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What is the difference between a wallet pass and a loyalty app?
Last updated 2026-11-05
A wallet pass lives in the Apple Wallet or Google Wallet already on the phone, so there is nothing to download. A loyalty app is a separate download that the customer has to find, install and open.
A wallet pass is a card saved in the wallet that ships with the phone. A loyalty app is software the customer must find in an app store, install and keep.
How they differ for you
- Signup: a pass needs a link or QR scan. An app needs a store visit first.
- Updates: a pass is updated from the dashboard or API and the new version appears in the wallet.
- Messages: a pass can show lock-screen messages while installed.
- Build and upkeep: Shakewell hosts and signs the passes. An app has its own development and store review cycle.
An app can do things a pass cannot, such as a custom shopping experience. Many businesses start with a pass because it is quick to launch.