10 Inspiring Loyalty Program Examples for 2026
Most Shopify store owners think loyalty programs are luxuries for big brands with massive budgets. But here's what they're missing: the brands crushing it in 2026 aren't necessarily the ones spending the most—they're the ones designing programs that feel personal, rewarding, and genuinely aligned with what their customers actually want.
The gap between a mediocre loyalty program and an exceptional one isn't complexity. It's clarity. It's knowing exactly why your customers should come back, what keeps them engaged, and how to celebrate the behaviors that matter most to your business.
This article breaks down 10 real-world loyalty program examples that are driving real results. Some are from household names. Others are smaller Shopify brands you might not have heard of. But each one offers something valuable: a concrete strategy you can adapt for your own store, starting today.
Why Loyalty Programs Are Non-Negotiable for E-commerce Success
Customer acquisition is eating your marketing budget alive. According to industry research,
it costs five times more to win a new customer than to retain an existing one. Meanwhile, your existing customers? They're sitting there ready to buy again—if you give them a reason.
That's where loyalty programs come in. They're not nice-to-have extras. They're strategic tools that directly impact your bottom line.
Define customer loyalty programs and you'll find they all share one purpose: creating repeatable reasons for customers to return. The best ones do this by increasing Customer Lifetime Value (CLV), deepening emotional connections, and building genuine brand advocates.
Here's what the data shows.
Within 90 days, on average, brands that implement a loyalty program see an 8.5x ROI. Better retention means more predictable revenue. It means lower acquisition costs because your loyal customers refer their friends. It means your email list becomes more valuable because engaged members actually open your messages.
The programs you're about to see all leverage one or more of these core benefits. Some focus heavily on Increased Customer Lifetime Value (CLV) through tiered spending. Others build community and advocacy. The smart ones do both.
Before diving into the examples, understand the landscape. Most successful programs fit into one of several types:
Points-based programs let customers accumulate rewards for purchases and actions, redeemable for discounts or products. Tiered programs unlock increasing benefits as customers reach higher status levels. Subscription-based programs charge a recurring fee for ongoing perks. Experiential programs offer access, events, or community rather than discounts. Value-driven programs reward behaviors aligned with your brand mission, not just spending.
The best programs often blend multiple types. And that's what makes them work.
10 Inspiring Loyalty Program Examples for 2026
Sephora Beauty Insider: Mastering Tiered & Emotional Rewards
Sephora's Beauty Insider program is the gold standard for a reason. It operates on a three-tier system—Insider, VIB, and Rouge—each unlocking incrementally better benefits. Customers earn one point per dollar spent, redeemable for products, samples, or exclusive experiences.
The genius? It's not just discounts.
Almost 75% of what drives customer engagement and loyalty are emotional perks, and Sephora nails this. Higher tiers get early access to sales, birthday gifts, free shipping thresholds that drop, and exclusive beauty classes.
Members account for up to 80% of Sephora's sales.
Key Takeaway: Build aspirational tiers. Let customers see what's one level above where they are now. Make the jump attainable but meaningful.
Starbucks Rewards: Gamification & Mobile Seamlessness
Starbucks Rewards operates like this: open the app, order, earn Stars. Simple. But the execution is flawless.
Members earn Stars for every dollar spent, redeemable for free drinks, food, or customizations. The app handles payment and order pickup, making the entire experience frictionless.
By Q1 2025, Starbucks had over 34.6M active US members, and these members spend dramatically more than non-members.
What makes it work: the Stars feel tangible. You see them accumulate in real time. The reward tiers are clear (100 Stars = free tall drink). The mobile experience removes friction at every step.
Key Takeaway: Make earning and redeeming effortless. Remove barriers between the action and the reward. Mobile matters more than you think.
Adidas adiClub: Community & Exclusive Access
Adidas switched from a paid program to a free membership model, and the results speak for themselves.
Adidas adiClub boasts over 240 million members, with members buying 50% more often than non-members and having 2x the lifetime value of non-members.
Points earned on purchases unlock discounts, but the real draw is exclusive access. Member-only product drops. Early access to limited releases. Special events. A sense of belonging to an insider community.
The program rewards both purchases and engagement—following on social, attending events, engaging with content.
Key Takeaway: Don't compete on discount depth. Compete on access. Exclusive products, early drops, and community create more loyalty than percentage-off codes ever will.
The North Face XPLR Pass: Aligning Values with Rewards
The North Face rewards purchases, sure. But the XPLR Pass also rewards behaviors that align with the brand's core mission: exploration and sustainability.
Customers earn points for purchases but also for downloading the app, attending events, or engaging with content about outdoor exploration. Rewards include early product access and unique experiences tied to the brand's values—not generic discounts.
Key Takeaway: If your brand stands for something, let your loyalty program reflect that. Reward customers for the behaviors and values you want to reinforce.
Amazon Prime & Walmart+: The Subscription Model
Not every loyalty program gives away rewards. Some charge upfront for them.
Amazon Prime and Walmart+ operate on subscription models—pay a yearly fee and unlock ongoing benefits like free shipping, exclusive deals, and faster delivery.
Walmart+ members spend an average of $79 per online visit, compared to $62 for non-members, and shop 11 more times per year.
The math is simple: a small annual fee secures massive loyalty and lifetime value.
Key Takeaway: Subscription tiers work best when the ongoing benefits are genuinely valuable and save customers money or time. Consider this model if you have a core audience willing to pay for convenience.
Edgard & Cooper: Purpose-Driven Gamification
This pet food brand combines gamification with charitable giving. Customers earn "belly rubs" (points) for purchases and brand engagement. But here's the kicker: for every belly rub earned, Edgard & Cooper donates food to rescue dogs.
The result?
A 22% AOV uplift, a 35% increase in active customers, and a 38% increase in their retention rate.
This works because it appeals to values. Customers aren't just earning discounts—they're participating in something bigger.
Key Takeaway: Integrate a purpose or charitable element into your program. Values-driven customers are more loyal and more willing to advocate.
SKIMS Rewards: Personalization for DTC Brands
SKIMS built a tiered program that rewards purchases with points redeemable for discounts, but the magic happens in personalization and early access. Higher tiers unlock exclusive drops, birthday rewards, and special member-only sales.
For a DTC brand with a strong community, this creates buzz and aspirational tiers that drive spending.
Key Takeaway: For modern DTC brands, combine tiers with personalized experiences and early product access. Make customers feel like insiders.
Caraa: Clarity & Simplicity for Shopify Brands
Caraa runs a clean, tiered loyalty structure built on Shopify. The tiers are simple to understand: spend more, unlock better benefits. Discounts increase with tier. Early access to collections. Birthday rewards.
No complexity. No confusion. Just clear progression.
Key Takeaway: Clarity wins. Your customers should understand your tiers and rewards in under 30 seconds. If they're confused, they won't participate.
The Sill: Community-Driven Loyalty
The Sill built loyalty around community and education, not just transactional rewards. Members get care tips, community events, and a sense of belonging to a community of "plant parents."
Alongside points for purchases, The Sill emphasizes content value and connection. This works because it deepens the emotional relationship between brand and customer.
Key Takeaway: For niche products, build a loyalty program around community and shared interests. Educational content and belonging matter as much as discounts.
Parade: Missions & Gamified Engagement
Parade rewards both purchases and non-transactional behaviors. Complete a "mission" (share on social, refer a friend, write a review), earn points. Unlock badges. See your progress visually.
Integrate gamification elements like progress bars, challenges, and badges, and you tap into something psychological: the desire to complete, achieve, and progress.
Key Takeaway: Gamification drives engagement beyond purchases. Missions, badges, and progress bars make earning rewards feel like play, not work.
Crafting Your Own Loyalty Strategy: Best Practices for Shopify Brands
Define Your Program Goals
Before you build anything, ask: what do I want this program to achieve?
Are you trying to increase repeat purchase frequency? Boost average order value? Collect more reviews? Drive referrals? Your program structure should ladder up to these specific goals.
If repeat purchases are the goal, rewards should encourage frequent, smaller transactions. If AOV is the goal, reward higher-ticket purchases or bundles. Clarity on goals shapes everything downstream.
Choose the Right Program Type
Choose the right program type based on your brand, products, and customer base.
Points-based programs work well for brands with broad customer bases and varied purchase amounts. Tiered programs work when you want to create aspirational progression. Subscription models work when you have a core audience willing to pay for convenience or ongoing benefits. Gamified programs appeal to younger, digitally native audiences.
Most successful programs mix elements. But choose a primary structure first.
Design Compelling Rewards
The best rewards mix tangible and intangible value.
Tangible: discounts, free products, free shipping. Intangible: exclusive access, early product launches, special events, community features, recognition.
Avoid devaluing your rewards. If 100 points = $1 off, that's a 1% discount on spend. That's not compelling. Aim for rewards that feel genuinely valuable—5-10% discount equivalent, or exclusive access worth more than the discount.
Prioritize Personalization & Segmentation
Use your loyalty data to offer personalized experiences. New customers need different rewards than long-term advocates.
Segment your members and test targeted campaigns. Birthday discounts for everyone. But tiered members might get exclusive event invitations. High-spenders might unlock early access. This personalization drives engagement across different customer groups.
Select the Right Shopify Loyalty App
Select the Right Shopify Loyalty App based on your specific needs. Popular options include Smile.io, LoyaltyLion, Yotpo, and Mage.
Look for apps that integrate with your tech stack (Klaviyo, Omnisend, Judge.me), offer transparent pricing, allow deep customization, and provide clear analytics. Don't choose based on features alone—choose based on ease of use and support.
Measuring Success & Evolving Your Program
Key Metrics to Track
Key Metrics to Track include:
Customer Retention Rate: What percentage of members make repeat purchases? This is your north star.
Customer Lifetime Value (CLV): Members should have significantly higher CLV than non-members.
Average Order Value (AOV): Do members spend more per order?
Redemption Rate: What percentage of earned points are redeemed? Low redemption signals weak rewards.
Program ROI: Calculate the cost of your program (app fees, discounts given) against the incremental revenue from members.
Track these monthly. Watch the trends. Use insights to optimize.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
Weak Rewards: If your rewards don't feel genuinely valuable, customers won't engage. Test and iterate until redemption rates are healthy.
Complexity: If customers don't understand your program in 30 seconds, simplify it. Confusion kills participation.
Poor Promotion: Even the best program dies without visibility. Use email, pop-ups, SMS, and social to drive enrollment and engagement.
Ignoring Data: If your analytics show low engagement in certain tiers or low redemption of certain rewards, change them. Programs aren't set-and-forget.
Program Fatigue: Refresh your rewards, campaigns, and messaging regularly. Stale programs feel stale to customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best type of loyalty program for a small Shopify store?
Start simple. A points-based program is easiest to manage and easiest for customers to understand. Earn 1 point per $1 spent, redeem 100 points for a $10 discount. As you grow and learn what your customers respond to, layer in tiers or gamification.
How much does it cost to implement a loyalty program on Shopify?
Most loyalty apps charge $0-100+ per month depending on features. Many offer free plans with basic functionality. Calculate the ROI before committing—if you're increasing repeat purchases by 10-20%, the app costs pay for themselves quickly.
How quickly can I see an ROI from my loyalty program?
Expect 30-60 days to see measurable changes as you build enrollment. Most programs see positive ROI within 90 days if designed correctly. The key is patience and optimization—track data, iterate, and don't expect overnight transformation.
Can I integrate my loyalty program with other marketing tools?
Yes. Most modern Shopify loyalty apps integrate with Klaviyo, Omnisend, Postscript, and other email/SMS platforms. This integration is crucial—you want to use your loyalty data to drive targeted campaigns that increase engagement and redemption.
Conclusion: Build Lasting Loyalty in 2026
The loyalty programs that win in 2026 aren't built on discounts alone. They're built on clarity, personalization, and genuine value.
Look at Sephora's emotional perks, Starbucks' seamless mobile experience, or Adidas's exclusive access. Each one solves a specific customer need while strengthening the relationship.
Your program should do the same. Start with clear goals. Choose a structure that fits your brand. Design rewards that feel genuinely valuable. Then measure relentlessly and evolve based on what your data tells you.
The brands winning customer loyalty aren't the ones with the biggest budgets. They're the ones who designed programs that feel personal, rewarding, and authentically aligned with what their customers want.
Your store has that opportunity right now. Pick one insight from these 10 examples, adapt it to your business, and build your own winning loyalty strategy. Designing or optimizing their own loyalty strategy is the first step toward transforming one-time buyers into lifelong advocates.
TLDR
The most successful loyalty programs in 2026 blend clear structure with genuine value. Sephora masters emotional perks through tiered benefits. Starbucks removes friction with mobile-first design. Adidas drives engagement through exclusive access. The common thread? Each program solves a specific customer need while creating aspirational progression. For your Shopify store, start with clear goals, choose a structure that fits your brand, design rewards that feel valuable, and measure obsessively. Loyalty isn't built on complexity—it's built on clarity, personalization, and consistently rewarding the behaviors that matter most to your business.
