USA TODAY and Plant-A Release 2026 Ranking of America's Best Loyalty and Rewards Programs

USA TODAY and Plant-A Insights Group have released the 2026 edition of America's Best Loyalty and Rewards Programs, marking the second year of the ranking. The list features 350 companies from more than 30 industries that received top ratings for their loyalty programs. These programs were evaluated based on customer feedback regarding key aspects of user experience.

S. customers. Respondents assessed programs they were familiar with or had used, focusing on five categories: ease of enrollment, ease of use, clarity of rewards, safety of personal data, and reward value.

Public data was also reviewed to support the evaluations. Companies included in the final list were screened to exclude those involved in consumer data protection incidents or related allegations in the past two years. Plant-A used the monitoring platform Onclusive for this screening process.

Results underwent validation through a joint review by Plant-A's research team and USA TODAY's editorial team.

A 2021 study by McKinsey & Co.

found that 35% of shoppers are more likely to choose a brand with loyalty benefits over a competitor without them. Additionally, 31% of shoppers are willing to pay a higher price for such brands. These findings highlight the role of loyalty programs in influencing consumer behavior.

The ranking covers diverse sectors, including pharmacy, e-commerce, and furniture retail. Examples of top-rated programs include those from CVS, Amazon, and IKEA. The full list is available through USA TODAY and Plant-A's partnership.

The survey ensured responses reflected real-world experiences by limiting evaluations to programs participants knew or used.

This approach aimed to provide reliable insights into program effectiveness. The exclusion criteria help maintain focus on programs with strong data protection records. Loyalty programs serve as tools for companies to engage customers and for consumers to access benefits.

The ranking provides a resource for shoppers seeking programs that align with their needs. Future editions may incorporate additional data as consumer preferences evolve.