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How Smile uses your store currency

When you first install Smile, your program currency is automatically set to match your store’s platform currency. Smile uses this currency to calculate points, spend-based VIP tier progress, rewards, and discount codes.

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Changing the currency symbol

You can adjust how your currency is displayed without changing the underlying currency itself. Depending on your platform settings, you may be able to show a different symbol (such as $) or the currency code (such as USD). This only affects display. It doesn’t change the currency used for calculations. You can manage this in Smile Admin > Settings > General.

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Changing your program currency

It’s uncommon to need to change your program currency, but you can update it in Smile Admin > Settings > General. Smile will show a warning before you make this change. Changing your program currency doesn’t convert your existing loyalty program to the new currency or apply an exchange rate. Instead:
  • Points balances: Existing points balances don’t change. New points are calculated using order totals in the new currency and your existing earning rate.
  • Rewards: Reward values keep the same number. For example, a $10 off reward becomes a £10 off reward if you change from USD to GBP.
  • Discount codes: Existing discount codes continue to work, but their value uses the new store currency. For example, an existing $10 off code becomes £10 off if you change from USD to GBP.
  • VIP tiers: Spend thresholds keep the same number. For example, a $500 spend threshold becomes a £500 spend threshold if you change from USD to GBP.
After changing your currency, review your earning rates, VIP tiers, and reward values to make sure they still make sense.
Important: Changing your program currency can also affect your financial reporting. Historical values aren’t converted when you change currencies, which can make reporting harder to interpret, especially if you change currencies more than once. We recommend avoiding unnecessary currency changes.

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Using Smile with Shopify multi-currency

Shopify’s multi-currency feature allows customers to view prices in their local currency. However, Shopify still processes orders and reports them to Smile in your store’s base currency. Because of this:
  • Smile calculates points and rewards using your base currency.
  • Smile displays earning rules and rewards in a single currency only.
This behavior matches how Shopify handles non-Smile discounts when multi-currency is enabled.

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Using Smile with BigCommerce multi-currency

BigCommerce can display prices to shoppers in their local currency. Smile uses the currency the order was processed in — the same currency that appears on the order confirmation. Smile does not convert currencies or apply exchange rates. Depending on your BigCommerce configuration, orders may be processed in your store’s default currency or a shopper’s local transactional currency. Because of this:
  • Smile calculates points and rewards using the order’s processed currency.
  • Smile displays earning rules and rewards in your Smile program’s base currency only.

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Adjusting rewards to match your currency

Many merchants aim to issue one point per unit of currency spent, but this may not be the right fit for every currency. Depending on your store currency, you may want to:
  • Adjust points earning rates.
  • Update reward values to protect your margins.
In some currencies, it’s normal for customers to earn and redeem large point balances.
Important: If you use multi-currency and offer fixed-amount rewards (for example, “$10 off”), their perceived value may change day to day for international shoppers due to exchange rate fluctuations.