More than just a payment option, store credit is a powerful actor to establish and strengthen your brand image. Here’s what you need to know about Shopify store credit. We also include a list of Shopify store credit apps for you to use as reference!
Everything You Need to Know About Shopify Store Credit
Yes, we do mean it. We cut through the noise and give you the direct info you need about store credit on Shopify.
Hope right in. This gonna be a sweet ride that lasts you no longer than 3 minutes!
But First, What Is Store Credit?
Mainly, store credit is a business-to-customer (B2C) soft refund. Each store has different policies for reimbursing customers in case of returned items.
To maintain the cash flow and good customer experience, Shopify refund as a store credit is used as a fiat alternative to repay customers during these events.
Store credit can also be a reward that the store gives out to customers for completing orders or a special occasion like a birthday, and more.
Accordingly, store credit’s definition may vary due to the store’s operation.
Can You Give Store Credits on Shopify?
Sadly no. Shopify does not have the feature that allows merchants to refund a customer with store credit.
However, if you’re using a Shopify Plus subscription or higher, you can send out a gift card of the same value as the refund amount.
Store Credit vs. Discount Codes vs. Gift Cards. What are the Differences?
Here is a quick comparison that helps differentiate store credit, discount code, and gift card.
| Store Credit | Discount | Gift Card | |
| Type of use | B2C | B2C | C2C |
| In essence | Cash-in-store | Cut-off liability | Cash-in-store |
| Main purpose | Retention | Conversion | Customer Engagement |
| Redeem process | At checkout. Can’t apply with full balance. | At checkout. Apply the amount as store settings. | At checkout. Apply the full balance. |
As mentioned above, while the definitions of these 3 terminologies might vary, we still can compare them in definitive categories.
The major drawback of discounts is there’s no customization in the amount customers can apply. Once they enter the code, it will calculate the cut-off accordingly.
The standout differences are types of use and their main purposes. In essence, store credit and discount are B2C products, meaning the store (business) issues them out to customers.
Meanwhile, a gift card is a customer-to-customer product. One customer buys it and “gifts” it to another to use.
Each one of them has its own main purpose. Store credit is mainly used to keep the cash flow in the store and encourage customer retention. The tunnel vision for any discount ever created is to get customers to convert. And customer engagement is why the store offers gift card as a product.
What Are the Benefits Of Shopify Store Credit?
Yes, we have not finished listing out all the perks of using Shopify refund as store credit. In fact, here is a list:
- Strengthen customer loyalty.
- Increase customer retention.
- Incentivize for customers to spend more.
- Make return policy more customer-friendly.
- Reduce loss of returns in revenue.
Now that you know what it can do, it’s time to learn how to *sneakily* implement store credit on your Shopify store.
How to Create Store Credit for Customers in Shopify?
Since Shopify does not support store merchants in issuing refunds with store credits, time to get a bit creative.
With gift card
Let me walk you through the step-by-step process of using a gift card as store credit in Shopify:
Step 1: In the admin panel, click Products then Gift cards then Issue gift card button:
Step 2: Either type in an email to find the customer or create a new customer on spot.
Step 3: Fill in the Initial value field for the gift card’s balance.
Step 4: Here are the optional settings:
4.1 Create a personalized message in Note.
4.2 Set the expiration date for the gift card.
Step 5: Click Activate and send button. Your customer will receive an email with the code attached.
With discount codes
You can create a discount code specialized to refund customers in your Shopify store. Follow the instruction below:
Step 1: In the Shopify store backend, navigate Discounts > Create discount.
Step 2: Choose the discount type.
You can select one of the below options:
- Amount off products
- Amount off order
- Buy X get Y
- Free shipping
Step 3: Enter the discount code name.
Step 4: Choose either Percentage or Fixed amount for the discount value then enter a number.
Step 5: In Customer eligibility, select Specific customers and pick out the eligible.
Step 6: Optional settings:
6.1 Minimum purchase requirements: Set the amount customer must achieve in order to use the discount.
6.2 Maximum discount uses: Limit the use of the discount.
6.3 Active dates: Set the Start and the End date for the coupon.
Step 7: Click Save discount.
With Shopify store credit apps
The above solutions are great but not optimized. If you want to create store credit in your image, Shopify apps are the answer.
Here is a quick run on the top best app on the market for you to choose from!
7+ Best Shopify Store Credit App
Take a look at this comparision table:
| App | Vendor | Rating | Store credit type support | Pros | Cons |
| Gift Cards & Loyalty Program | Rise.ai | 4.8/921 reviews | Refund & Reward | – Most extensive Shopify store credit app. – Support both cash back and reward store credit. – Multi-store. |
– No free plan. – Huge price gaps. |
| CreditsYard — Store Credit | MerchantYard | 5/10 reviews | Refund & Reward | – Most bang-for-your-buck store credit app on Shopify. – Function as a digital wallet. – White label option available. |
– Free plan not available. – No clear distinction amongst plans. |
| Shopwaive — Store Credit | Shopwaive | 4/3 reviews | Refund & Reward | – Cheapest store credit app on Shopify. – Wide theme selections. – Support sending SMS message to customers. |
– The free plan do not include store credit function. – New to market, low in review. |
| FreshCredit ‑ Store Credit | ByteStand | 4.3/95 reviews | Refund & Reward | – Require the minimum steps to implement. – Quick & customizable popup display. – Easy to choose plan as business size. |
– No time-bound for store credit. – Limited checkout compatibility. |
| Rewardify | Indinuity | 4.0/30 reviews | Refund & Reward | – Blend into Shopify admin dashboard. – Multiple settings allowed. – Product specification supported. |
– No free plan. – Charge per interaction. |
| UpPromote: Affiliate Marketing | Secomapp | 4.9/1669 reviews | Reward only | – Customizable program. – Automated email notifications. – Customer can generate coupon freely with a custom amount. |
– Only available on Pro plan. |
| Loop Returns & Exchanges | Loop | 4.5/15 reviews | Refund only | – Comprehensive automated return process. – Support refunds as store credits. – Advanced report included. |
– No free plan, no free trial. – Expensive fee for only 1 type of refund. |
Let’s take a close look at each one of these apps!
Gift Cards & Loyalty Program
Rating: 912 – 4.8
Vendor: Rise.ai
Price: 7-day free trial.
- Starter: $19.99/month
- Small-business: $59.99/month
- Pro: $199.99/month
- Premium: $599.99/month
The Rise.ai app for Gift Cards and Rewards allows Shopify business owners to store credit as both cash back refunds and reward programs. The customizable is off-the-charge with simple workflow settings. This is no doubt the most extensive Shopify store credit app on the market.
Additionally, unlike the default Shopify store, you can let customers send several brands of gift cards and gift certificates right away to the receiver.
Best features
- Permit gift receivers to directly & automatically receive gift cards and vouchers
- Provide gift cards for use at different retailers
- Notify clients of their remaining gift card balance
- Aid customer service representatives in soothing angry consumers
- Give recipients the option to personalize, exchange, or choose a gift card
Cons
- No free plan is available
- Huge gap in prices per plan.
CreditsYard — Shopify Store Credit App
Rating: 10 – 5.0
Vendor: MerchantYard
Price: 7-day free trial.
- Basic: $20/month
- Standard: $35/month
- Advanced: $45/month
- Plus: $95/month
With the help of the indispensable shop credit management system CreditsYard, you can increase customer loyalty and convert returns into new purchases by keeping the money in your business. Using store credit as a refund option, this app increases sales by in-store cash.
The entire order or a portion of it may be refunded. The amazing thing that this program delivers for you is that it allows you to keep the money in the store, give your customers store credits, and let them choose something else from the store.
Best features
- Issue store credit to customers easily
- Seamless refunds, cashback & automation
- Email notifications
- Custom API
Cons
- Only free trial available.
- No clear perks for different price points.
Shopwaive — Store Credit
Rating: 3 – 4
Vendor: Shopwaive
Price: 7-day free trial.
- Starter: $7/month
- Plus: $29/month
- Pro: $49/month
This Shopify store credit app makes it simple to add, change, or remove client store credit at any moment. Create and distribute email alerts to customers when fresh store credit is granted. Code editing is not required. Installs and updates itself automatically as your customer base expands as a result of things like new clients or email address changes.
Best features
- Easy, no code-editing required installation.
- Vast theme compatibility.
- Clean, intuitive user interface.
Cons
- Free plan does not exist.
- No demo store.
FreshCredit ‑ Shopify Store Credit App
Rating: 95 – 4.3
Vendor: ByteStand
Price: 7-day free trial.
- 5k customers: $15/month
- 20k customers: $30/month
- 50k customers: $45/month
- Enterprise: Contact for quote.
FreshCredit offers complete customization, including your customer’s name on all pop-ups in addition to text, colors, shapes, and sizes. At checkout, you can also modify the name of their credit. If you type quickly, you can set up this app, which is incorporated in your store’s admin area and uses Shopify, in under a minute.
Customers are automatically refreshed in the app as they are added, modified, and deleted. With only a few clicks in FreshCredit, you can quickly adjust the shop credit for any or all of your customers.
Best features
- Prior to Checkout, customers can freely choose the amount of store credit they want to use.
- Create, modify, and delete customer store credit anytime, anyplace to give customers a credit-based incentive to shop.
- Customer Shopable Popup availabe
Cons
- No time restriction for store credit
- Only work with the native Shopify checkout process.
Rewardify – Shopify Store Credit App
Rating: 30 – 4.0
Vendor: Indinuity
Price: 14-day free trial.
- Basic: $9.95/month
- Pro: $39.95/month
- Plus: $99.95/month
Rewardify connects with Shopify POS and Online and gives you a central location to manage store credit accounts for your clients.
Using the native Store Credit payment option in the Shopify POS App for Android and iOS, you can apply and refund store credit at your physical locations. You can also let consumers use discounts manually or automatically apply discounts at checkout.
This Shopify store credit app serves as a landing page for new users to sign up and become rewards members as well as a hub for rewards members to manage their points and redeem them.
Best Features
- Use directly with Shopify store admin dashboard.
- 1-click application.
- Issue store credit with multiple conditions applied.
Cons
- Charge per interaction.
- No free plan.
UpPromote: Affiliate Marketing & Shopify Store Credit App
Rating: 2051 – 4.9
Vendor: Secomapp
Price: 14-day free trial. Free plan available.
- Grow Affiliate: $21.99/month
- Professional: $69.99/month
- Enterprise: $139.99/month
While the main function of our app is to boost sales with affiliate marketing, there is a rather surprising corner that allows you to apply store credit as a reward for referring others.
With the customer referral feature of the app, clients can advertise your goods without signing up for an affiliate network. Your referral program can be started right away.
By referring friends, your clients can simply receive retail discounts; encourage them to promote your business. It enables you to interact with your devoted customers and increase sales by fostering positive word-of-mouth.
Customers then have their own accounts to redeem rewards and create coupons from their store credit.
Best features
- Easy-to-setup program rules
- Lucrative rewards for customers and referred friends
- Email notification automation
- In-depth report
Cons
- Only available on the Pro plan.
Loop Returns & Exchanges
Rating: 15 – 4.5
Vendor: Loop
Price: 7-day free trial.
- Starter: $59/month
- Essential: $165/month
- Advanced: $375/month
Through one of your brand’s most delicate interactions, online returns, Loop helps you keep clients. This return-as-store-credit Shopify app is made to help Shopify and Shopify Plus stores expand.
Loop makes returns painless for both your staff and your consumers by offering completely automated returns, in-line exchanges, and your own fully personalized returns app.
The front-end interface is straightforward. The back-end is packed with tools that may be used to design the ideal returns experience. Customers are engaged and pleased with your brand since the returns process is easy and efficient for them.
Best features
- Refunds as store credit
- Center for automated returns
- Notifications via email
- Adaptable return justifications
- Comprehensive reporting system
Cons
- Only support 1 type of store credit.
- No free plan, no free trial.
FAQs
Is there a way to give store credit on Shopify?
Sadly there is no straightforward way to give direct store credit on Shopify. However, there’re some workarounds. You can use the gift card function from the Shopify admin to issue “store credit” with the same amount as the refund. Or, you can rely on our list of Shopify apps above to allow your customers to claim and redeem store credit at checkout!
Is Shopify store credit the same as cash?
No, it simply is not. You can only use store credit in the store that issues it to you. Cash is more liquid, as in you can use it in whatever store you want.
How do you use Shopify store credit?
It depends on the type of store credit that you are issued by the store. You can either apply the full amount or partially at the checkout via the gift card option (Shopify) or store credit balance (apps).
Can I get a Shopify store credit instead of a refund?
It’s tricky. This will vary from store to store. Some stores will offer you both options, and some will have store credit or cash refund exclusively. Therefore, we advise you to read the refund policy before making your purchase.
Wrapping Up
In this post, we have learned all about Shopify store credit from start to finish. Hopefully, our step-by-step guide can help you implement store credit on your shop!
In addition, we also provide you with a list of the best Shopify store credit app on the market. If you prefer a fully-customizable solution, one of our recommended apps is your best choice. Try it on and tell us in the comment below your experience!
