Reward Gateway is one of the most feature-rich employee engagement platforms on the market, combining recognition, rewards, discounts, wellbeing, communications, and surveys into a single branded hub. Following its acquisition by Edenred in May 2023, the platform now serves over 4,500 companies across 23 countries and reaches more than 8 million employees. It is a strong choice for mid-size and large organizations that want a centralized engagement hub rather than cobbling together point solutions.
That breadth comes with trade-offs. The admin experience is noticeably clunky, enterprise pricing is opaque, and the mobile app still trails the desktop version in functionality. For organizations willing to invest the time (and budget) to set it up properly, Reward Gateway delivers a genuinely differentiated employee experience. For smaller teams or those with simpler needs, it may be more platform than you need.
What Is Reward Gateway?
Reward Gateway was founded in 2006 and is now headquartered in London, UK, with additional offices in the United States, Australia, Germany, and France. In May 2023, Edenred (a global leader in employee benefits) acquired the company, and the product is now branded as Reward Gateway | Edenred. The combined entity brings together Edenred’s benefits expertise with Reward Gateway’s engagement technology.
The platform is designed to be a single digital hub where employees access recognition programs, peer-to-peer shout-outs, discounts from hundreds of retailers, wellbeing resources, company communications, surveys, and benefits information. It is a cloud-based SaaS product with no on-premise deployment option. Notable clients include American Express, Unilever, Samsung, IBM, and McDonald’s. The company employs between 501 and 1,000 people and holds ISO 27001 security certification.
Reward Gateway Key Features
Employee Recognition and Rewards
Recognition is the core of the platform. Reward Gateway supports peer-to-peer recognition, manager-led awards, automated spot awards, and long-service milestone awards. Employees can send branded eCards tied to organizational values, and recognition activity appears in a social-style feed visible to the entire company (or segmented audiences). The rewards catalog includes Amazon products, gift cards, experiences, and charitable donations, with instant redemption.
The automation capabilities are particularly strong. HR teams can configure rules for anniversary awards, performance milestones, and team achievements that trigger without manual intervention. Budget management tools let managers allocate and track recognition spending, though some find the budget management module less flexible than competing platforms.
Employee Discounts and SmartSpending
The discounts module gives employees access to savings at hundreds of retailers through in-store and online vouchers, cashback offers, and retailer discount schemes. The standalone SmartSpending mobile app provides on-the-go access to these discounts. This feature is consistently cited as one of the most valued by end users, with many employees engaging with the platform primarily for the savings.
Discount options vary by country, and the breadth of retailer partnerships is one area where Reward Gateway’s global footprint gives it an edge over smaller competitors. Easysaver cards (reloadable discount cards for specific retailers) are another popular feature, though some end users have reported occasional issues with voucher activation and top-ups.
Internal Communications Hub
The communications module functions as a lightweight intranet. HR and leadership teams can publish branded blog posts, photos, and videos to a company news feed. Content can be targeted to segmented audiences (by department, location, or role), scheduled for future publication, and accompanied by push notifications and live alerts.
However, the communications tools are relatively basic compared to dedicated internal communications platforms. There is no advanced content workflow, approval chain, or sophisticated internal marketing automation. For organizations that need a simple, branded internal news feed, it works well. For those expecting a full intranet replacement, it falls short.
Employee Surveys
The platform includes a custom survey builder for pulse surveys, NPS surveys, and broader engagement surveys. Results feed into the analytics engine for tracking trends over time. Survey tools are functional but not as deep as what you would find in a dedicated survey platform like Culture Amp or Qualtrics. For organizations that want basic sentiment measurement alongside their engagement hub, it is adequate.
Wellbeing Module
Reward Gateway’s wellbeing module covers mental, physical, and financial health. It provides access to wellbeing content, resources, and programs that can be customized to reflect organizational priorities. The module integrates with the broader platform, so wellbeing initiatives can be promoted through the communications feed and tied to recognition programs.
Analytics and Reporting (SmartInsights)
The SmartInsights Analytics Engine provides real-time dashboards covering recognition activity, survey results, communication engagement, discount utilization, and overall platform adoption. Reporting has improved significantly over time, and the dashboards are useful for demonstrating ROI to leadership.
That said, advanced reporting customization is limited. Power users who want to slice data in highly specific ways, build custom calculated fields, or export raw data for external analysis may find the analytics restrictive. The out-of-the-box dashboards cover the most common use cases, but niche reporting needs may require workarounds.
Customization and Branding
One of Reward Gateway’s strongest selling points is the degree to which the platform can be branded and customized. The entire hub can be restyled with company colors, logos, and imagery. Layouts are flexible; modules can be moved, resized, added, or removed. This means every organization’s instance looks and feels like their own product, not a generic third-party tool. However, some deeper UI customization (beyond branding) is limited by the platform’s template system.
Single Sign-On and Self-Service Access
Employees can use single sign-on to access payslips, onboarding documents, benefits information, and other HR resources from within the platform. This consolidation reduces the number of separate logins employees need and increases overall platform stickiness.
Reward Gateway Pricing and Plans
Reward Gateway does not publicly disclose pricing for its flagship enterprise product. All enterprise pricing requires a demo and custom quote based on organization size, modules selected, and contract terms. Modules can be purchased separately, which provides some flexibility in controlling costs.
Third-party pricing research suggests an average annual contract cost of approximately $33,000. Estimates for smaller deployments start around $300/month for 10 users, scaling to roughly $2,500/month for 100 users. Implementation costs range from $1,000 to $10,000 depending on complexity. These are estimates from third-party sources and should be confirmed directly with the vendor.
| Edition | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials | Contact vendor | Core engagement features; exact inclusions not publicly documented |
| Enhanced | Contact vendor | Additional modules and customization; exact inclusions not publicly documented |
| Enterprise | Contact vendor | Full platform with dedicated Client Success Manager and Implementation Team |
| Small Business (UK/Australia only) | £6/employee/month | Discounts, recognition, wellbeing; no lock-in; monthly or annual billing; free trial available |
There is no free version of Reward Gateway. A free trial is available for the Small Business product (UK and Australia only), but the enterprise product does not offer a trial. The Small Business version is designed for organizations under 100 employees; above that threshold, the vendor directs customers to the flagship enterprise solution. Annual subscriptions for the Small Business product are offered at a discount compared to monthly billing.
Integrations
Reward Gateway offers one of the more extensive integration ecosystems in the employee engagement space. The vendor lists 61+ integrations across several categories: HRIS and directory sync, push/publish/share, one-click access, authentication, and outbound connections.
HRIS and Payroll: ADP Workforce Now, BambooHR, Gusto, HR Cloud, HR Partner, Humaans, Justworks, Namely, Paychex Flex, Paylocity, Personio, Rippling, SAP SuccessFactors, Sapling, Sesame HR, TriNet, UKG Ready, Workday HCM.
Communication and Collaboration: Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Viva Engage, Microsoft Outlook, Slack, Google Workspace, Yapster, Meta for Business, Facebook Business Suite, LinkedIn for Business.
Authentication and Security: Okta, OneLogin, Ping Identity, Microsoft Azure, Bitium, Duo Security.
Analytics and Other: Google Analytics 360, Kallidus Learn, Merge, Myagi, Vantage Circle, Asana.
For developers, Reward Gateway provides a REST API (documented at docs.rewardgateway.net), SCIM API (v1.1 and v2.0) for user provisioning, and SFTP integrations for bulk data transfer. The Merge API partnership adds additional HRIS connectors. An Integration Dashboard allows administrators to configure many connections through a self-service interface without needing developer resources.
Customer Support
Customer support is one of Reward Gateway’s clear strengths. The vendor offers 24/7, 365-day live chat support, along with phone and email channels. Enterprise clients are assigned a dedicated Client Success Manager who provides ongoing strategic guidance, not just break-fix support.
Self-service resources include an online knowledge base (success.rewardgateway.com), video tutorials, and webinars. The vendor also offers training sessions for administrators, and multiple reviewers recommend attending these to get the most from the platform’s extensive feature set.
Support quality is consistently rated highly. Response times are fast, agents are described as professional and knowledgeable, and the overall support experience is a frequently cited reason for renewing contracts. The one caveat: some end users interacting with the consumer-facing discount side of the platform (separate from the enterprise platform support) have reported slower follow-up on issues like voucher activation problems and refund requests.
Pros and Cons
Reward Gateway has clear strengths in platform breadth, customization, and support quality. It also has notable weaknesses in admin usability and pricing transparency that prospective buyers should weigh carefully.
Pros
- Exceptionally comprehensive platform combining recognition, rewards, discounts, wellbeing, communications, surveys, and analytics in one hub
- Highly customizable branding and layout options make the platform feel like an in-house tool rather than a third-party product
- 24/7, 365-day live support with dedicated Client Success Managers for enterprise clients; consistently praised for responsiveness and quality
- Extensive integration ecosystem with 61+ connectors including Workday, ADP, BambooHR, SAP SuccessFactors, Slack, and Microsoft Teams
- Employee discounts module drives strong adoption, especially among deskless and frontline workers who may not engage with traditional HR tools
- Automation of spot awards, long-service milestones, and other recognition events reduces administrative burden
Cons
- Admin backend is clunky and confusing, with a steep learning curve for HR administrators managing the platform
- Enterprise pricing is not publicly disclosed, requires a custom quote, and is generally considered expensive relative to competitors
- Mobile app lacks feature parity with the desktop version and occasionally suffers performance issues
- Reporting and analytics dashboards are useful but lack advanced customization for power users needing granular data analysis
- Small Business product is only available in the UK and Australia, limiting options for smaller organizations elsewhere
- Communications module is basic compared to dedicated internal communications platforms; no advanced workflows or approval chains
Who Should Use Reward Gateway?
Reward Gateway is best suited for organizations with 250 to 10,000+ employees that want a single, branded engagement hub rather than managing multiple point solutions. Industries with large distributed or deskless workforces (retail, hospitality, healthcare, logistics) benefit particularly from the mobile access and employee discounts module, which drives adoption even among employees who rarely use traditional HR tools.
HR teams that value customization and branding will appreciate the platform’s flexibility. If making the engagement hub look and feel like an extension of your company’s identity matters to you, Reward Gateway does this better than most competitors. Organizations operating in multiple countries will also benefit from the platform’s presence across 23 countries, though discount availability varies by region.
Reward Gateway is not the right fit for small businesses outside the UK and Australia (the Small Business product is geographically limited). Companies with fewer than 100 employees in other regions will find the enterprise product over-specified and likely too expensive. Teams looking primarily for lightweight peer-to-peer recognition without the full engagement suite should consider simpler, more affordable alternatives like Bonusly or Matter. And organizations that need advanced internal communications or sophisticated survey tools will find those specific modules too basic compared to dedicated solutions.
Reward Gateway Alternatives
Bonusly is a simpler, more focused recognition platform that excels at peer-to-peer recognition with a modern, intuitive interface. It lacks Reward Gateway’s breadth (no communications hub, no discount program, no surveys), but it costs significantly less and is easier to administer. Choose Bonusly if recognition is your primary goal and you do not need a full engagement suite.
Achievers is the closest enterprise-grade competitor, offering a similarly comprehensive recognition and engagement platform. Achievers tends to be stronger in large-scale enterprise deployments (5,000+ employees) and has deeper analytics, but its pricing is comparable or higher. Choose Achievers if you are a very large enterprise prioritizing advanced reporting and have the budget to match.
Vantage Circle offers recognition, rewards, wellness, and discounts in a single platform at a generally lower price point. It is a solid mid-market alternative, particularly for organizations in Asia and the Middle East where its discount network is strong. It lacks Reward Gateway’s depth of customization and branding flexibility.
Perkbox is a UK-focused alternative that combines perks, recognition, and wellbeing. It is particularly strong for UK-based organizations under 500 employees who want a platform with a strong discount marketplace. Its recognition features are less sophisticated than Reward Gateway’s, but the overall package is more accessible for smaller companies.
Matter is a lightweight, Slack-and-Teams-native recognition tool ideal for small to mid-size teams that want recognition embedded in their existing communication workflows. It lacks the standalone hub, discounts, and communications features of Reward Gateway, but it is far simpler to deploy and significantly cheaper.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Reward Gateway cost?
Enterprise pricing is not publicly disclosed and requires a custom quote based on your organization’s size and selected modules. Third-party estimates suggest an average annual contract of approximately $33,000. The Small Business version (available only in the UK and Australia) is priced at £6 per employee per month with no lock-in contract.
Does Reward Gateway offer a free trial?
The Small Business product (UK and Australia only) offers a free trial. The flagship enterprise product does not have a free trial; instead, the vendor offers personalized demos to prospective customers.
What company sizes is Reward Gateway designed for?
The enterprise platform is designed for organizations with 250+ employees, though it scales to tens of thousands. The Small Business product serves UK and Australian organizations with fewer than 100 employees. Companies between 100 and 250 employees should contact the vendor to determine which product fits best.
Does Reward Gateway integrate with my HRIS?
Reward Gateway integrates with over 60 tools, including major HRIS platforms like Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, BambooHR, ADP, Paylocity, Personio, Rippling, and UKG Ready. A Merge API partnership provides additional HRIS connectors. SCIM provisioning is supported for automated user management.
Can Reward Gateway be customized with our company branding?
Yes. The platform is highly customizable with company logos, colors, imagery, and flexible layouts. Each organization’s hub is designed to look like an in-house tool rather than a third-party product. However, deeper UI customization beyond branding templates is more limited.
Is Reward Gateway available outside the UK?
Yes. The enterprise platform operates in 23 countries with offices in the UK, US, Australia, Germany, and France. The employee discount network varies by country. The Small Business product, however, is currently available only in the UK and Australia.
What happened with the Edenred acquisition?
Edenred acquired Reward Gateway in May 2023. The platform is now branded as Reward Gateway | Edenred. The acquisition has brought additional resources and expanded the company’s benefits capabilities. Existing customers have generally viewed the merger positively, noting it combined two complementary strengths.
The Bottom Line
Reward Gateway is one of the most comprehensive employee engagement platforms available. Its combination of recognition, discounts, wellbeing, communications, surveys, and analytics in a single branded hub is genuinely difficult to match with competing products. The 24/7 support, extensive integration ecosystem, and deep customization options make it a particularly strong choice for mid-size and large organizations that want to centralize their engagement strategy.
The weaknesses are real but manageable. The admin interface needs modernization, the enterprise pricing lacks transparency, and the mobile app still trails the desktop experience. Organizations that only need one or two engagement capabilities (just recognition, or just surveys) will find better, cheaper options elsewhere. But for HR teams that want a unified engagement hub and are willing to invest in setup and configuration, Reward Gateway delivers meaningful value.
We rate Reward Gateway a 4.0 out of 5. It earns that score through feature breadth, support quality, and proven enterprise-scale deployments, but it loses ground on admin usability and pricing accessibility. If you have 250+ employees and want to consolidate your engagement tools into one platform, put Reward Gateway on your shortlist.
