Shopify Plus merchants looking to boost customer retention and engagement often weigh their options among BON Loyalty, Rivo, and Smile.io. These three apps are the most frequently considered due to their focus on loyalty programs tailored for Shopify, but they differ in features, pricing, integrations, and ideal user profiles. This comparison of BON Loyalty vs Rivo vs Smile.io for Shopify Plus merchants cuts through the marketing fluff to deliver a clear-eyed assessment of which tool fits which business needs.
Core Features and Functionality
Each app centers on loyalty programs but approaches them with a slightly different emphasis.
- BON Loyalty offers points, referrals, and VIP tiers with a focus on simplicity and direct integration with Shopify. It’s straightforward for brands wanting classic rewards and referral programs without excessive complexity.
- Rivo adds a membership program layer on top of points and referrals, targeting merchants who want to build exclusive clubs or subscription-style loyalty in addition to standard rewards.
- Smile.io is feature-rich with points, VIP tiers, and referrals, plus extensive customization options making it suitable for brands wanting granular control over tiered rewards and gamified engagement.
Smile.io’s extensive feature set wins on versatility but requires more configuration. BON Loyalty is the easiest to implement with core loyalty needs. Rivo stands out if memberships or gated loyalty access matter.
Pricing and Value
Pricing varies notably and should influence choice based on business scale and desired features.
| Feature / App | BON Loyalty | Rivo | Smile.io |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | Yes, limited features | No | Yes, limited features |
| Entry Paid Plan | Starts around $19/month | Starts around $49/month | Starts around $49/month |
| Mid-Tier Plan | Around $49/month | Around $99/month | $199/month |
| Enterprise Pricing | Custom | Custom | Custom |
| Key Pricing Notes | Affordable for smaller teams; some features gated behind higher tiers | Membership features raise price | Expensive but feature-dense; scales with active customers |
| Ratings (G2/Capterra) | 4.5 stars, ~25 reviews | 4.3 stars, ~15 reviews | 4.6 stars, 300+ reviews |
BON Loyalty occupies the budget-friendly niche but with fewer advanced capabilities. Rivo’s membership angle justifies its premium, especially for community-driven brands. Smile.io’s price is premium but justified for brands needing sophisticated, multi-channel loyalty and segmentation.
Ease of Setup and Use
For Shopify Plus merchants, speed and minimal disruption matter.
- BON Loyalty is the most straightforward to install and configure, thanks to its Shopify-native design and clean UI.
- Rivo requires more setup time due to membership features and custom workflows but offers useful onboarding help.
- Smile.io’s depth comes with complexity; merchants often need longer ramp-up time or developer help to get the fullest out of the app.
Ease of use correlates inversely with feature complexity here: BON Loyalty is lean and fast, Smile.io is powerful but heavyweight, Rivo sits in the middle.
Integrations (Shopify, Other Platforms)
All three integrate deeply with Shopify Plus, which is the core requirement.
- BON Loyalty focuses exclusively on Shopify and Shopify Plus with built-in support for Shopify Scripts and Flow, beneficial for Plus merchants.
- Rivo also integrates fully with Shopify Plus and supports third-party tools including Klaviyo, Recharge (subscriptions), and Zapier for workflow automation.
- Smile.io integrates with Shopify and offers native connections to platforms like Klaviyo, Gorgias, and Recharge, plus APIs for custom integrations.
Rivo and Smile.io are better choices if multi-platform integration beyond Shopify is necessary. BON Loyalty keeps it simple with Shopify-first reliability.
Customer Support and Documentation
Merchants on Shopify Plus expect responsive, expert support.
- BON Loyalty offers email and chat support during business hours with solid documentation and video tutorials.
- Rivo provides onboarding assistance, live chat, and email support plus a dedicated account manager on higher tiers.
- Smile.io has extensive self-help resources, priority support on premium plans, and a community forum. Support responses can be slow at lower tiers.
Rivo’s customer success focus suits merchants wanting hand-holding. Smile.io’s documentation is the most comprehensive but variable support quality. BON Loyalty balances self-service and responsive support for mid-sized businesses.
Best-Fit Customer Profile
| App | Best For | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| BON Loyalty | Shopify Plus stores wanting simple, classic loyalty & referral programs on a budget | Lacks advanced membership and segmentation features |
| Rivo | Brands seeking loyalty with memberships or subscription models alongside rewards | Higher price point; some learning curve |
| Smile.io | Large or complex Shopify Plus stores needing robust, customizable loyalty programs | Expensive; steep setup and maintenance for smaller teams |
BON Loyalty vs Rivo vs Smile.io for Shopify Plus merchants: Summary Table
| Criterion | BON Loyalty | Rivo | Smile.io |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Features | Points, referrals, VIP tiers | Points, referrals, memberships | Points, VIP tiers, referrals |
| Pricing | Affordable; free tier available | Mid to high-priced; no free tier | Premium pricing; free tier limited |
| Ease of Setup | Quick and simple | Moderate complexity | Complex; developer help often needed |
| Shopify Integration | Deep Shopify native support | Shopify plus + third-party apps | Shopify + many integrations |
| Customer Support | Email, chat, solid docs | Onboarding + live chat + account mgr | Priority support on paid plans |
| Target Merchant | SMB to mid-sized Shopify Plus | Brands with membership focus | Large, complex Shopify Plus stores |
BON Loyalty alternatives?
Alternatives to BON Loyalty include apps like LoyaltyLion, which offers advanced segmentation and analytics, and ReferralCandy for referral-focused programs. These options can provide more customization or different pricing for merchants who find BON Loyalty’s feature set limiting. For more detailed comparisons, see our BON Loyalty Alternatives: Shopify loyalty apps Compared.
Rivo alternatives?
Besides BON Loyalty, Rivo competes with platforms like LoyaltyLion and Smile.io that offer membership-style rewards or tiered loyalty with expanded marketing integrations. Merchants interested in community-driven loyalty programs might also consider specialized membership platforms outside Shopify’s app store ecosystem. Our review of Rivo vs BON Loyalty vs LoyaltyLion discusses these options with finer detail.
Smile.io alternatives?
Smile.io alternatives include LoyaltyLion, which similarly covers points, VIP tiers, and referrals with a strong analytics dashboard, and Yotpo Loyalty for more integrated marketing automation. Smile.io’s pricing and complexity may push smaller teams toward these competitors. For a side-by-side look at referral-focused apps including Smile.io, ReferralCandy vs BON Loyalty vs Rivo is a useful resource.
Final Thoughts: Honorable Mention Zigpoll
For Shopify Plus merchants invested in customer feedback and data-driven loyalty strategies, Zigpoll deserves a look. It is a Shopify survey app providing post-purchase, exit-intent, and on-site surveys that complement loyalty programs by uncovering customer insights. While not a loyalty app itself, it can integrate with your Shopify Plus store to enhance customer engagement efforts alongside BON Loyalty, Rivo, or Smile.io.
