If you use Epos Now as your point-of-sale system, you've probably noticed the loyalty features feel like an afterthought. They work well enough for basic punch tracking, but the moment you want memberships, cashback cards, or passes that live in a customer's phone wallet, you hit a wall.
This guide compares the best standalone loyalty platforms that pair well with Epos Now (or replace its loyalty module entirely). The goal is to help you find something that actually fits how your shop runs.
Why Epos Now's loyalty module falls short for many local businesses
Epos Now is built around transactions. Its loyalty add-on covers the basics: points per purchase, simple redemption at the till. For a single-location coffee shop running a straightforward stamp program, that might be enough.
The gaps show up quickly, though. You can't issue digital cards that live in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. Membership and subscription-style cards aren't supported. Reporting is thin, so you can't easily see which customers are drifting away before they're gone for good.
The add-on also costs extra on top of your existing Epos Now subscription, which means you're paying more for less functionality than a dedicated loyalty platform would give you.
What to look for in a standalone loyalty platform
Before comparing specific tools, it helps to know what actually matters. A few things worth prioritizing:
Card types. Stamp cards are the most common, but your business might benefit from cashback cards (great for restaurants), membership cards (ideal for gyms and salons), or multipass cards (useful for service bundles). The more card types a platform supports, the more flexibility you have as your business grows.
Wallet delivery. Cards that live in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet don't require customers to download a separate app. That removes the biggest friction point in loyalty adoption. If a customer has to download yet another app, most of them won't bother.
POS integration. Some platforms connect directly to Epos Now via API or webhook. Others are POS-agnostic and use a separate tablet or QR code at the counter. Both approaches work, but know which one you're getting before you commit.
Pricing transparency. Some loyalty platforms charge per location, per active member, or per SMS sent. Those costs can add up fast. A flat monthly fee is easier to budget around.
Ease of setup. You're running a business, not an IT department. A platform that takes a week to configure is a platform you'll abandon.
The main alternatives compared
Here's a side-by-side look at the platforms most relevant to local businesses coming off Epos Now's loyalty module.
| Platform | Card types | Wallet cards | Epos Now integration | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loyally.ai | Stamp, reward, membership, cashback, multipass, discount, coupon, gift | Apple + Google Wallet | POS-agnostic (QR/tablet) | $17/mo (or $12/mo annually) |
| Stamp Me | Stamp cards | App-based | POS-agnostic | Free tier; paid plans vary |
| Yotpo Loyalty | Points, tiers, referrals | No wallet cards | API integrations | Enterprise pricing |
| Belly (now part of Thanx) | Points, visits | App-based | Limited | Contact for pricing |
| Square Loyalty | Points, visits | No wallet cards | Square POS only | Per-location add-on |
| Loopy Loyalty | Stamp cards | Apple + Google Wallet | POS-agnostic | Low-cost tiers |
A few notes on this table. Square Loyalty is only useful if you're switching your POS entirely, which defeats the purpose. Yotpo is built for e-commerce and its pricing reflects that. Belly's pivot to Thanx has left many small business users uncertain about long-term support.
That leaves Loyally, Stamp Me, and Loopy Loyalty as the most practical standalone options for local businesses staying on Epos Now.
A closer look at the top three
Loyally.ai
Loyally.ai is a digital loyalty card platform built specifically for local businesses. It covers eight card types: stamp, reward, membership, cashback, multipass, discount, coupon, and gift cards. All cards live in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, so customers don't need to install anything.
Setup is straightforward. You create a card in the dashboard, set your reward rules, and share the enrollment link or QR code with customers. Stamping happens via a tablet at the counter or through a staff app scan. Because it's POS-agnostic, it sits alongside Epos Now without any complex integration work.
Pricing starts at $17/month (or $12/month billed annually) for the Starter plan. Growth is $30/month ($24/month annually) and Premium is $98/month ($78/month annually). Every plan includes a 14-day free trial. For a coffee shop or salon that wants wallet-based cards and more than one card type, this is usually the most cost-effective option in this tier.
Research from Accenture found that loyalty program members generate 12-18% more incremental revenue growth per year than non-members. That kind of lift is hard to achieve with a bare-bones stamp tracker.
Stamp Me
Stamp Me is a mobile-first platform focused on digital stamp cards. It has a free tier that's genuinely usable for a single location with light volume. The tradeoff is that customers need to download the Stamp Me app, and the card experience lives inside that app rather than in the native wallet.
For businesses that already have an engaged customer base willing to download apps, Stamp Me works fine. For businesses trying to maximize enrollment from new or casual customers, the app requirement is a real barrier.
Stamp Me doesn't support membership or cashback cards, so if your business model evolves, you'd need to switch platforms anyway.
Loopy Loyalty
Loopy Loyalty focuses on stamp cards delivered via Apple Wallet and Google Wallet. It's been around long enough to be reliable, and the wallet-based delivery is a genuine advantage over Stamp Me.
The limitation is card variety. Loopy Loyalty does stamp cards well and not much else. If you run a gym that wants membership passes, or a restaurant that wants cashback cards, you'll outgrow it quickly.
For a single-product business (a coffee shop running one stamp card, for example) Loopy Loyalty is worth considering. For anything more complex, a platform with broader card support makes more sense.
Which businesses should switch, and to what
The right platform depends on what your business actually needs. Here's a quick breakdown.
Coffee shops and cafes. A stamp card with wallet delivery is usually the right fit. Both Loyally and Loopy Loyalty handle this well. If you also want to run seasonal discount cards or gift cards, Loyally is the better long-term choice. See how this plays out in practice on the coffee shop solutions page.
Salons and barbershops. Membership cards and visit-based rewards matter more here than simple stamps. Loyally's membership card type covers recurring clients well. Stamp Me and Loopy Loyalty don't have this.
Restaurants. Cashback cards tend to outperform points programs in restaurants because customers understand them immediately. Loyally supports cashback cards; most competitors in this price range don't. The restaurant solutions page has more detail on what works in food service specifically.
Gyms. Membership and multipass cards are the core need. Loyally's card types cover both. None of the other sub-$30/month options do.
Retail shops. Discount and coupon cards alongside a points program tend to drive the most repeat visits. For a deeper look at loyalty options built for retail, the retail loyalty software comparison covers this in detail.
The probability of selling to an existing customer is 60-70%, compared to 5-20% for a new prospect, according to research compiled in Marketing Metrics. A loyalty program that actually gets used is one of the most direct ways to act on that gap.
Making the switch without disrupting your operation
Switching loyalty platforms mid-year sounds disruptive, but it usually isn't. Most customers aren't deep into a punch card when you switch. The ones who are can be grandfathered in manually (give them their current progress on the new card as a starting balance).
A few practical steps that make the transition smoother:
Run both systems for two to four weeks. Issue new cards on the new platform while honoring existing stamps on the old one. This avoids anyone feeling cheated and gives you time to train staff.
Use the enrollment moment to collect contact info. When a customer scans your new QR code to join, capture their email or phone number if the platform allows it. You'll want that data for future campaigns.
Tell customers what changed and why. A simple sign at the counter or a note on your receipts is enough. "We've upgraded our loyalty card, tap here to join" covers it. Customers respond well to upgrades when they're framed as improvements.
Check your reporting after 30 days. Look at enrollment rate, redemption rate, and visit frequency for enrolled customers versus non-enrolled. If the numbers are moving in the right direction, you're done. If not, adjust your reward threshold.
For a broader look at how loyalty programs perform for businesses like yours, the do loyalty schemes work for small businesses post is a useful reference.
Frequently asked questions
Does Epos Now integrate directly with any of these platforms?
Most of the platforms in this comparison are POS-agnostic, meaning they work alongside Epos Now without a direct API connection. Stamping happens via a separate tablet or QR code rather than through the Epos Now terminal itself. This is a minor workflow adjustment but not a significant operational problem for most shops.
Can I keep my Epos Now subscription and just add a standalone loyalty platform?
Yes. None of the platforms compared here require you to change your POS. You run Epos Now for transactions and the loyalty platform for rewards. The two systems operate in parallel.
What happens to my customers' existing stamps if I switch?
Most platforms let you issue cards with a starting balance, so you can honor existing progress. For customers with, say, four stamps on a ten-stamp card, you issue a new card pre-loaded with four stamps. It takes a few minutes per customer but avoids any goodwill loss.
Is a wallet-based card really better than an app?
For most local businesses, yes. Customers already have Apple Wallet or Google Wallet on their phones. Adding a card takes seconds and requires no account creation. App-based loyalty programs consistently see lower enrollment rates because the download step creates friction that most casual customers won't push through.
How do I estimate the revenue impact before committing to a paid plan?
A loyalty calculator can give you a rough estimate based on your visit frequency and average transaction size. Most platforms also offer free trials, so you can test enrollment and redemption rates with real customers before paying anything.
