Why go digital
The paper punch card works. Until it doesn't.
Most small businesses in the US start a loyalty program the same way: a stack of cards from the print shop and a stamp by the register. It is cheap and customers understand it at a glance. The problems show up later. Cards get lost, washed or left in another wallet. Anyone with a matching stamp can fill one in. And you never learn who your regulars are, so you cannot tell whether the program is bringing anyone back.
A digital punch card keeps the part that works, "buy 9, get the 10th free", and fixes the rest. It sits in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet next to boarding passes and tickets, so it is in the customer's pocket every time they walk past your door.
| Paper punch card | Bonuxo digital punch card | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it lives | A wallet, a drawer, the laundry | Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, on the phone |
| Who adds a punch | Anyone with a similar stamp or pen | Only your team, from the Scanner app |
| Reminders | None | Notifications on the card itself, with no per-message fee |
| Changing the reward | Reprint the cards | Edit it in the dashboard |
| Knowing who comes back | No way to tell | Every visit recorded, with program health on Plus |
How it works
From QR code to free coffee
- Design your card. Pick stamps (the classic punch card) or another card type, set the reward, add your logo and brand color, and preview it the way it looks in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet.
- Put the QR code on the counter. Download printable signage, a poster, a counter card or a handout, with your sign-up QR already on it. You can also share the link on social media.
- Customers save the card. They scan the QR, fill in a short form and add the card to their wallet. No app, no password to remember.
- Punch it at the register. The Scanner finds the customer by name, phone number or the QR on their card. One tap adds the punch; when the card is full, the same screen redeems the reward.
More than punches
Five loyalty card types for small businesses
A punch card is the right start for a coffee shop, a barbershop or a car wash, where every visit is worth about the same. When tickets vary a lot, points or cashback are fairer. You choose one type per card.
Stamps
All plansThe classic punch card: for example, 8 stamps earn one free coffee.
Points
Plus and aboveCustomers earn points on each purchase and redeem them for rewards from your catalog.
Cashback
Plus and aboveA percentage of each purchase comes back as balance the customer can use at the counter.
Progressive discount
Plus and aboveThe discount grows with the number of visits, on tiers you define. The Scanner shows the current tier; you apply the discount at your register.
Membership
Plus and aboveBenefits for paying members. Bonuxo does not charge the membership fee: you record payments you collected yourself and the card shows the member status.
The card reminds them
Notifications without SMS fees
A paper card cannot tell a customer that they are one punch away from a free sandwich. A wallet card can. Bonuxo sends these notices to the card itself, so there is no SMS bill and no opt-in to another channel:
- A welcome message when the customer joins
- A nudge when the customer is close to a reward, and when a reward is ready to redeem
- A new coupon, and a reminder before it expires
- A birthday message, with a gift you configure (Plus)
- A "we miss you" message after a stretch without visits
- A reminder that points are about to expire, when you turn expiry on for a card
- A proximity message when the customer is near your location (Apple devices only, with text you write)
Pricing in the United States
US$25, US$45 and from US$70 per month
- Lite
- US$25/month
- or US$250/year (2 months free)
- One location and one stamp card, for up to 300 customers. The simplest way to replace the paper card.
- Plus
- US$45/month
- or US$450/year (2 months free)
- Every card type, unlimited customers, targeted campaigns, a birthday gift and analytics. The free trial starts here.
- Enterprise
- from US$70/month
- or from US$700/year (2 months free)
- Two locations included, a multi-location panel and per-customer recommendations.
Prices in US dollars. Your customers pay nothing: the card, the customer page and the notifications are the same on every plan. Online payment is not available yet. Payment is coordinated with our team at the end of the trial.
Choosing a loyalty program for a small business
Five questions to ask any digital loyalty card provider
- Do customers have to download an app? Every extra step loses people at the register. With Bonuxo they scan a QR and save the card to the wallet already on their phone.
- Is there a per-message cost? SMS reminders add up. Bonuxo notifications go to the wallet card at no extra cost.
- Can it grow past a punch card? Bonuxo has stamps on every plan and points, cashback, progressive discount and membership on Plus.
- Can I try it with real customers? The 14-day trial needs no credit card and starts on Plus, so every card type is available.
- What is not included? Ask, and get a straight answer. Ours is below.
Good to know
What is not available yet
- Online payment for the subscription is not available yet. During the trial there is nothing to pay, and at the end of it payment is coordinated with our team.
- The privacy policy, terms, cookie notice and data deletion page are available in English, but they are general texts. Legal texts specific to your country are not available yet.
- Marketing emails to your customers are not available in English yet. Notifications to your customers go to the wallet card.
- There is no SMS or WhatsApp channel to your customers.
- There are no ready-made integrations with point-of-sale systems used in your country yet. A developer can connect any POS or register through the POS API and signed webhooks.
More for US businesses: Restaurant and coffee shop loyalty program · Free punch card template · Bonuxo in the United States.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is a digital punch card?
It is the paper punch card moved to the customer's phone. The customer saves it in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, you add a punch (a stamp) at the counter, and the card shows how many are left before the reward.
Is a digital loyalty card the same as a loyalty card app?
Not quite. A loyalty app has to be found in an app store, downloaded and opened. A Bonuxo card lives in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, which already come with the phone, so the customer joins by scanning a QR code and never installs anything.
How much does Bonuxo cost in the United States?
Lite is US$25/month, Plus is US$45/month and Enterprise is from US$70/month, in US dollars. Paying for the year gives you 2 months free. Online payment is not available yet. Payment is coordinated with our team at the end of the trial.
Is there a free trial?
Yes, 14 days with no credit card. The 14-day free trial starts on the Plus plan and you do not pick a plan when you sign up; you choose Lite or Enterprise later from the Subscription page of your dashboard.
Can customers cheat a digital punch card?
Not the way they can with paper. Only your team can add a punch, from the Scanner app, and every punch is recorded with its date. There is nothing to copy, stamp at home or fill in with a pen.
Do I need special hardware at the counter?
No. The Scanner is a light web app that opens in a browser tab on the phone, tablet or computer you already have. It finds the customer by name, phone number or the QR on their card.