5 Best Joy Loyalty Alternatives for Shopify [2026]

If you run your loyalty program on Joy, you've probably hit at least one of these problems. Your Shopify Flow triggers stopped firing without warning. Your existing customers had to buy again before they earned any points. Or you need VIP tiers or POS, and that means moving up to the $129 plan.

We compared the top five Joy alternatives on pricing, features, and what each plan includes. You'll see where each app is strong, where it falls short, and what it costs as your store grows.

Short answer

• Love Loyalty is the best Joy alternative for most Shopify stores. It includes VIP tiers, paid memberships, and Klaviyo for $79/month on 2,000 orders. Joy charges $129 for the same 2,000 orders before VIP tiers, memberships, and POS are included.
• LoyaltyLion suits brands that want a rewards page built for them and an onboarding manager.
• Yotpo makes sense if you already use Yotpo Reviews.
• Growave replaces your reviews and wishlist apps too.
• Loyoly fits brands that want to reward UGC and reviews alongside purchases.

Where Joy Loyalty's pricing pushes you to upgrade

Joy's Essential plan costs $29/month for 500 orders, but VIP tiers, POS, paid memberships, and wallet passes all need its $129 Advanced plan. This table shows the cheapest plan that includes each feature, so you can see where each app's price jumps.

Joy's price jumps at VIP tiers, POS, paid memberships, and wallet passes, which all need Advanced at $129. Checkout extensions need its $499 Ultimate plan and Shopify Plus. LoyaltyLion and Yotpo both start at $199, and both put VIP tiers on custom pricing. Growave's $15 plan includes POS, but VIP tiers, points expiry, and a loyalty page all need its $199 plan. Loyoly includes VIP tiers on its £99 Lite plan, but product-page and checkout placements need Premium at £449.

Love Loyalty includes points expiry and product-page points at $12 and VIP tiers and paid memberships at $79. Klaviyo flows and Apple and Google Wallet passes come on that same $79 plan, $50 less than Joy charges for its wallet passes. Checkout extensions need Love Loyalty's $399 plan, which is $100 less than Joy's $499. LoyaltyLion and Yotpo include them at $199.

What merchants complain about on Joy Loyalty

The most common complaints center on broken automations, migration limits, and core features locked behind the $129 plan.

• Shopify Flow triggers stop firing with no alert, sometimes repeatedly. When earning rules or discount logic change on their own, stores can ship orders at the wrong discount before anyone notices.
• Joy's migration asks existing customers to buy again and sign up before they earn anything, so past purchases don't turn into points.
• VIP tiers, POS, and paid memberships all need the $129 Advanced plan, so a store that wants to segment its best customers or run in-store loyalty has to move up to it.

This is why Shopify merchants turn to Joy alternatives that hold up under daily use, migrate existing customers with their points, and include core loyalty features at lower prices.

What each customer loyalty app costs as you grow

Loyalty apps charge by monthly orders, so today's price isn't the price you'll pay after a good quarter. This table uses each app's cheapest plan that covers the volume, billed monthly.

How we calculated it:

• Love Loyalty Growth adds $15 per 100 past 2,000, so Plus at $399 becomes cheaper above 4,100 orders.
• Joy at 500 is Essential ($29). At 2,000, it's Advanced ($129), which is cheaper than Essential with $15 per 100 overage ($254).
• Joy at 5,000 is Advanced ($129) plus $10 per 100 over 2,000. At 10,000, it's Ultimate ($499 for 7,000 orders) plus $5 per 100 over 7,000. Joy moves to a custom plan above 17,000 orders and for Shopify Plus stores.
• LoyaltyLion at 2,000 is Classic from $199 plus its listed $10 per 100 overage. Higher tiers are custom quotes.
• Yotpo Pro adds $20 per 100 orders up to 1,000 ($299), then a flat $100 per extra 1,000. Yotpo aims its Enterprise plan at stores above 5,000 orders, so expect a custom quote at 10,000.
• Growave at 2,000 is Growth ($199) plus $15 per 100 over 1,500. At 5,000, it's Plus ($499) plus $10 per 100 over 3,000.
• Growave at 10,000 is its Unlimited plan ($999), which is cheaper than Plus with overage ($1,199).
• Loyoly is left out because it prices in pounds and doesn't publish prices above 500 orders.

Love Loyalty is the cheapest at 500, 2,000, 5,000, and 10,000 orders. At 2,000 orders, Joy costs $50 more than Love Loyalty for the same VIP tiers, memberships, and POS. At 10,000 orders, Joy costs $649, $250 more than Love Loyalty's unlimited plan.

What are the top Joy Loyalty alternatives in 2026?

Based on pricing, features, platform reliability, and customer support, here are the top 5 Joy alternatives for Shopify in 2026:

1. Love Loyalty

Best for: Enterprise Shopify Plus brands that want an all-in-one loyalty app with VIP tiers, paid memberships, referrals, POS integration, Klaviyo flows, Apple and Google Wallet passes, and B2B loyalty from $79/month for up to 2,000 orders, and unlimited orders for $399/month.

Rating: 5.0 (354 reviews) | Price: $12–$399/month | Free plan: Yes

Love Loyalty is the best Joy alternative for Shopify stores that want the same loyalty features Joy has at a lower price. It's built exclusively for stores that want points, VIP tiers, paid memberships, referrals, Apple/Google Wallet passes, Klaviyo flows, checkout extensions, on-demand development, and POS in one app, from $79/month instead of Joy's $129.

The Growth plan ($79 for 2,000 orders) adds VIP tiers, B2B programs, Apple and Google Wallet passes, and paid memberships. With memberships, you charge an annual fee for always-on perks like discounts and free shipping. The one-click membership upsell at checkout applies the member discount to that same order, which no other app on this list offers.

Key features

• Points program with 20+ placement options across your storefront
• Point redemption directly in the cart (fewer steps for customers)
• VIP tiers with exclusive perks
• Referral program for customer acquisition
• Paid memberships with a one-click upsell at checkout (benefits apply to the same order)
• Native Shopify POS integration (online and physical stores)
• Klaviyo flows (points balance and tier status in your emails)
• Apple and Google Wallet passes (points and tier on the customer's phone)
• Checkout extensions (loyalty inside Shopify checkout)
• API access (connect loyalty data to your own tools)
• On-demand development (custom features built for your store)
• Founder-led onboarding and performance audits
• Customer data stored in Shopify metafields (faster load times, better privacy)
• B2B loyalty programs (wholesale customers)
• Onboarding support, success management, and migration help at no extra cost

Pros

• 2,000 orders for $79/month and unlimited orders for $399/month
• $399/month plan includes checkout extensions, API access, founder-led onboarding, performance audits, and on-demand development
• Klaviyo flows and Apple and Google Wallet passes from $79/month
• Point redemption in the cart, with no pop-up widgets
• 20+ loyalty touchpoints
• Paid memberships alongside points and VIP tiers
• Data stored in Shopify metafields for speed and privacy
• Dedicated onboarding and success managers on all plans

Cons

• Shopify only
• Paid memberships carry a 1.8% transaction fee on Growth (0.8% on Plus)

Rubino, a Quebec footwear retailer with 28 stores, launched a $20/year membership on Love Loyalty with 10% off every order, free shipping, free 90-day returns, and a free 180-day warranty. About 90% of memberships sell in-store, so staff enroll customers through a POS widget and benefits apply right away. In 90 days, paid members drove about 30% of revenue and $630,000 in sales, and members spent about 3x more.

Love Loyalty pricing

2. LoyaltyLion

Best for: Brands that need deep CRM integrations and custom workflows

Rating: 4.6 (535 reviews) | Price: $199/month + custom quote | Free plan: No

LoyaltyLion is a loyalty platform built for brands that need deep CRM integrations and custom workflows. It's designed for brands that want a customizable loyalty page and automated loyalty emails.

Key features

• Customizable loyalty page embedded on your site
• Loyalty points to drive second purchases and enrollment
• Loyalty emails and notifications

Pros

• Customizable loyalty page integrated into your site
• Strong focus on preventing churn
• Automated loyalty emails and notifications
• Mature platform with an established user base

Cons

• $199/month for only 500 orders
• Custom pricing on higher tiers
• No referrals on the $199 entry tier
• VIP tiers and POS support require custom pricing
• No paid memberships on any plan

LoyaltyLion pricing

3. Yotpo Loyalty

Best for: Brands already running Yotpo Reviews

Rating: 4.7 (967 reviews) | Price: $199/month + custom quote | Free plan: No

Yotpo is a retention marketing platform that sells reviews, UGC, and loyalty as one bundle or separate subscriptions. It's designed for brands that want loyalty connected to the Yotpo reviews ecosystem.

Key features

• No-code loyalty program with VIP tiers and rewards
• Templated campaigns for repeat purchases
• Revenue and engagement dashboards
• Loyalty bundled with reviews and SMS

Pros

• Tight integration with the Yotpo reviews ecosystem
• Variety of campaign types
• Analytics for optimization
• Live chat support on the entry tier

Cons

• $199/month for only 500 orders
• No VIP tiers at the entry level
• $299/month for 1,000 orders at mid-tier, with no membership feature on any plan

Yotpo Loyalty pricing

4. Loyoly

Best for: Brands that want to reward UGC and reviews

Rating: 5.0 (117 reviews) | Price: £99–£449/month + custom quote | Free plan: Yes

Loyoly is a loyalty and referral platform that rewards customers for 40+ actions, including UGC and reviews. It's designed for brands that want customers earning points for content and engagement, beyond purchases.

Key features

• 40+ engagement missions
• VIP tiers on the entry plan
• Referral links by URL, email, SMS, and WhatsApp
• Store credit and cashback rewards
• Apple and Google Wallet card (add-on)

Pros

• VIP tiers from £99/month
• Dedicated account manager on Premium
• Live chat with replies in under three minutes

Cons

• Prices in pounds, excluding taxes
• £449/month for Premium at only 500 orders
• Only 2 integrations on the Lite plan
• No Shopify POS or paid memberships listed on its pricing page

Loyoly pricing

5. Growave

Best for: Stores that want reviews, wishlists, loyalty, and UGC in one app

Rating: 4.8 (1,291 reviews) | Price: $15–$999/month | Free plan: Yes

Growave is an all-in-one retention platform that bundles reviews, wishlists, loyalty, and UGC into a single subscription. It's designed for stores that want everything in one dashboard and don't mind paying for features they might not use.

Key features

• Reviews, wishlists, loyalty, and referrals in one platform
• Custom branding and headless experiences
• Live support, customer success, and account management
• Integrations with your Shopify apps

Pros

• Reviews, wishlists, loyalty, and UGC in one platform
• Full branding customization
• Wide integration ecosystem

Cons

• Less specialized in loyalty than dedicated platforms
• Learning curve from the range of features
• Paying for features you might not use if you only need loyalty
• Premium tier caps at 3,000 orders for $499/month

Growave pricing

When should you choose to stay on Joy Loyalty

Joy is still the right choice for some stores:

• Its $129 Advanced plan includes VIP tiers, B2B tiers, paid memberships, POS, and Apple and Google Wallet passes for 2,000 orders. That's less than LoyaltyLion, Yotpo, or Growave charge for the same features.
• Its free plan includes points, referrals, and the loyalty widget for up to 250 orders a month.
• Advanced includes a dedicated account manager, and every paid plan comes with a 30-day refund.

Switch when you need automations you can rely on, a migration that carries past purchases into points, or unlimited orders at a flat price, because Joy's $499 Ultimate plan caps at 7,000 orders and charges $5 per 100 above that.

How to migrate from Joy Loyalty

1. Export customer emails and point balances from Joy, and note your earning rules and reward values.
2. Install the new app with its widgets hidden, rebuild your rules, and import the balances.
3. Spot-check ten customers across both apps.
4. Re-assign VIP status by tag or segment if you use tiers.
5. Turn the new widgets on and uninstall Joy the same day, so no one earns points in two places.
6. Email customers to tell them their balances carried over.

Love Loyalty's team handles migrations at scale, and customers keep their points. Pet food brand Yoggies moved over 100,000 customers, with points and tier status preserved, and the system was ready in a few weeks. Agradi, a Dutch equestrian brand, migrated over a million customers.

Find the best Joy Loyalty alternative for your store

Here's the short version:

Love Loyalty is the best Joy alternative for most Shopify stores, but the right app depends on why you're leaving Joy.

• Running an enterprise brand on Shopify Plus? Go with Love Loyalty (VIP tiers, paid memberships, POS, and B2B from $79/month, and unlimited orders for $399/month).
• Need deep CRM integrations and custom workflows? LoyaltyLion is built for that.
• Already running Yotpo Reviews? Yotpo Loyalty keeps reviews and loyalty in one ecosystem.
• Want reviews, wishlists, loyalty, and UGC in one app? Growave bundles all four.
• Want to reward UGC and reviews? Loyoly has 40+ missions for it.
• Want the most loyalty features for the price? Love Loyalty starts at $12/month and adds VIP tiers, memberships, Klaviyo flows, and wallet passes at $79.

If you're moving off Joy, book a Love Loyalty demo and we'll walk through your migration.

Frequently asked questions

1. What is the best Joy Loyalty alternative in 2026?

The best Joy alternative in 2026 is Love Loyalty, because it includes VIP tiers, paid memberships, POS support, and referrals at $79/month, the same features Joy puts on its $129 Advanced plan.

2. Why do Shopify merchants look for Joy Loyalty alternatives?

Shopify merchants look for Joy alternatives because of Shopify Flow automations that stop firing without warning, a migration path that asks existing customers to buy again before earning points, and VIP tiers, POS, and memberships sitting on the $129 plan.

3. Is Love Loyalty or Joy better for growing Shopify stores?

Love Loyalty is better for growing Shopify stores. Joy charges $129/month for 2,000 orders to include VIP tiers, memberships, and POS, while Love Loyalty includes them at $79/month for the same 2,000 orders. At the top tier, Love Loyalty offers unlimited orders for $399/month, while Joy caps its $499/month plan at 7,000 orders and charges $5 per 100 orders beyond that.

4. Which Joy alternative is best for Shopify Plus brands?

The best Joy alternative for Shopify Plus brands is Love Loyalty. Its $399/month plan includes unlimited orders, checkout extensions, API access, founder-led onboarding, performance audits, and on-demand development. Joy puts checkout extensions on its $499 Ultimate plan and designs custom plans for Shopify Plus stores.

5. How much does Joy Loyalty cost?

Joy is free for 250 monthly orders. Essential costs $29/month for 500 orders. Advanced costs $129/month for 2,000 orders and includes VIP tiers, POS, and paid memberships. Ultimate costs $499/month for 7,000 orders with checkout extensions and API access, then $5 per 100 orders beyond that.

6. What is the cheapest Joy Loyalty alternative?

The cheapest Joy alternative is Love Loyalty, at $12/month for 500 orders with points, rewards, and a loyalty page included.

7. Which Joy alternative has paid memberships?

Love Loyalty has paid memberships, where customers pay a recurring fee for perks like discounts and free shipping. Its one-click upsell at checkout applies member benefits to the same order. Joy includes memberships on its $129/month Advanced plan.

8. Which Joy alternative includes Apple and Google Wallet passes and Klaviyo flows?

Love Loyalty includes both from $79/month. Apple and Google Wallet passes put a customer's points and tier on their phone, and Klaviyo flows let you use points balances and tier status in your emails.

9. Can I migrate my existing Joy loyalty program to another platform?

Yes, you can migrate your Joy loyalty program to Love Loyalty. Love Loyalty offers migration support to transfer customer point balances, tier statuses, and program history from Joy, with dedicated onboarding managers on all plans.