Is there a free alternative to Matter?

Yes — BackFeed+, Bonusly, Gusto offer free tiers or trials suitable for small teams and individuals.

Last updated: August 1, 2026

Top 7 Free Matter Alternatives, Compared (2026)

Q: What are the best alternatives to Matter?

The top-rated alternatives to Matter are ChatFox, Qarrot, Bonusly. Compare all 7 alternatives at https://www.spotsaas.com/list/matter-free-alternative.

Explore 7 alternatives to Matter — vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

Matter alternatives: the 7 best options at a glance

Quick answer

Need a Matter alternative fast? Consider BackFeed+, Bonusly and Gusto. BackFeed+ holds the top SpotScore (7.8). The full comparison of all 7 on score, rating, and price is below.

There's no single best tool for everyone, so if Matter falls short on cost, features, or ease of use, look here. These 7 employee recognition software free alternatives lead the field, ranked by SpotScore (a blend of real-user satisfaction and market presence), ratings, and pricing. Compare them quickly in the table, then read each profile.

Product	SpotScore	Rating	Pricing	Best for
BackFeed+Powering your workforce for success.	7.8	Not yet rated	Freefrom $19.99 /User/Month	teams of all sizes
BonuslyBoost productivity and show appreciation effortlessly.	9.8	★★★★★ 4.5(2644)	FreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Based	teams of all sizes
GustoModern HR for Growing Businesses	9.7	★★★★☆ 4.36(947)	FreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Based	small & mid-size businesses
QarrotImprove culture, motivate performance with Qarrot.	8.8	★★★★★ 4.6(248)	FreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Based	teams of all sizes
AppreizElevate your team's performance.	8.5	Not yet rated	FreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Based	teams of all sizes
HiFivesEmpowering engagement, one employee at a time.	8.3	Not yet rated	FreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Based	teams of all sizes
ChatFoxEmpower your team with ChatFox.	7.9	★★★★★ 4.9(5)	FreeFreemium · Subscription · Quotation Based	teams of all sizes

7.8

SpotScore

BackFeed+

Powering your workforce for success.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is BackFeed+?

BackFeed+ is a performance management system that connects all the different performance data so user can easily track and asses their organization's team and individual employee performance. Assessing performance data guarantees that organization is making the right choices when it comes to ...

Bonusly

Boost productivity and show appreciation effortlessly.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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4.5

2644 verified reviews

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What is Bonusly?

Introducing Bonusly, the comprehensive SaaS platform that makes tracking and rewarding team work effortless. With advanced engagement metrics, customizable reward options, and detailed reports, Bonusly helps boost productivity in any organization. Managers can easily recognize their team's ...

Gusto

Modern HR for Growing Businesses

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market

HIPAA

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4.4

947 verified reviews

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What is Gusto?

Gusto is a comprehensive HR platform designed to help businesses of all sizes thrive. Whether you’re just starting out or scaling rapidly, Gusto provides the tools and guidance you need to grow and nurture your team. Trusted by over 300,000 businesses across the U.S., Gusto combines payroll, ...

Qarrot

Improve culture, motivate performance with Qarrot.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.6

248 verified reviews

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What is Qarrot?

Qarrot is a cloud-based employee rewards and recognition software for growing businesses. Qarrot powers outcome-based rewards and recognition to strengthen culture and improve performance. Built for the needs of both teams and organizations, Qarrot is simple to use, requires minimal set-up, and ...

Appreiz

Elevate your team's performance.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

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What is Appreiz?

Enhance employee engagement and optimize talent and performance management with Appreiz. This intuitive software simplifies the process of recognizing and acknowledging peers based on their demonstrated values, competencies, and skills. With features to set and track team and individual goals, ...

HiFives

Empowering engagement, one employee at a time.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

Add to compare

What is HiFives?

Introducing HiFives, the ultimate employee engagement software with the tagline "Best employee engagement software." It offers an automated, transformative, and computerized experience for employees, partnering with startups, large enterprises, and small and medium industries globally. With its ...

ChatFox

Empower your team with ChatFox.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Try for Free

4.9

5 verified reviews

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What is ChatFox?

Introducing ChatFox – the ultimate employee engagement tool with a simple yet powerful tagline, "Improve employee engagement with ChatFox". This innovative software takes the hassle out of scheduling meetings with its easy-to-use automated Icebreakers for teams on Slack. With ChatFox, you can ...

Why each option earned its place

BackFeed+7.8Best for teams of all sizes

Comprehensive performance data

Watch for: Limited customization options

Bonusly9.8Best for teams of all sizes

Easy to set up and understand, making it user-friendly for both setup and daily use.

Watch for: Limited customization and complex features can be overwhelming for new users without proper guidance.

Gusto9.7Best for small & mid-size businesses

Handles payroll processing and tax compliance without requiring accounting expertise.

Watch for: Occasional reports of errors in support communication or inconsistencies in handling complex account issues.

Qarrot8.8Best for teams of all sizes

Encourages a positive culture of recognition and appreciation among coworkers.

Watch for: Some users find the platform overwhelming due to a wide range of features and customizations.

Appreiz8.5Best for teams of all sizes

Intuitive interface

Watch for: Limited customization options

HiFives8.3Best for teams of all sizes

Automated recognition

Watch for: Limited customization

ChatFox7.9Best for teams of all sizes

Boosts employee engagement and connection, especially for remote and distributed teams.

Why teams look for a Matter alternative

Several familiar frustrations tend to drive teams away from Matter:

A few users wish for more points to distribute for recognition.

How to evaluate a Matter alternative

The numbers behind these 7 free alternatives: 7 offer a free tier; paid plans run $19.99, with BackFeed+ the cheapest entry point; and ChatFox is the highest rated at 4.9★ across 5 reviews.

How we put this in order.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Stuck on something? We're here to help with all the questions and answers in one place.

What are the best alternatives to Matter?

The top-rated alternatives to Matter are ChatFox (4.9★), Qarrot (4.6★), Bonusly (4.5★). Compare all 7 alternatives side-by-side above.

What features should I look for in a Employee Recognition Software alternative?

When evaluating alternatives to Matter, prioritize: Goal Setting, Surveys, Performance Metrics, For Developers, 360 Degree Feedback, transparent pricing, free trial availability, and integrations with your existing tools. Use the filters above to compare by feature, budget, and team size.

How difficult is it to migrate from Matter to an alternative?

Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Matter is integrated into your workflows. Most alternatives offer data export/import tools and dedicated onboarding support. We recommend shortlisting 2–3 options, running a free trial, and checking each vendor's migration guides before committing.

How to land on the right Matter alternative

On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — BackFeed+, Bonusly and Gusto let you evaluate without paying upfront.
If real-user ratings matter most: ChatFox has the strongest star rating (4.9★) among the options with verified reviews.
Want the safest pick: BackFeed+ has the highest Spotsaas Score (7.8) in this list — a strong default if you're unsure.

Ready to leave Matter?

Getting off Matter cleanly comes down to preparation. Export everything, verify the new tool can import it, and check feature parity for your day-to-day work. Run a small pilot first, then migrate fully, keeping Matter as backup until you're done. Free trials above lower the risk.

Compare top products

Appreiz