Theming is a simple way to make Bonusly feel like an extension of your company's identity rather than an off-the-shelf tool.
Why theming matters
When your team opens Bonusly and sees your brand reflected back, it signals that this isn't just another generic workplace app : it's yours. That sense of ownership matters for adoption and engagement.
Theming gives admins a lightweight way to bring your company's visual identity into the product without any technical setup. Pick a color, and the platform updates across desktop, mobile, and email.
Where to set your brand color (admins)
Admins configure the company theme from Admin > Company > Account Settings. Look for the theme or brand color section on that page.
From there, you have three ways to choose a color:
Preset colors. A curated palette of colors that work well across the interface. If you want something quick and reliable, start here.
Custom hex code. Enter your exact brand hex value (e.g.,
#6B4FBB) for a precise match to your brand guidelines.Color picker. Use the visual picker to find the right shade by eye.
Once you save your selection, the new color takes effect across the platform for everyone in your company.
What changes in the product
Your chosen brand color replaces the default Bonusly blue on major interactive elements throughout the platform. This includes:
Navigation bar -- the top bar on desktop and bottom bar on mobile
Buttons -- all primary action buttons (give recognition, save, confirm, etc.)
Links and text actions -- clickable text across the interface
Form controls -- radio buttons, checkboxes, and active/focus states on input fields
Give box -- the recognition compose area on the home page
The theme applies to your company's entire Bonusly experience desktop, mobile web.
What doesn't change: Background surfaces and page layouts stay the same. Theming adjusts the interactive accent color, not the overall page color scheme. Illustrations, spotlight gradients, and decorative elements are also unaffected.
Accessibility guidance
Color choice matters for readability. A brand color that looks great on a logo might not work well as a button color if there isn't enough contrast between the text and the background.
Readability has a standard -- and it's simpler than it sounds
WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) gives teams a shared, objective way to check whether text is readable enough. Think of it as a quick gut-check for any tool your people use every day.
Contrast is scored on a scale from 1:1 (text that disappears into its background) to 21:1 (black on white -- as clear as it gets). Here's what passing looks like in practice:
Body text and recognition messages need at least a 4.5:1 contrast ratio
Large text like headers gets a little more flexibility -- at least 3:1
Buttons, icons, and badges also need at least 3:1, so interactive elements don't get lost
These aren't arbitrary numbers. They reflect what real people need to comfortably read on a screen -- on any device, in any lighting, on any given workday.
How Bonusly helps you get it right
When you select a custom color, Bonusly shows accessibility alerts if your choice doesn't meet WCAG contrast guidelines. These alerts help you understand whether:
White text on your chosen button color will be easy to read
Your chosen color will stand out clearly against light and dark backgrounds
Practical tips for choosing a readable brand color:
Mid-to-dark tones tend to work best -- very light or very bright colors can make white button text hard to read
If you see an accessibility warning, try a slightly darker shade of your brand color
Test how the color looks on a few key screens (the home page, a recognition post, and an email) before committing
When in doubt, the preset palette includes colors that are already optimized for contrast
You don't need to be a designer or accessibility expert. The in-product alerts do the heavy lifting -- pay attention to them and you'll end up with something that looks good and reads well.
Current limitations
Theming is company-wide. A few things to keep in mind as the feature continues to evolve:
Company-level only. The brand color is set by an admin and applies to everyone in the company. Individual users cannot pick their own theme color at this time.
Some older admin pages may look inconsistent. Certain server-rendered admin pages (like the integrations page) still use legacy styling and may not fully reflect your chosen brand color. This is a known issue that the team is actively working to resolve. The inconsistency is cosmetic and doesn't affect functionality -- it just means a few admin-facing pages might still show the default blue while the rest of the product uses your brand color.
One color, not a full brand kit. Theming currently covers the primary interactive color. It does not include options for secondary colors, logo uploads, or background customization. These may come in future updates.
FAQs
Who can change the company theme?
Only admins with access to Account Settings can set or change the brand color. Regular users and managers cannot modify the theme.
Where will I see the brand color take effect?
Across all primary interactive elements -- buttons, links, navigation bars, form controls, the give box, and emails. The change applies on desktop, mobile, and email for everyone in your company.
Why do some admin pages still show the default blue?
A small number of older admin pages use legacy rendering and haven't been updated to support the new theming system yet. These pages will be updated over time. The rest of the product -- including everything your team members interact with daily -- reflects your brand color.
What happens if I pick a color with low contrast?
Bonusly will show an accessibility alert warning you that the color may make text difficult to read. You can still save the color, but we recommend adjusting to a slightly darker shade for better readability. The alert is based on WCAG contrast guidelines.
Can individual users override the company theme?
Not at this time. The brand color is set at the company level and applies uniformly. User-level theming may be added in the future.
Does theming affect dark mode?
Your brand color is applied as the primary accent color regardless of display mode. However, some older server-rendered pages may not fully respect dark mode or system theme preferences -- this is being addressed alongside the broader admin page updates.
Does the theme change Bonusly emails too?
Yes. Recognition notifications and other Bonusly emails reflect your chosen brand color in buttons and accent elements.
Is theming available on all plans?
Yes. Theming is available to all Bonusly customers regardless of plan.
I changed the color but don't see the update yet. What should I do?
Try refreshing your browser. The new color should take effect immediately after saving. If you're still seeing the old color, clear your browser cache or try an incognito window. If the issue persists, reach out to support.