The best alternatives to Prezzee and Love2Shop Business: why companies are ditching gift cards for gift with choice

We’d like to begin with a big old caveat: gift cards aren't inherently bad. They're convenient. They give people choice. And for years, they've been the go-to solution for corporate gifting and employee recognition.

But here's the thing: gift cards feel transactional. They're the business equivalent of "here's some money, sort yourself out". And in a world where organisations are trying to build genuine connections with their people and clients, transactional just doesn’t cut it anymore.

That's why more UK mid-market companies are moving away from traditional gift card providers like Love2Shop and Prezzee Business, and towards platforms that offer physical gifts with choice, like Huggg.

In this guide, we'll explain why, compare your options, and help you decide what actually works for your team.

What's wrong with gift cards?

Nothing, technically. But they're showing their age.

The problems with traditional gift card providers

Love2Shop and One4All: old school, new problems

Love2Shop and One4All have been around for decades. They're the gift vouchers your gran used to get at Christmas. And while they've tried to modernise with digital options, the systems are still clunky.

Here's what you're dealing with:

• Clunky platforms: Anyone who's tried to bulk-send Love2Shop vouchers will tell you: the admin is painful. It's not built for modern, agile HR teams who want to send recognition quickly.
   
• Low redemption visibility: You often don't know if vouchers have been redeemed, which makes it hard to measure ROI or improve your gifting strategy.
   
• One-size-fits-all: A £20 Love2Shop voucher is the same for everyone. It doesn't feel personal or thoughtful-it feels like an afterthought.

Prezzee: modern, but still transactional

Prezzee is the sleeker, Australia-based alternative. They've got a modern platform, video messages, bulk sending, and all the features you'd expect from a B2B gifting solution.

But it's still fundamentally a gift card platform. You're sending someone a voucher for Amazon or John Lewis, not a carefully curated gift. And while Prezzee's tech is better than Love2Shop's, the experience still lands as "here's some money" rather than "we've thought about you."

Why gift cards feel transactional (and why that matters)

Here's where the research gets interesting.

Studies on gift-giving psychology consistently show that the act of choosing a gift signals care and thoughtfulness. It's not about the monetary value. In fact, studies show employees who are praised verbally are more motivated than those financially rewarded. So it’s really all about the message: "I’m grateful, so I actually took time to think about what you might like."

Gift cards bypass that entirely. They say, "I didn't spend any time thinking about what you'd like, so here's a cash equivalent."

Now, for some contexts - like large-scale reward programs or social support vouchers - gift cards make perfect sense. But for recognition, client gifting, or building meaningful connections? They’re gonna fall flat.

And in a labour market where 45% are likely to stay for 2+ years if they are well recognised, feeling valued isn't a nice-to-have. It's a retention strategy.

What's the alternative? Gift with choice

This is where platforms like Huggg come in. We're not here to trash gift cards - they have their place. We even offer them ourselves, because sometimes they are the most sensible option. But on the whole, we think there's a better way to do corporate gifting and employee recognition.

How gift with choice works

Instead of sending a £20 Amazon voucher, you send a curated selection of gifts. The recipient clicks a link, browses the options, and picks what they actually want. Then we send it to them. You still don’t need their address - they add that themselves - so it’s the perfect compromise. 

Here's the difference:

Gift cards: 

You → £25 Amazon voucher → Recipient sorts it out

Gift with choice:

You → Curated selection → Recipient chooses → We deliver a physical gift

Why this matters: the psychology of thoughtful gifting

When someone receives a physical gift - even one they've chosen from a curated range - it hits differently.

They're not logging into Amazon to spend a voucher. The doorbell is going. They're receiving a package. They're unboxing something tangible. And crucially, they're more likely to share their experience.

No one posts about receiving a £20 John Lewis gift card. But a lovely hamper? A personalised notebook? Some speciality coffee? People share that. They show their teams. They remember it.

That's not just anecdotal. Research suggests that physical gifts are more memorable than cash-equivalent rewards. The act of unwrapping and experiencing a tangible item creates a stronger emotional connection than a transactional voucher.

Huggg vs Prezzee vs Love2Shop: how they compare

Let's get practical. Here's how Huggg stacks up against the traditional gift card providers.

What’s the gift format?

Prezzee Business: Digital gift cards

Love2Shop Business: Digital and physical gift cards

Huggg: Physical gifts, gift cards, and experiences

Does the recipient get a choice of gift?

Prezzee Business: Yes - but it’s retailer vouchers

Love2Shop Business: It’s limited

Huggg: Yes - they can choose from a curated selection, prices hidden

Can you send without addresses? 

Prezzee Business: Yes

Love2Shop Business: No

Huggg: Yes - you don’t even need to collect email addresses

Can you get refunds for unclaimed gifts?

Prezzee Business: No

Love2Shop Business: No

Huggg: Yes, if you upgrade from the free platform

Are there platform fees?

Prezzee Business: Yes, there are per-send fees

Love2Shop Business: Yes, there are per-voucher fees

Huggg: No, it’s free to use Huggg (though you can upgrade for premium features)

Are there micro-gifts (under £10)?

Prezzee Business: Yes, but recipients see the price

Love2Shop Business: Not practically, no

Huggg: Yes! And prices are hidden from recipients, so they don’t feel undervalued

Is personalisation available? 

Prezzee Business: Yes, they offer video and voice messages

Love2Shop Business: It’s limited

Huggg: Yes, you can add messages, gift wrap, and branding (for an upgrade)

Are they UK tax compliant?

Prezzee Business: Yes

Love2Shop Business: Yes

Huggg: Yes, built-in and with easy reporting

Is there redemption tracking? 

Prezzee Business: Yes

Love2Shop Business: Limited

Huggg: Yes, full analytics

What is the platform best for?

Prezzee Business: High-volume voucher programmes

Love2Shop Business: Traditional voucher needs

Huggg: Thoughtful recognition, client gifting, milestone moments

Where Huggg wins

1. Gifts feel thoughtful, not transactional

A curated hamper or a personalised mug feels like you've put thought in. A £20 Amazon voucher... doesn't. That emotional difference matters when you're trying to build genuine connections with your people or clients.

2. Micro-gifting doesn't feel cheap

Sending a £5 gift card is awkward. It might even offend someone. But sending a coffee? A plant? A thank-you snack box? That's a thoughtful gesture, not a token payment. Huggg lets you gift frequently without looking stingy.

3. People actually talk about it

No one takes a picture of a gift card. But they will post about a lovely hamper or a thoughtful gift box. That organic word-of-mouth? It's employer brand marketing that you just can't buy.

Where Prezzee and Love2Shop still make sense

Let's be honest: there are contexts where gift cards are the right call:

• Large-scale reward programs: If you're running a points-based system with thousands of participants, vouchers make logistical sense.
   
• Social support schemes: For cost-of-living support or emergency assistance, vouchers offer flexibility without admin overhead.

But for thoughtful recognition, client gifting, or building genuine connections? That's where a ‘gift with choice’ shines.

Common objections (and how to respond)

"People prefer receiving a gift card so they can buy what they want"

This is the most common pushback, and it's not entirely wrong. People genuinely do value choice.

But here's the nuance: gift with choice gives them the same flexibility, without the transactional feel.

With Huggg, recipients still choose what they want. The difference is they're choosing from a curated selection, rather than logging into Amazon to spend a voucher. It's the same flexibility, but it feels like you've thought about it.

"Gift cards are easier than gifts"

They used to be. But not anymore.

Huggg makes it as easy to send physical gifts as it is to send gift cards:

1. Choose your budget
2. Curate a gift range (or use our pre-built collections)
3. Send via link, email, or SMS
4. Recipient picks their gift, provides their address - and that’s it!

No spreadsheets. No addresses. No chasing invoices. It's as frictionless as Prezzee, but the end result feels infinitely more thoughtful.

"Huggg doesn't offer video or voice messages like Prezzee"

Fair point. Prezzee's video message feature is genuinely quite nice.

But here's the thing: Huggg gifts are just a URL. You can include it alongside any messaging you want - Slack messages, email campaigns, handwritten notes, whatever. We offer gift wrap, branding, and text personalisation. And if you want to send a video message, you could always embed your Huggg link in it.

We're not trying to be an all-in-one comms platform. We're focused on making the gifting experience itself as thoughtful and seamless as possible.

"What about physical vouchers? We need those for frontline workers"

We've got you covered. Huggg can offer printed QR codes for frontline workers l -like cafe staff, warehouse teams, or retail workers.

Most gift card platforms require email addresses and logins, which rules out a huge chunk of the workforce. Huggg's QR code solution works for everyone.

How to choose the right platform for your team

Here's a quick decision framework:

Choose Huggg if:

• You want gifts that feel thoughtful, not transactional  
• You're gifting for recognition, client relationships, or milestone moments  
• You need micro-gifting options (under £10) that don't feel cheap  
• You care about recipient experience and emotional impact  

Choose Prezzee if:

• You're running a high-volume, points-based rewards program  
• You need instant, digital-only delivery globally  
• You value video message features  
• You're happy with the transactional nature of gift cards  

Choose Love2Shop if:

• You're used to traditional vouchers and don't want to change  
• You have a very specific compliance requirement they meet  
•  Your audience specifically requests Love2Shop vouchers  

Most mid-market companies? They'll get more value from Huggg. But your mileage may vary depending on your goals, audience, and budget.

The takeaway

Gift cards aren't going anywhere. They're convenient, flexible, and logistically simple. Prezzee has modernised the experience with slick tech, and Love2Shop still has a place for traditional voucher needs.

But if you're trying to build genuine connections - with your team, your clients, or your partners - gift cards can fall short.

They're transactional. They're forgettable. And they cost you money even when recipients don't use them.

Gift with choice offers the same flexibility, but with a crucial difference: it feels like you've thought about it. And in a world where people are drowning in transactional interactions, that thoughtfulness stands out.

Want to see how Huggg compares for your team? Explore gift with choice or talk to us about building a gifting strategy that actually feels human.

FAQs

What is the difference between gift cards and gift with choice?

Gift cards give recipients a voucher for one retailer (like Amazon or John Lewis). Gift with choice lets recipients pick from a curated selection of products, experiences, or vouchers. Research shows 68% of UK employees prefer choosing their own gift rather than receiving a pre-selected item, but gift with choice feels more thoughtful than a transactional voucher because the sender has curated the options.

Are Prezzee and Love2Shop the same?

No. Prezzee is a modern, Australia-based platform offering digital gift cards with features like video messages, bulk sending, and tracking. Love2Shop is a traditional UK gift voucher provider that's been around for decades, offering physical and digital vouchers but with clunkier systems and per-voucher fees. Prezzee is more tech-forward, but both are fundamentally gift card platforms.

Do I get refunds for unclaimed gift cards with Prezzee or Love2Shop?

No. Both Prezzee and Love2Shop charge upfront for vouchers, and unclaimed vouchers are not refunded. This can mean 10-15% of your gifting budget goes to waste if recipients don't redeem. Platforms like Huggg refund unclaimed gifts if you pay a platform fee, which can significantly reduce costs over time.

Why do gift cards feel transactional?

Gift cards are essentially cash equivalents. They say "here's some money, sort yourself out" rather than "I thought about what you might like." Research on gift-giving psychology shows that the act of choosing a gift signals care and thoughtfulness. Gift cards bypass that signal entirely, which is why they often feel less meaningful than physical gifts-even when the recipient has choice in what they receive.

Can Huggg send gift cards too?

Yes. Huggg offers a wide range of digital gift cards and vouchers alongside physical gifts and experiences. The difference is recipients choose from a curated selection you've put together, rather than just receiving a single-retailer voucher. This gives them the same flexibility as a traditional gift card, but it feels more thoughtful because you've curated the options.

What is micro-gifting and why does it matter?

Micro-gifting is sending small, frequent gifts (typically under £10) as a way to recognise people more often without blowing your budget. A £5 gift card feels cheap and might even offend someone, but a £5 coffee, plant, or snack box is a thoughtful gesture. Micro-gifting lets you build a culture of regular recognition without high costs.

How does Huggg handle UK tax and trivial benefits compliance?

Huggg is built for UK compliance. Gifts under £50 per employee per year qualify for HMRC's trivial benefits exemption, which means they're tax-free and don't need to be reported on P11D. Huggg's platform provides reporting and VAT receipts to make tax filing simple. Always consult your accountant for specific tax advice, but our system is designed to keep you compliant.

Do I need employee addresses to send gifts with Huggg?

No. Huggg offers address-free gifting. You send a link via email, SMS, or Slack. Recipients click the link, choose their gift, and provide their own address. This is GDPR-compliant, reduces admin work, and avoids awkward "send us your home address" requests-especially important for hybrid and remote teams.

Can Huggg work for frontline workers without email?

Yes. Huggg can offer printed QR codes for frontline workers without corporate email (like cafe workers, warehouse staff, or retail teams). Most gift card platforms require email addresses and logins, which rules out a large portion of the workforce. Huggg's QR code solution ensures no one gets left out.

How much does Huggg cost compared to Prezzee or Love2Shop?

Huggg doesn't charge a platform fee unless you want to upgrade for additional features like custom branding. You pay for the gifts recipients choose. Prezzee and Love2Shop typically charge per-send or per-voucher fees, plus you pay upfront for all vouchers (even unclaimed ones). Because Huggg refunds unclaimed gifts and doesn't charge platform fees for standard use, most companies find it more cost-effective-especially at scale.