Customers notice when their points vanish. Switching loyalty plugins is safe if you move balances before you turn the old plugin off, and if you test with one customer first.
Before you start
- Take a database backup.
- Write down your current earn and redeem rates (for example, 1 point per $1 and 100 points = $1 off). You'll match them in the new plugin so balances keep the same value.
- Pick a quiet time. Orders placed during the switch might earn points in the old plugin only.
Where common plugins keep balances
Knowing this helps you check the import and spot problems:
| Plugin | Where balances live |
|---|---|
| WooCommerce Points and Rewards | The wc_points_rewards_user_points table (sum of points_balance) |
| YITH Points and Rewards | User meta _ywpar_user_total_points |
| WPLoyalty | The wlr_users table, matched by email |
| Points and Rewards for WooCommerce (WP Swings) | User meta wps_wpr_points (older installs: mwb_wpr_points) |
| MyRewards | The lws_wr_historic table (sum of points moved) |
| Simple Points and Rewards | User meta _spar_points |
| myCred | User meta mycred_default |
The switch, step by step
- Install the new plugin alongside the old one. Don't deactivate the old one yet; the importer needs its data.
- Match the rates. Same earn rate and same redeem value, so 1,000 old points are worth the same in the new program.
- Preview the import. In Wren Loyalty: WooCommerce → Loyalty → Import & tools → Preview. Check the number of customers and the total points look right.
- Spot-check one customer. Note a customer's balance in the old plugin, import, then open them in the new plugin and compare.
- Import everyone. Wren imports each customer once, so running it again never doubles a balance.
- Deactivate the old plugin. Customers should only ever see one program.
- Tell customers. A short email: "Your points have moved to our new rewards page. Your balance is the same." Link to My Account.
What about history and tiers?
Most importers move balances, not every past transaction. Keep the old plugin's data (deactivating doesn't delete it) in case you need to answer "where did my points come from?" later. If you used tiers, recreate them in the new plugin with the same thresholds; customers are placed into tiers automatically from their history.