Smile.io
Our Quick Take
Smile.io helps DTC brands drive repeat purchases with points, referrals, and VIP tiers. It’s quick to launch, easy to manage, and plays nicely with your email and on-site stack so you can turn one-time buyers into loyal customers.
What It Is
Smile.io is a loyalty and referrals platform for ecommerce. You can award points for key actions, create VIP tiers with perks, and run a referral program that rewards advocates and their friends. On-site widgets and email hooks keep customers engaged without heavy dev work.
What Makes It Stand Out
- Fast setup: out-of-the-box widgets and templates so you can launch in hours, not weeks
- Proven levers: points, referrals, and VIP tiers that reliably lift repeat rate and AOV
- Email-ready: prebuilt triggers for points earned, reward reminders, and tier milestones
Key Features
- Points engine: earn on purchases and key behaviors (account, reviews, social)
- VIP tiers: unlock perks based on spend or points thresholds
- Referral program: dual-sided rewards to drive net-new customers
- On-site widgets: launcher, panel, and reward notifications
- Email hooks: events for points balance, expiry, and tier updates
- Basic analytics: track redemptions, participation, and revenue impact
Best Fit
- Verticals: DTC brands with repeat purchase potential (beauty, wellness, apparel, CPG)
- Company size: Small to mid-market teams that want impact without heavy engineering
- Team maturity: Marketers comfortable iterating on rewards, tiers, and email automations
Pricing Snapshot
Plans are based on user seats and features. Core tiers include Creator, Pro, and Business. Pricing starts on entry plans with advanced tiers adding branding controls, more integrations, and support options.
Integrations to Know
- Ecommerce: Shopify, Shopify Plus
- ESP/CRM: Klaviyo, Customer.io
- Reviews: Okendo, Judge.me
- Support/CS: Gorgias, Zendesk
- Analytics: Google Analytics, basic export
Quick Setup Tips
- Start simple: 1x points per dollar, a single welcome reward, and a clear referral offer
- Define tiers: 2–3 VIP levels with meaningful perks that encourage the next purchase
- Automate emails: points earned, balance reminders, expiry nudges, and tier upgrades
- Promote on-site: add launcher on PDP/cart and a header link to the rewards page
- Measure impact: track participation rate, repeat rate, AOV, and revenue from redemptions
Good Alternatives
- LoyaltyLion: robust tiers and flexible rewards for Shopify brands
- Yotpo Loyalty: loyalty plus UGC and reviews in one ecosystem
- Stamped Loyalty: straightforward points and referrals with reviews add-ons
