Looking for a Kudoboard alternative? Online group cards compared
By the Cheerly team · Updated · 6 min read
The paper card that used to go round the office has mostly moved online. Kudoboard is the name most people know, but it isn't the only option, and it may not be the right one for you. If your friends or coworkers live in different countries, or you'd rather hear their voices than read another "HBD!!", the choice matters. Here's a plain comparison to help you decide.
First, decide what you actually need
Most people searching for a group card alternative care about one or two of these things. Pick yours before you compare:
- Voice notes. Can people record a message, or is it text and GIFs only?
- Money. Can the group chip in for a gift, and in which currencies?
- Who gets the money. Does it land with the organiser or with the person being celebrated?
- Price. Do you pay per card, per month, or nothing at all?
Kudoboard and GroupGreeting
Both are well liked for office birthdays, farewells and retirements, mainly in the US and UK. You usually pay per board or card, and business plans are available. They're built around written messages, photos and GIFs. Where gifts are offered, they tend to be gift cards rather than cash going straight to the person.
If your whole team sits in one country and a written card is all you want, either one does the job well.
Thankbox
Thankbox is the closest to Cheerly in spirit. You get a group card plus a money collection. Voice and video messages sit on the higher tier, and contributors pay a percentage fee on what they give. Check their pricing page for current numbers, since these things change.
Local money-pooling apps
In Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana there are good apps for pooling cash, from digital money spray boards to PIN-based cash drops. They work great when everyone is in the same country. They're less helpful when half the group is in London or Houston, and messages are usually an afterthought.
Where Cheerly fits
Cheerly was built for groups that are spread out. One person makes a page and shares a single link. Friends open it in their browser, record a voice note, add a reaction and, if they want, send a gift by card in their own currency (USD, GBP, EUR, NGN, KES, GHS and more).
The money is held for the celebrant, not the organiser. When the day comes, the celebrant gets a private passcode, hears every voice note and claims the gifts to their own account. You can try a page free for one day with up to five voice messages. Premium is $3 a month or $30 a year, and Cheerly keeps 3% of gifts.
Common questions
Is there a free alternative to Kudoboard?
Cheerly lets you open one page free for a day with up to five voice messages, which is enough to try it with a small group. Longer and bigger celebrations need Premium.
Can people leave voice messages on an online group card?
On some tools, yes. Cheerly is built around voice notes, so every guest can record from their phone browser without installing anything.
Can friends in other countries contribute money?
On Cheerly they pay by card in their own currency. Payments go through Stripe internationally and Paystack in supported African countries.