If you're evaluating loyalty and referral solutions for your ecommerce store, Rivo vs BON Loyalty vs ReferralCandy stand out as three popular Shopify-compatible options. Each offers distinct features targeting rewards, membership, and referral programs, yet they differ in pricing, ease of use, and integrations. Comparing these tools side by side helps clarify which fits your unique business model and growth goals.
Understanding the Core Features and Functionality
When selecting a loyalty or referral app, start with the capabilities each platform offers. This determines how well the tool supports your marketing strategies for customer retention and acquisition.
| Features | Rivo | BON Loyalty | ReferralCandy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loyalty Points | Yes - customizable points system | Yes - multi-tier points and rewards | No |
| Referral Program | Yes - integrated referral tracking | Yes - integrated referral program | Yes - referral marketing focused |
| Membership Programs | Yes - recurring membership management | No | No |
| Custom Rewards | Yes - vouchers, discounts, freebies | Yes - discounts, product rewards | Limited - mainly referral incentives |
| Segmentation & Targeting | Yes - member tiers, targeting rules | Limited segmentation | Limited |
| Automated Emails | Yes - loyalty and referral triggered emails | Basic email notifications | Yes - referral reminders |
| Analytics & Reporting | Detailed dashboards | Basic reporting | Referral-focused analytics |
Rivo stands out for its combined loyalty, referral, and membership features, useful if you want an all-in-one program. Its member tiering and automated email triggers provide depth for sophisticated campaigns. The platform supports diverse reward types, including vouchers and freebies.
BON Loyalty focuses heavily on the loyalty points and referral combination, with multi-tier rewards that drive repeated engagement. It lacks membership program support but compensates with simple reward redemption options and basic reporting tools.
ReferralCandy is primarily designed for referral marketing, not broad loyalty programs. It excels in referral tracking and incentive automation but does not support traditional loyalty points or memberships. It’s a good choice if referrals are your main acquisition channel.
Pricing and Value Comparison
Pricing is crucial when assessing these tools, especially as ecommerce businesses grow and require scalable solutions. Actual monthly costs depend on the number of orders, customers, or features included.
| Pricing Plans | Rivo | BON Loyalty | ReferralCandy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Level | Free plan available, paid starts ~$29/mo | Free plan available, paid from ~$19/mo | No free plan, starts at ~$49/mo |
| Mid-Tier | ~$79/mo for advanced loyalty/referral | ~$49/mo for expanded features | ~$99/mo with more referrals |
| Enterprise / Custom | Custom pricing | Custom pricing | Custom pricing |
| Pricing Model | Based on orders/customers, features | Based on customers/orders | Based on referred orders |
| Free Trial | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Rivo offers a free starter plan with basic loyalty and referral features, making it accessible for small stores. Their pricing scales reasonably for growing brands needing memberships. The combination of features at mid-tier pricing provides strong value.
BON Loyalty has an affordable entry plan and competitive mid-tier pricing focused on loyalty and referrals. Its free plan covers basic points and referral programs, making it a budget-friendly choice for merchants just beginning with rewards.
ReferralCandy lacks a free plan but provides a risk-free trial. Pricing starts higher, reflecting its referral marketing focus with powerful automation. It may be less cost-effective if you want a full loyalty program alongside referrals.
Ease of Setup and Use
Getting your rewards program running quickly with minimal friction is important. Setup complexity varies based on features and UI design.
| Ease of Use | Rivo | BON Loyalty | ReferralCandy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial Setup | Moderate - multiple modules to configure | Easy - streamlined loyalty setup | Easy - referral-focused setup |
| UI/UX | Modern dashboard, some learning curve | Simple interface, straightforward | User-friendly and intuitive |
| Customization | High - customizable points and rewards | Moderate - limited customization | Limited to referral incentives |
| Shopify Admin Integration | Good - embedded in Shopify admin | Good | Good |
| Documentation & Tutorials | Comprehensive with videos and guides | Basic docs and FAQs | Extensive support resources |
Rivo’s setup requires attention to detail due to its membership and loyalty modules, which can slow initial configuration but pay off with customization flexibility. The dashboard is well designed but has a learning curve.
BON Loyalty is easier to get started with, thanks to a simpler feature set. It is a good choice if you want quick deployment of standard points and referral programs without heavy tweaking.
ReferralCandy’s focus on referral campaigns makes setup quick and straightforward. Its onboarding process guides users through referral link creation and incentive setup efficiently.
Integration Capabilities
Integration with Shopify and other platforms impacts how smoothly your loyalty program works with your ecommerce ecosystem.
| Integrations | Rivo | BON Loyalty | ReferralCandy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify | Native integration with deep API use | Native integration | Native integration |
| Other Ecommerce Platforms | Limited | Limited | Supports Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento |
| Email Marketing | Integrates with Klaviyo, Mailchimp | Limited | Integrates with major ESPs |
| POS System | Limited | Limited | Limited |
| CRM | API access for integrations | Limited | Limited |
Rivo and BON Loyalty focus deeply on Shopify stores with native apps that synchronize customer data and orders. ReferralCandy broadens its reach by supporting several ecommerce platforms, making it a better choice for merchants with multi-platform stores.
From a marketing perspective, Rivo’s integrations with ESPs like Klaviyo give it an edge for personalized email campaigns, while BON Loyalty’s integrations are more basic.
Customer Support and Documentation
Reliable support can be a deciding factor, especially when complex reward logic or membership tiers are involved.
| Support Channels | Rivo | BON Loyalty | ReferralCandy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Email Support | Yes, responsive | Yes, moderate response times | Yes, 24/7 support |
| Live Chat | Limited | No | Yes |
| Phone Support | No | No | Yes |
| Knowledge Base | Comprehensive | Basic FAQs | Extensive tutorials and guides |
| Community Forums | No | No | No |
ReferralCandy offers the most comprehensive support options including live chat and phone support, suitable for merchants who value quick responses. Rivo’s email support is generally responsive and documentation is thorough, but live chat is limited. BON Loyalty offers basic email support with less extensive resources.
Best-Fit Customer Profile for Each Tool
Choosing the right tool depends on your store size, goals, and the kind of program you want to run.
Rivo fits brands wanting a multi-function platform that combines loyalty points, referrals, and memberships in a single app. It works well for medium to larger stores that can invest time in setup and want flexibility in rewards and segmentation.
BON Loyalty suits small to mid-size stores focused mainly on loyalty points and referral incentives at a friendly price. It’s ideal for merchants who want simple, straightforward rewards without complex memberships.
ReferralCandy is best for stores prioritizing referral marketing as a core growth driver. If your strategy centers on acquiring new customers through referrals and you use multiple platforms, ReferralCandy offers specialized tools and support for that.
Rivo vs BON Loyalty vs ReferralCandy: Which Rewards program app Fits Your Needs?
| Criteria | Rivo | BON Loyalty | ReferralCandy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Features | Loyalty, referral, memberships | Loyalty and referrals | Referral marketing only |
| Pricing | Free plan, mid-tier ~$79/mo | Free plan, mid-tier ~$49/mo | No free plan, starts ~$49/mo |
| Ease of Setup | Moderate complexity | Easy setup | Easy and quick |
| Shopify Integration | Strong native integration | Strong native integration | Strong native integration |
| Multi-Platform Support | No | No | Yes |
| Support | Email, detailed docs | Email, basic docs | 24/7 live chat and phone |
| Best For | Medium-large stores needing depth | Small-mid stores wanting basics | Multi-platform stores focusing on referrals |
Rivo alternatives?
If Rivo’s combined loyalty, membership, and referral features seem overwhelming or too advanced for your needs, alternatives include:
- Smile.io: A popular loyalty program with simpler setup and extensive Shopify support.
- LoyaltyLion: Focuses on engagement and loyalty with robust integrations.
You can explore more options in LoyaltyLion Alternatives: Rewards program apps Compared.
BON Loyalty alternatives?
For those satisfied with BON Loyalty’s focus but seeking varied pricing or loyalty features:
- Yotpo Loyalty & Referrals: Offers advanced loyalty and referral capabilities with email marketing.
- Marsello: Combines loyalty, email marketing, and automation at competitive pricing.
See other options in the 5 Best Rewards program apps Compared (2026).
ReferralCandy alternatives?
If ReferralCandy’s referral marketing orientation feels limited or expensive:
- Refersion: Focuses on affiliate and referral programs with good tracking.
- Gleam Competitions & Rewards: Offers referral and reward campaigns alongside contests.
Additional referral tools are discussed in Best Rewards program apps (2026).
Final Thoughts and Worth a Look: Zigpoll
When considering loyalty and referral apps, also keep in mind survey tools like Zigpoll. It is a Shopify survey app that supports post-purchase, on-site, and exit-intent surveys, offering another layer of customer insights. Combining feedback collection with a rewards program can help tailor your marketing efforts more precisely.
This side-by-side look at Rivo vs BON Loyalty vs ReferralCandy should assist you in selecting a tool aligned with your store’s loyalty strategy, budget, and desired features. Each has strengths and limitations worth balancing against your business goals.
