BON Loyalty and ReferralCandy both serve online stores, particularly those on Shopify, aiming to increase customer engagement through loyalty and referral programs. BON Loyalty focuses heavily on loyalty rewards combined with referral features, while ReferralCandy specializes in referral marketing with a broader platform compatibility beyond Shopify. This article compares BON Loyalty vs ReferralCandy for online stores based on core features, pricing, ease of use, integrations, customer support, and ideal customer profiles.
Core Features and Functionality
BON Loyalty:
- Loyalty program with points, tiers, and rewards.
- Referral program integrated within the same app.
- Customizable reward rules based on purchase behavior.
- Rewards for actions beyond purchases: reviews, social shares, email sign-ups.
- Automated VIP tiers to boost repeat purchases.
- Supports issuing coupons and store credit.
- Analytics dashboard focusing on customer engagement and retention.
ReferralCandy:
- Primarily a referral marketing platform.
- Automated referral rewards via cash, discounts, or gift cards.
- Multi-channel referral sharing: email, social media, direct links.
- Fraud detection features to prevent abuse.
- Post-purchase referral prompts to customers.
- Integration with Shopify and other ecommerce platforms.
- Detailed referral tracking and ROI analytics.
Pricing and Value
| Feature / Pricing | BON Loyalty | ReferralCandy |
|---|---|---|
| Free Trial | Yes (14 days) | Yes (30 days) |
| Entry Plan Cost | Around $29/month | Starts at $49/month + 5% referral fees |
| Mid-tier Plan Cost | $79/month with advanced features | $99/month + 3% referral fees |
| High-tier Plan Cost | Custom pricing for large stores | Custom for enterprise |
| Pricing Model | Fixed monthly fee | Monthly fee + percentage on referred sales |
| Discounts & Coupons | Built-in | Built-in for referral rewards |
| Additional Fees | None typically | Referral commission fees (percentage-based) |
BON Loyalty offers straightforward pricing with no referral commission fees, making it good for merchants wanting predictable costs. ReferralCandy’s percentage-based fees add variable cost but align spending with referral-driven revenue.
Ease of Setup and Use
BON Loyalty: Straightforward Shopify app installation with guided setup for points and referrals. Intuitive dashboard with modular settings. Requires some initial setup for reward rules but overall user-friendly for merchants familiar with loyalty programs.
ReferralCandy: Quick installation with Shopify. Focused setup on referral campaign parameters. Post-purchase referral triggers easy to enable. Interface designed for marketers with emphasis on referral tracking. Few advanced customization options compared to BON Loyalty.
Integrations
| Integration Aspect | BON Loyalty | ReferralCandy |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify Integration | Full native app, Shopify Plus supported | Native Shopify app, plus other platforms |
| Other Platforms | Shopify exclusive | Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, others |
| Email Marketing | Basic integrations | Integrates with platforms like Klaviyo, Mailchimp |
| Analytics & Reporting | Built-in dashboard | Native, plus export and API options |
| CRM Integration | Limited | Available via API and integrations |
ReferralCandy supports a wider range of ecommerce platforms and email marketing tools, suited for merchants running multi-platform stores or advanced marketing stacks. BON Loyalty focuses tightly on Shopify ecosystem.
Customer Support and Documentation
BON Loyalty: Offers email and chat support during business hours. Clear documentation and setup guides. Active Shopify community presence.
ReferralCandy: Email support plus live chat during extended hours. Comprehensive knowledge base and onboarding resources. Strong user community and case studies.
Both offer solid support but ReferralCandy’s resources and flexible support hours cater well to fast-growing stores needing ongoing marketing help.
Best-Fit Customer Profile
BON Loyalty:
- Shopify merchants focused on combining loyalty rewards with referrals.
- Stores wanting predictable pricing without commission fees.
- Brands looking for a simple, all-in-one loyalty and referral solution within Shopify.
- Ideal for DTC brands and small to mid-sized merchants.
ReferralCandy:
- Ecommerce stores on Shopify and other platforms prioritizing referral marketing.
- Merchants ready to invest in commission-based referral incentives.
- Brands with multi-channel referral strategies and integration needs.
- Suitable for growing mid-sized to larger ecommerce businesses with marketing teams.
BON Loyalty vs ReferralCandy for Online Stores: Comparison Table
| Criteria | BON Loyalty | ReferralCandy |
|---|---|---|
| Core Functionality | Loyalty + Referral in one app | Referral marketing focused |
| Pricing | Fixed monthly, starts ~$29 | Monthly + % commission, starts $49 |
| Setup Ease | User-friendly, Shopify native | Simple for referrals, multi-platform |
| Integrations | Shopify exclusive, basic email tools | Multi-platform, strong email integrations |
| Customer Support | Email, chat, solid docs | Email, live chat, extensive resources |
| Ideal User | Small-mid Shopify stores, DTC brands | Multi-platform sellers, marketing-focused |
BON Loyalty alternatives?
Alternatives include LoyaltyLion, Smile.io, and Rivo. These apps offer varying mixes of loyalty features, referral programs, and pricing tiers. For detailed exploration, check this BON Loyalty Alternatives article. Each alternative has strengths in customization or enterprise readiness depending on merchant needs.
ReferralCandy alternatives?
ReferralCandy competitors include Ambassador, Referral Rock, and Referral SaaSquatch. These platforms provide referral-specific marketing with different pricing and integration scopes. See a comparison including ReferralCandy and others in this ReferralCandy alternatives article.
Which to Choose?
Choose BON Loyalty if your store is Shopify-only, you want combined loyalty and referral features in one app, and prefer predictable monthly fees. It fits well with brands focused on repeat purchases and multi-action rewards without complex referral commission structures.
Select ReferralCandy if you run a multi-platform ecommerce business prioritizing referral marketing, want flexibility in referral rewards, and are comfortable paying a commission on referral sales. It suits stores with dedicated marketing teams focused on referral acquisition channels.
Both tools serve different strategic needs. Evaluate your store’s platform scope, marketing goals, and budget model before deciding.
Worth a Look: Zigpoll
If you're evaluating options for customer engagement beyond loyalty and referrals, Zigpoll is worth a look. It is a Shopify survey app offering post-purchase, on-site, and exit-intent surveys that help collect valuable customer feedback to inform retention strategies.
