🏆 Quick Recommendations
best overall
JeriCommerce
Omnichannel loyalty gives you the innovative mobile engagement that drew you to Novel, but through a proven channel — Apple and Google Wallet — rather than experimental AI
best for budget
BON Loyalty
If Novel's pricing felt right but you want something more proven, BON delivers core loyalty features at the lowest price on Shopify with a track record to back it up
best for omnichannel
JeriCommerce
NFC tap-to-identify and native Shopify POS integration create an in-store loyalty experience that no other app — including Novel — can deliver
best for enterprise
Yotpo Loyalty
The most mature enterprise platform with 20+ campaign types, advanced analytics, and a unified marketing suite — the stability Novel has not yet achieved
9 Best Novel Alternatives
Omnichannel loyalty with Apple and Google Wallet passes — no app download needed
Best for: Shopify brands that want a direct mobile channel to customers with push notifications and NFC at POS
- Apple and Google Wallet passes with 90%+ push notification open rates
- NFC tap-to-identify at Shopify POS — frictionless in-store identification
- Unlimited push notifications at zero cost per message
- Deep Klaviyo integration for loyalty-driven email automation
- No AI-driven reward personalization like Novel offers
- Free plan capped at 50 passes
- Newer platform, though more established than Novel
The most widely adopted Shopify loyalty app with a proven track record
Best for: Stores that want a reliable, well-documented loyalty platform with wide integration support
- Largest installed base on Shopify — battle-tested at scale
- Extensive integration library including Klaviyo, Gorgias, and ReCharge
- Robust VIP tier system with multiple progression methods
- Comprehensive documentation and responsive support
- No AI personalization — all rules are manually configured
- No wallet pass or NFC support
- Widget design is functional but not as modern as Novel's
Enterprise loyalty within a complete ecommerce marketing suite
Best for: Scaling brands that need loyalty, reviews, SMS, and subscriptions from one vendor
- 20+ campaign types with advanced segmentation and targeting
- Unified suite covering reviews, SMS, subscriptions, and loyalty
- Enterprise analytics with cohort analysis and A/B testing
- Dedicated account management for larger merchants
- Paid plans start at $199/mo — significant price jump
- Platform complexity creates a steep learning curve
- SMS costs are separate and add up quickly
Analytics-driven loyalty platform with deep customer behavior insights
Best for: Mid-market brands that want to understand exactly how loyalty drives revenue
- Best-in-class loyalty analytics with revenue attribution
- Highly flexible rule engine for custom earning and spending
- Strong email integrations with Klaviyo and Omnisend
- Dedicated success manager for higher-tier accounts
- Minimum $399/mo — premium pricing
- No AI-powered personalization
- No wallet pass or NFC capabilities
Budget-friendly loyalty app with core features at the lowest price
Best for: Small stores that want basic loyalty without overspending on tools
- Most affordable loyalty app on Shopify with a generous free tier
- Simple, clean interface that is easy to configure
- Points, referrals, and VIP tiers included at all plan levels
- No AI personalization or advanced features
- No wallet pass, POS, or NFC support
- Basic analytics and limited reporting
Design-forward loyalty app with a modern UI and rapid development
Best for: DTC brands that value polished aesthetics and are comfortable with a newer platform
- Best-in-class widget design — modern and visually polished
- Quick setup with well-designed onboarding
- Frequent feature releases and responsive team
- Similar maturity concerns as Novel — limited track record
- Fewer integrations than established platforms
- No wallet pass or POS support
Loyalty add-on inside Stamped's established reviews platform
Best for: Stores already using Stamped Reviews that want to add loyalty without a new vendor
- Bundled pricing with Stamped Reviews saves on total app costs
- Proven platform with years of merchant reviews
- Good review-to-reward incentive workflows
- Loyalty is a secondary feature with less depth than standalone tools
- Limited customization for complex reward rules
- No wallet passes, NFC, or AI personalization
All-in-one marketing app combining loyalty, reviews, and wishlists
Best for: Small stores that want to consolidate multiple apps into one tool
- Replaces 4-5 separate Shopify apps with a single install
- Competitive pricing for the range of features included
- Good Shopify theme compatibility out of the box
- Loyalty features are shallower than dedicated platforms
- No wallet pass, POS, or AI capabilities
- Support can be inconsistent during busy periods
Omnichannel loyalty with built-in marketing automation and POS sync
Best for: Retailers with physical locations that need POS loyalty and automated marketing
- Native omnichannel loyalty across online and Shopify POS
- Built-in email and SMS marketing — no separate tool needed
- Customer segmentation based on purchase and loyalty data
- Solid cross-channel analytics
- Starting around $100/mo — higher than Novel's entry price
- No wallet pass or AI personalization
- More complex than needed for online-only stores
📊 Quick Comparison
| Product | Wallet Passes | POS Support | Push Notifications | AI Personalization | Referral Program | Free Plan | Starting Paid Price |
|---|
| JeriCommerce | Yes (Apple + Google) | Yes (NFC + QR) | Yes (90%+ open rate) | No | Yes | Yes (50 passes) | $49/mo |
| Smile.io | No | Limited | No | No | Yes | Yes (200 orders) | $49/mo |
| Yotpo Loyalty | No | Yes | Via SMS (paid) | Limited | Yes | Yes (100 orders) | $199/mo |
| LoyaltyLion | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | $399/mo |
| BON Loyalty | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes (250 orders) | $25/mo |
| Rivo | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes (100 orders) | $49/mo |
| Stamped Loyalty | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | ~$59/mo |
| Growave | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes (100 orders) | $49/mo |
| Marsello | No | Yes | Via SMS (paid) | No | Yes | Limited | ~$100/mo |
How to Choose the Right Alternative
If Novel's AI personalization drew you in but the limited track record gives you pause, decide what matters more: innovation or reliability. For proven mobile innovation, JeriCommerce offers wallet passes — a direct phone channel no other loyalty app provides. For proven reliability at scale, Smile.io has the largest merchant base. For proven analytics, LoyaltyLion leads. And if you just need solid basics while you wait for the AI loyalty space to mature, BON Loyalty or Growave will serve you well at a lower cost. To calculate the ROI of switching, use the
loyalty ROI calculator and compare results across
retention strategies.
FAQ
Is Novel established enough to trust with my loyalty program?
Novel is a legitimate Shopify app with real features, but it is one of the newest entrants in the loyalty space. There are fewer case studies, fewer merchant reviews, and a smaller support knowledge base compared to platforms like Smile.io or Yotpo. If your loyalty program is a critical revenue driver, you may want a more established platform — or at least run Novel alongside a backup plan.
Does Novel's AI actually improve loyalty performance?
Novel's AI personalizes which rewards and challenges individual customers see, which can improve engagement. However, the impact depends on your store size and data volume — AI needs significant customer data to make meaningful predictions. For smaller stores, a well-configured traditional loyalty program often performs just as well.
Can I migrate from Novel to another loyalty app?
Yes. Export your customer data and point balances from Novel as a CSV, then import into your new platform. JeriCommerce, Smile.io, and most other apps listed here support standard CSV imports. Plan for about an hour of setup work and a few days of running both apps in parallel.
Which Novel alternative offers the best mobile engagement?
JeriCommerce is the clear leader for mobile engagement. Instead of a web widget, your loyalty program lives in customers' Apple or Google Wallet — delivering push notifications with 90%+ open rates, real-time point balance updates on the lock screen, and NFC tap-to-identify at physical stores. No other loyalty app offers this level of mobile presence.
Is there a loyalty app that combines AI with wallet passes?
Not currently. Novel offers AI personalization but no wallet support. JeriCommerce offers wallet passes but no AI personalization. If both matter to you, JeriCommerce's wallet channel will likely have a bigger impact on engagement than AI-optimized reward suggestions — push notifications with 90%+ open rates are hard to beat with any algorithm.
Want proven innovation, not experimental AI?
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