Fivestars

Fivestars is a loyalty and retention platform for local businesses and independent franchises in the US and Canada. It combines a customer database, rewards, segmentation, and outbound campaigns, with a manager app for day-to-day oversight. It is strongest for operators who want loyalty and marketing tied to visits rather than a standalone email list.

The main trade-off is plan structure: Essentials limits promotions to one per month, while Pro removes that ceiling and adds customer-acquisition tools. Both require custom pricing, so a business must qualify the cost against its expected repeat-visit revenue.

Overview

Fivestars tracks customer points and issues rewards according to each customer’s journey. Customers sign in with a phone number to earn and redeem points, which keeps participation tied to a known customer record rather than an anonymous punch card. Businesses can tag contacts, create segments, and import lists from Constant Contact, Mailchimp, and other services.

Fivestars Connect runs on a company-provided tablet or directly through the business’s point-of-sale system. The program is described as TCPA compliant and logs customer activity for fraud prevention. That combination suits merchants that need a loyalty workflow at checkout and an auditable record of activity, although the platform is positioned specifically around local operators and independent franchises rather than broad enterprise marketing.

Key features

Rewards and customer records

The customer database links points, rewards, visits, and sign-in activity. Phone-number access reduces friction for returning customers, while tagging and segmentation let a business separate audiences before sending an offer. Imports from established contact services are useful when moving an existing list into the program.

Automation and promotions

AutoPilot can trigger offers for a first visit, a birthday, or a customer who appears at risk of not returning. This lifecycle automation gives a small team repeatable follow-up without manually scheduling every message. Promotions can go by text, email, or push notification, either immediately or on a schedule. Essentials allows one promotion monthly; Pro permits unlimited promotions, making Pro the practical choice for frequent, multi-segment outreach.

Acquisition and reporting

Pro adds Text-to-Join and customer acquisition capabilities, so it is better suited to businesses that need to grow their database as well as retain existing guests. The dashboard reports new sign-ups, return visits, and rewards redeemed, giving managers a way to connect campaign activity with program participation. Referral programs are also supported.

Management

The Fivestars Manager App is included in every package and runs on Android and iOS. It provides mobile access for managers, while the core service also supports web use and the Fivestars Connect tablet or POS setup.

Pricing

Neither plan has a published price, so cost comparisons require a conversation with Fivestars. Essentials’ eight AutoPilot campaigns provide a defined automation set, but its single monthly promotion can constrain businesses with several locations, segments, or weekly offers. Pro removes that quota and adds acquisition features, which are meaningful upgrades only if the business will use them.

Platforms

Fivestars supports Android, iOS, and web. The Manager App is included on Android and iOS, and Fivestars Connect works through a supplied tablet or a compatible point-of-sale system.

Who it's for

Fivestars fits local businesses and independent franchises in the US and Canada that want loyalty rewards, automated retention messages, and visit-based reporting in one program. Essentials suits a smaller operation with occasional promotions. Pro is the more appropriate tier for operators recruiting new customers, using Text-to-Join, or communicating more than once a month. Businesses seeking transparent, self-serve pricing should look elsewhere because both tiers use custom pricing.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Journey-based rewards: Points and rewards follow customer activity, supporting repeat visits rather than one-off discounts.
• Multiple campaign channels: Text, email, and push notifications can be sent now or scheduled.
• Useful operational reporting: Sign-ups, return visits, and redeemed rewards are tracked in the dashboard.
• Acquisition in Pro: Text-to-Join and customer-acquisition tools extend the platform beyond retention.
• Checkout flexibility: Connect can run on Fivestars’ tablet or through the POS.

Cons

• Custom pricing only: Buyers cannot assess cost from a public rate card.
• Essentials promotion cap: One promotion per month is restrictive for active marketers.
• US and Canada focus: Businesses outside those markets may not match the stated target audience.
• Pro required for acquisition: Text-to-Join and customer-acquisition capabilities are not part of Essentials.

Alternatives

Sidedoor is worth considering when a free plan, guest-list bookings, venue queue skips, reward points, and five free keys matter more than Fivestars’ local-business campaign model; its paid Starter plan is £99 a month.

Clover Online Ordering is the better fit for takeout, curbside pickup, or dine-in ordering with no setup or subscription fees, though delivery fees may apply.

Reelo suits businesses wanting a freemium entry point, including a Forever Free plan with SMS and email campaigns plus customer and business insights.

Como is an alternative paid loyalty and marketing platform.

Hang is another paid option for businesses comparing loyalty platforms.

Fleksa Marketing Automation is preferable when online ordering and a branded website are priorities; its Essentials plan costs €99 a month and Bundle costs €199 a month with a branded mobile app.

Forge targets restaurant brands and starts through a demo rather than a published plan price.

PAR Engagement is a paid alternative available on Android, API, iOS, and web.

For broader category browsing, see Restaurant Marketing Software and Loyalty Program Software.

Verdict

Choose Fivestars if your local business needs phone-based loyalty, automated return-visit campaigns, and POS-connected customer records, especially at the Pro level for acquisition and unlimited promotions. Look elsewhere if transparent pricing, a generous free tier, or ordering-first functionality is more important than an integrated loyalty and retention workflow.