Kazoo (now WorkTango) blends employee recognition with engagement and performance management tools, making it ideal for organizations focused on feedback and development. However, its complexity and limited global rewards can be restrictive for teams seeking simpler, more customizable recognition solutions. Leading Kazoo alternatives like Bucketlist Rewards offer flexible, scalable programs with global catalogs, mobile apps, and ROI-backed pricing. Explore how these platforms compare and why many companies opt for more streamlined, impactful reward systems.
TL;DR
Kazoo (now WorkTango) combines recognition with employee engagement and performance management tools. It’s a strong option for companies focused on feedback loops—but not every team needs that complexity. For organizations looking for more customizable rewards, stronger support, or global scalability, there are other platforms that may be a better fit.
Top Kazoo alternatives for employee rewards:
- Bucketlist Rewards – Best overall alternative for scalable programs with flexible rewards, mobile access, and ROI-backed pricing
- Bonusly – Peer-to-peer tool with a strong social feed and simple UX
- Guusto – Lightweight gift card platform with charitable impact
- Motivosity – Culture-focused platform with interest groups and peer recognition
- Nectar – Budget-friendly solution with basic recognition features
Let’s take a closer look at how each one stacks up—and why growing organizations often move on from Kazoo.
Table of Contents
What is Kazoo?
Kazoo (now part of WorkTango) is a recognition platform that blends performance management with engagement tools like surveys, goal tracking, and feedback. It was built to help organizations tie recognition to employee development, with additional features that support alignment and insights.
However, not all companies need that depth of functionality. The recognition platform can feel overengineered for teams focused primarily on rewards and recognition, and some users report that setup and ongoing management require additional admin time and resources.
Main Features of Kazoo
Kazoo offers an integrated suite that connects recognition, performance, and engagement. Its recognition functionality includes a points-based system for peer-to-peer shoutouts and reward redemptions, along with the ability to tie recognition to cultural values.
Key Features Include:
- Recognition Feed: Employees can send public or private recognition messages tied to core values
- Performance Management: Includes goals, feedback, and 1:1 meeting templates
- Engagement Surveys: Tools to pulse employee sentiment
- Limited Reward Options: Kazoo’s reward catalog is relatively narrow and may not support global delivery
- Basic Mobile Experience: Mobile capabilities are present but not fully featured compared to other platform
- Multi-layer Approval Support: Enables some structure for rewards but can require more manual setup
5 Kazoo Alternatives
1. Bucketlist Rewards
G2 Score: 4.8/5
About:
Bucketlist Rewards helps organizations build recognition programs that scale. The platform includes a global reward catalog, built-in employee surveys, AI-powered tax compliance tools, and full mobile functionality. Whether you’re supporting desk-based or frontline teams, Bucketlist’s flexibility allows companies to tailor programs by location, department, or brand.
Best suited for:
Organizations that want structured recognition with flexible rewards, global reach, and measurable ROI.
“Great reward program! Love it”
Being able to recognize coworkers for their help and good work. Being able to reward and be rewarded. Like getting points on your birthday and on major anniversaries for work. Like the cool Gifs! Overall a great program and more companies should offer it. Very user friendly. Very easy to join and use. Customer support is always there if needed! I log on at least once a week. Keep up the good work!
Michael W.
Interested in learning more about Bucketlist Rewards? Watch the video below and speak to an expert today!
2. Bonusly
G2 Score: 4.7/5
About:
Bonusly is a peer-to-peer recognition platform with a focus on social engagement. It’s easy to set up and use, with public shoutouts, emojis, and a basic gift card catalog. However, it lacks deeper administrative controls or robust international reward support, which can be limiting for larger teams.
Best suited for:
Small to mid-sized companies looking for lightweight, informal recognition.
3. Guusto
G2 Score: 4.6/5
About:
Guusto is a gift card-based recognition platform with a social impact angle—each gift sent helps provide clean water. It’s quick to deploy and simple to use, but lacks features like advanced reporting, tax compliance, or extensive reward customization.
Best suited for:
Teams that want a simple, socially-conscious way to recognize colleagues.
4. Motivosity
G2 Score: 4.7/5
About:
Motivosity combines recognition with tools for social connection and workplace culture. It supports interest groups, team bonding activities, and peer recognition, though the reward options are more limited.
Best suited for:
Companies that care more about cultural connection than broad reward fulfillment.
5. Nectar
G2 Score: 4.7/5
About:
Nectar is a budget-conscious recognition platform with simple peer-to-peer functionality. It supports Slack and Teams integrations, core values, and basic reporting. However, it may not meet the needs of teams requiring complex workflows, global rewards, or program analytics.
Best suited for:
Smaller companies looking for an affordable, entry-level platform.
Kazoo Testimonials:
“I like the incentives provided to us by the company. It’s a great tool.Searching for items to redeem points is not very user-friendly. It could be clearer/provide better menu options”
“I enjoy the format, it look similar to social media so it’s appealing to the eye and it has easy to use functions. Sometimes it does not load of some features wont work. I think to improve or enhance you could include fun stuff like gifs or memes to be shared.”
Feature Comparison: Kazoo vs Top Kazoo Alternatives
| Feature | Kazoo | Bucketlist | Bonusly | Guusto | Motivosity | Nectar |
| Global Rewards Catalog | 🚫 | ✅ | 🚫 | 🚫 | 🚫 | 🚫 |
| Native Mobile Apps | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Tax Compliance Tools | 🚫 | ✅ | 🚫 | 🚫 | 🚫 | 🚫 |
| Custom Awards & Incentives | ✅ | ✅ | 🚫 | 🚫 | 🚫 | 🚫 |
| Multi-brand / Multi-division Support | 🚫 | ✅ | 🚫 | 🚫 | 🚫 | 🚫 |
| Employee Surveys | ✅ | ✅ | 🚫 | 🚫 | 🚫 | 🚫 |
| ROI Guarantee | 🚫 | ✅ | 🚫 | 🚫 | 🚫 | 🚫 |
| Admin Automation & Support | 🚫 | ✅ | 🚫 | 🚫 | 🚫 | 🚫 |
✅ = fully available | 🚫 = not available
Which is the Best Kazoo Alternative?
Kazoo may be a strong fit for companies that want a recognition platform integrated with feedback and performance tools. But for many organizations, those extra layers can add complexity and cost without driving additional impact.
If your team is looking for a rewards platform that’s easy to use, fully customizable, and ready to scale globally, Bucketlist Rewards is the best Kazoo alternative. With support for mobile and frontline teams, ROI-backed pricing, and a catalog of 4,000+ global rewards, Bucketlist delivers flexibility and impact—without the overhead.
Looking to grow your recognition program with less friction? Speak to a Bucketlist expert today.
FAQs About Kazoo Alternatives
What is Kazoo now called?
Kazoo rebranded to WorkTango following a merger with the engagement platform of the same name. The combined platform offers tools for employee recognition, surveys, and performance management.
Why are companies looking for Kazoo alternatives?
Some organizations find Kazoo (WorkTango) too complex to implement or overly focused on performance management. Others are looking for better global reward options, easier admin workflows, or stronger ROI measurement capabilities.
What should I look for in a Kazoo alternative?
Top features to consider include:
– Global reward fulfillment
– Frontline and mobile accessibility
– Tax compliance tools
– Custom workflows and automation
– Built-in ROI reporting
– Strategic support and customization
Is Bucketlist Rewards a good alternative to Kazoo?
Yes, when it comes to Bucketlist vs Kazoo, Bucketlist proves itself a strong choice for teams seeking a more flexible, scalable solution. It includes global rewards, mobile apps, tax tools, engagement surveys, and a written ROI of Bucketlist guarantee—making it a great fit for organizations with complex or growing recognition needs.
