Best 11 employee engagement apps for a productive workplace

As a manager, you know that keeping your team motivated, connected, and productive isn’t always easy. In fact, a recent Gallup report found that only 23% of employees worldwide are engaged at work. And, the rest? They are just present without any commitment or enthusiasm. 

Disengaged employees result in lower productivity, higher turnover, and a weaker workplace culture. However, you can fix this with the help of employee engagement apps.

What are employee engagement apps?

Employee engagement apps are digital tools that boost employees’ morale, streamline communication, and build a happier, more productive workplace. They are like a virtual assistant for keeping your team aligned, recognized, and motivated, without the manual work.

My team and I’ve tested countless tools to see what really works. And let me tell you, the right app can be a game-changer. Whether it’s recognizing a team member’s hard work, simplifying feedback, or just making daily tasks more efficient, these apps help managers like you create an environment where people actually want to do their best.

In this article, I’ll walk you through the 11 best employee engagement apps that can create an engaging culture in your workplace. Whether you’re looking to improve feedback processes, reward top performers, or promote a culture of appreciation, you’ll find an app that fits your needs.

Here’s a quick look at the tools that we’ll explore:

1. ProofHub – Best for all-in-one team management
2. Bonusly – Best for peer-to-peer employee recognition
3. Officevibe – Best for real-time employee feedback
4. 15Five – Best for continuous performance management
5. Vantage Circle – Best for customizable rewards programs
6. Culture Amp – Best for in-depth engagement analytics
7. Lattice – Best for performance and people management
8. WorkTango – Best for employee voice and surveys
9. Leapsome – Best for performance reviews and development
10. Kudos – Best for automated employee recognition
11. Connecteam – Best for remote workforce engagement

Before moving forward, let’s learn the benefits of using these tools. Let’s dive in!

What are the benefits of using an employee engagement app in your organization?

Using an engagement app helps streamline communication, boost morale, and provide valuable insights into employee satisfaction.

Here are a few benefits of using an employee engagement app for your organization:

• Improved productivity: Engaged employees are more focused and efficient. And, highly engaged teams see 17% higher productivity and 21% greater profitability. When employees feel valued and connected, they put in their best effort, resulting in better outcomes.
• Enhanced communication: Poor communication leads to misunderstandings, delays, and frustration. Engagement apps create a central space for real-time updates, feedback, and discussions, reducing workplace silos.
• Strong company culture: A positive workplace culture improves morale and teamwork. Employee engagement apps offer features like recognition tools and feedback systems that help build a supportive and motivating environment.
• Better employee retention: Disengaged employees are more likely to leave their jobs, resulting in high turnover costs. Engagement apps can help identify dissatisfaction early, allowing managers to address concerns and improve job satisfaction before employees decide to leave.
• Real-time data and insights: Engagement apps provide real-time analytics on employee sentiment, productivity trends, and workplace morale, helping managers take proactive steps to keep teams engaged.
• Cost savings: Disengagement costs businesses billions in lost productivity each year. A well-engaged workforce leads to reduced absenteeism, lower hiring costs, and increased efficiency, as a result, saving your organization money.

How do we choose the best employee engagement tools for our list?

With so many employee engagement apps out there, picking the right ones wasn’t just about listing popular options. We wanted to add tools that offer real value. Here’s how we narrowed down our top 11:

• Key features: We looked for apps that help with communication, recognition, feedback, and team bonding. If a tool had unique features (like fun quizzes or easy rewards systems), it got extra points!
• User-friendly design: A great tool should be easy for everyone to use – whether they’re tech-savvy or not. If an app was confusing or slow, we left it out.
• Real user reviews: We checked ratings and feedback from actual managers and employees. High ratings and positive comments were a big plus.
• Pricing for every budget: Some tools are free, while others have premium plans. We included options for small teams and big companies so there’s something for everyone.
• Pros and cons: No tool is perfect! We made sure to highlight what each app does well, and where it falls short, so you can pick the best fit for your organization.

Best 11 employee engagement apps to boost productivity 

1. ProofHub – Best for all-in-one team management

ProofHub is primarily an all-in-one project management and team collaboration tool that can help you keep your employees engaged and productive. With its easy-to-use interface, you can plan projects, assign tasks, track progress, and communicate effectively – all in one place.

Whether working remotely or in the office, ProofHub eliminates the chaos of scattered communication by offering features like task management, discussions, chat, file sharing, and time tracking. It also provides swift feedback and approval processes, making it an ideal choice for teams looking to streamline workflows and boost engagement.

But don’t just take my word for it, here’s what ProofHub users love:

Key features

• Task and project management: Create and assign tasks to individual or multiple employees, set deadlines, and track progress in real-time, making sure that employees know their responsibilities, boosting accountability and engagement.

• Discussions and built-in chat: Dedicated discussion boards and one-on-one or group chats make communication effortless, keeping employees connected.

• Announcements: Recognize achievements, share company news, and boost morale with team-wide announcements.

• Time tracking: Built-in timers and timesheets promote transparency in work hours and prevent burnout.

• Custom roles and permissions: Empower employees by giving them control over their tasks while ensuring security and workflow efficiency.

• File sharing and proofing: Collaborative proofing tools allow employees to provide feedback directly on designs, encouraging teamwork.

• Custom workflows: Employees can visualize progress, stay organized, and feel a sense of accomplishment as they move tasks forward.

• Custom reports: Managers can track individual and team performance, providing constructive feedback to keep employees engaged and motivated.

Pros

• No more juggling between multiple apps, everything from tasks to files is in one place
• Employees can communicate instantly through discussions, chat, and @mentions
• Customizable workflows to fit your team’s unique processes
• Easy feedback and approval processes
• Keep track of time spent on tasks and generate insightful reports
• No per-user pricing, making it a scalable solution for growing teams
• Work from anywhere with the mobile app

Cons

• No suitable plan for freelancers or solo users
• No free version is available; though, you can sign up for a 14-day free trial

Pricing

Apart from a 14-day free trial, ProofHub offers two flat fee (no per-user fee) pricing options:

• Essential: Flat $45 per month for unlimited users, up to 40 projects, and 15GB storage, billed annually
• Ultimate Control: Flat $89 per month for unlimited users, unlimited projects, and 100GB storage, billed annually (A limited time offer valid for three months upon purchase; then $135/month)

Rating

• G2: 4.6/5
• Capterra: 4.6/5

2. Bonusly – Best for peer-to-peer employee recognition

Bonusly is one of the best employee engagement and recognition platforms that help you create a culture of appreciation in the workplace. It allows employees to recognize each other’s contributions in a fun, interactive way while helping companies improve team morale and engagement. The platform integrates with communication tools, provides automated awards, and offers a variety of rewards for employees to redeem.

Key features

• Peer-to-peer recognition using points, messages, and GIFs
• Reward points can be redeemed for gift cards, prepaid cards, or charitable donations
• Social feed so that recognitions are visible to everyone
• Celebrates birthdays, work anniversaries, and milestones automatically

Pros

• Fun, user-friendly interface with GIFs and hashtags
• Encourages frequent, meaningful peer appreciation
• Multiple redemption options (gift cards, cash, donations, custom rewards)

Cons

• Reward catalog leans heavily on gift cards, lacking experiential options
• International employees face reward caps and fewer choices

Pricing

Bonusly offers three pricing plans:

• Appreciate: $2 per user per month (billed annually)
• Connect: $5 per user per month (billed annually)
• Achieve: $7 per user per month (billed annually)

Rating

• G2: 4.7/5
• Capterra: 4.8/5

3. Workleap Officevibe – Best for real-time employee feedback

Workleap Officevibe is an easy-to-use employee engagement platform that helps managers build trust and improve workplace culture, whether teams are remote, hybrid, or in-office. With a focus on feedback and employee well-being, Officevibe offers science-backed insights to help leaders understand and act on what matters to their teams.

Key features

• Pulse surveys to collect anonymous employee feedback
• 1-on-1 meeting agendas to plan and structure meetings
• Feedback templates to provide structured feedback
• Design and customize cycles to track employee growth

Pros

• Encourages honest, anonymous feedback from employees
• Helps structure meetings with built-in agendas and note-sharing
• Provides science-backed engagement insights for data-driven decision-making

Cons

• Lacks collaboration features
• Limited customization options compared to competitors

Pricing

Workleap offers a single plan for its Officevibe that comes at $5 per user per month (billed annually).

Rating

• G2: 4.3/5
• Capterra: 4.8/5

4. 15Five – Best for continuous performance management

An employee engagement and performance management software, 15Five, aligns teams with company objectives. It helps managers track OKRs (Objectives and Key Results), conduct regular check-ins, and create a culture of continuous feedback. The platform improves communication between teams while keeping engagement light and interactive.

Key features

• 1:1 feedback sessions to ensure employees feel heard
• Weekly check-ins for quick updates on progress, challenges, and wins
• OKR tracking to align work with company goals
• Engagement surveys to collect feedback from employees

Pros

• Helps teams stay focused on company-wide OKRs and goals
• Provides an organized way to manage one-on-one meetings and feedback
• Creates a structured yet fun approach to engagement

Cons

• Some users find the platform complex and struggle to utilize all features effectively
• Can be cumbersome if not properly integrated into workflows

Pricing

15Five offers four pricing options:

• Engage: $4 per user per month (billed annually)
• Perform: $10 per user per month (billed annually)
• Total Platform: $16 per user per month (billed annually)

Rating

• G2: 4.6/5
• Capterra: 4.7/5

5. Vantage Circle – Best for customizable rewards programs

Vantage Circle is a global platform that boosts workplace morale through rewards, recognition, wellness programs, and corporate perks. It takes advantage of artificial intelligence and behavioral science to incentivize engagement, making it reliable for prioritizing employee well-being and retention.

Key features

• Customizable rewards and peer-to-peer recognition
• Vantage Fit to promote healthy habits through fitness challenges and incentives
• Exclusive offers and perks for employees from popular brands
• Integrates with existing HR tools for a smooth workflow

Pros

• Corporate discounts add extra value to employees’ overall benefits package
• Promote a healthier work culture with wellness challenges and fitness tracking
• Supports global workforces with multi-currency reward options

Cons

• Outdated and less intuitive interface compared to alternatives
• Occasional navigation issues make it harder to access

Pricing

Vantage Circle offers custom pricing for its three plans:

• Grow
• Transform
• Enterprise

Rating

• G2: 4.7/5
• Capterra: 4.7/5

6. Culture Amp – Best for in-depth engagement analytics

Culture Amp is another employee engagement platform that provides in-depth insights into employee sentiment, allowing businesses to track engagement levels, identify areas for improvement, and take action based on data-driven recommendations. With customizable surveys and benchmarking capabilities, Culture Amp helps managers to build a more engaged and motivated workforce.

Key features

• 40+ customizable templates for engagement, DEI, onboarding, and more
• Benchmarking and analytics to compare engagement levels with top-performing companies
• Identify employees at risk of leaving and receive actionable recommendations to improve retention
• Keep track of important tasks, reviews, and one-on-one meetings with automated notifications

Pros

• Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
• Helps organizations take proactive steps to improve engagement and retention
• Provides managers with actionable recommendations based on survey results

Cons

• Text-heavy reports lack visual data representation like charts
• Steeper learning curve

Pricing

Culture Amp offers custom pricing based on your needs.

Rating

• G2: 4.5/5
• Capterra: 4.6/5

7. Lattice – Best for performance and people management

Lattice is a performance management and engagement tool designed primarily for mid-to-large-sized companies. It helps organizations track employee performance, conduct meaningful reviews, and align teams with company goals. While it provides a comprehensive solution for performance and engagement tracking, some users find the interface difficult to navigate.

Key features

• Streamline and automate employee performance evaluations
• Gather real-time employee feedback to measure engagement
• OKR goal tracking to track progress
• Career growth frameworks to visualize development paths

Pros

• Helps align employees with company goals through OKRs
• Customizable surveys to capture real-time employee sentiment
• Effective for structured 1:1 meetings and performance discussions

Cons

• Steeper learning curve due to a complex user interface
• Higher pricing may not be ideal for smaller teams

Pricing

Lattice offers its Talent Management product at $11 per user per month (billed annually)

*Add ons require an additional payment.

Rating

• G2: 4.7/5
• Capterra: 4.5/5

8. WorkTango – Best for employee voice and surveys

With its real-time dashboards, analytics, and anonymous surveys, WorkTango makes it easy for managers to understand employee sentiment and take action. The platform not only gathers insights but also provides predictive recommendations to improve workplace culture and leadership effectiveness, making it an effective employee engagement tool.

Key features

• Create unlimited surveys in over 20 languages
• Anonymous conversations to provide open feedback while maintaining anonymity
• Natural Language Processing (NLP) summarizes open-ended feedback into key themes
• Points-based recognition system with redeemable rewards

Pros

• Research-backed survey templates supports multiple languages
• Powerful analytics with sentiment tracking and visual dashboards
• Protects anonymity while enabling constructive dialogue

Cons

• Requires an annual commitment with no monthly billing option
• Reward points can be slow to accumulate and may expire

Pricing

WorkTango offers custom pricing for its three plans:

• Employee Surveys & Insights
• Recognition & Rewards
• Full Employee Experience Platform

Rating

• G2: 4.7/5
• Capterra: 4.9/5

9. Leapsome – Best for performance reviews and development

Leapsome is another employee engagement platform that helps businesses create a culture of continuous feedback, learning, and performance improvement.

Leapsome provides tools for engagement surveys, feedback sharing, learning paths, and 360° performance reviews.

Key features

• Customizable engagement surveys with analytics
• 360° performance review cycles to improve feedback culture
• Real-time feedback with options for public, private, or mentor visibility
• Personalized learning and development to support employee growth

Pros

• Encourages a feedback-focused culture with real-time peer reviews
• Highly customizable surveys and performance reviews
• Combines engagement, learning, and performance in one platform

Cons

• Can take time to set up and configure for larger teams
• Advanced features can be overwhelming and require training to get started

Pricing

Contact their team for custom pricing based on your needs.

Rating

• G2: 4.8/5
• Capterra: 4.6/5

10. Kudos – Best for automated employee recognition

Kudos is a recognition and rewards platform that helps teams build a culture of appreciation while providing valuable insights into workplace morale. With features like sentiment surveys, peer-to-peer recognition, and customizable reward programs, Kudos makes it easy for organizations to acknowledge great work and motivate employees.

Key features

• Send customizable Kudos cards to appreciate colleagues
• Anonymous sentiment surveys to measure employee engagement
• Analytics dashboard to track recognition trends, survey results, and engagement metrics
• Custom campaigns to incentivize behaviors aligned with company values

Pros

• Easy-to-use and intuitive interface
• Employees enjoy rewarding and acknowledging peers
• Points can be redeemed for various rewards, including gift cards and experiences

Cons

• Restrictions on how many points employees can award
• Some users report issues when redeeming rewards

Pricing

Kudos offers custom pricing based on your needs.

Rating

• G2: 4.8/5
• Capterra: 4.8/5

11. Connecteam – Best for remote workforce engagement

Connecteam is a mobile-first app that helps businesses streamline communication, training, and team collaboration. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools to engage employees, especially those in deskless roles. With features like live polls, surveys, recognition programs, and professional development resources, Connecteam helps organizations build a connected and motivated workforce.

Key features

• Surveys and live polls to gather real-time feedback from employees
• Keep employees updated through news feed and chat
• Provide structured learning for new hires and ongoing skill development
• Assign tasks and schedule shifts efficiently

Pros

• User-friendly and mobile-first design
• Wide range of features covering team communication, training, and engagement

Cons

• Steeper learning curve due to the platform’s extensive feature set
• Requiring multiple subscriptions for full functionality

Pricing

Connecteam offers four pricing options:

• Basic: $29 per month (billed annually) for up to 30 users; $0.5 per month for each additional user
• Advanced: $49 per month (billed annually) for up to 30 users; $1.5 per month for each additional user
• Expert: $99 per month (billed annually) for up to 30 users; $3 per month for each additional user
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Rating

• G2: 4.6/5
• Capterra: 4.7/5

Key features to look for in an employee engagement app

Here are some key features that can help you pick the best tool for your organization:

• Communication and collaboration: A good employee engagement app should offer real-time messaging, group chats, and discussion boards. This makes sure that your employees can share ideas, ask questions, and stay updated no matter where they work from.
• Analytics and reporting​: Look for an app that provides reports and insights on employee feedback, participation in activities, and overall job satisfaction. These analytics can help managers understand what’s working and where improvements are needed.
• Performance management: An ideal engagement app allows managers to set expectations, track progress, and provide continuous feedback. Some apps even include self-assessments so employees can reflect on their own growth.
• Employee recognition:  Search for an app that has features like peer-to-peer recognition, manager shout-outs, or rewards for achievements.
• Goal setting and tracking: An engagement app should allow managers and team members to set, track, and update goals. This helps employees stay focused and understand how their work contributes to the company’s success.
• Mobile accessibility: With remote work and flexible schedules becoming more common, a mobile-friendly app is a must. Employees should be able to access important updates, respond to messages, and participate in engagement activities from anywhere. This keeps them connected, even on the go.

How to choose the right employee engagement app for your organization

With so many employee engagement apps available, picking the right one can feel overwhelming. Here are a few factors that you can consider to find the perfect fit for your organization:

• Specific needs: Employee engagement challenges vary from team to team. First, identify the key engagement gaps within your organization and then look for an app that addresses those issues.

For instance, if your employees are working in a remote culture, you need an app that strengthens communication and builds a sense of community through virtual check-ins and social recognition features.

• Must-have features: Based on your team’s needs, define the type of app and features required to improve engagement.

For example, if your main goal is to boost employee recognition, look for an app that includes peer-to-peer recognition and rewards or instant feedback and survey tools.

• Ease of use and learning curve: The tool’s ease of use and learning curve define how easily a team adopts the platform for day-to-day operations. Look for a solution with a simple, intuitive interface and minimal training requirements.
• Pricing and scalability: Pricing is a big concern for most of the organizations. Look for a tool that offers high value for the money and is scalable, just like ProofHub which allows unlimited users for a fixed-flat fee.
• Customer support and training: Look for 24/7 customer support, onboarding guides, and training resources to make sure that your employees can adopt it swiftly. A responsive support team can help you resolve issues quickly and keep employees engaged.

Keep your employees engaged with the right software

A happy and engaged team is the foundation of a productive workplace. But keeping everyone motivated, connected, and aligned can be challenging – especially if your team is working remotely or in different locations.

This is where employee engagement apps can help you. They let you communicate better and recognize hard work, resulting in improved productivity. By choosing the right software, you create a work environment where your employees feel heard, supported, and motivated to put more effort in their work.

Out of all the options available, ProofHub stands out as the best all-in-one solution that combines project management, collaboration, team communication, and employee recognition features in one easy-to-use platform, making sure that your employees stay engaged, aligned, and productive. With features like task management, discussions, announcements, and built-in chat, ProofHub keeps everyone on the same page while boosting morale. It helps your team work smarter, reduces miscommunication, and builds a supportive work culture where employees feel heard and appreciated.

FAQs