9 Affordable Loyalty Program Software for Small Businesses: Free & Paid

Running a loyalty program doesn’t have to break the bank. As a small business owner, you want tools that are affordable, effective, and easy to use. The good news? There are plenty of loyalty program software options designed specifically for businesses like yours.

I’ll share 9 of my favorite loyalty program software for small businesses, both free and paid (of course, with an affordable price), so you can choose the best fit for your store.

Let’s find out!

9 Loyalty Program Apps For Small Businesses: Expert Picks

Here are 9 of the best loyalty program software for small businesses. Each has its own strengths and features, so you can find the perfect fit to boost your customer loyalty.

Joy | Rewards & Loyalty Program

Joy is an all-in-one loyalty program designed to help businesses improve customer retention and drive repeat purchases. It has served over 10,000 businesses globally and delivers tailored loyalty solutions that prioritize advanced customization and ease of use.

Key Features

• Supports multiple types of loyalty programs: points-based rewards, tiered programs, and referral programs.
• Customizable rewards: Create your own points rules, tiers, and redemption options.
• Flexible program design: Tailor the program to match your brand identity and customer needs with dedicated landing pages, floating widgets, pop-ups, etc.
• Easy of use: Easy to set up for you and easy to use for your customers
• Customer Segmentation: Segment customers based on purchase behavior or other criteria to offer personalized rewards and campaigns.
• Automated Emails: Send automated emails to welcome new members, notify customers about rewards, and encourage repeat purchases.
• Personalized customer accounts: Provide customers with personalized accounts where they can track their points, view their rewards history, and manage their preferences.
• Advanced analytics: Track key metrics, such as program participation, redemption rates, revenue, etc., to measure your program’s success and build informed strategies.

Customer Support: 24/7 via email and live chat.

Integrations: Joy integrates seamlessly with Shopify, Shopify POS, and other marketing tools.

Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $24.99 per month.

💡 Discover How to Create A Loyalty Program on Shopify

Smile.io

Smile.io is a popular loyalty program platform for driving customer engagement and boosting repeat sales. It offers an easy-to-use, scalable solution for small businesses aiming to reward loyal customers and foster lasting relationships.

Key Features

• Points-Based Rewards: Reward customers for purchases, referrals, social shares, and more, driving repeat business.
• VIP Program: Tier-based rewards to incentivize top customers with exclusive perks and benefits.
• Referral Program: Easy sharing of referral links to encourage existing customers to bring in new ones.
• Customizable Rewards Page: Design a branded rewards page with no coding required
• Analytics and Insights: Provides detailed reports to track program performance and customer engagement.

Customer Support: Support via email only

Integrations: Smile.io integrates with various tools, including Shopify, WooCommerce, Mailchimp, Klaviyo, Recharge, and more.

Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $49/month.

Rivo

Rivo is a modern retention platform designed specifically for Shopify merchants to help convert one-time buyers into loyal customers. Trusted by thousands of businesses worldwide, Rivo empowers brands to engage customers with loyalty and referral programs, driving repeat purchases and long-term customer retention.

Key Features:

• Points-Based Rewards: Small businesses can reward customers for purchases, reviews, and referrals, driving engagement and repeat sales.
• Referral Campaigns: Create personalized referral programs to acquire new customers organically.
• Personalized Customer Accounts: Provide customers with personalized accounts where they can track their points, view their rewards history, and manage their preferences.
• Email & SMS Marketing: Engage customers with automated emails and SMS messages about their rewards and program updates.

Customer Support: 24/7 live chat and email support. Dedicated Account Managers (for Enterprise plan)

Integrations: Shopify & Shopify Plus, Marketing tools like Klaviyo and Attentive, Customer engagement platforms like Gorgias and Recharge

Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $49 per month.

Yotpo

Yotpo is a robust loyalty and referral program app designed to help businesses of all sizes, including small businesses, build long-term customer relationships. Known for its advanced analytics and integrations, Yotpo empowers merchants to create data-driven loyalty programs that drive engagement and retention.

Key Features

• Points, Referrals, and VIP Tiers: Create a multi-faceted loyalty program with points for purchases, referrals, and a tiered system for rewarding your most loyal customers.
• Customizable Rewards: Offer a variety of rewards, including discounts, free products, free shipping, and exclusive access to sales and promotions.
• Customizable Campaigns: Create tailored loyalty and referral campaigns to meet your brand’s goals.
• Advanced Segmentation: Target specific customer segments with personalized rewards and offers.
• Actionable Analytics: Provides insights into program performance and customer behavior to maximize ROI.

Customer Support: Live chat and Email support

Integrations: Yotpo seamlessly integrates with platforms such as Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Salesforce, and Magento, as well as marketing tools such as Klaviyo and Mailchimp.

Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $199/month.

Giftbit

Giftbit is a unique loyalty program tool designed to reward customers using digital gift cards. It’s an excellent choice for small businesses looking for a simple, scalable, and trackable rewards program that focuses on customer satisfaction and engagement.

Key Features

• Gift card-based reward program: Easily reward customers with giftcards
• Digital Gift Card Distribution: Enables businesses to send gift cards instantly, boosting customer engagement.
• Global Catalog: Offers access to a wide range of gift card options from leading brands worldwide.
• Flexible rewards: Set reward amounts, delivery methods, and expiration rules to match your business needs.
• Customizable Messaging: Personalizes delivery with custom branding and messages, enhancing the customer experience.
• Bulk Sending: Easily send rewards in large volumes, ideal for scaling loyalty programs.
• Real-Time Tracking & Reporting: Provides insights into reward redemption and performance for program optimization.

Customer Support: Email and help center

Integrations: Giftbit provides API integrations to embed reward systems into existing workflows, including CRM, marketing, and automation tools like Zapier.

Pricing: Free

Preferred Patron Loyalty

Preferred Patron Loyalty is a comprehensive customer loyalty and engagement platform designed for businesses of all sizes. It offers a wide range of features to help you build and manage effective loyalty programs, with a focus on both online and offline channels.

Key Features

• Point-Based Rewards System: Helps businesses incentivize purchases and visits with flexible point accrual and redemption.
• Tiered Loyalty Programs: Encourages increased spending by rewarding customers based on their activity levels.
• Referral Program: Implement a referral program to encourage customers to spread the word about your business.
• Promotion Management: Automates discounts, special offers, and event-driven promotions for targeted engagement.
• Omni-Channel Marketing: Reaches customers through email, SMS, and in-app communications for seamless interaction.
• Mobile-Friendly Tools: Engages customers via mobile devices, ensuring instant access to loyalty benefits and updates.

Customer Support: Phone support (Monday–Friday during business hours). 24/7 email support for off-hours inquiries. Priority support for Premium+ customers.

Integrations: Preferred Patron integrates with API systems, allowing businesses to connect it with their POS systems and CRMs. Add-ons like kiosks, plastic cards, and SMS credits enhance operational flexibility.

Pricing: Quote-based; please contact them for more information.

Referral Candy

ReferralCandy is a referral program app specifically designed to help businesses acquire new customers by leveraging word-of-mouth marketing. It’s a straightforward and effective tool for small businesses looking to incentivize referrals and grow their customer base.

Key Features

• Automated Referral Programs: Simplifies referral management, saving time for small business owners.
• Custom Rewards: Offers store discounts, cash, or custom gifts to incentivize referrals effectively.
• Fraud Protection: Ensures safe and reliable referral tracking, minimizing fraudulent activity.
• On-Brand Emails and Pages: Customizes customer-facing materials to match your business branding.
• Data-Driven Insights: Provides analytics for tracking referral performance and optimizing campaigns.

Customer Support: 24/7 live chat and email support.

Integrations: ReferralCandy integrates seamlessly with Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, WooCommerce, and other platforms. It also connects with marketing tools like Mailchimp, Google Analytics, and Klaviyo.

Pricing: ReferralCandy offers a 14-day free trial. Paid plans start at $59/month + 3.5% commission fee.

Bon Loyalty

BON Loyalty is a flexible and customizable loyalty program app that caters to businesses of all sizes. It offers a wide range of features to help you create a unique and engaging loyalty program that drives customer retention and repeat purchases.

Key Features

• Points and Rewards System: This system boosts customer engagement by enabling businesses to reward purchases, sign-ups, and social sharing. BON Loyalty supports points-based rewards, referral incentives, and VIP tiers.
• Customizable Widgets: Match your branding seamlessly with tools to edit banners, icons, and text.
• Referral Programs: Encourage customers to invite their friends and earn rewards, promoting organic growth.
• Anti-Cheat Measures: Ensures a fair referral process, protecting businesses from fraud.
• Multi-Language Support: Supports over 250 languages, making it ideal for businesses targeting diverse audiences.

Customer Support: (Available Monday to Friday (9:00–18:00 GMT+7) and Saturday (9:00–12:00 GMT+7)) via live chat and email.

Integrations: BON Loyalty integrates directly with Shopify, making it an easy-to-use solution for e-commerce merchants.

Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans start at $23 per month, with a 3-day free trial.

Loyalty Lion

Loyalty Lion is a highly customizable and data-driven loyalty and engagement platform that’s popular with fast-growing e-commerce brands. While it may be more expensive than some other options, it offers advanced features and a high degree of customization, making it a good choice for businesses with complex loyalty needs.

Key Features

• Point-Based Rewards: Incentivizes purchases, referrals, and engagement activities like reviews or social media follows.
• Personalized Loyalty Pages: Creates a branded loyalty experience integrated into your online store.
• Tiered Loyalty Programs: Encourages higher spending with exclusive benefits for top-tier customers.
• Advanced Analytics: Provides actionable insights to refine loyalty strategies and boost revenue.
• Referral Rewards: Drives customer acquisition by offering points or discounts for successful referrals.

Customer Support: Via email only

• Email support
• Help center with FAQs and guides
• Dedicated onboarding specialists for advanced plans

Integrations: LoyaltyLion integrates with Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, Klaviyo, Recharge, and over 50 other platforms, enabling seamless management of loyalty programs.

Pricing: LoyaltyLion offers a 14-day free trial. Paid plans start at $199/month.

How to Choose the Right Loyalty Program Software

Choosing the right small business loyalty program software is crucial for building customer loyalty and driving sales. Here’s a guide to help you make the best decision:

• Define Goals and Objectives: Clarify what you want to achieve (e.g., customer retention, increased sales, or data collection) and tailor the program to your industry.
• Understand Customer Preferences: Analyze customer behavior, preferred rewards, and ease of engagement to ensure the program meets their expectations.
• Set a Budget: Plan for setup, subscription, and integration costs while ensuring the software offers value for money.
• Prioritize Key Features: Look for multi-channel support, customization, analytics, integration with existing systems, and scalability.
• Research Vendors: Evaluate reputable providers, read reviews, request demos, and choose one with a proven track record in your industry.
• Ensure Compliance and Security: Verify adherence to data protection laws (e.g., GDPR) and robust security measures to safeguard customer information.
• Test Usability and ROI: Use demos or trials to assess user-friendliness, setup ease, and the program’s potential to deliver measurable business benefits.

Wrapping Up

There you have it! Nine fantastic loyalty program software options to help you build a loyal customer base and strengthen your relationships with customers.

I encourage you to explore these options and choose the one that best fits your needs and budget.  If you’re looking for a user-friendly and versatile option with a free plan to get you started, check out Joy Loyalty. It’s packed with features, offers seamless integration with Shopify, and can help you build a thriving loyalty program in no time.

Don’t be afraid to start with a free plan and upgrade as your business grows. Good luck!