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Donut HR & Recruiting

Free plan available; paid plans from $20/mo

Donut (HR & Recruiting): Donut is a Slack and Microsoft Teams app that automates onboarding, introductions, and recognition to boost belonging and collaboration. Pricing: from Free plan available; paid plans from $20/mo. (data verified July 2026)

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About Donut

What is Donut?

Donut is an engagement and people automation platform that works inside Slack and Microsoft Teams. It helps HR teams, managers, and leaders automate key people programs like new hire onboarding (Journeys), cross-team introductions (Intros), peer-to-peer recognition (Shoutouts), and team engagement prompts directly in the messaging apps teams already use.

Who is it for (and who is it not for)?

It is designed for high-performing, distributed, or hybrid teams that want to strengthen culture, scale connections, and reduce manual HR tasks. It is ideal for People Ops teams, HR leaders, and team leads at companies of 50+ employees. It is not a full HRIS or performance management system — Donut focuses on connection, culture, and lightweight process automation, not payroll, compliance, or advanced performance reviews.

Real use cases

Onboarding: Automate welcome messages, task checklists, and check-ins for new hires via Slack or Teams. Sync with your HRIS to auto-enroll employees. Collaboration: Use AI-powered Intros to pair people across departments for virtual coffee chats. Recognition: Let peers award points and badges tied to core values, redeemable for rewards. Engagement: Spark daily or weekly prompts in channels to keep remote teams connected and measure sentiment.

How does Donut work?

After installing Donut in Slack or Teams, admins configure Journeys (automated sequences with messages, polls, and tasks), set up Intros (smart matching based on interests or criteria), and activate Shoutouts (peer recognition with rewards). The platform integrates with Google Calendar, Zoom, 50+ HRIS platforms, and Slack Enterprise Grid. Pricing is usage-based per active user, with a Free plan available.

Key features

  • AI Onboarding Journeys — Automate new hire workflows with messages, tasks, and polls, synced with your HRIS or ATS.
  • Smart Intros — AI-powered matching for cross-team introductions, with group size and custom message settings.
  • Peer-to-Peer Recognition — Shoutouts with points, badges, and a customizable rewards store linked to universal gift cards and real-world incentives.
  • Watercooler & Celebrations – Automated prompts and topic libraries for channel-based team connection and milestone celebrations.
  • Multi-channel & Enterprise Grid Support – Run Intros, Watercooler, and Celebrations across multiple Slack channels, including Enterprise Grid.
  • HRIS & Tool Integrations – Sync data from 50+ HRIS platforms plus Google Calendar and Zoom for seamless automation.

SaaSpartout Score

7.4 /10
Ease of use 8.5
Features depth 7.5
Value for money 8.0
Support quality 7.0
Integrations 6.5
Scalability 7.5
Documentation 6.0
Onboarding speed 8.5

Editorial score from our review methodology — not user ratings.

Donut Pricing

Donut pricing: Free plan available; paid plans from $20/mo. Billing model: Freemium.

Free Plan

$0 — includes one Slack channel for Intros, Watercooler, and Celebrations; up to 3 automated messages in 1 Journey; 24 users per Intro round; 12 default Watercooler topics; up to 24 default Celebrations messages; Google Calendar and Zoom integrations; automatic recognition points with customizable Rewards Store.

Standard Plan

Estimated from $20/mo (per active user) — includes everything in Free; multiple Slack channels; up to 6 automated messages in 1 Journey; unlimited Intros, Watercooler topics, and Celebrations messages; advanced Intros settings (group size, custom messages); full Watercooler topic library + custom topics; customizable Celebrations messages; sync data from 50+ HRIS platforms; automatic recognition points with customizable Rewards Store including universal gift cards.

Premium Plan

Estimated from $30/mo (per active user) – includes everything in Standard; peer-to-peer recognition (Shoutouts) with customizable Rewards Store; unlimited messages per Journey (Slack + email); unlimited automations per Journey (Intros, Slack channel invites); complete prebuilt Journeys for onboarding, training, and more; Intros and Watercooler in Slack Enterprise Grid multi-workspace channels.

Billing is monthly or annually by credit card. No commitment on monthly plans; usage-based billing adjusts per active user. Start with the Free plan, no trial required.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Donut free?
Yes, Donut offers a Free plan with core features for one Slack channel. Paid Standard and Premium plans start from around $20/mo per active user and scale with usage.
How does Donut pricing work?
Donut is usage-based: you pay per active user (those who actually use the app). You can estimate costs on their pricing page by entering your team size and expected engagement rate. Monthly and annual billing options are available.
What is Donut and how does it work?
Donut is a people automation app for Slack and Microsoft Teams. It automates onboarding (Journeys), cross-team introductions (Intros), peer recognition (Shoutouts), and team engagement prompts. Admins set up automated flows, and users interact directly in their messaging workspace.
Who is Donut best for?
Donut is best for remote, hybrid, or distributed teams of 50+ employees, especially in People Ops, HR, or leadership roles. It helps scale culture and connection without adding manual manager work. It is not a replacement for a full HRIS or performance management system.
What are the top alternatives to Donut?
Top alternatives include Bonusly (recognition-focused), Culture Amp (engagement surveys), Lattice (performance and engagement), and Teamphoria (peer recognition). For onboarding automation, tools like Enboarder and Talmundo compete. Donut uniquely combines onboarding, intros, and recognition in one Slack-native platform.
Does Donut work with Microsoft Teams?
Yes, Donut is available for both Slack and Microsoft Teams. You can install the Teams version directly from their website. Most features (Intros, Watercooler, Celebrations) work similarly on both platforms.
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