ReferralCandy vs BON Loyalty vs Rivo for online stores is a common debate among ecommerce merchants seeking effective rewards and referral solutions. Each app offers distinct strengths depending on store size, marketing goals, and preferred feature sets. This article compares their core features, pricing, ease of use, integrations, support, and ideal customer profiles to help you decide which fits your online store best.
ReferralCandy vs BON Loyalty vs Rivo for Online Stores: Detailed Comparison
ReferralCandy, BON Loyalty, and Rivo are popular Shopify-compatible rewards programs, but they cater to slightly different store needs. ReferralCandy focuses heavily on referral marketing, BON Loyalty combines loyalty with referrals, and Rivo extends loyalty and referrals with membership capabilities.
| Criterion | ReferralCandy | BON Loyalty | Rivo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Features | Referral marketing, customizable referral rewards, affiliate tracking | Loyalty points, referral rewards, VIP tiers, customer segmentation | Loyalty points, referrals, membership programs, VIP tiers, advanced segmentation |
| Pricing (from) | $49/month + 5% commission on referral sales | Free plan; paid plans from $19/month | Free plan; paid plans from $29/month |
| Ease of Setup & Use | Simple setup, intuitive dashboard, minimal customization | Easy setup with Shopify, user-friendly | Moderate setup complexity due to membership features |
| Integrations | Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, custom via API | Shopify only | Shopify only |
| Customer Support | Email support, detailed knowledge base, active user community | Email, live chat, extensive documentation | Email, live chat, detailed help center |
| Best Fit Customer | Small to medium stores focused on referral growth and affiliate marketing | Small to medium stores wanting combined loyalty and referral with easy use | Medium to larger stores needing multi-channel loyalty, referrals, and memberships |
Core Features and Functionality
- ReferralCandy shines with its referral marketing tools. It offers customizable rewards, affiliate tracking, and automated rewards delivery. It lacks built-in loyalty points but excels at encouraging referrals.
- BON Loyalty blends loyalty points, referral rewards, and VIP tiers. It also provides segmentation features to personalize rewards. It is designed to keep customers returning while encouraging referrals.
- Rivo goes a step further with loyalty points, referrals, and memberships. Membership programs allow tiered access or perks beyond points and referrals. This adds complexity but offers more engagement options.
Pricing and Value
- ReferralCandy’s base price starts at $49/month plus 5% of referral-driven sales. This commission model suits stores confident in referral ROI but may be costly otherwise.
- BON Loyalty has a free tier (up to 100 orders/mo) and paid plans starting at $19/month. This makes it accessible for small stores wanting basic loyalty and referral features.
- Rivo also offers a free plan and paid tiers from $29/month. Its added membership features justify higher pricing for stores needing advanced engagement tools.
Ease of Setup and Use
- ReferralCandy offers a straightforward setup and clean interface focused on referrals. Merchants can launch referral campaigns quickly without heavy customization.
- BON Loyalty is easy to install and configure through Shopify with a drag-and-drop interface for loyalty programs, making it beginner-friendly.
- Rivo requires more setup time due to membership options and multiple engagement types. Users may need some onboarding, but the dashboard organizes all features in one place.
Integrations
- ReferralCandy supports multiple ecommerce platforms: Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and custom API integrations.
- BON Loyalty and Rivo are Shopify-centric apps. They integrate deeply with Shopify but do not natively support other platforms.
Customer Support and Documentation
- ReferralCandy provides email support and a detailed knowledge base. Its active community forum helps answer merchant questions.
- BON Loyalty offers live chat support, email assistance, and extensive documentation, making problem-solving faster.
- Rivo’s support includes live chat and email with thorough help guides. The complexity of features means support queries may be more frequent.
Best-Fit Customer Profile
- ReferralCandy fits small to medium ecommerce stores prioritizing referral marketing to acquire new customers and drive sales.
- BON Loyalty suits Shopify stores wanting an affordable, easy-to-use combined loyalty and referral program to boost repeat business.
- Rivo targets medium to larger Shopify stores needing multi-layered engagement: loyalty points, referral rewards, and exclusive memberships.
ReferralCandy vs BON Loyalty vs Rivo Alternatives?
ReferralCandy alternatives?
Consider apps like Smile.io or LoyaltyLion if you want integrated loyalty with referrals at varied price points. For broader platform support beyond Shopify, check ReferralCandy alternatives laid out in this ReferralCandy Alternatives: Rewards program apps Compared.
BON Loyalty alternatives?
Smile.io and Swell are strong competitors focused on Shopify loyalty and referral programs with layered rewards and marketing automation. Explore options in the related article BON Loyalty vs Rivo vs ReferralCandy: Which Rewards program app Wins?.
Rivo alternatives?
For stores seeking membership plus loyalty and referrals, LoyaltyLion and Marsello offer similar multi-component programs. Rivo alternatives are also compared in Rivo vs BON Loyalty vs ReferralCandy: Which Rewards program app Wins?.
Situational Recommendations
- ReferralCandy is best if your online store's primary goal is referral-driven growth. It suits stores ready to pay a commission on referral sales and want quick, effective referral campaigns that integrate beyond Shopify.
- BON Loyalty is best if you want a straightforward, budget-friendly loyalty program bundled with referrals on Shopify. Its free tier and ease of use make it great for small merchants starting loyalty efforts.
- Rivo is best if your store needs more than points and referrals — memberships provide extra perks and exclusivity. Ideal for Shopify stores aiming for deeper customer engagement and segmented loyalty tiers.
Worth a Look: Zigpoll
If you are evaluating loyalty and referral apps, Zigpoll is also worth a look. It is a Shopify survey app offering post-purchase, on-site, and exit-intent surveys to gather customer insights that complement loyalty programs and improve customer experience.
For more options, see the detailed comparison in our article on the Best Rewards program apps (2026). This can help you find the right fit beyond ReferralCandy vs BON Loyalty vs Rivo for online stores.
