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All Comparisons

Serret Pulse vs CaptivateIQ

CaptivateIQ is powerful incentive compensation management, but at $600/user/month with $10K minimums, it's built for enterprise budgets. Serret Pulse delivers gamified commissions and motivation at 94% less.

Lower cost

Minimum contract

XP levels to Legend

Cost Calculator

See how much you could save

150100

CaptivateIQ

Monthly (10 users x $600)$6,000
Annual cost$72,000
Setup / implementation fee$8,000
First-year total$80,000

Serrét Serret Pulse

Monthly (10 users x $35)$350
Annual cost (15% discount)$3,570
Guided onboarding (1 month)$3,500

Credited to your subscription on 12–24 mo. contract

Self-setup also available at no cost

First-year total$3,570

You save: $76,430/year(96%)

Feature Comparison

Feature by feature

FeatureSerrét Serret PulseCaptivateIQ
Commission tracking
Plan modelling
Multi-plan support
Payout calculations
XP levelling system
Achievement badges
Team leaderboardsBasic
Team challenges
Level progression (6 tiers)
Real-time commission visibility
Performance dashboards
What-if modellingBasicAdvanced
Audit trails

The Math

What you'd pay separately

Incentive compensation (CaptivateIQ)$600/user/mo
Setup fee (amortised over 12 months)$667/mo
Gamification platform$10/user/mo
Employee recognition tool$5/user/mo
Total if bought separately$1,282/user/mo (first year, 10 users)

With Serret

$35/user/mo

Save 97%

The Honest Take

When to choose what

Choose CaptivateIQ if…

  • You have complex, multi-variable commission structures
  • Enterprise compliance and audit requirements are mandatory
  • You need deep ERP/finance system integrations
  • Budget supports $600+/user/month with $10K minimums

Choose Serret if…

  • You want commission tracking plus daily motivation tools
  • Gamification and XP systems excite your team
  • You need affordable ICM for a growing team
  • Setup should take minutes, not weeks
  • You want to motivate reps, not just calculate payouts

Their strengths

  • Enterprise-grade commission plan modelling
  • Handles extremely complex compensation structures
  • Advanced what-if scenario planning
  • Deep ERP and finance system integrations
  • SOC 2 Type II certified for enterprise compliance

Our strengths

  • 94% lower cost with no minimum contract
  • Gamification that actually motivates reps daily
  • XP levelling system with 6 progression tiers
  • No $8,000 setup fee — start in minutes
  • Purpose-built for sales team motivation, not just payroll

FAQ

Common questions

Can Serret Pulse handle complex commission plans?

Serret Pulse handles multi-tier, quota-based, and accelerator commission plans well. For extremely complex structures with 50+ variables and deep ERP integrations, CaptivateIQ may be more suitable. Most sales teams find Pulse more than sufficient.

What is the XP levelling system?

Serret Pulse includes a gamification system where reps earn XP (experience points) for activities and results. There are 6 levels from Rookie to Legend, with badges, challenges, and leaderboards that drive daily motivation beyond just commission numbers.

Is CaptivateIQ really $600/user/month?

Industry sources indicate CaptivateIQ's base pricing is approximately $600/user/month with a minimum annual contract of $10,000. Pricing varies based on team size and feature requirements.

What if we have simple commission plans?

If your commission plans are straightforward (e.g., percentage of revenue, tiered bonuses), Serret Pulse is ideal. You get commission tracking plus gamification at $35/user/month — a fraction of what CaptivateIQ charges.

Ready to switch from CaptivateIQ?

Book a free discovery call. We'll show you exactly how Serrét replaces CaptivateIQ — and what you'll save.