Ecommerce brands face rising customer acquisition costs and declining ad effectiveness. Membership programs offer a proven solution: paid loyalty members are 60% more likely to increase spending compared to just 30% for free programs. The right membership program for Shopify Plus brands can transform one-time buyers into recurring revenue.
Whether building a new program or migrating from a legacy platform, ecommerce brands need membership solutions that integrate with their existing tech stack and scale with growth. This guide covers 13 top platforms and brand examples to help create a membership program that drives repeat purchases and customer lifetime value.
1) Rivo — Best for Shopify Plus Brands
Rivo stands as the modern retention platform built exclusively for Shopify and Shopify Plus merchants. The platform combines loyalty, referrals, memberships, and customer accounts into one integrated solution.
Best For
Shopify Plus brands wanting advanced customization and modern checkout integration
Price
Free plan available; Scale $49/mo, Plus $499/mo
Rating
4.8/5 on Shopify (1,409 reviews)
Key Features
- 150+ features including branded loyalty pages with custom CSS options
- Integrated referral program with dedicated pages and fraud protection
- Shopify checkout extensions that avoid legacy workarounds like Shopify Scripts
- VIP tier automation based on spend, points earned, or orders placed
Rivo differentiates itself as an open platform designed for most use cases to work out-of-the-box, with a Developer Toolkit available for custom implementations. The platform loads under 100ms using Shopify theme app extensions and offers 8+ checkout touchpoints for maximum redemption visibility.
Case study results demonstrate the platform's impact. Kitsch generated $5.8M in loyalty-attributed revenue with 1.2M activated customers. HexClad drove $450K in referral revenue within the first 90 days. Portland Leather Goods now attributes 17.4% of revenue to loyalty after migrating from a competitor.
Pros
- 100% bootstrapped with month-to-month billing (no annual contracts)
- White-glove onboarding included on Plus and Enterprise plans
- Migration assistance from Yotpo, Smile.io, LoyaltyLion, and Inveterate
2) Smile.io — Best for Market-Proven Loyalty
Smile.io operates as one of the most established loyalty platforms for Shopify merchants. The platform has powered loyalty programs for thousands of Shopify Plus businesses over its 15+ year history.
Best For
Mid-market brands seeking proven, reliable loyalty infrastructure
Price
Free plan available; Starter $49/mo, Growth $199/mo, Plus $999/mo
Rating
4.9/5 on Shopify (3,938 reviews)
Key Features
- Points, VIP tiers, and referrals in one platform
- Shopify POS integration for omnichannel programs
- Built for Shopify certification with checkout extensions
- Performance benchmarking against similar stores
Smile.io reports a 48% CLV increase and 2x higher purchase frequency for customers using their platform. The platform focuses purely on loyalty rather than bundling additional marketing tools.
Pros
- Largest review count among Shopify loyalty apps
- Simple setup focused purely on loyalty mechanics
Cons
- Higher-tier plans become expensive for scaling brands
- Less customization compared to developer-friendly alternatives
3) Yotpo — Best for Unified Retention Marketing
Yotpo combines loyalty, reviews, SMS, and email marketing into one retention platform. The platform targets mid to large ecommerce brands wanting to consolidate multiple tools.
Best For
Brands wanting loyalty integrated with reviews and SMS marketing
Price
Free plan (limited); Pro $199/mo, Premium $799/mo
Rating
4.6/5 on Shopify (887 reviews)
Key Features
- Rewards customers for UGC (reviews, photos, Q&A)
- Advanced customer segmentation across products
- 20+ prebuilt campaigns ready to launch
- Modular pricing based on monthly orders
The platform excels at integrating loyalty programs with user-generated content, allowing brands to reward social proof generation alongside purchases.
Pros
- Consolidates multiple retention tools in one subscription
- Strong UGC integration rewards social proof
Cons
- Higher price point than loyalty-only solutions
- Some brands report complexity in setup
4) Toki — Best for Paid Membership Features
Toki positions itself as an all-in-one platform for Shopify merchants with unique paid membership capabilities. The platform specifically targets brands wanting to add subscription-based VIP tiers.
Best For
Brands wanting paid memberships with digital wallet integration
Price
Robust free plan; paid plans scale with orders
Rating
5.0/5 on Shopify
Key Features
- Paid memberships feature for recurring revenue
- Apple & Google Wallet integration
- Omnichannel POS support
- Purpose-built for unifying online and brick-and-mortar programs
Toki offers the only platform combining paid memberships with digital wallet passes, creating unique mobile engagement opportunities.
Pros
- Highest Shopify rating among competitors
- Transparent scaling pricing model
Cons
- Newer platform with smaller review count
- Less established track record than legacy options
5) LoyaltyLion — Best for Data-Driven Engagement
LoyaltyLion emphasizes advanced analytics and segmentation for established ecommerce stores. The platform targets brands prioritizing data-centric loyalty strategies.
Best For
Established stores on Shopify Plus and Magento needing deep analytics
Price
No free plan; pricing scales with monthly orders
Rating
~4.5/5 (based on industry reports)
Key Features
- Behavior-triggered rewards based on customer actions
- Deep integration with marketing stack
- Rewards for non-purchase behaviors (reviews, social, referrals)
- Customer insights for identifying valuable segments
LoyaltyLion positions as the best for engagement and data-driven retention, making it suitable for brands with dedicated analytics resources.
Pros
- Best-in-class customer analytics
- Works across Shopify Plus, Magento, and BigCommerce
Cons
- No free plan available
- Higher price point for advanced features
6) AiTrillion — Best Value All-in-One Platform
AiTrillion bundles 11+ apps in one platform including loyalty, email, SMS, and web push. The platform targets cost-conscious brands wanting maximum features per dollar.
Best For
Budget-conscious brands wanting complete marketing automation
Price
Basic $29/mo, Growth $99/mo
Rating
4.8/5 on Shopify (259 reviews)
Key Features
- 18+ earning actions for rewards
- AI-powered analytics and ROI tracking
- Omnichannel loyalty across online and POS
- Integrated email, SMS, and web push
Pros
- Most affordable option with comprehensive features
- Reduces app costs by consolidating tools
Cons
- Less specialized in loyalty compared to dedicated platforms
- May include features some brands don't need
7) Zinrelo — Best for Enterprise AI Capabilities
Zinrelo leverages AI and machine learning for predictive analytics and customer segmentation. The platform targets mid-to-large enterprises with complex operational needs.
Best For
Large enterprises needing predictive analytics and deep customization
Price
Custom quote required
Key Features
- Machine learning predicts churn and identifies high-value segments
- Omnichannel architecture for unified customer view
- Extensive API for custom system integration
- Enterprise-grade scalability
Zinrelo positions as the best for enterprises with AI capabilities not commonly found in entry-level platforms.
Pros
- Advanced AI/ML engine for predictive insights
- Deep customization via extensive API
Cons
- Requires custom quote (no transparent pricing)
- Overkill for smaller brands
Brand Examples: Learning From Industry Leaders
The following brands demonstrate how membership programs drive massive revenue and behavioral change at scale. These case studies offer tactical insights for ecommerce brands building their own programs.
8) Amazon Prime — Gold Standard for Paid Membership
Amazon Prime represents the benchmark for paid membership programs, with over 200 million members globally.
Program Type
Paid membership at $139/year or $14.99/month
Key Results
- Members spend 2x as much annually as non-members
- Prime Day generated $12B in sales in 2023
- 72% higher annual spend from Prime members
What Ecommerce Brands Can Learn
Bundling shipping, content, and exclusive access creates compelling value that justifies subscription fees. The key lies in making the membership essential to the shopping experience.
9) Starbucks Rewards — Mobile-First Points Program
Starbucks Rewards demonstrates how mobile-first design drives program adoption and sales impact.
Program Type
Free points program
Members
Almost 30 million active members
Key Results
- 53% of Starbucks sales driven by Rewards members
- 16% year-over-year member growth
- Gamification with member-only games and challenges
What Ecommerce Brands Can Learn
Combining payment, ordering, and rewards in one mobile experience removes friction. The simpler the redemption process, the higher the engagement.
10) Sephora Beauty Insider — Tiered Loyalty Excellence
Sephora Beauty Insider showcases how tiered programs create aspirational progression that drives increased spending.
Program Type
Free tiered program (VIB at $350/year, Rouge at $1,000/year spend)
Members
Over 31 million U.S. members
Key Results
- Members drive up to 80% of Sephora's sales
- 8.08 Newsweek score in Best American Loyalty Programs
Sephora VP of Loyalty Allegra Stanley notes that "almost 75% of engagement drivers are emotional perks" rather than discounts alone.
What Ecommerce Brands Can Learn
Experiential rewards (exclusive events, early access) often outperform pure discounts. Consider what makes customers feel special beyond price breaks.
11) Walmart+ — Retail Paid Membership Model
Walmart+ demonstrates how traditional retailers compete with Amazon through focused paid membership.
Program Type
Paid membership at $98/year or $12.95/month
Members
11.5 million estimated
Key Results
- Members shop 29 times annually vs 18 for non-members
- Members spend $79 per online visit vs $62 for non-members
- Estimated $816/year savings on grocery delivery
What Ecommerce Brands Can Learn
Focus paid membership benefits on your core value proposition. Walmart emphasizes everyday savings and convenience rather than competing on entertainment.
12) FARFETCH ACCESS — Luxury Tiered Approach
FARFETCH ACCESS exemplifies how luxury ecommerce should approach tiered membership with emphasis on exclusivity.
Program Type
Free tiered program (5 tiers from $1 to $15,000 annual spend)
Key Features
- Private Client tier offers exclusive item access unavailable to general public
- Personal stylist available 24/7 at highest tier
- Progressive shipping benefits across tiers
What Ecommerce Brands Can Learn
Premium brands should focus on service and exclusivity over discounts. White-glove experiences at top tiers create aspirational goals for customers.
How to Choose the Right Membership Platform
Selecting a membership platform requires matching your brand's stage, budget, and technical capacity to the right solution.
For Growing DTC Brands (200-2,500 orders/month)
Start with platforms offering free plans or accessible pricing. Rivo, Smile.io, and AiTrillion all provide entry points under $50/month with room to scale. Focus on Shopify-native integrations that work with your existing checkout.
For Established Brands ($5M+ GMV)
Prioritize platforms with enterprise features, dedicated support, and migration assistance. Rivo Plus, LoyaltyLion, and Zinrelo offer advanced segmentation and analytics. Consider whether you need paid membership capabilities or primarily loyalty and referrals.
For Omnichannel Retailers
Shopify POS integration matters. Rivo, Smile.io, Toki, and AiTrillion all support in-store point earning and redemption. This creates unified customer experiences across online and retail touchpoints.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the core benefits of implementing a membership program for an ecommerce brand?
Membership programs increase customer lifetime value, repeat purchase rates, and average order value. Research shows paid loyalty members are 60% more likely to increase spending. Brands like Sephora generate 80% of sales from program members.
How do membership programs differ from traditional loyalty programs?
Traditional loyalty programs reward points for purchases. Membership programs add paid tiers, exclusive access, and subscription benefits. The difference between membership and loyalty lies in whether customers pay upfront for premium benefits or earn status through activity.
What features should I look for in a membership platform for Shopify?
Prioritize Shopify-native integrations with checkout extensions, POS support, Klaviyo integration, and VIP tier automation. Avoid platforms requiring legacy workarounds like Shopify Scripts. Modern platforms like Rivo use theme app extensions loading under 100ms.
How can a membership program improve customer retention?
Members develop habits around earning and redeeming rewards. Starbucks Rewards members generate 53% of total sales because the program becomes integrated into their purchasing behavior. VIP tiers create aspirational goals that encourage continued engagement.
What ROI can I expect from a paid membership program?
Amazon Prime demonstrates the upper bound: members spend 2x as much annually. Smile.io reports 48% average CLV increase. Rivo case studies show results like HexClad's $450K referral revenue in 90 days with 92x ROI.
