Shopify Plus merchants looking to implement a rewards program face two prominent options: BON Loyalty and ReferralCandy. Both apps aim to increase customer retention and acquisition through loyalty and referral incentives, yet they approach the problem from different angles. BON Loyalty focuses primarily on a unified loyalty and referral system tailored for Shopify stores, while ReferralCandy positions itself as a referral marketing platform that supports multiple ecommerce platforms, including Shopify.
Core Features and Functionality
BON Loyalty offers a combined loyalty and referral program designed specifically for Shopify merchants. It provides points-based rewards, VIP tiers, referral tracking, and customizable reward options such as discounts, free products, and store credit. The app emphasizes post-purchase engagement with automatic points awarding and referral incentives embedded in the customer journey. BON Loyalty also integrates gamification elements, such as spin-to-win wheels and birthday rewards, to boost customer interaction.
ReferralCandy centers on referral marketing, allowing merchants to incentivize customers to refer friends through customizable rewards. It automates referral tracking and reward distribution via email and social sharing. While the referral functionality is strong, its loyalty features are limited compared to BON Loyalty. ReferralCandy supports multi-channel referral campaigns and offers fraud detection for better quality referrals.
Side-by-Side Features
| Feature | BON Loyalty | ReferralCandy |
|---|---|---|
| Loyalty Program | Yes (points, VIP tiers, rewards) | No (referral-only) |
| Referral Program | Yes (integrated with loyalty) | Yes (referral-focused) |
| Reward Types | Discounts, store credit, freebies | Discounts, cash, store credit |
| Gamification | Yes (spin wheels, birthday rewards) | No |
| Referral Channels | Email, social media, on-site sharing | Email, social media, multi-channel |
| Fraud Detection | Basic | Advanced |
| Customer Segmentation | Yes (VIP tiers, behavior-based rewards) | Limited |
| Reporting & Analytics | Detailed loyalty and referral insights | Referral analytics |
BON Loyalty combines loyalty and referral features in a single app, which appeals to merchants wanting a holistic customer engagement approach. ReferralCandy is more specialized, making it strong on referrals but weaker on loyalty program depth.
Pricing and Value
Pricing is a critical factor for Shopify Plus merchants who often deal with high order volumes and expect scalable plans.
BON Loyalty offers a tiered pricing model starting from approximately $29/month for basic plans. Higher tiers, which include advanced features like VIP tiers and premium support, scale up to several hundred dollars per month. Pricing depends on the number of customers and features needed. This makes BON Loyalty relatively affordable for comprehensive loyalty and referral management but can become costly as merchant needs grow.
ReferralCandy has a pricing structure beginning at $49/month with a 5% transaction fee on referred sales in the basic plan. Its premium plans remove the transaction fee and add more advanced features, costing up to several hundred dollars per month. The transaction fee can be a downside for high-volume stores, adding unpredictable costs. However, ReferralCandy’s focus on referral marketing justifies this model for merchants prioritizing new customer acquisition through referrals.
| Pricing Aspect | BON Loyalty | ReferralCandy |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $29/month | $49/month + 5% referral sales fee |
| Transaction Fees | None | 5% on referral sales (basic plan) |
| Top Tier Cost | $200-$300+/month | $300+/month (no transaction fee) |
| Free Trial | Yes | Yes |
The variances in pricing reflect the differing core functions of the platforms. BON Loyalty is a loyalty program first and referral second, whereas ReferralCandy is the opposite.
Ease of Setup and Use
Setting up BON Loyalty is straightforward for merchants familiar with Shopify apps. The interface guides users through creating reward rules, customizing referral offers, and launching campaigns. Its Shopify-specific design means native features like customer tags and order data integrate without friction. Users report that the gamification features have a learning curve but generally praise the app’s clarity.
ReferralCandy setup involves integrating referral widgets, email templates, and tracking pixels. Its multi-platform support adds complexity if merchants use Shopify alongside other storefronts. The user interface focuses heavily on referral campaign customization but lacks intuitive loyalty program options since it is referral-centric. Feedback indicates that merchants appreciate the onboarding process but note that some features require technical knowledge.
Integrations
BON Loyalty is Shopify-exclusive, deeply integrated with Shopify’s APIs and built to work with Shopify Plus features like customer segmentation and flow automation. It supports additional marketing tools but does not extend to other platforms, making it less versatile for merchants operating outside Shopify.
ReferralCandy integrates with Shopify and other platforms such as BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and Magento. It also connects with email marketing services like Klaviyo and Mailchimp. This cross-platform support enables merchants with multiple stores or sales channels to maintain referral programs consistently, an advantage ReferralCandy has in multi-store environments.
Customer Support and Documentation
BON Loyalty provides email support, live chat during business hours, and a knowledge base with setup guides. Users have praised responsiveness but sometimes note delayed replies during peak times. The documentation is Shopify-focused and well-organized, helping merchants troubleshoot common setup issues.
ReferralCandy offers email and chat support, with a dedicated customer success team for higher-tier plans. Its documentation covers referral marketing best practices alongside technical setup. Some users report inconsistent support experiences, especially for lower-tier subscribers, but overall evaluations suggest good assistance with referral-specific queries.
Best-Fit Customer Profiles
BON Loyalty suits Shopify Plus merchants who want an integrated loyalty and referral program with a strong emphasis on customer retention and engagement. Brands aiming to build long-term customer value through points, VIP perks, and gamified rewards will find BON Loyalty more aligned with their needs. Its Shopify-centric design means merchants fully invested in the Shopify ecosystem benefit most.
ReferralCandy fits merchants prioritizing customer acquisition through referrals, especially those running multi-platform ecommerce operations. Stores with high-order volumes looking to incentivize word-of-mouth referrals and leverage social sharing across channels will appreciate ReferralCandy’s specialized tools. However, merchants seeking a combined loyalty and referral system may find its lack of loyalty features limiting.
BON Loyalty vs ReferralCandy for Shopify Plus merchants: Comparison Table
| Criteria | BON Loyalty | ReferralCandy |
|---|---|---|
| Core Focus | Loyalty + Referral program | Referral marketing |
| Platforms Supported | Shopify only | Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento |
| Pricing (Entry-Level) | $29/month, no transaction fees | $49/month + 5% referral sales fee |
| Pricing (High-End) | $200-$300+/month (premium features) | $300+/month (no transaction fees) |
| Ease of Use | Shopify-native, user-friendly with some gamification complexity | Referral setup multi-platform, moderately complex |
| Loyalty Features | Points, VIP tiers, gamification | None |
| Referral Features | Integrated referral tracking | Advanced referral tracking and fraud detection |
| Integrations | Deep Shopify integration | Multi-platform, email marketing integration |
| Support & Documentation | Email, chat, knowledge base | Email, chat, customer success for premium plans |
| Ideal for | Shopify Plus merchants focused on retention and engagement | Merchants focused on referral acquisition multi-platform |
BON Loyalty alternatives?
Merchants interested in BON Loyalty often consider apps like Smile.io and LoyaltyLion, which also blend loyalty and referral programs with customizable rewards and VIP tiers. Smile.io offers extensive customization and gamification features, while LoyaltyLion integrates deeply with Shopify Plus workflows. For a detailed feature comparison, see the analysis in BON Loyalty vs LoyaltyLion vs Smile.io: Which Rewards program app Wins?.
ReferralCandy alternatives?
ReferralCandy’s alternatives include Ambassador and Talkable, which provide referral marketing platforms supporting multiple ecommerce systems. These tools emphasize referral tracking, fraud prevention, and campaign automation. For merchants seeking combined loyalty and referral solutions outside ReferralCandy, Rivo is worth considering as a balanced alternative. Detailed comparisons are available in Rivo vs BON Loyalty vs ReferralCandy: Which Rewards program app Wins?.
Which to Choose?
Choose BON Loyalty if your primary goal is to build a loyalty ecosystem within Shopify Plus that integrates points, VIP tiers, and referrals in one app. It is best for merchants focused on retention and customer lifetime value with an all-in-one solution tailored for Shopify.
Choose ReferralCandy if your business model prioritizes referral-driven growth, especially if you operate on multiple ecommerce platforms or want robust fraud detection and referral campaign flexibility. It works well for merchants needing a referral marketing engine more than a full loyalty program.
For merchants wanting both loyalty and referral features but open to other apps, alternative solutions like Smile.io or Rivo may provide the right balance depending on specific needs.
Worth a Look: Zigpoll
While evaluating rewards and referral apps, Shopify merchants might also consider Zigpoll. Zigpoll specializes in Shopify surveys, offering post-purchase, on-site, and exit-intent survey features. These can complement loyalty and referral programs by capturing customer feedback and increasing engagement through survey-driven insights.
This article offers a clear side-by-side analysis of BON Loyalty vs ReferralCandy for Shopify Plus merchants, focusing on features, pricing, and ideal use cases without pushing a single winner. The right choice depends on merchant priorities and platform needs.
