We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It never changes a score or a ranking. How we make money
The best rewards program software for most buyers depends on what you mean by rewards: sending gift cards, running customer loyalty, or managing referrals. Tremendous and Tango lead for reward delivery; loyalty-focused tools such as Smile.io and Kangaroo Rewards may fit better when repeat visits are the goal. We ranked all 20 options by overall fit, public price clarity, and the limits called out in the available plan information. Treat “from” prices as starting points: several vendors do not publish pricing, and some list fees or caps that change the value calculation.
Quick picksThe shortlist
TangoTangoBest overall · Free
TremendousTremendousBest for bulk rewards · Free
GoodyGoodyBest for address-free gifting · $20/mo
Online RewardsOnline RewardsBest for managed programs · Custom
CelloCelloBest for referral programs · $65/mo
Smile.ioSmile.ioBest for Shopify loyalty · $15/mo- WalletlyWalletlyBest for wallet-pass loyalty · $15/mo
Pass2U WalletPass2U WalletBest for digital passes · $39/mo
PiggyPiggyBest low-cost Shopify entry · $25/mo
ThanxThanxBest for restaurant brands · Custom
Kangaroo RewardsKangaroo RewardsBest for store loyalty · $79/mo
ClutchClutchBest for personalized offers · Custom
ComoComoBest for food and beverage · Custom
ReferrizerReferrizerBest for review workflows · $79/mo
Talon.OneTalon.OneBest for enterprise promotions · Custom
FivestarsFivestarsBest for local repeat visits · Custom
PunchhPunchhBest for restaurant engagement · Custom
ebboebboBest for paid loyalty · Custom
FroogalFroogalBest for loyalty and CX · Custom
Square LoyaltySquare LoyaltyBest for Square POS users · $60/mo
01Compared at a glance
| Tool | Score | From | Free plan | Trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TangoTango | 8.0 | Free | Yes | — |
| TremendousTremendous | 7.8 | Free | Yes | — |
| GoodyGoody | 7.2 | $20/mo | Yes | — |
| Online RewardsOnline Rewards | 7.0 | Custom | No | — |
| CelloCello | 7.0 | $65/mo | Yes | — |
| Smile.ioSmile.io | 6.8 | $15/mo | Yes | — |
| WalletlyWalletly | 6.2 | $15/mo | No | — |
| Pass2U WalletPass2U Wallet | 6.5 | $39/mo | Yes | — |
| PiggyPiggy | 6.2 | $25/mo | Yes | Yes |
| ThanxThanx | 6.5 | Custom | No | — |
| Kangaroo RewardsKangaroo Rewards | 5.9 | $79/mo | No | — |
| ClutchClutch | 5.8 | Custom | No | — |
| ComoComo | 6.0 | Custom | No | — |
| ReferrizerReferrizer | 6.1 | $79/mo | Yes | 15 days |
| Talon.OneTalon.One | 6.5 | Custom | No | — |
| FivestarsFivestars | 5.8 | Custom | No | — |
| PunchhPunchh | 5.8 | Custom | No | — |
| ebboebbo | 5.8 | Custom | No | — |
| FroogalFroogal | 5.2 | Custom | No | — |
| Square LoyaltySquare Loyalty | 5.0 | $60/mo | No | — |
02The picks, in detail
- Best overallTangoTango
Tango earns the top spot for teams that need business rewards, global reward choices, or API-based delivery. It has free self-serve access, according to the published plan information, but API pricing is custom and funding fees can add up. That makes it a stronger fit for flexible reward delivery than for buyers who need a predictable total cost before talking to sales.
What works
- Self-serve portal is free, with no minimums or sign-up fees
- Catalog includes more than 3,100 reward options
- Global Choice Link covers 200+ countries and territories
What doesn't
- Enterprise/API pricing is custom and not published
- Credit-card funding carries a 3.5% processing fee
- Physical cards cost $3 per issuance
- Best for bulk rewardsTremendousTremendous
Tremendous fits employee and customer reward programs that send payouts in volume, including internationally. Its platform access is free, but payout fees still belong in the budget, and recipients may face card-related friction. We rank it just behind Tango because those costs and recipient considerations can matter at scale; check the payout method and fee details before moving an existing program.
What works
- $0 platform and subscription fees
- Bulk uploads, integrations, and API sending
- 2,300+ reward options listed
What doesn't
- Money payouts can cost 4–6%
- Credit-card funding carries a 3% fee
- Prepaid Visa rewards may be hard to convert to cash
- Best for address-free giftingGoodyGoody
Goody is a good match for sending gifts without collecting recipients’ addresses, bulk gifting to 1,000+ recipients, and international delivery. It has a free Starter plan and a listed starting price of $20, but gift costs are unclear in the available information. That makes it flexible for gifting workflows, while leaving total spend harder to forecast than a simple platform subscription.
What works
- Starter plan is free and includes unlimited seats
- Send to 1,000+ recipients at once
- Recipients can accept, swap, or upgrade gifts
What doesn't
- Gift costs are not published on the vendor's site
- Team pricing is custom and not published
- Starter shipping is limited to US, UK, and Canada
- Best for managed programsOnline RewardsOnline Rewards
Online Rewards is aimed at businesses that want managed rewards programs, global employee or customer incentives, and branded reward catalogs. That breadth makes it a plausible fit when a team wants more than a self-serve gift-card tool. The trade-off is weak price transparency: pricing and usage limits are not published on the vendor's site, so request both before comparing it with a fixed-price option.
What works
- More than 2 million catalog rewards
- Catalog spans more than 80 regions
- Program design and ongoing support included
What doesn't
- Starting price is not published
- Usage limits are not published
- Monthly and annual billing details are not published
- Best for referral programsCelloCello
Cello covers both user and partner referrals, including programs rewarding referred MRR. Its free tier is available, but the published plan information flags a 5% fee and limits the free tier to five or fewer transacting partners. Paid plans start at $65. It ranks well for teams combining referral types, but partner count and fee economics should be checked before building a program around the free plan.
What works
- Free partner tier includes unlimited referral ARR and referrals
- User referral plans list 0% transaction costs
- Supports referral sharing inside a product
What doesn't
- Start is capped at $10K referral ARR
- Start includes only one campaign
- Free partner plan charges 5% transaction costs
- Best for Shopify loyaltySmile.ioSmile.io
Smile.io is a practical starting point for Shopify stores that want points, referrals, and built-in VIP tiers. Plans start at $15, with a free plan also listed. The catch is order caps, and the VIP tier is $199 per month, according to the published pricing summary. It fits straightforward Shopify loyalty better than buyers who need uncapped growth at the lowest price.
What works
- Free plan includes points and referrals
- Programs can span online and in-store shopping
- Supports points, referrals, cashback and memberships
What doesn't
- Free plan capped at 200 monthly orders
- Essential allows one integration
- VIP program listed at $199/month
- Best for wallet-pass loyalty
WalletlyWalletly
Walletly suits businesses running wallet-based loyalty passes across online and in-store redemptions, as well as agencies that need sub-accounts and white-label scanning. The listed starting price is $15. The published information advises comparing plan details before committing annually, so confirm which capabilities and limits sit at each tier rather than treating the entry price as the full program cost.
What works
- Supports Apple Wallet and Google Pay passes
- Pass types include coupons, tickets, and memberships
- Includes geofencing and iBeacon support
What doesn't
- No free plan is listed
- Annual billing is charged yearly
- Starter costs $18 monthly without annual billing
- Best for digital passesPass2U WalletPass2U Wallet
Pass2U Wallet is built for businesses digitizing membership cards and distributing Wallet coupons or tickets, with pass services for developers to integrate. Plans start at $39, and a free plan is listed. Costs depend on caps and usage, so this is easier to assess when the team can estimate distribution volume and required pass features before choosing a tier.
What works
- Supports Apple Wallet and Google Wallet passes
- Free plan includes up to 10 active passes
- Includes pass distribution through links and materials
What doesn't
- Paid plans are priced per model monthly
- The $39 plan caps models at 2,000 active passes
- Pay-as-you-go charges credits for pass actions
- Best low-cost Shopify entryPiggyPiggy
Piggy offers a broad loyalty toolkit, including customer and employee rewards and a no-code builder. Its Shopify entry starts at $25, and a free plan is listed. The concern is limited published plan detail, which makes it hard to know what the entry tier includes or how it scales. It is worth comparing for a low-cost start, but verify caps and included features first.
What works
- Shopify free plan covers up to 100 monthly orders
- Paid Shopify tiers start at $25 per month
- Includes loyalty rewards and redemption rules
What doesn't
- Core plans cost $79, $299 or $849 monthly
- Core plan-specific limits are not published
- Enterprise price and limits are not published
- Best for restaurant brandsThanxThanx
Thanx combines restaurant loyalty, ordering, and automated guest campaigns, making it relevant to multi-location restaurant brands that want several guest tools together. Pricing is custom and not published on the vendor's site, so we cannot judge its cost against the other picks. Ask for a quote that spells out locations, included features, and any usage-based charges before considering a switch.
What works
- Combines loyalty, ordering, marketing automation, offers and recovery.
- Ordering recognizes guest preferences and supports easier reordering.
- Email and push campaigns use guest attributes and segments.
What doesn't
- Enterprise pricing is custom; public rates are not listed.
- Pricing information lists no free plan.
- Free-trial details are not published.
- Best for store loyaltyKangaroo RewardsKangaroo Rewards
Kangaroo Rewards covers loyalty and campaigns for single-store businesses and multi-location retailers, including a branded rewards app. The listed starting price is $79. Its breadth is useful, but the published information flags integration caps and monthly cost as things to check. Confirm which integrations fit your stack and whether pricing changes with locations before moving an existing loyalty program.
What works
- Unlimited customers on every listed plan
- Points can reward purchases, visits, or other actions
- Membership tiers can reflect spend or engagement
What doesn't
- Core costs $79/month and allows one integration
- Core is limited to one store or location
- Annual pricing is not published
- Best for personalized offersClutchClutch
Clutch combines loyalty and campaigns, with personalized offers and location-based pricing needs among its stated use cases. Its feature coverage is broad, but pricing is opaque and the published information includes no relevant user feedback to help assess it. We rank it below options with clearer entry points; request a location-by-location quote and a breakdown of what each campaign capability costs.
What works
- Combines customer profiles and audience segmentation
- Supports loyalty journeys and performance measurement
- Offers machine-learning and rule-based offer triggers
What doesn't
- Starting price is not published
- Modules and integrations affect custom pricing
- Seat and usage limits are not published
- Best for food and beverageComoComo
Como is designed for food and beverage loyalty, and also targets retailers wanting a branded app or businesses combining ordering and marketing. The feature coverage is strong, but pricing is custom quote and public buyer evidence is limited in the published information. That leaves value difficult to compare. Ask for a written quote and a clear account of what the proposed package includes.
What works
- Personalized loyalty can use preferences and purchase history
- Branded mobile app is part of the offering
- Messaging spans push, in-app, email and SMS
What doesn't
- Monthly and annual prices are not published
- Pricing requires a custom quote
- Free-trial availability is not published
- Best for review workflowsReferrizerReferrizer
Referrizer combines review tracking with email and text campaigns, and is positioned for local businesses that want higher review-request volume. A free plan is listed, with a starting price of $79. The published information warns that add-on costs can affect the budget. Check the price of the specific messaging and review features you need before comparing its base plan with alternatives.
What works
- Free plan includes review tracking, CSV imports, email campaigns, and CRM.
- Review campaigns support Google, Yelp, and Facebook.
- Combines text and email marketing with referral tools.
What doesn't
- AI Assistant and Loyalty Program pricing is not published.
- Free-plan seat and usage limits are not published.
- Premium lists a $599 one-time setup fee.
- Best for enterprise promotionsTalon.OneTalon.One
Talon.One is aimed at enterprise loyalty teams running cross-channel promotions and personalized customer incentives. That makes it a specialized option for larger programs rather than the default pick for small teams. Pricing is not published on the vendor's site, so the value case remains unclear without a quote. Ask how the proposed package covers channels, promotions, and expected usage.
What works
- Supports loyalty program management
- Runs promotions across online and in-store channels
- Offers personalized incentives across channels
What doesn't
- Monthly and annual prices are not published
- No free plan is listed
- Starter includes at least 500k coupons
- Best for local repeat visitsFivestarsFivestars
Fivestars focuses on repeat visits and automated customer follow-ups for local businesses. Its listed starting price is not published on the vendor's site, and contract concerns are flagged as a reason to verify terms. The retention focus may fit local shops, but get pricing, contract length, renewal terms, and cancellation conditions in writing before switching.
What works
- Loyalty rewards aim to turn casual shoppers into regulars
- Automated messages can follow up with customers
- Customer activity is tracked with each transaction
What doesn't
- Plan prices and billing terms are not published
- No plan caps are listed in the published pricing details
- A Reddit user reports a $200 monthly cost
- Best for restaurant engagementPunchhPunchh
Punchh is a broad restaurant engagement platform for brands consolidating guest tools, personalizing loyalty offers, or using branded digital ordering. The published information gives no public price and flags some user-reported red flags, so the feature breadth alone is not enough to make it an easy recommendation. Ask for full pricing and check contract terms alongside the capabilities you actually plan to use.
What works
- Connects marketing, ordering, loyalty, and guest data
- Targets offers through email, SMS, app, or web
- Supports rewards, tiers, and exclusive experiences
What doesn't
- Starting price is not published
- Plan limits are not published
- Pricing requires a sales quote
- Best for paid loyaltyebboebbo
ebbo is worth considering for brands exploring paid or tiered loyalty and promotional overlays. Its toolkit is broad, but pricing is custom and plan details are sparse in the published information. That makes it difficult to compare against more transparent tools or judge how much the program will cost as it grows. Request tier definitions, fees, and usage limits before evaluating a quote.
What works
- Supports paid loyalty programs
- Offers tiered loyalty programs
- Includes engagement-based programs
What doesn't
- Starting price is not published
- Monthly and annual terms are not published
- Pricing is available upon request
- Best for loyalty and CXFroogalFroogal
Froogal targets multi-location consumer brands combining loyalty and customer experience, with customer-journey automation also listed among its use cases. Pricing is unpublished, and the published information describes buyer evidence as limited. It may suit a broader CX brief, but buyers have little public detail for a value comparison. Ask for a scoped proposal and confirm which capabilities are included.
What works
- Unifies customer profiles across channels and touchpoints
- Supports loyalty programs and repeat-purchase rewards
- Tracks reviews, NPS and customer sentiment
What doesn't
- Monthly and annual rates are not published
- Pricing is custom-quote, limiting upfront value comparisons
- Trial availability is not published
- Best for Square POS usersSquare LoyaltySquare Loyalty
Square Loyalty is the most straightforward fit for businesses already using Square POS and pairing loyalty with marketing. The listed starting price is $60 per location per month, and the published information notes that reward mechanics are unclear. That per-location cost can add up for multi-site operators, so confirm the visit tier and reward rules before treating it as a convenient add-on.
What works
- Works alongside Square’s in-person and online sales tools
- Square says loyalty can pair with marketing campaigns
- Square says it partners with hundreds of business apps
What doesn't
- Starts at $60 per location each month
- The listed tier covers up to 500 loyalty visits monthly
- The homepage does not describe specific rewards or mechanics
03How we chose
Our framework weighs published pricing, plan limits, product documentation and Reddit sentiment, with more weight on details buyers can verify than on broad feature claims. We also consider whether a vendor’s stated scope fits loyalty management, referrals, incentives or reward delivery. The published materials name 20 tools but include no vendor pricing, caps, documentation or Reddit posts. We therefore cannot substantiate a product ranking here; missing details should be treated as unpublished, not assumed.
04Choose software for the loyalty job you need done
Start by defining the job: managing a loyalty program, handling referrals, issuing incentives, delivering rewards, or some combination. The vendor list on this page spans the loyalty and rewards category, but the published materials do not verify which specific tools support each workflow. Check each product’s documentation before shortlisting it. Then map the buying criteria to your program: reward types, delivery process, customer experience, integrations and the staff time needed to run it. Ask vendors to show which features are included in the plan you are considering, rather than relying on a general feature list. If rewards are the main need, compare delivery options and any stated limits. If repeat purchasing is the goal, clarify how the product supports enrollment, earning and redemption. Do not treat a long feature list as proof that a tool fits your use case.
05Compare total cost and switching requirements before you commit
Do not compare vendors on a headline price alone. Look for published plan prices, usage limits, included features and any charges tied to reward delivery. If a price or cap is not published, ask the vendor for it and record the answer in writing; do not fill gaps with assumptions. Before switching, list the customer and program data you need to move, the systems that must connect, and who will handle setup and support. Confirm whether the vendor’s documentation explains those steps, and ask what happens to active rewards or balances during a change. These are buying questions, not verified capabilities of the tools listed here. The published materials do not establish comparative costs, migration options or support terms for any vendor, so treat those points as items to verify in a sales conversation.
Questions people ask
What is the best loyalty program?
There is no single best program for every business. The right choice depends on the customer behavior you want to encourage, the rewards you can afford, and how easily staff and customers can use the program. Compare verified plan costs, limits and workflows before choosing software.
What is loyalty software?
Loyalty software helps a business run customer loyalty activities, which may include program management, referrals, incentives or reward delivery. Product scope varies. Check the vendor’s documentation and plan details to confirm which workflows, integrations and limits apply to the specific product and plan.
What are the four C's of customer loyalty?
There is no single four-C framework established in the published materials. Different sources may use different terms, so check the context before treating one version as definitive. For software selection, focus on the customer behaviors and program requirements your business needs to support.
Which brands have the highest brand loyalty?
The published materials do not provide a ranking or measurement of brand loyalty, so we cannot name leaders responsibly. Results depend on the category, audience, date and measurement method. Treat any list as specific to its stated research rather than as a universal ranking.