Best Employee Engagement Apps in 2025 for Productivity & Retention

In a world where there’s an app for almost everything, employee engagement apps offer practical ways for organisations to strengthen connection and motivation across their teams.

With hybrid and remote working now the norm for many UK businesses, engagement levels are under real strain. According to Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace 2024 report, global employee engagement fell from 23% to 21%, representing one of only two declines recorded since 2009. Gallup estimates this drop cost the world economy around £350 billion ($438 billion) in lost productivity.

The picture isn’t much brighter for managers: only 27% reported feeling engaged in their roles, down from 30% the previous year. Well-being has also slipped, with just one in three employees (33%) now describing their lives as “thriving.” (Source: Gallup, 2024 – State of the Global Workplace Report).

Closer to home, engagement levels across Europe, and particularly in the UK, continue to lag behind global averages. Some studies suggest that as few as 10% of UK employees feel truly engaged at work (Source: Mo.Work analysis of Gallup data, 2024).

In response, business leaders are trying a range of approaches to attract new talent and retain their best people: enhanced benefits, flexible working, wellbeing programmes, and stronger recognition strategies. Yet a recent poll from the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) found that over half of employees feel their organisations are engaging in “wellbeing washing”—investing in surface-level initiatives without addressing the root causes of stress and burnout.

That’s why it’s vital to look beyond token gestures and focus on meaningful solutions that improve connection, communication, and morale.

With that in mind, let’s explore the best employee engagement apps for 2025—platforms that can genuinely help you build a motivated, productive, and loyal team.

Quick Links

• What Are The Benefits of Employee Engagement?
• The Role of Technology in Employee Engagement
• Advantages of Using Technology for Employee Engagement
• What Is An Employee Engagement App?
• Why are Employee Engagement apps beneficial for business owners?
• Top 5 Employee Engagement Apps for 2025
• What to consider when selecting an employee engagement app
• FAQs

What Are The Benefits of Employee Engagement?

• Higher productivity: Engaged employees are more focused and committed to their work, leading to increased productivity levels.

• Improved employee retention: Engaged employees are more likely to stay with their current employer, reducing turnover costs and preserving valuable knowledge within the organisation.

• Enhanced customer satisfaction: Engaged employees take pride in their work, leading to better customer experiences and increased loyalty.

• Greater innovation: Engaged employees are more likely to contribute new ideas that drive business growth.

• Stronger company culture: A high level of engagement fosters a positive work environment, attracting top talent and strengthening your employer brand.

The Role of Technology in Employee Engagement

Technology has transformed how we approach engagement, offering tools that help companies create more connected and motivated teams.

In the past, engagement efforts revolved around team-building activities, annual surveys, and performance reviews. As technology evolved, so did our approach from intranets and HR software to mobile-first engagement platforms.

Today’s employee engagement apps combine recognition, feedback, communication, and well-being into one place, helping business owners measure and strengthen their culture in real time.

Advantages of Using Technology for Employee Engagement

• Scalability: Digital solutions can easily be scaled to meet the needs of growing SMEs.

• Real-time feedback: Enables continuous communication between teams and leaders, promoting a culture of transparency.

• Personalisation: Customisable experiences make engagement feel relevant and inclusive.

• Data-driven insights: Analytics dashboards help track sentiment, engagement, and progress.

What Is An Employee Engagement App?

An employee engagement app is software designed to help organisations boost motivation, connection, and overall satisfaction.

They typically include tools such as real-time feedback, recognition feeds, goal tracking, learning and wellbeing programmes, and pulse surveys. Many are now cloud-based and mobile-friendly, supporting remote, on-site, and hybrid teams equally well.

By using these apps, business owners can monitor engagement more effectively and tailor strategies to meet employee needs — creating a workplace where people genuinely want to perform at their best.

Why are Employee Engagement apps beneficial for business owners?

• Cost-effectiveness: Affordable and scalable for SMEs.

• Flexibility: Easily integrated with existing HR or communication tools.

• User-friendly: Simple to adopt across teams.

• Remote and hybrid support: Keeps dispersed teams connected and valued.

The Best Employee Engagement Apps for 2025

Finding the right employee engagement app isn’t about chasing trends but about choosing the platform that fits your team, your culture, and the way you work.

Here’s a look at 2025’s top-performing apps for small and mid-sized UK businesses, with a quick comparison table followed by a more detailed breakdown.

1. Bonusly

• Why it’s still one of the best: Bonusly makes appreciation easy, fun, and data-driven.
• Key Features: Peer recognition, custom rewards, public shoutouts, and analytics dashboard.
• Best For: Teams that want to make “thank you” part of their culture.

Pros:
✔ Simple, user-friendly interface
✔ Customisable rewards store
✔ Easy integrations with Slack, Microsoft Teams, and HRIS systems

Cons:
✘ Focuses mainly on recognition (limited goal tracking)

Pricing: From £2.25 per user/month

2. 15Five 

• Why it’s a keeper: 15Five bridges the gap between engagement and performance, helping managers keep a pulse on people and progress.

• Key Features: Weekly check-ins, goal tracking, performance reviews, and feedback tools.

• Best For: Leaders who want structured communication and growth conversations.

Pros:
✔ Combines feedback and performance tools
✔ Excellent for hybrid or growing teams
✔ Strong manager dashboards

Cons:
✘ Requires time to embed into routines

Pricing: Around £5.60 per user/month

3. Culture Amp

• Why it’s powerful: Culture Amp remains the go-to platform for data-driven culture and engagement analysis.
• Key Features: Engagement surveys, 360° feedback, performance management, benchmarking, and analytics.
• Best For: Larger SMEs or scale-ups looking to measure and improve engagement strategically.

Pros:
✔ Deep analytics and benchmarking
✔ Highly customisable surveys
✔ Integrates well with HR systems

Cons:
✘ Pricier than some alternatives
✘ It may be more data-heavy than small businesses need

Pricing: Custom, depending on company size and modules

4. Motivosity

• Why it’s rising fast: Motivosity is gaining traction in the UK for its friendly social interface and simple recognition tools.

• Key Features: Recognition feeds, peer bonuses, pulse feedback, and analytics.

• Best For: SMEs wanting to track morale while building a culture of appreciation.

Pros:
✔ Fun, social design
✔ Affordable and scalable
✔ Growing UK presence

Cons:
✘ Fewer integrations than larger competitors

Pricing: From £2.50 per user/month

5. Kudos

• Why it’s worth watching: Kudos makes recognition visible and linked to company values, which is ideal for building culture and connection.
• Key Features: Peer recognition, culture feeds, reporting dashboards, and awards.
• Best For: Leaders wanting to align recognition with company values.

Pros:
✔ Great visual recognition feed
✔ Aligns rewards to behaviours
✔ UK integrations available

Cons:
✘ Limited analytics
✘ Variable pricing

Pricing: From around £3 per user/month

6. Reward Gateway

• Why it’s essential for UK businesses: Reward Gateway, headquartered in London, is a trusted engagement solution built for UK organisations.

• Key Features: Recognition, employee discounts, communication hub, wellbeing resources, analytics.

• Best For: UK SMEs and mid-size companies seeking an all-in-one engagement suite.

Pros:
✔ Built for the UK market
✔ Combines recognition, wellbeing, and comms
✔ Excellent customer support

Cons:
✘ Higher cost for smaller firms
✘ Feature-rich (may be more than some SMEs need)

Pricing: Custom

What to consider when selecting an employee engagement app

• Features: Identify the tools that matter most to your business.

• Ease of use: Simplicity drives adoption.

• Integration: Make sure it works with your existing systems.

• Customisation: Tailor to your culture and branding.

• Scalability: Can it grow with you?

• Security: Verify data protection and compliance standards.

• Support: Look for responsive customer service.

Final thoughts

Employee engagement is critical to SME success. As Gallup’s latest data shows, disengagement isn’t just a people problem; it’s a productivity one. By leveraging technology and incorporating employee engagement apps into your strategy, you can create a culture that attracts talent, strengthens connections, and drives long-term growth.

Frequently Asked Questions About Employee Engagement Apps

1. What is the best employee engagement app in 2025?

It depends on your goals. For UK businesses, Reward Gateway is a standout all-in-one platform that combines recognition, communication, and wellbeing tools. If you want a culture of daily appreciation, Bonusly or Kudos are excellent. For data-driven insights, Culture Amp leads the way.

2. Which employee engagement app is best for UK companies?

Reward Gateway is specifically built for the UK market, with GDPR-compliant data practices and strong local support. Motivosity and Kudos are also gaining traction among UK SMEs for their simplicity and social recognition features.

3. How do employee engagement apps improve company culture?

They make recognition, feedback, and communication consistent and visible. Over time, this builds trust, strengthens relationships, and reinforces company values. Apps like Bonusly and Kudos are particularly good at embedding recognition into everyday routines. For more on building a positive, people-focused culture, read our insights on how to create an employee engagement strategy

4. Are employee engagement apps worth the investment?

Yes. Gallup research shows that highly engaged teams are 21% more profitable and have lower turnover.

5. What features should business owners look for in an engagement app?

Recognition, feedback, analytics, integrations, and ease of use.

15Five offers strong tools for distributed teams, while Bonusly connects people through recognition and shared wins.

7. What’s the most affordable employee engagement app for small businesses?

Motivosity and Bonusly both offer cost-effective entry plans starting around £2–£3 per user per month, making them ideal for SMEs looking to boost morale without breaking the budget.

8. How can small business owners get started with an employee engagement app?

Start small. Choose one or two features that solve your most pressing issue (like recognition or feedback), test them with a pilot team, and gather feedback. Expansion works best once your people see real value. If you’re looking to strengthen leadership skills that drive engagement, take a look at our guide on developing effective leadership in SMEs

Do employee engagement apps offer free trials?

Most leading platforms, including Bonusly, 15Five, and Culture Amp, offer free trials or demo access so you can test functionality before committing.