Best Awardco Alternative for Peer Recognition in Slack & Teams

Why HeyTaco is a Great Alternative to Awardco

If you're exploring alternatives to Awardco for employee recognition, you're probably looking for something more engaging, less expensive, and easier for your team to actually use (and love). That's where HeyTaco shines.

HeyTaco isn't just another top-down rewards platform—it's a lightweight, joyful peer-to-peer recognition tool that helps teams build a genuine culture of appreciation from the ground up. Whether you're a scrappy startup or a growing global team, HeyTaco offers a refreshingly human approach to recognition.

What is HeyTaco?

HeyTaco is a peer recognition app that lives where your team already works—Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Google Chat. It lets teammates give each other "tacos" as tokens of appreciation. These tacos can be tied to values, tracked over time, and even redeemed for meaningful rewards (if you want to offer them).

But here's the magic: HeyTaco is intentionally simple, fun, and built for organic adoption—no training required.

Why Teams Switch from Awardco to HeyTaco

1. Recognition is Peer-to-Peer, Not Top-Down

Awardco is often manager-driven and structured like a traditional rewards program. HeyTaco flips the script: anyone can recognize anyone. That creates more authentic, timely, and frequent appreciation, without needing HR to run point.

“HeyTaco helped us build a recognition culture people actually participate in—not just another HR initiative collecting dust.” — Dave Freen

2. Gamified, But in a Good Way

HeyTaco limits users to giving 5 tacos per day. Why? Scarcity creates meaning. When you only have 5 tacos, you give them intentionally. That adds emotional weight to each one—and turns recognition into a shared ritual rather than just another button to click.

Plus, HeyTaco uses leaderboards, sticker unlocks, and taco milestones to make the experience feel playful and motivating.

3. Lightweight Setup, Immediate Impact

Awardco's setup can be complex and involve integrations, approvals, and catalogs. HeyTaco can be installed in under 5 minutes. No training. No onboarding webinars. No heavy lifting.

Just install the app in Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Google Chat, and start recognizing.

4. Recognition First. Rewards Optional.

Awardco puts a lot of focus on redemptions and catalogs. That's fine—until it becomes the only reason people recognize each other. HeyTaco keeps the focus on gratitude and relationships, not just points and prizes.

That said, you can add rewards in HeyTaco, including gift cards, team-based unlocks, and custom perks. But they're secondary, not the main event.

5. Pricing That Grows With You

HeyTaco is priced transparently and affordably, with no setup fees and no bloated enterprise add-ons. Small teams can start for just a few dollars per person each month—and scale as needed.

Awardco's pricing, on the other hand, often requires custom quotes and tends to be more expensive, especially for smaller teams.

TL;DR: Awardco vs. HeyTaco

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Try a More Human Alternative?

If you're tired of recognition tools that feel like spreadsheets with gift cards, HeyTaco is your people-first alternative to Awardco. It’s simple, social, and helps build the kind of culture where appreciation thrives.

Install HeyTaco today and turn gratitude into a daily habit your team will actually enjoy.

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