Top Shopify Apps for Customer Loyalty and Growth

‍Last reviewed: 26 May 2025

Quick answer: Adding the right Shopify loyalty apps can boost repeat purchases by ❯ 40 % and trim acquisition costs by nearly 20 %.

Table of Contents

1. Why Customer Loyalty Matters
2. Best Shopify Loyalty Apps for Repeat Purchases
3. How to Choose Shopify Loyalty Apps
4. Integrating Customer Loyalty Tools with Your Tech Stack
5. Maximising ROI with the Best Shopify Apps
6. Launch / Optimise Checklist
7. FAQ
8. Takeaways

Why Customer Loyalty Matters

Repeat customers convert faster, spend more, and refer friends. A robust loyalty stack builds predictable revenue streams while insulating you from paid-ads volatility.

Best Shopify Loyalty Apps for Repeat Purchases

1. ReferralCandy + AffiliatePlus: Referral-Driven Loyalty

• Built for Shopify certified
• Turns happy buyers into advocates with one-click signup
• Custom cash, coupon, or store-credit rewards
• Fraud detection protects margins
• See the best Shopify referral apps round-up for more options

2. Smile.io: Points & VIP Tiers

• Gamified points, referrals, VIP milestones
• Works with Klaviyo & POS for omnichannel rewards
• Free plan to start; paid plans add email nudges

3. LoyaltyLion: Advanced Segmentation

• Tiered rewards plus granular customer segmentation
• A/B test loyalty nudges to optimise lift
• Deep Shopify Plus scripts for big brands

4. Growave: All-in-One Engagement Suite

• Combines wishlists, reviews, and loyalty in one app
• Store-credit rewards encourage higher AOV
• Budget-friendly for small shops

5. S Loyalty: Rewards & Referrals

• Multi-currency rewards and SMS loyalty flows
• Unified dashboard for reviews, UGC, and rewards
• Best for global brands needing robust analytics

How to Choose Shopify Loyalty Apps

• Goal clarity: points, perks, referrals, or all three?
• Reward flexibility: cash-equivalent rewards outperform points when driving first repeat purchase.
• Ease of setup: Built-for-Shopify badge signals fast deployment.
• Analytics depth: look for AOV, LTV, and cohort tracking, not just points issued.
• Pricing model: balance fixed fees vs. revenue share to protect margin.

Integrating Customer Loyalty Tools with Your Tech Stack

• Email & SMS: native Klaviyo/Postscript hooks trigger reward reminders automatically.
• Subscriptions: Recharge or Loop ties loyalty to subscription renewals for higher stickiness.
• POS: Shopify POS loyalty prompts convert in-store shoppers into digital members.
• Reviews & UGC: merge loyalty data with Yotpo or Okendo to spotlight top advocates.
• Analytics: Push loyalty events to Looker Studio for share → redeem → repeat visualisation.

Maximising ROI with the Best Shopify Apps

• Double-sided incentives (give $10, get $10) lift conversions up to 25 %.
• Layer post-purchase popups and loyalty dashboards to raise share rate from 4 % to 12 %.
• Run quarterly “points-to-cash” campaigns; brands report a 15 % boost in dormant redeemers.
• Cross-promote loyalty with referral using tiered rewards to multiply advocacy.

Launch / Optimise Checklist

• Define loyalty KPI (repeat rate, AOV, LTV).
• Select an app and connect Klaviyo / Recharge.
• Configure rewards (points, tiers, or store credit).
• Embed widget on product, cart, and thank-you pages.
• Send onboarding email (steal our referral program template).
• Schedule reminder flow seven days post-delivery.
• Review dashboard weekly and iterate rewards.

Takeaways

• Shopify loyalty apps turn one-time buyers into lifelong fans.
• Pair loyalty with referrals for compounding growth and lower CAC.

Need more? Read our deep dive into the best Shopify referral apps for additional growth levers.