Restaurant loyalty is one of the best ways to grow restaurant revenue and your overall customer base. The hallmark of a great loyalty program combines customer engagement and consistent retention techniques to increase revenue over time.
It may feel like something of a long game, but loyalty traffic has doubled in the last five years (2019 to 2024), according to the data agency Circana LLC. Loyal customers account for 39% of all restaurant visits, with loyalty members making 22% more visits than nonmembers.
Restaurant loyalty is more important than ever, and a great rewards program will allow you to find success in an industry where customer counts are being squeezed. Surprise-and-delight rewards are a differentiator, and the software in this guide helps identify the competitive edge in this space.
Review my top five best restaurant loyalty program software in 2025 to turn one-time visits into repeat customers. Then keep reading for my thoughts on loyalty program examples from some of the biggest franchises in the game.
- Square for Restaurants: Best overall restaurant loyalty and rewards software
- UpMenu: Best for upselling in restaurants
- Stamp Me: Best standalone solution for cafes and bakeries
- Lunchbox.io: Best for quick-service restaurants (QSRs)
- Toast: Best restaurant rewards program for customer personalization
Best restaurant loyalty software compared
| My score | Key features | Starting price per month | Free trial? | |
 Square for Restaurants | 4.66/5 | • Robust loyalty features • In-depth data tracking • Tier-based loyalty available | $69 for base POS + $45 for loyalty add-on | Yes |
| Visit Square for Restaurants | ||||
 UpMenu | 4.24/5 | • Great upselling features • Gamification tools are robust • Very accessible customer service | $49/restaurant for base software + $19/restaurant for loyalty add-on | Yes |
| Visit UpMenu | ||||
 Stamp Me | 4.16/5 | • Old-school punch card reimagined • Great mobile app • Great customer behavior monitoring | $49 | Yes |
| Visit Stamp Me | ||||
 Lunchbox.io | 3.98/5 | • Numerous app integrations • Reporting tools have great filter options • Tier-based loyalty programs are available | Quote | No |
| Visit Lunchbox.io | ||||
 Toast | 3.82/5 | • Guestbook takes customer organization a step further • Great mobile app • Tiered-loyalty offered | $69 for base POS + a custom quote for the Marketing Suite add-on | No |
| Visit Toast | ||||
Square for Restaurants: Best overall restaurant loyalty software
Pros
Cons
Square for Restaurants often finds itself in our restaurant tech guides, and it is no exception when it comes to customer loyalty. I would argue that when you think of customer loyalty in restaurants, you often think of Square. Their focus on engaging customers, building out loyalty tools, and really offering a robust rewards system is what puts them ahead of the competition. You would be hard-pressed to find a loyalty and rewards program that is more in-depth.
They do miss out on some minor details, such as a lack of A/B testing and true gamification processes. You will also need to have a Square POS system to use this, but due to how popular the POS system is, that’s likely not an issue for many.
Between Square’s amazing sales and rewards data, the robust tiered rewards programs, and the ability to integrate with third-party apps, it’s by far the best option for restaurant loyalty and rewards software in 2025.
I give examples of brands such as Chipotle and Dunkin’ later in this guide, and the type of loyalty programs those brands have built are akin to Square’s. The difference is that Square’s offerings fit within the realm of independent restaurants, coffee shops, pizzerias, and local food groups.
Pricing
- Free: $0/month/location + processing fees
- Plus: $69/month/location + processing fees
- Premium: $165/location/month + processing fees
- Square loyalty add-on:
- $45/calendar month/location for 0-500 loyalty visits
- $75/calendar month/location for 501-1,500 loyalty visits
- $105/calendar month/location for 1,501-10,000 loyalty visits
Tier-based rewards: Square for Restaurants offers tier-based rewards for your customers. What I really like about their tiers is the fact that you can now have more loyal customers gain rewards faster. For example, a bronze tier can earn reward points at a multiple of 1.5, while gold tier members can earn points three times faster. This avalanche effect of point earnings is great for rapid customer retention.
Robust data: Square offers great data analytics for when you’re executing a loyalty campaign. You can get insight into top loyalty customers, loyalty-attributed sales, and average spend by loyalty customers vs non-loyalty customers. All of this is crucial for determining the success of your rewards campaigns.
Track customer activity: Square allows you to track your customer activity, allowing you to personalize offers and interactions. You can then optimize promotions to specific customers and learn what’s resonating during your rewards campaign. Square easily shows you where your customers stand in their loyalty tracking to help you encourage them to return and reach loyalty goals through spending.
Promotions: Square allows you to run promotions with points multipliers, making it that much easier to fill in slower business hours. Think earning 3x the points on Tuesdays, or getting 10 more points for simply dining in on Mother’s Day. Promotions like this help fill in business gaps and make your restaurant more appealing than others.
Digital loyalty passes: Another great tool Square offers is digital loyalty passes. Customers can add these passes to an Apple or Google wallet for easy scanning at checkout. Digital cards also present key information, such as a points balance, membership length, and the customer’s last visit date.
UpMenu: Best restaurant rewards software for upselling & increasing check sizes
Pros
Cons
UpMenu is a great loyalty rewards tool for restaurants that find value in upselling their customers. The loyalty program is built to retain and excite customers, pulling them back in so that you can then sell them key menu items that they will crave.
The loyalty is built around getting your customer base seated in the dining room and delighting them with rewards, while you sell them menu items that can then increase your average check size. It’s great for restaurants with a wide variety of menu items or fine dining locations looking for an elegant solution to customer rewards.
The two main drawbacks to this system are the lack of tiered rewards and the lack of in-depth behavior tracking of your customers. Additionally, SMS messaging costs extra, and some loyalty features are not as deep as Square’s or as simple as Stamp Me’s. UpMenu boasts great customer service availability and offers some thoughtful games for reward program retention.
Overall, UpMenu is great for high-volume restaurants, fine dining restaurants, or restaurants with menu items at varying price points. It delivers a competent customer loyalty program that is engaging, easy to use, and focused on ensuring your average check size increases. If this sounds like a positive to you, then UpMenu is your best bet.
Pricing
- Basic: $49/month/restaurant
- Standard: $89/month/restaurant
- Premium: $169/month/restaurant
- Loyalty program add-on: $19/month/restaurant
Online ordering integration: While online ordering is in the Standard tier, this integration can be useful for building loyalty for online customers. You can sync the loyalty program for online orders, allowing customers in your rewards program to receive points automatically whenever they place an online order. You can even choose how menu items offer rewards, which can be great when targeting certain items to be sold.
Customers can collect points offline: Another unique aspect of UpMenu is the ability for customers to collect points offline. All transactions are saved via mobile device and then later synced, ensuring your customers can track their rewards both on and offline.
Easy to retain customers and upsell: UpMenu focuses on easy customer retention and claims to be able to increase the average order value by 25%. This can be huge for restaurants with thin margins, so being able to target higher order values through retention and thoughtful customer engagement is quite useful.
Automation tools: UpMenu offers key automation tools for your restaurant. You can auto-apply discounts, coupons, and promotions to different menu items. By controlling your menu promotions, you can both improve upsells and offer great deals for those in your rewards program.
Seamless integrations: If you have your tech stack at your restaurant dialed in, then UpMenu might be your best bet. They offer integrations with many different POS systems such as Lavu, Toast, and Revel. They also integrate with Meta, Apple, Uber Eats, and many more applications.
Stamp Me: Best standalone restaurant loyalty app for coffee shops and bakeries
Pros
Cons
Stamp Me takes the original loyalty program idea, the punch card, and reimagines it. The goal of Stamp Me is to be a simple, seamless tool that tracks customer loyalty for restaurants and other food businesses. Their seamless and simple aesthetic is a big positive for users, and I can see why.
The mobile app design is pristine and really stands out in a world of cluttered tech. Stamp Me also allows push notifications and SMS updates, ensuring your customers stay informed.
Stamp Me is the most straightforward tool in our guide. It’s best used as a customer loyalty tracker, with digital punch cards being what they do best. Though a Lightspeed integration is on the way, as of this writing, it doesn’t come with POS integrations (just project management, communication, and workflow app integrations with tools like Zapier), tiered loyalty options, or A/B testing for loyalty campaigns.
Their customer support can be limited as well, but these drawbacks don’t take away from the fact that Stamp Me is a leader in the restaurant customer loyalty space. If yours is a small restaurant, cafe, or bakery, and you’re fine running your operation on a series of standalone apps and tech solutions, then Stamp Me is likely the right choice for you.
While Square for Restaurants is also a great coffee shop tool, Stamp Me is best for those who really just need simple loyalty tier tracking. While the backend data and customer-facing tools are robust with Stamp Me, the actual user interface is meant to be seamless. If you are a cafe or bakery, this software does well, as it reduces the time at the counter due to its seamless loyalty tracking.
Pricing
- Lite: $49/month
- Pro: $100/month (includes SMS and push notifications)
- Elite: $199/month (includes full suite of features)
Gamification tools: Stamp Me offers gamification tools for rewards, such as scratch-and-win games, starting in its mid-tier subscription. That being said, the different mini games they offer customers are engaging and may be worth the extra price, especially when trying to build high-retention customers for a coffee shop.
Stamp collection: “Stamps” are the rewards your customers receive through Stamp Me. Think of it as their digital currency. Stamp Me offers a variety of ways to collect these, from their own Stamp Pod to merchant codes, and even through a future Lightspeed POS integration. The Stamp collection is novel and can be a great way for customers to engage with your loyalty program.
Follow-up SMS messaging: Stamp Me is great for those who want to follow up with customers who have not been in for a while. Stamp Me will send out messages to customers who have not visited in a while, reminding them of accumulated rewards, and even tailoring offers just for those you want to win back.
Intuitive analytic dashboard: Stamp Me has a very easy-to-use dashboard, allowing you to track the success of your rewards campaigns with ease. You can track customers in real time, send communications, set up campaigns, and even edit your stamp cards all through the dashboard. This is a great tool for those who need a simple way to manage their rewards.
Cafe shop pros: The reason why I believe that Stamp Me is great for cafes and bakeries is due to the repeat purchases these businesses need. The idea of a stamp card originates in coffee shops, so to modernize it and keep cafes top-of-mind for customers who may have many coffee options is important when building a loyal customer base.
Lunchbox.io: Best restaurant loyalty system for QSRs
Pros
Cons
The biggest downside to Lunchbox.io is the total lack of pricing transparency. This software has all of the tools you need to build out a robust customer loyalty program. Its tools are specifically tailored to QSR restaurants, with brands such as Firehouse Subs and Paris Baguette being noted customers.
The variety of loyalty programs they offer is staggering, focusing on tiered programs, bankable points, base programs, loyalty bonuses, and more. Their attention to retaining a customer base that is focused on the QSR space is well documented and is a great fit for concepts that fit within that sector of the industry.
It truly is a shame how much this software lacks in my pricing evaluation. It’s hard to say if this solution would serve those outside of the multi-unit, QSR space. Beyond the lack of pricing transparency, no free trial is included either, making it even more difficult to get a sense of whether or not this is the right software for you.
If you own multi-unit QSRs, then this may be worth the lack of that knowledge, but I find it hard to see other restaurant owners trying out this software without more pricing information.
Overall, QSR concepts rely on customer retention for success. Lunchbox.io delivers a powerful suite of loyalty and rewards options that are sure to appeal to any customer base. If you fall into this category of foodservice professional, then I highly suggest looking into this software.
Pricing
Lunchbox.io doesn’t disclose pricing on its website but opts for a demo-only, custom-quote approach. Given that my rubric scores vendors on price ranges and transparency, I couldn’t award Lunchbox.io any points in this category.
Tiered programs: Lunchbox gives a ton of different options when it comes to loyalty programs. You can choose tiered options or base options, offering a classic rewards program or a dynamic one. You can also mix and match between bankable points, loyalty bonuses, and even the previous two methods combined.
Lunchbox.io delivers robust tiered-loyalty programs. (Source: Lunchbox.io)
QSR-focused tools: The ability to mix and match the tiers above ties into the very unique QSR-focused tools this software provides. By having the ability to modify your loyalty offerings dynamically, you can then ensure that customers are delighted to come back and earn different rewards on products that are generally similar on each visit.
Key insights dashboard: Lunchbox provides great integrations with other top restaurant marketing software, combining into a dashboard that allows you to manage your loyalty program along with your marketing. You can deliver emails. SMS messaging and even notifications based on program performance. All of this is key to engaging with customers and retaining them.
Subscriptions: Lunchbox offers subscriptions, great for QSR concepts. These subscriptions allow you to offer a model that is great for discounts, repeat customers, and building brand loyalty. Building out subscription programs is alluring to customers and creates a set amount of revenue each month that you can rely on.
Toast: Best restaurant rewards program for customer personalization
Pros
Cons
Toast’s POS system is world-class, and it is only natural that an element of their customer loyalty is reflected in this guide. Toast focuses on guest personalization, specifically with guest profiles. I believe their software effectively blends profile management with outreach on loyalty and rewards programs. Given the fact that this then ties back into their POS, it’s a robust and easy system to learn and use effectively.
The downside to Toast’s loyalty program is that it is tied specifically to Toast. This means you cannot integrate it into other POS systems, so if you are not a user of Toast, then you’re out of luck. Additionally, Toast’s pricing isn’t transparent, and it lacks some features.
Other features, such as behavior monitoring, are tied to additional costs. Overall, Toast’s loyalty program focuses on hassle-free access to rewards and offers. Their ability to keep robust guest profiles ties seamlessly with their reward program, making any loyalty options feel targeted and personalized.
Pricing
- Free: $0/month
- Point of Sale: $69/month
- Build Your Own: Custom pricing
- Marketing Suite add-on (with loyalty features): Custom pricing
Easy enrollment: Guests can enroll in your loyalty program in a breeze, using quick enrollment questions on-screen to make the process smooth and painless. Guests can enroll at the register, through a digital check, when placing an online order, and through a sign-up link.
Encourage guest behavior: You can do a variety of items, such as create time-of-day bonuses, dining option bonuses, or even deals such as double points for takeout orders. You can also personalize rewards for each customer and guide your customers to take the actions you want within your menu offering.
Customizable redemption options: You can choose how customers gain and redeem their rewards. You can offer free menu items, exclusive menu item offerings, and even cash back. You can also choose if guests earn points from each visit or the amount of money they spend.
Robust mobile app: Toast offers a great mobile app for customers dining at your restaurant, which you can manage from your Toast account’s loyalty dashboard. You can update each guest’s current loyalty progress individually, personalize birthday treats, and promote in-person and online orders. Easy access to perks and rewards reduced friction for customers who might need an incentive to visit you over someone else.
How to choose the right restaurant loyalty program
Choosing the right restaurant loyalty program is critical for the success of growing your customer base. The right restaurant loyalty program builds a brand identity for your business while also ensuring your customers keep wanting to come back and experience the services you offer.
Below are the steps I suggest you take when going about finding the right restaurant loyalty program for your restaurant.
1. Identify your restaurant loyalty goals
The one mistake many restaurant owners make when choosing a restaurant loyalty program is not deciding on the goals of the program. It’s important to know why you’re choosing software like this in the first place. Some owners want a program that helps increase check averages, while others want to build a more robust customer database. Figuring out your goals is the critical first step in making a decision.
2. Understand your customer base
To determine the best reward structure for your customers, it’s important to know your customer base, specifically if they’re tech-savvy and would benefit from an app-based program or if they would prefer a more traditional card-based program. Knowing if they’re motivated more by exclusivity or by tiered rankings is also key.
Several coffee shops in my area, for example, show available rewards on the customer checkout screen and give the option for customers to redeem rewards in the moment. It’s a fine system, but it also means customers are less likely to know how many rewards they’ve accumulated, which might not inspire additional visits.
Finally, knowing your business type and the time required to achieve a reward is important for consistent engagement of the reward software you are using.
3. Check for POS integrations
If you use one of the best restaurant POS systems, there’s a good chance you can get loyalty features added on. But if you’re using a more niche product, you might have to find a standalone loyalty solution. So understanding which systems integrate with one another is good to know.
A software can have all of the features you want or need, but if it doesn’t integrate with your POS data, then you are missing out on a lot of key information you could use to help build loyalty. When looking at this, you should also consider the ease of setup and onboarding so that you can be sure it’s worth your staff’s time.
4. Compare costs and ROI
Whenever I look at any kitchen software, I compare the cost of different options. Furthermore, I look at the ROI each one gives me and then determine which is the best fit. Some software types may cost more, but if they give a better ROI for your restaurant and help build loyalty, then those options are often better for your business in the long run.
5. Read reviews
The last piece of advice I will give on choosing the right rewards software is to read real-world reviews. By reading reviews, you can cut through restaurant marketing speak and get to the real pros and cons that restaurant owners like yourself face when using these tools.
Real-world reviews are key for understanding whether a software actually works in restaurants, and showcase different limitations that you cannot find out through traditional marketing or other resources.
Top restaurant loyalty program examples in real life
Where restaurant loyalty programs really work is with restaurants that can have tiers or goals that are attainable through multiple visits. And in these kinds of programs, the visit amounts are just right, not too few and not too many.
Furthermore, these loyalty programs complement the restaurant’s brand identity, rather than being a simple discount on a piece of food or drink. Here are some of the best restaurant loyalty programs currently on the market.
Panera
Panera’s loyalty program is great for its cafe-style service. They can build loyalty by offering free coffee or pastries. Due to the lower cost of baked goods, it’s easy to incentivize their customer base without losing out on the margins with their food costs.
Furthermore, their Unlimited Sip Club is a genius idea, in which, for $11.99 a month, customers can get unlimited select drinks. This type of loyalty builds an incentive for customers to keep coming back to maximize their rewards, spend more on other items, and increase overall visits.
Chipotle
Chipotle Rewards is based on dollars spent, where every $1 spent earns 10 points. This point accumulation is then used for different entrees and sides. The genius behind Chipotle’s program is the ability to add “Extra” points through different targeted campaigns or actions.
Chipotle customers can earn extra points during slower business hours or days and get perks like free guac on others. This strategy, in turn, drives traffic and sales when needed. This is an example of a points system that really helps fill in the gaps of business that each Chipotle location may have.
Starbucks
Starbucks is known for its customer rewards program, and its dedicated mobile app has a cult-like following. The Starbucks Rewards system works off a tiered program that uses stars to progress through tiers and earn more valuable rewards.
For example, a customer with 25 stars gets a free drink, whereas customers with 400 stars can redeem anything from free drip coffee and specialty drinks to breakfast and hot items, and even merchandise. This tiered system offers a ton of perks while encouraging people to climb the ranks in order to represent the brand and show their loyalty to it.
Every year, members have a chance to earn more stars and rewards through Starbucks for Life, a campaign where members play in-app mini-games. The more they play, the more chances they have to win free drinks and merchandise.
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A offers Chick-fil-A One, its own unique rewards program. Customers receive 10 points for every dollar they spend to progress through colored membership ranks: silver, red, and signature. Once a customer accumulates 1,000, 4,000, and 10,000 points, they rank up into the next tier.
Each tier has its perks, such as backstage kitchen tours, merch, and more for the most dedicated. The loyalty tiers create exclusivity and prestige within their customer base, and are an excellent example of building loyalty and goals for each customer.
Dunkin’
Dunkin’ uses gamification within their rewards, using a “Boosted Status” challenge to engage their customers. This status allows customers to earn more points per dollar spent if they complete specific tasks, such as visiting a Dunkin’ three times in a given week.
Their rewards app tracks these goals, which, in turn, engage customers to complete these tasks, much like in an RPG video game. This works because it rewards customers for their actions, strengthening their loyalty to Dunkin’ in the process.
Tips for creating a successful restaurant loyalty strategy
When it comes to successful restaurant loyalty strategies, the best ones combine restaurant marketing and POS software to achieve the customer retention they truly want.
That being said, there are some key tips and tricks you can use to ensure your customer rewards program drives traffic while also building your brand. Below are some tricks I see the most successful brands use to improve their restaurant’s rewards program.
Make rewards attainable
One of the major mistakes for new restaurant loyalty programs is that they don’t offer attainable rewards. If your rewards are too difficult to attain, it can negatively affect your company. Customers may view your brand as cheap or stingy (“rewards that aren’t actually rewards” is something we discussed recently in our weekly newsletter). Rewards should be attainable. After all, you’re rewarding consistent loyalty to your brand over others.
Add gamification for engagement
Gamification, like the example above with Dunkin’, works well due to the nature of this marketing technique. Challenges, streaks, and tier levels all incentivize your customers to reach goals during their visits to your restaurant, while also strengthening their motivation to work with your brand. AI-driven rewards can help strengthen gamification elements, so be sure to use them in tandem.
Keep the program simple
Simplicity is key when it comes to customer loyalty initiatives. The easier it is for customers to track their rewards and understand their standing with the restaurant, the better. By keeping it simple, you remove friction and make it easy for your customers to take part in the loyalty program.
Personalization is key
Whenever you have the opportunity to personalize an experience for your customer, take it. Personalization in loyalty programs instills a deep relationship for the customer with your restaurant, and the more you can act on this loyalty and buy-in, the better. Personalization allows the best loyalty programs to thrive and grow, and companies like Starbucks are perfect examples of this.
Offer exciting rewards
Free food and drinks are always a great reward, but I suggest you reserve higher-value rewards for your most loyal customers. I’m thinking of limited-drop merchandise, personal kitchen tours, or helping design the next weekly special as ways to make your most loyal guests feel exclusive and elite within your restaurant ecosystem.
Track and act on data
The last tip I have is to track your data and act on it. You may want your program to perform a certain way, but being able to analyze the data from your software and adjust your loyalty rewards program is key for it to succeed. Using data to tweak tiers, refocus rewards, and allow for adjustment to the overall program will help you address customer needs and build out a more craveable rewards program.
The future of restaurant loyalty programs/software
As with any technology, evolution and improvement in the restaurant loyalty program industry are happening. AI tools, different customer markets, and a desire for more personalization for each customer are driving innovation in the space. Below are some ideas I believe have a solid foundation in the evolving restaurant loyalty landscape.
AI tools
AI is a very powerful tool, especially when it comes to customer personalization. AI tools are able to monitor customer behavior and can work on identifying what works and what doesn’t within a loyalty program. Major restaurant brands, such as Applebee’s and IHOP, are looking to use AI in the order process to boost sales and increase customer visits.
This focus on AI allows restaurants to move more efficiently when deploying customer loyalty campaigns. AI will play a big role in data analysis, decision-making recommendations, and the next evolution of this software type.
SMS-based rewards
Being able to track and send customer rewards directly to a phone via a text or messaging app is gaining a lot of momentum. This simple loyalty program idea gives customers extremely easy access to their rewards while keeping their attention through targeted messaging campaigns.
Given the high open rates on SMS-based messaging, it’s easy to see why this loyalty communication method is gaining so much traction.
Tiered rewards
Tiered programs offer exclusivity to customers, which also effectively builds an extremely loyal customer-restaurant relationship. Experiential rewards such as VIP tasting menus, first-look menu items, and merchandise rewards all help create a tight-knit community of fans of your restaurant brand.
Tiered customer loyalty rewards can also give you a rating system on how dedicated your customer base is. That data can help you expand on your loyalty system earnings and reward rates.
Real-time loyalty updates
Real-time campaigns remind customers through messages, notifications, or emails that they are close to a reward or their next reward tier. Utilizing AI, location data, and behavior tracking will take these recommendations to the next level, personalizing each customer’s notifications and therefore creating their own restaurant loyalty rewards path.
Real-time updates are a proven method to encourage or remind customers of a restaurant, and the continued personalization of these updates will be a game-changer for customer retention and loyalty.
How I evaluated the best restaurant loyalty software
I evaluated the best restaurant loyalty software according to several key factors. First and foremost was price. Beyond that, I took into account the specific features each software used to ensure restaurants could execute on their loyalty program goals.
Below is a breakdown of my criteria and how I graded each in the guide.
Pricing: 25%
Pricing is always an important factor in any guide I work on, and this one is no exception. For this guide, I focused on whether a free trial was offered, and I awarded more points to vendors whose starting prices fell within a certain range.
I also looked for transparent pricing, as this is important from a consumer perspective, not only when it comes to affordability, but also speed to adoption. Engaging in a long sales process can delay progress and program launch. Finally, looking for a monthly billing plan was important, as loyalty software is not often a contractually focused piece of restaurant tech.
Core loyalty features: 35%
The core loyalty features took a big portion of the overall rating, focusing on how and why each software is great for restaurant loyalty. I took into account the reporting and data analytics tools offered, as this is key for ensuring your loyalty software investment is paying off.
Customer database tracking, POS integrations, and a mobile app were also considered in this section. Finally, I looked at email/SMS notifications for customers, and behavior monitoring that then reports back to the restaurant. Across these features, I gave higher points to vendors who had these available in base plans.
Advanced loyalty features: 10%
My advanced loyalty consideration focused on A/B testing, as this allows you to try different methods of loyalty outreach and determine the most effective approach. Tier-based programs are popular with customer groups, so having this has helped increase scores for some vendors.
I also looked for the ability to segment customers into groups, and if any gamification was offered to make it easier for customers to engage with your program.
Support: 15%
The support part of my consideration relied on the availability of customer service and whether any live support was offered. An onboarding or account manager was crucial in this section, as well as having a robust online help center for any user troubleshooting assistance.
Finally, I looked for any training webinars or product demos that provided a detailed walkthrough on how to use the software to its fullest extent.
Expert score: 15%
The expert score is my assessment of the service overall. This takes into account the value it offers for the price it charges, the features provided, and my personal experience with each tool and how they are implemented. I also looked for user reviews across reputable sites such as Capterra and G2 and took into account the volume of reviews that led to scores on these websites.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about restaurant loyalty and rewards software
As you can see throughout our guide, restaurant loyalty is a key aspect to ensuring you have a strong customer base and consistent traffic into your restaurant. That being said, a lot of questions remain regarding how to create a program that is both successful and compelling to your guests.
Below are some of the frequently asked questions regarding restaurant loyalty and rewards software.
Last bite
When it comes to restaurant loyalty and rewards software, the best offers personalization for customers and in-depth customization for restaurants. This software type is key for customer retention and higher check averages, so choosing the right one is critical.
Square for Restaurants tops my guide for the best loyalty program for a restaurant. Its robust tracking allows each customer to feel unique and that they are making real progress towards a meaningful reward. The backend tools used to implement the reward programs are also very robust, making Square both easy to implement and integral to building out a program that customers keep wanting to come back to.
