Guide
Self-hosted
loyalty software.
Own your loyalty platform. No monthly fees.
Your server, your data, your rules.
What is self-hosted loyalty software?
Self-hosted loyalty software runs on your own server. You download the code, install it on your infrastructure, and own it outright. Customer data stays on your server. Updates happen when you choose. Customization is unlimited because you have the source code.
The opposite is SaaS loyalty software. Platforms like Smile.io, Stamp Me, and Loopy Loyalty that charge monthly fees and store your data on their servers. You rent access. They control the platform.
Self-hosted means ownership. SaaS means renting.
Total cost of ownership.
What you actually spend over 1, 2, and 5 years. Including hosting for self-hosted options.
| Platform | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 5 | Model |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reward Loyalty | $189 | $309 | $669 | $69 once + hosting |
| Loopy Loyalty | $300 | $600 | $1,500 | $25/mo SaaS |
| Stamp Me | $588 | $1,176 | $2,940 | $49/mo SaaS |
| Smile.io Growth | $2,388 | $4,776 | $11,940 | $199/mo SaaS |
| Open Loyalty | $12,000+ | $24,000+ | $60,000+ | Enterprise |
Self-hosted vs SaaS.
| Factor | Self-Hosted | SaaS |
|---|---|---|
| Cost structure | One-time purchase | Monthly/annual subscription |
| Long-term cost | Decreases over time | Increases with usage |
| Data location | Your server, your jurisdiction | Vendor cloud servers |
| GDPR compliance | You are both controller and processor | Requires DPA with vendor |
| Customization | Unlimited (source code access) | Limited to vendor features |
| Vendor lock-in | None. Export data anytime | High. Data format is proprietary |
| Updates | Your choice when to update | Forced. Vendor decides |
| Setup complexity | Requires server + installation | None. Browser access |
| Maintenance | You manage updates + backups | Vendor manages everything |
| Scalability | Scale your own infrastructure | Pay more per user/order |
| Shutdown risk | Software is yours forever | Vendor can discontinue service |
Who should choose self-hosted?
Cost-conscious businesses
$69 once is cheaper than the first 2 months of most SaaS platforms. If you plan to run loyalty for more than a year, self-hosted is cheaper.
EU businesses (GDPR)
Customer data on your server means you are both data controller and processor. No third-party data processing agreements needed.
Agencies reselling loyalty
One installation, unlimited client businesses. Charge $50–200/month per client. Keep 100%. No per-seat or per-client fees to any SaaS vendor.
Developers who want to extend
Full Laravel source code. Add custom features, integrate with existing systems, modify any file. Not possible with closed SaaS platforms.
Multi-location businesses
Franchises and business networks. Shared wallet concept: customers earn at any location. One installation, complete data isolation between businesses.
Businesses that value data sovereignty
Your customer data never leaves your infrastructure. No vendor analytics on your data. No risk of vendor shutdown deleting your loyalty program.
Who should stay on SaaS?
Shopify-only stores
If your business runs entirely on Shopify and you need automatic checkout integration, Smile.io's native Shopify plugin is smoother than a self-hosted QR approach.
Zero technical capacity
Self-hosted requires a server, SSL, and database. If nobody on your team can manage this, a SaaS platform removes the operational overhead. Though Reward Loyalty offers a step-by-step installation guide.
Apple Wallet is a requirement
If native Apple and Google Wallet passes are non-negotiable, Loopy Loyalty currently has this. Self-hosted options including Reward Loyalty use PWA approaches instead.
Own it. Don't rent it.
$69 once. Full source code. Your server. No monthly fees.
Laravel · PHP · Full source code · 11 languages