What are your workplace goals for 2025?

If improving employee satisfaction and engagement is a top priority, you’re not alone. Companies that prioritize engagement see higher productivity, lower turnover, and stronger performance. Creating a thriving workplace—especially in hybrid and remote environments—requires the right employee engagement software.

Employee engagement rates have declined slightly in recent years, but technology can reverse that trend. A well-structured engagement strategy, supported by HR tech, enhances collaboration, improves communication, and fosters a company culture where employees feel valued.

In this article, we’ll break down the best employee engagement tools and share expert tips on choosing the right ones to boost engagement across your distributed workforce.  

What are employee engagement tools?  

Employee engagement tools are platforms and applications designed to enhance the employee satisfaction and motivation at work. When implemented correctly, these tools create a positive employee experience and provide valuable insights on employee performance, ultimately improving productivity.

For hybrid and remote teams, engagement tools are even more critical. With employees spread across locations, companies need structured action plans that keep communication transparent, facilitate team bonding, and promote well-being.

Types of employee engagement tools:

• Communication and collaboration platforms – Keep remote teams connected and aligned through open communication
• Employee recognition and rewards systems – Boost morale and motivation by tracking milestones.
• Performance management and feedback tools – Track and improve employee sentiment through anonymous feedback.
• Learning and development platforms – Support career growth and upskilling by investing in employee development.
• Well-being and mental health tools – Foster work-life balance and prevent burnout by supporting employee needs.
• In-person engagement tools – Enable employees to collaborate in flexible, shared spaces no matter where their workday is.

Why should you use employee engagement tools?

A well-crafted engagement strategy supported by technology creates a thriving work environment. According to Gallup, companies with engaged employees are 23% more profitable and experience 81% lower absenteeism.

Here’s why investing in employee engagement tools is essential:

1. Strengthening communication and collaboration

Remote work requires seamless digital communication. Engagement tools ensure employees stay connected regardless of location, improving transparency and teamwork.

2. Increasing employee retention and satisfaction

Employees who feel valued and engaged are more likely to stay. Recognition programs and survey tools reduce turnover rates by creating a sense of belonging.

3. Improving productivity and employee performance

An engaged hybrid workforce is a productive workforce. Providing employees with the right tools, whether for performance tracking or skill-building, encourages efficiency and motivation.

4. Enhancing workplace flexibility and job satisfaction

A great employee experience extends beyond virtual interactions—it includes access to flexible, purpose-driven workspaces. Companies that provide hybrid-friendly environments empower employees to collaborate meaningfully while maintaining autonomy and focusing on personal wellness.

Best employee engagement software for remote and hybrid teams

The employee engagement software market is rapidly expanding, projected to reach $2.75 billion by 2030. With new tools emerging constantly, choosing the right one for your team can feel overwhelming. The best solutions don’t just boost engagement—they streamline collaboration, improve recognition, and enhance workplace culture.

To help you make an informed decision, we’ve curated a list of nine top-rated engagement tools, backed by customer reviews and platform insights.

1. Culture Amp: Best for a holistic approach to engagement

Culture Amp is a leading employee engagement platform that helps organizations measure, analyze, and improve workplace culture through data-driven insights. With a strong focus on employee feedback, Culture Amp enables companies to track engagement trends, assess team sentiment, and take actionable steps to enhance the employee experience.

Pros

• Comprehensive engagement and performance management tools

• Customizable surveys with real-time analytics
• AI-powered recommendations for improving workplace culture
• Seamless integrations with HR and collaboration tools

Cons  

• Performance management features are still evolving
• Customer support response times can be slow

Pricing

Culture Amp follows a flexible pricing model based on company size, with plans starting around $3–$9 per employee per month. Companies must request a quote for exact pricing.

Key features

1.  Onboarding and pulse surveys: Measure employee sentiment and engagement in real time
2. AI-driven insights: Get actionable recommendations to improve workplace culture
3. Performance benchmarking: Compare engagement data with industry benchmarks
4. HR integrations: Connect with existing HRIS and collaboration tools for seamless data management

2. Gable: Best for supporting in-person collaboration  

Gable is a flexible platform designed to help distributed teams manage workspaces and stay connected through in-person collaboration. By offering on-demand access to workspaces, Gable allows small businesses and large corporations to provide space utilization solutions while maintaining visibility and control over usage and budgets.

Pros

• Centralized workspace management for full visibility
• Supports HQ onboarding alongside flexible workspace options
• Wide range of integrations with HRIS and HRMS solutions
• 10,000+ vetted coworking locations worldwide
• Mobile-friendly for easy access

Cons

• Some manual setup required if not using HRIS integration

Pricing

Gable operates on a pay-as-you-go model, meaning companies only pay for the workspaces they use—no long-term commitments. Enterprise customers can request custom pricing based on their needs.

Key features

1.  Workspace booking and management: Book and manage workspaces in a single dashboard
2. Employee engagement insights: Track usage, job satisfaction scores, and workspace preferences through survey results.
3. Slack notifications: Get real-time updates when teammates book nearby workspaces
4. Budget tracking tools: Set usage limits by department or individual employees
5. Actionable analytics: Optimize workspace spending with data-driven insights

Learn more about Gable’s workspace management solutions.

3. TinyPulse: Best for employee engagement surveys  

TinyPulse is a real-time employee feedback and engagement platform designed to help HR teams gauge employee sentiment and drive culture improvements. It provides a structured way to collect anonymous feedback and measure trends over time.

Pros

•  Intuitive and user-friendly interface
• Provides real-time, anonymous employee feedback
• Customizable surveys for tailored insights
• Actionable analytics for leadership teams

Cons

• Requires an annual payment upfront per user
• Admin dashboard can be complex to navigate

Pricing

TinyPulse offers a free trial, with pricing starting at $5 per user per month. Organizations can opt for annual plans for discounted rates, though payment is required upfront.

Key features

1. Cheers for Peers: A peer recognition tool that boosts morale
2. Custom and pre-made surveys: Collect valuable employee insights
3. Anonymous feedback: Encourage open communication and honest responses through employee surveys
4. 1-on-1 coaching tool: Improve leadership and employee relationships

4. Slack: Best for team communication

Slack is a widely used team communication platform offering real-time messaging, video calls, and integrations with hundreds of workplace apps. It’s a must-have for companies that prioritize seamless collaboration across time zones.

Pros

• Available as a mobile app

• Instant messaging with customizable channels
• Integrations with project management and HR tools
• Huddles feature for quick audio calls
• Searchable conversation history

Cons

• Can be distracting with excessive notifications
• Limited storage for free-tier account

Pricing

Slack’s standard pricing starts at $8.75 per user per month, with enterprise solutions available for larger teams.

Key features

1. Huddles: Quick, informal audio calls for instant collaboration
2. Message scheduling: Send updates at the perfect time
3. Advanced search features: Quickly find past messages and files
4. Integrated voice and video calls: Seamlessly connect with teammates

5. Betterworks: Best for setting and tracking goals  

Betterworks helps organizations track employee performance, set goals, and provide continuous feedback to employees. The platform enables HR teams to align company objectives with employee development.

Pros

• Efficient goal alignment across teams
• Transparent and structured performance tracking
• User-friendly interface for setting OKRs
• Customizable feedback experiences

Cons

• Some features require manual input
• Not the most intuitive platform for new users

Pricing

Betterworks pricing starts at $8 per user per month, with enterprise plans available for larger companies.

Key features

1. OKR tracking: Align individual and team goals with company objectives
2. Real-time performance insights: Monitor progress with detailed reports
3. Continuous feedback loops: Encourage employee growth and development
4. Integrations with HRIS and communication tools

6. Lattice: Best for performance management  

Lattice is a performance management and employee engagement platform designed to help organizations align goals, enhance feedback loops, and drive professional growth. It integrates real-time feedback, performance reviews, and employee engagement surveys to create a culture of continuous development and recognition.

Pros

• Goal-setting and OKR tracking to align teams and company objectives
• Real-time feedback and one-on-one meeting templates for managers
• Employee engagement surveys with built-in analytics
• Career development tools to support long-term employee growth

Cons

• Can feel overwhelming for smaller teams due to its broad feature set
• Some users report a steep learning curve with advanced functionalities

Pricing

Lattice offers custom pricing, with plans typically starting at $8 per user per month, depending on selected features and company size.

Key features 

1. OKR and goal tracking: Keep teams aligned and focused on key business objectives
2. Continuous feedback: Encourage real-time coaching and performance improvement
3. Performance reviews: Simplify and standardize review cycles with automation
4. Employee engagement surveys: Gather insights on team satisfaction and morale

7. Kudos: Best for employee recognition

Kudos is a peer-to-peer recognition platform designed to foster appreciation and engagement in the workplace. It enables employees to send and receive recognition points, reinforcing a positive company culture and values.

Pros 

• Easy-to-use recognition system
• Customizable awards and reward options
• Mobile app for on-the-go recognition
• Detailed reporting on engagement trends

Cons

• Limited customization options in lower-tier plans
• Can be slow or buggy at times

Pricing

Kudos starts at $5 per user per month, with a minimum of 500 employees for enterprise pricing.

Key features

1. Peer-to-peer recognition: Strengthen team morale with instant appreciation
2. Customizable rewards: Personalize recognition to fit company culture
3. People analytics: Gain insight into engagement trends and program effectiveness
4. HR integrations: Sync with existing employee management tools

8. Leapsome: Best for learning and development  

Leapsome is an all-in-one platform for employee development, performance management, and engagement, covering the entire employee lifecycle. It integrates 360-degree feedback, learning tools, and goal-setting in a single system allowing teams to build a thriving workplace no matter where they’re located.

Pros

• Supports employee development and continuous learning
• Highly customizable features for HR teams
• Mobile app and user friendly for on-the-go learning
• In-depth analytics for tracking progress

Cons  

• Can be difficult to navigate initially
• More expensive than other employee engagement tools

Pricing

Leapsome offers modular pricing based on features, starting at $8 per user per month when billed annually.

Key features

1. Personalized learning paths: Enable employees to upskill with structured training
2. 360-degree feedback: Provide comprehensive performance reviews
3. OKR and goal-setting tools: Align employee development with business objectives
4. Engagement analytics: Track and improve workplace satisfaction

9. Officevibe: Best for company culture management  

Officevibe is an employee experience platform that helps companies measure employee satisfaction and engagement levels, gather feedback, and improve workplace culture, through anonymous employee surveys and engagement tracking.

Pros

• Easy-to-use interface
• Anonymous feedback to encourage transparency
• Customizable pulse surveys
• Actionable insights for managers

Cons

• Limited customization in lower-tier plans
• Not cost-effective for larger enterprises

Pricing

Officevibe’s plans range from $3.50 to $5 per user per month, with discounts for annual plans.

Key features

1. Customizable pulse surveys: Gather insights on employee sentiment
2. Anonymous feedback tools: Encourage open and honest conversations
3. Trend analysis reports: Identify workplace culture improvements
4. Integration with HR tools: Seamlessly sync data with existing systems

Can I track employee engagement without a software solution?

We’re going to give you the “yes, but” answer here.

It’s possible to track employee engagement without a software solution, just as it’s possible to run payroll manually and calculate taxes and benefits without relying on tech.

You can do it for a few employees for a few months, but then it becomes daunting, time-consuming, and error-prone.  

Here are some methods human resources can use to track employee engagement without software:

1. Surveys conducted through email, phone, or other communication channels
2. One-on-one meetings with employees to discuss their work, career goals, and any challenges they may be facing
3. Employers can organize focus groups with employees to gather more in-depth feedback and insights
4. Performance metrics like productivity levels, attendance, and turnover rates, to measure employee engagement indirectly

So, yes — you can measure employee engagement without a software solution, but it will require more manual effort. It may not be as comprehensive or efficient as using employee engagement software.

How to choose the perfect employee engagement solution for your team

Essential features to look for

When you start initiatives for an ideal employee engagement tool for your team, you may feel overwhelmed by the number of possibilities out there.

Here’s what to look for in the perfect tool(s).  

Communication and collaboration features: Look for a tool that provides features for remote communication and collaboration, such as instant messaging, video conferencing, and file sharing. If your team is distributed across time zones, favor tools that provide many possibilities for async work.

Integrations: The best tool for employee engagement is the one that can fit seamlessly into your existing workflows. Look for platforms that offer a wide range of integrations and can easily be synced with the tools you already use, so you don’t need to spend time on data entry.

Analytics and metrics reporting: Look for a tool that provides analytics and metrics reporting so you can track and measure employee engagement over time. This can help you identify trends and patterns and lead to data-driven decision-making.

Customization options: Look for an employee engagement tool that allows you to customize the features and settings to meet the specific needs of your hybrid team. This can help you tailor the tool to unique employee needs and preferences.

Security and privacy: Ensure the tool has robust security measures to protect sensitive employee data and help you stay compliant (remember what GDPR is?). Look for a tool that adheres to industry standards and regulations and provides secure data storage and transmission.

Intuitive interface: The software you choose should have an intuitive and user-friendly interface so that your team can quickly complete platform training and start using it as soon as possible.  

Responsive support: As with every other platform, your chosen employee engagement tool should offer responsive customer support during your setup period and throughout your use of the software.

Mobile compatibility: Look for an employee engagement tool that has a mobile app or is mobile-friendly so remote workers can access the tool easily from their mobile devices. This is especially important if your team often completes its tasks on the go (for example, field sales reps).

Step-by-step guide to making your choice 

You may have a clear picture of what you want now, but how do you narrow your options? Follow this process to ensure you’ve made a wise choice and selected a tool to enhance your organization's employee experience.  

1. Evaluate your needs

Start by identifying the specific needs of your hybrid team. What are your main challenges in engaging both in-office and remote workers? What features would be most helpful for your team?

2. Consider the user experience

Look for an employee engagement tool that is user-friendly and easy to navigate, both for in-office and remote workers. Ensure the tool is intuitive and easy to use, so employees can quickly and easily access the needed features.

3. Read reviews and ratings

Look for online reviews and ratings of the employee engagement tool you are considering. This can help you understand the tool's pros and cons and whether it is a good fit for a hybrid team. Check out websites like G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot.

4. Book demos

Eliminate solutions that don’t offer the features you need and make a shortlist of three to five tools that are all good candidates. Book a demo with each to see what the platforms look like in action. But don’t just show up unprepared—have a list of questions to ask the sales rep to ensure the tool has what your team needs.

5. Use free trials

If you’re still unsure which platforms to opt for, check if the company offers a free trial. Most software solutions come with seven to 14-day free trials, allowing you to test the tool before you pay for it.

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Proving the ROI of employee engagement platforms

Has your chosen employee engagement platform paid off? Proving the ROI of an employee engagement tool requires a systematic and data-driven approach.

Start by defining your objectives and goals for the employee engagement tool. These could be reducing employee turnover, increasing productivity, improving employee satisfaction, or boosting team collaboration.  

Before implementing the engagement tool, establish a baseline of the current state of engagement. You can do this by conducting employee feedback surveys, focus groups, interviews, or other methods of data collection. Make sure to collect both quantitative and qualitative data.  

Then, data on employee engagement software will be collected through the same means. Analyze this and compare it to your baseline.

When you determine the impact of the engagement tool on employee performance, you can calculate the ROI. Compare the cost of the engagement tool to the benefits derived from it.

Other than proving the ROI, you can use this data to build an effective employee engagement program that will support your business success in the future.  

Track and prove the increase in employee engagement with Gable

Hybrid teams are different from fully remote ones—you have two workplaces to manage and need to have two different approaches to employee engagement.

Want to know how on-site collaboration influences your team’s engagement? Want to help your distributed team members reach their goals even faster by providing engaging spaces to collaborate more efficiently?