BON Loyalty Program & Rewards vs. Frak: Choosing the Right Tool

Introduction

Selecting the right retention tools for a Shopify store is a decision that impacts long-term profitability and customer lifetime value. Merchants often find themselves choosing between specialized, lightweight applications and feature-rich platforms that handle multiple facets of the customer journey. The choice between BON Loyalty Program & Rewards and Frak highlights a significant divide in strategy: whether to implement a full-scale loyalty ecosystem or a targeted, performance-based referral engine.

Short answer: BON Loyalty Program & Rewards is a comprehensive retention suite focused on points, VIP tiers, and multi-channel loyalty, while Frak is a specialized referral tool that uses cash rewards to turn customers into advocates. For brands seeking traditional loyalty mechanics, BON provides depth, whereas Frak offers a low-risk, performance-driven approach for referral-heavy growth. Choosing a path depends on whether a merchant prioritizes a broad loyalty structure or a specific, high-incentive referral workflow, though integrated platforms often provide a more streamlined way to reduce operational overhead.

This analysis explores the specific features, pricing models, and operational considerations for both BON Loyalty Program & Rewards and Frak. By examining their strengths and limitations, merchants can determine which application aligns with their current growth stage, technical capacity, and customer engagement goals.

BON Loyalty Program & Rewards vs. Frak: At a Glance

Deep Dive Comparison: Core Features and Workflows

Understanding how each application functions at its core is essential for determining how it fits into a daily e-commerce operation. BON Loyalty Program & Rewards and Frak take fundamentally different approaches to customer engagement, which dictates the type of relationship a brand builds with its audience.

The Loyalty Ecosystem of BON Loyalty Program & Rewards

BON Loyalty Program & Rewards functions as a traditional yet modern loyalty engine. It allows merchants to create a structured environment where customers earn points for various actions, such as making purchases, following social media accounts, or celebrating birthdays. These points act as a form of digital currency that can be redeemed for discounts, free shipping, or specific products.

One of the defining aspects of this application is the inclusion of VIP tiers. By categorizing customers based on their spend or engagement levels, merchants can offer escalating rewards. This gamification strategy is designed to increase the repeat purchase rate by giving high-value customers a reason to stay loyal to a single brand. The application also supports B2B loyalty, which is a specialized requirement for wholesale-heavy stores. This allows for tiered rewards that cater specifically to business clients, a feature not commonly found in entry-level loyalty apps.

The workflow is integrated across the storefront. Points can be displayed on product pages, and the application supports points redemption at checkout for Shopify Plus merchants. This ensures that the loyalty program is visible throughout the entire buyer journey, rather than being hidden in a separate widget or page.

The Referral-First Approach of Frak

In contrast, Frak abandons the traditional points-based system in favor of a direct, cash-reward referral model. The goal of Frak is to transform customers into active advocates by providing tangible financial incentives for successful referrals. This is a narrower focus than BON, but it addresses a specific pain point: the high cost of customer acquisition.

The workflow within Frak is centered on a word-of-mouth sharing component. When a customer shares a product with their network, Frak tracks the activity and automates the distribution of cash rewards once a successful sale is made. This removes the friction associated with discount codes that may go unused or points that customers might find confusing.

Frak is designed for efficiency and transparency. It provides a real-time performance tracking dashboard that allows merchants to see exactly how their referral campaigns are performing. Because the system is automated, the administrative burden of verifying referrals and sending out rewards is significantly reduced. This makes it an attractive option for brands that want to grow through social proof without managing the complexities of a full loyalty program.

Customization and Control

The ability to brand a loyalty or referral program is vital for maintaining a consistent customer experience. Both applications offer customization, but the scope of that control varies.

Branding and UX in BON Loyalty Program

BON Loyalty Program & Rewards emphasizes a brand-tailored experience. It offers a dedicated loyalty page and allows for significant visual adjustments to ensure the program feels like a native part of the Shopify store. For merchants on higher-tier plans, custom CSS is available with developer support, providing almost total control over the appearance of the loyalty interface.

The application also supports multi-language displays. This is a critical feature for international brands that need to present their rewards program in the native language of their customers. By localizing the loyalty experience, merchants can build deeper trust with global audiences. The integration with PageFly Landing Page Builder further extends this customization, allowing merchants to build bespoke loyalty landing pages that match their marketing campaigns.

Campaign Customization in Frak

Frak focuses its customization efforts on the referral campaign itself. Merchants can tailor the goals and parameters of their referral programs, ensuring that the incentives align with their margins and growth targets. While it does not offer the same level of storefront UI customization as BON, it provides a "custom word-of-mouth sharing component" that can be adjusted to fit the brand's voice.

The primary control mechanism in Frak is the ability to set different cash reward levels for various campaigns. This allows merchants to experiment with different incentive structures to see what drives the highest conversion rates. Since the focus is on a specific action (a successful referral), the customization is more about the economics of the offer than the visual aesthetics of a rewards dashboard.

Pricing Structure and Value for Money

The financial investment required for these apps follows two distinct philosophies: a traditional tiered subscription model and a performance-based "success share" model.

BON Loyalty's Subscription Tiers

BON Loyalty Program & Rewards offers a four-tier pricing structure that scales with the needs of the business.

• Free Forever: This plan is accessible for new stores, offering basic points and rewards, an anti-cheat referral program, and automated emails. It even includes points at checkout for Shopify Plus users, which is a high-value inclusion for a free tier.
• Basic ($25/month): This tier adds the loyalty page, multi-language support, and POS rewards. It also allows for points expiration and reminders, which are essential for driving urgency and reducing the liability of unused points.
• Growth ($99/month): Aimed at scaling businesses, this plan unlocks VIP tiers, B2B tiers, and the "Order Booster" feature. It also provides 24/7 live chat support, which is vital for high-volume stores.
• Professional ($349/month): This is an enterprise-grade plan offering full API access, a software development toolkit, and Hydrogen support for headless commerce. It includes a custom package of development hours, making it suitable for complex, high-growth operations.

Frak's Performance-Based Model

Frak takes a completely different approach with its "Success Share" plan. There are no monthly subscription fees. Instead, merchants pay only for successful referrals. This "free to install" model significantly lowers the barrier to entry and reduces the risk for smaller brands.

The value proposition here is simple: if the app doesn't generate sales, the merchant doesn't pay. This aligns the app developer's incentives with the merchant's growth. The plan includes the full tracking and analytics dashboard, automated reward distribution, and customizable campaign setups. For brands with tight margins or those who are skeptical of recurring monthly software costs, Frak’s model offers a transparent and efficient way to manage a referral program.

Integrations and Technical Fit

The utility of a Shopify app is often defined by how well it "plays" with the rest of the tech stack.

BON Loyalty's Extensive Integration List

BON Loyalty Program & Rewards is built to be a central node in a merchant's marketing stack. It integrates with a wide variety of tools, including:

• Marketing Automation: Klaviyo integration allows loyalty data to be used in email and SMS flows, enabling highly targeted retention campaigns.
• Product Reviews: It works with Fera, LAI, and Judge.me, allowing merchants to reward customers for leaving reviews.
• Storefront Tools: Support for Shopify Flow, PageFly, and Hydrogen (headless) ensures that the loyalty program can be automated and deployed across modern commerce architectures.
• Omnichannel: The Shopify POS integration allows for a seamless experience where customers can earn and redeem rewards whether they are shopping online or in a physical store.

Frak's Specialized Compatibility

Frak has a much narrower integration profile, listed as working primarily with Shopify Checkout. This is consistent with its focused nature. Because it deals with cash rewards and referral tracking, its primary touchpoint is the completion of a sale. While it lacks the broad ecosystem of BON, its simplicity ensures that it does not introduce unnecessary technical debt or conflict with other complex marketing apps. However, merchants who rely heavily on specific email marketing platforms may find the lack of direct integrations (not specified in the provided data) a limitation for advanced automation.

Performance, Reliability, and Support

When choosing an app, merchant feedback and support quality are significant indicators of long-term success.

BON Loyalty Program & Rewards currently shows a 5-star rating based on one review. While the sample size is small, the description emphasizes a 24/7 support team and priority support for Professional plan users. The presence of live chat on the Growth plan suggests a commitment to quick problem resolution. The breadth of its features, from API access to multi-language support, indicates a mature development roadmap designed to support stores as they grow from basic setups to enterprise-level complexity.

Frak currently has zero reviews and a zero rating in the provided data. This suggests it may be a newer entry to the Shopify App Store or a more niche solution. Its "no technical hassle" promise and automated distribution system are designed to minimize the need for manual support. However, for merchants who prefer highly vetted tools with a long history of public feedback, Frak represents a newer, perhaps less tested path.

The operational overhead also differs. BON Loyalty requires more strategic management—setting up points values, designing tiers, and managing integrations. Frak is more "set it and forget it," as the success-based model and automated rewards require less ongoing maintenance.

The Alternative: Solving App Fatigue with an All-in-One Platform

As merchants scale, they often encounter the phenomenon known as "app fatigue." This occurs when a store becomes a patchwork of various single-function applications—one for loyalty, one for reviews, one for wishlists, and another for referrals. While apps like BON and Frak provide excellent specific value, managing them separately can lead to tool sprawl, where data remains siloed and the customer experience feels fragmented. This complexity often increases the total cost of ownership as merchants pay multiple subscription fees and spend more time managing different interfaces and support channels.

The concept of "More Growth, Less Stack" addresses this by consolidating these essential retention tools into a single, integrated platform. When loyalty programs, referral engines, and review systems work together under one roof, the data flows seamlessly. For instance, a customer’s review can automatically trigger loyalty points, or a wishlist item can be used to send a personalized referral incentive. This integrated approach reduces the technical burden on the merchant while providing a more consistent and polished experience for the shopper.

If consolidating tools is a priority, start by a pricing structure that scales as order volume grows. Moving away from a fragmented stack allows brands to focus on strategy rather than software maintenance. Using loyalty points and rewards designed to lift repeat purchases alongside review automation creates a powerful feedback loop. Merchants can find real examples from brands improving retention by simplifying their technology and focusing on core customer outcomes.

Choosing an integrated platform like Growave allows for a unified view of customer behavior. Instead of checking Frak for referral data and BON for loyalty points, everything is housed in one dashboard. This leads to collecting and showcasing authentic customer reviews that are directly tied to the loyalty profiles of the shoppers. By comparing plan fit against retention goals, merchants can often find that a single platform offers VIP tiers and incentives for high-intent customers at a lower total overhead than multiple standalone apps.

The strategic advantage of this consolidation is most apparent during peak shopping seasons. When a merchant needs to launch a site-wide promotion, they only have to update one system. This ensures that loyalty points, referral bonuses, and review requests all align with the current marketing message. Learning from customer stories that show how teams reduce app sprawl can provide a roadmap for merchants feeling overwhelmed by their current Shopify admin. Ultimately, review automation that builds trust at purchase time works best when it is part of a broader retention strategy that rewards every stage of the customer lifecycle.

Conclusion

For merchants choosing between BON Loyalty Program & Rewards and Frak, the decision comes down to the scope of the retention strategy and the preferred incentive model. BON Loyalty Program & Rewards is best for brands that want to build a deep, points-based loyalty culture with VIP tiers, international support, and multi-channel integration. It is a tool for those who view loyalty as a central pillar of their brand identity. Frak, on the other hand, is an ideal choice for merchants who want a focused, low-risk way to drive growth through referrals, using cash rewards and a performance-based pricing model to minimize upfront costs.

However, as a store grows, the challenges of managing separate apps for loyalty and referrals often become a bottleneck. Strategic growth requires a shift from managing tools to managing relationships. Transitioning to an all-in-one platform can eliminate data silos and provide a more cohesive experience for the customer. By evaluating feature coverage across plans, merchants can often find a path that simplifies their operations while maximizing their retention potential. This integrated approach ensures that every customer interaction—whether a referral, a review, or a repeat purchase—is tracked and rewarded in a unified system.

To reduce app fatigue and run retention from one place, start by reviewing the Shopify App Store listing merchants install from.

FAQ

Which app is better for a small budget?

Frak offers a lower entry risk because it has no monthly subscription fee and operates on a "pay only for success" basis. However, BON Loyalty Program & Rewards provides a robust Free Forever plan that includes basic points and referral features, making it a strong contender for those who want a traditional loyalty program without immediate costs.

Can I use both BON Loyalty and Frak at the same time?

Technically, yes, as they serve different primary functions. However, running two separate reward systems (points vs. cash) might confuse customers. It is generally more effective to choose one primary reward philosophy—either a comprehensive points-based system or a direct cash-referral system—to keep the customer experience clear.

Does BON Loyalty support physical stores?

Yes, BON Loyalty Program & Rewards integrates with Shopify POS. This allows customers to earn and redeem points during in-person transactions, ensuring that your loyalty program remains consistent across both online and brick-and-mortar channels.

How does an all-in-one platform compare to specialized apps?

An all-in-one platform reduces the need to manage multiple subscriptions and different customer dashboards. While specialized apps like Frak or BON focus deeply on one or two areas, an integrated platform like Growave combines loyalty, reviews, referrals, and wishlists. This consolidation leads to better data synchronization, a more consistent storefront design, and lower technical overhead for the merchant.