Smile vs LoyaltyLion in 2026: plans, prices and what each one includes
Free plans, entry prices, VIP tiers, points on product pages, Klaviyo and POS, side by side. Checked against each vendor's own pages.
Smile and LoyaltyLion both run points, referrals and VIP tiers on Shopify. Both bill by monthly orders. The gap is the entry price. Smile's first paid plan costs $15. LoyaltyLion's costs $199. Here is what each price buys, from each vendor's own pages.
In this article
Side by side
| Smile | LoyaltyLion | |
|---|---|---|
| Bill counts | Monthly orders | Average monthly orders |
| Free plan | Up to 200 orders a month | Advised up to 400; not enforced |
| First paid plan | Essential, $15 for 500 orders | Classic, $199 with 500 orders |
| Points on product pages | Standard, $79, and up | Advanced and Plus |
| VIP tiers | Growth, $199, and up | Check the live table |
| Klaviyo | Email integrations from Essential | Every plan; flows from Classic |
| Shopify POS | Supported | Classic: one location |
The free plans
Smile's free plan covers up to 200 orders a month. Every account starts there. LoyaltyLion advises its free plan for stores up to 400 orders a month. It calls that figure a recommendation. It does not enforce it. Its free plan rewards three activities with one reward type.
The paid plans
Smile Essential costs $15 a month for up to 500 orders. Standard costs $79 for up to 1,000 and adds points on product pages. Growth costs $199 with 2,500 orders included, then $20 per extra 100. VIP tiers start on Growth. Plus starts at $999 and is priced to your volume.
LoyaltyLion Classic costs $199 a month with 500 orders included. It includes a branded loyalty page built from a template. It also includes ready-made Klaviyo flows and pre-built earning rules. Advanced and Plus add points on product pages and multi-location POS. Their prices are not on the public page.
Cheap to start, priced in steps
A low entry, with features added plan by plan.
Wins at
- Paid plans from $15
- Overage on Growth is published
Struggles with
- VIP tiers wait for the $199 plan
- Product page points from $79
More included, higher entry
A fuller first paid plan, at $199.
Wins at
- Klaviyo flows ready on Classic
- Free plan limit not enforced
Struggles with
- Advanced and Plus prices not public
- POS on one location at Classic
Our reading of each vendor's own pages. We make neither.
What a year costs at 500 orders a month
At 500 orders a month, Smile Essential costs $180 a year. LoyaltyLion Classic costs $2,388. Smile reaches $199 only on Growth, where VIP tiers begin. So the real question is which features you need in year one.
Which one fits
Start here
What must your program do in year one?
- Points and referrals, low cost
Smile
Free, then $15 a month.
- Need VIP tiers: Compare Smile Growth with Classic
- Run it through Klaviyo
LoyaltyLion
Flows ready on Classic.
- Under 400 orders a month: Start on its free plan
Where Idukki fits (ours)
We make Idukki. It runs no loyalty program. It shows the customer photos a loyalty reward can bring in. For six loyalty apps compared, read the best Shopify loyalty apps.
Questions store owners ask
Is Smile cheaper than LoyaltyLion?
To start, yes. Smile's first paid plan is $15 a month. LoyaltyLion's is $199.
Does Smile have VIP tiers on every plan?
No. VIP tiers start on Growth, at $199 a month.
Is LoyaltyLion's free plan capped?
LoyaltyLion advises it up to 400 orders a month. It calls that a recommendation and does not enforce it.
Which works better with Klaviyo?
LoyaltyLion connects to Klaviyo on every plan, with ready-made flows on Classic.
Sources
- 1Smile: manage your plan · Plans and limits.
- 2Smile: usage-based pricing · Growth overage.
- 3Smile: paid plan advantages · Features by plan.
- 4Smile VIP tiers · VIP plan.
- 5LoyaltyLion pricing · Classic.
- 6LoyaltyLion: all plan features · Features by plan.
- 7LoyaltyLion: free plan · Advised threshold.
- 8LoyaltyLion: Klaviyo · All plans.
Continue reading
1 piece in this clusterThese long-form pieces on the Idukki blog link back to this article, go deeper on the cluster.
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