Loyalty and rewards apps are a great way to boost sales, increase customer satisfaction, and build relationships with your buyers. If you're running an online store on Shopify, it’s important to have the right tools in place to guarantee your long-term success. In this blog post, we’ll be looking at some of the best loyalty and rewards apps that can help you get the most out of your store and keep your shoppers coming back time and time again.
Whether you're just getting started with a new Shopify store or looking for ways to enhance your existing one, a good loyalty and rewards program can be the key to your continued growth. With the proper apps in your ecommerce arsenal, you’ll be able to reward customers for repeat purchases and other activities like referrals and engagement. Not only will this encourage ongoing business from current fans of your brand, but it will attract new ones too.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick breakdown of our top picks for the best loyalty and rewards apps for Shopify (but we recommend reading the full article to learn how we came to these recommendations):
- 🛒 Best for brands on Shopify - 🥇ReferralCandy
- 😄 Best for personalization - 🥇Smile.io
- 🤲 Best for all-in-one 🥇Growave
- 🤷 Best for basic needs/low budget - 🥇LoyaltyLion
- 🔵 Best for brands using Yotpo - 🥇Yotpo Loyalty & Rewards
What're the best loyalty apps for Shopify?
1. Growave
Growave Key Features 🧰
Growave offers a variety of customer loyalty features that entice buyers and lead them to take high-value actions.
Here are some of the pivotal benefits of Growave that make it one of our favorite platforms in this space.
- You can reward customers for leaving reviews with loyalty points and discounts
- Encourages user-generated content (UGC) on social media sites like Instagram, allowing you to auto-publish posts on any page on your site
- Enables you to reward shoppers for every dollar they spend
- Automatically sends gifts on existing customers’ birthdays
- Gives buyers a variety of options to redeem loyalty points (gift cards, percentage discounts, free shipping, free items, and more)
- Leads customers to refer friends through a native referral program with unique URL links
- Increases customer retention by offering VIP perks to your most loyal customers
- Shopify POS and Shopify Plus integration
Growave Pros ✅
There are several major benefits to using Growave’s Shopify loyalty app for your brand.
- It is an all-in-one marketing platform for loyalty programs, rewards, reviews, and wishlists, so you can consolidate all your related apps into one place
- The social login feature simplifies account registration and increases signups
- Growave helps to boost customer engagement by providing interactive features like user reviews, rewards and loyalty points, and more
- Growave comes with powerful marketing automation tools that help convert visitors into customers
- With Growave’s features such as discounts, coupons, wishlist reminders, and more, you can create personalized shopping experiences and increase your revenue
- Built-in analytics allow you to track key metrics like abandoned cart rate, average order value, conversion rates, and more, so you can make smarter decisions about your store
Growave Cons ❌
- Can be an added expense for smaller stores without a lot of cash on hand
- Live chat support and phone support is not available for the lower-priced plans
- May require some technical know-how to set up properly
- If you cancel your annual plan, Growave keeps 20% of the amount from the remaining months
Brands using Growave 🏷️
A number of large-scale and successful brands utilize Growave, including:
- Unilever
- Aldo
- Crocs
- Reebok
- Lego
Growave Pricing 💰
Growave pricing is based on the number of orders and features you'd like access to. Pricing ranges from $9/mo for up to 75 orders/month and access to all standard features, to $299/mo for up to 3,500 orders/month, which unlocks Klaviyo and Omnisend integrations, points at checkout, custom action rewards, and API access.
Who is Growave best for? 🙋
Growave is designed specifically for Shopify sellers looking to grow their online business and boost their customer engagement levels. With Growave, you can easily automate and manage customer loyalty programs, reviews and ratings, wishlists, social sharing, referrals, and more. This makes it the perfect choice for any Shopify seller looking to maximize their online store’s potential.
Whether you're a small or medium-sized business or an established enterprise-level brand, Growave offers features that are tailored to your specific needs. Say you want to launch a loyalty program or increase your customer interactions on Instagram, Growave provides everything you need to do this in one place.
It also integrates seamlessly with popular email applications like Klaviyo, so you can take advantage of powerful marketing features without having to go through the hassle of setting up multiple accounts. For those who want even more control over their ecommerce operations, the Growave API allows full customization and access to the platform.
👉 Sign up for Growave here and get a free 30-day trial
2. Rise.ai
Rise.ai offers a native Shopify loyalty app that makes it easy to create programs for your customers that allows them to earn and spend store credits at your shop.
Rise.ai Key Features 🧰
Rise.ai is home to a full range of benefits and features, some of which we’ve laid out below.
- Completely customizable reward options (reward for first time purchase, reward for every purchase, etc.)
- Branded gift card experience with advanced sending features
- Multichannel capability allows customers to share gift cards across multiple stores (online Shopify site and Shopify POS)
- Increased customer retention by issuing gift cards for refunds or store credits for returns
- Automatically offers gift cards based on customizable triggers (ex. Becoming a member, spending $X to receive $10, receive free gift after X number of purchases)
- Sends automated reminders to use store credit
- Built-in algorithm that automatically factors in your profit margin when setting loyalty and reward incentives
Rise.ai Pros ✅
- Free migration service to migrate gift cards, store credits and loyalty points to Rise.ai
- Intuitive flow builder allows for maximum customization and personalization
- Is a cloud-based platform that makes it easy for customers to find and purchase products
- The user-friendly interface makes it simple for anyone to get started, regardless of technical background or experience level
- makes it easy to scale up as needed without having to worry about additional costs or limitations
- With the ability to customize product pages, logos, fonts, and more, you can make sure your online store reflects your brand’s identity and values
Rise.ai Cons ❌
- Rise.ai is only available in the countries they provide access to, so you may have to double check that you are able to take advantage of this service
- Monthly fees can add up quickly, depending on your store's size and needs
- While Rise.ai is great for small shops looking to get a basic loyalty program up and running quickly, the more advanced features such as data analytics and reporting capabilities require a greater depth of ecommerce knowledge
Brands using Rise.ai 🏷️
- Skims
- Allbrids
- FIGS
- Dr. Squatch
- Brooklinen
- Gravity
- Magic Spoon
- La Columbe
- Nestle
- Miami Heat
- Gatorade
Rise.ai Pricing 💰
Rise.ai has several pricing tiers ranging from $16.99/mo to $479.99/mo based on order volume and feature access. Flexible enterprise pricing is available.
Who is Rise.ai best for? 🙋
If you’re a Shopify seller looking for an automated solution to help you manage and grow your business, then Rise.ai is the perfect fit. This AI-powered platform provides store owners with the tools they need to boost their sales and increase customer engagement.
Rise.ai is best suited for Shopify sellers who are serious about growing their business. It offers a suite of powerful features that make it easy to create personalized marketing campaigns and track customer behavior. With advanced analytics capabilities, it also helps sellers identify opportunities for growth and quickly respond to changing market conditions.
For those just getting started in the world of ecommerce, Rise.ai can help you get off on the right foot by providing insights into how customers interact with your store, what products are selling well, and which strategies are proving effective in driving sales growth. The biggest benefit, however, are the tools that allow you to quickly set up rewards programs or launch targeted promotions with limited coding knowledge required.
Experienced ecommerce veterans can also benefit from Rise.ai. The sophisticated algorithms let users optimize their strategies based on current trends, and set up automated campaigns that react to specific customer actions.
In short: anyone trying to run a successful online store should consider giving Rise.ai a try.
3. Smile.io
Smile.io is one of the best Shopify loyalty apps on the market. It boasts over 50,000 customers including Palaroid, Ivory Ella, and 310 Nutrition.
Smile.io Key Features 🧰
Smile.io offers cutting-edge loyalty programs and rewards features to help engage customers and increase repeat purchases and referrals.
- Smile.io's loyalty app pops out at the bottom of your site so it doesn’t interfere with other functions of your Shopify store
- Fully customizable so you can tailor the app to match your brand guidelines
- Offers loyalty program points whenever a customer creates an account, shares on social media, completes a purchase, has a birthday, or follows you on social media
- Expiring loyalty points trigger automatic re-engagement emails
- Allows you to establish custom point names (so you can remain on-brand)
- Rate limiting lets you determine how often customers can earn points
- Enables you to set detailed earning conditions for specific customer segments
Smile.io Pros ✅
- Deep loyalty program features for Shopify
- Highly customizable app and rewards emails
- Easy-to-use for both consumers and business owners
- Integrates with all major Shopify apps
- Free plan available
Smile.io Cons ❌
- Limited functionality on free plan
- More expensive than other Shopify loyalty apps
- Can be buggy (some features don’t work 100% of the time)
Brands using Smile.io 🏷️
- Polaroid
- Topps
- Mpix
- Evy's Tree
- Packlane
Smile.io Pricing 💰
For Shopify sellers, there are three pricing plans available. The Starter plan is $49/month, the Growth plan is $199/month, and the Pro plan is $599/month.
Who is Smile.io best for? 🙋
Smile.io helps online stores increase customer engagement, retention, and sales. It’s used by thousands of Shopify sellers around the world to reward their customers for repeat purchases, referrals, reviews, and more.
This software is an ideal solution for ecommerce stores that want to reward customers for being VIP-level buyers. With Smile.io's comprehensive suite of features, you can easily set up automated rewards campaigns that incentivize customers to keep coming back for more.
Sellers who are looking to lock in recurring revenue through subscriptions will also find Smile.io a welcome addition to their tech stack. The tool makes it easy to reward subscribers with points or discounts when they purchase additional items or refer friends to your store. This encourages loyalty and helps grow your subscription base even further.
Overall, any type of Shopify seller can benefit from using Smile.io, but businesses who are looking to enhance their relationship with their customer base stand out as being particularly well-suited to take advantage of this software tool.
4. LoyaltyLion
LoyaltyLion Key Features 🧰
LoyaltyLion is a customer rewards platform trusted by a multitude of ecom sellers globally. It’s designed to drive customer loyalty and engagement and has a number of key features worth noting.
- Setting up loyalty programs with LoyaltyLion is simple and fast. All you need to do is install the app, set your parameters, and let customers start earning points for shopping
- LoyaltyLion offers a fully automated system that awards buyers points for making purchases, writing reviews, referring friends, and more, making it easy to keep track of customer loyalty and provide tailored rewards accordingly
- With LoyaltyLion's customizable reward structure, store owners can create unique campaigns or offer discounts off specific products or categories that are set to each customer's individual interests or needs
- The tool seamlessly integrates with Shopify’s checkout process so customers don't have to manually enter any codes when claiming their rewards, ensuring that the entire experience is convenient for both shop owners and shoppers alike
- You can keep track of all the data from your loyalty program in one place with detailed reports and analytics from LoyaltyLion’s dashboard, which provides an overview of how your store is performing at any given time, as well as insights into customer behavior
LoyaltyLion Pros ✅
- Automated, easy-to-use loyalty program that helps reward and retain customers
- With different methods such as points, discounts, and exclusive products, customers are incentivized to keep coming back
- LoyaltyLion lets you customize the way customers earn points on purchases so that they can maximize their rewards and drive greater sales for your store
- Easily accessible dashboard allows you to quickly view key metrics such as customer engagement levels, point redemption activity, and total points earned by each buyer
- Loyalty Lion integrates seamlessly with Shopify’s checkout process so customers can easily access their accounts while making purchases
- The integration also ensures that any changes or updates made on the platform will be reflected across all connected stores in real time without any manual effort required from you
LoyaltyLion Cons ❌
- While LoyaltyLion offers customer support through their website, it is not always possible to troubleshoot issues instantly
- The UI can be confusing at times due to an overabundance of options and features that make it challenging to always find what you’re looking for quickly
- If you want access to more advanced features such as automated emails or segmentation tools, you will have to splurge for higher payment plans
- Although LoyaltyLion works with Shopify stores worldwide, some countries are unable to use its services due to legal restrictions or other reasons
Brands using LoyaltyLion 🏷️
- Lively
- ReserveBar
- Astrid & Miyu
- 100% Pure
LoyaltyLion Pricing 💰
LoyaltyLion pricing depends on how many orders you process each month. The Classic plan starts at $399/month, the Advanced plan starts at $729/month, and the Plus plan starts at $1,650/month.
Who is LoyaltyLion best for? 🙋
If you're an ecommerce DTC brand owner selling on Shopify, then LoyaltyLion could be the perfect rewards program for your business. LoyaltyLion is a platform that helps drive repeat purchases and engage customers. With LoyaltyLion, sellers like you can easily create custom programs tailored to the unique needs of your shop.
LoyaltyLion is best suited for Shopify stores that need to increase customer retention and engagement in order to generate more business. It’s especially beneficial if you have a large customer base or multiple stores across different platforms. With its flexible points system, it's easy to customize your loyalty program according to the extent of your catalog and the demographics of your audience, as well as how often customers purchase from you.
For example, if you have a small store with few customers who rarely buy anything, then LoyaltyLion allows you to set up segmented levels that offer rewards based on frequency of orders or total spend over time. In this way, even smaller stores can benefit from increased customer engagement and repeat purchases without having to invest huge amounts of money into marketing campaigns or other expensive tactics.
At the same time, larger stores with high volumes of sales can also make use of LoyaltyLion's range of features. The automated rewards emails and customizable referral programs can help big brands drive more sales quickly and efficiently by thanking loyal customers for referring new ones. In short, no matter what kind of Shopify seller you are–whether you are an experienced veteran or new to the game –LoyaltyLion has something for everyone. If increasing customer retention is important to your business goals, then consider integrating LoyaltyLion, as it may just be the perfect solution for your online store.
👉Sign up for LoyaltyLion today.
6. ReferralCandy
ReferralCandy makes it easy to set up a referral program on your Shopify site and enable seamless word-of-mouth referrals from your existing customers. ReferralCandy boasts a 4.9 average rating on the Shopify app store and claims there are over 30,000 stores using the app.
ReferralCandy Key Features 🧰
- Reward customers for referring people they know
- Track top referrers, referral sales, and number of social shares
- Integrates with all major Shopify apps, including Klaviyo, Recharge, PayWhirl, and more
- Referral fraud prevention
- You can customize the design of your referral program so it matches your brand
- Ability to invite customers to join your referral program immediately after checkout, from your mailing list, or after a certain number of days upon receiving an email
- Gain insights into your top referrers and what they’re saying about your brand on social media
ReferralCandy Pros ✅
- 30-day trial
- Customer success team
- Built-in templates so you can launch quickly
- Mobile-first experience
- HTML & CSS editing (developer friendly)
- Can embed signup forms throughout site
- Variety of customizable widgets
ReferralCandy Cons ❌
- Requires some effort, as you have to manage the referrals, track them, and keep up with customer communication, which can take up a chunk of time each month
- Fees may be too pricey for small businesses with tight budgets
- Setting up takes some commitment as you have to go over all the details like incentives and rewards before launching successfully, which can be overwhelming if you don't have experience working with similar tools before
Brands using ReferralCandy 🏷️
- Colgate
- Tupperware
- Steve Madden
- Impossible
- Branch Basics
- Ledger
ReferralCandy Pricing 💰
There are three plans available: Premium, Plus, and Enterprise. The Premium plan is $47/month + a 3.5% commission fee, and the Plus plan is $239/month + a 1.5% commission fee.
Who is ReferralCandy best for? 🙋
ReferralCandy is one of the premier tools available to elevate your Shopify sales. Sellers can use it to effectively set up a referral program and start growing their customer base right away.
ReferralCandy is perfect for any Shopify seller who wants to build a strong, loyal pool of customers. Whether you sell apparel, accessories, or electronics, ReferralCandy makes it easy to incentivize word-of-mouth marketing with reward points and discounts. Plus, it offers simple tracking features so you can measure the success of your referral program in real time.
For new entrepreneurs starting out on Shopify, ReferralCandy provides an easy way to get the ball rolling on building a booming ecommerce business without having to invest in expensive advertising campaigns or other costly marketing efforts. With just a few clicks of your mouse, you can create custom referral programs tailored specifically to your target market and begin driving traffic and sales from day one.
ReferralCandy is likewise ideal for established Shopify stores looking for ways to increase conversions by offering exclusive deals and discounts. By rewarding customers with coupon codes or loyalty points when they refer friends or family members to your store, you can create an engaged community of brand advocates who are excited about promoting your products and services–even on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
Overall, ReferralCandy is a great solution for any type of Shopify seller wanting to stand out from the crowd by providing unique incentives that keep your store top-of-mind for customers.
👉Sign up for ReferralCandy today.
7. Yotpo Loyalty & Rewards
Yotpo Loyalty & Rewards Key Features 🧰
- Automatically reward customers with points for every purchase they make, encouraging repeat purchases and dedication to your brand
- Offer exclusive discounts and promotions to loyal customers based on their purchase history
- Create customizable loyalty programs tailored to your unique business needs
- Easily track customer points and rewards status in the Shopify admin panel
- Allow customers to redeem their points on future purchases through an intuitive checkout process
- Increase engagement with customers by allowing them to refer friends or leave reviews for additional rewards points
- Gain insights into what drives customer loyalty
Yotpo Loyalty & Rewards Pros ✅
- Integrates seamlessly with your Shopify store, making it easy to set up and get started
- The program automatically processes customer loyalty points, so you don’t have to worry about manually tracking them
- Customers can earn points for a variety of actions, including creating an account, placing an order, leaving reviews, and more
- You can offer rewards in the form of discounts or free products, giving customers the flexibility they desire
- You are empowered to create custom campaigns tailored to your unique store needs and goals
- With Yotpo you can encourage customers to keep coming back by rewarding long-term commitment with special offers
Yotpo Loyalty & Rewards Cons ❌
- Pricing breakdown is slightly confusing and not as transparent as it could be
- Can be costly, especially the Gold plan
- The reporting tools offered by Yotpo are not as robust compared to other Shopify loyalty programs
- Setting up a loyalty program with Yotpo could take some time if you don't have technical knowledge or require help from a developer
Brands using Yotpo Loyalty & Rewards 🏷️
- Brooklinen
- Chubbies
- Soko Glam
- Princess Polly
- MVMT
Yotpo Loyalty & Rewards Pricing 💰
The Silver plan is $29/month, and best for stores that handle up to 400 monthly orders. The Gold plan is $249/month, and best for those that do between 400-1,000 monthly orders.
Who is Yotpo Loyalty & Rewards best for? 🙋
Shopify’s Yotpo Loyalty & Rewards tool is perfect for ecommerce sellers who are looking to increase customer loyalty, retention, and engagement. This powerful platform allows merchants to create customized loyalty and rewards programs that can be tailored to fit their specific objectives.
With Yotpo, sellers can reward customers for taking certain beneficial actions. They also have the ability to offer exclusive discounts and promotions to loyal customers in order to incentivize them to come back again. Yotpo is especially useful for ecommerce stores with recurring customers, such as subscription services, or those selling items that require repeat purchases (such as consumables).
Yotpo is also well-suited for businesses who need assistance tracking customer data in order to better understand the behavior of their shoppers—information which can then be used to make more informed decisions about marketing strategies and product offerings.
8. Marsello
Marsello Key Features 🧰
- Provides customers with rewards for their purchases and referrals, allowing them to save money and earn benefits over time
- The program offers customizable points, automated promotions, referral tracking, VIP programs, and more
- It also integrates with other Shopify tools such as Mailchimp and Klaviyo, simplifying your post-purchase targeting efforts
- With Marsello’s loyalty marketing and referrals program you can easily create unique campaigns to reward your customers for their loyalty and social media shares
Marsello Pros ✅
- Designed to set up easily and get running quickly
- Automates referral programs and rewards customers with discounts, free items, and exclusive access to perks
- Can streamline your referral program so that customers can spread the word to friends and family members
- Gives you the flexibility to customize your rewards program according to your needs, and can design custom discount codes, special offers, or even gift cards for loyal customers
- The platform provides comprehensive data tracking and reporting tools that allow you to measure customer activity and gain valuable insights into what works best for your business
- Marsello integrates seamlessly with your Shopify store so that you do not need additional hardware or software installations in order to get started
Marsello Cons ❌
- Price can be out-of-reach for certain small sellers
- Requires a clear objective and gameplan to make the most out of it and use properly
- Loyalty program features are only available on the Pro plan, not the Free plan
Brands using Marsello 🏷️
- Dermalogica
- Federation
- Huckleberry
- Elite Supplements
Marsello Pricing 💰
The Pro plan, which is recommended to access loyalty programs and rewards, costs $100/month.
Who is Marsello best for? 🙋
Marsello is a beneficial tool for any ecommerce business looking to increase customer loyalty and acquire new customers through referrals. Whether you are an online retailer or a subscription service provider, Marsello can help you create meaningful relationships with your buyers.
The platform allows businesses to set up automated rewards programs that thank customers for purchases, engagements, and other actions. Additionally, it provides you with insights into customer behavior so you can better understand your target audience and modify your loyalty programs as needed. With its easy-to-use interface and powerful features, Marsello makes acquiring loyal customers easier than ever before.
9. Stamped.io
Stamped.io Key Features 🧰
- Provides loyalty ROI calculator so you can know exactly how much profit you are yielding
- Advanced points program and rewards available for customers
- Enables you to make custom referral codes and unique URLs that buyers can use
- VIP program allows you to reward your most frequent, dedicated shoppers, and make them feel like royalty
Stamped.io Pros ✅
- Automatically generate and send visually appealing rewards emails to customers
- Manage customer relationships with powerful coupons and discounts
- Create targeted campaigns to increase customer engagement and lift sales
- Analyze data on dashboard to identify trends, track performance, and improve overall business strategies
Stamped.io Cons ❌
- The tool can be glitchy with certain Shopify themes, so if you are using an uncommon theme, it may not work as expected
- Depending on your needs, the cost of Stamped.io can add up quickly when you factor in the monthly subscription fee plus any additional features or services you may need to purchase
- While buyers from your store can leave reviews on individual products, there isn't an option to leave feedback about the overall rewards experience
Brands using Stamped.io 🏷️
- Purple
- Thread
- Linjer
- Elevated Faith
- Fit Affinity
Stamped.io Pricing 💰
For access to the loyalty features, Stamped.io makes three main plans available: Premium, Business, and Professional. Premium is $49/month, Business is $149/month, and Professional is $399/month.
Who is Stamped.io best for? 🙋
Small to medium-sized businesses—and even larger enterprises—can benefit tremendously from the loyalty features of Stamped.io. This platform is designed to help sellers build out their customer base and encourage repeat purchases.
With its array of powerful features, sellers can easily incentivize customers with rewards for their shopping activity, such as discounts or free shipping. Sellers can also set up automated campaigns that treat customers on a regular basis, such as on birthdays or special occasions.
Additionally, sellers can track customer spending and engagement through reports and insights that allow you to better understand your customer profile. By putting forth rewards that make sense to your audience, Shopify stores of all sizes are able to keep loyal buyers in the loop.
👉Sign up for Stamped.io today.
What are loyalty and rewards apps for Shopify?
Loyalty and rewards apps are a great way to simulate engagement with your Shopify store and boost your customer lifetime value (CLV). They allow you to reward shoppers for their purchases, referrals, and other actions that benefit your bottom line, creating an incentive for them to stay in your ecosystem and share your brand with their inner circle.
With loyalty and rewards apps, you can set up a range of perks that will motivate customers to purchase more. For example, you can offer points or discounts, refer-a-friend bonuses, birthday gifts, or even special offers on holidays. You can also use these apps to send out automated emails thanking customers for their business or letting them know when they’ve earned enough points to redeem a reward.
Why should I use loyalty and rewards apps for Shopify?
Platforms like the ones we have described in this article make it easy to track customer behaviors and create personalized experiences that are tailored to each user. They help build close relationships with your shoppers, which in turn increases the likelihood that they'll return again in the future.
Not only that, but offering rewards is an effective way to elevate sales—customers who feel appreciated are more likely to shop with you over the competition. These kinds of programs are an excellent way for Shopify store owners to engage with customers on a personal level, and keep them returning on a frequent basis to add items to their cart.
All in all, loyalty and rewards apps are not just a clever way to build a loyal tribe for your brand, but an essential aspect of running a successful online business in the cutthroat world of ecommerce.