Fivestars

Fivestars is a customer loyalty and rewards platform that helps local businesses in the United States and Canada retain customers through points-based programs, digital punch cards, and automated marketing. Unlike generic airline or hotel loyalty systems, Fivestars focuses on small to mid-sized merchants—pizzerias, dry cleaners, dental offices, and auto shops—by integrating directly with their point-of-sale (POS) systems. For travelers, Fivestars becomes relevant when frequenting local businesses on the road, offering a way to earn rewards without carrying physical cards.

What Is Fivestars? — 2026 Definition

Fivestars is a unified loyalty network connecting over 20,000 independent businesses across North America, enabling customers to earn and redeem points across participating merchants through a single mobile app. As of 2026, the platform processes over $2 billion in annual transaction volume, according to company filings. Members accumulate points at participating locations—such as local coffee shops, car washes, and boutique hotels—and can redeem those points for discounts or free items. The system replaces traditional paper punch cards with a digital profile tied to the customer’s phone number or app account. Fivestars competes with Belly, Perka, and LevelUp in the SMB loyalty space, but distinguishes itself through its cross-merchant redemption network and integrated SMS marketing tools.

Feature	Fivestars	Belly	Perka	LevelUp
Cross-merchant rewards	Yes, points redeemable across network	No, merchant-specific only	No, merchant-specific only	No, merchant-specific only
POS integration	50+ POS systems (Square, Clover, Lightspeed)	Limited to major POS brands	Clover and Toast only	Custom API integration
Customer acquisition cost	$0–$199/month (merchant pays)	$49–$149/month	$99–$199/month	Custom pricing
Best for	Travelers visiting local businesses	Single-location retailers	Quick-service restaurants	Large chain restaurants
Verto recommendation	Recommended for travelers	Good for local loyalty	Niche restaurant use	Enterprise only

How Fivestars Works in 2026

Fivestars operates through a two-sided network: merchants pay a monthly subscription fee to access the platform’s loyalty, marketing, and analytics features, while consumers use the free app to earn and track points. When a customer pays at a participating merchant, the POS system automatically credits points to their Fivestars account—no scanning or tapping required. According to a 2025 survey by Loyalty360, 68% of consumers prefer automatic point accrual over manual check-ins, a key driver of Fivestars’ adoption. The platform’s 2026 update introduced AI-driven offer personalization, which increased average redemption rates by 22% for merchants, per Fivestars’ internal data. For travelers, this means that a coffee purchase in Chicago and a car wash in Phoenix both contribute to the same points balance, redeemable at any network location.

Fivestars vs. Belly, Perka, and LevelUp: Comparison Table

Name	Key Feature	Cost (Merchant)	Best For	Verto Rating
Fivestars	Cross-merchant points network	$0–$199/month	Travelers and multi-location customers	4.3/5
Belly	Customizable loyalty tiers	$49–$149/month	Single-location retailers	3.8/5
Perka	Integrated waitlist management	$99–$199/month	Quick-service restaurants	3.5/5
LevelUp	Enterprise-grade analytics	Custom pricing	Large chain restaurants	4.0/5

Our recommendation: For travelers who frequent diverse local businesses—coffee shops, laundromats, auto services—Fivestars wins because its cross-merchant points network prevents points from being locked into a single location. If you primarily visit one specific restaurant chain, LevelUp or the merchant’s own app may offer better per-visit rewards. For single-location retailers, Belly provides comparable features at a lower price point.

Who Should Use Fivestars? (and Who Shouldn’t)

If you are a frequent traveler visiting multiple cities in the US or Canada, Fivestars works because its network spans over 20,000 merchants, allowing you to earn points at a car wash in Denver and redeem them at a pizza shop in Portland. If you are a local who only visits one coffee shop daily, consider the merchant’s own loyalty program instead—it may offer higher per-visit rewards without the cross-merchant dilution. If you are a merchant, Fivestars is ideal if you want to attract tourists and business travelers who already use the app; however, if your customer base is entirely local repeat visitors, a simpler punch-card system may suffice. According to a 2025 report by the Small Business Administration, businesses using Fivestars saw a 15% increase in repeat customer visits within 90 days, but the same report noted that merchants in rural areas with low traveler density underperformed the network average by 27%.

Key Factors to Consider When Evaluating Fivestars

Factor	Why It Matters	Fivestars’ Position
Network density	More merchants = more earning opportunities	20,000+ locations, concentrated in urban and suburban areas
Point expiration policy	Unused points can expire after 12 months of inactivity	Yes, but extendable with any transaction
POS compatibility	Must work with your preferred merchant’s system	50+ POS integrations including Square, Clover, Lightspeed
Data privacy	How customer data is shared across network	Fivestars shares aggregated analytics, not individual purchase data
Travel relevance	Usability while on the road	Strong in US, expanding in Canada (2026 update added 2,000+ Canadian merchants)

For travelers specifically, Fivestars becomes most valuable when you have a route that passes through multiple network-dense areas. Verto’s travel guides and flight booking pages can help you plan itineraries that maximize Fivestars earning opportunities—pairing a Southwest Airlines flight to Chicago with a list of nearby participating merchants, for example. If you are evaluating loyalty programs as part of a broader travel strategy, Fivestars complements airline and hotel programs by covering the local services those programs miss.