What is the Best Loyalty App for Small Business in 2024?

Selecting the best loyalty app for small business is a crucial decision that can greatly impact customer retention and overall revenue.

Compared to traditional methods, digital loyalty solutions have become increasingly popular — they boost customer engagement, promote brand loyalty, and offer rewards programs that drive customers to return.

However, with various options available in 2024, it can take time to determine which loyalty program apps align with your marketing strategies and business goals.

That’s why we have compiled a list of the best loyalty apps for small businesses. It will help you choose the right customer loyalty app, create meaningful connections with your clients, offer rewards, boost consumer satisfaction, and stand out in a competitive market.

The best loyalty apps for small business right now

In this list, we will share some of the best loyalty apps for small businesses that are becoming prevalent due to their unique features and ease of use.

Let’s start immediately.

1. Loopy Loyalty

Loopy Loyalty is a customer loyalty program app that helps small businesses create, manage and distribute digital stamp cards to increase the number of loyal customers and boost their retention.

The platform allows brands to go paperless and engage customers through their smartphones without requiring them to download any additional apps.

Loopy Loyalty integrates seamlessly with Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, providing customers with loyalty reward programs they can access and use anytime.

Start a free trial now.

Features list

• Design your digital stamp card: Customize loyalty punch card templates with text, stamp images, and brand colors and choose between providing single or multi-rewards. Add your business locations, include terms and conditions and set customer data collection.
• Connect with customers: Use mobile wallet marketing and engage with customers through push notifications, targeted messages and location-based alerts.
• Promote cards everywhere: Employ a multichannel approach to promote and distribute your mobile punch cards across various online and offline platforms, including your website and social media. You can also use QR codes with the card’s URL printed on promotional materials.
• Reward your customers: Use the simple Stamper App for iOS or Android to quickly issue rewards. Give your customers stamps remotely through the online stamper tool.
• Measure your program results: Access real-time data to track and optimize your loyalty program. Calculate its gross and net benefits automatically. Access customer records to evaluate their transaction history and use this information to improve your marketing efforts.

Integrations

Loopy Loyalty’s electronic punch cards are fully compatible with mobile wallets like Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, ensuring a smooth user experience and convenience for your customers. You can also connect Loopy Loyalty with various third-party apps through Zapier.

Customer support

Enjoy robust support through chat, email and the help center. Get easy setup guidance and benefit from an intuitive user interface that makes both issuance and redemption of rewards hassle-free for your staff.

Pros

• Integration with mobile wallets and mobile marketing features
• Multichannel distribution for a unified brand experience
• Contactless stamping promotes a hygienic and safe customer experience
• Simplified reward distribution with no physical punch card required
• Cost-effectiveness without the need for design or coding skills
• Rich customer insights through an in-depth, searchable transaction history

Cons

• The platform doesn’t provide a free plan.

Pricing

You can start with Loopy Loyalty for free. The setup process is swift, and no credit card is required. You can choose one of the three paid plans when the trial expires, starting at $25 per month.

Each comes with:

• Unlimited cards
• Unlimited customers
• Unlimited push messages
• Unlimited stamps
• Unlimited rewards
• Unlimited transactions

Flexible cancellation terms mean you remain in control of your costs.

2. PassKit

PassKit is a comprehensive digital rewards platform that helps users create small business loyalty programs. It equips you with the necessary tools to design, manage and distribute digital loyalty cards that integrate seamlessly with popular mobile wallets like Apple and Google Wallet, trusted by consumers worldwide.

Features list

• Design simplicity: Create loyalty cards, membership cards, digital coupons, and various mobile wallet passes using an intuitive interface. It does not require coding or design skills.
• Customization: Creating personalized loyalty programs is easy. You can customize your cards and program with branding, offers, and rewards that align with your business goals.
• Mobile wallet marketing: Send push notifications, location-based alerts and targeted offers on customers’ mobile devices.
• Multichannel distribution: Share your cards online and offline, reaching customers on their preferred platforms.
• The PassReader App: Use the pass-scanning application for iOS and Android to issue rewards without scanning hardware.
• Data analytics: Get comprehensive loyalty program data and access customer behavior and spending patterns to improve your digital loyalty program. Track redemption rates and the program’s ROI to optimize your efforts.

Integrations

PassKit simplifies integration with your existing software, including POS systems and customer databases. It also integrates with Zapier and Make.

Customer support

PassKit offers expert guidance and continuous support via chat, email, and help center to configure your loyalty program and resolve any issues.

Pros

• Straightforward tools and an intuitive dashboard
• Loyalty cards are compatible with mobile wallets for easy customer access
• Personalized offers and rewards

Cons

• PassKit doesn’t provide a free plan.

Pricing

PassKit offers a 45-day free trial and a pay-as-you-grow pricing model, starting at $39.50 per month. You can trigger high discounts as your usage grows.

3. Fivestars

Fivestars offers personalized incentives to help businesses turn occasional shoppers into frequent customers, making it a good option for brands with physical stores that want to boost engagement and sales.

Fivestars powers all loyalty interactions. You can use this solution with your existing POS or through their tablet. Customers can earn and redeem rewards when they check in at your store using their phone numbers.

Features list

• Customer database: When new customers sign up for your loyalty program, they are automatically added to your customized database.
• Automated marketing: Send targeted rewards to customers based on their interactions with your business.
• Custom tags: Enhance your offers by tagging customers based on demographics or habits.
• Segmentation: Easily create groups for specialized offers, increasing the relevance for your customers.
• Analytics: Track your program’s performance, including new customer sign-ups, return visits, and redeemed rewards.

Integrations

You can import contacts from various marketing platforms such as Constant Contact and Mailchimp.

Customer support

Fivestars provides customer support through live chat and the help center.

Pros

• Easy to use for customers
• Customer contact information collection
• Smooth customization process
• Sending upscale offers and deals to encourage purchases

Cons

• Occasional difficulties with the provided tablets, related to Wi-Fi connectivity

Pricing

Fivestars doesn’t share its pricing publicly. However, you can see which features each package includes.

4. Stamp Me

The Stamp Me loyalty system combines traditional “Buy X, Get Y” loyalty cards with an advanced mobile application, enabling businesses to offer a completely interactive, contactless loyalty program.

This platform has a technology-driven approach to traditional punch card loyalty programs, merging convenience, accessibility, and improved customer engagement.

Features

• Customer data management: Gain access to and export member data, including contact information.
• Communication tools: Keep in touch with customers via push notifications and SMS.
• Birthday rewards: Celebrate customer birthdays with automatic rewards.
• Gamification: Introduce fun elements like Scratch & Win to your loyalty program.
• Re-engagement: Reconnect with customers who haven’t interacted recently.
• Random rewards: Send spontaneous rewards to please your customers.

Integrations

Easily sync your loyalty program data with email marketing and customer relationship management tools to ensure your customer information is unified and accessible.

Customer support

Stamp Me offers customer support via live chat and provides access to an extensive help center, including ebooks and guides.

Pros

• Offers multiple ways to engage with and retain customers
• Customer data is readily available for use in targeted marketing
• User-friendly interface for businesses and customers

Cons

• Limited integrations with other tools and platforms

Pricing

Stamp Me provides a 30-day free trial and three paid plans with different feature sets, starting at €29 per month.

5. Rise.ai

Rise.ai provides a loyalty and rewards program that takes a fresh approach to the traditional points system. Rather than offering points, the program rewards customers with real currency.

Rise.ai aims to enhance brand loyalty through a simplified and tangible approach by adding store credit to a customer’s digital wallet.

Features list

• Real currency rewards: Benefits customers with actual cash value credits.
• Automated rewards: Sets triggers and conditions for automated incentives.
• Custom trigger system: Tailors loyalty triggers for various customer actions.
• Performance benchmarks: Demonstrates a strong uplift in retention and customer lifetime value (LTV).

Integrations

Rise.ai syncs with multiple partner apps such as Shopify, Klaviyo, and Square, allowing you to incorporate it into your existing tech stack and expand your loyalty strategy.

Customer support

Rise.ai provides support through live chat and the help center.

Pros

• Engages customers with real value instead of abstract points
• Automated loyalty workflows save time and efforts
• High redemption rates and positive impact on sales

Cons

• May require a learning curve for new users to fully use its advanced features

Pricing

Rise.ai doesn’t share pricing information on its official website. However, you can book a demo to learn more about this platform.

Parameters for choosing the best loyalty app for small business

When assessing the best loyalty apps for small businesses, it’s important to consider various factors that align with your company’s needs and the expectations of your customers. Let’s take a closer look at some of the key criteria.

Features and functionality

Look for a solution that allows you to personalize loyalty programs, design loyalty cards and digital stamp cards, establish referral programs, and other crucial features.

Additionally, the app should be flexible enough to incorporate or adjust features without extra development.

Security

Choose a loyalty app that adheres to strict security protocols to protect sensitive customer information and uses encryption to safeguard your customer’s data privacy.

Ease of use

An intuitive interface is essential for you and your customers. The loyalty app should make rewarding customers a hassle-free experience and be easy to use and navigate.

Make sure it provides clear instructions and user guides.

Pricing and cost-effectiveness

When selecting a loyalty app, analyze the return on investment. It should offer good value for money without compromising on essential features.

It is important to have a clear understanding of the pricing structure, including any hidden fees that could affect your budget.

Customer support

When evaluating the loyalty software, ensure you can quickly get help via email, phone, or chat in case of issues.

Integration with third-party tools

Integrating the loyalty app with your POS system can improve its usability and effectiveness. Ensure seamless integration with your current tools and software to avoid any issues.

Mobile access

Mobile usage is a key component of modern customer loyalty programs. Confirm that the app offers mobile access for you and your customers. It should be available on both iOS and Android platforms.

Reputation

Finally, research the reputation of the loyalty app through customer testimonials and independent reviews. A reputable service often correlates with a successful loyalty program.

The best loyalty app for small business: Our verdict

Identifying the ideal loyalty app for your small business depends on several key factors, including how well it helps you reward customers, manage loyalty programs, and adapt to customer preferences.

After thoroughly reviewing various platforms, we have determined that Loopy Loyalty is one of the best choices for fostering a loyal customer base and improving customer lifetime value.

Here are some of the features you should consider:

• Ability to create digital stamp cards
• Seamless management of loyalty programs
• Customization options catering to specific business needs

Loopy Loyalty is an all-in-one solution that offers robust tools to create a powerful punch card loyalty program. It helps you optimize the time-tested concept of rewarding repeat customers with digital transformation benefits.

The platform can seamlessly integrate with your business’s operations to help you reward customers effectively. Loopy Loyalty’s impressive capabilities make it a robust choice for those leveraging loyalty for business growth.

Start a free trial now.

Final words about loyalty app for small business

Choosing the right loyalty app for your small business is all about balance. You want a program that is easy for customers to use but also motivates them to engage with your brand on a regular basis.

To create a successful loyalty program, you should be able to monitor and acknowledge customer actions in a personalized and valuable way.

You can incorporate unique advantages such as special discounts, referral rewards, early access to new products, and more, in addition to the usual points per purchase.

Offering exclusive benefits can create a sense of belonging and build an emotional attachment to your brand. However, ensure your reward programs are generous and strategic in encouraging repeat business.

Consider digital solutions that replace traditional approaches to simplify customer participation. With the right loyalty app, every interaction with a customer becomes an opportunity to enhance their experience and build loyalty.

While no single loyalty app is perfect for all small businesses, the cornerstone of any chosen system should be its ability to engage customers and create personalized experiences effectively.

A commitment to understanding and leveraging these tools can help you improve your small business and ensure your customers’ continued patronage and advocacy.

FAQs about loyalty app for small business

Let’s answer the most common questions about loyalty apps for small businesses.

How much does it cost to create a loyalty app?

The cost of developing mobile applications can differ significantly. Custom-made apps may require a significant investment, ranging from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars.

On the other hand, pre-built loyalty rewards apps like Loopy Loyalty may offer a subscription model that is more cost-effective for small businesses.

How do I start a small business loyalty program?

Firstly, you should determine the goals of your program and the specific behaviors you want to encourage. Then, choose a loyalty app that matches your objectives and gathers useful customer data. Finally, plan how to integrate the app seamlessly into your business operations.

How do I create a digital loyalty card for my business?

Creating a digital loyalty card is straightforward with platforms like Loopy Loyalty. These services guide you through designing and implementing a loyalty program that operates on customers’ smartphones, streamlining the rewards process.

How do you create a simple loyalty program?

Begin by deciding the structure — for instance, a points system or a tiered rewards setup.

Use an app that allows you easy management of the program, and ensure it provides a convenient experience for your customers. Incorporate creative loyalty card promotion tactics to boost customer retention.

Always keep the process straightforward to maintain and participate in for you and your customers.