When giving recognition feels like a chore, people do it less. When getting a reward feels like settling, it lands flat. The moment, the message, the reward all of it shapes whether recognition means something or just checks a box.

We've been paying close attention to where those moments break down. Over the past few months, we've shipped updates on both sides of that equation: new ways to make getting rewarded feel worth it and new ways to make giving more personal.

Here's what's worth checking out.

Credit card top-up: Choose the reward you want

You've saved up points. You find something you're excited about. You're just short. So you settle for something smaller or close the tab.

Credit card top-up changes that. When a reward costs more than your points balance, Bonusly now applies your points first and lets you cover the difference with a personal credit card. The processing fee is clearly shown before you confirm so there are no surprises.

Let’s say you want some cool $100 headphones but only have 510 points (about $51 in value). You can use your 210 points, cover the rest, and walk away with exactly what you wanted. 

Top-up works for gift cards, charitable donations, and curated gifts. It doesn't work for custom swag or custom rewards.

The shift is simple but powerful. Instead of asking, "what can I afford with my points?" the team’s Bonusly experience becomes "what do I want?" That's how rewards should work.

Post-Wrap: Make giving thanks feel as good as receiving

Recognition should feel good to give. Post-Wrap takes that seriously.

Post-Wrap lets you add decorative gift wrap to any recognition post. Your recipient sees their message post wrapped up and gets to unwrap it themselves. It's a small touch, but delight turns out to be an underrated part of building culture.

Post Wraps come in rotating styles with different colors, and they work like collectibles: each one has a limited number of uses before it expires, and fresh designs show up regularly. There's always something new to try.

They come at zero cost to the company and are. Just the kind of small joy that sticks with people longer than you'd expect.

Curated gifts: A reward that stays with you

Gift cards will always have their place. But there's something different about a physical gift: A package at your door, something you unwrap and keep.

Curated gifts are hand-picked products from themed collections: electronics, travel gear, wellness, home and garden, and more, ranging from $15 to $400. Our collections rotate regularly, and our third-party curated gift card partner handles fulfillment and delivery.

These are especially popular for milestone moments like a five-year anniversary, a promotion, or a major project that finally shipped. And with that credit card top-up, more of the rewards catalog is within reach than ever before.

Audio recognition: Say what you mean, out loud

We've all typed a quick "thanks for jumping in on that" and hit send. It gets the job done.

But there's a version of that same message that lands differently: hearing someone say it.

Audio recognition lets you attach a voice recording to a recognition post. Hit record, say what you mean, send it. Your teammate doesn't just read your words they hear the enthusiasm, the warmth, the specific thing you noticed. That's not a small difference. That's the difference between a notification and a moment.

No camera required, which means it's faster, lower-stakes, and something your team will use more often.

Video recognition: Put the moment on screen

Text gets the words across. Video gets the rest: the smile, the tone, the energy that turns a shout-out into something people remember.

Video recognition lets you record from Give recognition or attach a clip you already have. Tweak camera and microphone from the gear icon, then start with the record control or the spacebar. You'll see a short countdown, and the timer gives you a clear heads-up as you get close to the end so you can land the message cleanly. Preview your take when you're done, add it to the post, restart, or download the recording if you want a copy.

Points Boost: More recognition, more often

Your team is doing exceptional work. You want to recognize all of it, but you've already used up your monthly allowance. You're tapped out until next month.

Points Boost lets you spend your earned points to purchase additional recognition points for yourself. Once your standard allowance runs out, your boosted points kick in. And unlike your regular allowance, they roll over month to month. If you don't use them, they're still there when the next moment worth celebrating comes along.

It's a reward that turns back into recognition. When more people on a team have what they need to appreciate each other, recognition flows more freely not because anyone mandated it, but because the tool got out of the way.

What it all adds up to

At Bonusly, we're always looking for new ways to make it easier for your team to connect, celebrate, and grow together. That means removing the friction from giving, making rewards feel worth it, and building the kind of small moments that add up to real culture.

We believe that recognition at its best doesn't just happen; it's designed to happen. These updates are part of that design: making every moment of appreciation a little easier to give and a lot more worth receiving.

Want to see them in action? Start a free trial or book a quick walkthrough.

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