Simpplr alternatives: Oak Engage compared – 2025 intranet platform review

One of Oak’s most significant advantages is in customer success and support. Users rated Oak’s Quality of Support 9.6, slightly higher than Simpplr’s rating of 9.3.

A higher score here is crucial. Intranet implementation is an organisation-wide project, and having a supportive partner from launch through ongoing optimisation is essential. 

Oak’s hands-on, consultative approach means customers receive the personalised, rapid support necessary for a successful platform, with G2 reviewers often highlighting the efforts of the support teams as a plus.

Another key area where Oak is rated significantly better is in version control, scoring 9.2 vs Simpplr’s 8.3.

While version control might seem like a niche feature, for regulated industries or large enterprises, it is the foundation of strong knowledge management and compliance. A high score here suggests Oak’s platform provides the administrative tools necessary for IT and comms teams to govern content effectively. This means employees can always access correct, up-to-date documentation, dramatically reducing compliance risk.

Meanwhile, G2 users praise Simpplr on its ease of use and out-of-the-box simplicity for administrators and end-users and helpful integrations, making internal communications streamlined and efficient across various platforms.

Simpplr alternatives - Oak Engage : How do the platform features perform?

When weighing up two of the leading intranet and employee engagement platforms, it’s important to go beyond the headline features. Both solutions tick the boxes of a modern digital workplace, offering communication tools, social functionality and integrations that connect teams across the business.

But to choose the right one for your organisation, it’s worth looking more closely at how they perform in the areas that matter most against your internal comms objectives. Below, we explore how each platform measures up, backed by customer feedback and independent analysis.

Oak Engage vs Simpplr: Who offers the best customer support? 👥

Quality of support isn’t just about fixing technical issues – it’s about building a partnership that helps your intranet succeed long term. Whether you’re launching a platform for the first time or optimising your existing one, having a responsive, proactive support team makes all the difference. Your Simpplr alternative should have this at the forefront of its capabilities.

Oak places customer success at the heart of its service model. Their highly trained and attentive support teams are there to assist you every step of the way and pride themselves on continually receiving above industry average customer satisfaction ratings. Their personalised, hands-on approach stands out from many enterprise-level providers, where support is often limited to ticket-based or self-service systems.

Since Aldi partnered with Oak to develop their employee intranet platform MyALDI in 2017, they’ve seen continuous uptake and engagement, encouraging them to keep optimising the app. Charlotte Timmins, Communication Manager, Aldi UK said:

“The Oak team is both incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. With our Internal Comms team, Oak ensure that MyALDI is the most engaging, connective platform possible; and they’re always ready to offer ideas for new developments and technical support”

One G2 reviewer summarised the experience by saying: “The Oak team has been such a great partner - they are always on hand to make sure we are getting the most out of the platform and continuously improve how we communicate.” This focus on relationship building means that customers aren’t just purchasing a tool – they’re gaining an ongoing partnership dedicated to their success.

Simpplr also has a reputation for efficient onboarding and strong documentation, but feedback suggests its support model leans more towards structured ticketing and self-help resources. When thinking of Simpplr alternatives, it really pays to think about the support that will either make or break your internal communication strategy in those first initial steps.

For large enterprises with established internal IT or comms teams, this model may work well. However, organisations that value more personalised guidance find Oak’s customer success-driven approach a better fit.

Oak Engage vs Simpplr: Which platform offers the best version control? 🔒

Strong document governance is essential for ensuring compliance, clarity and trust across your digital workplace. When policies, handbooks or compliance documents are updated regularly, version control becomes more than a convenience – it’s a legal and operational safeguard.

G2 gives Oak an impressive 92% rating for version control, compared to 83% for Simpplr. This edge reflects Oak’s investment in robust content management and compliance tools that simplify complex governance requirements.

With Oak, administrators can easily track document updates, view historical versions and audit who accessed what and when. This ensures that every employee always sees the most current and approved version of a document and has confidence in a single source of truth for everything they need. 

For industries with strict regulatory requirements (such as healthcare, finance, or manufacturing), this control isn’t optional – it’s critical. HR and internal comms leaders can rest assured that outdated or conflicting information won’t circulate, reducing compliance risks and building confidence among employees.

While Simpplr also provides document management capabilities, Oak’s structured and transparent version control system gives it an advantage for businesses that prioritise governance and accountability.

Oak Engage vs Simpplr: Which is best for content targeting and personalisation? 🎯

In an era of information overload, effective content targeting determines whether employees stay informed or tune out. Both Oak and Simpplr understand the importance of delivering relevant messages, but their approaches differ.

Oak excels in strategic personalisation. According to ClearBox, Oak’s advanced targeting and personalised homepages offer a level of configurability that’s hard to match. One customer told ClearBox:

“The platform also helps us engage and communicate, which has improved overall team performance.”

Its Smart Delivery tool automatically tailors content based on predefined criteria such as audience type, message priority and timing. This means internal communicators can ensure that the right people receive the right message at the exact moment it’s most relevant.

Using Oak’s AI features, admins can use AI search and generative content to create smart and personalised experiences for employees, streamlining workloads and freeing up valuable time.

For Burger King, their focus was to connect as many of their 6,000 strong workforce as possible, without overwhelming them with irrelevant information. Nick Hollis, Head of Engagement at Burger King UK, said:

“The platform’s intelligent delivery mechanism ensures that our employees only receive the information that they need, effectively cutting through the noise and enhancing the overall engagement and communication within the company.”

Simpplr’s AI-driven approach relies more heavily on machine learning, suggesting content based on employees’ previous browsing or engagement habits. While this can surface interesting recommendations, it often puts less control in the hands of internal communicators who want to align messaging with strategic objectives.

Oak’s user-first design gives you the power to define exactly what matters most to each audience segment – helping your messages cut through the clutter and drive meaningful engagement.

Oak Engage vs Simpplr: Which platform is best for community and engagement? 💬

Employee engagement doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built through shared spaces, recognition and conversation. Both Oak and Simpplr include social tools that encourage connection, but Oak’s approach to community and engagement is notably more structured and strategic - a consideration that should be considerable weight for those looking for Simpplr alternatives.

ClearBox’s 2025 Intranet Report praised Oak’s community hubs for creating spaces that encourage collaboration and peer-to-peer engagement, including social timelines and polls. These hubs allow teams to build dedicated, themed communities from initiatives and projects to social clubs and wellness programmes. Each hub acts as a curated environment where employees can connect, contribute and celebrate achievements.

This model contrasts with Simpplr’s more open, feed-style structure, which is great for user-generated content but can become noisy or hard to navigate over time. Oak’s balance between freedom and structure means communicators can maintain focus while still encouraging authentic participation.

Oak also integrates recognition and reward features that make employee appreciation a visible part of the daily experience. The ‘Quick Thanks’ and ‘Awards’ features all contribute to a culture of positivity and inclusion. The result is not just higher engagement metrics but a stronger emotional connection across the organisation.

Oak Engage vs Simpplr: How do the platforms compare on pricing? 

Oak delivers cost-effective solutions with flexible pricing options designed to meet the unique needs of organisations of various sizes – particularly those with significant frontline or hybrid workforces. 

For companies prioritising sophisticated, hands-on support and a rapid time-to-value, Oak is engineered to be a cost-efficient platform that doesn’t compromise on quality or the depth of its core communication features.

Simpplr’s offering works well for larger enterprises seeking a highly unified, out-of-the-box AI experience. This focus means their platform and implementation are generally structured for organisations with significant budgets, with a core value proposition centred around reducing the complexity of enterprise-scale knowledge management and service delivery.

When choosing your next employee intranet platform, it’s worth considering the total cost of ownership required to meet your requirements for content targeting, governance and partner support. A lower price point may seem attractive, but won’t add value to your organisation if only one of your core internal comms objectives is being met, requiring multiple add-ons or low budget platforms running concurrently.  

Oak Engage vs Simpplr: The final verdict

When thinking about Simpplr alternatives, Oak Engage should be top of mind. Oak’s platform is deliberately designed for the strategic communicator, providing the advanced targeting, strong governance and community tools needed to drive measurable engagement across a diverse and hybrid workforce.

While both Oak and Simpplr are excellent, high-performing platforms recognised by leading analysts, they solve different problems and serve slightly different strategic goals.

If your primary challenges are reducing information overload for employees, building a solid community and culture and ensuring governance is taken care of, while knowing you’re partnered with a hands-on support provider, then Oak is demonstrably the stronger choice. 

How to choose an employee intranet platform

As with any major platform decision, you must ask yourself: 

• What are the key features of a good employee intranet?

• Can the intranet platform be customised for my branding, messages and different teams?

• How much ongoing support do I need from my employee intranet provider?

• How safe and secure does my employee intranet need to be?

If these are some of the questions you’re asking within your internal comms team, then Oak might be the right intranet solution for you. To support your research, we’ve also compared Oak with other providers, including Unily and Interact.

Get in touch today to find out how Oak can support your individual internal comms needs.