Built for Shopify is the status Shopify grants an app that meets all of its app quality criteria and passes a review by Shopify's app review team. The badge on each listing carries Shopify's own line: "Meets our highest standards for performance, design, and integration." For a Shopify Plus brand choosing a loyalty app, it is a public check that the app runs inside the Shopify admin and keeps the storefront fast.
We read each app's own Shopify App Store listing, Shopify's developer documentation and its technology partner directory on November 2, 2026. Badges change, so every status carries that date.
TL;DR: Smile is our pick for Shopify Plus brands that want a loyalty platform Shopify has checked twice: it holds the Built for Shopify badge and is a Shopify Certified Technology Partner, with a SOC 2 Type II audit (May 2026). As of November 2, 2026, BON, Joy, Growave, Appstle Loyalty and Essent also hold the badge; Yotpo, LoyaltyLion and Okendo are in Shopify's technology partner directory without it, and Rivo holds neither. More Shopify Plus brands run loyalty on Smile than on any other platform (Store Leads, October 2026).
Quick Comparison Table
| App | Best for | Built for Shopify | Technology Partner | 2026 Build Award | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smile | Shopify Plus and enterprise brands | 4.9 | |||
| BON | Unlimited orders at a flat price | 5.0 | |||
| Joy | POS and wallet passes on a mid-priced plan | 4.9 | |||
| Growave | Loyalty, reviews and wishlists in one app | 4.8 | |||
| Appstle Loyalty | Loyalty beside Appstle Subscriptions | 5.0 | |||
| Essent | Pricing on loyalty-influenced orders | 5.0 | |||
| Yotpo Loyalty | Brands on Yotpo Reviews | 4.7 | |||
| LoyaltyLion | Klaviyo flows and page design done by its team | 4.7 | |||
| Okendo | Reviews, loyalty, quizzes and surveys in one platform | 4.8 | |||
| Rivo | Fast-growing DTC brands, by its own positioning | 4.7 |
From each app's Shopify App Store listing and Shopify's technology partner directory, November 2, 2026. Built for Shopify and 2026 Build Award: the badge in the listing's own header. Technology Partner: the vendor is listed in Shopify's technology partner directory.
What the Built for Shopify Badge Means
Shopify calls Built for Shopify status "the highest level of recognition and achievement that an app can reach" (shopify.dev, read November 2, 2026). An app meets every criterion, then applies, and Shopify's app review team checks it. The criteria:
| Area | What Shopify requires |
|---|---|
| Proven usefulness | At least 50 net installs from active shops on paid plans, five reviews and a minimum recent rating |
| Admin performance | Web Vitals at the 75th percentile of page loads: LCP 2.5 seconds or less, CLS 0.1 or less, INP 200 milliseconds or less |
| Storefront speed | No more than a 10 point drop in the store's Lighthouse performance score |
| Integration | Embedded in the Shopify admin, core workflows inside Shopify, sign up with Shopify credentials, theme app extensions for a clean uninstall, no theme file edits |
| Design | Shopify's admin UX practices, mobile friendly, no false claims or pressure tactics |
| Category rules | Apps that create discounts use Shopify's discount functions or discount APIs |
Shopify re-reviews every badge holder each year, and an app that stops meeting a criterion has 60 days to fix it before it loses the status.
The requirements have no loyalty-specific section, and they do not ask for a penetration test, round-the-clock support or load testing. Those sit in Shopify's second program.
The Second Shopify Signal: Certified Technology Partner
Shopify's Certified Technology Partner Program holds app vendors to requirements "intended to provide the best Shopify Plus merchant experience" (Shopify Help Center, read November 2, 2026). Among them, Shopify requires every Certified Technology Partner to:
- Run an annual independent third-party penetration test, following OWASP and NIST methods.
- Encrypt Shopify API tokens and personal data at rest (AES-128 or higher) and personal data in transit (TLS 1.2 or higher).
- Offer 24/7 support worldwide, with a status page and an on-call team.
- Load test at Shopify Plus volumes, including Black Friday Cyber Monday peaks, every annual certification cycle.
- Hold a 99.9% uptime service level objective.
- Keep an app rating above 4.0 once the app has five reviews.
Shopify notes that Certified Technology Partners are not required to meet all Built for Shopify requirements: the programs are separate, so a vendor can hold one, both or neither.
Partners appear in Shopify's technology partner directory, which listed 96 partners on November 2, 2026. Loyalty vendors in it include Smile, Yotpo, LoyaltyLion and Okendo, with Rise.ai (store credit and gift cards) and ReferralCandy (referrals and affiliates) beside them. The directory lists companies, not individual apps. Of the 49 apps in Shopify's Built for Shopify filter for Loyalty and rewards that day, two come from vendors in the directory: Smile and ReferralCandy.
For a Shopify Plus brand, the two signals answer different questions. Built for Shopify says the app works inside Shopify without slowing the admin or the storefront. Certified Technology Partner says the vendor is set up for Plus volumes, security reviews and peak weekends.
The Six Badge Holders, Reviewed
1. Smile: Best for Shopify Plus and Enterprise Brands
Rating: 4.9 on the Shopify App Store · Built for Shopify · Technology Partner · 2026 Build Award winner · SOC 2 Type II
Smile is the loyalty platform for Shopify Plus and enterprise brands: points, VIP tiers and referrals, online, at checkout, in customer accounts and in store. Its listing shows the Built for Shopify badge and a 2026 Build Award winner badge, and Smile is a Shopify Certified Technology Partner with a SOC 2 Type II audit (May 2026). Shopify's 2026 Build Awards guide (July 22, 2026) names three app winners and describes Smile as "a loyalty platform open to extension."
On Shopify Plus, members redeem points at checkout. Loyalty Hub puts the program in Shopify customer accounts in 20+ languages, and Shopify POS is on every plan, with one balance online and in store.
Best for: Shopify Plus and enterprise brands that want both Shopify signals and one program across checkout, customer accounts and every store.
Plans: Growth is $199 a month with 2,500 monthly orders, VIP tiers and Loyalty Hub; Smile Plus is $999 a month, billed annually, with 7,500 orders, a migration and launch plan and API access; Smile Enterprise is custom, for retailers over $40M in annual revenue (smile.io/pricing, November 2026). Model your cost with the pricing calculator.
Customer proof: Fiesta Tableware, a Shopify Plus brand, runs its Plate Pal Perks program on Smile with four VIP tiers, and members show a 457% increase in lifetime value.
2. BON: Best for Unlimited Orders at a Flat Price
Rating: 5.0 on the Shopify App Store · Built for Shopify · Technology Partner
BON's Growth plan, $129 a month, covers unlimited monthly orders with VIP tiers and B2B tiers. Shopify POS starts on Basic, $29 for 500 orders, and its Plus plan, by quote, adds API access, an SDK and Hydrogen support (pricing page, November 2, 2026).
Where BON is strong: a 5.0 rating and unlimited orders on one flat plan.
Best for: high-volume Shopify brands that want a flat monthly price. See Smile vs BON.
3. Joy: Best for POS and Wallet Passes on a Mid-Priced Plan
Rating: 4.9 on the Shopify App Store · Built for Shopify · Technology Partner
Joy's Advanced plan, $129 a month with 2,000 orders, adds VIP tiers, a POS loyalty extension and Apple and Google Wallet passes. Its top plan, Ultimate, at $499 with 7,000 orders, adds checkout UI loyalty extensions, a REST API and 24/7 priority support with an SLA (pricing page, November 2, 2026).
Where Joy is strong: in-store rewards and wallet passes below its top plan.
Best for: Shopify brands that want POS and wallet passes on a mid-priced plan. See Smile vs Joy.
4. Growave: Best for Loyalty, Reviews and Wishlists in One App
Rating: 4.8 on the Shopify App Store · Built for Shopify · Technology Partner
Growave's listing puts loyalty, wishlists and reviews in one app. Growth, $199 a month with 1,500 orders, adds VIP tiers and a Shopify POS loyalty QR code; Plus, $499 with 3,000 orders, adds checkout extensions, headless API and SDK access, a customer success manager and a launch plan (pricing page, November 2, 2026).
Where Growave is strong: loyalty, reviews, wishlists and Instagram UGC from one vendor.
Best for: brands consolidating retention apps.
5. Appstle Loyalty: Best for Loyalty Beside Appstle Subscriptions
Rating: 5.0 on the Shopify App Store · Built for Shopify · Technology Partner
Appstle Loyalty's listing names Appstle Subscription and Recharge among the apps it works with. Business, $30 a month for up to 2,000 orders, adds VIP tiers; Business Premium, $100 for 5,000, adds checkout redemption on Shopify Plus (listing, November 2, 2026, in USD at its stated rate).
Where Appstle is strong: low monthly prices and a listed link to Appstle's subscriptions app.
Best for: subscription brands already on Appstle.
6. Essent: Best for Pricing on Loyalty-Influenced Orders
Rating: 5.0 on the Shopify App Store · Built for Shopify · Technology Partner
Essent counts "loyalty influenced orders", meaning repeat sales and referrals, rather than every store order. Starter is $10 a month for 500 such orders, Essential $24 for 1,500 and Growth $79 for 5,000, which adds checkout redemption on Shopify Plus and unlimited VIP tiers (listing, November 2, 2026, in USD at its stated rate).
Where Essent is strong: a usage count built on repeat and referral orders.
Best for: brands that want to pay on loyalty-driven orders.
Loyalty Apps Without the Badge
These four did not show the badge on their listings on November 2, 2026; three are in Shopify's technology partner directory.
- Yotpo Loyalty (4.7): in the technology partner directory. A fit for brands on Yotpo Reviews; its listing names 20+ out-of-the-box campaigns. See Smile vs Yotpo.
- LoyaltyLion (4.7): in the directory. Its listing offers a loyalty page design, onboarding support and "Klaviyo loyalty flows built for you." See Smile vs LoyaltyLion.
- Okendo (4.8): in the directory. Its listing describes one platform for reviews, loyalty, surveys, quizzes and referrals.
- Rivo (4.7): in neither. Its listing offers a developer toolkit and weekly product updates. Rivo's blog said on July 17, 2026 that its listing carried the badge; the listing did not show it on November 2, 2026. See Smile vs Rivo.
How to Verify Badge and Partner Status
- Open the app's own listing on apps.shopify.com, not a vendor page or a roundup. The badge sits under the app's name, above Pricing; cards under "More apps like this" carry their own.
- Search the technology partner directory by company name. It lists vendors, not apps.
- Ask for the evidence. Request a SOC 2 Type II report, a recent penetration test summary and a data processing agreement. Smile's Trust Center holds all three.
How to Choose a Built for Shopify Loyalty App
| If you need | Look at |
|---|---|
| Built for Shopify and a Certified Technology Partner, with a SOC 2 Type II report | Smile |
| Checkout redemption, Loyalty Hub in customer accounts and Shopify POS in one Shopify Plus program | Smile |
| A switch from another loyalty app planned and run by the vendor's team, with quarterly monitoring | Smile (Smile Plus) |
| Unlimited monthly orders at a flat price | BON |
| POS and wallet passes on a mid-priced plan | Joy |
| Loyalty, reviews and wishlists in one app | Growave |
| Loyalty beside Appstle Subscriptions | Appstle Loyalty |
| Pricing on loyalty-influenced orders | Essent |
| Reviews and loyalty from one vendor, badge not required | Yotpo Loyalty or Okendo |
| Klaviyo flows built by the vendor's team, badge not required | LoyaltyLion |
The badge covers app quality; a test order through checkout, a customer account and one store covers fit. See launching a Shopify Plus loyalty program and how much a loyalty program costs.
Where Smile Stands Out for Shopify Plus Brands
BON, Joy, Growave, Appstle Loyalty and Essent hold the badge too, and all ten apps here list Checkout, Customer accounts and Shopify POS on their listings (November 2026). Where Smile stands out:
- Both Shopify signals, plus the audit. Built for Shopify, a Shopify Certified Technology Partner and SOC 2 Type II audited (May 2026), with the report in its Trust Center. See Smile for enterprise.
- Recognized by Shopify for the platform. A 2026 Build Award winner, with API access on Smile Plus and a JavaScript SDK for headless and Hydrogen stores.
- One program across Shopify Plus. Redemption at Shopify Plus checkout and Loyalty Hub in Shopify customer accounts, in 20+ languages, from Growth; Shopify POS on every plan.
- A team for the switch. Smile Plus adds a migration and launch plan run by Smile's team, quarterly program monitoring and priority support (switch to Smile).
Customer proof: Blue Banana, a Shopify Plus streetwear brand with 20+ retail stores in Spain, moved its Adventure Pass program from LoyaltyLion to Smile in one week, live online and in every store; member LTV rose 10% within its first 30 days.
More options: the best loyalty apps for Shopify Plus and enterprise loyalty platforms for ecommerce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which loyalty and rewards apps are Built for Shopify? As of November 2, 2026, Smile, BON, Joy, Growave, Appstle Loyalty and Essent show the Built for Shopify badge on their Shopify App Store listings, and Shopify's Built for Shopify filter for Loyalty and rewards returns 49 apps. Yotpo Loyalty, LoyaltyLion, Okendo and Rivo do not show the badge.
What does Built for Shopify mean for a loyalty app? Shopify's app review team has checked the app against Shopify's highest standards for performance, design and integration, from admin speed and storefront impact to a clean uninstall. Shopify reviews the status every year.
Which loyalty apps are Shopify certified? Shopify runs two programs. Built for Shopify certifies an app's quality: Smile, BON, Joy, Growave, Appstle Loyalty and Essent hold it (November 2, 2026). The Certified Technology Partner Program reviews vendors for Shopify Plus readiness: Smile, Yotpo, LoyaltyLion and Okendo are in its directory. Every public app also passes Shopify's app review before listing.
What is the difference between Built for Shopify and a Shopify Certified Technology Partner? Built for Shopify is a status for one app, shown as a badge on its listing. Certified Technology Partner is a program for the vendor, built around Shopify Plus: an annual penetration test, 24/7 support worldwide, load testing at Plus volumes and a 99.9% uptime objective. Shopify runs them separately; Smile holds both.
Is Smile Built for Shopify? Yes. Smile's Shopify App Store listing shows the Built for Shopify badge and a 2026 Build Award winner badge (November 2, 2026). Smile is also a Shopify Certified Technology Partner and SOC 2 Type II audited (May 2026).
What is the best Built for Shopify loyalty app for Shopify Plus? For Shopify Plus brands, Smile is our pick as of November 2026: Built for Shopify, a Shopify Certified Technology Partner and a 2026 Build Award winner, with checkout redemption, Loyalty Hub and Shopify POS in one program. BON suits brands that want unlimited orders at a flat price, and Joy suits brands that want POS and wallet passes on a mid-priced plan.
Can a loyalty app lose its Built for Shopify badge? Yes. Shopify reviews Built for Shopify apps every year and monitors the criteria in between. An app that fails one has 60 days to fix it before the status is removed, and regains the badge automatically once it meets every criterion again.
