PEKO vs Panda Loyalty
Written by PEKO Research Team.Last updated: 10/07/2026.
Published: 05/01/2026
Updated October 2026: PEKO is the better pick for most independent cafés, restaurants and service venues in Vietnam: guests earn by snapping any receipt with no POS integration, the whole table joins via Group Check-In, and an embedded AI Agent sets up vouchers and campaigns from one message, from free up to 300 members.
Choose Panda Loyalty if you only need a simple Zalo QR wallet + stamp-card mechanic with no AI layer.
Panda Loyalty is a Vietnamese loyalty platform popular with small F&B operators who want a simple Zalo QR wallet and stamp-card mechanic. PEKO is the AI-native alternative for independents and mid-sized chains that want retention automated for them rather than configured by hand. This page is a straight comparison, which one is right for you?
- Panda Loyalty is a lightweight SMB loyalty toolkit; PEKO is AI-native retention with churn prediction + auto-written campaigns.
- PEKO flags customers who will churn within 3 days and writes Zalo win-back automatically — Panda doesn't.
- Both have starter plans; PEKO is free forever for basics and POS-agnostic across KiotViet, iPOS, Sapo, LOOP and MISA CukCuk.
What is Panda Loyalty? Vietnam-based loyalty platform focused on Zalo QR wallets, stamp cards and basic voucher distribution for SMB F&B and retail.
The PEKO ecosystem
PEKO and LOOP are two products from the same company. PEKO is the AI retention layer and runs alongside the POS you already use. LOOP is the AI-native POS that covers operations: recipe-level inventory, staff shifts, table plans and the kitchen display. Each works on its own, and run together they share one dataset, so nothing has to be entered twice. See PEKO + LOOP in one ecosystem
Choose PEKO when
- You want AI to predict which customers are about to stop coming.
- You don't have a marketing person to write Zalo OA campaigns each week.
- You want native integrations with KiotViet, iPOS, Sapo, LOOP and MISA CukCuk.
- You want to measure and cut your GrabFood / ShopeeFood dependence.
- You want a free-forever starting point with paid AI plans only when you need them.
- You'd rather chat to your loyalty tool than click through 10 dropdowns. PEKO's AI Agent creates vouchers, segments and campaigns for you, and you only click Approve.
Choose Panda Loyalty when
- You only need a simple Zalo QR wallet + stamp-card mechanic with no AI layer: if basic points really are enough, you don't need PEKO; the thing worth checking is whether the points actually get awarded, because the cashier bottleneck is the most common reason loyalty programmes die (PEKO enrols via receipt OCR and QR, so it never depends on the cashier remembering).
- Your venue is a single-location SMB with under 200 active customers in CRM: at that size PEKO's free plan already covers you; up to 300 members, so this is not a spend decision either way.
- You already use Panda for non-F&B use cases and want one vendor: vendor consolidation is a fair reason; PEKO takes the opposite bet: keep the POS you already run at zero switching cost, with automatic API sync to 6 common POS systems.
Why owners switch from Panda Loyalty to PEKO
1.Receipt Scan Loyalty: Snap any receipt. Points land in seconds.
Traditional loyalty CRM: Integration project or a specific POS. PEKO: Any POS that prints a receipt. Receipt Scan Loyalty →
2.Group Check-In: The whole table joins, not just the one who pays.
Traditional loyalty CRM: Only the person who pays. PEKO: Everyone at the table. Group Check-In →
3.AI-first operations (PEKO AI Agent): Prompt it. PEKO does it.
Traditional loyalty CRM: 10+ clicks across menus; staff need training. PEKO: One message to the AI Agent; you approve. AI-first operations (PEKO AI Agent) →
PEKO pricing: free up to 300 members, then 880.000₫/month on the Standard plan, 0% commission, cancel anytime.
Feature by feature
| Feature | PEKO | Panda Loyalty |
|---|---|---|
| Earn by snapping any receipt (no POS integration) | Snap any receipt. Points land in seconds. Works with any POS that prints a receipt. | Not stated in the Panda Loyalty sources on this page (Oct 2026) |
| Whole table joins (Group Check-In) | The whole table joins, not just the one who pays. 4 guests = 4 members. | Not stated in the Panda Loyalty sources on this page (Oct 2026) |
| Change setup by chatting with an AI Agent | Prompt it. PEKO does it. Approval-gated: the Agent proposes, you decide. | Not stated in the Panda Loyalty sources on this page (Oct 2026) |
| Setup time | About 15 minutes, self-serve | 1–3 days |
| Starting price | Free up to 300 members, then 880.000₫/month; 0% commission; cancel anytime | Quote / starter tier |
| Product type | AI-native retention | Basic SMB loyalty toolkit |
| Basic points / stamps | Yes | Yes |
| Membership tiers | Yes (with AI tier suggestion) | Basic |
| Vouchers / promotions | Yes | Yes |
| AI churn prediction | Yes, 3 days ahead | No |
| Auto-written Zalo OA win-back | Yes (AI, personalised) | No (manual) |
| AI customer segmentation (RFM) | Yes, automatic | Manual filters only |
| Direct online ordering (0% commission) | Yes, full | Limited / none |
| Receipt OCR scanning | Yes | No |
| Zalo mini app + QR wallet | Yes | Yes (primary surface) |
| POS integrations | KiotViet, iPOS, Sapo, LOOP, MISA CukCuk | Limited |
| Primary fit | Independents + mid-sized F&B/service chains | Single-location SMB |
| AI marketing | Yes (PEKO Brain) | No |
| In-product AI Agent that takes actions for you | Yes: chat to create vouchers, segments, campaigns and settings; approval-gated (you click Approve) | No: manual clicks through dashboards and dropdowns |
| Can customers self-enrol without a cashier? | Yes: customers scan a table/receipt QR or photograph the bill and PEKO's OCR credits points automatically. Cashier is out of the enrolment loop. | Not clear from public documentation |
| Can it earn points from other POS receipts? | Yes: AI OCR reads receipts from any POS (KiotViet, iPOS, Sapo, MISA, PosApp, Toast, Square). No POS swap or API required. | Not clear from public documentation |
| Can someone who did not pay join? | Yes: anyone present scans the in-venue QR to join and receives a joining reward | Not stated in public documentation |
| Redeem rewards on online orders? | Yes: the same balance redeems online and in-store | Not stated in public documentation |
| How many automated message types? | 10 types, including points- and voucher-expiry reminders | Not stated in public documentation |
| Abuse controls when customers claim their own points? | Yes: rate limits, receipt age and value thresholds, 90-day brand-wide duplicate-image matching, risk-tiered actions | Not stated in public documentation |
Earn by snapping any receipt (no POS integration)
Snap any receipt. Points land in seconds. Works with any POS that prints a receipt.
Not stated in the Panda Loyalty sources on this page (Oct 2026)
Whole table joins (Group Check-In)
The whole table joins, not just the one who pays. 4 guests = 4 members.
Not stated in the Panda Loyalty sources on this page (Oct 2026)
Change setup by chatting with an AI Agent
Prompt it. PEKO does it. Approval-gated: the Agent proposes, you decide.
Not stated in the Panda Loyalty sources on this page (Oct 2026)
Setup time
About 15 minutes, self-serve
1–3 days
Starting price
Free up to 300 members, then 880.000₫/month; 0% commission; cancel anytime
Quote / starter tier
Product type
AI-native retention
Basic SMB loyalty toolkit
Basic points / stamps
Yes
Yes
Membership tiers
Yes (with AI tier suggestion)
Basic
Vouchers / promotions
Yes
Yes
AI churn prediction
Yes, 3 days ahead
No
Auto-written Zalo OA win-back
Yes (AI, personalised)
No (manual)
AI customer segmentation (RFM)
Yes, automatic
Manual filters only
Direct online ordering (0% commission)
Yes, full
Limited / none
Receipt OCR scanning
Yes
No
Zalo mini app + QR wallet
Yes
Yes (primary surface)
POS integrations
KiotViet, iPOS, Sapo, LOOP, MISA CukCuk
Limited
Primary fit
Independents + mid-sized F&B/service chains
Single-location SMB
AI marketing
Yes (PEKO Brain)
No
In-product AI Agent that takes actions for you
Yes: chat to create vouchers, segments, campaigns and settings; approval-gated (you click Approve)
No: manual clicks through dashboards and dropdowns
Can customers self-enrol without a cashier?
Yes: customers scan a table/receipt QR or photograph the bill and PEKO's OCR credits points automatically. Cashier is out of the enrolment loop.
Not clear from public documentation
Can it earn points from other POS receipts?
Yes: AI OCR reads receipts from any POS (KiotViet, iPOS, Sapo, MISA, PosApp, Toast, Square). No POS swap or API required.
Not clear from public documentation
Can someone who did not pay join?
Yes: anyone present scans the in-venue QR to join and receives a joining reward
Not stated in public documentation
Redeem rewards on online orders?
Yes: the same balance redeems online and in-store
Not stated in public documentation
How many automated message types?
10 types, including points- and voucher-expiry reminders
Not stated in public documentation
Abuse controls when customers claim their own points?
Yes: rate limits, receipt age and value thresholds, 90-day brand-wide duplicate-image matching, risk-tiered actions
Not stated in public documentation
Panda Loyalty is loyalty only. PEKO + LOOP is loyalty and a free POS.
Panda Loyalty: loyalty sold as a plan. PEKO + LOOP: PEKO loyalty free up to 300 members, plus LOOP POS free for one outlet, since 2019.
From your chat request to a live merchant setup, 5 steps.
Here's the before/after workflow: the strikethrough line is how other tools make you do it, the line below is how PEKO's AI Agent does it for you.
Click a step to run it in the demo below.
Sample prompt
“20% off weekday lunch for lapsed diners we haven't seen in 30 days, cap 1 per customer.”
Ready-to-paste voucher request: drop it straight into the AI Agent chat.
Questions merchants ask at each step
Ask, review, approve.
Describe the voucher you want in one sentence. PEKO's AI Agent drafts the full configuration; you approve it with one click, no 10-step form.
Your request
Or try one of these:
Proposed voucher
FAQ
Is Panda Loyalty free?
Panda Loyalty offers a basic starter tier and quotes paid plans on request. For a small single-location venue the entry cost is low, but you pay separately for higher message volume, deeper integrations and the Zalo mini-app surface. PEKO starts free forever for points, tiers, vouchers and basic Zalo OA. You only upgrade if you want AI churn prediction, auto-written win-back and higher volume.
Can PEKO do everything Panda can do?
For Zalo QR wallets, stamp cards, points and basic voucher distribution. Yes, PEKO covers all of those. PEKO adds the AI layer Panda doesn't ship: 3-day-ahead churn prediction, auto-written personalised Zalo OA win-back, RFM segmentation, receipt OCR, and POS-agnostic integration with KiotViet, iPOS, Sapo, LOOP and MISA CukCuk. If you're under ~10 venues you won't feel a gap going the other way.
I currently use Panda Loyalty: can I switch to PEKO?
Yes, and most operators are live the same day. Export your customer list (phone, points, tier) from Panda, import into PEKO, and connect your POS. PEKO starts scoring churn risk within minutes. Existing point balances and Zalo OA followers transfer cleanly. No contract penalty on the PEKO side: start free, only upgrade if it pays back.
Can I run PEKO and Panda Loyalty side by side?
Technically yes: they read the same POS data. In practice we don't recommend it long-term because your customers see two parallel loyalty experiences and your staff have to pick which one to push at checkout. A common pattern is to run both for 30 days, compare repeat-visit lift on the same customer base, then keep whichever drives more revenue. PEKO's free plan makes that test essentially zero cost.
What is the biggest difference between Panda and PEKO?
Panda Loyalty assumes you'll log in, choose a campaign template and run it. PEKO assumes you won't have time, and uses AI to find at-risk customers, write the message in Vietnamese, and send via Zalo OA automatically with your one-click approval. Panda is the right pick for a single venue that wants a clean Zalo wallet. PEKO is the right pick for any venue that wants retention to just happen in the background.
Do I still need to learn a complicated dashboard?
No. PEKO's embedded AI Agent takes actions for you (creating vouchers, building segments, drafting campaigns) inside the product. You describe what you want in chat, the Agent configures it, and you only click Approve. The full dashboard is there when you want it, but on any given day you can run PEKO by messaging the Agent.
Does Panda Loyalty have receipt scanning?
The Panda Loyalty sources cited on this page do not mention receipt scanning (checked October 2026), so ask Panda Loyalty directly. With PEKO: Guests photograph the receipt your POS already prints. PEKO's AI reads the total, items, receipt number, date and time, and credits points in seconds. It works with any POS that prints a receipt, with no integration project and no cashier step, so enrolment no longer dies at peak hour.
Can a whole table join Panda Loyalty's loyalty programme?
The Panda Loyalty sources cited on this page do not describe a whole-table sign-up (checked October 2026). With PEKO: Every guest at the table scans one QR and joins in about 10 seconds with a welcome reward. Four guests become four members you can reach again, instead of one. Traditional programmes only ever enrol the payer.
Can I set up Panda Loyalty by chatting with AI?
The Panda Loyalty sources cited on this page do not mention an AI agent that builds setup from a message (checked October 2026). With PEKO: No more hunting for buttons to create one voucher. Tell the embedded AI Agent what you want in plain language, for example "20% off for regulars who haven't visited in 3 weeks, Zalo only, cap 500 redemptions", and it builds the voucher, segment or campaign for you. You review and click Approve; nothing goes live without you. The same AI watches for regulars who are drifting and drafts the win-back for you, 24/7.
Does receipt-scan loyalty miss transactions?
Receipt Scan records every sale a guest chooses to claim, whatever the payment method, including cash and e-wallets that payment-linked loyalty misses. Guests are prompted by the QR on the receipt and the table, Group Check-In enrols everyone at the table, and the AI Agent can send a reminder to members who stop claiming. Full answer: heypeko.com/answers/does-receipt-scan-loyalty-capture-every-sale
Does PEKO include a POS?
Not by itself: PEKO runs alongside any POS. If you also want a POS, LOOP POS, our sister product, is free for one outlet, and PEKO customers get 50% off LOOP's paid plans.
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PEKO vs CNV Loyalty
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Sources & citations
These public sources support the competitor pricing, feature, and limitation claims in this comparison.
- PangoCDP / Panda Loyalty: Official materials
Panda/Pango loyalty and customer-data feature scope.
- PEKO: Plans and pricing
PEKO free-plan, paid-plan, and included-feature claims used in the comparison.
How we compare
Every comparison on this site is written from a fair market analyst stance, no hit pieces, no puffery.
- Public materials first. Competitor pricing, feature, and limitation claims are sourced from their own website, marketing collateral, and public reviews (Capterra, G2, App Store). See the Sources & citations block above.
- Acknowledge real strengths. Each page includes a "Choose Panda Loyalty when" block that names the scenarios where the competitor is genuinely the better pick.
- Same feature grid. Every comparator uses the same feature axes (pricing, setup time, messaging channel, churn prediction, data ownership, and more) so you can read across vendors on the same grid.
- Refreshed when the market moves. This page was last updated on 10/07/2026. Spot a stale claim after a competitor pricing or feature change? Email hello@heypeko.com and we'll refresh it.
- No pay-to-rank. We take no payment from competitors to shape rankings or hide weaknesses. If you spot bias, tell us and we'll rewrite the section.
Ready to try PEKO instead of Panda Loyalty?
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How we check this content: Editorial policy · Chính sách biên tập (tiếng Việt)