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Pointd Pal vs Recognize
Recognize is an HR recognition platform built around Microsoft 365. Pointd Pal is a chat bot you can start free today.
Side by side
| Feature | Pointd Pal | Recognize |
|---|---|---|
| Chat platforms | Slack; Microsoft Teams, Google Chat and Discord coming soon | Teams first; Slack, Viva Engage, Outlook, SharePoint |
| How you give | @name ++, /recognize or a message shortcut | /recognize, badges |
| Giving by emoji reaction | Yes, with your point emoji | — |
| Your own point name and emoji | Any name and emoji | — |
| Giving allowance | 5 a day by default, or weekly or monthly; shown in every reply | — |
| Private recognition | Yes, on every plan | Yes |
| Company values | #tags in the reason | Badges |
| Rewards | Your own catalog, approved by admins; gift cards at face value coming to Business | Amazon, gift cards, donations, no markup |
| Birthdays and anniversaries | Opt-in for each person, on Pro | Yes |
| Nominations and awards | Nominations with voting, awards and boosts, on Pro | Nominations with voting, certificates |
| Manager tools | Team-lead nudges about people the team hasn't recognized, on Pro | Manager recognition |
| Office TV or kiosk | Office screens, on Pro | — |
| Admin analytics | Inclusivity health: how evenly recognition is spread, who hasn't been recognized lately, flow between teams (last 90 days on Free, full history on Pro) | AI reporting |
| HRIS and SSO | SSO on Business; HR system sync coming soon | Workday, ADP |
| Public API | Read-only API and signed webhooks, on Business | — |
| Surveys and pulse checks | Not planned | eNPS |
| AI features | Not yet | AI reporting |
| Free plan | Up to 10 monthly active users | None |
| Paid plans | Pro $2 per active user per month, or $20 per user per year; Business by quote | Quoted, per employee per year |
Based on Recognize's public pages and independent reviews as of October 2026. Prices and plans change, so check Recognize's own pricing page before you decide. A dash means our sources didn't mention the feature.
Where Pointd Pal is different
- Live in minutes, no contract: install it in chat, start free, and pay monthly by active user when you need Pro.
- Published prices: free up to 10 monthly active users, then $2 per active user per month.
- Giving by reaction: react with your point emoji, or type @name ++.
- Inclusivity analytics: how evenly recognition is spread, who hasn't been recognized lately and how it flows between teams.
When Recognize may suit you better
If your company lives in Microsoft 365 (Viva Engage, Outlook, SharePoint), or HR needs Workday or ADP sync and a gift-card catalog for a company-wide program, Recognize is built for that. Recognize also works in Microsoft Teams today; Pointd Pal for Teams is built and coming soon.