Complete guide to RewardsWP points

Would you like to give customers a reason to come back and shop with you again? The RewardsWP Points Program allows you to reward customers with points for their activity, which they can later redeem for rewards.

This guide explains how the Points Program works and how customers earn and redeem points. It also shows how you can set up and manage the system to fit your store’s loyalty strategy.

• What Is the RewardsWP Points Program?
• How Do Points Work?
• Enabling the Points Program
• Points Branding
• Points Expiry
• Earning Points
• Ways to Redeem Points
• Managing Redemption Rewards
• Member Points Balance
• Admin Points Management
• Points on Product Pages
• Order Confirmation Points Display
• Points and Refunds
• Email Notifications
• Frequently Asked Questions

Before you get started, make sure RewardsWP is installed and activated on your site.

What Is the RewardsWP Points Program?

At its core, the RewardsWP Points Program is a lifecycle driven system. Customers earn points when they take specific actions on your site, such as making purchases, creating accounts, or writing reviews. These points accumulate into a balance that customers can view throughout their journey. Over time, customers can redeem their points for rewards like discounts or free shipping.

Once set up, the system runs automatically in the background. Points are awarded, deducted, and expired without manual work, allowing you to focus on your business while customers stay engaged through rewards.

How Do Points Work?

All points in RewardsWP use a fixed value that keeps the system simple and predictable. Rather than adjusting point value, you control how generous your program feels by adjusting how quickly customers earn points.

Points	Dollar Value
one point	$0.01
100 points	$1.00
500 points	$5.00
1,000 points	$10.00

This consistent 100 points per $1 ratio keeps the system simple and transparent. Instead of changing point value, you control how generous your program is by adjusting how quickly points are earned.

Example:

• If customers earn five points per $1 spent, they effectively receive five percent back in rewards.
• If they earn ten points per $1 spent, they receive ten percent back.

Enabling the Points Program

Before customers can earn or redeem points, the Points Program must be enabled. The Points Program includes a single toggle that activates the entire points system across your site. To enable the Points Program:

1. Navigate to RewardsWP » Settings.
2. Click the Points tab.
3. Locate the Program Status section.
4. Toggle the switch to Active.
5. Click Save Changes in the save bar at the bottom of the screen.

When the program is active, customers begin earning points, their balances appear in the rewards widget, and redemption options become available. When the program is inactive, all points-related features are hidden, and no new points are awarded. Existing balances remain intact.

Points Branding

Points are part of your brand experience. RewardsWP allows you to customize the names used for your points currency so it aligns with your store’s tone and voice.

Customizing Currency Names

To change the names, go to RewardsWP » Settings » Points and find the Points Branding section.

Here you can modify:

• Plural name: used when referring to more than one unit.
• Singular name: used for a single unit.

Popular naming options include:

Singular	Plural	Best For
Point	Points	Universal, professional (recommended default)
Star	Stars	Achievement-focused brands
Coin	Coins	Gamified, playful brands
Credit	Credits	Financial services, professional tone
Gem	Gems	Jewelry, beauty, luxury brands

Points Expiry

Points expiration allows you to control how long earned points remain valid. This helps encourage timely engagement while giving you control over long term rewards liability. You can select an expiration period ranging from never expiring to two years. By default, points expire after one year.

Available expiration options:

Period	Description	Best For
Never expire	Points remain valid indefinitely	Premium brands, infrequent purchase cycles
30 days	Points expire one month after being earned	Fast-moving consumer goods, promotional campaigns
three months	Points expire quarterly	Moderate purchase frequency
six months	Points expire semi-annually	Seasonal businesses
one year	Points expire annually (default)	Most businesses (industry standard)
two years	Points expire every two years	High-ticket items, B2B

How Expiration Works

Points expire on a first in, first out (FIFO) basis, meaning the oldest points expire first.

Example Timeline:

• Points earned January 1, 2025 → Expire January 1, 2026
• Points earned March 1, 2025 → Expire March 1, 2026
• Points earned June 1, 2025 → Expire June 1, 2026

When points expire:

• They are removed from the customer’s balance.
• A points entry is created with “expired” status.
• Email notifications can alert members before expiration.

Expiration reminders are sent 30 days, seven days, and one day before points expire.

Earning Points

The Points Program provides multiple earning actions that allow customers to accumulate points through purchases and engagement. Each earning action can be enabled or disabled individually from the Ways to Earn section. To find this section, go to RewardsWP » Settings » Points.

Customers can earn points through the following actions:

• Make a purchase.
• Create an account.
• Write a product review.
• First order bonus.

Each action contributes to the customer’s growing points balance.

Make a Purchase

Purchases are the foundation of most loyalty programs. Customers earn points based on their order total once an order is completed or payment is confirmed.

When editing this action, you can set:

• Points per dollar earned
• Enable or disable status

Points are awarded when the order is set to Completed (WooCommerce) or payment is confirmed (EDD). Order totals include product prices, shipping, and taxes by default, but exclude gift card redemptions and discounts.

Points per Dollar Setting:

This setting determines how many points customers earn for every $1 they spend. The number you enter directly determines your program’s generosity:

Points per $1	Reward Rate	Program Type
three points	3% back	Conservative
five points	5% back	Standard (recommended)
ten points	10% back	Generous

Example calculation:

If you set five points per $1 and a customer places a $100 order:

• Points earned: 100 × 5 = 500 points
• Value: $5.00

When points are awarded:

Points are credited when the order status changes to Completed (WooCommerce) or after payment confirmation (Easy Digital Downloads). Points are NOT awarded for:

• Pending orders
• Cancelled orders
• Refunded orders (points are deducted)

Create an Account

You can reward customers with a one time signup bonus when they create an account. Points are awarded immediately when a user successfully registers through WordPress registration, WooCommerce checkout, the My Account page, or any standard registration form. To set up:

1. Click Edit on the “Create an account” action
2. Set the Points amount (default: 100 points)
3. Toggle to Enabled
4. Click Done. Then save your changes from the save bar.

Recommended bonus amounts:

Program Type	Signup Bonus	% of First Reward
3 pts/$1	50–100 points	10–20% of $5 reward
5 pts/$1	100–200 points	20–40% of $5 reward
10 pts/$1	200–300 points	20–30% of $10 reward

Write a Product Review

This action rewards customers for product reviews, once the reviews are approved. To set up:

1. If the switch beside the “Write a product review” action is off, turn it on
2. Click Edit on the “Write a product review” action
3. Set the Points per approved review amount (default: 100 points)
4. Set the Verified buyers only toggle
5. To cap how many reviews earn points, turn on the toggle under Review points limit and set the number of reviews and the period
6. Click Done. Then save your changes from the save bar.

The switch and the Edit button sit on the action’s row in Ways to Earn.

In the drawer, the review settings look like this.

Verified buyers only setting:

Setting	Behavior
On (default)	Only customers who purchased the product can earn points for reviewing it
Off	Any signed-in member who reviews a product can earn points

How the review process works:

1. Customer purchases and receives a product
2. Customer writes a review in the rewards widget or on the product page
3. Review enters your moderation queue, if your store holds reviews for approval
4. If WordPress holds the review, approve it where your store lists reviews, such as Products » Reviews in WooCommerce
5. Points are credited to the customer on approval, unless the review limit is already full

In the rewards widget, customers find Leave a review in Ways to earn and click Review. They pick a product they bought from a list, then rate and review it there. The form tells them how many points the review earns once it is approved. On the product page, the review form tells a signed-in member how many points they earn when the review is approved.

WordPress’s discussion settings (WooCommerce) or the EDD Reviews extension decide whether a review is approved at once. See How to Moderate Comments in WordPress for a step-by-step guide to the discussion settings.

On Easy Digital Downloads, reviews in the rewards widget need the EDD Reviews extension.

Customers earn the same points for any honest review, good or bad. Tell customers that reviewers earn points, near your reviews and your average rating. The FTC’s questions and answers on its reviews rule explain what to disclose. This is not legal advice.

The toggle under Review points limit is off by default. When it is off, no limit applies to how many reviews earn points.

When you turn it on, customers earn points for up to the number of reviews you set, in any rolling period. For example, set two reviews in seven days. The period can be one day, seven days, 30 days, or 365 days.

When a customer reaches the limit, they can still write reviews, but those reviews earn no points. The rewards widget tells the customer the date when review points unlock again.

To see the review flow customers get in the rewards widget, read earning points from product reviews.

First Order Bonus

The first order bonus rewards customers with additional points after their first completed purchase. The bonus is automatically credited when a customer’s first order status becomes Completed or Processing (for payment gateways that use Processing for successful orders).

To set up:

1. Click Edit on the “First order bonus” action
2. Set the Points amount (default: 200 points)
3. Toggle to Enabled
4. Click Done. Then save your changes from the save bar.

How it stacks with purchase points:

The first order bonus is added on top of regular purchase points:

Source	Example ($100 order, 5 pts/$1)
Purchase points	500 points
First order bonus	+200 points
Total earned	700 points

This creates an enhanced first-time experience. Customers earn more than expected!

Strategic value:

• Rewards new customers generously for choosing you
• Creates a “wow moment” at checkout
• Accelerates path to first reward
• Encourages immediate second purchase
• Shows program value upfront

Recommended bonus amounts:

Program Type	First Order Bonus	Effect
3 pts/$1	150–200 points	Helps offset slower earn rate
5 pts/$1	200–250 points	~40–50% of $5 reward
10 pts/$1	250–300 points	Potentially enables immediate redemption

Next, the redemption section shows how customers spend the points they earn.

Ways to Redeem Points

Once customers earn points, the next step is deciding how they can spend them. The Ways to Redeem section defines how customers can convert points into rewards. RewardsWP offers three redemption types:

1. Fixed Amount Discount: $X off coupon
2. Percentage Discount: X% off coupon
3. Free Shipping: Free shipping coupon (WooCommerce only)

Default redemption rewards:

When RewardsWP is installed, three default rewards are created. You can edit or replace them at any time.

• 500 points → $5 off coupon
• 1,000 points → $10 off coupon
• 2,000 points → $20 off coupon

Each redemption type below has its own setup steps.

Fixed Amount Discount

Fixed amount rewards generate coupons for a specific dollar value. You define the number of points required and the discount amount. Following the standard 100 to one ratio keeps rewards predictable and fair.

To set up:

1. Click “Add ways to redeem” and select Fixed Amount Discount
2. Fill in the fields described in the table below.
3. Click Done. Then save your changes from the save bar.

Field settings:

Field	Description
Points Required	Points needed to redeem
Discount value	Dollar value of discount
Reward expiry	How long coupon remains valid

Recommended point-to-value ratios:

Following the standard 100:1 ratio:

• $5 off = 500 points
• $10 off = 1,000 points
• $20 off = 2,000 points
• $50 off = 5,000 points

Percentage discounts work differently from fixed discounts, as the next section explains.

Percentage Discount

Percentage discounts offer flexible value depending on cart size. While appealing for high value carts, they can become very generous on large orders. For that reason, use them thoughtfully.

To set up:

1. Click “Add ways to redeem” and select Percentage Discount
2. Set up the settings similar to fixed discounts
3. Set the Coupon Percentage (e.g., 10 for 10% off)
4. Click Done. Then save your changes from the save bar.

Important consideration:

Percentage discounts have variable value depending on order size:

Cart Total	10% Discount Value	Effective Point Value
$50	$5	100:1
$100	$10	100:1
$200	$20	50:1 (generous!)
$500	$50	20:1 (very generous!)

When to use percentage vs. fixed:

Use Percentage For	Use Fixed For
Wide price range stores	Consistent pricing
Higher AOV ($100+)	Lower price points
Premium positioning	Predictable impact
VIP/high-tier rewards	Entry-level rewards

Free shipping is the third redemption type.

Free Shipping

Free shipping rewards eliminate shipping costs and are available for WooCommerce only. Free shipping is one of the most effective incentives in eCommerce. Customers often perceive it as high value, even when the actual cost is modest.

To set up:

1. Click “Add ways to redeem” and select Free Shipping
2. Set the Points Required
3. Set Minimum Spent (optional but recommended)
4. Set Coupon Duration
5. Click Done. Then save your changes from the save bar.

Why free shipping matters:

• Most customers say free shipping influences purchase decisions
• Shipping cost is the #1 reason for cart abandonment (48%)
• Orders with free shipping average 30% higher cart value
• Customers perceive high value in free shipping

Typical Shipping Cost	Suggested Points
$5–7	500–700 points
$8–12	800–1,000 points
$15+	1,200–1,500 points

Next, the managing redemption rewards section explains how to edit, disable, or delete a reward.

Managing Redemption Rewards

You can add, edit, disable, or delete redemption rewards at any time. Disabling a reward hides it without removing it. Deleting permanently removes it from the system. This allows you to adjust your rewards strategy over time without disrupting customer balances.

• Adding: Click “Add ways to redeem,” choose a reward type, and set it up.
• Editing: Click “Edit” on any reward.
• Disabling: Use the toggle switch to hide a reward without deleting it.
• Deleting: Click the delete icon to remove the reward permanently.

Next, the member points balance section explains how a customer’s balance adds up.

Member Points Balance

Each customer has a points balance calculated as:

Current Balance = Earned – Spent – Expired

Points appear in:

• The rewards widget
• Order confirmation pages
• Email notifications
• Product page earning notices

Points entry types:

Type	Effect on Balance	Source
earned	Increases	Purchases, signups, reviews, bonuses
spent	Decreases	Redemptions
expired	Decreases	Automatic expiration
revoked	Decreases	Manual admin action, refunds

Administrators can view and adjust these balances from each member’s record.

Next, the admin points management section explains how to view and adjust a member’s points.

Admin Points Management

RewardsWP gives administrators tools to view and manage member points. Administrators can view detailed points history, manually adjust balances, and add internal notes for record keeping.

Viewing Points History

To view a member’s points history:

1. Go to RewardsWP » Members
2. Click a member to open their detail view
3. View the Points section showing:
   • Current balance
   • Total earned
   • Total spent
   • Recent points activity

Manually Adjusting Points

Administrators can manually add or remove points from member accounts.

To adjust a member’s points:

1. Go to RewardsWP » Members
2. Click the member you want to adjust
3. Click Adjust button
4. In the overlay:
   • Select Add points or Deduct points
   • Enter the Points Amount
   • Add an Internal Note (admin only)
   • Click Save

Points also appear on product pages, as the next section shows.

Points on Product Pages

RewardsWP displays a points earning notice on WooCommerce product pages, showing customers how many points they’ll earn for purchasing that product.

The next section covers the rewards banner that customers see after checkout.

Order Confirmation Points Display

After a purchase is completed, RewardsWP displays a compact rewards banner on the WooCommerce order confirmation page. This reinforces value at a key moment and encourages repeat purchases.

Refunds also change a customer’s balance, and the next section explains how.

Points and Refunds

Refunds are handled automatically to ensure point balances remain accurate. When an order is fully refunded, all points earned from that order are revoked. For partial refunds, points are deducted proportionally while preserving first order bonuses. This ensures fairness while preventing duplicate deductions.

Full Refunds

When an order is fully refunded (status changes to “Refunded”):

1. Points are deducted: All points earned from the purchase are revoked
2. Points entry is created: A “revoked” entry appears in points history

Example:

• Customer earned 500 points from $100 order
• Order is fully refunded
• 500 points are deducted from balance

Partial Refunds

When an order is partially refunded:

1. Points are deducted proportionally
2. First order bonus is NOT deducted (purchase was still made)

Example calculation:

• Original order: $100
• Points earned: 500 (5 pts/$1)
• Refund amount: $25 (25%)
• Points deducted: 500 × 25% = 125 points

The system prevents duplicate deductions, even if refunds are processed in multiple steps.

Next, the email notifications section covers the messages customers receive about their points.

Email Notifications

RewardsWP includes built in email notifications that can be managed from RewardsWP » Emails. Email notifications keep customers informed about points activity, redemptions, and upcoming expirations.

Points-related emails:

Email	Trigger	Key Content
Points Earned	Points credited to account	Points amount, source, new balance
Reward Redemption	Points redeemed for coupon	Coupon code, reward details, remaining balance
Points Expiring	Points approaching expiration	Days until expiration, points at risk, CTA to redeem

Email merge tags available:

• {points_earned}: Amount of points just earned
• {points_earned_formatted}: “50 Points”
• {current_balance}: Total points balance
• {current_balance_formatted}: “550 Points”
• {currency_singular}: “Point”
• {currency_plural}: “Points”
• {member_name}: Customer’s name
• {coupon_code}: Generated coupon code
• {reward_title}: E.g., “$5 off coupon”

That’s it! You know how the RewardsWP points program works, from earning and redeeming points to managing member balances.

To limit how many reviews earn points and send customers a review link, see earning points from product reviews. To set up the rest of your program, see the complete guide to RewardsWP settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions about the RewardsWP points program.