Loyalty Software Comparison Guide: How to Choose the Right Platform

If you're comparing loyalty software, you've probably opened 15 browser tabs, created a spreadsheet with feature comparisons, and still feel unsure which platform is actually right for your business.

That's because most comparison guides don't help you make decisions. They list features in overwhelming detail, compare pricing that's intentionally confusing, and leave you with more questions than answers.

Here's what you actually need: a framework for evaluating loyalty software based on what matters for your specific business, not an exhaustive list of every feature that might theoretically exist.

This guide gives you that framework. It explains what to evaluate (and what to ignore), how to match platforms to your business type, which questions reveal the truth about pricing and complexity, and how to make a confident decision without drowning in feature lists.

By the end, you'll know exactly how to compare loyalty platforms systematically, how to identify red flags quickly, and which solution fits your business reality.

Why Most Loyalty Software Comparisons Are Useless

Let's start by understanding why traditional comparison guides fail.

Problem 1: Feature Lists Without Context

Most comparisons look like this:

What's missing: Whether you actually need these features. Whether "Advanced analytics" means anything useful. What "3 tiers" costs versus "Unlimited tiers."

Result: You're comparing things that might be irrelevant to your business while missing things that actually matter.

Problem 2: Pricing That Hides Real Costs

Comparison guides show:

• Platform A: £25/month

• Platform B: £40/month

• Platform C: £15/month

What they don't show:

• Platform A charges £0.08 per transaction (adds £80/month for 1,000 transactions)

• Platform B requires £200 setup fee

• Platform C locks essential features in £80/month tier

Result: You think you're comparing £15 vs £25 vs £40. You're actually comparing £95 vs £240 vs £80.

Problem 3: No Business-Type Matching

Generic comparisons treat all businesses identically:

• Cafés need different features than salons

• Service businesses work differently than retail

• Single-location businesses have different needs than chains

Result: You're evaluating features designed for businesses unlike yours while ignoring features critical to your type.

Problem 4: No Decision Framework

Most guides end with: "Here are 10 options. Good luck choosing!"

What you need: Clear decision criteria that eliminate 80% of options quickly so you can deeply evaluate the 20% that actually fit.

The Right Way to Compare Loyalty Software

Here's a systematic framework that works.

Stage 1: Eliminate Mismatches (5 Minutes)

Before comparing features, eliminate platforms that fundamentally don't fit:

Question 1: Does this work with my customer base?

If your customers are local, in-person shoppers:

• ✓ Wallet-based platforms (Apple Wallet + Google Wallet)

• ✓ QR code-based systems

• ✗ App-based platforms (adoption will be 5–15%)

• ✗ E-commerce-only platforms

If your customers are primarily online:

• ✓ Web-based loyalty

• ✓ E-commerce integrations

• ✗ In-store-only systems

Question 2: Does this match my budget reality?

If you're a single-location SMB:

• ✓ £15–£60/month platforms

• ✗ £100+/month enterprise platforms

• ✗ Platforms with per-transaction fees

• ✗ Custom development (£5,000–£20,000)

If you're a multi-location chain:

• ✓ Platforms with multi-location management

• ✓ Higher-tier plans with consolidated reporting

• Consider: Whether cost scales per location or stays flat

Question 3: Does this match my team size?

If you have 1–5 staff:

• ✓ Simple, intuitive platforms (5-minute training)

• ✗ Complex systems requiring extensive training

• ✗ Platforms needing dedicated administrators

If you have 10+ staff:

• ✓ Platforms with staff accounts/permissions

• ✓ Centralized management dashboards

• Consider: Training scalability

This stage should eliminate 60–70% of options in 5 minutes.

Stage 2: Evaluate Core Mechanics (15 Minutes)

Now compare how the remaining platforms actually work.

Comparison Point 1: Customer Enrollment Method

Wallet-based (Best for most physical businesses):

• Customer scans QR code

• One tap adds card to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet

• 5-second process, no download

• Adoption rate: 60–80%

App-based (Rarely works for SMBs):

• Customer downloads standalone app

• Account creation, permissions

• 2–3 minute process

• Adoption rate: 5–15%

Web-based (Middle ground):

• Customer clicks link, bookmarks page

• Requires login each time

• Adoption rate: 20–40%

Phone number tracking (Manual fallback):

• Customer provides phone number

• Staff look up account manually

• No customer-facing visibility

• Adoption rate: 100% (if staff ask consistently)

Decision criteria: For physical businesses (cafés, salons, shops), wallet-based wins. For online businesses, web-based works. Apps rarely justify their costs for SMBs.

Comparison Point 2: Reward Structure Options

Visit-based (Best for service businesses):

• 1 visit = 1 stamp

• Example: "Get 9 haircuts, 10th free"

• Simple, transparent, fair

Spend-based (Best for retail):

• £1 spent = 1 point

• Example: "100 points = £5 off"

• Rewards bigger spenders

Hybrid:

• Combines visits + spending

• Example: "1 stamp per visit + bonus points for purchases over £20"

• More complex but flexible

Decision criteria: Service businesses (barbers, salons, clinics) should prioritize visit-based. Retail businesses with variable transaction values should prioritize spend-based. Most SMBs benefit from simplicity (pick one method).

Comparison Point 3: Communication Channels

Push notifications (Most effective):

• Messages appear on lock screen

• Sent via Apple Wallet or Google Wallet

• Should be unlimited and included in subscription

• Open rate: 40–60%

SMS (Expensive but universal):

• Works for any phone

• Costs 7–10p per message in UK

• Open rate: 90%+ but cost-prohibitive for regular use

Email (Low engagement):

• Works universally

• Often ends up in spam or ignored

• Open rate: 15–25%

Decision criteria: Platforms offering unlimited free push notifications (via wallets) provide the best value. SMS should be optional for edge cases, not the primary channel. Email is fine as a supplement.

Stage 3: Evaluate Business Model & Pricing (10 Minutes)

Now dig into what you'll actually pay.

Pricing Model Comparison

Flat monthly fee (Best for SMBs):

• Example: £30/month

• Unlimited customers, scans, notifications

• Predictable costs

• Best for: Single-location businesses wanting cost certainty

Per-transaction fee:

• Example: £10/month + £0.08 per scan

• Costs scale with usage

• Unpredictable budgeting

• Best for: Almost no one (benefits vendor, not you)

Per-customer fee:

• Example: £0.30 per loyalty member per month

• Costs increase as program grows

• Penalizes success

• Best for: Very large businesses with stable customer counts

Tiered feature access:

• Example: Basic £20/month, Pro £60/month, Enterprise £150/month

• Features locked behind tiers

• Must evaluate which tier you actually need

• Best for: Businesses with specific feature requirements

Decision criteria: Flat monthly pricing protects SMBs from unpredictable costs. Per-transaction and per-customer models penalize growth and success.

Hidden Cost Checklist

Ask these questions explicitly:

Setup & onboarding:

• ✓ "Is setup included or is there a fee?"

• ✓ "Can I set it up myself or do I need professional services?"

Transaction fees:

• ✓ "Do you charge per scan, per customer, or per transaction?"

• ✓ "Are there limits on number of scans before extra fees apply?"

Communication costs:

• ✓ "Are push notifications included or charged separately?"

• ✓ "What about SMS? Email?"

Feature gates:

• ✓ "Which tier includes push notifications, analytics, and automations?"

• ✓ "What features are locked in higher tiers?"

Support costs:

• ✓ "Is support included or do I pay extra for phone/chat access?"

• ✓ "What are your response times?"

Scaling costs:

• ✓ "If I go from 100 to 1,000 customers, how does my price change?"

• ✓ "Are there any caps or limits that trigger price increases?"

Example comparison:

Platform A:

• Advertised: £25/month

• Reality: £25/month + £0.05/scan + £0.02/notification

• Actual cost (1,000 scans, 800 notifications/month): £25 + £50 + £16 = £91/month

Platform B (Perkstar):

• Advertised: £30/month

• Reality: £30/month (unlimited scans, notifications)

• Actual cost: £30/month

Platform A looks cheaper (£25 vs £30) but costs 3x more in practice (£91 vs £30).

Stage 4: Evaluate Usability & Support (During Trial)

Numbers and features don't tell the whole story. Test these during free trials:

Staff Usability Test

Give the scanner app to your least technical staff member:

• Can they scan a loyalty card successfully within 2 minutes?

• Do they need help or is it intuitive?

• Does it work reliably or glitch?

If staff can't operate it independently, it's too complex for your business.

Customer Experience Test

Test the enrollment process yourself:

• Time how long it takes from seeing the QR code to having an active card

• Is it under 15 seconds?

• Would your parents/grandparents understand it?

If enrollment takes longer than 30 seconds or requires help, adoption will suffer. If you want a structured approach to evaluating trials rather than winging it, a step-by-step guide to testing loyalty software free trials walks you through exactly what to measure and when.

Dashboard Clarity Test

Open the analytics dashboard:

• Can you answer these questions within 30 seconds:

  • How many active loyalty members do I have?

  • Who's close to earning rewards?

  • Who hasn't visited in 30+ days?

If you need to hunt for basic information, the platform is too complex.

Support Response Test

Contact support with a real question:

• How long until you get a response?

• Is the answer helpful or generic?

• Do they solve your problem or pass you around?

If support takes 24+ hours or doesn't resolve issues, that's a red flag for SMBs who can't wait.

Decision Matrix: Matching Platforms to Business Types

Use this matrix to shortlist platforms quickly:

For Cafés, Coffee Shops, Bakeries:

Priorities:

• High-frequency visits (customers come weekly/daily)

• Consistent transaction values

• Need to fill quiet periods

• Staff turnover high

Platform requirements:

• Wallet-based (not apps)

• Visit-based or simple points

• Unlimited push notifications

• Quick staff training (under 10 minutes)

• Geo-targeting for "come in today" messages If you're a UK café owner, a dedicated comparison of the best loyalty apps for UK cafés narrows the field to platforms built for high-frequency, low-ticket environments like yours.

Good fit: Perkstar, wallet-focused platforms with flat pricing

Poor fit: App-based platforms, complex tier systems, per-transaction pricing

For Salons, Barbershops, Spas:

Priorities:

• Medium-frequency visits (monthly)

• Service-based (visits matter more than spend)

• Relationships with specific providers

• Appointment-based

Platform requirements:

• Visit-based rewards (not spend-based)

• Automated re-engagement (after 6–8 weeks)

• Birthday/anniversary rewards

• Integration with booking systems (nice-to-have)

Good fit: Wallet-based platforms with automation, visit tracking

Poor fit: Retail-focused platforms, transaction-value-based systems

For Retail Shops, Boutiques:

Priorities:

• Variable transaction values

• Mix of browsers and buyers

• Product-based (spend matters)

• Seasonal patterns

Platform requirements:

• Spend-based points or hybrid

• Tiered rewards (optional)

• Works for both in-store and online

• Can pause/adjust during slow seasons

Good fit: Flexible platforms supporting multiple reward types

Poor fit: Visit-only systems, service-focused platforms

For Service Businesses (Personal trainers, physios, tradespeople):

Priorities:

• Irregular visit frequency

• High trust relationships

• Appointment-based

• Client retention critical

Platform requirements:

• Visit-based (sessions/appointments)

• Long-cycle re-engagement (quarterly reminders)

• Referral tracking

• Simple (minimal admin)

Good fit: Wallet-based with flexible visit tracking

Poor fit: High-frequency-optimized platforms, retail-focused systems

The 10-Minute Decision Framework

Here's how to make a final decision quickly:

Step 1: Apply the Elimination Criteria (2 minutes)

Cross off platforms that:

• Don't support your business type (physical vs online)

• Exceed your budget by 2x

• Require app downloads (if you're physical retail/service)

• Have overwhelmingly negative reviews on trust pilots/G2

You should have 2–4 platforms left.

Step 2: Compare True Total Cost (3 minutes)

For each remaining platform, calculate:

• Base subscription

• Expected transaction fees (if applicable)

• Message costs (if applicable)

• Required tier for features you need

Eliminate platforms where real cost is 50%+ higher than advertised.

Step 3: Check Core Features (2 minutes)

Verify each platform includes:

• ✓ Wallet integration (if needed)

• ✓ Unlimited customers

• ✓ Push notifications (unlimited)

• ✓ Basic analytics

• ✓ Support included

Eliminate platforms missing any essentials.

Step 4: Start Free Trials (3 minutes)

For the 1–2 platforms remaining:

• Start free trials

• Set up test loyalty card (time yourself)

• Test customer enrollment

• Test staff scanner app

• Contact support with a question

Choose the platform that:

• Sets up fastest

• Works most reliably

• Responds to support requests quickest

• Feels simplest to use

This framework gets you from "overwhelming options" to "confident decision" in 10 minutes of focused evaluation.

Red Flags to Watch For

Certain patterns indicate platforms that will cause problems:

Red Flag 1: Pricing Opacity

If you can't find pricing on their website, or it says "Contact us," they're hiding complexity or high costs.

Red Flag 2: Feature Overload

If the platform brags about having 100+ features, it's likely too complex for SMBs and designed for enterprises. Platforms that lead with feature quantity over feature relevance are often charging you for capabilities you'll never use — a detailed breakdown of loyalty features worth paying for separates the 15 that matter from the 10 that inflate your bill.

Red Flag 3: No Free Trial or Very Short Trial

If there's no trial, or trial is only 3–5 days, they're not confident you'll see value before pressure to commit.

Red Flag 4: Poor Documentation

If you can't find clear help docs or video tutorials, you'll struggle when issues arise.

Red Flag 5: Negative Review Patterns

Look for recurring complaints:

• "Hidden fees"

• "Hard to cancel"

• "Support never responds"

• "Doesn't work as advertised"

Red Flag 6: Requires Long-Term Contracts

If they push 12-month contracts instead of month-to-month, they're locking you in because retention is poor.

Final Thoughts: Perfect Is the Enemy of Good

Here's the truth: you don't need the "perfect" loyalty platform. You need one that works well enough, fast enough, at a price you can sustain.

The difference between the "best" wallet-based platform and the "second-best" wallet-based platform is marginal. The difference between using any competent platform versus using none is enormous.

Don't spend 6 weeks comparing. Spend 1 hour eliminating mismatches, 1 week testing 1–2 finalists, and then commit.

Most UK small businesses find wallet-based platforms like Perkstar hit the sweet spot:

• Affordable (£15–£60/month)

• Fast to implement (under 1 hour)

• High adoption (60–80% of customers join)

• Simple to operate (5-minute staff training)

• Proven ROI (pays for itself in first month)

But the "right" platform is the one that matches your specific business type, budget, and team capacity. If budget is your primary constraint, understanding what affordable loyalty software actually looks like — predictable costs, clear ROI, no hidden fees — prevents you from choosing the cheapest option only to discover it's the most expensive one long-term.

Start your free 14-day trial with Perkstar — no credit card required. Test the platform against the framework in this guide, compare it to alternatives if you want, and make a data-driven decision.

The best comparison is one you can actually use to decide. Use this framework, make your choice, and get loyalty working for your business.