BON Loyalty Program & Rewards vs. Markivo Loyalty & Rewards: A Comparison

Introduction

Selecting the right loyalty application for a Shopify storefront involves more than just comparing feature lists. It requires a strategic understanding of how a loyalty program integrates with the broader customer journey, the technical requirements of the store’s theme, and the long-term scalability of the pricing model. Merchants often find themselves caught between specialized applications that promise deep functionality in one area but may contribute to a fragmented technology stack. This comparison examines two specific solutions: BON Loyalty Program & Rewards and Markivo Loyalty & Rewards, evaluating their capacity to drive repeat purchases and foster brand advocacy.

Short answer: BON Loyalty Program & Rewards is a robust choice for merchants requiring advanced technical flexibility, such as B2B functionalities and Headless commerce support, while Markivo Loyalty & Rewards offers a budget-conscious entry point for newer stores. Both apps focus on core loyalty mechanics like points and referrals, yet the choice between them often depends on the complexity of the merchant's operational needs and their preference for an integrated or specialized retention strategy.

The purpose of this analysis is to provide a neutral, data-driven breakdown of these two loyalty tools. By exploring their feature sets, pricing tiers, and integration capabilities, merchants can determine which application aligns with their specific growth stage. Furthermore, this post will discuss the broader implications of "app sprawl" and how transitioning toward a more consolidated retention platform can streamline operations.

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

The following table provides a high-level overview of how these two loyalty solutions compare based on their available data and core focuses.

Deep Dive Comparison

To understand which app fits a specific business model, it is necessary to look beyond the surface level of points and rewards. The effectiveness of a loyalty program is often found in the nuances of its execution, such as how it handles customer segments, how it presents itself on the storefront, and how it communicates with the rest of the marketing stack.

Core Loyalty and Reward Mechanics

Both applications provide the foundational elements of a modern loyalty program: points for purchases, referral incentives, and basic redemption options. These mechanics are designed to lower the barrier to the second purchase, which is often the most difficult milestone in the customer lifecycle.

BON Loyalty Program & Rewards emphasizes an "Effless Setup" while maintaining a high degree of depth. Its points system includes standard "money off" and "percentage off" rewards, but it also extends into "free shipping" and "free product" rewards. A significant advantage for BON is its anti-cheat referral program, which is essential for protecting a store's margins from fraudulent self-referrals. This system ensures that the rewards being distributed are actually driving new, incremental revenue rather than being exploited.

Markivo Loyalty & Rewards markets itself as a cost-effective solution with over ten point-earning options. While the specifics of all ten options are not fully detailed in the provided data, the app covers the essentials: basic points earning, redemption ways, and a referral reward program. Markivo focuses on increasing customer interaction through a "powerful points rule," suggesting that merchants have some flexibility in how they define the value of a point. However, the lack of an explicit "anti-cheat" mention in the description may be a consideration for merchants who plan on running aggressive referral campaigns.

VIP Tiers and Customer Segmentation

VIP tiers are the primary driver of customer lifetime value (LTV). They transform a simple transactional relationship into an aspirational one, where customers are incentivized to spend more to reach a higher "status."

The VIP Tier program in BON Loyalty is designed for acceleration. Customers in higher tiers can earn points at a faster rate, creating a compounding effect on their loyalty. A standout feature for BON is the inclusion of a "B2B Tier Program." This is particularly relevant for Shopify Plus merchants who operate wholesale channels. Wholesale customers have vastly different buying behaviors than B2C customers, and BON allows for exclusive tiered rewards tailored to these high-volume buyers.

Markivo also offers a VIP tier system, starting at their "Essential" plan. This includes a "Launcher and pane" for customers to interact with their status. At the "Plus" plan level, Markivo adds "VIP card advanced decoration," which helps merchants customize the aesthetic of the loyalty experience. While Markivo provides the structure for tiers, it appears to focus more on the visual representation and basic privilege levels rather than the complex B2B logic found in BON.

Customization and Control

A loyalty program should feel like a natural extension of the brand, not a third-party add-on. Customization allows merchants to maintain a cohesive brand identity, which is critical for building trust.

BON Loyalty provides extensive customization options, especially as a merchant moves into the higher-tier plans. They offer a brand-tailored loyalty page and the ability to unlock custom CSS with developer support. For stores running on "Headless" architecture (Hydrogen), BON provides a Software Development Toolkit (SDK) and full API access. This level of control is vital for enterprise-level stores where the loyalty experience must be deeply embedded into a custom-built frontend.

Markivo emphasizes a customizable loyalty widget to help a brand "stand out." They offer "advanced customization options" to strengthen brand identity, though the specific technical limits (such as CSS or API access) are less detailed than BON’s. Markivo’s focus seems to be on the widget and "VIP card" decoration, which is often sufficient for standard Shopify themes but may lack the depth required for highly bespoke storefronts.

Pricing Structure and Value for Money

Pricing is often the deciding factor for smaller merchants, while larger merchants focus on the return on investment (ROI) relative to the feature set.

BON Loyalty Program & Rewards offers a wide range of plans:

• FREE FOREVER: Includes points, anti-cheat referrals, and automated emails. It even includes points at checkout for Shopify Plus users, which is a high-value feature often gated behind expensive plans in other apps.
• Basic ($25/mo): Adds multi-language display, POS rewards, and points expiration reminders.
• Growth ($99/mo): Unlocks VIP tiers, B2B tiers, and custom CSS support.
• Professional ($349/mo): Targeted at enterprise users, offering full API access, Hydrogen support, and custom development packages.

Markivo Loyalty & Rewards focuses on affordability:

• Free: Basic points and referral mechanics.
• Essential ($19.90/mo): Adds VIP tiers and points expiration.
• Plus ($59.90/mo): Includes Klaviyo integration and advanced VIP decoration.
• Enterprise ($199.90/mo): Offers unlimited orders and priority support.

When comparing value, Markivo is significantly less expensive at the top end ($199.90 vs $349). However, BON’s $349 plan includes custom development packages and API access that justified the higher cost for complex businesses. For a mid-market merchant, BON’s $99 plan is more expensive than Markivo’s $59.90 plan, but the addition of B2B tiers and Hydrogen support provides a different type of value.

Integrations and Technical Fit

The utility of a loyalty app is limited by how well it "talks" to other tools in the marketing stack.

BON Loyalty has a substantial list of integrations. It works with Shopify POS, Shopify Flow, and several review apps like Judge.me, Fera, and LAI. Most importantly, it integrates with Klaviyo for email and SMS marketing. This allows merchants to send loyalty-related data (like point balances) to their email platform for personalized campaigns. Its support for "Headless - Hydrogen" and PageFly also makes it a strong contender for stores with complex layouts.

Markivo’s integration list is more focused. The provided data explicitly mentions Klaviyo and Judge.me. While these are the two most critical integrations for many Shopify stores, BON’s broader compatibility with page builders and various review platforms suggests a more flexible ecosystem for merchants who use a diverse set of tools.

Support and Reliability Signals

Trust is a major factor when choosing an app that handles customer data and financial rewards.

BON Loyalty has a 5.0 rating, although this is currently based on only 1 review. The developer emphasizes 24/7 live chat support in their "Growth" plan and priority support in the "Professional" tier. The mention of "Software Development Toolkit" and "Custom Packages" indicates a developer team that is prepared to work closely with larger merchants.

Markivo Loyalty & Rewards currently has 0 reviews and a 0.0 rating. While this may simply indicate a newer app on the market, it means merchants must rely on their own testing rather than the collective experience of the Shopify community. Markivo does offer priority customer support at its "Enterprise" level, but the lack of historical performance data is a point for merchants to consider during their evaluation.

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

While specialized loyalty apps like BON and Markivo offer specific advantages, they also contribute to a common challenge known as "app fatigue" or tool sprawl. For many merchants, the process of scaling a store involves adding a separate app for loyalty, another for reviews, another for wishlists, and another for referrals. This fragmented approach often leads to several operational hurdles.

First, tool sprawl creates data silos. When your loyalty data lives in one app and your customer reviews live in another, it becomes difficult to create a unified view of customer behavior. For example, rewarding a customer for leaving a review requires a manual or complex integration between two different platforms. This fragmentation often results in an inconsistent customer experience, where the branding of the loyalty widget might not perfectly match the design of the review section.

Second, there is the issue of technical overhead. Every app installed on a Shopify store adds scripts to the frontend, which can impact site speed and performance. Managing multiple subscriptions also complicates the monthly budget, as "stacked" costs can quickly exceed the price of a single, integrated solution. This is where the "More Growth, Less Stack" philosophy becomes a strategic advantage. By moving away from a collection of single-purpose apps, merchants can find a pricing structure that scales as order volume grows while keeping their technology stack lean.

Integrated platforms solve these problems by housing multiple retention tools under one roof. Instead of managing five different dashboards, a merchant can oversee loyalty points and rewards designed to lift repeat purchases alongside their social proof and wishlist strategies. This integration allows for more sophisticated automation. For instance, a merchant can easily set up a workflow where a high-intent customer is invited to join a VIP tier immediately after leaving a positive photo review.

When looking at real examples from brands improving retention, a common theme is the desire to simplify the backend. Reducing the number of vendors doesn't just save money; it saves time. Marketing teams can spend less time troubleshooting integration errors and more time crafting campaigns that resonate with their audience. This efficiency is especially critical for those comparing plan fit against retention goals, as an all-in-one platform often provides more comprehensive features at a lower total cost of ownership.

The shift toward consolidation is not just about convenience; it is about creating a better environment for the customer. When VIP tiers and incentives for high-intent customers are natively linked to other engagement tools, the customer journey feels seamless. They aren't jumping between different widgets; they are interacting with a single, cohesive brand ecosystem. This level of professional execution is often what separates growing storefronts from established market leaders.

By checking merchant feedback and app-store performance signals, it becomes clear that many successful stores prioritize apps that offer multiple functionalities. The ability to manage collecting and showcasing authentic customer reviews within the same environment as a referral program reduces the mental load on the merchant. Ultimately, the goal is to build a "retention engine" where every part of the machine works in harmony.

Brands that are currently struggling with a slow site or a messy backend should consider customer stories that show how teams reduce app sprawl. These narratives often highlight how switching to an integrated suite allowed them to seeing how the app is positioned for Shopify stores that value performance and ease of use. If the goal is to drive sustainable growth, reducing the complexity of the "stack" is often the most effective first step.

Furthermore, review automation that builds trust at purchase time becomes much more effective when it is part of a broader loyalty strategy. When a customer knows their review will earn them points toward their next purchase, the participation rate naturally increases. This virtuous cycle of engagement is much easier to maintain when the tools are designed to work together from the start, providing a clearer view of total retention-stack costs and a more predictable growth trajectory.

Conclusion

For merchants choosing between BON Loyalty Program & Rewards and Markivo Loyalty & Rewards, the decision comes down to the specific technical needs and the current stage of the business. BON Loyalty Program & Rewards is highly suited for merchants who require advanced features like B2B loyalty tiers, custom CSS, and support for Headless Shopify builds. Its higher price point for professional features is balanced by the depth of control it offers to sophisticated teams. On the other hand, Markivo Loyalty & Rewards provides an accessible, low-cost path for new merchants to launch a standard loyalty and referral program without a significant upfront investment.

However, while both apps provide excellent specialized services, merchants should consider whether adding another single-purpose app is the best long-term move for their store. The complexity of managing separate apps for loyalty, reviews, and wishlists often creates more work than it solves. Transitioning to an integrated platform allows brands to focus on real examples from brands improving retention rather than managing multiple subscriptions and data silos.

Choosing an integrated approach can significantly reduce the technical burden on your store while providing a more unified experience for your customers. 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 Shopify Plus store?

BON Loyalty Program & Rewards is generally better suited for Shopify Plus stores because it offers specific features like points at checkout, B2B tier programs, and full API access for Headless commerce. These features are essential for the complex requirements typically found in enterprise-level storefronts.

Can I migrate my data from one loyalty app to another?

Yes, most loyalty apps, including BON and Markivo, allow for the import and export of customer point balances and referral data via CSV files. When moving between apps, it is important to ensure that the data format matches the new app's requirements to prevent any loss of customer progress.

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

An all-in-one platform reduces "app sprawl" by combining several tools, such as loyalty, reviews, and wishlists, into a single interface. While specialized apps may sometimes offer a specific niche feature, an integrated platform provides better data synchronization, consistent branding across all widgets, and usually a lower total cost of ownership than paying for four or five separate subscriptions.

Is a free loyalty plan enough for a new store?

For many new stores, a free plan from either BON or Markivo is a great way to start building a customer list. However, free plans often lack critical features like automated email reminders for expiring points or advanced customization. As soon as a store starts seeing regular repeat customers, moving to a paid tier is usually necessary to fully optimize the retention strategy.