BLOY Rewards Program & Loyalty vs Gather: Refer a Friendfor Shopify (2026)
BLOY Rewards Program & Loyalty and Gather: Refer a Friend are both 5-star rated apps in the Shopify app store, focusing on customer loyalty and rewards. However, they cater to different aspects of customer retention and acquisition. BLOY positions itself as a comprehensive loyalty program solution, encompassing points, rewards, VIP tiers, and referral programs, aiming to build long-term customer loyalty and increase repeat purchases. In contrast, Gather focuses specifically on leveraging existing customers as an acquisition channel through referral programs. It emphasizes automation and personalization to create a high-ROAS acquisition strategy.
At a Glance
BLOY Rewards Program & Loyalty
267 reviews
Gather: Refer a Friend
14 reviews
Detailed Overview
BLOY Rewards Program & Loyalty
Build a loyalty program to increase retention with points, rewards, VIP tiers, membership and POS.
Key Features
- Build and scale a customer loyalty program with points, rewards, and VIP tiers
- Reward purchases and actions with loyalty points customers actually redeem
- Design VIP tiers and memberships to drive higher repeat purchase behavior
- Activate referral rewards to grow retention-led customer acquisition
- Launch and optimize your loyalty program with confidence and 24/7 support
Gather: Refer a Friend
Gather activates your customer to customer referral channel, with automation and personalisation.
Key Features
- Sales growth, newsletter growth or lead-gen with referrals.
- Invitations, including: email with contact search, social media and messaging.
- Deploy reward tiers / milestones. Provide One-sided or two-sided rewards.
- Enrol members in a post-purchase CTA sidebar and directly from Klaviyo.
- Design emails with a drag-and-drop editor. Design the embedded dashboard.
Feature Comparison
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Rating BLOY Rewards Program & Loyalty5/5 Gather: Refer a Friend5/5 | ||
| Reviews | 267 | 14 |
Reviews BLOY Rewards Program & Loyalty267 Gather: Refer a Friend14 | ||
| Primary Focus | Comprehensive Loyalty Program (Points, Rewards, VIP Tiers) | Referral Program for Customer Acquisition |
Primary Focus BLOY Rewards Program & LoyaltyComprehensive Loyalty Program (Points, Rewards, VIP Tiers) Gather: Refer a FriendReferral Program for Customer Acquisition | ||
| Key Features | Points, rewards, VIP tiers, membership, POS integration, referral rewards, 24/7 support | Automated referrals, tiered rewards, email/SMS lead-gen, Klaviyo integration, drag-and-drop email editor |
Key Features BLOY Rewards Program & LoyaltyPoints, rewards, VIP tiers, membership, POS integration, referral rewards, 24/7 support Gather: Refer a FriendAutomated referrals, tiered rewards, email/SMS lead-gen, Klaviyo integration, drag-and-drop email editor | ||
| Target Merchant | Merchants seeking to build a full-fledged loyalty program with diverse engagement options | Merchants primarily focused on customer acquisition through referrals |
Target Merchant BLOY Rewards Program & LoyaltyMerchants seeking to build a full-fledged loyalty program with diverse engagement options Gather: Refer a FriendMerchants primarily focused on customer acquisition through referrals | ||
| Value Proposition | Increase customer lifetime value through a comprehensive loyalty ecosystem | Generate new customers through automated and personalized referral programs |
Value Proposition BLOY Rewards Program & LoyaltyIncrease customer lifetime value through a comprehensive loyalty ecosystem Gather: Refer a FriendGenerate new customers through automated and personalized referral programs | ||
| Support | 24/7 Support | Not specified |
Support BLOY Rewards Program & Loyalty24/7 Support Gather: Refer a FriendNot specified | ||
| Program Types | Points, Rewards, VIP Tiers, Membership, Referral | Single or Tiered Reward System, One-sided or Two-sided Rewards, Sales growth, Lead Generation |
Program Types BLOY Rewards Program & LoyaltyPoints, Rewards, VIP Tiers, Membership, Referral Gather: Refer a FriendSingle or Tiered Reward System, One-sided or Two-sided Rewards, Sales growth, Lead Generation | ||
Our Verdict
For merchants seeking a holistic loyalty solution incorporating various reward mechanisms beyond just referrals, BLOY Rewards Program & Loyalty is the better choice. It provides a comprehensive suite of features designed to improve customer retention and encourage repeat purchases through points, rewards, VIP tiers, and referral programs. On the other hand, Gather: Refer a Friend is ideal for merchants who prioritize customer acquisition through referrals and seek an automated, personalized solution to turn their existing customer base into a powerful acquisition channel. If referrals are your sole focus, Gather will likely be a more efficient and effective solution.
Common Questions
Which app is better for creating VIP tiers?
BLOY Rewards Program & Loyalty explicitly mentions VIP tiers as a key feature, making it the better option for merchants prioritizing tiered loyalty programs.
Which app focuses more on new customer acquisition?
Gather: Refer a Friend is laser-focused on new customer acquisition through referral programs. Its description emphasizes activating the existing customer base as a new acquisition channel.
Does BLOY Rewards Program & Loyalty offer referral functionality?
Yes, BLOY Rewards Program & Loyalty includes referral rewards as one of its key features, making it a potential option if you need a general loyalty program and some referral capability.
Which app is easier to integrate with email marketing?
Gather: Refer a Friend mentions direct integration with Klaviyo, making it a potentially stronger option for direct integration with email. BLOY doesn't explicitly mention email platform integrations.
Which app offers more comprehensive support?
BLOY Rewards Program & Loyalty emphasizes 24/7 support, indicating a potentially higher level of customer assistance.
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