Points programs turn one-time buyers into repeat customers. For ecommerce brands on Shopify, the right loyalty program can drive significant revenue growth while reducing reliance on expensive paid acquisition.
The best points programs combine flexible earning rules, fraud prevention, and deep tech stack integrations. Studies show loyalty program members consistently outspend non-members, making the platform choice a critical business decision for sustainable growth.
This guide covers 10 points program platforms ranked by features, user ratings, and documented ROI.
Key Takeaways
- Customer acquisition costs 5x more than retention, making points programs essential for profitability.
- Research from Bain & Company shows loyalty program members deliver 12-18% higher revenue than non-members annually.
- Top-performing platforms deliver measurable results: 2x purchase frequency increases and up to 48% higher customer lifetime value for program members.
- Shopify-native solutions dominate due to seamless checkout integration and reduced implementation complexity.
- Free tiers supporting 150-200 monthly orders make testing points programs accessible for growing brands.
1) Rivo — Best for Shopify Plus Brands Needing Developer Customization
Rivo stands out as the first open platform for Shopify loyalty, built specifically for fast-growing DTC brands. Rivo reports that it powers programs for 7,000+ brands and has helped generate $1.5B in revenue for client stores through its flexible platform.
Best For
Shopify Plus brands requiring API access and advanced customization
Price
Free up to 200 orders/month, $49-$499/month paid tiers
Rating
4.8/5 (1,409 reviews) on Shopify App Store
Key Points Program Features
- Developer Toolkit with REST API, JavaScript API, and native Liquid metafields
- 20+ fraud prevention tools for referral programs
- 8+ checkout touchpoints allowing points as payment method
- VIP tier automation based on spend, points earned, or orders placed
- Passwordless account activation driving 500-1000% increase in activated accounts
Why It Made Our List
Rivo processes 2.9B API calls annually with 99.98% uptime, demonstrating enterprise-grade reliability. The platform uses modern Shopify Plus features like checkout extensibility and stackable discounts—avoiding legacy workarounds that slow down other solutions. Month-to-month contracts (no annual commitment) make it accessible for growing brands who want flexibility.
Standout Stat
HexClad generated $450K in referral revenue in 90 days with 92x ROI using Rivo.
This exceptional performance highlights how the right loyalty platform can transform customer advocacy into measurable revenue. The 92x return means every dollar invested in the program returned $92, demonstrating the compounding effect of well-designed referral mechanics.
See more results in Rivo's case studies.
2) Smile.io
Smile.io has the longest track record in the Shopify loyalty space, operating since 2012. The platform's Loyalty Hub integrates directly into Shopify customer accounts for a seamless member experience.
Best For
Brands prioritizing stability and extensive documentation
Price
Free up to 200 orders/month, with paid plans available
Rating
4.9/5 (4,111 reviews) on Shopify, 4.6/5 (314 reviews) on G2
Key Points Program Features
- Points, VIP tiers, and referral programs with extensive configuration
- Deep Klaviyo integration for loyalty-driven email campaigns
- 91% of ratings are 5 stars across 4,100+ reviews
- Loyalty Hub embedded in Shopify customer accounts
Why It Made Our List
Thirteen years in the market demonstrates consistent performance. Businesses using Smile.io report 2x higher purchase frequency and 48% increase in customer lifetime value for loyalty members. The high review count provides strong social proof for risk-averse decision makers.
These results show how loyalty programs compound over time—members don't just shop more frequently, they also spend significantly more per transaction. According to Forrester Research, brands with mature loyalty programs see 2.5x higher customer retention rates.
3) Yotpo Loyalty & Referrals
Yotpo positions loyalty as a strategic partnership rather than software. The platform serves growing brands across its product suite and provides dedicated Customer Success Managers for enterprise clients.
Best For
Enterprise brands wanting unified loyalty, reviews, and SMS
Price
Custom enterprise pricing
Rating
4.7/5 (2,200+ reviews) combined, 4.5/5 Capterra
Key Points Program Features
- Unified platform combining loyalty, reviews, and SMS marketing
- Dedicated Customer Success Manager for strategic support
- Advanced VIP tiers with flexible point expiration rules
- Quarterly strategy sessions included
Why It Made Our List
Yotpo's partnership-driven approach provides strategic guidance beyond software. The unified marketing suite eliminates sync issues between separate platforms. Built specifically for ecommerce rather than retrofitted from retail POS systems.
Standout Stat
Powers programs for brands like Princess Polly with 4-tier VIP structures.
4) LoyaltyLion
LoyaltyLion leads with analytics capabilities, offering RFM (recency, frequency, monetary) segmentation that basic platforms cannot match. The platform focuses specifically on DTC brands that treat loyalty as a strategic lever.
Best For
Brands needing advanced analytics and customer segmentation
Price
Starting at $199/month
Rating
4.8/5 (479 reviews), 4.4/5 Capterra
Key Points Program Features
- Advanced analytics with RFM segmentation
- POS support with robust reporting for omnichannel retailers
- Focus on non-transactional customer behaviors
- Industry-leading measurement capabilities
Why It Made Our List
LoyaltyLion delivers measurable outcomes through analytics depth. Case studies document concrete results like brands achieving 90% customer spending increases and 70% repeat purchase rate improvements.
The ability to segment customers by recency, frequency, and monetary value allows brands to tailor rewards to customer behavior. Research from Adobe shows that personalized loyalty experiences generate 40% more revenue from members.
Standout Stat
Brands using advanced segmentation see 22% AOV uplift and 35% active customer increases.
5) BON Loyalty
BON Loyalty holds the highest rating in the category with a perfect score across 1,600 reviews. The platform supports 250+ languages, making it ideal for brands expanding globally.
Best For
International ecommerce brands with multilingual needs
Price
Free forever plan, up to $349/month paid
Rating
5.0/5 (1,600 reviews) — highest in category
Key Points Program Features
- AI-powered automation for loyalty campaigns
- Anti-cheat referral program with fraud detection
- Support for 250+ languages
- Free forever plan includes full referral and points functionality
Why It Made Our List
Founded in August 2021, BON has achieved a perfect rating with 97% five-star reviews. The multilingual support addresses a gap most competitors ignore. The free forever plan removes barriers for testing.
International expansion creates unique loyalty challenges—different currencies, languages, and cultural expectations around rewards. BON's multilingual capabilities ensure program communications resonate with local audiences.
6) Joy Loyalty
Joy Loyalty offers more touchpoints than any competitor—30+ locations across widgets, pages, cart, and checkout where brands can display loyalty messaging.
Best For
Brands wanting loyalty visibility at every customer interaction
Price
Free up to 150 orders/month, up to $499/month
Key Points Program Features
- 30+ loyalty touchpoints across the customer journey
- 20+ loyalty rewards programs including social engagement
- Full headless commerce (Hydrogen) support
- Streak bonuses and milestone rewards
Why It Made Our List
Joy's touchpoint density ensures customers encounter loyalty messaging throughout their shopping experience. The platform serves 1,400+ merchants and remains lightweight despite enterprise-grade features.
Multiple touchpoints increase program awareness and redemption rates. According to Accenture, customers need 5-7 exposures to a loyalty program before actively participating, making Joy's touchpoint strategy particularly effective.
7) Growave
Growave bundles loyalty, reviews, wishlist, and UGC in a single platform. This consolidation eliminates integration headaches and reduces monthly app costs for Shopify Plus brands.
Best For
Brands wanting to reduce app sprawl with unified functionality
Price
Free plan to $499/month
Key Points Program Features
- Loyalty + Reviews + Wishlist + UGC in unified platform
- Optimized for Shopify Plus with advanced branding
- 24/7 support with dedicated Customer Success Managers
- Seamless Klaviyo, Gorgias, and Attentive integrations
Why It Made Our List
The all-in-one approach often pays for itself through reduced app subscriptions. Growave carries the Built for Shopify Plus badge and handles multiple retention functions without requiring separate vendors.
Consolidating your retention tech stack reduces complexity and improves data flow between systems. Rivo also offers integrations with 50+ platforms to ensure seamless data connections regardless of your tech stack.
8) Open Loyalty
Open Loyalty serves enterprises needing ultimate customization without building from scratch. The platform offers 250+ API endpoints (REST/GraphQL) and operates in multiple international markets.
Best For
Enterprise brands with headless architecture requirements
Price
Custom enterprise pricing (SaaS or on-premise)
Rating
4.8/5 Capterra, positive G2 reviews
Key Points Program Features
- Headless architecture with 250+ API endpoints
- Gamification built-in: achievements, badges, leaderboards, challenges
- ISO 9001 & ISO 27001 certified, GDPR-compliant
- Real-time processing with unlimited transaction scaling
Why It Made Our List
Open Loyalty solves the build vs. buy dilemma—providing a proven loyalty engine with full API customization. The platform serves enterprise brands including major retailers and sports organizations. Recognition from Google, Gartner, and Deloitte validates the technology.
Headless architecture allows brands to control the entire customer experience while leveraging proven loyalty logic on the backend. Rivo similarly offers developer-first tools including REST API, JavaScript API, and native Liquid metafields for brands needing customization.
9) Antavo
Antavo provides a no-code loyalty editor for web-based program management, reducing reliance on developers. The platform includes in-store integrations like kiosks and card readers for omnichannel retailers.
Best For
Enterprise retailers with omnichannel (online + physical) needs
Price
Custom enterprise pricing
Rating
Positive reviews on Capterra and G2
Key Points Program Features
- No-code loyalty editor for faster deployment
- In-store integrations (kiosks, card readers)
- Supports paid membership programs and experiential rewards
- Wide reward types including badges, event invitations, partner rewards
Why It Made Our List
Antavo's no-code approach speeds deployment without developer dependency. The physical retail integration with loyalty kiosks and terminals addresses omnichannel requirements that pure ecommerce platforms miss.
10) Talon.One
Talon.One consolidates promotions, coupons, referrals, and loyalty points in a single engine. The visual rule builder enables complex conditional discounts and point multipliers without custom development.
Best For
Brands running frequent campaigns with complex promotional logic
Price
Usage-based enterprise pricing
Rating
Positive Capterra reviews
Key Points Program Features
- Unified engine for promotions, coupons, referrals, and loyalty points
- Visual rule builder for conditional discounts and point multipliers
- Real-time processing for high-volume environments
- API-first integration for tight UX control
Why It Made Our List
Talon.One eliminates the need for separate promotion and loyalty tools. The fine-grained control over promotional logic through the rule builder enables sophisticated campaigns that basic platforms cannot support.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average ROI for an ecommerce loyalty points program?
Top-performing points programs deliver measurable returns across industries. Rivo clients report 52x ROI based on weighted case study medians, while industry research shows loyalty members generate 2x purchase frequency and up to 48% higher customer lifetime value. The specific ROI depends on program design, reward structure, and customer engagement strategies. Brands typically see positive ROI within 3-6 months of launching a well-designed program.
How can I integrate a points program with my existing Shopify store?
Shopify-native platforms like Rivo install directly through the Shopify App Store with minimal technical setup. Integration involves theme app extensions that display loyalty widgets, checkout extensions for redemption options, and connections to your existing tech stack. Rivo offers 50+ integrations including Klaviyo, Gorgias, and subscription platforms like Skio and Recharge. White-glove onboarding on Plus and Enterprise plans handles migration from competitors, typically completing within 1-2 weeks.
What are the most common mistakes to avoid when launching a loyalty program?
The biggest mistakes include setting reward thresholds too high (which reduces redemptions and engagement), ignoring fraud prevention for referral programs (leading to abuse), and failing to promote the program across customer touchpoints. Brands also underestimate the importance of VIP tier design—tiers should feel achievable while creating meaningful exclusivity. Start with simple earning and redemption mechanics, then add complexity based on member feedback.
Can points programs be customized for different customer segments or VIP tiers?
Yes. Platforms like Rivo support VIP tier automation based on spend, points earned, or orders placed, allowing you to create differentiated experiences for your best customers. Advanced platforms sync VIP data to email service providers like Klaviyo for segmented campaigns. Points expiry rules, custom earning multipliers, and segment-specific rewards create personalized experiences across customer cohorts. This segmentation drives higher engagement and spend among top-tier members.
How do referral programs enhance a points-based loyalty strategy?
Referral programs turn loyal customers into acquisition channels, generating new buyers at a fraction of traditional advertising costs. HexClad generated $450K in referral revenue with 17% higher average order value from referred customers compared to other channels. Tiered referral rewards where advocates earn escalating benefits based on successful referrals drive ongoing participation. Fraud prevention tools like IP monitoring and fulfillment verification protect program integrity while maintaining a positive customer experience.
