Digital Loyalty Cards for Cafés: The Complete Guide
Paper stamp cards get lost, forgotten and thrown away. Digital loyalty cards live in your customer's phone — no app to download — and bring them back more often. Here's how they work and why cafés across Spain and Europe are switching.
What is a digital loyalty card?
A digital loyalty card is the modern version of the classic "buy 9, get the 10th free" paper stamp card. Instead of a paper card, your customer adds a card to their phone's wallet — Apple Wallet on iPhone or Google Wallet on Android. Every visit, you scan their code and a stamp is added instantly. When the card is full, they earn their reward.
Why cafés are switching from paper
- No app for customers. The card sits in the wallet they already use — nothing to install.
- Never lost. It's always in their pocket, so they actually come back to redeem.
- Send offers directly. Push a "-15% today" message straight to the pass — something paper can never do.
- See what's working. Track visits, stamps and rewards from a simple dashboard.
- Looks professional. Your logo, colours and a branded banner on every card.
How it works, step by step
- 1. Customer joins. They scan a QR code at your counter and tap "Add to Apple Wallet" or "Add to Google Wallet".
- 2. You add stamps. On each visit, staff scan the customer's pass to add a stamp — takes a second.
- 3. They earn a reward. When the card fills up, the reward unlocks; you scan to redeem, and the card resets.
- 4. You stay in touch. Send notifications and offers to bring customers back.
Apple Wallet and Google Wallet — both covered
A good digital loyalty tool works on both platforms so you never turn a customer away. With Perka, iPhone users get an Apple Wallet pass and Android users get a Google Wallet pass — from the same QR code, automatically.
How to start
You don't need technical skills or a developer. With Perka you design your card (logo, colours, reward), print your QR code, and start stamping the same day. There's a free trial, and your customers never have to download anything.
Start your free trial →En español: Tarjetas de fidelización para cafeterías → · En català: Targetes de fidelització per a cafeteries →