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Switching from Fivestars? Here's why small businesses make the switch. Fivestars: Customer loyalty and marketing for local brick-and-mortar businesses (now part of SumUp).
Last updated May 2026 · 7 min read
Why people switch from Fivestars
We talk to dozens of Fivestars customers every month. These are the four reasons that come up most often:
- 1Hardware-tied — Fivestars relies on a check-in tablet at the register, locking you into their model.
- 2Pricing is opaque — quotes typically $200–$400+/mo, with hardware fees on top.
- 3Acquired by SumUp in 2021 — product roadmap and support have been inconsistent since.
- 4No AI campaign generation — workflow + check-in tool, not strategist.
What Social Perks does differently
Five concrete differentiators — not generic claims:
- No hardware required — QR codes and customer phone numbers, not a check-in tablet.
- Public $19–$79/mo flat pricing instead of $200–$400+/mo custom.
- AI agent designs campaigns and writes the customer-facing copy.
- Broader scope — loyalty + reviews + referrals + perks + influencer in one.
- Independent product with active roadmap and 4-hour support SLA.
How migration works
Three steps. Most brands complete the full migration in 1–2 business days.
Export Fivestars customer list
Fivestars merchant dashboard → Customers → Export CSV. Pulls customer phone numbers, visit history, and reward balances.
Import to Social Perks
Customer list imports with visit history and reward balances. Active offers preserve.
Replace check-in flow
Swap the Fivestars tablet for a QR code at the counter or a phone-number check-in. Customers earn perks for visits, posts, and reviews — not just check-ins.
What you get with Social Perks that Fivestars doesn't
- ✓No hardware lock-in — QR or phone-number check-in
- ✓Public flat pricing
- ✓AI campaign generation
- ✓Reviews + referrals + perks + influencer bundled
- ✓Independent roadmap with consistent updates
What you'd give up by switching
Honest tradeoffs. We'd rather you know up front than discover them in week two:
- !Fivestars' check-in tablet is a tactile in-store moment some businesses love — a QR code is less polished in feel.
- !Their SMS marketing volume is bundled in at scale that may cost extra elsewhere.
- !Existing customer familiarity with the Fivestars brand at hundreds of local merchants — that recognition disappears in the switch.
Pricing comparison
| Plan / feature | Social Perks | Fivestars |
|---|---|---|
| Starter price | Free forever | No free tier |
| Entry paid plan | $19/mo | ~$200–$400+/mo |
| Hardware required | No (QR code) | Yes (check-in tablet) |
| Public pricing | Yes | No |
| AI campaign generation | Yes | No |
FAQ: Switching from Fivestars
+Will I still have a check-in moment in-store?
Yes — a QR code at the counter that customers scan with their phone. We provide printable signage.
+Do customer phone numbers transfer?
Yes. The customer list with phone numbers, visit history, and reward balances imports cleanly.
+Will customers be confused?
Some, yes. We provide an email/SMS template explaining the switch. Most merchants report a 1–2 week ramp before customers fully adopt the new check-in flow.
+What about my Fivestars hardware contract?
If you're still under contract, check your SumUp/Fivestars terms. Many merchants find it cheaper to pay out the remaining hardware fee than continue the subscription.
+Can I send SMS campaigns to my customer list?
Yes — built in. SMS volume is included on Pro and Scale tiers.
+How long does migration take?
Data import is 1 day. Customer-side ramp is 1–2 weeks as people learn the new check-in flow.
Try Social Perks free for 14 days
No credit card. No demo. Import your Fivestars data in 30 minutes and run your first AI-generated campaign in under 10. Keep the free tier as long as you want.