Thinking about a stamp card app for your café, restaurant, or salon? Good instinct: regulars visit more often and typically spend more per visit than first-time guests. This guide walks through what a stamp card app actually is, what to look for, and what it costs to get started.
What is a stamp card app?
A stamp card app is the digital version of the classic paper punch card. Instead of asking guests to keep track of a physical card, the card lives on their phone. The principle stays the same: a visit earns a stamp, and a full card unlocks a reward such as a free coffee or a discount.
The difference is everything around it. A digital stamp card cannot be forgotten in a jacket pocket or destroyed in the wash. You can see how many active members you have, how often they come back, and which rewards actually get redeemed. A paper card gives you none of those numbers.
App or web app: an important distinction
Many owners assume a stamp card app forces customers to download something from the App Store. That is no longer true. Modern solutions run as web apps (PWAs): the customer scans a QR code at the counter and the stamp card opens directly in the browser. They can save it to their home screen, but it is optional.
It sounds like a small detail, but it is the single biggest factor in how many guests sign up. Every extra step at the counter costs signups. A QR code with no download removes nearly all friction: scan, enter a number, done.
What to look for
When you compare solutions, watch for these five things:
- Signup without an app download. A QR code straight to the card. Anything else costs you members.
- One-tap stamping for staff. A busy Friday rush is the real test. Stamping must take one tap or it gets skipped.
- Your own branding. The card should look like your business with your logo and colours, not the vendor's.
- An owner overview. Visits, members, and redeemed rewards in one place so you can tell whether the programme works.
- GDPR and data ownership. Data should live in the EU, and your customer data should belong to you, not the vendor.
If you want the full picture of digital versus physical, we wrote a comparison of digital and paper stamp cards.
What does a stamp card app cost?
Prices vary, but most serious solutions are a flat monthly subscription. With MightyLoyalty, Standard costs 299 DKK per month, and Pro with personalised offers and advanced analytics costs 399 DKK per month. Both come with a 30-day free trial and no credit card. If you would rather pay per visit instead of a subscription, there is a pay-as-you-go model at 5 DKK per stamp.
Weigh that against what a regular is worth. If the programme convinces just two guests a month to come back one extra time a week, the subscription typically pays for itself many times over.
Launching in a single day
Setup does not need to be a project. A typical launch looks like this:
- Create the programme: logo, colours, stamp goal, and reward.
- Print the QR poster and place it at the counter.
- Show staff how to stamp (it takes minutes to learn).
- Mention the card to every guest during the first week.
You can see a real programme in production in our Maiya Nepali Kitchen case study, which runs its entire loyalty programme from one QR code at the counter.
Frequently asked questions
Do my customers need to download an app?
No. With a web-app based solution, customers scan a QR code and the card opens in the browser. No App Store, no download.
How long does it take to get started?
With a modern solution you are typically live the same day. The setup itself takes about five minutes; the rest is printing the poster and briefing your staff.
Does it work with my POS system?
Yes. A good stamp card app runs independently of your POS. Staff stamp visits in a separate scan screen on a phone or tablet, so there is nothing to integrate.
Want to try it in your own business? You can see pricing and start a free trial in a few minutes.