E-commerce tips
Best Shopify loyalty program apps: Build customer loyalty
By
Emma
on
May 30, 2025
Table of content
- 1. Introduction
- 2. Key features of the best loyalty apps for Shopify
- 3. Best Shopify loyalty program apps: Complete reviews
- 4. How to choose the best loyalty app for your Shopify store
- 5. Types of Shopify loyalty programs: Find your perfect match
- 6. How to launch your Shopify loyalty program
- 7. Advanced strategies for Shopify loyalty programs
- 8. Common mistakes with loyalty programs that Shopify stores make
- 9. Best Shopify loyalty program apps: Final recommendations
Introduction
Customer retention has long been a crucial part of scaling eCommerce. Studies show that acquiring a new customer is five to 25 times more expensive than retaining an existing one. In SaaS, the difference is four to five times greater. In the e-commerce sector as a whole, customer acquisition costs have increased by 60% over the past five years.
Conversely, repeat customers, who comprise only one-fifth of the customer base, contribute an astonishing 44% of total revenue and nearly half of all orders. Most Shopify store owners attribute customer loyalty to their long-term success. The question becomes: how do you systematically build this valuable customer loyalty?
Does Shopify have built-in loyalty features? No, it doesn’t, but the Shopify App Store offers a range of Shopify loyalty program apps to help merchants build stronger customer relationships. In this guide, we will compare and evaluate the best Shopify loyalty program apps thus far based on:
Core features
Ease of use
Integration capabilities
Scalability
User reviews
We will also provide some tips on how to leverage them to build a thriving customer base and recommend practical criteria for picking not only the best-rated apps but also the right fit for your store.
1. Understanding customer loyalty programs: More than points
Before we dive into the main course, let’s make sure we all understand the right approach to loyalty programs. Customer loyalty programs are strategic marketing initiatives to encourage repeat and continued purchases.
Beyond mere reward points and discounts, the value of loyalty programs broadens to creating emotional connections and long-term engagement with your customer base. They include referral incentives, VIP tier systems, personalized offers, early access to new products, and even exclusive brand experiences.
Be it a small shop or a large-scale enterprise, a well-structured loyalty program is proven to:
Increase customer retention
Boost customer lifetime value
Improve customer engagement
Provide a competitive edge in a saturated market
Generate valuable data and insights into customer behavior and preferences
Encourage word-of-mouth referrals
Statistics show that over 83% of consumers are more likely to make repeat purchases when they are part of a loyalty program. Meanwhile, implementing a loyalty program does not necessarily require a significant investment. Basic loyalty software typically starts at around $50 to $100 per month.
The actual reason loyalty programs fail to work is a lack of clear goals and measurable KPIs, in addition to persistent issues such as irrelevant rewards, complex program structures, and outdated technology. Such poorly executed programs create a distorted perception of the effectiveness and long-term value of these initiatives.
2. Key features of the best loyalty apps for Shopify
However, identifying reputable and high-performing loyalty apps for Shopify can be trickier than it seems. With nearly 1,000 loyalty solutions available on the Shopify App Store, finding the right fit for your store is genuinely challenging. So to help simplify your decision-making process, here are the key features we recommend you look for when choosing a Shopify customer loyalty program:
Flexible reward types: Because customers respond to incentives differently, the more reward types you offer, the better your program performs. Most apps include points-based rewards as part of their feature set. Additionally, you can often enable referrals, VIP tiers, and offer store credit as alternative incentives.
Diverse redemption options: Similar to reward types, having multiple redemption choices increases the appeal of your program. The best loyalty programs don’t stop at discounts but go the extra mile by offering free gifts, free shipping, early access to sales, or exclusive perks all in one go.
Customer segmentation & personalization: Different customer groups have different motivations. What drives a first-time buyer may not resonate with a VIP. Effective loyalty apps should offer segmentation and personalization functionalities to design tailored rewards, messaging, and experiences based on customers' behaviors, purchase history, or engagement level.
Native integration with email, reviews & CRM tools: This allows merchants to trigger reward notifications, reminder emails, or milestone updates automatically. A unified experience across channels greatly enhances customer satisfaction. The best loyalty software, at the very least, provides built-in or one-click integrations with leading platforms like Klaviyo, Yotpo, and Judge.me, Gorgias, and Mailchimp.
Scalability for business growth: An excellent Shopify loyalty app is not just operational when it first goes live. It must be able to scale to the level of your growing operations, both online and offline. Look for apps that offer regular updates, multi-location point-of-sale (POS) support, advanced customer segmentation, and tiered reward rules.
Other aspects to consider are ease of customization, mobile responsiveness, and theme support for compatibility. Automated customer engagement flows and fast customer support are also essential.
3. Best Shopify loyalty program apps: Complete reviews
3.1. Smile: Loyalty Rewards Program - Best loyalty program app
(Source: Smile.io)
Smile: Loyalty Rewards Program is a popular Shopify reward program app. Featuring an easy-to-use dashboard, the plugin includes numerous loyalty-specific tools in its package. Some notable functionalities are customizable loyalty points, referrals, and VIP programs. In addition, you can also compare customer activity by segments and, based on such data, create personalized, one-of-a-kind reward experiences.
Key features:
Points-based rewards: Customers earn points for actions such as making purchases, creating an account, and engaging in social media interactions.
Referral programs: Reward existing customers for referring friends by offering incentives on both ends.
VIP tiers: Reward and recognize the most critical customers with exclusive perks.
Customization: Modify the program's appearance and rules to suit your preferences.
Integrations: Connect with popular marketing tools like Klaviyo, Gorgias, and Mailchimp.
Pricing: Smile.io has four different plans as follows:
Free: Up to 200 monthly orders; includes basic points and referral programs.
Starter ($49/month): Up to 500 monthly orders; adds advanced branding options and integrations.
Growth ($199/month): Up to 2,500 monthly orders; includes VIP tiers, bonus point events, and limitless integrations.
Plus ($999/month): Up to 7,500 monthly orders; includes API access, early support, and advanced reporting.
Pros:
Easy installation and easy-to-use dashboard.
In-depth customization features.
Strong integration features with leading marketing software.
Customer support that is friendly and responsive.
Cons:
The free plan has order limits and only basic branding.
The referral program could be more intuitive.
Users rate Smile: Loyalty Rewards Program at 4.9/5 stars. Most agree the app has effective loyalty and rewards programs, especially the points-based systems and VIP tiers. Among other notable features are the intuitive dashboard and strong POS integration capabilities.
3.2. Rivo: Loyalty Program Rewards - Top-rated Shopify rewards app
Among the best loyalty programs for Shopify, Rivo has robust reward and referral functionality. With this tool, you can easily create flexible and personalized rules for earning and redemption. Some of the other notable features include seamless integration with Shopify themes and real-time, insightful analytics.
Key features:
Referral programs: Encourage existing customers to refer friends by offering incentives to both parties.
VIP tiers: Reward your most devoted customers with exclusive benefits.
Loyalty page builder: Create high-converting branded loyalty and referral pages with the drag-and-drop builder.
Customization: Modify the program's appearance and rules to align with your brand identity.
Integrations: Connect with popular tools like Klaviyo, Skio, Gorgias, and Postscript to support marketing campaigns.
Pricing: As per the latest update, Rivo now comes with three pricing plans:
Free: Up to 200 monthly orders plus basic rewards, referrals, and automated email campaigns.
Scale ($49/month): Up to 400 orders/month, plus premium features.
Growth ($499/month): Up to 2,500 orders/month; includes VIP tiers, points expiry, and advanced triggers.
Pros:
Modern, easy-to-use interface.
Highly customizable loyalty workflows.
Constant updates and new feature releases.
Proactive and supportive customer support.
Cons:
Requires payment to access higher-tier features.
Free plan supports 200 orders/month limit only.
No native multilingual support.
Regarding user feedback, Rivo receives a 4.9/5 star rating on the Shopify App Store. Merchants like its user-friendly UI and exceptional customer service. They also speak highly of the flexible VIP tier setup and easy-to-configure points-based rewards.
3.3. Growave: Loyalty & Wishlist - All-in-one loyalty solution
(Source: Growave)
Growave is the best loyalty program for Shopify, offering a comprehensive suite of all-in-one features. Its extensive feature set encompasses loyalty, wish lists, reviews, referrals, and user-generated content (UGC). In the meantime, the app is super easy to use, scalable, and affordable. You can also import and export data for free. The customer service is also responsive and offers help with custom requests.
Key features:
Loyalty and rewards program: Implement a points-based system to reward customers for their purchases and other actions.
Wishlist functionality: Let customers save their favorite products, encouraging return visits and purchases.
Product reviews & Q&A: Collect and display customer reviews to build trust and provide social proof.
Referral program: Encourage existing customers to refer new ones by offering incentives.
Social login: Simplify the account creation process by enabling login through social media accounts.
Instagram UGC integration: Showcase user-generated content from Instagram directly on your store.
Pricing: Growave is free. It also offers tiered plans to facilitate various business needs:
Free: Up to 100 orders/month (500 total orders), loyalty points program, wishlist, product reviews, data imports/exports, branding, and 48-hour email support.
Entry ($49/month): Up to 500 monthly orders, plus additional features for referral program, review request emails, Shopify Flow integration, on-site nudges, and one marketing integration.
Medium ($199/month): Up to 1500 monthly orders; includes everything in the Entry Plan plus VIP tiers, back-in-stock wishlist emails, points expiration, Instagram UGC, and Shopify POS loyalty QR support.
Growth ($499/month): Up to 3000 monthly orders; includes custom reward actions, checkout extensions, API & SDK for headless commerce, unlimited integrations, and a dedicated success manager.
Pros
All-in-one solution with numerous customer engagement tools combined into a single platform.
Easy installation.
Highly configurable options, perfect for large enterprises.
Responsive and helpful customer support team.
Cons:
Some advanced features may be accessible only with more expensive plans.
Overlapping features may remain unused.
The UI can be simpler.
In terms of customer feedback, the app is rated 4.8/5 stars by 1000+ users. Merchants love Growave: Loyalty & Wishlist for its strong feature set, particularly the customizable loyalty points system and automated wishlist reminder emails. Alongside is reliable performance and superb customer service.
3.4. Joy Rewards & Loyalty Program - Easy-to-use loyalty app
(Source: Joy.so)
If you're searching for a versatile and user-friendly loyalty solution for your Shopify store, Joy Rewards & Loyalty Program is a compelling choice. With its easy-to-use dashboard and rich feature set, you can effortlessly create complete loyalty programs, including points-based rewards, VIP tiers, and referral incentives. Beyond core features are POS integration, automated email notifications, point expiration, and advanced tier rules.
Key features:
Points-based rewards: Reward customers for actions like sign-ups, purchases, reviews, and social media engagement.
VIP tiers: Offer tiered loyalty levels to incentivize continued engagement and higher spending.
Referral programs: Urge existing customers to refer new ones by offering rewards to both parties.
Branded loyalty pages: Create loyalty pages using the page builder and 20+ loyalty blocks.
POS integration: Built-in integration with Shopify POS, excellent for creating a unified loyalty experience across various sales channels.
Automated email reminders: Send automated emails to customers regarding their rewards and program news.
Pricing: Joy Rewards & Loyalty Program is free. It also provides paid plans for advanced needs. Here comes the breakdown:
Free: Up to 150 monthly orders; includes point-based rewards, unlimited referrals, discount rewards, and a customizable loyalty page generator.
Professional ($24.99/month): Up to 500 monthly orders, plus additional features like VIP tiers, point expiration, customer loyalty blocks, custom emails, analytics, and Shopify POS integration.
Advanced ($99/month): Up to 2,000 monthly orders; includes milestone rewards, tier rules, auto-detect translation, and B2B support.
Enterprise ($499/month): Up to 7,000 monthly orders; includes custom APIs, checkout extensions, on-demand development, and priority support.
Pros:
All core loyalty tools in one clean interface.
Easy setup and management.
Generous free features.
Quick and helpful customer support.
Good integration with Shopify and essential third-party marketing apps.
Cons:
Rules and tier features for higher tiers require paid plans.
Tiered or milestone rewards setup can be time-consuming.
Joy Rewards & Loyalty Program has an impressive overall rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars. Based on over 1,400 reviews, the general sentiment is positive. Most praises are for the app’s ease of use, comprehensive features, and exceptional customer support.
3.5. Bon Loyalty Program & Rewards - For global stores
This Shopify reward app gives you everything you need to build reward programs, like points, referrals, and VIP tiers. You can even align the appearance of your loyalty widget and emails with your brand. If you're requiring a reliable, flexible loyalty program for your store, Bon Loyalty Rewards is that one solution you're seeking.
Key features:
Points-based reward system: Let you reward customers with points for actions like signing up, making purchases, birthdays, and leaving reviews.
Referral program: Helps you grow your customer base by giving incentives to both the person who refers and the one who joins.
VIP tiers: Allows you to set different loyalty levels, each with special perks to motivate higher spending and brand loyalty.
Custom branding options: Gives you control to design the loyalty widget and emails to match your store’s look and feel.
Multilingual support: Offers built-in support for over 250 languages, making it ideal for international stores.
Shopify POS integration: Syncs online and in-store rewards, allowing customers to earn and redeem points anywhere.
Automated email notifications: Send customers updates about their points, rewards, and tier status without manual effort.
Analytics dashboard: Lets you track program performance with data on points issued, redemptions, referrals, and customer behavior.
Pricing: Bon comprises four tiered plans, namely:
Free: Up to 250 orders/month, includes basic rewards and default language.
Basic ($25/month): Up to 500 orders/month, adds multilingual support, email automation, and widget styling.
Growth ($99/month): Unlimited orders; includes VIP tiers, custom CSS, and priority support.
Professional ($349/month): Unlimited orders; adds API access, headless setup, and more custom options.
Pros:
Clean and easy to use.
Lots of ways to customize.
Great for stores that need multiple languages.
Helpful support team.
Has built-in analytics.
Cons:
Some features are only available on paid plans.
Fewer design controls on the free plan.
It might take time to set up advanced options.
Bon Loyalty Program & Rewards has a rating of 4.9/5 on the Shopify App Store. Most users find the app easy to use, and the support team is responsive and friendly. The customizable loyalty points system and multilingual support are also highly praised.
The following table compares top Shopify loyalty program apps based on features, pricing, and user reviews to give you a quick and practical view:
App name | Key features | Monthly pricing | Overall ratings |
|---|---|---|---|
Smile: Loyalty Rewards Program | Points, social media rewards, VIP status, referrals, bonus events, performance benchmarking | Free - $49 - $199 - $999 | 4.9 / 5 |
Rivo: Loyalty & Referrals | Referrals, VIP tiers, page builder, weekly updates, developer toolkit, 24/7 live chat | Free - $49 - $499 | 4.9 / 5 |
Growave: Loyalty & Wishlist | Points, referrals, VIP tiers, reviews, wishlists, UGC, POS integration | Free - $49 - $199 - $499 | 4.8 / 5 |
Joy Rewards & Loyalty Program | Points, referrals, VIP tiers, milestone rewards, personalized rules, B2B programs | Free - $24.99 - $99 - $499 | 4.9 / 5 |
Bon Loyalty Program & Rewards | Points, referrals, VIP tiers, POS integration, 250+ languages, multi-currency | Free - $25 - $99 - $349 | 4.9 / 5 |
4. How to choose the best loyalty app for your Shopify store
(Source: Customer Insight)
There are many loyalty apps on the Shopify App Store. However, not all apps are created equal. For example, large enterprises may find tools packed with features useful, while they are typically considered too complex or expensive for smaller brands.
To make the right choice, you can refer to the following criteria:
Assess your business goals and target audience: What are your goals when launching a loyalty program? Is it to increase repeat purchases, encourage referrals, or increase customer lifetime value? Next, assess the demographics and shopping behavior of your target audience. Based on such goals and audience insights, you’ll be able to narrow down the right-fit apps.
Consider your budget and required features: How much are you willing to spend on a loyalty program? And which feature is a must-have versus a nice-to-have or optional?
Evaluate the app's user interface and ease of setup: Ease of setup means different things to different merchants. Some may require drag-and-drop builders and onboarding assistance, while others are comfortable configuring programs independently.
Read recent reviews and case studies: Review the most recent customer feedback and reviews for an overview of what people like and the problems they’ve encountered. Look for case studies or testimonials from companies like yours.
If the app comes with a free plan or trial, feel free to test it first. This is where you can explore the interface, experiment with reward structures, and ensure the app integrates seamlessly with your store’s existing tools. This gives you a realistic expectation of what the app can deliver.
5. Types of Shopify loyalty programs: Find your perfect match
In this section, we will further explore the types of loyalty programs, enabling you to distinguish between them and select the most suitable plan.
5.1. Points-based Shopify loyalty programs
(Source: Forbes)
Point-based programs are the most common form of loyalty program. When customers make a purchase or complete specific actions, they will earn points. Such points can then be used to redeem discounts, gifts, or other benefits.
The great thing about this type of program is that it is simple and straightforward for both store owners and customers. It’s easy to set up, and customers can easily understand how it works. On the downside, it can feel transactional and less emotionally connected.
5.2. Tiered programs (VIP programs)
This type of loyalty model works on levels or tiers. Compared to the first type, it focuses on encouraging long-term engagement and higher spending. Customers still earn rewards, but they must reach specific spending thresholds to unlock enhanced benefits.
Tiered programs (VIP programs) are great for building loyalty and making top customers feel special because they create exclusivity and motivate repeat purchases. But it can be too complicated for small stores. You have to define the criteria and manage tiers carefully and clearly.
5.3. Paid loyalty programs (Membership)
Paid loyalty programs are similar to subscription models. Simply put, customers pay a recurring fee in exchange for exclusive benefits. Such benefits are often free shipping, early access, or VIP customer service.
Paid loyalty programs help generate recurring revenue. It also builds more substantial customer commitment. Yet, it needs a high perceived value to convince customers to pay. This is why you typically see it in more established brands.
5.4. Shopify referral programs
(Source: Customer Thermometer)
Referral programs are common among Shopify stores. As simple as it sounds, you reward customers for referring their friends.
With this approach, sellers can benefit from low-cost customer acquisition and organic growth. The trade-off is it may be abused if there are no checks in place. A small tip here is setting clear reward limits and tracking activities.
6. How to launch your Shopify loyalty program
(Source: Attentive)
Now that you've probably selected an app for your store. Here’s a quick guide to get your loyalty program up and running.
Step 1: Setting up your chosen app. Install the app and follow the onboarding guide to connect it with your store.
Step 2: Designing your rewards and earning rules. Decide on the types of loyalty programs you want to implement, what actions earn points, and what rewards customers can redeem. Then use the app’s built-in tools to set rules.
Step 3: Creating compelling program branding and messaging. This step is all about design. Modify its design to match your brand, and write clear instructions on how the program works.
Step 4: Integrating with your Shopify store design. Once you have done all the back-end work, it’s time to show the program to the public. Here, you need to decide on the widget style, display locations, and visibility across different pages.
Step 5: Marketing your new loyalty program to existing and new customers. Let your loyalty program be known. Promote it via email, banners, pop-ups, and social media to make sure both new and returning customers are aware of the benefits. You can offer limited-time bonus points or exclusive perks to urge shoppers to engage.
Step 6: Measuring and optimizing your loyalty program's success. The key measuring metrics include:
Participation rate
Repeat purchase rate
Average order value (AOV)
Redemption rate
Customer lifetime value (CLV)
Once you have gathered enough data and insights, you can further refine your program. Some common strategies include A/B testing different reward thresholds, experimenting with VIP tiers, or offering limited-time loyalty promotions to increase engagement.
7. Advanced strategies for Shopify loyalty programs
In case you want to take your loyalty program to the next level, you can refer to these tips and practices to improve performance and customer retention as follows:
Implementing VIP tiers for high-value customers: Reward your best spenders with exclusive perks, early access, or limited-edition products to increase their lifetime value.
Leveraging loyalty data for personalized marketing campaigns: Use insights from customer behavior and point history to tailor email offers, product recommendations, or automated workflows.
Integrating loyalty with social media: Encourage social sharing of rewards or referrals by offering bonus points as an incentive. This increases organic reach and strengthens community engagement.
Using loyalty to drive user-generated content: Give points or perks in exchange for reviews, testimonials, or user photos. This adds social proof and enhances your store’s credibility.
8. Common mistakes with loyalty programs that Shopify stores make
Loyalty programs are practical tools for customer retention and engagement. Most underperforming cases are due to poor implementation, with brands commonly making one of the following mistakes:
Overcomplicating the program: Too many rules, tiers, or unclear conditions can confuse customers and reduce participation.
Not promoting the program effectively: If customers are unaware of its existence or don't understand its benefits, they won’t join. Make it visible across all touchpoints.
Offering unappealing rewards: Rewards must feel valuable and worthwhile. If the earning threshold is too high or the incentives are irrelevant, customers won’t bother.
Ignoring data: Failing to track performance metrics, such as redemption rates or participation, can prevent you from making meaningful improvements.
Poor customer service for loyalty-related issues: If customers encounter problems redeeming points or fail to receive support, it damages trust and reduces the program's impact.
9. Best Shopify loyalty program apps: Final recommendations
That concludes our comprehensive guide on Shopify loyalty program apps. Having a well-designed Shopify rewards program is a must to keep up with rising customer expectations today. With the right approach and supporting tools, your store will be able to boost repeat purchases, increase customer retention, and drive sustainable growth.
There is no one-size-fits-all loyalty solution, though. But one can evaluate available options depending on store size, customer base, budget, and long-term goals. High-volume stores may want feature-rich premium solutions, whereas essentials-based tools are sufficient for small businesses.
Interested in growing your customer base with loyalty and retention tools? Check out Koin for more insightful articles on Shopify apps, strategies, and eCommerce best practices.
-About Author
Emma C.
As the Chief Marketing Officer at KOIN app, I’m here to build a robust ecosystem by collaping with Shopify apps. Together, we can create seamless integrations that add more value to our shared customers.
KOIN helps merchants retain customers, increase repeat purchases, and drive loyalty by offering cashback and store credit rewards.
📩 Let’s connect! emma@getkoin.io
