What a loyalty program costs: paper cards, apps and wallet cards
By The Digicard team · Published 15 Oct 2026 · Facts checked
The short answer
For a café with 300 regulars a month, printing paper cards costs about US$66 a year in the US (₱2,700 in the Philippines). Digicard wallet cards cost US$72 (₱4,032 with VAT). Other wallet platforms run US$300 to US$2,388. Your own app starts at US$10,124 before hosting and upkeep.
Paper is the cheapest thing to print, and the only option where you never learn who your regulars are or have a way to reach them. If that matters, a wallet card costs a little more than paper. Build an app only if customers will also order or pay in it.
On features the gap is wider than on price. A wallet card needs no app, updates itself after every visit and lets you message customers; a subscription app such as Stamp Me does the same inside its own app, which customers must install. Digicard also gives you a record of every customer and an analytics dashboard, which paper never can. The feature table below shows what each one does today, and what Digicard is still building.
Features compared
What each option does, read from each vendor's own website on 15 Oct 2026. Where a vendor's site doesn't mention a feature we say so, rather than guess.
| Feature | Paper card | Stamp Me | Digicard |
|---|---|---|---|
| For your customers | |||
| No app for customers to install | Yes | NoCustomers use the Stamp Me app | Yes |
| Apple Wallet and Google Wallet | No | Not stated | Yes |
| Customer’s own card page (history, rewards ready) | No | Not stated | YesBalance, rewards ready and history |
| Card types | |||
| Stamp cards | Yes | YesMultiple stamp cards | Yes |
| Points and tiers | No | Not stated | Yes |
| At the counter | |||
| Staff scan from any phone | NoStamped or punched by hand | YesStamp codes, StampTag, StampPod or console | YesIn the browser |
| Running the program | |||
| One card across branches | PartialWorks anywhere, but no branch can see the balance | NoPlans list a single location | Yes |
| Customer records (a simple built-in CRM) | NoThe card records nothing about who holds it | PartialCustomer data insights; member data goes to your own CRM through Zapier | YesEvery customer in one searchable list, with their details, sign-up answers, balances, rewards and visits |
| Analytics dashboard | No | YesActivity insights | Yes |
| Marketing | |||
| Message customers on their card | No | YesPush notifications in the Stamp Me app | YesOne card or every cardholder |
| Integrations & data | |||
| Customer data export | No | Not stated | YesA spreadsheet of every customer, for the owner |
Yes Partial Planned Not stated No“Not stated” means the vendor's own site does not say. “Planned” means Digicard is building it.
Three ways to run a loyalty program
A physical card. A paper stamp or punch card, or a plastic membership card. The customer carries it, staff stamp or punch it, and the card itself is the record.
A loyalty app. Either your own app, built by an agency, or a subscription app such as Stamp Me, where customers download the vendor's app and find your business in it. The customer has to install it and sign in before their first stamp.
A wallet card. A pass in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. The customer scans a QR code at the counter and taps “Add”. There's nothing to install, and the stamp count on the card updates by itself. Digicard, Loopy Loyalty, PassKit and Boomerangme all sell these.
The same visit in each: a customer earns their 10th stamp
- Paper: the customer finds the card in their wallet (if they brought it), staff stamp it, check the count, hand over the free drink and take the full card back. Nothing is recorded anywhere.
- App: the customer opens the app (if they installed it and remember their login) and shows a code, or scans one at the counter. The reward appears in the app.
- Wallet card: the customer opens Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. Staff scan the card's QR code from a browser on any phone, and the pass updates to show the reward. With Digicard, staff redeem it from the same scan screen, and the scanner keeps working through a dropped connection.
What it costs in the United States
| Option | Year one (USD) | Year one (PHP) | Billed on | How we worked it out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper punch cardsPhysical card | US$66 | ≈ ₱4,136 | Every card printed, in runs of 1,000 | 900 cards → 1 run of 1,000 × US$65.91 |
| Your own loyalty appLoyalty app | US$10,124–60,124 | ≈ ₱635,342–3,773,142 | One-time build, plus app store fees | US$10,000–60,000 build + US$99 Apple + US$25 Google Play. Hosting and upkeep not included. |
| Stamp Me (loyalty app)Loyalty app | US$588 | ≈ ₱36,901 | Flat monthly plan per location | Lite US$49 × 12 months |
| Loopy LoyaltyWallet card | US$300 | ≈ ₱18,827 | Flat monthly plan, sized by locations | Starter US$25 × 12 months (billed monthly) |
| PassKitWallet card | US$537 | ≈ ₱33,700 | Platform fee + every pass record held at month end | US$39.50 × 12 platform + US$63.00 pass volume as 600 cards build up |
| BoomerangmeWallet card | US$2,388 | ≈ ₱149,861 | Flat monthly plan | Business US$199 × 12 months (billed monthly) |
| DigicardWallet card | US$72 | ≈ ₱4,518 | Active Cards only | 300 Active Cards × US$0.02 × 12 months, before tax |
≈ marks a figure converted from the vendor's own billing currency. See “How we compared this” below for the rate and assumptions.
| Option | Year one (USD) | Year one (PHP) | Billed on | How we worked it out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper punch cardsPhysical card | US$395 | ≈ ₱24,817 | Every card printed, in runs of 1,000 | 6,000 cards → 6 runs of 1,000 × US$65.91 |
| Your own loyalty appLoyalty app | US$10,124–60,124 | ≈ ₱635,342–3,773,142 | One-time build, plus app store fees | US$10,000–60,000 build + US$99 Apple + US$25 Google Play. Hosting and upkeep not included. |
| Stamp Me (loyalty app)Loyalty app | Not published | Not published | Flat monthly plan per location | Lite covers one location, and Stamp Me does not publish a multi-location price. |
| Loopy LoyaltyWallet card | US$828 | ≈ ₱51,962 | Flat monthly plan, sized by locations | Growth US$69 × 12 months (billed monthly) |
| PassKitWallet card | US$1,898 | ≈ ₱119,121 | Platform fee + every pass record held at month end | US$75.75 × 12 platform + US$989.16 pass volume as 4,000 cards build up |
| BoomerangmeWallet card | US$2,388 | ≈ ₱149,861 | Flat monthly plan | Business US$199 × 12 months (billed monthly) |
| DigicardWallet card | US$480 | ≈ ₱30,123 | Active Cards only | 2,000 Active Cards × US$0.02 × 12 months, before tax |
≈ marks a figure converted from the vendor's own billing currency. See “How we compared this” below for the rate and assumptions.
What it costs in the Philippines
Paper is priced from a local printer's quote of ₱3 a card, and the app from a Manila agency's published estimate. The subscription platforms bill in US dollars, so their peso figures are conversions. For the decision most Philippine businesses actually face, see physical cards vs loyalty apps in the Philippines.
| Option | Year one (PHP) | Year one (USD) | Billed on | How we worked it out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper stamp cardsPhysical card | ₱2,700 | ≈ US$43 | Every card printed | 900 cards × ₱3 |
| Your own loyalty appLoyalty app | ₱157,782–407,782 | ≈ US$2,514–6,498 | One-time build, plus app store fees | ₱150,000–400,000 build + US$99 Apple + US$25 Google Play. Hosting and upkeep not included. |
| Stamp Me (loyalty app)Loyalty app | ≈ ₱36,901 | US$588 | Flat monthly plan per location | Lite US$49 × 12 months |
| Loopy LoyaltyWallet card | ≈ ₱18,827 | US$300 | Flat monthly plan, sized by locations | Starter US$25 × 12 months (billed monthly) |
| PassKitWallet card | ≈ ₱33,700 | US$537 | Platform fee + every pass record held at month end | US$39.50 × 12 platform + US$63.00 pass volume as 600 cards build up |
| BoomerangmeWallet card | ≈ ₱149,861 | US$2,388 | Flat monthly plan | Business US$199 × 12 months (billed monthly) |
| DigicardWallet card | ₱4,032 | ≈ US$64 | Active Cards only | 300 Active Cards × ₱1 × 12 months + 12% VAT |
≈ marks a figure converted from the vendor's own billing currency. See “How we compared this” below for the rate and assumptions.
| Option | Year one (PHP) | Year one (USD) | Billed on | How we worked it out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper stamp cardsPhysical card | ₱18,000 | ≈ US$287 | Every card printed | 6,000 cards × ₱3 |
| Your own loyalty appLoyalty app | ₱157,782–407,782 | ≈ US$2,514–6,498 | One-time build, plus app store fees | ₱150,000–400,000 build + US$99 Apple + US$25 Google Play. Hosting and upkeep not included. |
| Stamp Me (loyalty app)Loyalty app | Not published | Not published | Flat monthly plan per location | Lite covers one location, and Stamp Me does not publish a multi-location price. |
| Loopy LoyaltyWallet card | ≈ ₱51,962 | US$828 | Flat monthly plan, sized by locations | Growth US$69 × 12 months (billed monthly) |
| PassKitWallet card | ≈ ₱119,121 | US$1,898 | Platform fee + every pass record held at month end | US$75.75 × 12 platform + US$989.16 pass volume as 4,000 cards build up |
| BoomerangmeWallet card | ≈ ₱149,861 | US$2,388 | Flat monthly plan | Business US$199 × 12 months (billed monthly) |
| DigicardWallet card | ₱26,880 | ≈ US$428 | Active Cards only | 2,000 Active Cards × ₱1 × 12 months + 12% VAT |
≈ marks a figure converted from the vendor's own billing currency. See “How we compared this” below for the rate and assumptions.
What the invoice does not show
- Paper gets lost, washed and forgotten at home, and a stamp anyone can buy can be faked. You also end the year with no list of customers and no way to tell a regular their reward is waiting.
- An app has to be downloaded before it does anything. 58% of Americans said they were less likely to join a loyalty program that requires an app download (Harris Poll for Wilbur, 2,003 adults, 2019). Your own app also needs updates for every new iOS and Android release, and someone to pay for hosting.
- A wallet card needs a smartphone. Keep a few paper cards for customers without one.
Which one fits
- Stay on paper if you have a handful of regulars, never plan to message them, and lost cards don't bother you.
- Build an app if it will also take orders or payments, and you have the budget to keep it maintained.
- Use a wallet card for everything in between: stamps or points, one branch or several, and customers who won't install another app. To choose a platform, see wallet loyalty platforms compared.
Questions
How much does a loyalty program cost for a small business?
For a café with 300 regulars a month, a year of paper punch cards costs about US$66 to print in the US (₱2,700 in the Philippines). Apple and Google Wallet cards cost US$72 to US$2,388 depending on the platform. Building your own loyalty app starts at about US$10,124 before hosting and upkeep.
Do customers need to download an app to use a wallet loyalty card?
No. They add the card from a link or a QR code, and it lives in Apple Wallet on iPhone or Google Wallet on Android, which are already on the phone.
Is a digital loyalty card cheaper than a paper punch card?
Not always on printing alone. For the same café, paper costs US$66 a year in the US against US$72 for Digicard, and ₱2,700 against ₱4,032 in the Philippines. What paper does not include is the cost of lost cards, faked stamps and not knowing who your regulars are.
What is an Active Card?
A card that had at least one stamp, reward, message or other recorded event during the calendar month. Digicard bills only those, so a customer who does not come back that month costs nothing.
Can I send push notifications to customers?
Yes, with a wallet card or an app; not with paper. Digicard puts a message on one customer’s card or on every cardholder’s card, and the phone shows it as a notification. SMS and email campaigns are planned.
How we compared this
Prepared by The Digicard team. Digicard sells wallet loyalty cards, so read this as a vendor's comparison: every competitor price below links to the vendor's own pricing page and the day we checked it. If a price has changed, tell us at support@digicard.tech and we will correct the page.
Features
- Competitors' features come from their own pricing and product pages, linked below. “Not stated” means the page didn't say, not that the feature is missing.
- Digicard's “Yes” means it is live today. “Planned” means we are building it and it is not available yet.
- “Your own app” can do almost anything if you pay to build it, so most of its cells say so rather than Yes or No.
The businesses we priced
- One café: 1 location, 300 customers using their card each month, 600 customers carded over the year.
- Three branches: 3 locations, 2,000 customers using their card each month, 4,000 customers carded over the year.
Assumptions
- Costs are for the first 12 months, using each vendor's month-to-month price. Most offer a discount for paying a year up front.
- Paper: 1.5 cards printed per carded customer a year (everyone gets one; half need another because theirs filled up or got lost). Stamps, punches and staff time are not counted.
- Your own app: an agency's published build estimate plus Apple and Google developer fees. Hosting, maintenance, updates and marketing the download are not counted, and they are ongoing.
- Wallet platforms: the cheapest plan that covers the number of locations. PassKit is priced with one staff login per location, with every card issued during the year still on file.
- Digicard: billed on Active Cards, the cards with at least one stamp, reward or message in the month. Philippine prices include 12% VAT; US prices are before sales tax, which varies by state.
- Currency: each vendor's own billing currency is exact. The other column is converted at ₱62.756 = US$1, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reference exchange rate on 25 Sep 2026.
Sources
- Printed paper punch cards (United States): 4OVER4 loyalty card printing. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- Custom loyalty app build (US agency estimate): RaftLabs, Loyalty Program Development Cost (Aug 2026). Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- Apple Developer Program: Apple Developer Program. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- Google Play developer registration: Google Play Console registration fee. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- Stamp Me Lite: Stamp Me pricing. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- Loopy Loyalty Starter: Loopy Loyalty pricing. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- PassKit platform fee, 1 username: PassKit, How much does it cost?. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- PassKit loyalty pass volume fee: PassKit, How much does it cost?. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- Boomerangme Business: Boomerangme pricing. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- Digicard (United States): Digicard US list price. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- Loopy Loyalty Growth: Loopy Loyalty pricing. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- PassKit platform fee, 3 usernames: PassKit, How much does it cost?. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- Printed paper loyalty card (Philippines): Quote from a local printer in the Philippines, obtained by the Digicard team. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- Small, basic mobile app (Manila agency estimate): Manila Recruitment, Cost to make an app in the Philippines (May 2025). Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- Digicard (Philippines): Digicard standard offer. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- 58% of Americans said they were less likely to join a loyalty program that requires an app download (Harris Poll for Wilbur, 2,003 adults, 2019).: Grocery Dive, April 2019. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
- Stamp Me features: Stamp Me pricing. Checked 15 Oct 2026.
We re-check every price at least once a quarter, and the date at the top of the page moves when we do.
Try Digicard
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