Nectar: In-Depth Employee Recognition Software Review 2025
Nectar is an employee recognition software that helps teams celebrate wins, reward great work, and build stronger connections across the company. It’s best for small to midsize businesses or people-first teams in industries like tech, healthcare, and retail that want a simple, budget-friendly way to boost morale. Nectar makes it easy to create a culture of everyday appreciation that keeps employees engaged and motivated.
In this review, I’ll cover Nectar’s features, pros and cons, pricing, and when it works best (or doesn’t). If you lead HR or people ops, you’ll see how Nectar can help you strengthen culture and improve retention without adding extra work to your plate.
Nectar Evaluation Summary
- From $3/user/month
- Free demo available
Why Trust Our Software Reviews
Nectar Overview
Nectar stands out as a solid choice for HR leaders seeking an employee-recognition tool that makes everyday appreciation simple and visible. It shines for its ease of use and peer recognition features, and its value for money is strong for small to midsize teams. That said, if you’re running a large enterprise with complex HR integrations and global scale, it underperforms in deep system integration and advanced scalability compared to some premium tools. It’s best suited for teams that want to boost culture and engagement quickly, without needing the most advanced feature set.
pros
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Simple setup makes it fast to launch recognition programs.
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Wide rewards catalog gives employees choice and flexibility.
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Nectar's user-friendly interface makes it easy for your team to engage and recognize each other's achievements.
cons
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Culture work can feel rewards-led unless paired with values and habits.
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Simpler design may feel basic for larger, complex organizations.
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The mobile app experience may not be as seamless as the desktop version.
Is Nectar Right For Your Needs?
Who Would be a Good Fit for Nectar?
Nectar is a great fit for small to midsize companies that want to boost engagement without spending big or managing a complicated platform. If your team values peer recognition, fast rewards, and public praise, you’ll see results quickly. It’s especially helpful for people ops and HR teams that want to make appreciation part of everyday work instead of a once-a-year event.
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Tech Startups
Nectar is perfect for tech startups needing a straightforward way to recognize their dynamic teams.
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Marketing Teams
Nectar helps marketing teams celebrate creativity and collaborative successes easily.
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Remote Workforces
Nectar keeps remote teams connected by making appreciation visible and frequent.
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Creative Agencies
Nectar supports creative agencies by fostering a culture where innovative ideas are celebrated.
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Customer Service
Nectar recognizes the hard work of customer service teams, boosting motivation and morale.
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Product Development
Nectar encourages product development teams to acknowledge milestones and achievements regularly.
Who Would be a Bad Fit for Nectar?
Large enterprises or global corporations with complex systems may find Nectar too basic. If your team needs detailed analytics, deep HRIS integrations, or advanced automation, it’ll likely fall short. You’ll want a more robust solution if recognition is tied to compensation data or performance reviews.
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Large Corporations
Nectar may not handle the complexity and scale of large corporate environments effectively.
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Highly Regulated Industries
Industries needing stringent compliance tools might find Nectar’s features insufficient.
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Manufacturing Operations
Manufacturing teams with less focus on digital tools might not fully utilize Nectar.
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Complex Hierarchies
Organizations with layered management structures may need more advanced customization.
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Financial Services
Financial firms needing detailed compliance tracking could find Nectar lacking in features.
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Government Agencies
Government agencies with specific regulatory and security needs might require a more specialized solution.
How We Test & Score Our Tools
We’ve spent years building, refining, and improving our software testing and scoring system. The rubric is designed to capture the nuances of software selection and what makes a tool effective, focusing on critical aspects of the decision-making process.
Below, you can see exactly how our testing and scoring works across seven criteria. It allows us to provide an unbiased evaluation of the software based on core functionality, standout features, ease of use, onboarding, customer support, integrations, customer reviews, and value for money.
Core Functionality (25% of final score)
The starting point of our evaluation is always the core functionality of the tool. Does it have the basic features and functions that a user would expect to see? Are any of those core features locked to higher-tiered pricing plans? At its core, we expect a tool to stand up against the baseline capabilities of its competitors.
Standout Features (25% of final score)
Next, we evaluate uncommon standout features that go above and beyond the core functionality typically found in tools of its kind. A high score reflects specialized or unique features that make the product faster, more efficient, or offer additional value to the user.
We also evaluate how easy it is to integrate with other tools typically found in the tech stack to expand the functionality and utility of the software. Tools offering plentiful native integrations, 3rd party connections, and API access to build custom integrations score best.
Ease of Use (10% of final score)
We consider how quick and easy it is to execute the tasks defined in the core functionality using the tool. High scoring software is well designed, intuitive to use, offers mobile apps, provides templates, and makes relatively complex tasks seem simple.
Onboarding (10% of final score)
We know how important rapid team adoption is for a new platform, so we evaluate how easy it is to learn and use a tool with minimal training. We evaluate how quickly a team member can get set up and start using the tool with no experience. High scoring solutions indicate little or no support is required.
Customer Support (10% of final score)
We review how quick and easy it is to get unstuck and find help by phone, live chat, or knowledge base. Tools and companies that provide real-time support score best, while chatbots score worst.
Customer Reviews (10% of final score)
Beyond our own testing and evaluation, we consider the net promoter score from current and past customers. We review their likelihood, given the option, to choose the tool again for the core functionality. A high scoring software reflects a high net promoter score from current or past customers.
Value for Money (10% of final score)
Lastly, in consideration of all the other criteria, we review the average price of entry level plans against the core features and consider the value of the other evaluation criteria. Software that delivers more, for less, will score higher.
Core Features
Peer-to-Peer Recognition
Enable your team to recognize each other's achievements easily, fostering a supportive work environment. It’s simple to send kudos, making appreciation a natural part of your day.
Rewards Catalog
Offer a variety of rewards that your team can choose from, ensuring their efforts are acknowledged in meaningful ways. This feature motivates employees by letting them pick rewards that matter to them.
Milestone Celebrations
Automatically celebrate work anniversaries and birthdays, ensuring no special day goes unnoticed. This feature helps maintain a positive atmosphere by acknowledging personal milestones.
Analytics Dashboard
Gain insights into recognition trends and team engagement with a clear, easy-to-read dashboard. Use this data to improve your team’s dynamics and morale.
Custom Recognition Programs
Tailor recognition programs to fit your company’s culture and values, ensuring they resonate with your team. This flexibility helps you align recognition with your organization's goals.
Mobile Access
Recognize and reward on the go with Nectar’s mobile-friendly platform, ensuring no achievement goes unrecognized. This feature is perfect for teams that are frequently on the move.
Standout Features
Challenges and Incentives
You can run short-term contests, like wellness challenges or work-related challenges, that reward specific actions. It’s an easy way to drive participation and make recognition fun.
Company Values Integration
Reinforce your company’s core values by integrating them into the recognition process. This feature ensures that every acknowledgment aligns with what your company stands for, strengthening your culture.
Ease of Use
Nectar stands out for its intuitive design and straightforward navigation, making it easy for your team to engage without a steep learning curve. Users appreciate how simple it is to give and receive recognition, enhancing everyday interactions. The clear layout and mobile accessibility ensure that everyone can participate, no matter where they are. Compared to other platforms, Nectar’s user-friendly interface makes it a preferred choice for teams looking to boost morale without the hassle.
Onboarding
Nectar offers a smooth onboarding experience with clear instructions and easy setup, getting your team up and running quickly. Users praise the accessible support resources, including tutorials and responsive customer service, which help you resolve any issues promptly. The process is designed to minimize downtime and maximize early engagement, ensuring your team sees the benefits almost immediately. Compared to others, Nectar’s efficient onboarding helps you start recognizing achievements without unnecessary delays.
Customer Support
Nectar provides reliable customer support that users find helpful, though some feel it could be more proactive. The available support channels, including email and live chat, ensure you can reach out when you need assistance. Users appreciate the knowledge base and tutorials, which help resolve common issues quickly. While generally responsive, some users suggest that the support team could benefit from faster response times to enhance the overall experience.
Integrations
Integrations include ADP, BambooHR, Gusto, Workday, Azure, Okta, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Outlook, and Rippling.
Value for Money
Nectar pricing offers flexibility with competitive base rates, appealing to small and mid-sized businesses. Users value the ability to choose add-ons to fit their needs, though costs can increase with additional features. The pricing structure is straightforward, providing good value without unnecessary features.
- Base Plan: Includes essential recognition features for small teams.
- Advanced Plan: Offers additional analytics and custom recognition programs.
- Custom Plan: Tailored options for large teams with specific needs.
New Product Updates from Nectar
Nectar Releases Culture Suite And Engage
Nectar introduces the Culture Suite and Engage to enhance company culture and engagement. These tools help leaders connect recognition, communication, and feedback into one platform for actionable insights and stronger workplaces. Here are the highlights:
Culture Suite
- Recognition: Encourages frequent, meaningful appreciation to strengthen connection and reinforce values.
- Listening: Provides insights to help leaders understand employee sentiment and drive improvement.
- Communication: Keeps everyone aligned through transparent updates and shared celebrations.
Nectar Engage
- Flexible Surveys: Supports engagement, eNPS, pulse, and custom surveys to capture employee feedback.
- Actionable Insights: Uses analytics and heatmaps to identify trends and areas for improvement.
- Executive Dashboards: Translates feedback into business outcomes leaders can act on.
Visit Nectar’s official site for more details.
for more details.
Nectar elevates internal comms & shoutouts analytics
This release brings improvements to how you share and track company news along with deeper insights into employee recognition. These updates help you cut inbox clutter, measure engagement, and celebrate your team more effectively.
- Enhanced Analytics: Offers delivery, open, and click-rate tracking with granular filters so you can target follow-ups precisely.
- Communications Hub: Adds a centralized, searchable page for all announcements to reduce inbox noise and make key news easy to revisit.
- Shoutouts report: Introduces a dedicated dashboard for employee recognition trends and patterns to give you organizational insights at a glance.
- Total Shoutouts Sent: Tracks every shoutout across your company to give an overview of your recognition culture.
- Top Senders and Receivers: Identifies who’s giving and getting the most recognition, so you can highlight key contributors.
- Insights by core value and department: Breaks down recognition by values and teams to see where praise aligns with organizational goals.
- 'Haven’t Received' widget: Flags employees who haven’t been recognized yet, making it easier to support engagement proactively.
Visit Nectar's official site for more details.
Nectar Specs
- 360 Degree Feedback
- API
- Application Tracking
- Attendance Tracking
- Budgeting
- Calendar Management
- Dashboard
- Data Export
- Data Import
- Data Visualization
- Employee Database
- Employee Engagement
- Employee Incentive Management
- Employee Onboarding
- External Integrations
- Feedback Management
- Forecasting
- Multi-User
- Notifications
- Scheduling
- Timesheets
- Vacation & Absence Calendar
Nectar FAQs
How does Nectar handle data security and compliance?
Is there a way to measure the impact of recognition on employee engagement?
How does Nectar support remote teams?
What kind of rewards can we offer through Nectar?
How user-friendly is Nectar for non-tech-savvy employees?
How often does Nectar update its features?
Can Nectar support multiple languages?
How easy is it to roll out Nectar across my organization?
Nectar Company Overview & History
Nectar is a culture platform focused on employee recognition and rewards, helping teams celebrate wins, reinforce values, and build stronger connections. The company is headquartered in Orem, Utah and serves more than 1,500 organizations worldwide. It has raised over US $29 million in funding to date. While it keeps things simple for mid-sized teams, its growth and placement on the Inc. 5000 list show it’s gaining traction fast.
Nectar Major Milestones
- 2015: Founded in Orem, Utah under the name PerkNow.
- 2019: Re-branded as Nectar and launched the recognition & rewards platform.
- 2024: Reached approximately US $6 million in revenue with ~176 employees.
- 2025: Ranked #599 on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the U.S.
- 2025: Reported to have around 199 employees and raised about US $29.3 million in funding.
- 2025: Recognized by employees with 92% recommending the company as a place to work.