> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.shopwaive.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.shopwaive.com/shopify/shopwaive-balances-vs-shopify-store-credit.md).

# Shopwaive Balances vs. Shopify Store Credit

Compare Shopwaive balances, the digital wallet, with Shopify's native store credit — and learn how to use both rails together

Shopwaive supports two different credit rails, and you can use both.

**Shopwaive balances** is a digital wallet you offer your customers. Balances can hold any currency — points, or your presentment store currency, for example — and customers redeem them as a discount code or gift code at Checkout, online or at Shopify POS.

**Shopify store credit** is Shopify's own native feature — the [Store Credit Primitive and API](https://www.shopify.com/blog/store-credit) — independently developed by Shopify, not created by Shopwaive. Shopwaive fully supports it: we sync your customer's Shopify store credit balance into their Customer profile page in Shopwaive, and you can deposit to it directly from Shopwaive.

They solve different jobs. Here's how to choose — and how to combine them.

## At a glance

|                        | Shopwaive balances                                                                      | Shopify store credit                                                                                                            |
| ---------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| What it is             | Digital wallet, issued and tracked by Shopwaive                                         | Native Shopify feature, supported and synced by Shopwaive                                                                       |
| Currency               | Any currency, including points or presentment store currency                            | One account per currency per customer; caps are currency-dependent (under $15,000 per customer in USD)                          |
| Redeeming at checkout  | Partial redemption — apply any amount as a discount code or gift code, online or at POS | All-or-nothing at checkout and POS                                                                                              |
| Ledger operations      | Deposits, adjustments, bulk import, and automatic refund clawback                       | Credit and debit only — no hold or authorize                                                                                    |
| Expiration             | Expiry tracked per deposit lot                                                          | Expiry managed by Shopify                                                                                                       |
| Customer accounts      | Redeemed by code — no new account requirement                                           | Requires the new customer accounts                                                                                              |
| B2B                    | Shared company wallets supported                                                        | D2C only — not available for B2B                                                                                                |
| Earning and automation | Earn credit on orders with Shopify Flow                                                 | Deposit with Shopwaive's <mark style="color:blue;">**Shopify store credit**</mark> Flow action or the bulk import native target |

## When Shopwaive balances are the right fit

* **Loyalty and points programs** — balances can hold any currency, including points, and customers redeem them at checkout like any other payment.
* **Partial redemption** — customers apply exactly the amount they choose and keep the rest for later.
* **B2B** — shared company wallets let a vendor or client team draw from one balance, including on draft orders.
* **Refunds as credit** — issue refunds in credit for any amount on any order, with automatic refund clawback keeping balances honest.
* **Bookkeeping** — full transaction history on every account, with export for your accounting workflow.

## When Shopify store credit is the right fit

* You want the balance to live natively in Shopify, managed by Shopify, and shown in the new customer accounts.
* Your customers redeem their full balance at once — store credit applies all-or-nothing at checkout and POS.
* Your program is D2C, in a single currency per customer, and within Shopify's per-customer caps.

## Use both together

Shopify's native store credit can be used along with Shopwaive balances — this is not an either/or choice, and Shopwaive never replaces the native feature.

* **Deposit to native store credit from Shopwaive.** Use the <mark style="color:blue;">**Shopify store credit**</mark> action in [Shopify Flow](/shopify/shopify-flow.md) to credit or debit your customers' native store credit automatically.
* **Bulk import to native store credit.** Target Shopify's native store credit during [bulk import](/shopify/accounts/import-accounts.md) to update thousands of customer balances in seconds.
* **See both in one place.** Shopwaive syncs your customer's Shopify store credit balance and displays it alongside their Shopwaive balance in their Customer profile page.

**Tip:** A common pattern is native store credit for simple D2C refund credit, and Shopwaive balances for everything that needs more flexibility — points, partial redemption, expiry lots, or B2B wallets.