Points programs turn one-time buyers into repeat customers without increasing ad spend. Customer acquisition costs run 6-7x more expensive than retention, making loyalty programs essential for sustainable ecommerce growth. The right Shopify loyalty program can boost repeat purchase rates, increase average order value, and build lasting customer relationships through points, VIP tiers, and referral rewards.
The best loyalty apps combine ease of setup with powerful customization options and transparent pricing. Shopify brands can implement points programs that work out-of-the-box while offering API extensibility for custom use cases. This guide ranks the top 10 options based on ratings, features, pricing value, and market adoption.
1) Rivo — Built for Shopify Plus with Developer-Friendly Tools
Rivo delivers a modern retention platform built exclusively for Shopify and Shopify Plus merchants. The app provides loyalty programs, referral marketing, and paid memberships in one unified solution.
Best For
Fast-growing DTC brands needing customization without complexity
Price
Free up to 200 orders/month; $49-$499/month
Rating
4.8/5 (1,409 reviews)
Key Features
- 100% free forever plan including both points AND referrals — rare in this category according to Voucherify's comparison
- Developer Toolkit with REST API, JavaScript API, and native Liquid metafields for custom integrations
- 24/7 live chat support on all plans including free tier
- Drag-and-drop page builder with custom CSS, fonts, and icon control
- Built for Shopify badge meeting highest platform standards
Why It Ranks Here
Rivo combines enterprise-grade features with genuine free-forever access. Brands report 52x ROI and 3.1x repeat purchase rate improvements. The platform serves 7,000+ brands including HexClad and Kitsch.
Used By
HexClad (generated $450K in 90 days with referrals), Kitsch ($5.8M loyalty revenue), BERO (Tom Holland's brand)
2) BON Loyalty — Perfect Rating at Unbeatable Price
BON Loyalty achieves what few apps can: a perfect 5.0 rating at scale with 1,600+ reviews. The platform targets international stores with industry-leading language support.
Best For
International stores needing multi-language, multi-currency support
Price
Free up to 250 orders/month; $25-$349/month
Rating
5.0/5 (1,600 reviews)
Key Features
- 250+ languages supported — most in the category per Toki's analysis
- AI-powered loyalty automation for intelligent campaign triggers
- Anti-cheat referral program with fraud prevention built-in
- Most affordable premium tier at $25/month vs $49+ competitors according to Ecommerce Gold
Why It Ranks Here
BON's perfect rating and aggressive pricing make it ideal for growing brands. The 250-order free tier beats most competitors, and the Professional plan ($349) includes custom development packages.
Trade-off
Newer to market (launched August 2021) with less proven enterprise track record than Smile or LoyaltyLion.
3) Smile.io — Market Leader with 11-Year Track Record
Smile.io pioneered Shopify loyalty programs as Sweet Tooth Rewards on Magento before becoming the category standard. The platform powers 100,000+ businesses globally.
Best For
Established brands wanting proven reliability and extensive integration ecosystem
Price
Free up to 200 orders/month; $49-$999/month
Rating
4.9/5 (4,111 reviews)
Key Features
- Longest track record — launched December 2014
- Smile has rewarded 330 million customers across 148 countries and processed a whopping $136 billion in sales
- Shopify Loyalty Hub integration embedded directly in customer accounts
- 30+ integrations including Klaviyo, Judge.me, and Gorgias
- Auto-translation in 6 preset languages for global expansion
Why It Ranks Here
Smile's combination of scale (4,111 reviews), longevity, and enterprise client roster makes it the safe choice. Used by Polaroid, LiquidDeath, and Birchbox according to MobiLoud.
Trade-off
Premium pricing at $999/month top tier vs Rivo's $499, though feature parity is strong.
4) Joy Loyalty — Omnichannel Leader for Retail + Online
Joy Loyalty specializes in unified experiences across online stores and physical retail locations. The platform excels at milestone-based rewards like 5th order bonuses.
Best For
Retailers with both online and brick-and-mortar locations
Price
Free up to 150 lifetime orders; $24.99-$499/month
Rating
4.9/5 (1,500+ reviews)
Key Features
- Milestone rewards triggering bonuses at specific order counts
- Auto discounts at checkout eliminating redemption friction per MobiLoud
- Seamless POS & POS Pro integration for omnichannel point tracking
- Stackable discounts for VIP customer combinations
Why It Ranks Here
Joy's strength in physical + digital integration makes it perfect for beauty and fitness brands expanding beyond pure ecommerce. Froonze notes the platform can get expensive long-term.
Trade-off
Free plan caps at lifetime orders (150 total) not monthly, requiring earlier upgrade than competitors.
5) LoyaltyLion — Analytics-First for Data-Driven Merchants
LoyaltyLion targets merchants who prioritize ROI tracking and cohort analysis. The platform provides advanced segmentation beyond basic loyalty features.
Best For
Data-focused brands needing deep analytics and behavioral segmentation
Price
Free up to 400-800 orders/month; $159-$729/month+
Rating
4.7-4.8/5
Key Features
- Free loyalty page design service ($1,500 value) on Classic plan
- Up to 4 VIP tiers with flexible entry criteria
- Cohort analysis segmenting by behavior, points balance, and tier status
- ROI tracking with LTV insights and benchmarking per Voucherify
- Digital wallet passes for omnichannel engagement
Why It Ranks Here
Brands like Levo, Lifeboost, and Bellami choose LoyaltyLion for its analytics depth. The 10,000+ brand base proves market validation despite premium pricing.
Trade-off
Starting at $249/month makes this one of the pricier options.
6) Yotpo Loyalty — All-in-One for Reviews + Loyalty + SMS
Yotpo combines loyalty with reviews, SMS, and email in one marketing suite. The platform serves 10,000+ brands across all products.
Best For
Brands wanting unified reviews, loyalty, and SMS without multiple apps
Price
Free up to 100 orders/month; $199-$799/month
Rating
4.7/5
Key Features
- 20+ predefined campaign types according to Voucherify analysis
- Native integration with Yotpo Reviews, SMS, and UGC tools
- Enterprise-grade analytics with LTV tracking
- Tiered referral rewards with escalating perks per Voucherify
Why It Ranks Here
Yotpo's ecosystem approach reduces app sprawl. Brands like Steve Madden, Soko Glam, and Chubbies use the platform according to MobiLoud.
Trade-off
Higher pricing ($199+ starting) justified only if using multiple Yotpo products. Compare Yotpo vs Smile.io for standalone loyalty.
7) Growave — One App Replaces Four Tools
Growave bundles loyalty, reviews, wishlist, and social login into a single app. This consolidation approach delivers 150+ preset features.
Best For
Cost-conscious brands reducing app count and monthly subscriptions
Price
Free up to 100 orders/month; $49-$499/month
Rating
4.8/5 (1,200 reviews)
Key Features
- Loyalty + Reviews + Wishlist + UGC in one install per Toki
- Shoppable Instagram integration according to Ecommerce Gold
- Single script improving site speed vs multiple apps
- Value pricing at $49/month Entry plan covering all features
Why It Ranks Here
Growave prevents app sprawl while maintaining quality. The all-in-one approach works for brands not needing best-in-class specialization.
Trade-off
Voucherify notes "less deep than pure-play tools" — jack of all trades vs master of one.
8) Gameball — True Gamification Beyond Points
Gameball brings gaming mechanics like levels, badges, and leaderboards to loyalty programs. The platform processes 10M transactions/week.
Best For
Brands targeting younger demographics wanting interactive experiences
Price
Free forever; $19-$159/month for advanced features
Rating
4.6/5 (160 reviews)
Key Features
- Gamification elements including badges, levels, and leaderboards per Toki
- AI-powered multichannel communication for personalized engagement
- Free setup call on all plans according to MobiLoud
- Scale proven managing 100M+ customers and 2B points
Why It Ranks Here
True gamification differentiates Gameball from point-only competitors. Enterprise clients include Yassir and SEGA per MobiLoud.
Trade-off
Smaller review count (160) vs category leaders, though active since December 2019.
9) Loloyal — Ultra-Budget Option for New Stores
Loloyal delivers basic loyalty functionality at the lowest price point in the category. The platform serves 25,000+ brands including SHEIN.
Best For
New stores needing basic points programs without high monthly fees
Price
Free up to 50 orders/month; $29-$129/month
Rating
4.7-4.8/5
Key Features
- Most affordable paid plans starting at $29/month vs $49+ competitors
- Multi-language support built-in per Toki
- Points expiration with email reminders according to MobiLoud
- Fast setup for beginner-friendly launches
Why It Ranks Here
Price-to-feature ratio works for bootstrapped brands. Used by major ecommerce players like SHEIN, Pop Craft, and Banggood per MobiLoud.
Trade-off
Ecommerce Gold reports dashboard "not as refined as competitors" and restrictive 50-order free tier.
10) Marsello — Omnichannel with Built-In Email/SMS
Marsello targets brick-and-mortar retailers needing unified loyalty across ecommerce and physical POS systems. The platform includes ESP functionality.
Best For
Retailers with stores + online needing unified wallet without Klaviyo
Price
No free tier; $125-$135/month (scales with contacts)
Rating
3.9/5
Key Features
- Unified wallet across Shopify + Lightspeed, Vend, Cin7, Heartland POS per Voucherify
- Built-in ESP (email service provider) eliminating Klaviyo costs
- Analytics unifying online + in-store loyalty ROI
- POS integrations beyond Shopify (Lightspeed, Vend, Cin7)
Why It Ranks Here
Only true omnichannel option consolidating loyalty + email/SMS + multi-POS. Voucherify identifies this as best for retailers with complex point-of-sale needs.
Trade-off
Lowest rating (3.9/5), no free tier, and pricing complexity via per-customer blocks.
Choosing the Right Platform for Your Shopify Store
Selecting a points program depends on your business model, technical needs, and growth stage. Match your requirements to platform strengths rather than choosing based on price alone.
For Fast-Growing DTC Brands
Rivo and BON Loyalty both offer strong free plans that scale with order volume. Rivo's Developer Toolkit supports custom integrations as you grow, while BON's 250-language support enables international expansion.
Brands processing 200-500 orders monthly should prioritize platforms with generous free tiers. Customer retention costs less than acquisition, making early loyalty investment worthwhile.
For Enterprise and Shopify Plus
Smile.io and LoyaltyLion serve established brands needing advanced analytics and dedicated support. Smile's 11-year track record provides stability, while LoyaltyLion's cohort analysis appeals to data-focused teams.
Enterprise merchants should evaluate migration difficulty when switching from competitors. Most platforms offer white-glove onboarding to ease transitions.
For Brick-and-Mortar Retailers
Joy Loyalty and Marsello specialize in unified online + in-store experiences. Joy's POS Pro integration works seamlessly with Shopify Retail, while Marsello supports multiple POS systems beyond Shopify.
Omnichannel programs require customer account integration to track points across channels. Ensure your chosen platform syncs with your existing POS infrastructure.
Implementation Best Practices
Successful loyalty programs require strategic planning beyond just installing an app. Follow these proven approaches to maximize program ROI.
Setting Up Your Points Structure
Start with simple earning rules before adding complexity. Award 1 point per dollar spent, then expand to custom actions like reviews, social shares, and birthdays.
Core earning rules to implement:
- Purchase rewards (standard: 1 point per $1 spent)
- Account creation bonus (one-time: 100-250 points)
- Birthday rewards (annual: 100-500 points)
- Social follows (one-time: 25-50 points per platform)
- Review completion (per review: 50-100 points)
Keep redemption thresholds achievable. Loyalty program mistakes include setting point values too high, creating customer frustration.
Integration with Your Marketing Stack
Connect your loyalty platform to email, SMS, and subscription tools for automated campaigns. Klaviyo integration enables triggered emails when customers reach VIP tiers or points expire.
Priority integrations:
- Email/SMS: Klaviyo, Postscript, Attentive for retention campaigns
- Subscriptions: Skio, Recharge, Loop for subscription loyalty rewards
- Reviews: Okendo, Junip, Stamped to reward customer feedback
- Support: Gorgias for point balance visibility in support tickets
Automation reduces manual program management. Set up Shopify Flow workflows to award points for subscription starts and review submissions.
VIP Tier Strategy
Design tiered loyalty programs with 2-4 levels based on annual spend or points earned. Each tier should offer meaningfully better benefits than the previous level.
Sample tier structure:
- Bronze (0-499 points): Standard earning rate, birthday bonus
- Silver (500-999 points): 1.5x earning rate, early sale access
- Gold (1000-1999 points): 2x earning rate, free shipping, exclusive products
- Platinum (2000+ points): 2.5x earning rate, dedicated support, VIP events
OSEA Malibu achieved 77% repeat purchase rate among redeemers with strategic tier benefits. Higher tiers generate 5.5x more orders than non-members.
Measuring Loyalty Program Success
Track specific metrics to optimize program performance and demonstrate ROI to stakeholders. Generic "engagement" metrics don't justify program costs.
Key Performance Indicators
Monitor these metrics monthly to assess program health:
Activation metrics:
- Member enrollment rate: Percentage of customers joining the program
- Active members: Customers earning or redeeming in last 90 days
- Average points per member: Total points earned divided by member count
Revenue metrics:
- Revenue from members: Sales attributed to loyalty program participants
- AOV lift: Average order value comparison between members and non-members
- Repeat purchase rate: Percentage of members making second purchase within 90 days
Portland Leather Goods tied 17.4% of revenue to loyalty after migration. Customer retention rate calculation provides baseline for improvement tracking.
Redemption Analysis
Healthy programs maintain redemption rates between 15-30% of issued points. Too low suggests unattainable rewards; too high indicates devalued points.
Redemption insights to monitor:
- Redemption rate: Points redeemed divided by points issued
- Time to redemption: Average days from earning to redeeming
- Popular rewards: Which redemption options drive most engagement
- Points liability: Outstanding points not yet redeemed
Kitsch generated 1M+ redemptions from 1.8B points earned. Strategic point expiration drives urgency without alienating customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free loyalty program for Shopify?
Rivo offers the strongest free plan including both points AND referrals up to 200 monthly orders with 24/7 support. BON Loyalty provides a higher order cap at 250 monthly orders with perfect 5.0 rating. Free tiers now include features previously locked behind paid plans. Most apps require upgrades between 100-250 monthly orders depending on the platform.
How do points programs integrate with Shopify checkout?
Modern loyalty apps use checkout extensions instead of deprecated Shopify Scripts. This enables customers to spend points as payment method during checkout, reducing friction. Shopify Plus merchants access advanced checkout customization. Points display, redemption options, and VIP messaging appear natively in the checkout flow.
Can loyalty programs include referral marketing?
Most top platforms bundle referral features with loyalty. Rivo, Smile.io, Joy, and Yotpo all include referral programs with fraud prevention built-in. HexClad generated $450K in 90 days using Rivo's referral features with 92x ROI. Effective referral programs require anti-cheat tools to prevent self-referrals and abuse.
What's the difference between free and paid loyalty app tiers?
Free plans limit monthly order volume (50-250 orders) and restrict features like VIP tiers, custom branding, and advanced integrations. Paid tiers unlock unlimited participants, checkout touchpoints, and priority support. Brands processing 500+ monthly orders typically require paid plans. Pricing transparency varies significantly — some apps hide true costs behind "contact us" pricing.
How long does loyalty program migration take?
Migration timelines range from 24 hours to 3 weeks depending on program complexity. Partners Coffee migrated from Inveterate in 3 weeks, while Teaspressa completed migration in 24 hours. Most platforms offer migration assistance from competitors including Yotpo, Smile.io, LoyaltyLion, and Inveterate. White-glove onboarding typically follows 3-week processes with dedicated success managers.
