Freebees
Freebees is a Quebec-based electronic money loyalty platform that lets SMB merchants issue real cash rewards (instead of points) and integrates with 12+ POS systems and e-commerce platforms, serving hundreds of Canadian merchants and free consumer members since 2014.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersGatineau, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What Freebees does
Freebees, operated by Superstar Communications Inc., is a Quebec-based monetary rewards platform founded in 2014 that replaces traditional points-based loyalty programs with an electronic money system. The platform enables merchants to issue their own 'exclusive' merchant money plus a universal Freebees currency that consumers can spend across the partner network, with no transaction fees for merchants and balances that never expire as long as partners remain active. Core technology consists of a cloud-based loyalty and rewards platform delivered through iOS and Android mobile applications, a consumer web portal (freebeespoints.com), a merchant business portal (business.freebeespay.com), and deep integrations with 12+ point-of-sale systems including Veloce, MaitreD, Positouch, Acomba, BEST, MaxV, and others, plus major e-commerce platforms. Product surface spans gift card modules (virtual and physical, reloadable), in-store and online loyalty platforms, a promotions management module, promo codes management, push/email communication tools, prepaid cards for institutional use, and custom branded mobile app development for merchants.
The company serves a two-sided market: SMB restaurants, retailers, and hospitality businesses as paying merchant customers, and individual consumers as free members. Pricing is a B2B SaaS subscription model with two tiers — $35/month for the Gift Card Package and $199/month for the Freedom/Loyalty Package — plus a $99 one-time setup fee, no transaction fees, and supplementary transaction fees of $1.50 + $0.50 per gift card sold. Distribution combines a direct sales team with a franchise-style regional service center model across Canadian provinces, POS reseller channels, and merchant-led consumer acquisition. Named customers include Pacini (mid-market restaurant chain), Habaneros (SMB restaurant), Hotel Le Bonne Entente (hospitality), Studio 157 (beauty/wellness), and a Canadian university using Freebees for campus payments since 2017. In 2024 Freebees was selected as the strategic partner for a Quebec government-funded project to promote local Quebec products and support retail businesses, and the company reported 34% merchant adoption growth and 24% consumer subscriber growth in 2023. Freebees has raised only a nominal angel investment from Capital Angel Network and remains privately held with concentrated founder/executive ownership; geographic operations are restricted to Canada.
Freebees firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Freebees
- Legal name
- Superstar Communications Inc.
- Website
- https://freebeespoints.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Freebees is a Quebec-based electronic money loyalty platform that lets SMB merchants issue real cash rewards (instead of points) and integrates with 12+ POS systems and e-commerce platforms, serving hundreds of Canadian merchants and free consumer members since 2014.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Freebees industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Customer Loyalty Software
- akta.pro primary industry
- Rewards, Incentives & Gift Card Program Services (MPAAAIAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Closed-Loop Gift Cards (Single-Merchant) (FSAMANAB)
Keywords
Where Freebees is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gatineau
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Freebees business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Merchant Subscription - Gift Card Package: Monthly subscription fee of $35/month for merchants to access gift card functionality including virtual gift cards, in-store redemption, and card reload capabilities. Includes $99 one-time setup fee.
- Merchant Subscription - Freedom/Loyalty Package: Monthly subscription fee of $199/month for comprehensive loyalty program including all gift card features plus promotional tools, unlimited promotional tools, online loyalty platform, mobile app presence, communication module, and detailed analytics.
- Gift Card Purchases: Consumers purchase gift cards from merchants through Freebees platform. Management fees of $1.50 + $0.50 per card apply. Card values range from $10-$100 per card.
- Mobile App Development Services: Custom mobile app development for merchants by the Freebees team.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Gift Card Package - $35/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | Freedom Package - $199/month |
| Other | Monthly | Mobile Apps - Custom Development |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gift Card Purchase Fees |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Freebees product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Freebees operates a cash-back loyalty and rewards platform that connects merchants and consumers through electronic money (Freebees Money) instead of traditional points. Merchants subscribe to a monthly SaaS package (Gift Card or Freedom/Loyalty) that includes gift card modules, in-store and online loyalty tools, promotions management, and POS integrations across 12+ systems. Consumers download a free mobile app or obtain a membership card to earn and spend monetary rewards at hundreds of partner merchants across Canada.
Product overview
Freebees is a monetary rewards platform consisting of two main platforms: the Consumer Platform (freebeespoints.com) for members to accumulate and spend cash rewards, and the Business Platform (business.freebeespay.com) for merchants to manage loyalty programs. The core product is the Loyalty Program (Liberté/Freedom Package) which includes gift cards, in-store and online loyalty platforms, promotions management, and communication modules. The ecosystem also includes a mobile app for consumers, branded mobile app development services for merchants, and integrations with over 12 POS software providers and major e-commerce platforms. Membership is free for consumers; merchants pay subscription fees ($35/month for Gift Cards, $119/month for Loyalty/Freedom package) plus setup fees.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Freebees Loyalty Program (Freedom/Liberté Package) A monthly subscription loyalty package ($199/month + $99 setup) for merchants that includes all gift card features plus unlimited promotional tools, an online loyalty platform, mobile app presence, communication module (emails/push notifications), promotions management, promo codes management, and detailed analytics. Designed for SMB and mid-market merchants seeking to increase visit frequency and average transaction value without discount-driven margin erosion.
- Gift Cards Module A monthly subscription gift card module ($35/month + $99 setup) enabling merchants to sell physical and virtual gift cards with reloadable functionality, both in-store and online. Includes free import of existing gift cards, in-store loyalty platform, customized cards, gift card module, and detailed reporting. Management fee of $1.50 + $0.50 per card applies on consumer purchases.
- Custom Mobile App Development Professional services offering where Freebees develops customized branded mobile apps for merchants to extend the platform's loyalty functionality under their own brand identity. Priced as a separate engagement with monthly cadence noted.
Quantifiable outcome
- 34% increase in merchant adoption
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Freebees
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Freebees technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration14 records
Feature5 records
Freebees partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- Regroupement des SDC du QuébecflagshipStrategic partnership as part of the Valorisation des produits du Québec project. With government funding, Freebees helps promote Quebec products, local shopping awareness, and supports retail businesses through the rewards program.
- EuratechnologiescoreFreebees joined the Euratechnologies accelerator as part of their international expansion strategy, connecting with European markets through the ID Gatineau program.
- Microsoft BizSparkcoreFreebees was selected for the Microsoft BizSpark program in 2014, which provided free support, assistance, and software licenses to help develop their loyalty platform.
- Les Produits du QuébecflagshipFreebees partners with Les Produits du Québec to integrate their verified products into the loyalty rewards program, promoting local products and supporting Quebec merchants.
- Veloce POScorePOS integration allowing Freebees loyalty functionality within Veloce point-of-sale systems used by restaurants.
- MaitreDcorePOS integration with MaitreD software for restaurant and retail point-of-sale functionality.
- PositouchcorePOS integration for hospitality businesses using Positouch systems.
- AcombacoreAccounting and POS integration with Acomba software for Quebec businesses.
- BEST POScorePOS integration with BEST POS systems for retail environments.
- Superstar Communications Inc.coreFreebees program is owned and operated by Superstar Communications Inc., a Quebec-based company whose core business is the Freebees loyalty platform.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Freebees competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Square Loyalty (Block): Square's built-in loyalty program offers SMB merchants digital punch cards, points, and rewards integrated with Square POS and payments. Directly comparable to Freebees' SMB loyalty and gift card offering, but with Square's broader payments and e-commerce ecosystem.
- Smile.io: Smile.io provides a loyalty and rewards platform for e-commerce merchants (Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce) with points, referral, and VIP programs. Comparable to Freebees' merchant loyalty module and multi-POS/multi-channel integration strategy.
- Yotpo Loyalty: Yotpo offers a loyalty and referrals product alongside reviews, SMS marketing, and subscriptions for DTC and SMB merchants. Comparable to Freebees in the SMB loyalty/rewards vertical with broader marketing-stack ambitions.
- LoyalZoo: LoyalZoo is a digital loyalty program for small retailers and restaurants with a customer-facing app, merchant dashboard, and POS integrations. Closely comparable to Freebees on customer persona, SMB focus, and POS-integrated loyalty.
- Paytronix: Paytronix provides loyalty, gift card, and online ordering platforms for restaurants and convenience stores, with deep POS integrations. Comparable to Freebees on restaurant gift cards, loyalty, and POS-software distribution model.
- Punchh: Punchh is a digital loyalty and engagement platform for restaurant chains with mobile wallet, gift card, and POS integration capabilities. Comparable to Freebees on the restaurant vertical, gift card, and digital wallet offerings.
- Kangaroo Rewards: Kangaroo Rewards provides loyalty, gift card, and referral programs for SMB retailers with POS integrations. Directly comparable to Freebees on SMB merchant persona, gift card functionality, and SaaS pricing model.
- Como (Como Connect): Como offers a customer engagement and loyalty platform for SMBs including gift cards, loyalty programs, and mobile apps. Comparable to Freebees across the full SMB loyalty, gift card, and branded app stack.
Broad incumbents
- Shopify: Shopify is a large incumbent commerce platform that bundles gift cards, basic loyalty apps, and POS (Shopify POS) for SMB merchants. Comparable to Freebees as a broad platform offering overlapping loyalty/gift card functionality to the same SMB merchant persona.
Emerging players
- PassKit: PassKit enables merchants to issue digital loyalty cards, coupons, and gift cards through Apple Wallet and Google Pay. Comparable to Freebees on the digital wallet and gift card mechanics, though PassKit focuses on wallet delivery rather than full loyalty program management.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Freebees social profiles
Digital presenceFreebees financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Freebees leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Freebees funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Freebees M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Freebees
What does Freebees do?
Freebees operates a cash-back loyalty and rewards platform that connects merchants and consumers through electronic money (Freebees Money) instead of traditional points. Merchants subscribe to a monthly SaaS package (Gift Card or Freedom/Loyalty) that includes gift card modules, in-store and online loyalty tools, promotions management, and POS integrations across 12+ systems. Consumers download a free mobile app or obtain a membership card to earn and spend monetary rewards at hundreds of partner merchants across Canada.
Is Freebees a public or private company?
Freebees is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Freebees founded?
Freebees was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Freebees based?
Freebees is headquartered in Gatineau, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Freebees make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Merchant Subscription - Gift Card Package is the primary driver. The others are merchant Subscription - Freedom/Loyalty Package, gift Card Purchases and mobile App Development Services.
Who are Freebees's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Square Loyalty (Block), Smile.io, Yotpo Loyalty, LoyalZoo, Paytronix, Punchh, Kangaroo Rewards and Como (Como Connect). Shopify is listed as a broad incumbent. PassKit is listed as an emerging player.
Does Freebees have an API?
No public API is recorded for Freebees.
What industry is Freebees in?
Freebees's product category is Customer Loyalty Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAAAIAG, Rewards, Incentives & Gift Card Program Services, with a secondary code of FSAMANAB, Closed-Loop Gift Cards (Single-Merchant).