Empuls
Kudos
How It Works
Empuls
Create pre-defined pieces of recognition that users can distribute, each with its own specific givers, recipients, approvers, point value, and budget. Points from awards can be used to purchase gift cards.
Kudos
Users are granted points based on their job title, which can be used to give four types of recognition. Points are refreshed at the start of every month, but users can also give non-monetary recognition. Earned points can be exchanged for gift cards.
The Good
Empuls
- 30-day free trial
- Configuration options give complete control over your recognition program
- Very good international rewards options
Kudos
- Extensive help center
- Great reporting and analytics
- Good flexibility for peer-to-peer programs
The Bad
Empuls
- Has a learning curve that makes it easy to misconfigure something
- Limited support options
- Gift cards are the only reward option
Kudos
- Can’t adjust points associated with recognition
- Few charity options and rewards for international users
- Few chat integrations and limited API
Pricing
Empuls
$2-$4 per user per month, depending on the the plan and if paying monthly or annually.
Kudos
Custom quotes and no public pricing, but we’ve seen quotes in the range of $2.50-$3.00 per user per month.
Setup & Onboarding
Empuls
Free trial makes it easy to get started, but the complexity of budgets and awards makes going through their sales and onboarding process more appealing.
Kudos
After signed agreement in place, a client onboarding specialist helps you setup and onboard your users.
UI & UX
Empuls
Modern, if unremarkable look. Navigation is mostly easy and users have personalized homepages.
Kudos
Stripped down interface with a clean aesthetic – not flashy, but not boring. Easy navigation though there is a small learning curve for admins.
Reward Catalog
Empuls
Hundreds of gift cards with plenty of international options.
Kudos
Gift cards, charitable donations
Integrations
HRIS
Empuls
Gusto, Zoho People, Freshteam, Keka, custom HRIS integrations via SFTP
Kudos
Workday, BambooHR, ADP, SAP, Paylocity, custom HRIS integrations via SFTP
SSO
Empuls
OneLogin, Okta, Azure, custom SSO integrations
Kudos
Okta, OneLogin, Azure, Google, custom SSO integrations
Common Tool Integrations
Empuls
Microsoft Teams, Slack, Facebook Workplace
Kudos
Slack, Microsoft Teams
Additional Integrations
Empuls
N/A
Kudos
N/A
Analytics & Reports
Empuls
Good data visualizations with filters and pivot points to adjust the data, but overall very basic.
Kudos
Diverse, powerful set of analytics and reporting features.
Support
Empuls
Primary support channel is email. Help center covers entire platform, but lacks depth.
Kudos
Chat, email, and weekday phone support. Strong library of help articles that cover basics and advanced topics in great detail.
Extra Features
Empuls
Any user can send feedback survey requests. Admins can send company-wide surveys. Mobile apps for Android and Apple.
Kudos
“Spaces” feature used for storing shared resources and communications across the company. “Albums” feature to share photos across the company. Apple and Android mobile apps.
The Bottom Line
Empuls
Tons of control over how your recognition program is setup, but excessive for those who need something simple.
Kudos
A flexible platform with an emphasis on peer-to-peer recognition and some impressive analytics, though the extra features feel akin to a corporate social network.
Empuls
