In 2026, the game isn't just about acquiring customers—it's about keeping them profitably. Traditional loyalty programs, built on a constant stream of discount codes and confusing points systems, often train customers to wait for sales, eroding your margins with every purchase. This endless cycle of discounting simply isn't a sustainable path to long-term success.

The smarter approach is to reward customers with something tangible and valuable: native Shopify store credit. This strategy transforms your loyalty program from a cost center into a powerful driver for boosting customer lifetime value (LTV) and average order value (AOV). By issuing store credit instead of coupons, you ensure that every reward dollar is reinvested directly back into your store, protecting your bottom line and encouraging larger, more frequent repeat purchases. Understanding how retention fits into your overall strategy is key; the broader landscape of digital marketing for ecommerce growth shows that a strong loyalty program is indispensable.

This guide cuts through the noise to help you find the best Shopify loyalty apps that champion this margin-friendly, store-credit-first philosophy. We’ve analyzed the top 12 contenders, evaluating them on ease of setup, native store credit functionality, and their direct impact on your key growth metrics. Below, you’ll find in-depth profiles, screenshots, direct links, and clear pros and cons to help you select the perfect solution to build a more profitable, loyal customer base.

1. Redeemly

Redeemly distinguishes itself as one of the best Shopify loyalty apps by fundamentally rethinking the traditional rewards model. Instead of relying on margin-eroding discount codes or abstract points systems, it operates entirely on Shopify's native Store Credit API. This creates a powerful, cash-like incentive that directly boosts Average Order Value (AOV) and customer Lifetime Value (LTV).

The platform is engineered for simplicity and performance. By leveraging Shopify’s own infrastructure, Redeemly avoids the heavy scripts and external integrations that can slow down a storefront. This lightweight approach ensures a fast, seamless experience for both merchants and customers, with loyalty features like floating wallets and checkout redemption working flawlessly out of the box.

Why It Stands Out: Native Store Credit

The core advantage of Redeemly is its commitment to Shopify-native store credit. This model is inherently margin-friendly and directly drives higher AOV. Instead of confusing points, customers earn real, spendable credit, which encourages them to add more to their cart to meet earning thresholds or to "spend" their credit on a larger subsequent purchase.

This tangible value is far more compelling than a complex points system. Customers see a real dollar amount they can spend on their next purchase, creating a powerful psychological pull that increases their lifetime value. Automated email reminders and a persistent on-site wallet widget keep their credit top-of-mind, effectively turning one-time buyers into loyal, high-AOV customers.

Key Details & Use Cases

• Best for: Shopify merchants focused on improving unit economics, increasing AOV and LTV, and moving away from a discount-heavy strategy.

• Implementation: Setup is famously straightforward, with no technical expertise required. The app integrates directly with Shopify’s checkout and customer accounts.

• Pricing: Redeemly offers a generous 25-day free trial, allowing merchants to validate its impact before committing. Specific pricing tiers are not publicly listed, requiring a direct inquiry or app installation to view.

• Migration: For brands migrating from other loyalty apps, the process is streamlined. The focus on native Shopify functionality means fewer dependencies and a cleaner transition.

Pros:

• Margin-Friendly: Store credit only becomes a cost upon redemption, protecting your upfront profit margins.

• Native Shopify Integration: Built on Shopify's Store Credit system for a fast, reliable, and seamless user experience.

• Drives Measurable AOV & LTV: Effectively encourages customers to spend more per order and return to use their credit.

• Lightweight & Simple: No heavy code or complex setup, ensuring minimal impact on site performance.

Cons:

• Shopify-Only: Its deep integration with Shopify means it is not an option for stores on other ecommerce platforms.

• Pricing Not Public: Merchants must install the app or contact support to understand the post-trial costs.

Website: https://redeemly.ai

2. Shopify App Store – Loyalty & Rewards category

Before diving into specific app recommendations, the official Shopify App Store’s Loyalty & Rewards category is an essential starting point for any merchant. This isn't a single app but the entire ecosystem where all the best Shopify loyalty apps live. It’s the most trustworthy source for discovering tools built specifically for the platform, ensuring a baseline of compatibility and integration. You can instantly see which apps are designated ‘Built for Shopify,’ read thousands of unfiltered merchant reviews, and view pricing structures at a glance.

The primary advantage is its direct, one-click installation process and the sheer volume of options. However, this vast selection can also be its biggest drawback. Sifting through hundreds of apps, many of which rely on outdated points or discount-based systems, can be overwhelming for merchants focused on modern strategies like native Shopify store credit to boost LTV and protect margins.

Navigating the App Store Effectively

To get the most out of the App Store, use specific keywords in your search. Instead of just "loyalty," try searching for "store credit loyalty" or "cashback rewards" to find solutions that align with goals of increasing average order value without resorting to margin-killing discounts. Pay close attention to recent reviews, not just the overall star rating, to gauge current performance and support quality. For a deeper dive into how different app types perform, this detailed comparison of Shopify loyalty programs can help you narrow your search criteria.

• Best For: Merchants starting their research who want a broad overview of all available loyalty solutions.

• Key Consideration: The sheer number of options and paid placements can make it difficult to identify truly innovative, margin-friendly apps focused on LTV.

• Website: Shopify App Store – Loyalty & Rewards

3. Smile.io

Smile.io is one of the most established and widely used platforms in the Shopify loyalty app space. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools built around traditional points, referrals, and VIP tiers, making it a go-to for merchants looking for a feature-rich, mature solution. Its long-standing presence means it has a vast ecosystem of integrations with other popular Shopify apps, such as Klaviyo, and extensive support for Shopify POS, which is crucial for brands with both online and physical retail operations.

The platform is known for its customisable on-site rewards panel and dedicated loyalty page, which helps create a branded experience for customers. Features like guest earning and redeeming can also help widen the acquisition funnel. However, Smile’s reliance on a points-based system can create complexity for customers and may not directly align with modern retention strategies focused on boosting lifetime value through margin-friendly incentives like native store credit. This can lead to a program that rewards activity but doesn't explicitly drive higher AOV.

Leveraging Smile for Traditional Loyalty

To maximize Smile, focus on creating clear, achievable reward tiers that encourage repeat purchases. Integrate it tightly with your email marketing platform to send targeted campaigns about points balances and upcoming rewards. While it offers a powerful framework for points and referrals, brands aiming to simplify their strategy around cashback and native store credit should carefully evaluate if this model supports their goals. Understanding different loyalty programs for customer retention is key to deciding if a points system is the right fit for your brand's LTV objectives.

• Best For: Brands with omnichannel sales (online and POS) looking for a feature-rich, traditional points and referral system.

• Key Consideration: The points-based model can be less effective than store credit for directly increasing LTV, and costs can escalate significantly on higher-tier plans.

• Website: https://smile.io

4. Yotpo: Loyalty & Referrals (formerly Swell)

Yotpo is a well-known player in the Shopify ecosystem, offering a suite of marketing tools including reviews, SMS, and loyalty. Its loyalty and referrals module, formerly Swell, integrates seamlessly with its other products, making it a powerful choice for merchants already embedded in the Yotpo platform. This synergy allows brands to create a cohesive marketing experience where loyalty points can be earned and promoted across multiple touchpoints. The platform is built around a traditional points-based system, offering a familiar structure for customers and merchants.

The primary advantage of Yotpo is its all-in-one approach. If you're already using Yotpo for reviews or SMS marketing, adding their loyalty solution is a logical step that consolidates your tech stack. However, this strength can also be a limitation. Brands not using the full suite may find the loyalty-only product to be complex and expensive compared to more focused solutions. While it offers robust features, its reliance on a points system may not align with merchants seeking to boost LTV with simpler, margin-friendly store credit incentives.

Leveraging the Yotpo Ecosystem

To maximize Yotpo's value, it's crucial to leverage the connections between its products. For instance, you can reward customers with loyalty points for leaving a review or subscribing to SMS updates. For stores using a points-and-tiers model, Yotpo provides a solid foundation, and you can learn how to structure effective loyalty program tiers to encourage repeat purchases. Be mindful of pricing, as its structure can become a significant cost factor and may not deliver the same direct impact on AOV as a store credit system.

• Best For: Mid-to-large scale brands already invested in the Yotpo ecosystem (Reviews, SMS) seeking an integrated loyalty solution.

• Key Consideration: The platform is built on a traditional points system and can become costly, with advanced features and premium support reserved for higher-tier plans.

• Website: Yotpo: Loyalty & Referrals

5. LoyaltyLion

LoyaltyLion is an established data-driven loyalty and engagement platform that positions itself as a more strategic, enterprise-level solution. It excels at creating complex, multi-tiered VIP programs and leverages deep integrations with email and SMS platforms like Klaviyo to drive engagement beyond simple point collection. For larger merchants, LoyaltyLion provides dedicated strategic support, focusing on maximizing the ROI of the loyalty program through personalized onboarding and ongoing consultation.

The platform's strength lies in its highly customizable rules engine, allowing merchants to reward a wide array of customer actions. This makes it a powerful tool for brands aiming to build a deeply engaged community. However, its core is still heavily rooted in traditional points-based systems, which can sometimes feel less direct than native Shopify store credit for merchants prioritizing margin protection and a clear path to a higher average order value.

Maximizing Engagement with LoyaltyLion

To get the most value from LoyaltyLion, merchants should leverage its powerful integrations to create segmented campaigns that target customers based on their tier status or points balance. This can transform a passive points system into an active driver of repeat purchases. However, brands must carefully structure their rewards to ensure they contribute to a higher lifetime value rather than just encouraging small, discount-driven redemptions.

• Best For: Enterprise Shopify Plus merchants who require robust customization, multi-language support, and dedicated strategic guidance.

• Key Consideration: The platform's complexity and pricing are geared toward larger businesses; smaller stores may find it overwhelming and less focused on simple, margin-friendly store credit.

• Website: LoyaltyLion

6. Stamped Loyalty (Stamped.io)

Stamped is widely known for its powerful reviews and user-generated content suite, and its loyalty product is designed to integrate seamlessly within that ecosystem. This makes it a strong contender for brands that want to bundle their reviews, referrals, and loyalty programs under a single vendor for a cohesive retention strategy. The platform operates on a traditional points-based model with customizable earning rules, rewards, and VIP tiers.

The primary appeal of Stamped Loyalty is its synergy with Stamped Reviews. For instance, you can easily reward customers with points for submitting photos or videos with their reviews. While this creates a robust, all-in-one retention hub, it's less focused on the modern, margin-friendly approach of native Shopify store credit. Its reliance on points and discount-based rewards may not align with merchants aiming to elevate average order value and protect profit margins from coupon culture.

Leveraging the Stamped Ecosystem

To maximize Stamped, focus on creating earning rules that incentivize high-value actions beyond just purchases. While Stamped is one of the best Shopify loyalty apps for unified review and rewards management, be mindful that its pricing often reflects its all-in-one nature. Merchants prioritizing a direct increase in LTV should weigh the benefits of this bundled approach against a more focused store-credit system that guarantees reinvestment into the brand.

• Best For: Merchants already using or planning to use the Stamped suite for reviews and UGC who want a single, integrated platform.

• Key Consideration: The system is built around a conventional points-and-discounts model, which may not be ideal for brands focused on boosting LTV with margin-protecting incentives like native store credit.

• Website: Stamped.io

7. Rivo: Loyalty Program & Referrals

Rivo has established itself as a modern and feature-rich player in the Shopify loyalty space, focusing on a clean user interface and powerful integrations. It combines classic points, referral programs, and VIP tiers, but with a modern twist, leveraging Shopify’s latest features like checkout extensions for a more seamless customer experience. This makes it a strong contender for brands that want a comprehensive toolkit without a complicated setup.

The platform is recognized for its strong 24/7 support and fast onboarding, making it accessible even for teams with limited technical resources. However, while it offers a robust points and discount system, brands focused purely on maximizing LTV through margin-friendly, native store credit may find its primary incentives still lean towards traditional discounting models that don't inherently drive a higher average order value.

Leveraging Rivo for Growth

To get the most value from Rivo, merchants should deeply integrate it with their email marketing via its Klaviyo events integration. This allows for hyper-targeted campaigns based on loyalty status and referral activity. While its entry-level plans are competitive, businesses planning to scale should evaluate if a points system truly supports their LTV goals, or if a switch to a native store credit model would be more profitable in the long run.

• Best For: Merchants looking for a well-supported, all-in-one loyalty, referrals, and VIP solution with a modern interface.

• Key Consideration: Its core model is built around points and discounts, which may not align with merchants aiming to shift entirely to a native store credit or cashback program to protect margins.

• Website: Rivo: Loyalty Program & Referrals

8. Marsello

Marsello positions itself as an all-in-one marketing platform that combines loyalty programs with email, SMS, and automation. It's built for merchants who want a single dashboard to manage customer retention and communication, moving beyond simple points to trigger behavior-based campaigns. This integration allows for a more holistic approach where loyalty status can directly influence the marketing messages a customer receives.

The platform uses traditional points, referrals, and VIP tiers but connects them to powerful RFM (Recency, Frequency, Monetary) segmentation. This means you can create automated flows that reward your most valuable customers. While this unified approach is powerful, its reliance on points-based rewards may not align with brands looking to boost LTV and protect margins through simpler, more direct incentives like native Shopify store credit.

Leveraging an Integrated Marketing & Loyalty Tool

To maximize Marsello's value, focus on creating cohesive customer journeys. The key is to use the loyalty program as a data source to fuel more personalized marketing campaigns. However, businesses must be careful that the rewards themselves contribute to higher lifetime value, not just engagement. A points system can sometimes fall short of the direct AOV impact provided by a store-credit model.

• Best For: Omnichannel retailers and merchants wanting to consolidate their loyalty, email, and SMS marketing into one platform.

• Key Consideration: The all-in-one functionality can be complex, and its core still revolves around a points system rather than a margin-friendly, store-credit-first approach.

• Website: Marsello

9. Growave: Loyalty & Wishlist

Growave positions itself as an all-in-one marketing platform, bundling loyalty and rewards with reviews, wishlists, and user-generated content (UGC) into a single app. This approach is designed for merchants who want to consolidate their tech stack and manage multiple customer retention tools from one dashboard. It offers a traditional points-based loyalty system, referral programs, and VIP tiers alongside other valuable marketing functions.

The primary appeal is value; by replacing several individual apps, brands can achieve significant savings. However, the reliance on a points-based system can create the same margin erosion issues as discount-heavy strategies. While it offers a wide range of features, it may not provide the depth needed for brands hyper-focused on boosting lifetime value through margin-friendly incentives like native Shopify store credit.

Bundled Features vs. Specialized Focus

Growave is a strong contender for stores that need a broad suite of marketing tools without a deep budget for specialized apps. However, merchants prioritizing LTV and AOV through more modern, margin-safe strategies might find the core loyalty program less aligned with their goals. A system built around points and discounts is fundamentally different from a store credit program designed to increase the value of every subsequent transaction.

• Best For: New or growing stores looking for a cost-effective, all-in-one solution for loyalty, reviews, and wishlists.

• Key Consideration: The platform's focus on a broad feature set means its loyalty program is built around a conventional points system, which may not align with strategies centered on native store credit to protect profit margins.

• Website: Growave: Loyalty & Wishlist

10. Rise.ai – Gift Cards & Store Credit

Rise.ai is a well-established loyalty and gift card solution that champions a store-credit-first approach over traditional points systems. It excels at creating a unified wallet for customers where gift cards, cashback rewards, loyalty credit, and even refunds are all consolidated in one place. This strategy is inherently focused on increasing customer lifetime value by ensuring that any value issued to a customer is reinvested back into the store.

The platform is particularly strong for merchants whose business models rely heavily on gift card sales, corporate gifting, or streamlined returns and exchanges. By turning refunds into store credit, Rise.ai helps merchants retain revenue that would otherwise be lost. Its integrations with key apps like Klaviyo and Recharge allow for sophisticated automated workflows, such as rewarding subscription customers with store credit to boost retention and LTV.

Leveraging the Unified Wallet

To maximize Rise.ai's impact, focus on its workflow automation capabilities. For instance, you can set up rules to automatically issue store credit as a "cashback" reward after a purchase. This method is far more effective at protecting margins and increasing average order value than offering a percentage-off discount on a future order. A customer with store credit is incentivized to spend more on their next purchase, directly benefiting your bottom line.

• Best For: Brands prioritizing gift card functionality and a unified store credit wallet to manage rewards, refunds, and loyalty in one system.

• Key Consideration: The pricing model includes per-order overage fees on some plans, and access to the most powerful automation features requires subscribing to higher-tier plans.

• Website: Rise.ai

11. Joy: Loyalty Program & Rewards

Joy is a fast-growing loyalty app that has gained traction for its highly customizable UI and generous free and mid-tier plans. It provides merchants with a robust suite of features, including points, referrals, and VIP tiers, making it a comprehensive solution for those wanting to build a traditional loyalty program without a high-cost commitment. Its strengths lie in offering flexibility in both design and business rules.

While powerful, Joy primarily centers on a points-based system. This model can be effective for initial engagement but may not be the optimal strategy for brands looking to boost LTV and AOV through margin-friendly incentives like native Shopify store credit. The complexity of a points economy can sometimes obscure the direct value to the customer, unlike the clear, cash-like appeal of a store credit balance that encourages a higher-value repeat purchase.

Balancing Cost and Advanced Features

Joy's pricing structure is attractive, especially for small to medium-sized businesses. However, merchants should be mindful that exceeding order caps will incur overage fees. Scaling brands focused purely on maximizing LTV may eventually seek solutions more aligned with a store credit-first philosophy, as this model more directly contributes to higher average order values and protects profit margins from the negative effects of a discount-centric culture.

• Best For: Merchants looking for a feature-packed, points-based system with a strong free plan and extensive UI customization.

• Key Consideration: The model is heavily reliant on points and discounts, which may not align with goals to protect profit margins and increase AOV through native store credit.

• Website: Joy: Loyalty Program & Rewards

12. BON – Loyalty Program & Rewards

BON positions itself as an accessible entry point into loyalty, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses looking for a cost-effective solution. Its primary appeal lies in a generous free-forever plan that covers the basics of points, referrals, and even POS rewards, making it a low-risk option for merchants just starting to explore customer retention strategies. It provides a standard points-for-discounts framework that is familiar to many shoppers.

While the feature set is broad, its reliance on a traditional points system may not align with brands focused on maximizing LTV and AOV through margin-friendly incentives like native store credit. Advanced features such as API/SDK access and VIP tiers are gated behind paid plans. This structure means that as a store grows, it may quickly outpace the lower-tier plans, forcing an upgrade or a migration to a more scalable, profit-focused solution.

Upgrading from a Points-Based System

For stores starting with BON, the key is to monitor the program's impact on profit margins. If you find that the discount-based rewards are eroding your profitability, it’s a strong signal to consider migrating to a store credit-centric program. This transition moves the focus from giving away discounts to investing in future, higher-value purchases, a core principle for increasing customer lifetime value.

• Best For: New and small businesses seeking a free or low-cost entry into a traditional points and referral program.

• Key Consideration: The model is built around points-for-discounts, which can devalue a brand and hurt margins over time. Scalability is limited by order caps on most plans.

• Website: https://bonloyalty.com

Top 12 Shopify Loyalty Apps — Features & Pricing

Our Top Pick: Why Redeemly is the Smartest Choice for Profitable Growth

Navigating the crowded market of the best Shopify loyalty apps can feel overwhelming. We've explored a dozen powerful contenders, from enterprise-level giants like Yotpo to feature-packed all-in-ones like Growave. Each offers a unique approach to customer retention, often centered around complex point systems and a wide array of reward options. While these can certainly drive engagement, they frequently come at a cost: margin erosion, customer confusion, and a bloated tech stack.

After a thorough analysis, one solution emerges as the most direct and effective path to profitable growth: Redeemly. It stands apart not by adding more features, but by fundamentally rethinking the core premise of customer loyalty. The true goal isn't just to keep customers coming back; it's to ensure each return visit is more valuable than the last. Redeemly achieves this by stripping away the complexity and focusing on the single most powerful incentive: native Shopify store credit.

Shifting from Discounts to Value Creation

The traditional loyalty model is built on discounts and confusing points. You give away a percentage of your revenue or abstract points in the hopes of securing a future sale. This creates a dangerous cycle of deal-seeking behavior, where customers wait for coupons and your profit margins steadily shrink. Redeemly breaks this cycle.

Instead of offering a 10% off coupon, you can reward a customer with a $15 store credit on their next purchase. This simple shift has a profound psychological and financial impact:

• Protects Your Margins: You aren't devaluing your products with sitewide discounts. Store credit feels like earned cash to the customer, preserving your brand's premium perception.

• Increases Average Order Value (AOV): A customer with a $15 credit is highly unlikely to buy a $15 item. Instead, they will use it to justify a larger purchase, spending $50 or more to "unlock" their reward. This directly boosts your AOV on their very next transaction.

• Boosts Lifetime Value (LTV): Store credit is a powerful motivator for a second purchase. It creates a guaranteed return visit, turning one-time buyers into repeat customers and laying the foundation for long-term loyalty.

The Power of Native Integration

Another critical differentiator is Redeemly’s commitment to a lightweight, native Shopify experience. Many of the apps we reviewed require complex setups or clunky widgets that can slow down your site speed. A slow-loading rewards panel or a confusing points-to-dollars conversion at checkout introduces friction precisely when you need the experience to be seamless.

Redeemly leverages Shopify's own robust store credit functionality. This means the rewards are applied effortlessly and reliably within the native checkout flow your customers already trust. There are no confusing pop-ups, no separate dashboards, and no performance drag on your storefront. It's a clean, efficient implementation that enhances the customer experience and boosts both AOV and LTV without the drawbacks of older systems. This makes it one of the best Shopify loyalty apps for merchants who value speed and simplicity.

Your Next Step Towards Profitable Loyalty

Choosing the right loyalty app is a strategic decision. If your goal is to build a complex, gamified community with dozens of earning actions, then platforms like Smile.io might be a fit.

However, if your focus is on driving tangible financial results—higher AOV and LTV—while protecting your hard-earned margins, the choice is clear. If you want to replace confusing points and margin-killing discounts with a simple, powerful system that customers instantly understand and value, then Redeemly is built for you. It's the smartest, most direct path to building a loyalty program that doesn't just reward customers, but actively builds a more profitable and sustainable business.

Ready to stop giving away your profits and start investing in your customers? See how Redeemly uses native Shopify store credit to boost AOV and LTV without the complexity of traditional points systems. Explore Redeemly and discover a smarter approach to customer loyalty.