Employee recognition platform comparison:
Access Perks Ascend vs. the competition
Most recognition platforms handle the "thank you" well, but fall short when your employee has points to spend. Here's why Ascend is different.
The recognition is just the beginning
Every platform on this list lets you send a recognition. Where they differ is what your employee can do with it.
A manager spots great work and sends a recognition with reward points.
The employee gets notified, feels appreciated, and watches their points balance grow.
Other recognition platforms
The employee visits the rewards catalog once or twice a year and redeem their points at face value for a giftcard to a chain restaurant or big-box store.
They go to dinner with friends and quickly forget about the reward.
The employee opens the Ascend marketplace and sees they can book a hotel or car rental, buy theme park tickets, or get a gift card, all below-public prices.
They use their points for a vacation they were planning, saving money and allowing them to enhance their trip or reduce financial stress by staying within budget.
They return from their trip feeling like they were able to have more fun and remember how helpful the rewards and discounts were.
What sets Ascend apart
Rewards that go further
Your employees redeem recognition points on a private discount marketplace, where a $100 reward used toward a hotel booking, theme park tickets, or a rental car at below-public prices delivers more than $100 in value.
Over 1 million places to save
Ascend gives every employee access to 1M+ savings locations across hotels, rental cars, theme parks, and more, whether they have reward points or not. Employees come back to the platform daily, not just when they're recognized.
$3.00 per employee per month
Most recognition platforms charge $3 to $7 per user per month for recognition alone, with no discount marketplace included. Ascend bundles recognition, reward points, and the nation's largest private discount network, all at $3.00 PEPM.
$1.00 monthly credit included
Ascend includes $1.00 per employee per month in reward points automatically credited to your account at no additional cost. Managers can start the month with points ready to give, before your organization adds a single dollar on top.
How Ascend stacks up
Every platform below does recognition. Only one gives employees somewhere worth spending their rewards.
Access Perks Ascend
Bonusly
Nectar
Motivosity
Guusto
Rewards redemption
Discount marketplace for travel, theme parks, gift cards, shopping and more
Gift cards, swag, donations
Amazon, gift cards, swag
Visa card, gift cards, Amazon
Gift cards, 100+ merchants
Discount marketplace
Points redeem directly on the marketplace at below-public prices.
None
Separate perks feature. Points and discounts are independent systems.
None
None
Pay with points and/or credit card
Yes
No
No
No
No
Included reward points
$1.00 per employee per month
No
No
No
No
FAQs
What is a good Bonusly alternative?
Access Perks Ascend is a strong Bonusly alternative for SMBs that want more value from their recognition budget. Bonusly charges $3 to $5 per user per month for recognition and a gift card catalog, with higher-priced plans available. Ascend is $3.00 PEPM, includes $1.00 per employee per month in reward points at no extra cost, and gives every employee access to 1M+ savings locations on a private discount marketplace. Recognition points redeem at below-public prices, so every reward goes further than face value.
What is a good Nectar alternative?
Access Perks Ascend is a strong Nectar alternative for SMBs that want transparent pricing and a discount marketplace that actually connects to their recognition program. Nectar doesn't publish pricing and requires a demo just to find out what it costs. Ascend is $3.00 PEPM, includes $1.00 per employee per month in reward points, and lets employees redeem those points directly on a private discount marketplace at below-public prices. On Nectar, points and discounts are separate systems. On Ascend, they work together.
What is a good Motivosity alternative?
Access Perks Ascend is a strong Motivosity alternative for SMBs that want a recognition platform with a faster path to launch and a stronger employee value proposition. Motivosity requires a managed onboarding process of 30 to 60 days. Ascend is live in days at $3.00 PEPM, includes $1.00 per employee per month in reward points automatically credited to your account, and gives every employee access to 1M+ savings locations on a private discount marketplace. Motivosity rewards redeem for Visa cards, gift cards, and Amazon purchases. Ascend recognition points redeem at below-public prices where every dollar goes further.
What is a good Guusto alternative?
Access Perks Ascend is a strong Guusto alternative for SMBs that want predictable pricing and a benefits program that goes beyond gift cards. Guusto charges separately for sender and recipient seats, making it difficult to predict what you'll actually pay as your team grows. Ascend is a flat $3.00 PEPM with no seat distinctions, includes $1.00 per employee per month in reward points automatically credited to your account, and gives every employee access to 1M+ savings locations on a private discount marketplace. Guusto rewards redeem at 100+ merchants. Ascend rewards redeem at below-public prices across hotels, theme parks, rental cars, and more.
What should I look for when comparing employee engagement platforms?
When comparing employee engagement platforms, look beyond the recognition feature set to what happens after an employee receives a reward. Most platforms end at a gift card catalog or face-value rewards. The stronger platforms give employees somewhere meaningful to spend their rewards, such as a marketplace where rewards go further than face value. Also consider pricing transparency, setup time, and whether a discount network is included or sold separately.
What makes the best employee recognition software?
The best employee recognition software makes it easy for managers to recognize employees in the moment, ties recognition to company values, and gives employees more meaningful rewards. The distinction most platforms miss is rewards redemption. Points that redeem on a discount marketplace deliver more value than points that buy gift cards at face value.
How do employee benefits programs compare across recognition platforms?
Most employee benefits programs in the recognition space offer points that redeem for gift cards or face-value Amazon purchases. Ascend takes a different approach by bundling manager-driven recognition with a private discount marketplace, giving employees rewards that go further. Plus, employees can access the discount marketplace from day one, with or without points to spend. That combination makes the Ascend platform more comprehensive than comparable standalone recognition platforms and a better driver for employee engagement.
See the Ascend difference for yourself
Book a short demo and see what it looks like when recognition meets real rewards.