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. It is one simple monthly price, and your customers never have to download anything.
Get started →En español: Tarjetas de fidelización para cafeterías → · En català: Targetes de fidelització per a cafeteries →