# Smile.io: how AI models rank it, September 2026

GTM AI Recommendation Index, September 2026 Edition. Named in 48 judge labels across 3 categories by 12 of 12 models. Page: https://gtm-ai-index.com/vendors/smile-io/

## Standing by category

| Category | Share | Rank | Negative rate | Labels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loyalty, advocacy and referrals | 24% | 1 | 19% | 36 |
| Referral and partner programs | 6% | 5 | 11% | 9 |
| Ecommerce marketing | 0% | 41 | 0% | 3 |

## What the models said for it

- "Smile.io (Best for $0 Budget) ... the only major loyalty platform with a permanently free plan that actually includes referrals" (MiniMax M2.5, Loyalty)
- "If your budget is $0: Go with Smile.io Free — it's the only major platform offering permanent free referral functionality." (Kimi K2, Referrals)
- "Smile.io stands out as the best customer loyalty and referral platform for companies with a limited budget." (Grok 4.1 Fast, Loyalty)
- "The best customer loyalty and referral platform for a company with a limited budget is Smile.io" (Llama 4 Maverick, Loyalty)

## And against it

- "Billing complaints: Multiple merchants report being charged even after cancelling their free plan" (GLM 4.7 FlashX, Loyalty)
- "their refer-a-friend features are often basic and rigid... advanced features like API access and custom integrations are often gated behind incredibly expensive tiers" (Gemini 3.5 Flash, Referrals)
- "Billing disputes (charges post-cancel, free plan limits eroding, overcharges on order counts); support delays on refunds" (Grok 4.1 Fast, Loyalty)
- "various tiers of Smile.io) have been flagged by users for aggressive pricing behaviors" (Qwen 3.7 Flash, Loyalty)

## Record

- Method: https://gtm-ai-index.com/methodology/
- Raw judge labels and full responses: https://gtm-ai-index.com/data/
- License: CC BY 4.0. Cite as GTM AI Recommendation Index, September 2026 Edition, gtm-ai-index.com.