What is a digital loyalty card
It fits any business where customers come back, or should: cafés, bakeries, restaurants, hairdressers, shops, opticians or pharmacies.
Stamps or points?
- Stamps: one stamp per visit or product («the tenth coffee is free»). Very easy to understand, but a coffee counts the same as an 80 € purchase.
- Points: earned according to what is spent (for example, 1 point per euro) and redeemed for rewards of different value. It rewards those who spend more and works for any ticket.
If your purchases are all similar, stamps work. If the ticket varies a lot, points are fairer. RewardsCards works with points: you decide how many each euro earns and what each reward costs.
App, Wallet, card terminal or paper: the options
| Wallet | App | Terminal or till | Paper | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The customer needs… | To save it once with one button | To download the app | To pay by card on that terminal | To carry it |
| Sees their balance | Always, in the Wallet | By opening the app | Depends on the provider | By counting stamps |
| You must change your till or terminal | No | Depends on the integration | Yes | No |
| You know who buys | Yes | Yes | Depends on the provider | No |
The big obstacle for apps is that very few customers download an app for a single shop. The Wallet is already on the phone, so the card is saved with one button and stays in view without opening anything.
How it works without touching your till
- The customer signs up with a QR code at the counter or on your website: they leave their name and email and get the card to save in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.
- At the till, the assistant scans the card with their phone and enters the amount. The points appear on the customer’s card instantly.
- When they have enough for a reward, they redeem it by scanning the card in the same way. In the Wallet they see their balance and how far they are from the next reward.
It doesn’t depend on your till software or your card terminal: it works separately, with the assistant’s phone and the browser.
What to avoid
- A euro balance that can be spent across several shops. It can carry legal requirements similar to electronic money. Points you give away for purchases and redeem for rewards are much simpler; each reward can still be worth a discount in euros.
- Unreachable rewards. If the first reward is far away, customers forget. Better a close one and bigger ones after.
- A programme without limits. It helps to have limits (maximum amount per purchase, purchases per day) and to log every movement with the shop, the assistant and the time, to spot mistakes or cheating.
- Unexplained rules. How points are earned, which rewards exist and whether they expire must be written down and easy for customers to find.
What a points programme costs for a shop
There is a bit of everything: stamp apps with a monthly fee, points programmes tied to a till or payment provider, and platforms with integrations that cost more. RewardsCards is priced per year, fixed:
- Shop Plan: 149 € per venue a year, with unlimited customers. Each additional venue of the same shop, 79 € a year.
- Points for members: 99 € a year, if you already have CarnetCards: points go on the member’s own card.
VAT not included, with 7 days free. The dashboard is in Spanish for now. See RewardsCards and its pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Does the customer need to download an app?
No. They sign up with a QR code and save the card with one button to the Wallet their phone already has.
Do I need to change my till or card terminal?
No. The assistant scans the card with their phone and enters the amount; it doesn’t depend on any till provider.
How many points per euro?
You decide, as well as the rewards and how many points each one costs. One point per euro is the easiest to understand.
What if an assistant makes a mistake?
The movement can be cancelled from the dashboard, and every movement is logged with the shop, the assistant and the time.
Can I see who my best customers are?
Yes: the dashboard shows each customer’s purchases and redemptions, and you can download them as a spreadsheet.
Are points money?
No. They can’t be bought or exchanged for money, and they can only be redeemed for the rewards your shop offers, under your programme’s rules.
Updated: 13/10/2026 · businesscards.eco