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4 Best Employee Engagement Software

The best employee engagement software has recognition and reward features and feedback and survey capabilities. They also enable managers to align employee goals, provide organizations with valuable data insights, and have messaging tools to reach employees effectively. In this article, we evaluated 13 employee engagement survey tools and narrowed them down to our top five…

Written By

Genevieve Que

Sep 24, 2024

9 minute read

The best employee engagement software has recognition and reward features and feedback and survey capabilities. They also enable managers to align employee goals, provide organizations with valuable data insights, and have messaging tools to reach employees effectively.

In this article, we evaluated 13 employee engagement survey tools and narrowed them down to our top five recommendations:

Workleap: Best overall
Lattice: Best employee engagement software with performance management features
Bonusly: Best for gamified recognition and reward
15Five: Best for continuous feedback

Best Employee Engagement Software Compared
Workleap: Best Overall Employee Engagement Software
Lattice: Best for Employee Engagement with Performance Management Features
Bonusly: Best for Gamified Recognition and Reward
15Five: Best for Continuous Feedback
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Bottom Line

Best Employee Engagement Software Compared

Free Trial	Price Starts At	Key Features	Rating
14 days	$5/user/month	Has DEI surveys Has filterable engagement metrics Has reply templates/guidance	4.54 / 5
Visit Workleap
None	$11/user/month	Offers instant survey analysis Has benchmarking powered by Mercer Offers research-backed suggested actions	4.38 / 5
Visit Lattice
14 days	$2/employee/month	Has automatic milestone celebrations Has a wide range of reward options Offers customizable recognition feeds	4.23 / 5
Visit Bonusly
14 days	$4/user/month	Provides in-house coaching Has dynamic feedback feature Has filterable data breakdowns	3.82 / 5
Visit 15Five

Workleap: Best Overall Employee Engagement Software

Pricing: 4.88 out of 5

Employee Engagement Features: 4.50 out of 5

Reporting & Analysis: 5.00 out of 5

Popularity: 3.75 out of 5

Functionality: 4.38 out of 5

Ease of Use: 3.44 out of 5

Pros

It has a free version.
It offers AI-powered analytics.
It tracks feedback response rates.
It has an action plan feature.
It has a reply template/guide.

Cons

Phone/chat support is only available in paid plans.
HRIS integration is available in higher plans.
Performance management is an additional paid feature.

Who should use it:

Workleap is ideal for both SMBs and large organizations. It’s the only provider on this list that offers a free version. In addition, what’s more impressive about its free version is that it comes with employee engagement features, like eNPS and pulse surveys, recognition, goals and OKRs, 1:1 meetings, anonymous feedback and messaging, and metric reporting. This is great for small businesses operating on a limited budget because they can implement engagement strategies without additional expenses.

Why we like it:

Workleap is quite surprising since in my experience, most free versions offer very limited features and user limits. Other than the tools, the platform also has how-to guides and training materials that provide insights on how to improve employee engagement in your workplace.

Free version
Essential: $5/user/month ($3.50/user/month if you opt for an annual contract)
Pro: $8/user/month ($5/user/month if you subscribe annually)

Add-On

Performance Management: $6/user/month

Manager Hub: It’s a centralized hub where managers can access key actions and receive timely reminders, ensuring that they don’t miss anything.
AI-powered Analysis: This feature automates the analysis of qualitative data, allowing managers to get instant insight on what topic is trending up or down within your organization.
Question Report: This feature allows managers to see which survey questions get the most reaction, giving managers insights on which questions need to be refined as well as what key issues need to be prioritized.
Follow-up Questions: Workleap sends a follow-up open-ended question after the respondent answers the question. This feature gets to the heart of what really drives engagement for each employee.
Filterable Engagement Metrics: This feature allows you to get specific insights on what really engages your employees.
Resource Hub: It is a repository of videos, training materials, courses, eBooks, and other tools that will help you drive or improve your employee engagement.

A screenshot of Workleap Officevibe's manager dashboard

Workleap’s Manager Hub helps managers lead their team effectively. (Source: Workleap)

Lattice: Best for Employee Engagement with Performance Management Features

Pricing: 2.81 out of 5

Employee Engagement Features: 5.00 out of 5

Reporting & Analysis: 5.00 out of 5

Popularity: 4.06 out of 5

Functionality: 5.00 out of 5

Ease of Use: 4.75 out of 5

Pros

It has performance management features in its core plan.
It has a wide range of integrations.
It has dedicated customer support in all its plans.

Cons

It has no free trial.
It requires a minimum annual spend of $4,000.
It can get more expensive as your team grows.

Who should use it:

Lattice is ideal for businesses looking for a solution that bundles employee engagement and performance management in one software. By combining them together, businesses get more holistic insights, streamlined processes, and better alignment between their employee satisfaction and organizational goals.

Why we like it:

I like how Lattice provides support for both managers and employees. Managers can check the temperature of their team with a simple question each week. They also receive real-time insights on their direct reports’ engagement and performance.

Employees, on the other hand, can use the update feature to share what they’re working on or what challenges they face. This can help small businesses monitor burnout and effectively address and prioritize areas of dissatisfaction. It is especially helpful for startups or small businesses with limited time and budget or still developing their employee engagement process.

Talent Management: $11/seat/month (this includes performance, goals, and OKRs)
Core HRIS: Custom pricing

Add-ons

Engagement: $4/seat/month
Grow: $4/user/month
Compensation: $6/user/month

*Lattice requires a minimum annual spend of $4,000

Goals & OKRs: These features further boost employee engagement by providing employees clear direction, aligning individual efforts with company objectives, and offering a sense of purpose and measurable progress.
Instant Survey Insights: This AI-powered feature allows you to see key engagement driver analysis as soon as you close the survey.
Benchmarking Powered by Mercer: Mercer’s data is integrated into the Lattice software, providing a broader and more comprehensive dataset on engagement and salary trends.
Dedicated Support: Lattice provides dedicated support—from onboarding to troubleshooting—in all its plans.

A screenshot of one of Lattice's employee engagement surveys

Lattice allows you to compare your survey results with other companies in the industry. (Source: Lattice)

Bonusly: Best for Gamified Recognition and Reward

Pricing: 3.63 out of 5

Employee Engagement Features: 4.00 out of 5

Reporting & Analytics: 5.00 out of 5

Popularity: 3.75 out of 5

Functionality: 5.00 out of 5

Ease of Use: 4.38 out of 5

Pros

It offers custom rewards.
It provides redeemable reward points.
It has 30-plus HRIS integrations.
It has an intuitive and user-friendly UI.

Cons

Analytics is in the higher paid plan.
Reward points expire at the end of each month.
Setup support isn’t available in the basic plan.

Who should use it

Bonusly is a good choice for SMBs that want to offer attractive rewards for their employees but lack the budget or time to reward their employees frequently and meaningfully. With Bonusly, businesses can incentivize positive behaviors that contribute to the bottom line and allow employees to choose the rewards they want.

Why we like it

As the best employee engagement tool for a gamified recognition and rewards system, Bonusly has some unique features that make employee recognition more fun and interactive, like microbonuses, leaderboards, and contests. While the other tools may offer some recognition features, only Bonusly has points systems and badges. These provide tangible, visible ways to acknowledge and celebrate employee contributions.

Appreciate: $2/employee/month
Connect: $5/employee/month
Achieve: $7/employee/month

*Rewards costs are not included in the cost. The amount depends on the type of rewards that will be redeemed.

Manager Digest: It’s a weekly email that gives managers an overview of their team’s engagement. It also includes information of their direct reports’ upcoming birthdays and work anniversaries.
Reward Leaderboards: It displays all the rewards and recognition each employee received, allowing managers to track which employee hasn’t received any reward or recognition.
Recognition Feeds Filter: By using this feature, you’ll get to look at the rewards and recognition given by team, department, or location.
Claim Incentives: These are rewards for company initiatives that will further encourage employees to be more proactive. For example, an employee earns points when they share your job posting on LinkedIn, or they have completed compliance training. They can then redeem these points for rewards.

You can choose from a range of rewards in Bonusly's rewards catalog

Bonusly has partnered with local and international brands for its rewards program. (Source: Bonusly)

15Five: Best for Continuous Feedback

Pricing: 3.63 out of 5

Employee Engagement Features: 3.50 out of 5

Reporting & Analytics: 5.00 out of 5

Popularity: 3.75 out of 5

Functionality: 3.75 out of 5

Ease of Use: 3.00 out of 5

Pros

It has OKRs and performance tracking.
It offers high-level reporting and analytics.
It has goal tracking and alignment features.

Cons

It may require additional modules or integrations to cover all employee engagement aspects.
Pricing structure can be complex.

Who should use it

15Five is a good option for businesses that value feedback and transparency. The software has check-in reports, feedback sentiment, and goal progress, which allows organizations to do this. It is also ideal for businesses with remote teams because it allows employees to track their performance, check in with their managers, and give feedback from anywhere.

Why we like it

I like 15Five because it has experts that provide in-house advising and coaching. This gives organizations a unique advantage because they have direct access to specialized advice. These experts can also provide guidance on implementing effective engagement initiatives.

Additionally, 15Five’s continuous feedback feature helps SMBs keep a pulse on employee satisfaction and disillusionment. The real-time feedback allows them to identify and address issues quickly and align employees with company goals. It also shows if organizations are investing in strategies that help reduce employee burnout.

Another notable 15Five feature is the AI Manager Copilot, which helps managers in their day-to-day responsibilities by providing automated insights and suggestions for employee development, as well as helps streamline administrative tasks, allowing managers to focus more on strategic leadership.

Engage: $4/user/month
Perform: $10/user/month
Focus: $16/user/month

Manager Training and Coaching Plans

Co-Pilot & Content: $99/manager/month
Group Coaching, Co-Pilot & Content: $220/manager/month
1-on-1 Coaching Sessions: Custom pricing

High Fives & Badges: High Fives can be sent by managers, peers, or even customers to show that their work is appreciated and that they are valued members of the team. Badges, on the other hand, can be awarded for things like meeting goals, completing projects, or going above and beyond.
Talent Matrix: A data visualization tool that helps businesses identify top and at-risk performers. It is based on the Private Manager Assessment, which asks managers to rate their direct reports on a variety of factors, such as performance, potential, and fit.
Coaching Plans: This enables managers and employees to create custom coaching plans, which can be used to track progress, set goals, and identify areas for improvement.
Targeted Assessments: They are based on a set of predefined questions and topics. Targeted assessments can be a good option for businesses that want to get feedback on a broad range of topics, such as employees’ work-life balance, career development opportunities, or overall satisfaction with their jobs.

The goal tracking feature allows you to get an overview of where your team is at.

Easily set and track the goals of your team through 15Five’s goal-tracking feature. (Source: 15Five)

How We Evaluated the Best Employee Engagement Tools

I considered the top employee engagement tools, looking at how they competed. Apart from comparing their prices, we looked for employee engagement features as well as their reporting and data analysis capabilities. I also checked whether the platform allows third-party integrations or has mobile accessibility. Finally, I also checked for ease of use and their popularity among real-world users. Click through the tabs below for a more detailed breakdown of our evaluation criteria:

Methodology weights

Employee Engagement Features 30%

Reporting and Analysis 20%

Functionality 10%

Pricing 25%

Ease of Use 10%

Popularity 5%

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Employee engagement solutions are comprehensive platforms designed to analyze, measure, and improve workforce satisfaction and commitment. They typically combine survey tools with analytics, action planning features, and resources for implementing engagement-boosting initiatives.

Employee engagement software comes in different forms. These include surveys, performance management tools, and recognition programs. These tools can be standalone solutions or integrated into broader HR management systems.

They help organizations systematically gather, analyze, and act on employee feedback to improve workplace satisfaction and productivity. It provides data-driven insights that help leaders make informed decisions about organizational culture.

Bottom Line

The tools on this list have the necessary features to help you improve your employee engagement. However, choosing the best engagement survey tool depends on your organization’s needs, priorities, and budget.

Based on my evaluation, I found Workleap to be the best employee engagement survey tool. Its feature-rich platform includes tools for internal communication, task management, surveys, and recognition boards, providing a comprehensive solution for fostering employee engagement. With its free version, even businesses on a budget can have a tool that will help them drive their employee engagement initiative.

Sign up for a Workleap plan today and see how it can help you improve your employee engagement.

Visit Workleap

Genevieve Que

Genevieve has more than 13 years of writing experience, working with different clients in various industries. Genevieve also worked as an HR Head of a local manufacturing company, and has helped small businesses set up their business and HR processes.

4 Best Employee Engagement Software

Best Employee Engagement Software Compared

Workleap: Best Overall Employee Engagement Software

Lattice: Best for Employee Engagement with Performance Management Features

Bonusly: Best for Gamified Recognition and Reward

15Five: Best for Continuous Feedback

How We Evaluated the Best Employee Engagement Tools

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Bottom Line

Genevieve Que

Company

Categories

4 Best Employee Engagement Software

Why You Can Trust Fit Small Business

Best Employee Engagement Software Compared

Workleap: Best Overall Employee Engagement Software

Lattice: Best for Employee Engagement with Performance Management Features

Bonusly: Best for Gamified Recognition and Reward

15Five: Best for Continuous Feedback

How We Evaluated the Best Employee Engagement Tools

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is employee engagement software?

What types of employee engagement tools are there?

Why use employee engagement software?

Bottom Line

Genevieve Que

Company

Categories