BON Loyalty Program & Rewards vs. Rijoy: AI Loyalty Rewards: A Strategic Comparison

Introduction

Choosing the right retention tools is a pivotal decision for any Shopify store aiming to stabilize revenue and reduce the high costs of customer acquisition. The difficulty often lies in finding a balance between automated ease of use and the granular control required to maintain a distinct brand identity. With many applications vying for attention, merchants must look beyond surface-level marketing to understand how these tools function within a live production environment.

Short answer: Choosing between BON Loyalty Program & Rewards and Rijoy: AI Loyalty Rewards depends on whether a store requires established B2B and POS features or a simplified, AI-centric approach to viral referrals. BON Loyalty offers a more developed feature set for complex operations, while Rijoy focuses on quick, automated loyalty journeys, though both contribute to the common goal of consolidating retention efforts to minimize technical debt.

This comparison provides an objective analysis of BON Loyalty Program & Rewards and Rijoy: AI Loyalty Rewards. By examining pricing, core functionality, and integration capabilities, this review aims to help merchants determine which solution aligns with their current operational scale and long-term growth objectives.

BON Loyalty Program & Rewards vs. Rijoy: AI Loyalty Rewards: At a Glance

The following table summarizes the foundational aspects of both applications to assist in a quick preliminary assessment.

Core Functionality and Loyalty Logic

The logic behind a loyalty program dictates how effectively it can shift customer behavior. A well-constructed program does not simply give away points; it creates a structured environment where engagement is consistently rewarded in a way that protects profit margins.

Earning and Redemption Mechanics

BON Loyalty Program & Rewards utilizes a traditional but highly flexible points system. Merchants can set up various earning rules, such as points for purchases, social media follows, or account creation. The inclusion of a "Free Product Reward" in its Basic plan allows brands to move specific inventory as an alternative to simple discount codes. This is a strategic way to maintain average order value while still providing tangible value to the customer.

Rijoy: AI Loyalty Rewards positions itself around AI-driven rules. While the specific nature of these AI algorithms is not detailed in the provided data, the intent is clearly to reduce the manual overhead of setting earning parameters. By focusing on "viral referral rewards," Rijoy targets the acquisition side of the loyalty equation, encouraging existing customers to act as brand advocates through automated incentives.

VIP Tiers and Customer Progression

Progression is a key psychological driver in customer retention. BON Loyalty incorporates VIP tiers that allow for accelerated point earning and exclusive rewards. This is particularly useful for identifying and nurturing high-value segments. The application also includes a B2B Tier Program, which is a specialized feature not commonly found in entry-level loyalty apps. This allows wholesale customers to have their own rewards structure, separate from retail shoppers.

Rijoy also offers VIP levels and exclusive perks, though the specific customization options for these levels are less defined in the current data. The focus appears to be on a "branded loyalty experience" that can be launched with one click, suggesting that the VIP journey is designed to be streamlined and perhaps less manual than traditional tier configurations.

Technical Integration and Ecosystem Compatibility

A loyalty app cannot exist in a vacuum. It must communicate with the rest of the tech stack to ensure a seamless customer experience and accurate data reporting.

Omnichannel and Headless Readiness

One of the significant differentiators for BON Loyalty is its support for Shopify POS and Headless commerce (Hydrogen). For brands that operate both online and in physical retail locations, the ability to sync points across channels is essential. If a customer earns points at a pop-up shop, they expect to see those points reflected in their online account immediately. BON's inclusion of a Software Development Toolkit (SDK) and full API access in its Professional plan signals its readiness for enterprise-level or custom-built storefronts.

Rijoy's integration data is currently limited to Shopify Checkout. While this ensures that the core redemption process is functional within the standard Shopify flow, it may not yet offer the broad ecosystem connectivity required by stores using complex tech stacks or those operating in a headless environment.

External App Integrations

BON Loyalty lists a wide array of integrations including:

• Klaviyo for email and SMS marketing.
• Review platforms like Judge.me, Fera, and LAI.
• Page builders like PageFly.
• Automation tools like Shopify Flow.

These integrations allow a merchant to trigger emails based on loyalty milestones or display loyalty points on custom landing pages. This creates a cohesive experience where the loyalty program feels like a native part of the store rather than a bolt-on widget.

Pricing Structure and Total Cost of Ownership

Financial sustainability is a major factor when selecting a long-term retention partner. The cost of an app must be weighed against the revenue it generates through repeat purchases.

BON Loyalty Pricing Tiers

The pricing for BON Loyalty is structured to scale with the merchant's needs:

• FREE FOREVER: Includes basic points, an anti-cheat referral program, and automated emails. This is a strong entry point for new stores.
• Basic ($25/month): Introduces the loyalty page, multi-language support, and POS rewards.
• Growth ($99/month): Adds VIP tiers, B2B programs, and 24/7 live chat support.
• Professional ($349/month): Aimed at larger operations requiring API access and custom development support.

This structure allows a brand to start for free and move to higher tiers only when the complexity of their program requires advanced features like B2B tiers or custom CSS.

Rijoy Pricing Considerations

The specific pricing plans for Rijoy are not specified in the provided data. For merchants, this creates a level of uncertainty regarding the total cost of ownership. While the "one-click setup" and AI features are attractive, the lack of transparent pricing makes it difficult to conduct a formal cost-benefit analysis compared to the clearly defined tiers of BON Loyalty.

User Experience and Customization

The visual consistency of a loyalty program is vital for brand trust. If the loyalty widget looks out of place, customers may be hesitant to interact with it.

Design Control

BON Loyalty offers "brand tailored loyalty pages" and allows for custom CSS in its Growth and Professional plans. This ensures that the loyalty interface matches the store's typography, colors, and overall aesthetic. The ability to exclude specific collections or products from rewards also provides merchants with the control needed to protect high-margin or limited-edition items.

Rijoy emphasizes a "branded loyalty experience" that requires no coding. This suggests a template-driven approach where the AI might handle much of the design logic. This is ideal for merchants who want a professional look without spending hours in a design editor, though it may offer less granular control for brands with very specific design requirements.

Language and Localization

For international brands, localization is not optional. BON Loyalty includes multi-language display in its Basic plan ($25/month). This allows the loyalty program to adapt to the customer's preferred language, which is essential for building loyalty in non-English speaking markets. Rijoy's data does not explicitly mention multi-language support, which is a factor to consider for global storefronts.

Reliability and Market Presence

When an app manages customer points and rewards, it is handling a form of currency. Reliability is paramount.

Review Patterns and Social Proof

BON Loyalty has a 5.0 rating, although this is based on a single review. While the rating is perfect, the low volume of reviews indicates that the app may be relatively new or that merchants are not frequently leaving feedback. However, the depth of its feature list (API access, POS, B2B) suggests a sophisticated development foundation.

Rijoy currently has 0 reviews and a 0.0 rating. This indicates that it is a very new entrant to the Shopify App Store. While being an early adopter of AI-driven technology can provide a competitive edge, it also comes with the risks associated with unproven software and a lack of community-vetted reliability.

Strategic Fit for Different Merchant Profiles

Choosing between these two apps often comes down to the merchant's technical requirements and business model.

When to Choose BON Loyalty Program & Rewards

This application is well-suited for:

• B2B Merchants: Those who need separate loyalty logic for wholesale and retail customers.
• Omnichannel Brands: Stores that use Shopify POS and want to unify their in-store and online rewards.
• Technical Teams: Developers who need API access and SDKs to build custom loyalty experiences or headless storefronts.
• International Stores: Brands requiring multi-language support to serve a global audience.

When to Choose Rijoy: AI Loyalty Rewards

This application is a potential fit for:

• Early-Stage Stores: Merchants who want a "set it and forget it" loyalty solution powered by AI.
• Growth-Focused Brands: Stores looking to leverage "viral referrals" as a primary acquisition channel.
• Non-Technical Founders: Those who prefer a no-code, one-click setup over granular manual configurations.

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

While specialized apps like BON and Rijoy provide valuable loyalty features, they also contribute to a growing problem in the Shopify ecosystem: tool sprawl. When a merchant installs a separate app for loyalty, another for reviews, another for wishlists, and another for social proof, the technical and operational overhead begins to stack. This "app fatigue" results in fragmented data, inconsistent user interfaces, and a slower website performance.

a pricing structure that scales as order volume grows is often a more sustainable strategy than paying for multiple individual subscriptions that do not communicate with each other. By centralizing these functions, merchants can ensure that a customer who leaves a review is immediately rewarded with loyalty points, or that a wishlist item triggers a personalized referral incentive. This integrated approach removes the silos between different retention tactics.

Growave addresses these challenges by offering a unified platform where loyalty, rewards, reviews, and wishlists live under one roof. This "More Growth, Less Stack" philosophy is about more than just saving money; it is about creating a cohesive customer journey. When loyalty programs that keep customers coming back are built into the same system as your reviews and social proof, the management overhead drops significantly.

For brands operating at scale, the technical benefits of consolidation are clear. Instead of managing five different scripts that might conflict with each other, the store runs a single, optimized platform. This is especially critical for those evaluating feature coverage across plans to find the best value for their investment. A unified platform also provides a single source of truth for customer data, making it easier to analyze which retention tactics are actually driving lifetime value.

Looking at real examples from brands improving retention, it becomes evident that the most successful stores prioritize a seamless user experience. A customer shouldn't have to navigate different layouts for their rewards dashboard and their wishlist. Centralization ensures that the design remains consistent across all touchpoints, which is vital for maintaining brand authority.

Furthermore, for high-growth merchants, having features aligned with enterprise retention requirements is essential. As a store moves into the Shopify Plus tier, the need for API access, custom reward actions, and dedicated success management increases. Using a platform that is already built for this level of complexity prevents the need for a painful migration later on.

Operational efficiency is the hidden engine of growth. By comparing plan fit against retention goals, merchants often find that an integrated solution provides a higher return on investment. It simplifies the training required for support teams and ensures that marketing efforts are not hampered by data discrepancies between apps.

Learning from practical retention playbooks from growing storefronts shows that the best results come from incentives that pair well with lifecycle email flows. When your loyalty data flows directly into your email and review systems without third-party connectors, you can execute more sophisticated automation with less effort.

Ultimately, choosing an approach that fits high-growth operational complexity means looking at the total impact on the business. If consolidating tools is a priority, start by choosing a plan built for long-term value.

Conclusion

For merchants choosing between BON Loyalty Program & Rewards and Rijoy: AI Loyalty Rewards, the decision comes down to the specific needs of the storefront. BON Loyalty stands out for its robust B2B capabilities, POS integration, and developer-friendly API access, making it a strong contender for established brands with multi-channel operations. Rijoy: AI Loyalty Rewards, while newer and with less public data, offers an intriguing AI-first approach designed for viral growth and ease of setup, which may appeal to stores looking for automation over manual control.

However, as a brand grows, the limitations of using separate, single-function apps often become apparent through increased costs and fragmented customer experiences. Moving toward a consolidated platform allows for a more synchronized retention strategy, where loyalty points, reviews, and wishlists work together to drive growth. This reduces the technical debt associated with managing multiple vendors and provides a cleaner, faster experience for the end user. Evaluating a clearer view of total retention-stack costs often reveals that an integrated solution is the most efficient path forward.

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

FAQ

Is BON Loyalty or Rijoy better for a store that sells both online and in-person?

Based on the provided data, BON Loyalty Program & Rewards is the better option for omnichannel merchants. It specifically lists integration with Shopify POS, allowing customers to earn and redeem rewards regardless of where they shop. Rijoy: AI Loyalty Rewards does not currently list POS support in its "Works With" section.

Which app is better for a B2B or wholesale Shopify store?

BON Loyalty is the clear choice for B2B operations as it includes a dedicated B2B Tier Program in its Growth plan. This allows merchants to create exclusive reward structures for wholesale clients, a feature that is not mentioned in the Rijoy: AI Loyalty Rewards data.

Can I customize the look of my loyalty program with these apps?

Yes, both apps offer customization, but in different ways. BON Loyalty allows for brand-tailored pages and offers custom CSS support for those on higher-tier plans. Rijoy focuses on a "no-code" branded experience, which is likely easier to set up but may offer less granular control over specific design elements.

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

An all-in-one platform combines several retention tools—such as loyalty, reviews, and wishlists—into a single interface. This compares favorably to specialized apps by reducing the number of scripts on your site, ensuring all customer data is synced in one place, and lowering the total monthly subscription costs. While specialized apps might offer a specific niche feature, an integrated platform provides a more consistent experience for the customer and less management work for the merchant. To ensure you are making an informed choice, consider checking merchant feedback and app-store performance signals before finalizing your retention stack.