BON Loyalty Program & Rewards vs. Raveing: An In-Depth Comparison

Introduction

Short answer: BON Loyalty Program & Rewards provides a feature-rich environment suited for complex scaling and omnichannel operations, while Raveing offers a streamlined, automated approach focused on core loyalty mechanics for smaller storefronts. Selecting between them requires balancing the need for advanced features like B2B tiers against the desire for a simplified, low-maintenance setup, though merchants often find that a consolidated platform provides a clearer path to reducing technical overhead.

The pursuit of customer retention is a central pillar of modern e-commerce strategy. For Shopify store owners, this usually means choosing between various specialized applications to manage points, referrals, and VIP tiers. BON Loyalty Program & Rewards and Raveing represent two different points on the spectrum of loyalty management. BON Loyalty brings a deep catalog of features including headless commerce support and B2B specific rewards. In contrast, Raveing focuses on the essential workflows of point collection and tier upgrades with a focus on ease of use for niche markets.

This analysis explores the technical capabilities, pricing structures, and integration potential of both apps. By evaluating these tools through the lens of long-term scalability and operational efficiency, merchants can determine which solution aligns with their current growth stage and future retention goals.

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

The following table provides a high-level overview of the two applications based on their current market positioning and available technical data.

Deep Dive Comparison

A thorough comparison of these apps requires looking beyond the basic marketing descriptions and into the specific workflows that drive customer lifetime value. While both aim to foster brand loyalty, the methods they use and the operational demands they place on a merchant differ significantly.

Core Loyalty and Reward Mechanics

BON Loyalty Program & Rewards positions itself as a comprehensive retention platform. It includes the standard triad of loyalty: points, VIP tiers, and referrals. The points system is designed for rapid deployment, allowing merchants to launch a rewards program in minutes. The "Anti-Cheat" referral program is a notable inclusion, aiming to protect store margins from fraudulent account creation. This is particularly important for stores with high-value referral incentives where the risk of exploitation is higher.

The VIP tier system in BON Loyalty is structured to maximize lifetime value by offering accelerated rewards. Higher tiers can provide better point-earning ratios or exclusive discounts, which incentivizes customers to concentrate their spending. Furthermore, the inclusion of "Free Product" rewards and "Free Shipping" adds variety to the redemption options, moving beyond simple percentage-off coupons.

Raveing approaches loyalty with a focus on automation and simplification. The app revolves around collecting points with every purchase and unlocking higher tiers for exclusive rewards. The developer, Advocado, emphasizes a "seamless and powerful" solution that simplifies engagement. This suggests that the app is designed to run in the background with minimal manual intervention. Raveing offers a unique list of offers at each tier, which helps keep the program fresh for returning customers. For a niche merchant, this level of automation can be more valuable than a wide array of manual configuration options.

Customization and Brand Integration

The visual presentation of a loyalty program is critical for maintaining a professional brand image. BON Loyalty offers a tailored loyalty page and supports custom CSS on its higher-tier plans. This level of control is essential for brands that want the loyalty experience to feel like a native part of the storefront rather than a third-party add-on. The app also supports multi-language displays, which is a vital feature for merchants operating in international markets or regions with multiple official languages.

Raveing emphasizes "personalized rewards and incentives" and "customizable rewards." While the specific technical depth of its design editor is not detailed in the provided data, the focus is on a quick setup that builds loyalty instantly. This implies a more template-driven approach that prioritizes speed to market over deep aesthetic manipulation.

Technical Compatibility and Omnichannel Support

One of the most significant differentiators for BON Loyalty is its support for Shopify POS (Point of Sale). This allows merchants with both physical and digital storefronts to maintain a unified loyalty program. Customers can earn points in-store and redeem them online, or vice versa. This consistency is a major factor in modern retail success. Additionally, BON Loyalty provides "Hydrogen: Headless commerce" support and full API access in its Professional plan. This makes it a viable candidate for brands using modern, decoupled front-end architectures.

Raveing's integration data is currently not specified in the provided data. For a merchant, this creates a level of uncertainty regarding how well the app will communicate with other tools in their stack, such as email marketing platforms or helpdesk software. In the Shopify ecosystem, the ability of an app to work within the broader "Works With" framework is often just as important as the app's internal features.

B2B and Wholesale Functionality

BON Loyalty Program & Rewards includes specific features for B2B (Business to Business) loyalty. This is a rare find in entry-level loyalty apps. The "B2B Tier Program" allows wholesalers to offer exclusive tiered rewards to their business clients. Wholesale relationships are built on volume and reliability; by rewarding these high-value accounts with specialized tiers, merchants can protect their most important revenue streams.

Raveing does not explicitly mention B2B-specific features. Its target audience appears to be small to medium-sized businesses and niche markets, where the primary focus is on B2C (Business to Consumer) repeat sales. For a merchant who purely operates in the retail space, the lack of B2B features may not be a drawback, but for those with hybrid business models, BON Loyalty holds a clear advantage.

Pricing Structure and Value Realization

The pricing for BON Loyalty follows a tiered structure that accommodates various business sizes.

• FREE FOREVER: This plan provides the core essentials: points, referrals, and automated emails. It even includes "Points at checkout" for Shopify Plus merchants, which is a premium feature in many other apps.
• Basic ($25/month): This plan adds the loyalty page, multi-language support, and POS rewards. It also opens up unlimited integrations with tools like Klaviyo and Fera.
• Growth ($99/month): This is where the VIP Tiers and B2B features are introduced. It also includes "Order Booster" and 24/7 live chat support.
• Professional ($349/month): Targeted at enterprise-level stores, this plan includes the SDK, full API access, and custom development packages.

Raveing's pricing data is not specified in the provided data. This makes a direct value comparison difficult. When evaluating apps without public pricing, merchants must consider the potential for "stacked costs"—where the low initial price of an app is offset by the need to purchase additional tools to fill functional gaps.

Customer Support and Reliability Signals

Trust is a major factor when installing an app that handles customer data and financial rewards. BON Loyalty has a 5-star rating, though it is based on a single review. However, the developer offers 24/7 live chat support on its Growth plan and "Priority Support" on the Professional plan, suggesting a commitment to merchant success. The extensive list of integrations—including Judge.me, Klaviyo, and PageFly—indicates that the app is well-integrated into the Shopify partner ecosystem.

Raveing currently has 0 reviews and a 0 rating in the provided data. This suggests it is a newer entrant to the Shopify App Store. While being a new app can sometimes mean more modern code and innovative features, it also carries a higher risk regarding long-term stability and support responsiveness. Merchants choosing Raveing should be prepared for a more "pioneer" experience.

Strategic Considerations for Growth

When choosing between these two solutions, a merchant must look at their three-year growth plan rather than just their immediate needs. A loyalty program is not a "set it and forget it" tool; it is an evolving strategy that requires data and refinement.

Scalability and Technical Debt

A merchant starting on a free plan may eventually require more complex logic, such as points expiration reminders or custom reward actions. BON Loyalty’s clear progression from a free plan to a Professional plan with API access provides a roadmap for this growth. The ability to evaluating feature coverage across plans is an essential part of preventing technical debt—the cost of having to migrate to a new app later because the current one cannot scale.

Raveing's automated approach is excellent for maintaining a low operational burden. For a small team, the "automated rewards and tier upgrades" can save hours of manual management. However, if that team eventually needs to integrate their loyalty data with a complex tech stack, they may find the simplified nature of the app limiting.

The Role of Referrals and Trust

Referrals are one of the most cost-effective ways to acquire new customers. BON's "Anti-Cheat" referral program is a strategic asset for stores with tight margins. By ensuring that rewards are only given for genuine new customer acquisitions, the app protects the store's profitability.

Trust is further built through the integration of social proof. BON Loyalty works with several review apps like Fera and Judge.me. This allows merchants to reward customers for leaving reviews, creating a virtuous cycle where loyalty points drive social proof, and social proof drives new customer acquisition. Raveing also mentions enhancing customer experience through automated rewards, though the specific mechanics of review integration are not detailed.

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

As merchants grow, they often fall into the trap of "tool sprawl." This occurs when a store installs one app for loyalty, another for reviews, a third for wishlists, and a fourth for Instagram galleries. This fragmented approach leads to several significant challenges that can stifle growth.

The Hidden Costs of App Fatigue

Every additional app installed on a Shopify store brings its own set of JavaScript files, which can slow down page load times and negatively impact SEO. Furthermore, data becomes siloed. When the loyalty app doesn't talk to the review app, the merchant cannot easily reward a customer for their fifth product review. This lack of communication creates a disjointed experience for the customer and an administrative nightmare for the merchant.

Managing multiple subscriptions also leads to stacked costs. While individual apps may seem affordable, the total monthly bill can quickly escalate. More importantly, the time spent managing four different dashboards and four different support teams is time taken away from strategic marketing and product development.

More Growth, Less Stack: The Growave Philosophy

Growave offers a different path by providing an integrated suite of retention tools. Instead of managing a loyalty program in isolation, merchants can use a single platform that handles loyalty points and rewards designed to lift repeat purchases alongside reviews, wishlists, and referrals. This "More Growth, Less Stack" philosophy ensures that all retention data lives in one place, allowing for more sophisticated automation and a more consistent user experience.

By using an integrated platform, merchants can see real examples from brands improving retention by connecting their loyalty program directly to their social proof strategy. For example, a customer can earn points for sharing a product on social media or for reaching a certain spending threshold, and those same points can be highlighted on their personal wishlist page.

Streamlining the Customer Journey

An integrated approach allows for a more cohesive customer journey. When a buyer visits a product page, they see collecting and showcasing authentic customer reviews that build immediate trust. If they aren't ready to buy, they can add the item to a wishlist. Once they do purchase, the loyalty system automatically triggers, and the review automation that builds trust at purchase time prompts them to share their experience in exchange for points toward their next order.

This level of synergy is difficult to achieve with standalone apps like Raveing or BON Loyalty without extensive custom integration work. By verifying compatibility details in the official app listing, merchants can see how these various modules work in harmony to reduce friction throughout the funnel.

Strategic Advantages of a Unified Data Layer

When all retention activities—from VIP tiers to wishlists—are handled by one provider, the data becomes significantly more actionable. Merchants can identify their most loyal customers not just by their spend, but by their engagement: how many reviews they've written, how many items they've wishlisted, and how many friends they've referred.

This holistic view allows for the creation of VIP tiers and incentives for high-intent customers that are truly personalized. Instead of a generic discount, a merchant could offer a high-engagement customer early access to a new collection based on their wishlist history. If consolidating tools is a priority, start by comparing plan fit against retention goals.

Scaling Without Complexity

For stores that are moving toward a more mature operational model, the focus shifts from "how do I get this to work" to "how do I optimize this for performance." A consolidated stack reduces the number of API calls and scripts running on the storefront. It also simplifies the training process for new team members, as there is only one dashboard to learn.

Large-scale brands can look at customer stories that show how teams reduce app sprawl to understand the long-term benefits of this approach. These stories often highlight how moving away from a "franken-stack" of individual apps allowed the brand to focus more on creative strategy and less on technical troubleshooting.

Conclusion

For merchants choosing between BON Loyalty Program & Rewards and Raveing, the decision comes down to the required depth of features versus the desire for simplicity. BON Loyalty is a robust choice for merchants who need omnichannel support through Shopify POS, B2B-specific loyalty tiers, or advanced headless commerce capabilities. Its structured pricing plans provide a clear path for growth, though the complexity might be more than a very small merchant needs. Raveing, on the other hand, is a lightweight alternative that focuses on ease of use and automated workflows, making it a potential fit for niche stores that want to launch a loyalty program with minimal setup time.

However, as a store grows, the limitations of using single-function apps often become apparent. The challenges of managing multiple subscriptions, dealing with fragmented customer data, and maintaining storefront performance can eventually outweigh the benefits of individual specialized tools. Transitioning to an integrated platform allows merchants to maintain a lean tech stack while executing a sophisticated retention strategy.

By selecting a pricing structure that scales as order volume grows, businesses can ensure they have access to loyalty, reviews, and wishlist features without the overhead of multiple app installations. This integrated approach not only improves the customer experience by providing a consistent interface but also gives the merchant a 360-degree view of their customers’ behavior. This data-driven perspective is essential for identifying high-value segments and creating personalized marketing campaigns that drive sustainable growth.

Before making a final choice, it is helpful to spend time checking merchant feedback and app-store performance signals to see how other stores have navigated these same decisions. Ultimately, the best tool is the one that supports your current operations while leaving plenty of room for future expansion.

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

FAQ

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

Specialized apps often provide deep functionality for a single task, such as loyalty or reviews, which can be beneficial for stores with very specific, complex needs. However, an all-in-one platform offers better data integration, reduced JavaScript bloat on the storefront, and a unified dashboard for managing various retention activities. This often results in a lower total cost of ownership and a more consistent experience for the customer.

Is BON Loyalty Program & Rewards suitable for international stores?

Yes, BON Loyalty includes multi-language display features in its Basic plan and above. This allows merchants to translate their loyalty program elements to match the local languages of their customers, which is a critical factor for conversion in non-English speaking markets.

Can Raveing handle complex VIP structures?

Raveing is designed to automate tier upgrades and rewards, making it a good choice for merchants who want a hands-off approach. It offers unique lists of offers at each tier. However, for highly complex VIP structures that require deep B2B logic or extensive custom CSS, a more advanced platform may be required.

What is the advantage of having POS integration in a loyalty app?

POS integration allows for an omnichannel loyalty experience. It means a customer can earn points when buying something at a physical pop-up shop or brick-and-mortar store and then use those points to get a discount on the merchant's online Shopify store. This creates a seamless brand experience regardless of where the customer chooses to shop.

Why is an "Anti-Cheat" referral system important?

Referral programs are often targets for "self-referral" fraud, where a customer creates multiple accounts to gain rewards. An anti-cheat system uses various data points to detect and block these fraudulent actions, ensuring that the merchant's marketing budget is spent on acquiring genuine new customers rather than giving away margin to existing ones.