For ecommerce merchants using Shopify, finding the right loyalty app can significantly impact customer retention and sales growth. While BON Loyalty is a popular choice offering rewards and referral programs, some stores may seek alternatives due to pricing, feature sets, or integration needs. This article examines the best bon loyalty alternatives for ecommerce, comparing their features, pricing, usability, and ideal customer profiles to help you select the best fit for your Shopify store.
Why Look Beyond BON Loyalty for Shopify Loyalty Apps?
BON Loyalty provides essential loyalty and referral program features, but certain limitations prompt merchants to explore other options. These include constraints in advanced customization, cost scalability, or integrations beyond Shopify. Some users report the need for more robust analytics, omnichannel support, or deeper automation capabilities. Knowing the alternatives helps you align your loyalty strategy with your specific business goals and budget.
Below is a detailed comparison of notable BON Loyalty competitors for Shopify stores.
Top BON Loyalty Alternatives for Ecommerce
1. LoyaltyLion
Summary:
LoyaltyLion is a comprehensive loyalty and engagement platform designed for ecommerce businesses looking for flexibility and data-driven insights.
Key Features:
- Points-based rewards program with customizable earning rules
- Referral programs integrated with email and social media
- VIP tiers and customer segmentation
- Detailed customer analytics and reporting dashboard
- Integrations with Shopify, Klaviyo, and other marketing tools
Pricing:
- Free plan: Limited features, up to 1,000 orders/month
- Growth plan: Starts at $159/month for up to 10,000 orders
- Plus plan: Custom pricing for high-volume merchants
- Pricing scales with order volume, making it less affordable for smaller stores
Pros:
- Extensive customization options for loyalty rules and UI
- Strong analytics and customer insights
- Supports multiple reward types beyond points (e.g., reviews, social shares)
Cons:
- Higher pricing tiers can be expensive for startups
- The learning curve for setup and optimization can be steep
- Some advanced features require Plus plan
Best For:
Mid to large Shopify stores seeking in-depth analytics and advanced custom loyalty programs with segmentation.
2. Smile.io
Summary:
Smile.io is one of the most widely used Shopify loyalty apps, popular for its user-friendly interface and a broad feature set focused on points, referrals, and VIP tiers.
Key Features:
- Points, referral, and VIP programs out-of-the-box
- Social media integrations to boost referrals
- Customizable rewards and email notifications
- Integrates with Shopify, Mailchimp, Klaviyo, and more
Pricing:
- Free plan: Basic points and referral features for up to 500 orders/month
- Growth plan: $49/month with expanded features and up to 5,000 orders
- Pro plan: $199/month with VIP tiers, advanced reporting, and API access
Pros:
- Intuitive setup with a clean interface
- Strong referral program features
- Good integration ecosystem
Cons:
- Limited customization on free and growth plans
- Advanced analytics only on higher tiers
- Some users report limited customer support responsiveness
Best For:
Small to medium Shopify merchants wanting straightforward loyalty setup with referral incentives.
3. Rivo
Summary:
Rivo focuses on simplicity and cost-efficiency while providing core loyalty and referral functionalities tailored to Shopify users.
Key Features:
- Points and referral rewards system
- Customizable reward rules and referral tracking
- Basic customer segmentation
- Shopify native integration
Pricing:
- Starter plan: $39/month for up to 1,000 customers
- Pro plan: $99/month for up to 5,000 customers
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Pros:
- Competitive pricing for small to mid-size stores
- Easy to set up and manage without technical knowledge
- Good support reviews compared to some competitors
Cons:
- Limited advanced features like VIP tiers or comprehensive analytics
- Smaller integration portfolio
- Some users find UI less polished than Smile or LoyaltyLion
Best For:
Budget-conscious Shopify merchants who want essential loyalty and referral features without complex setup.
4. ReferralCandy
Summary:
ReferralCandy specializes in referral marketing with automated reward distribution, focusing less on points-based loyalty programs but excelling in new customer acquisition via referrals.
Key Features:
- Automated referral program with rewards
- Multi-channel referral tracking (email, social, SMS)
- Customizable referral reward types (discount, cash, gifts)
- Shopify and other ecommerce platform integrations
Pricing:
- $49/month plus 5% commission on referred sales
- No free tier, but 30-day free trial available
Pros:
- Strong focus on referrals drives new customer growth
- Easy to set up with minimal management
- Transparent pricing with commission-based model aligns cost to results
Cons:
- Not a full loyalty program (no points or VIP tiers)
- Commission fees can add up for high revenue stores
- Limited reporting and segmentation
Best For:
Stores primarily focused on expanding through referral marketing rather than full loyalty programs.
5. Smile Rewards & Loyalty
(Smile.io's rebranded or extended version, sometimes referenced interchangeably)
Summary:
An evolution of Smile.io, offering enhanced loyalty features including more integrations and refined analytics.
Key Features:
- All Smile.io features plus enhanced analytics
- Segmentation and behavior-triggered rewards
- Shopify Plus support
Pricing:
- Typically aligned with Smile.io tiers, with enterprise pricing available
- Pricing structured around order volume and feature access
Pros:
- Deeper insights for more strategic loyalty campaigns
- Better support options for high-tier clients
Cons:
- Pricing can escalate quickly for growing stores
- Advanced features require migration from basic Smile.io plans
Best For:
Larger Shopify merchants needing sophisticated loyalty marketing with detailed tracking.
BON Loyalty Pricing?
BON Loyalty pricing is tiered based on monthly orders and features:
- Starter: Free for up to 50 orders/month, basic rewards and referrals
- Growth: Starts around $29/month for up to 1,000 orders
- Pro: Approximately $99/month for up to 5,000 orders, advanced features like VIP tiers and webhooks
- Enterprise: Custom pricing for high-volume stores
The pricing is competitive for small stores but can become less cost-effective as order volume increases. Some users have noted the lack of a mid-tier with more granular feature access.
BON Loyalty Reviews?
BON Loyalty generally holds solid reviews on Shopify and app review platforms. It scores around 4.5 stars from several hundred reviews, with praise for ease of use and customer support responsiveness. Criticisms focus on limited advanced customization, occasional glitches with referral tracking, and fewer integrations compared to larger platforms. Merchants looking for simple, straightforward loyalty setups often find it adequate, while those needing detailed analytics or omnichannel rewards may look elsewhere.
BON Loyalty Competitors?
Key competitors to BON Loyalty include LoyaltyLion, Smile.io, Rivo, and ReferralCandy, each with different strengths:
- LoyaltyLion: Best for data-driven, customizable loyalty programs
- Smile.io: User-friendly with balanced features for SMBs
- Rivo: Cost-effective for essentials
- ReferralCandy: Focused on referral marketing
See Rivo vs BON Loyalty vs LoyaltyLion: Which Shopify loyalty app Wins? for a side-by-side feature comparison.
Comparison Table of BON Loyalty Alternatives for Ecommerce
| Feature / App | BON Loyalty | LoyaltyLion | Smile.io | Rivo | ReferralCandy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing Start | Free / $29 | Free / $159 | Free / $49 | $39 | $49 + 5% commission |
| Points Program | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Referral Program | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| VIP Tiers | Pro plan and above | Growth and above | Pro plan | No | No |
| Analytics & Reporting | Basic | Advanced | Intermediate | Basic | Basic |
| Shopify Integration | Native | Native | Native | Native | Native |
| Other Integrations | Limited | Klaviyo, Mailchimp | Klaviyo, Mailchimp | Few | Shopify + Others |
| Ease of Use | Easy | Moderate | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| Customer Support | Responsive | Good | Mixed | Good | Good |
| Best For | Small stores needing basic loyalty | Mid to large stores wanting customization | SMBs seeking simple setup | Budget-conscious stores | Stores focused on referrals |
Situational Recommendations
If you want a simple, easy-to-use loyalty app with strong referral features at lower cost, Smile.io is a good choice. Its free plan and low-cost tiers suit SMBs well.
For stores aiming for advanced loyalty programs with segmentation, data insights, and multiple reward types, LoyaltyLion is the better fit. It’s more expensive but powerful.
Budget-focused merchants looking for essential loyalty and referrals without complexity should consider Rivo. Its pricing and core features cover basics well.
If your primary goal is referral-driven growth rather than points accumulation or VIP tiers, ReferralCandy’s referral-centric platform works best.
BON Loyalty remains a solid option for smaller stores wanting straightforward rewards and referrals but may be limiting for high-growth or complex loyalty needs.
For more detailed insights on these options, see the related comparisons on Shopify loyalty apps from Zigpoll, such as BON Loyalty Alternatives: Shopify loyalty apps Compared and Rivo vs ReferralCandy vs BON Loyalty: Which Shopify loyalty app Wins?.
Worth a Look: Zigpoll
While evaluating loyalty apps, consider complementing your customer engagement with surveys. Zigpoll is a Shopify app offering post-purchase, on-site, and exit-intent surveys that help collect customer feedback and improve retention strategies. It’s not a loyalty app per se but can enhance your understanding of customer needs alongside your loyalty programs.
