Smile.io has been a go-to loyalty platform for thousands of Shopify stores.
But as your business grows, you might find yourself needing features, pricing, or support that better match where you're headed.
Most articles comparing loyalty platforms are written by the competitors themselves. This guide aims to be different.
We'll walk through 7 solid Smile.io alternatives, what each does well, where they fall short, and who they're actually best for.
Editor’s note: Want to hear some sample AI support calls made for your Shopify store?
- Just paste your store URL
- Get sample calls in under 20 seconds (no email required)
- Listen to demo calls for my store
What to look for in a Smile.io alternative
Before diving into the options, let's cover the criteria that matter most when evaluating loyalty platforms.
Shopify integration quality matters because a clunky integration means more development time and ongoing headaches. The best tools feel native to your store.
Pricing transparency helps you budget accurately. Some platforms hide pricing behind sales calls, while others show clear tiers.
Customization options determine how well you can match the loyalty experience to your brand. Look for customizable widgets, emails, and reward structures.
Analytics and reporting show you what's actually working. Basic dashboards tell you participation rates. Advanced analytics connect loyalty to revenue.
Migration ease becomes critical if you're switching from Smile.io. You need to transfer points balances and tier status without frustrating customers.
Support quality varies dramatically. Some platforms offer 24/7 chat, others leave you waiting days for email responses.
Quick comparison: all 7 alternatives at a glance
1. Yotpo Loyalty
Yotpo offers loyalty and referrals as part of a larger marketing suite that includes reviews and visual UGC.
With over 25,000 loyalty programs launched since 2018, they bring serious experience to the table.
What stands out
Yotpo's approach centers on flexibility. You get 20+ out-of-the-box campaigns to reward customers for purchases, referrals, reviews, and engagement across channels. Their tier-based programs let you segment customers by spend, purchases, or referrals.
The platform works well for omnichannel brands. You can identify loyalty members at physical POS locations, offer mobile wallet passes, and even let customers scan receipts to earn points for purchases made anywhere.
Their analytics go deep. You can segment customers by point balance, referral history, VIP tier, and last purchase date.
This matters when you want to send targeted campaigns rather than blasting everyone with the same message.
Performance claims
Yotpo reports some impressive numbers: 41% increase in repeat purchase rate for loyalty members and 59% increase in customer lifetime value.
They also boast 65+ integrations with major e-commerce tools.
Pricing reality
Here's the catch: Yotpo doesn't publish loyalty pricing. Their reviews product starts at $89/month, but loyalty requires contacting sales for a custom quote.
They do offer a free plan for businesses processing under 100 orders monthly.
For growing brands, this quote-based model means you'll need to invest time in sales conversations before knowing if it fits your budget.
Who it's best for
Yotpo works well for established brands wanting strategic guidance. You get a dedicated customer success manager who essentially acts as an extension of your team. The 24/7 technical support and implementation help justify the higher price point for teams that need hands-on assistance.
2. LoyaltyLion
LoyaltyLion positions itself as the data-driven choice for merchants who want measurable ROI from their loyalty investment.
What stands out
The platform emphasizes predictive analytics and AI-powered campaigns. Rather than guessing what rewards might work, you get data on customer behavior patterns and predicted outcomes.
Their VIP tier system lets you categorize customers by amount spent, orders placed, or points earned. This helps you treat your best customers differently without manual segmentation.
The Klaviyo integration deserves mention. If you're already using Klaviyo for email marketing, LoyaltyLion passes detailed loyalty data over for sophisticated segmentation and automated flows.
Pricing structure
LoyaltyLion starts at $159-199 per month, putting it in the mid-to-high range. The pricing tiers can get complex, with different feature sets unlocking at different levels.
Who it's best for
Choose LoyaltyLion if you care deeply about analytics and want to connect loyalty metrics directly to revenue impact. The platform suits data-focused merchants who will actually use the advanced reporting rather than just glancing at dashboard highlights.
3. Rivo
Rivo is a Shopify-native platform offering loyalty, referrals, memberships, and enhanced customer accounts in one system.
What stands out
Rivo's biggest advantage is how purpose-built it feels for Shopify. The integration is seamless, with checkout extensions that embed loyalty directly into the purchase flow. You get passwordless login, shareable wishlists, and Apple/Google wallet passes.
The feature set is comprehensive even on lower tiers. All plans include unlimited integrations, unlimited loyalty lifecycle emails, and access to 150+ features. That's unusual at the $49 price point.
Their membership functionality runs natively through Shopify's paid membership platform, which means fewer integration headaches compared to third-party membership apps.
Pricing breakdown
The jump from $49 to $499 is significant, but the Plus plan removes participant limits and adds white-glove onboarding.
Who it's best for
Rivo suits Shopify merchants who want a clean, modern interface without sacrificing features. The affordable entry point makes it accessible for smaller stores, while the Plus tier scales for larger operations. If you value simplicity and Shopify-native design, Rivo delivers.
4. Stamped
Stamped bundles reviews, loyalty, and lifecycle automation into a single retention toolkit.
What stands out
The combination of reviews and loyalty creates interesting synergies. You can reward customers for leaving photo and video reviews, then display that UGC to drive conversions. The loyalty program includes points, VIP tiers, and referral capabilities.
Win-back flows help you re-engage lapsed customers automatically. The visual UGC galleries let you curate customer photos from social media and display them shoppably on your site.
Pricing reality
Stamped's loyalty features start at $299 per month, making it one of the pricier options on this list. The pricing ties to order volume, so costs increase as you grow.
Who it's best for
Stamped works best for brands that specifically want reviews and loyalty tightly integrated. If you're already planning to run both programs, consolidating them can reduce app overhead and create better customer experiences. For loyalty-only needs, the price premium is harder to justify.
5. Rise.ai
Rise.ai takes a fundamentally different approach to loyalty, focusing on store credit and gift cards rather than traditional points.
What stands out
The platform calls itself "The eCommerce Leader in Gift Cards" and ranks as the #1 Gift Card App on Shopify. Their "One Wallet" concept combines gift cards, store credit, and cashback in a single system.
The refund-to-credit feature is genuinely useful. Instead of issuing cash refunds, you can offer store credit and turn potential losses into future sales opportunities.
Their bulk creation tool generates up to 10,000 gift card codes instantly for targeted campaigns.
Rise.ai also supports headless customization, letting you tailor the UX/UI to your brand without altering back-end code. Multi-store and omnichannel capabilities unify issuance and redemption across sales channels.
Performance benchmarks
Rise.ai shares 2023 performance data: 32% repeat purchase rate, 18% average order value increase, 40% redemption rate, and 8% customer lifetime value lift.
Pricing advantage
At $16-19.99 per month, Rise.ai is the most affordable option on this list. The low entry point makes it accessible for stores just starting with retention programs.
Who it's best for
Choose Rise.ai if you prefer store credit over points-based systems. The approach resonates with customers who understand dollars more easily than abstract points. It's also ideal if gift cards are a significant part of your business strategy.
6. Growave
Growave offers an all-in-one marketing platform combining loyalty, reviews, wishlists, social login, and UGC.
What stands out
The breadth of features is impressive for the price. You get loyalty and rewards, product reviews with photos, wishlists for save-for-later functionality, social login for easier account creation, and shoppable Instagram feeds.
For small stores, consolidating these features reduces monthly app costs and simplifies management. Instead of juggling separate apps for reviews, wishlists, and loyalty, everything lives in one dashboard.
Pricing structure
Starting at $19 per month, Growave sits between Rise.ai and Rivo on affordability. The all-in-one approach can actually save money compared to running separate apps for each feature.
Who it's best for
Growave suits small stores wanting multiple marketing features without the complexity of enterprise tools. If you need loyalty, reviews, and wishlists anyway, the bundled approach makes sense. Just be aware that individual features may lack the depth of specialized tools.
7. Appstle Loyalty
Appstle offers loyalty and rewards as part of a broader retention suite including subscriptions, memberships, and bundles.
What stands out
The customer support reputation is exceptional. Appstle holds a 5-star rating with over 4,500 reviews on the Shopify App Store. Users consistently praise the 24/7 support team and quick response times.
The loyalty platform itself offers customizable rewards including points, discounts, store credits, and exclusive offers. Setup is designed to be seamless with native Shopify integration.
For merchants running subscriptions or memberships, having loyalty in the same ecosystem creates opportunities for cross-program rewards and unified customer data.
Pricing mystery
Appstle doesn't publish loyalty pricing publicly. You'll need to contact sales or check the Shopify App Store for current rates. Their subscription app pricing suggests competitive rates, but exact loyalty costs require direct inquiry.
Who it's best for
Choose Appstle if support quality is your top priority. The migration assistance and engineering team access (on enterprise plans) make switching from Smile.io smoother. It's also ideal if you want loyalty integrated with subscriptions or memberships in a single platform.
How to choose the right Smile.io alternative
The best choice depends on your specific situation. Here's a simple framework:
Consider your store size and order volume. High-volume stores need platforms that handle scale without breaking the budget. Rivo's Plus plan at $499/month or Yotpo's custom pricing might make sense. Smaller stores should look at Rise.ai or Growave.
Identify your must-have features. If you need reviews and loyalty together, Stamped or Growave fit. For advanced analytics, choose LoyaltyLion or Yotpo. If store credit appeals more than points, Rise.ai is the clear choice.
Evaluate your technical resources. Platforms like Rivo and Rise.ai offer quick setup without developers. Yotpo and LoyaltyLion may require more configuration but offer deeper customization.
Think about your growth trajectory. Starting cheap and migrating later wastes time. If you plan to scale significantly, choose a platform that grows with you rather than hitting limits quickly.
Quick reference:
- If you need the cheapest option: Rise.ai
- If you want the best support: Appstle
- If you need reviews + loyalty: Stamped
- If you want Shopify-native design: Rivo
- If you need strategic guidance: Yotpo
- If you love data: LoyaltyLion
- If you want all-in-one marketing: Growave
Making the switch from Smile.io
Migrating loyalty platforms requires planning to avoid frustrating your customers.
Data transfer is the biggest challenge. You need to migrate points balances, tier status, and referral history accurately. Most platforms on this list offer migration assistance, but verify what they cover before committing.
Communicate with customers early. Send emails explaining the switch, when it happens, and what changes to expect. Emphasize that their points and status will transfer.
Test everything before going live. Create test customers with various point balances and tier levels. Verify that the migration script handles edge cases correctly.
Plan for a soft launch. Consider running both systems briefly or launching to a small customer segment first. This catches issues before they affect your entire customer base.
Monitor support tickets closely. Expect an increase in questions during the transition. Have your support team prepared with answers about the new platform.
Start building customer loyalty today
The right loyalty platform depends on your specific needs, budget, and growth plans. Rise.ai offers the most affordable entry point. Yotpo provides the most comprehensive strategic support. Rivo balances features and simplicity for Shopify merchants.
Whichever platform you choose, remember that loyalty programs succeed when they genuinely reward customers for behaviors that drive your business forward. Points and tiers are just mechanics. The real value comes from making customers feel recognized and appreciated.
While you're optimizing customer retention, consider how you handle customer support. We help e-commerce stores automate phone support with AI that answers questions, looks up orders, and handles returns. If phone support is part of your customer experience, you can try our AI phone agent free and see how it works alongside your loyalty program.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Smile.io alternative offers the best value for small Shopify stores?
For small stores, Rise.ai at $16-19.99 per month offers the most affordable entry point with a unique store credit approach. Rivo at $49 per month provides more traditional loyalty features with excellent Shopify integration.
Can I migrate my existing Smile.io points to a new platform?
Yes, most platforms including Yotpo, LoyaltyLion, and Appstle offer migration assistance to transfer points balances and tier status. Always verify the specific migration support before committing to a new platform.
Do any Smile.io alternatives offer free plans?
Yotpo offers a free plan for businesses processing under 100 orders per month. Rivo provides a 7-day free trial. Other platforms may offer trial periods but don't advertise permanent free tiers.
Which alternative works best for stores wanting both reviews and loyalty?
Stamped and Growave both bundle reviews with loyalty features. Stamped offers deeper review functionality starting at $299/month, while Growave provides a more affordable all-in-one approach from $19/month.
Are there any Smile.io alternatives specifically built for Shopify?
Rivo, Rise.ai, Growave, and Appstle are all built specifically for Shopify. Rivo in particular emphasizes its Shopify-native design with checkout extensions and seamless integration.
Which platform offers the best analytics for tracking loyalty ROI?
LoyaltyLion and Yotpo lead in analytics capabilities. LoyaltyLion focuses on predictive analytics and data-driven insights, while Yotpo offers comprehensive reporting with 65+ integrations for unified data.
What's the most affordable Smile.io alternative that still offers good support?
Rise.ai offers the lowest starting price at $16-19.99/month. For slightly more at $49/month, Rivo includes 24/7 chat support. Appstle has the highest customer satisfaction ratings for support but requires contacting sales for pricing.
