So, you’re leading or supporting a B2B go-to-market team, and you keep hearing that you need a “sales motivation tool” to get reps focused, fired up, and hitting their numbers. Maybe you’ve seen Leveleleven in your search, or maybe you’re knee-deep in demos for half a dozen lookalikes. Either way, every vendor says they’ll “drive behavior” and “boost performance.” But what actually works, and how do you tell the difference between these tools? That’s what this guide is for.
If you want a no-nonsense way to compare Leveleleven with the other options—and avoid wasting money or time—read on.
1. Get Clear on What You’re Really Solving For
Before you even peek at feature lists, get specific about your team’s real pain points. “Motivation” is vague. What’s not working?
- Are reps just going through the motions?
- Do you lack visibility into activities and KPIs?
- Are you running spiffs and contests, but nobody seems to care?
- Or is leadership just looking for data to justify new hires?
Pro tip: If your team is burned out or your comp plan is a mess, no software is going to fix that. Motivation tools can amplify what’s already working—but they can’t patch over fundamental issues.
Write down your top 2-3 issues. Keep it simple. You’ll refer back to this list a lot.
2. Make a Shortlist: Who Actually Competes With Leveleleven?
Leveleleven is one of the more established names in sales motivation, but it’s not alone. When you’re comparing, you’ll see a few categories:
- Sales gamification platforms: Leveleleven, Ambition, Spinify, Hoopla
- Scorecard and KPI trackers: Ambition, Atrivity, SalesScreen
- Standalone contest tools: FantasySalesTeam, SalesScreen
- “All-in-one” sales enablement: Sometimes Outreach or Salesforce overlays claim to motivate, but these are usually weak at actual motivation.
What matters: Most teams end up comparing Leveleleven, Ambition, and Spinify. Hoopla is still around but less common. Ignore tools that only offer “fun dashboards” with no real tracking or automation.
3. Drill Into Core Features—Ignore the Fluff
Vendors love to dazzle you with “engagement widgets,” social feeds, and endless badges. Here’s what actually moves the needle:
a. KPI and Activity Tracking
- Can you set up clear, custom KPIs (calls, emails, demos, etc.) that matter to your team?
- Is the data real-time, or is there a lag?
- Can you automate this via your CRM, or is it manual entry?
Honest take: Leveleleven is strong on real-time KPI tracking, especially if you’re a Salesforce shop. Ambition and Spinify are also solid. If a tool can’t pull from your CRM, move on.
b. Scorecards and Leaderboards
- Does the tool show progress clearly—not just to managers, but to reps?
- Can you run multiple leaderboards (by team, by region, etc.)?
- Is it easy to set up? Or do you need an admin with a PhD in widget configuration?
What works: Simple, visible leaderboards drive more behavior than over-complicated “multiplayer game” setups.
c. Contests, Spiffs, and Incentives
- Can you build contests quickly—or does it take an hour and a support ticket?
- Are there flexible contest types? (Not just “who made the most calls.”)
- Does it automate winner notifications and rewards?
What to ignore: Don’t get distracted by “virtual trophies” or endless customization. Ease of use beats flash.
d. Coaching and Feedback Loops
- Can managers see who’s falling behind and coach in real time?
- Are there built-in feedback or 1:1 tracking tools?
- Is this actually used by customers, or just a checkbox feature?
Reality check: Most teams underuse coaching features. If your managers aren’t bought in, don’t overpay for this.
e. Integrations and Workflow Fit
- Does it integrate directly with your CRM (ideally Salesforce)?
- Does it work with Slack, Teams, or wherever your team hangs out?
- Can you trigger alerts or recognitions in your workflow, not just in the tool?
Key point: If your team never logs in, the tool is useless. Integration with daily workflow is huge.
4. Evaluate Ease of Use (For Everyone)
You want something your reps, managers, and admins will actually use—without a three-week onboarding.
Ask yourself:
- Can a manager launch a new contest in under 10 minutes?
- Will reps see their stats without digging through four menus?
- Is onboarding a nightmare, or can you get started in a day?
What we see: Leveleleven is pretty user-friendly if you’re on Salesforce. Ambition is close. Spinify is a bit lighter but sometimes less customizable. The fancier the platform, the more likely you’ll need help setting things up.
5. Scrutinize Reporting and Results
At the end of the day, you need to show this thing is working.
- Can you pull reports showing contest results, activity trends, and changes over time?
- Are insights actionable, or just “pretty charts”?
- Does the tool make it easy to spot coaching opportunities, not just winners and losers?
Caution: Some tools overwhelm you with dashboards but bury real insights. Look for practical, exportable data—something you’d actually show your execs.
6. Check the Price (And What’s Actually Included)
Most sales motivation tools charge by seat, with extra fees for integrations or “premium support.” Get clear:
- Is pricing transparent, or do you need a demo before they’ll tell you?
- Are integrations (CRM, Slack/Teams) extra?
- Is there a minimum user count?
- What’s support like—do you get a real person, or just a help center?
Real talk: Leveleleven, Ambition, and Spinify are all in the $15–$30 per user/month range, but nickel-and-dime on integrations. Watch for surprise “implementation” fees.
7. Dig Into Real Customer Feedback
Ignore the curated case studies and ask around:
- What do other B2B teams actually say in G2, Reddit, or sales ops groups?
- Any horror stories about adoption or customer support?
- Are there complaints about data lag or bugs?
Quick summary: Leveleleven gets points for Salesforce integration, but some folks gripe about stale UI and slow support. Ambition gets praise for flexibility but can feel overwhelming. Spinify is simple, but less powerful. Hoopla’s support has been spotty. Don’t trust testimonials on vendor sites.
8. Pilot—and Don’t Overthink It
No tool will magically fix sales motivation overnight. Once you’ve narrowed it down, run a quick pilot with a small team.
- Set just one or two KPIs to start.
- Get feedback from real users—reps and managers.
- Don’t try to use every feature out of the gate.
- Check usage after two weeks—are people logging in without being nagged?
If nobody cares after a month, it’s not the tool for you. Move on.
Summary: Keep It Simple, Iterate Fast
The sales motivation tool market is full of big promises and fancy dashboards, but the basics matter most: clear goals, easy tracking, and tools your team will actually use. Don’t get sucked into the hype cycle. Start with your team’s real pain points, pilot before you buy, and don’t be afraid to walk away if the tool adds more work than value. Simple wins, every time.