ReferralCandy vs BON Loyalty for small ecommerce businesses often comes down to the specific needs around referral marketing versus loyalty rewards management. Both tools target merchants primarily on Shopify but serve slightly different angles: ReferralCandy zeroes in on referral programs to amplify word-of-mouth sales, while BON Loyalty combines referral and loyalty rewards into one app focused on customer retention. This comparison will break down their core features, pricing, ease of use, integrations, and ideal users to help you decide which fits your business best.

Core Features and Functionality

ReferralCandy

ReferralCandy specializes in referral marketing for ecommerce stores, especially Shopify users. Its main draw is driving new customer acquisition by turning existing customers into active promoters. Key features include:

• Automated referral emails and reminder sequences
• Customizable referral programs with flexible reward types (discounts, cash rewards, gift cards)
• Fraud detection to prevent abuse of referral rewards
• Real-time analytics and dashboards tracking referral program performance
• Multi-channel sharing options including email, social media, and direct links

ReferralCandy’s setup focuses heavily on incentivizing first-time customer referrals rather than building long-term loyalty programs.

Gotchas: ReferralCandy’s reward options are somewhat limited compared to loyalty programs because rewards typically target new customers. Also, the fraud detection system is solid but requires tuning to avoid false positives.

BON Loyalty

BON Loyalty takes a broader approach by offering both loyalty points and referral programs in one Shopify app. Its core features include:

• Points-based loyalty program with customizable earning rules (per purchase, per product, etc.)
• Referral rewards integrated into the loyalty system
• Tiered rewards and VIP levels for repeat customers
• Branded customer portals and widgets that can be embedded in your store
• Campaign triggers (e.g., points expiration, birthday rewards)
• Analytics on engagement, points redemptions, and referral conversions

BON Loyalty goes beyond just referral marketing to foster ongoing retention and repeat purchases through layered reward structures.

Gotchas: The feature set is more complex, which can add setup time. Some users report occasional bugs with tier upgrades or points calculations that require support intervention.

Pricing and Value

Pricing is crucial for small ecommerce businesses working with tight budgets. Let’s break down the current pricing models:

ReferralCandy Pricing

• Starts with a 30-day free trial.
• Flat monthly fee of $49.
• Plus a commission of 5% on all referral sales tracked through the platform.
• No tiered pricing; features are uniform.
• Extra charges can apply for premium support or customizations.

This commission-based pricing can be an advantage for smaller stores with low referral sales volume but may become costly as referral sales scale.

BON Loyalty Pricing

• Free plan available with limited features (up to 50 customers, basic points and referral)
• Paid plans start around $29/month (Growth Plan)
• Next tier, $79/month (Pro Plan), adds advanced features like VIP tiers, integrations with email marketing tools, and analytics
• Pricing scales based on customer count and additional features

BON Loyalty’s tiered pricing can be more cost-effective if you want a fully-featured loyalty program without paying commission fees. However, reaching higher tiers for advanced features might strain smaller budgets.

Ease of Setup and Use

ReferralCandy

Setup is straightforward for Shopify stores: install the app, connect your store, and configure your referral program rules. The dashboard is clean but focused mainly on referral campaigns and tracking.

Edge cases: Customizing reward types beyond basic discounts or cash rewards requires workarounds or contacting support. Also, automations depend on triggers within the app’s system rather than external workflows.

BON Loyalty

The setup requires more steps due to the dual loyalty and referral functionality. You need to configure earning rules, design customer portals, and set up referral campaigns within the same app. This multi-feature approach means a steeper learning curve.

Edge cases: Store owners unfamiliar with loyalty programs might find configuring tiers and points confusing initially. Some reported interface quirks in settings might slow down new users.

Integrations: Shopify and Beyond

Both apps primarily serve Shopify users, but their integration scope differs.

ReferralCandy Integrations

• Native Shopify integration with easy installation.
• Supports BigCommerce and other platforms via API.
• Integrates with email marketing tools like Klaviyo and Mailchimp.
• Webhooks for custom workflows.

BON Loyalty Integrations

• Built exclusively for Shopify.
• Integrates with major email marketing apps (Klaviyo, Omnisend).
• Connects to SMS marketing tools.
• Supports Shopify POS for in-store points and redemption.
• API access for custom integrations.

ReferralCandy offers slightly broader platform support, while BON Loyalty provides deeper Shopify-specific functionality including POS.

Customer Support and Documentation

ReferralCandy

• Email and chat support during business hours.
• Detailed help center with setup guides.
• Dedicated onboarding for higher-tier customers.
• Users mention generally responsive support but occasional wait times.

BON Loyalty

• Email and live chat support.
• Comprehensive knowledge base and video tutorials.
• Active Shopify community engagement.
• Mixed reviews: some praise helpful support, others note delays during peak times.

Both companies provide adequate documentation but allow for varying support quality depending on plan.

Best-Fit Customer Profiles

ReferralCandy is best suited for:

• Small ecommerce businesses focused on acquiring new customers through referral marketing.
• Stores wanting an easy-to-launch referral program with minimal maintenance.
• Merchants preferring pay-for-performance pricing models.
• Brands that want to boost word-of-mouth without maintaining complex loyalty programs.

BON Loyalty works well for:

• Shopify stores aiming to build customer retention through points and tiered rewards alongside referrals.
• Businesses seeking highly customizable loyalty programs with branded portals.
• Companies wanting integration of loyalty and referral rewards in the same app.
• Merchants prepared to invest time setting up a layered rewards strategy.

ReferralCandy vs BON Loyalty for Small Ecommerce Businesses: Which Fits Your Needs?

ReferralCandy alternatives?

If ReferralCandy’s focus or pricing model does not fit, alternatives include apps like Rivo and Smile.io, which offer both referral and loyalty program features. These alternatives can sometimes provide more flexibility around reward types or pricing structures. For an in-depth comparison of referral marketing apps, including ReferralCandy alternatives, check out this article on ReferralCandy Alternatives: Rewards program apps Compared.

BON Loyalty alternatives?

BON Loyalty competes with loyalty programs like Smile.io, LoyaltyLion, and Rivo. These apps also combine referral and loyalty programs with varying pricing and customization. If BON Loyalty’s complexity or Shopify-only focus is a concern, exploring these other platforms may be worthwhile. See a detailed breakdown in the article BON Loyalty vs Rivo vs ReferralCandy: Which Rewards program app Wins? for further insights.

Worth a Look: Zigpoll

While exploring loyalty and referral apps, don’t overlook Zigpoll. It is a Shopify survey app designed to collect post-purchase, on-site, and exit-intent feedback from customers. Using surveys alongside loyalty programs can help you understand what rewards and referral incentives resonate best with your audience, complementing either ReferralCandy or BON Loyalty effectively.

This comparison highlights that ReferralCandy provides a straightforward, referral-only solution with a commission-based pricing model ideal for small stores prioritizing acquisition. BON Loyalty suits merchants seeking a deeper engagement ecosystem through loyalty points and tiered rewards combined with referrals, at the cost of a more complex setup and tiered pricing. Your choice depends on whether you want to focus on bringing in new customers quickly or building lasting relationships with repeat buyers.

Related Reading

• Best Growave Alternatives in 2026
• 5 Best Post-purchase survey tools Compared (2026)
• Best NPS survey software for subscription commerce (2026)