Anonymous employee feedback drives engagement and transparency. When people know their suggestions won't be tied to their name, they share real issues and ideas more candidly.

This comparison examines two popular tools for collecting anonymous feedback – Suggestion Ox and OpenCulture – to help HR teams, founders, and executives choose the right solution for fostering an open culture.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Suggestion Ox Overview

Suggestion Ox is a web-based anonymous suggestion box platform. It provides a secure, confidential channel for employees to submit feedback without fear.

Key Features

100% Anonymous Submissions

• Guaranteed anonymity with no identity tracking

• Encourages honest, unbiased feedback

Two-Way Anonymous Conversations

• Direct Replies feature (higher plans only)

• Back-and-forth dialogue while preserving anonymity

• Great for follow-ups and clarifications

Multi-Channel Access

• Web forms accessible on any device

• Shareable via unique links or QR codes

• Slack and Microsoft Teams integration for notifications

• Not limited to Slack – works at meetings, via browser, etc.

Customizable Forms

• Multiple suggestion "boxes" for different purposes

• Custom form fields, branding, and URLs

• Company logo and color customization

• Professional appearance

Case Management

• Tag and categorize suggestions

• Assign to team members

• Track status from submission to resolution

• Keyword and sentiment analysis (higher tiers)

• Public voting on suggestions (Silver plan+)

Pricing Structure

14-day free trial (no credit card required)

Bronze Plan - $99/month (up to 50 people)

Bronze Plus - $199/month (up to 75 people)

Silver - $299/month (up to 100 people)

Gold - Custom pricing (100+ people)

Annual billing offers discounts (Bronze ~$83/month when paid annually)

See here for more details.

Known Limitations

Not Slack-Native

• Primarily web-based platform

• Employees must click external links to submit feedback

• Slack integration only for notifications, not direct submission

• Extra context switch may reduce participation

Dated User Experience

• Functional but outdated design (blue-and-black theme)

• May reduce employee engagement

• Though some praise its simplicity

Feature Paywalling

• Advanced features locked behind expensive tiers

• SSO requires Gold plan

• Small organizations may find limitations frustrating

No Built-In Content Moderation

• No AI-powered filtering of inappropriate submissions

• Relies on manual admin review

• All content goes directly to private admin dashboard

OpenCulture Overview

OpenCulture takes a different approach as a Slack-native anonymous Q&A and feedback tool. Instead of a separate portal, it lives directly in Slack, turning any channel into an anonymous suggestion box.

Key Features

Slack-Native Operation

• Works entirely within Slack

• Install from official Slack App Directory

• Enable with simple /enable_qna command

• No separate logins or accounts needed

Anonymous Messaging in Slack

• Use /ask_qna command to submit questions

• Private modal window for typing

• Posted by OpenCulture bot as "Anonymous"

• Perfect for AMAs, town halls, or persistent suggestion channels

Built-In Moderation System

• AI-powered filtering: Automatically catches inappropriate content

• Manual moderation: Trusted team members can review before posting

• Two-layer system prevents abuse of anonymity

• Maintains respectful, on-topic discussions

Duplicate Question Detection

• Intelligently identifies similar questions

• Alerts users before posting duplicates

• Suggests checking existing answers first

• Reduces repetitive queries in Q&As

Slack Threaded Engagement

• Questions posted in designated channels

• Leaders answer directly in Slack threads

• Creates live, interactive Q&A experience

• Everyone sees both questions and answers

Private Reply Option

• Moderators can respond privately to sensitive submissions

• Maintains anonymity in both directions

• Handles personal concerns not relevant to all

Privacy Controls

• Choose which channels have anonymous Q&A

• Designate moderators and responders per channel

• Minimal data storage (questions only)

• Data deleted within 14 days if app uninstalled

Pricing Structure

14-day free trial (up to 100 anonymous questions)

Startups (< 300 employees): $30/month

• Unlimited users and questions

• All features included

• No restrictions

Enterprise (300+ employees): $100/month

• Unlimited users and questions

• All features included

• No restrictions

See here for more details.

Common Use Cases

Leadership AMAs / Town Halls

• Channels like #ask-leadership for company-wide questions

• Encourages open dialogue about strategy and changes

Always-On Suggestion Box

• Persistent #suggestions channel for continuous feedback

• Real-time responses from HR or managers

Onboarding Q&A

• New hire questions without fear of judgment

• Identifies common onboarding pain points

Diversity & Inclusion Feedback

• Safe space for sensitive topics

• Underrepresented groups can speak up anonymously

Team-Specific AMAs

• Department channels for technical or team-specific questions

• Breaks down communication barriers

Why OpenCulture Often Outperforms Suggestion Ox

1. Seamless Slack Experience = Higher Engagement

OpenCulture's Slack-native design eliminates friction. Employees don't need to:

• Leave Slack

• Remember a separate tool

• Navigate to external websites

• Worry about login tracking

Real-world impact: During an all-hands meeting, someone can instantly ask an anonymous question in the #townhall channel. With Suggestion Ox, they'd need to click a link, open a web form, and wait for an admin to relay the question.

2. Proactive Moderation for Safe Discourse

OpenCulture addresses the biggest concern with anonymous feedback: potential abuse.

AI filtering catches inappropriate content before it reaches leadership Human moderation ensures productive discussions One-click approval keeps conversations flowing

Suggestion Ox leaves moderation entirely to manual admin review after submission.

3. Efficient Q&As with No Repeats

OpenCulture's duplicate detection is invaluable for leadership AMAs. Instead of answering "What's our remote work policy?" ten times, the system guides subsequent askers to existing answers.

This respects everyone's time and keeps sessions focused on unique questions.

4. Dramatic Cost Savings

200-person company example:

• Suggestion Ox: ~$299/month

• OpenCulture: $30/month

• Savings: 90%

OpenCulture includes all features at every price point. Suggestion Ox gates advanced features behind expensive tiers.

5. Modern, Intuitive Interface

OpenCulture leverages Slack's familiar interface with:

• Interactive modals

• Clear buttons and commands

• No learning curve

• Psychological comfort of using a trusted internal tool

6. Transparency and Shared Learning

Public Slack channels create an archive of Q&As that:

• Everyone can reference and search

• Dispels rumors through open answers

• Builds trust over time

• Helps future hires understand company culture

7. Focused Simplicity

While Suggestion Ox offers many features, OpenCulture focuses on core feedback needs:

• Anonymous questions

• Safe moderation

• Easy access

• Quick responses

This clarity of purpose eliminates configuration overhead and gets feedback programs running quickly.

When Suggestion Ox Might Be Preferred

Non-Slack Organizations

• Companies not using Slack or Teams

External Access Needs

• Feedback from contractors or ex-employees

• Stakeholders without company Slack access

Advanced Analytics Requirements

• Built-in sentiment analysis

• Detailed categorization and reporting

• Data slicing by departments or topics

Compliance Use Cases

• Legal compliance reporting

• Audit trail requirements

• Phone hotline integration

Conclusion

Both tools enable anonymous feedback, but they serve different needs:

Suggestion Ox is a comprehensive, configurable platform for organizations needing advanced features, external access, or compliance capabilities – at a premium price.

OpenCulture is a focused, affordable solution for Slack-based teams wanting to build open culture through seamless, moderated anonymous conversations.

The Bottom Line

For modern companies living in Slack, OpenCulture typically outperforms Suggestion Ox by:

• Eliminating friction – feedback happens where work happens

• Ensuring safety – robust moderation prevents abuse

• Saving money – 70-90% cost reduction

• Building transparency – open conversations build trust

If your goal is boosting candid employee feedback in a Slack-centric environment, OpenCulture delivers exactly what you need at a fraction of the cost, making it easier than ever to hear what your team really thinks – and do something about it.