Selecting the right loyalty platform determines whether a Shopify store converts one-time buyers into repeat customers. While both Rivo and Loyoly serve the e-commerce retention market, they represent fundamentally different approaches to customer loyalty. Rivo operates as a Shopify-native retention platform built exclusively for Shopify and Shopify Plus merchants, offering deep technical integration and developer-friendly architecture. Loyoly focuses on UGC-driven mission-based loyalty with social media verification features. Understanding these core differences helps Shopify merchants select the platform that matches specific growth objectives, technical requirements, and budget.
Key Takeaways
- Rivo offers a permanent free plan for up to 200 monthly orders with full loyalty functionality, enabling comprehensive testing before commitment
- The Developer Toolkit includes REST API, JavaScript API, webhooks, and native Liquid metafields—providing technical flexibility that scales with business needs
- With 8+ checkout extensions, Rivo integrates directly into Shopify's checkout experience, enabling customers to redeem points as a payment method
- Rivo powers 7,000+ Shopify brands and has generated over $1.5 billion in revenue for client brands, demonstrating proven scale and reliability
- Paid membership capability—exclusive to Shopify Plus merchants—enables recurring revenue programs using native checkout extensions, a feature unique to the platform
- Brands like HexClad achieved $450K in referral revenue within 90 days using the referral program with 92x ROI
Understanding Each Platform's Core Positioning
Rivo's Platform Philosophy
Rivo positions itself as the modern retention platform built exclusively for Shopify merchants. Founded in January 2021 and headquartered in Las Vegas, Rivo serves over 7,000+ Shopify brands with a comprehensive suite including loyalty programs, referral marketing, paid memberships, and customer accounts. The platform emphasizes developer-friendly architecture and Shopify-native infrastructure, loading in under 100ms using theme app extensions.
According to research from Harvard Business Review, increasing customer retention rates by 5% increases profits by 25% to 95%, demonstrating why retention-focused platforms like Rivo have become essential for DTC growth.
Loyoly's Market Position
Loyoly, formerly known as Wiink, launched on Shopify in January 2023. Based in Nantes, France, the platform serves brands with a focus on UGC-driven loyalty programs. Loyoly differentiates through a mission library featuring 40+ point-earning actions with auto-verified social media rewards for Instagram and TikTok content.
The fundamental distinction: Rivo provides deep Shopify-native technical integration for scaling DTC brands, while Loyoly emphasizes community-building through social media missions.
Loyoly's Approach to Loyalty Programs
Mission-Based Loyalty Features
Loyoly structures its platform around mission-based engagement, offering 40+ mission types designed to encourage social media participation and user-generated content. The platform includes auto-verified tracking for Instagram and TikTok content, allowing brands to reward customers for social engagement without manual verification.
UGC and Social Media Integration
The platform emphasizes social media verification features, enabling brands to reward customers automatically for creating and sharing content on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. This automation reduces the operational burden of managing social-driven loyalty campaigns.
While Loyoly focuses on social missions, Rivo offers 50+ pre-built integrations that connect loyalty programs with email, SMS, subscriptions, reviews, and customer support tools—creating a comprehensive retention ecosystem beyond social engagement.
Customization Capabilities
Loyoly provides customizable branding options without requiring code, making the platform accessible to brands without dedicated development resources. The platform includes standard features like points programs, VIP tiers, and referral programs with fraud protection.
Rivo extends customization significantly further through the Developer Toolkit, which provides REST API, JavaScript API, webhooks, and native Liquid metafields. This enables custom implementations that template-based platforms cannot replicate. For example, brands can build unique subscriber rewards that automatically award points for subscription creation and provide monthly bonus points for active subscribers—workflows requiring API access to implement.
Core Features and Capabilities
Rivo's Comprehensive Feature Set
Rivo's feature set includes:
- Points programs with customizable earning and redemption rules
- VIP tiers with automated progression based on spend, points, or orders
- 20+ built-in fraud prevention tools including IP monitoring and self-referral blocking
- 8+ checkout extensions for seamless point redemption
- Paid membership programs using Shopify Plus checkout extensions
- Store credit, wallet passes, and gift card functionality
- 50+ pre-built integrations with marketing and operational tools
- Weekly product updates using latest Shopify features
- SOC 2 Type II compliance for enterprise security
Loyoly's Feature Offerings
Loyoly's feature set includes:
- Points programs with VIP tiers
- 40+ mission types including UGC rewards
- Auto-verified Instagram and TikTok content tracking
- Referral programs with fraud protection
- Customizable branding without code
Where Rivo Excels
Rivo's Developer Toolkit provides REST API, JavaScript API, webhooks, and native Liquid metafields—enabling custom implementations that generic platforms cannot match. The platform's 8+ checkout extensions create multiple touchpoints for point redemption directly within Shopify's checkout, while Loyoly offers a single checkout extension.
Paid membership capability stands alone in the market. Using Shopify Plus checkout extensions with stackable discounts, brands can create recurring membership programs without deprecated workarounds like Shopify Scripts.
Pricing and Value Analysis
Rivo's Pricing Structure
Rivo's pricing tiers provide flexibility across business stages:
- Free Plan: Up to 200 monthly orders—full points program, earning/redemption, branding, automated emails
- Scale Plan: For growing brands processing higher order volumes—dedicated pages, custom CSS, VIP tiers, analytics
- Plus Plan: For established brands—checkout extensions, Developer Toolkit, advanced Klaviyo integration, white-glove onboarding
- Enterprise: Custom pricing—unlimited orders, unthrottled API, dedicated Slack channel, quarterly strategy sessions
The critical advantage: Rivo's permanent free plan enables risk-free testing and evaluation, allowing brands to experience the platform's full loyalty functionality before making financial commitments.
Technical Architecture and Developer Tools
Rivo's Shopify-Native Infrastructure
Rivo's Shopify-native architecture delivers performance and flexibility advantages:
- Theme app extensions loading under 100ms
- REST API for backend integrations
- JavaScript API for front-end customization
- Native Liquid metafields for theme integration
- Shopify Flow integration with custom triggers and actions
- Compatibility with Shopify's new customer accounts system
- 8+ checkout extensions for redemption touchpoints
The Developer Toolkit enables brands to build custom loyalty experiences that template-based platforms cannot replicate. For example, Dirty Labs built custom subscriber rewards giving 50 points for subscriptions plus 20 points monthly for active subscribers—a workflow impossible without API access.
Rivo integrates directly into Shopify's checkout using modern capabilities including stackable discounts and checkout extensibility, avoiding legacy workarounds. This approach future-proofs implementations as Shopify continues evolving the platform.
Loyoly's Technical Approach
Loyoly provides technical capabilities designed for accessibility, including customizable branding without coding requirements and a single checkout extension for point redemption at purchase.
The platform's auto-verification technology for social media missions reduces manual operational overhead, automatically tracking Instagram and TikTok content without manual approval workflows.
Proven Results and Case Studies
Rivo Client Success Stories
Rivo's case studies demonstrate measurable impact across industries.
HexClad achieved $450K referral revenue in 90 days with 92x ROI. The cookware brand also recorded 17% higher AOV from referred customers compared to non-referred shoppers. This performance demonstrates how strategic referral implementation can generate substantial revenue while improving customer acquisition quality. HexClad's results show that properly structured referral programs deliver both immediate revenue impact and long-term customer value improvements.
Kitsch generated $5.8M in loyalty-attributed revenue while activating 1.2M customers in the loyalty program. The beauty accessories brand achieved 8.7x higher repeat purchase rates for top-tier VIP members compared to non-members. These metrics illustrate how tiered VIP programs create meaningful behavioral differences, transforming occasional buyers into brand advocates who purchase repeatedly at significantly higher frequencies.
OSEA Malibu recorded 77% repeat purchase rate among loyalty redeemers with $167 AOV—40% above site average. The clean beauty brand's results highlight how loyalty program participation signals high-intent customers who demonstrate both higher repeat purchase propensity and increased basket sizes. This data point particularly matters for premium and luxury brands seeking to identify and nurture highest-value customer segments.
Fresh Chile Co achieved 156% AOV lift for paid membership members compared to standard customers. This dramatic increase demonstrates the power of paid membership programs to alter purchasing behavior fundamentally. Members justify subscription costs through increased purchase frequency and basket size, creating predictable recurring revenue while simultaneously increasing transaction values.
Portland Leather Goods attributed 17.4% of revenue to loyalty after migrating from Yotpo. The accessory brand's migration demonstrates how platform choice impacts results, with improved integration and features driving higher loyalty program adoption and revenue attribution.
Loyoly Client Performance
Loyoly showcases client results including brands achieving significant extra sales with strong annual ROI, demonstrating the platform's capability to drive retention metrics for e-commerce brands focused on community-building approaches.
Both platforms deliver results, but Rivo's portfolio spans 7,000+ brands including partnerships with Nike and celebrity collaborations, demonstrating scale and enterprise readiness.
Integration Ecosystem
Rivo's Connected Retention Stack
Rivo's 50+ integrations create a connected retention stack:
Email and SMS platforms:
- Klaviyo (advanced integration passing all events)
- Postscript
- Attentive
- Sendlane
Subscription platforms:
- Skio
- Recharge
- Loop Subscriptions
- Stay
- Ordergroove
Review platforms:
- Okendo
- Junip
- Stamped
- Judge.me
- Loox
Mobile apps:
- Tapcart
- Fuego
- Reactiv
- Venn Apps
Support platforms:
- Gorgias
- Zendesk
- Gladly
Automation:
- Shopify Flow with advanced triggers for tier changes, referral completions, and birthday bonuses
Rivo's Klaviyo integration on Plus plans passes all loyalty events for segmentation, enabling tier-specific email campaigns and loyalty-based automation flows. The Shopify Flow integration allows custom triggers and actions that template-based workflows cannot achieve.
Loyoly's Integration Approach
Loyoly provides integrations with common e-commerce tools, enabling brands to connect loyalty programs with existing marketing and operational infrastructure. The platform supports standard integrations for email marketing, reviews, and customer service applications.
Why Rivo Delivers Superior Value for Shopify Merchants
For Shopify merchants evaluating retention platforms, Rivo presents compelling advantages across multiple dimensions.
Scale and reliability: Rivo's 1,300+ reviews with 4.8/5 rating and 95% five-star ratings demonstrate proven market adoption. The platform has generated $1.5+ billion in revenue for client brands—validation reflecting extensive merchant trust and platform maturity.
Technical depth: The Developer Toolkit provides API access, webhooks, and native Liquid metafields that enable custom implementations beyond template-based limitations. Eight checkout extensions versus single-extension competitors create more redemption opportunities throughout the customer journey.
Risk-free evaluation: The permanent free plan allows comprehensive testing before commitment, enabling merchants to validate program fit and technical integration before making financial decisions.
Unique capabilities: Paid membership programs using Shopify Plus checkout extensions represent functionality no competitor offers. Brands like BERO (Tom Holland's non-alcoholic beer brand) leveraged Rivo memberships to achieve 1 billion impressions at launch.
Enterprise readiness: SOC 2 Type II compliance, 20+ fraud prevention tools, and 24/7 support position Rivo for brands requiring enterprise-grade infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Rivo different from Loyoly for Shopify merchants?
Rivo is built exclusively for Shopify with deep platform integration, offering 8+ checkout extensions, a comprehensive Developer Toolkit, and paid membership capabilities unique to the platform. While Loyoly focuses on UGC missions with social media verification, Rivo provides technical flexibility through REST API, JavaScript API, and native Liquid metafields that enable custom implementations. Rivo also offers a permanent free plan for up to 200 monthly orders, allowing merchants to test comprehensively before committing.
Can Rivo integrate with existing Shopify apps like Klaviyo and Recharge?
Yes, Rivo offers 50+ pre-built integrations including advanced Klaviyo integration that passes all loyalty events for segmentation. Subscription platforms like Recharge, Skio, and Loop Subscriptions sync seamlessly with loyalty programs. The Shopify Flow integration enables custom automation workflows that connect the entire tech stack.
What ROI can merchants expect from implementing loyalty and referral programs?
Rivo reports 52x median ROI and 3.1x repeat purchase rate improvement across the platform. Individual results vary by implementation—HexClad achieved 92x ROI from referrals in 90 days, while Kitsch generated $5.8M in loyalty-attributed revenue with 8.7x higher repeat purchase rates for top-tier VIP members.
Is Rivo suitable for small Shopify businesses or only large enterprises?
Rivo serves brands across the growth spectrum. The free plan supports stores with up to 200 monthly orders with full points program functionality. The Scale plan accommodates growing brands, while Plus and Enterprise tiers serve high-volume merchants processing thousands of orders monthly. This tiered approach makes Rivo accessible for emerging brands while providing enterprise capabilities for scaled operations.
How does Rivo manage fraud in referral programs?
Rivo includes 20+ built-in fraud prevention tools for referral programs. These include IP address monitoring (one referral per household), self-referral blocking, cookie tracking, new customer verification, minimum cart requirements, and order fulfillment verification before reward distribution. This comprehensive approach addresses referral fraud as a core platform feature rather than an afterthought.
