Empuls
Nectar
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.
Nectar
Users get a monthly allowance of points to give out that refresh every month. Earned points can be spent on gift cards or Amazon products.
The Good
Empuls
- 30-day free trial
- Configuration options give complete control over your recognition program
- Very good international rewards options
Nectar
- Has a free plan
- Easy and intuitive interface
- Many physical product rewards available through Amazon
The Bad
Empuls
- Has a learning curve that makes it easy to misconfigure something
- Limited support options
- Gift cards are the only reward option
Nectar
- Amazon and corporate discounts only available in US
- Lacking pre-made HRIS integrations
- No publicly accessible API
Pricing
Empuls
$2-$4 per user per month, depending on the the plan and if paying monthly or annually.
Nectar
Has a free plan. Paid plans are $2.50-$4.25 per user depending on the plan and if paying monthly or annually.
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.
Nectar
Free plan has a good setup guide. Paid plans benefit from a dedicated account manager and hands-on implementation help.
UI & UX
Empuls
Modern, if unremarkable look. Navigation is mostly easy and users have personalized homepages.
Nectar
Clean, modern look with a very intuitive interface. Navigation is smooth and hassle-free.
Reward Catalog
Empuls
Hundreds of gift cards with plenty of international options.
Nectar
Gift cards, Amazon products
Integrations
HRIS
Empuls
Gusto, Zoho People, Freshteam, Keka, custom HRIS integrations via SFTP
Nectar
Custom HRIS integrations via SFTP
SSO
Empuls
OneLogin, Okta, Azure, custom SSO integrations
Nectar
Custom SSO integrations
Common Tool Integrations
Empuls
Microsoft Teams, Slack, Facebook Workplace
Nectar
Microsoft Teams, Slack
Additional Integrations
Empuls
N/A
Nectar
AXOMO
Analytics & Reports
Empuls
Good data visualizations with filters and pivot points to adjust the data, but overall very basic.
Nectar
Lacks diverse range of metrics, stats, and filters to drill into and has limited data export options.
Support
Empuls
Primary support channel is email. Help center covers entire platform, but lacks depth.
Nectar
Chat is the primary support channel, email support also available, phone support if you have a dedicated account manager.
Extra Features
Empuls
Any user can send feedback survey requests. Admins can send company-wide surveys. Mobile apps for Android and Apple.
Nectar
Access to corporate discounts, digital signage connection to show feed on external displays, Android & Apple mobile apps.
The Bottom Line
Empuls
Tons of control over how your recognition program is setup, but excessive for those who need something simple.
Nectar
A simple employee recognition software that’s as easy to use as it is get started, but at the cost of advanced features and customization.
Empuls
