platform designed to support appreciation, connection, and inclusion across the employee experience. It offers tools for peer-to-peer recognition, milestone celebrations, and life events, supported by a global rewards marketplace and AI features like the Inclusion Advisor. The platform emphasizes its “Human Intelligence™” framework, using recognition data to generate insights into organizational culture, performance trends, and retention signals.
While Workhuman offers a range of recognition and cultural tools, organizations looking for built-in performance management or broader engagement capabilities may need to explore additional platforms, depending on their priorities.
G2 rating: 4.7/5
Key features:
- Peer-to-peer recognition with built-in rewards and global fulfillment
- DEI-focused AI tools, including real-time language coaching
- Employee milestones, life events, and community celebration features
“While the platform is powerful, there are areas that could be improved. The analytics and reporting features could offer more flexibility and deeper insights, especially for tracking trends over time. Additionally, the reward catalog, though broad, sometimes lacks local options in certain countries, which can limit the experience for global teams. A few UI elements also feel slightly dated compared to modern HR platforms.” — Chinmay G., Customer Experience, via G2
9. Awardco
Awardco is a recognition-first platform that helps companies build appreciation programs through spot recognition, service milestones, and custom incentives. The platform offers tools for delivering rewards, tracking recognition activity, and automating common workflows like birthday or work anniversary celebrations.
While it includes reporting and some integration capabilities, Awardco is primarily focused on recognition and may not cover the broader employee experience or communications needs that other platforms offer.
G2 rating: 4.9/5
Key features:
- Peer and manager recognition with configurable approval workflows
- Rewards catalog with gift cards, merchandise, and more
- Tools for offline and deskless employee recognition
“The AwardCo concept and platform are great, providing a space where employees and managers can recognize one another for performance. It reinforces a positive company culture of looking for the positive.” — Review via Gartner
10. O.C. Tanner
O.C. Tanner’s Culture Cloud is a recognition platform designed to help large organizations celebrate employees and support engagement through personalized recognition moments. It includes tools for peer-to-peer recognition, milestone celebrations, symbolic awards, and leader-driven appreciation — all built to align with an organization’s culture and values.
While the platform focuses heavily on recognition and culture-building, companies looking for broader employee experience features — such as real-time feedback collection or performance management — may find more comprehensive solutions elsewhere.
G2 rating: 4.8/5
Key features:
- Configurable recognition tools for individuals, teams, and milestones
- Custom symbolic awards for anniversaries and career growth
- Reporting dashboards to track participation and culture impact
“The ease of use is one of the most pivotal points because it directly affects how efficiently and effectively we are able to utilize this system… There are some order tracking limitations that leave users uncertain of when rewards will specifically arrive, leading to confusion or dissatisfaction at times.” — Alyciea S., Experienced Quality Leader, via G2
11. Blink
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Blink is a mobile-first employee experience platform designed to support communication, access, and engagement — particularly for frontline and deskless workers. The platform brings together tools like secure chat, document access, scheduling, surveys, and recognition into a single app to help employees stay informed and connected throughout their day.
Its familiar, social-style interface supports high adoption rates, especially in industries where traditional intranets or desktop systems aren’t practical. Features like Blink Assist (an AI writing assistant), a personalized news feed, and single sign-on aim to streamline the employee experience and reduce time spent switching between systems.
That said, Blink is primarily geared toward communications and access — so companies looking for advanced analytics, performance management, or behavior-based recognition programs may need to integrate other tools to round out their strategy.
G2 rating: 4.7/5
Key features:
- Modern social interface with secure chat, news feed, and digital communities
- Surveys and pulse checks built into the platform for higher frontline response rates
- Personalized recognition through Blink Kudos
“It is very intuitive and easy to use. The workflows are generated easily and it allows you to effectively communicate with your team members and even with contacts outside of your organization. I like that we can also have private conversations so it makes it simpler and better to use than conventional tools like emails.” — Sheen, Product Manager, via Capterra
12. Reward Gateway
Reward Gateway is an employee experience platform offering tools for recognition, wellbeing, discounts, surveys, and communications. The platform supports peer-to-peer and manager-led recognition, along with a broad catalog of rewards. It’s designed to help organizations create a culture of appreciation while also delivering employee benefits through a single system.
While the platform provides flexible reward and communication options, some users may find the experience more focused on transactional moments than on strategic engagement or feedback analytics.
G2 rating: 4.6/5
Key features:
- Peer-to-peer and manager-led recognition
- Built-in communications tools and mobile accessibility
- Discount marketplace and employee well-being programs
“I think the platform has an exciting dashboard which is nice because the whole point of the employee engagement platform is to excite employees and keep them engaged.” — Review via Gartner
What to look for in an employee experience platform
Plenty of tools promise to enhance the employee experience — but the best platforms go beyond surface-level perks. As you evaluate your options, look for these must-have capabilities:
- Scalable: Your company isn’t standing still, and your platform shouldn’t either. Choose a solution that can evolve with your organization — and help support that growth with minimal friction for your people.
- Customizable: Recognition, feedback, rewards — these should all reflect your unique culture. Avoid one-size-fits-all tools and opt for a platform that lets you tailor experiences to your workforce’s needs.
- User-friendly: Adoption matters. Look for an intuitive interface with high usability across your organization. Bonus if it replaces scattered tools with a centralized hub for recognition, feedback, and communication.
- Recognition and rewards built in: A great employee experience includes appreciation, and the ability to make it easy, timely, and meaningful. Prioritize platforms with points-based rewards systems and flexible options for recognition across roles and locations.
- Real-time feedback tools: The best experiences are built with employee input. Choose a platform with simple, always-on feedback channels to help you continuously listen, learn, and improve.
- Seamless integrations: Your platform should work with — not against — the tools your teams already use. Look for strong integrations with HR systems, productivity apps, and communication tools.
- Secure and compliant: Data security isn’t optional. Ensure your provider meets high standards for privacy and compliance so you can move forward with confidence.
What’s the top employee experience platform?
If you’re serious about building a better employee experience, start with a platform that makes recognition more than a moment — and turns it into momentum. Achievers brings recognition, rewards, and real-time feedback into one intuitive, integrated space. It’s designed to help leaders act on what matters, with tools that surface insights and drive behavior change.
The results speak for themselves: companies that use Achievers are twice as likely to see measurable business outcomes from their recognition programs. Because when people feel seen, heard, and valued, they don’t just show up — they show up stronger.
Employee experience platform FAQs
