How can we help?
Learn how to collect stamps, earn rewards and discover amazing local businesses.
Are you a business owner?
If you're a merchant looking to set up Lokaly for your business, visit our merchant help centre.
Getting Started
Download the app and create your account
Collecting Stamps
How to tap and earn
Rewards
Earning and redeeming your rewards
Nearby & Offers
Discover local businesses and deals
Your Account
Profile, privacy and data
Troubleshooting
Common issues and fixes
Getting Started
What is Lokaly?
Lokaly is a free app that helps you support independent local businesses and get rewarded for doing so.
Instead of paper stamp cards that get lost or forgotten, Lokaly uses secure NFC tap technology. You simply tap your phone on a staff member's Lokaly tag to collect stamps, unlock rewards and enjoy exclusive offers.
No paper cards. No QR codes. No fuss.
Creating Your Account
- Open the Lokaly app
- Tap Sign Up
- Enter your email address
- Create a password
- Add your name and birthday (optional, for birthday rewards)
- You're ready to start collecting!
Why Do I Need an Account?
Your account keeps your stamps, rewards and favourites safe. It also:
- Syncs across devices (phone, tablet)
- Enables birthday rewards from your favourite businesses
- Lets businesses send you special offers
- Protects your progress if you change phones
Collecting Stamps
How to Collect a Stamp
- Make a purchase at a participating business
- Open the Lokaly app
- Ask staff for your stamp
- Staff will present their NFC tag to you (worn on a lanyard)
- Tap your phone on the tag
- Your stamp is added instantly ✓
No QR codes. No scanning. No waiting.
Why Do Staff Hold the Tag?
Unlike other loyalty apps where you tap an unattended device on the counter, Lokaly tags are worn by staff on lanyards. This means:
- Faster service — staff present the tag to you, no searching for a device
- More secure — stamps only happen during genuine transactions
- Works anywhere — staff can give you stamps at your table, at the till, or anywhere in the shop
What is NFC?
NFC (Near Field Communication) is the same technology used for contactless payments. When you tap your phone on a Lokaly tag, it securely registers your stamp.
Most modern smartphones support NFC:
- iPhone: iPhone 7 and newer
- Android: Most phones from 2018 onwards
Enabling NFC on Your Phone
iPhone: NFC is always on — no setup needed.
Android:
- Go to Settings → Connected devices (or Connections)
- Tap NFC
- Toggle On
What If I Have No Internet Signal?
No problem! If you tap with poor or no signal:
- Your stamp is saved locally on your phone
- It shows as Pending in the app
- It syncs automatically when you're back online
You don't lose your stamp and you don't need to tap again.
Rewards
How Rewards Work
Each business sets their own reward structure. For example:
- Collect 10 stamps → Get a free coffee
- Collect 5 stamps → Get 10% off (interim reward)
As you collect stamps, your progress shows on the digital card. When you hit a reward milestone, it unlocks automatically.
Interim Rewards
Some businesses offer interim rewards — smaller rewards you earn before completing the full card. These might include:
- Discounts (e.g., 10% off at 5 stamps)
- Free upgrades (e.g., free size upgrade at 3 stamps)
- Small treats (e.g., free biscuit at 4 stamps)
Check each business's card to see what rewards are available.
Viewing Your Rewards
- Open Lokaly
- Tap My Cards
- Select a business
- See your stamp progress and any earned rewards
Earned rewards show a Redeem button.
Redeeming a Reward
- Visit the business
- Open your earned reward in the app
- Show it to staff
- Staff will present their NFC tag
- Tap your phone on the tag to confirm redemption
- Enjoy your reward! 🎉
Staff will confirm the redemption on their end.
Do Rewards Expire?
This depends on the business. Most rewards don't expire, but some businesses set expiry dates. Check the reward details in the app — any expiry date will be clearly shown.
Nearby & Offers
Discovering Businesses Near You
Tap Nearby in the app to see:
- Local cafés, restaurants, salons, barbers and shops using Lokaly
- A map showing businesses around you
- Distance from your current location
- What rewards each business offers
It's a great way to find new places that reward your loyalty.
Do I Need Location Services On?
Location access is optional.
- If enabled: Shows businesses near your current location
- If disabled: You can still browse all businesses and search by area
You can change this anytime in your phone settings.
Browsing Offers
Tap Offers to see deals from local businesses:
- Flash sales
- Happy hour discounts
- New customer offers
- Seasonal promotions
Offers are posted by businesses and refreshed regularly. Unlike marketing emails that pile up in your inbox, you browse Offers when you're ready to spend.
Saving Favourites
Found a business you love? Tap the heart icon to save it. Your favourites appear at the top of My Cards for quick access.
Your Account
Updating Your Details
To change your name, email or birthday:
- Tap Profile (bottom right)
- Tap Edit Profile
- Make your changes
- Tap Save
Changing Your Password
- Tap Profile
- Tap Change Password
- Enter your current password
- Enter your new password
- Confirm and save
Push Notifications
Lokaly may send notifications for:
- Stamp confirmations
- Reward unlocks
- Birthday rewards
- Offers from your favourite businesses
- Nearby alerts (when you're close to a favourite business)
To manage notifications:
- In-app: Profile → Notification Settings
- On your phone: Settings → Lokaly → Notifications
Lokaly does not send spam or sell notification data.
Your Privacy
We take privacy seriously:
- We don't track your location continuously — only when you open Nearby
- We don't sell your data to anyone, ever
- Merchants don't see your personal details — they only see that a stamp was collected or reward redeemed
Merchants cannot see your:
- Email address
- Phone number
- Full name
- Home address
Read our full Privacy Policy for details.
Deleting Your Account
You can delete your account and all your data at any time:
- Email support@lokaly.co.uk with subject line "Delete my account"
- Include the email address linked to your account
- We'll confirm your request
- Your data is permanently deleted within 30 days
This is in line with your GDPR rights. Note that deletion is permanent — your stamps and rewards cannot be recovered.
Troubleshooting
My stamp didn't appear
- Check for a Pending stamp in your card — this syncs when you're back online
- Make sure NFC is enabled on your phone
- Ask staff to present the tag again and hold your phone flat against it
- Some phone cases can block NFC — try tapping with the back of your phone
If still not working, contact support@lokaly.co.uk.
I tapped but saw an error
This can happen if:
- The business's tag is temporarily inactive
- You tapped too quickly after a previous tap (fraud protection)
- The business has paused their programme
Ask staff for help, or try again in a few minutes.
I can't redeem my reward
Check that:
- The reward shows as Earned (not still in progress)
- You're at the correct business (rewards are business-specific)
- Staff have their tag ready to confirm the redemption
If issues persist, show staff your reward screen and ask them to contact Lokaly support.
The app won't open or keeps crashing
- Force close the app and reopen
- Check for app updates in the App Store or Play Store
- Restart your phone
- If still not working, delete and reinstall the app
Don't worry — your stamps and rewards are saved to your account and will reappear when you log back in.
I forgot my password
- Tap Log In
- Tap Forgot Password
- Enter your email address
- Check your inbox for a reset link
- Create a new password
If you don't receive the email, check your spam folder or contact support.
A business I visited isn't on Lokaly
Not all businesses use Lokaly yet! If you'd like your favourite local business to join, let them know about us. They can sign up at lokaly.co.uk.
My stamps disappeared
Stamps are linked to your account, so they shouldn't disappear. If you can't see them:
- Make sure you're logged into the correct account
- Pull down on My Cards to refresh
- Check you're looking at the right business's card
If stamps are genuinely missing, contact support@lokaly.co.uk with:
- The business name
- Approximate dates you collected stamps
- Any screenshots you have
Quick Answers
Is Lokaly free?
Yes! Lokaly is completely free for customers. Always.
Do I need to create a separate account for each business?
No. One Lokaly account works at every participating business.
What happens if I lose my phone?
Your stamps and rewards are safe! Just download Lokaly on your new phone and log in with your account.
Can I use Lokaly on multiple devices?
Yes. Log in with your account and your stamps and rewards sync automatically.
Do I need internet to collect stamps?
No. Stamps are saved offline and sync when you're back online.
Is my data safe?
Yes. We're fully GDPR compliant, don't sell your data and give you full control. See our Privacy Policy.
How do I know which businesses use Lokaly?
Check the Nearby section in the app, or look for the Lokaly logo/poster in shop windows.
Contact Support
We're here to help ❤️
Can't find what you're looking for? Get in touch.
Email: support@lokaly.co.uk
Response time: Within 24 hours (usually much faster)
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm (UK time)
When contacting us, please include:
- A brief description of your issue
- Your email address (the one linked to your Lokaly account)
- The business name (if relevant)
- Screenshots if possible
- Your device type (iPhone or Android)
Lokaly is a London-based app built to support independent UK businesses and the communities they serve.
Every tap helps a local business thrive. Thank you for being part of it. 💛



