How to Switch from Smile.io to Rivo

Switching a loyalty program from Smile.io to Rivo starts with a free CSV import for customer points and tiers. The total timeline and any cost difference depend on program complexity, order volume, and the specific plans being compared, so brands should treat published examples as reference points rather than guarantees. Rivo's loyalty platform is built exclusively for Shopify and supports modern Shopify capabilities such as checkout extensions, customer account experiences, Shopify Flow, metafields, and APIs, which means a program can work with stackable discounts and native customer accounts without relying on custom scripts. For brands paying for a higher Smile.io tier just to unlock VIP functionality, Rivo's Scale plan starts at $49+/month and includes VIP tiers, though merchants should compare current usage limits and feature requirements before estimating savings. Rivo has published customer outcomes such as HexClad generating $450,000 in referral revenue within 90 days, which illustrates the kind of results a Shopify-native retention platform can support.

Key Takeaways

• Migration from Smile.io to Rivo uses a free CSV import tool that brings customers into Rivo with their points balances, and supported fields such as VIP tiers and selected customer dates through Rivo's broader loyalty CSV tools.
• VIP tiers are available on Rivo's Scale plan, which starts at $49+/month.
• CSV processing may take up to an hour, while full implementation time varies. Rivo documents a three-week design and migration project for Partners Coffee.
• Rivo lists 50+ integrations, including Klaviyo, Gorgias, and Recharge.
• Portland Leather Goods ties approximately 17.4% of revenue to its Rivo program.
• HexClad generated $450,000 in referral revenue within 90 days of launching its program, with referred customers showing a 17% higher AOV.

Why Migrate Your Loyalty Program from Smile.io?

Shopify's platform has evolved since many loyalty apps first launched. Shopify has deprecated checkout.liquid for in-checkout pages and moved merchants toward checkout extensibility, while Shopify Scripts continued alongside checkout extensions until June 30, 2026. Modern retention platforms are built around checkout extensions, theme app extensions, and Shopify Flow rather than the older methods this transition phases out.

Smile.io operates across multiple platforms, including Shopify, BigCommerce, and Wix, which means it maintains compatibility across several ecommerce systems at once. That multi-platform approach creates a different set of trade-offs for merchants who run exclusively on Shopify and want a platform built around that single architecture.

Checkout complexity and usability problems can contribute to cart abandonment, a pattern well documented in checkout research. Shopify-native apps address this by integrating into the checkout flow directly on eligible plans and store configurations, rather than requiring redirects or custom code.

The Technical Gap

The difference shows up in day-to-day operation:

• Checkout experience: on Shopify Plus stores with checkout extensibility enabled, Rivo's Plus plan displays points balances and enables redemption directly in the payment flow.
• Page performance: Rivo uses Shopify-native extension points designed to integrate with modern themes; merchants should test storefront performance within their own implementation, since load times vary by store and theme.
• Discount handling: stackable discounts work with Shopify's discount engine rather than requiring custom workarounds.
• Customer accounts: compatibility with Shopify's New Customer Accounts means loyalty data can appear in the customer portal.

If a current loyalty setup relies on custom code, adds checkout friction, or does not integrate cleanly with Shopify's newer features, migration is worth evaluating against the specific gaps a brand is experiencing.

Common Migration Triggers

Brands typically consider switching when they are:

• Paying for a higher plan primarily to unlock VIP tier functionality.
• Experiencing checkout friction tied to older integration methods.
• Needing developer-friendly APIs for custom implementations.
• Wanting month-to-month billing instead of an annual commitment.
• Looking for deeper Klaviyo integration with custom event triggers.

Per Harvard Business Review research, increasing customer retention rates by just 5% can increase profits by 25% to 95%. That makes the choice of loyalty platform a meaningful business decision rather than a purely technical one.

Rivo's Loyalty Program: Built for Shopify Brands

Rivo Loyalty covers points programs, VIP tiers, and rewards. The platform reports serving 9,000+ brands, including HexClad, Kitsch, and other Shopify merchants featured in its published case studies.

Points and Rewards Configuration

Rivo supports multiple ways for customers to earn points, including:

• Purchases with customizable points-per-dollar ratios.
• Account creation and profile completion.
• Birthday rewards.
• Product reviews through connected integrations such as Judge.me, Okendo, or Stamped.
• Referrals and social engagement actions.
• Custom actions configured by the merchant.

Redemption options include percentage discounts, fixed-amount discounts, free shipping, and free products, with configurable expiration dates and minimum thresholds.

VIP Tier Programs

VIP tiers are designed to reward repeat customers with escalating benefits. Rivo supports tier progression based on:

• Total spend, with lifetime or rolling period options.
• Number of orders.
• Points earned.

Each tier can offer distinct perks: exclusive discounts, early access to sales, free shipping thresholds, bonus point multipliers, and members-only products. The analytics dashboard tracks tier distribution, progression rates, and revenue by tier segment.

Kitsch reports an 8.7x repeat purchase rate for its top-tier VIP customers compared to non-members, which points to how tier programs can compound customer value over time.

Beyond Loyalty: Rivo's Integrated Retention Suite

Alongside points and tiers, Rivo's platform extends into referrals, subscription-based paid memberships, and customer accounts, all managed from a single dashboard.

Referral Marketing

Rivo Referrals turns customers into an acquisition channel. The system includes:

• Dedicated referral landing pages with a visual editor.
• Unique referral codes per customer.
• Fraud controls that can flag suspicious behavior, including similar IP addresses or email patterns, among Rivo's 20+ fraud prevention tools.
• Multi-tier rewards for advocates who drive multiple referrals.
• Post-purchase prompts and in-account referral widgets.

HexClad's referral program generated $450,000 in referral revenue within 90 days of launch, and Rivo reports that HexClad's referred customers had a 17% higher AOV.

Subscription-Based Paid Memberships

Rivo Memberships supports native subscription-based paid membership programs using stackable discounts and, on eligible Shopify Plus stores with checkout extensibility enabled, checkout extensions.

Membership programs tend to fit brands with:

• High repeat purchase rates, where ongoing discounts reward loyalty.
• Exclusive product lines or early access drops.
• Premium support tiers or enhanced benefits.

Enhanced Customer Accounts

Rivo Accounts turns the standard Shopify customer portal into a retention tool with:

• Passwordless login and signup.
• Wishlists with shareable links.
• Order history with tracking integration.
• Loyalty points display and redemption.
• Apple and Google Wallet passes for loyalty cards.
• Subscription management for providers such as Skio and Recharge.

Rivo Activate auto-logs customers in from Klaviyo email clicks. Rivo has published customer examples of substantial increases in account activation from this feature, though results vary by brand and implementation.

Migration Overview: What the Process Involves

The migration process relies on Smile.io's CSV export and Rivo's import tool. Here is what each phase generally covers, with timing that depends on file size, program complexity, integrations, design work, and internal approval steps.

Phase 1: Export from Smile.io

1. Log into the Smile.io dashboard.
2. Navigate to the Customers page.
3. Click Export Customers.
4. Check email for the CSV file, which Smile.io generally sends within a few minutes.
5. Download the unformatted version, since only this format imports into Rivo.

Phase 2: Import into Rivo

1. Install Rivo from the Shopify App Store.
2. Navigate to Settings, then CSV Import.
3. Upload the Smile.io export file, keeping it under 50MB.
4. Monitor the import status page until it shows Completed.

Rivo says Smile.io CSV uploads may take up to one hour, depending on file size.

Phase 3: Configure the Program

With customer data imported, configuration typically includes:

• Setting up earning rules matching or improving the previous Smile.io setup.
• Configuring redemption rewards and thresholds.
• Building VIP tiers if applicable.
• Customizing branding, including colors, fonts, and widget placement.
• Enabling the referral program if needed.

Phase 4: Test and Launch

Before going live, most teams:

• Spot-check a sample of customer accounts to verify points transferred correctly.
• Place test orders to confirm earning mechanics.
• Test reward redemption at checkout.
• Verify that the Klaviyo integration syncs loyalty data.

Phase 5: Communicate and Cutover

Once testing is complete, brands typically:

• Email existing loyalty members about the transition.
• Highlight any new benefits or features.
• Uninstall Smile.io after confirming everything works as expected.

Rivo documents a three-week migration project for Partners Coffee, described as a well-planned process supported closely by Rivo's team. Migration timelines vary by customer base size, program complexity, and internal testing requirements, so brands should plan around their own scope rather than a fixed number of days.

Rivo's Technical Foundation: Integrations and Developer Tools

Shopify-Native Performance

Rivo uses Shopify-native theme app extensions designed to integrate with modern Shopify themes. Page speed can influence both conversion rates and search performance, so merchants evaluating any loyalty app, including Rivo, should test storefront performance within their own implementation rather than relying on general benchmarks.

Open API Platform

For brands needing custom implementations, Rivo's developer toolkit provides:

• A REST API with documentation.
• A JavaScript API for real-time data display.
• Webhooks for event-driven automation.
• Metafields for native Shopify Liquid integration.
• Shopify Flow integration for low-code workflows.

Rivo's developer page reports 2.9 billion annual API calls, 99.98% API uptime, and more than 850 development teams using its API, based on metrics referenced from August 2024.

50+ Native Integrations

The integration ecosystem covers:

• Email and SMS: Klaviyo, Attentive, Postscript, Omnisend.
• Reviews: Judge.me, Loox, and other review platforms via Rivo's integrations.
• Subscriptions: Recharge, Skio, Stay, Smartrr.
• Support: Gorgias, Zendesk, Gladly.
• Mobile: Tapcart, Fuego, Venn Apps.

Pricing That Scales With Your Business

Rivo's pricing structure does not require an annual contract.

Rivo Pricing Overview

Scale starts at $49+/month and scales with monthly order volume, currently ranging up to $499/month for 200 to 2,500 monthly orders, and includes VIP tiers. Billing is month-to-month with no annual commitment required. Plus is listed at $499/month for up to 2,500 monthly orders and includes features such as advanced Klaviyo integration and white-glove onboarding; some developer and checkout capabilities vary by plan and store eligibility, and Plus is not restricted to Shopify Plus merchants specifically. Enterprise pricing is custom for unlimited monthly order volume. A 7-day free trial is listed for the Scale plan; trial availability on Plus and Enterprise should be confirmed directly with Rivo.

What Affects Your Cost Comparison

Any savings estimate from switching platforms depends on several factors specific to each brand:

• The current plan and usage tier on the previous platform.
• Monthly order volume and where that places a store within Rivo's Scale pricing.
• Which features are required, such as VIP tiers, checkout extensions, or subscription-based paid memberships.
• Internal implementation time, which Rivo does not publish as a fixed estimate.

Brands considering a switch should build their own comparison using current pricing pages for both platforms rather than a generic savings figure.

Proven Results: Brands Using Rivo

HexClad

The cookware brand generated $450,000 in referral revenue within 90 days of launching its Rivo-powered referral program. Rivo reports that HexClad's referred customers had a 17% higher AOV than the brand's average.

Portland Leather Goods

Portland Leather Goods ties approximately 17.4% of total revenue to its loyalty program on Rivo. The brand cited speed and customization limitations with its previous platform as drivers for the switch.

Rylee + Cru

The children's clothing brand has driven $2.4M+ in sales from loyalty redemptions on Rivo. Its program design uses a low barrier to a customer's first reward, which the brand credits with encouraging strong ongoing participation.

OSEA Malibu

The clean beauty brand reports a 77% repeat purchase rate among customers who redeem Rivo rewards. OSEA syncs subscription status into custom loyalty tiers without requiring custom development.

Kitsch

Kitsch's top-tier VIP customers show an 8.7x repeat purchase rate compared to non-members, illustrating how tier structure can influence repeat purchase behavior over time.

Why Brands Choose Rivo for Shopify Loyalty

Rivo is built exclusively for Shopify and emphasizes compatibility with Shopify's modern extension architecture, including checkout extensions, theme app extensions, and Shopify Flow. Being 100% bootstrapped with zero venture capital means the product roadmap is shaped by customer needs rather than outside growth targets.

For brands evaluating a switch from Smile.io, Rivo offers:

• Free migration support with CSV import tools and documentation.
• Month-to-month billing, with Scale starting at $49+/month.
• 24/7 live chat, while onboarding, response targets, Slack access, and dedicated account support vary by plan.
• A 7-day free trial on the Scale plan to test the platform before committing.
• White-glove onboarding available on eligible plans.

Request a demo to see how the platform fits a specific use case, or explore the interactive demo to test functionality before installing.

Final Verdict: Making the Switch to Rivo

For brands considering a switch from Smile.io, Rivo offers several potentially relevant capabilities.

• Shopify integration: Rivo supports Shopify theme app extensions, checkout extensions, Shopify Flow, Shopify POS, customer accounts, and other Shopify-focused retention features.
• Migration support: Rivo provides a documented Smile.io CSV import process and offers migration assistance for customer points and tiers. Merchants should confirm the exact data fields, timeline, responsibilities, testing process, and any applicable fees before beginning the migration.
• Retention products: Rivo offers loyalty, referrals, memberships, customer accounts, cashback, store credit, wallet passes, and related retention products. Some products may be priced separately or require specific plans.
• Developer flexibility: The Rivo Developer Toolkit includes REST API access, JavaScript API access, Shopify metafields, webhooks, and Shopify Flow support. Access levels and rate limits may vary by plan.
• Published pricing: Scale starts at $49+ per month, Plus is listed at $499 per month, and Enterprise configurations use custom pricing. Scale pricing increases according to monthly order volume, while separate products such as Cashback and Accounts have their own starting prices.
• Evidence to review: Rivo publishes customer case studies covering migrations, loyalty revenue, referrals, VIP tiers, customer accounts, and retention outcomes. These results are specific to the featured merchants and should not be treated as guaranteed performance.

For Shopify and Shopify Plus brands evaluating a migration, request a demo and ask Rivo to provide a written migration scope, feature comparison, pricing proposal, implementation timeline, data-field map, and validation plan before uninstalling Smile.io.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the migration process from Smile.io to Rivo typically take?

Timing varies by customer base size, program complexity, and internal testing requirements. Rivo's Smile.io-specific guide notes that CSV uploads may take up to an hour to process, while full implementation, including configuration, testing, and launch, takes longer and depends on scope. Rivo documents a three-week design and migration project for Partners Coffee as a real-world example.

Will I lose my existing customer loyalty data or points during the migration?

Rivo's import tool brings customers into Rivo along with their points balances from the Smile.io CSV export. Rivo's broader loyalty CSV tools can also import supported fields such as VIP tiers and selected customer dates. Referral history is not documented as part of the standard Smile.io CSV import, so brands with active referral programs should confirm how that data is handled before migrating. Always download the unformatted CSV version from Smile.io, since the formatted version will not import correctly, and spot-check a sample of accounts after import to verify accuracy.

Can Rivo integrate with my other marketing tools like Klaviyo and Gorgias?

Yes. Rivo lists 50+ integrations, including Klaviyo, Gorgias, Postscript, Attentive, and Recharge. The Klaviyo integration syncs points balances, tier data, and loyalty events. These integrations are designed to work without requiring separate middleware.

How does Rivo's pricing work for growing brands?

Scale starts at $49+/month and scales with monthly order volume up to $499/month for 200 to 2,500 monthly orders, with VIP tiers included. Billing is month-to-month with no annual commitment. A 7-day free trial is listed for Scale. Plus is $499/month for up to 2,500 monthly orders and includes advanced Klaviyo integration and white-glove onboarding, while Enterprise pricing is custom for unlimited order volume. Trial availability on Plus and Enterprise should be confirmed directly with Rivo.

Is Rivo compatible with my existing Shopify Plus store setup?

Rivo is built exclusively for Shopify and supports Shopify Plus capabilities, including checkout extensions on stores with checkout extensibility enabled, stackable discounts, and Shopify's New Customer Accounts. The platform is listed as a Built for Shopify app in the Shopify App Store. Brands running Shopify Plus should confirm which specific developer and checkout capabilities apply to their plan before migrating.