11 Best Referral Software For 2024 (Pros And Cons)

Looking for the best referral software? I’ve got you covered.

Referral programs are a fantastic, cost-effective way to market your business and increase your sales—but you need the right technology to manage them.

In this post, I’ll be reviewing and comparing all the best referral platforms that make it easy to manage all sorts of partnership programs and run customer-led marketing campaigns.

I’ll discuss each of their pros and cons, highlight their key features, explain pricing, and tell you everything else you need to know to find the right solution for your needs.

Let’s get into it.

The leading referral software compared

#1 – Impact

Impact is the best choice for most businesses. It’s the most flexible solution I’ve tried and is popular with both ecommerce stores and mainstream retailers.

Impact isn’t just for referral marketing programs. You can use it to set up, manage, and automate any partnership program, including influencer marketing campaigns, affiliate programs, and so on. 

The thing I like most about it is how customizable and configurable it is. A lot of other referral software tools are fairly rigid but Impact lets you build your own bespoke partnership programs from scratch with full control over everything.

You can use rules to determine how you reward your referrers/partners, and for what behaviors. Rewards can be things like discounts, gift cards, store credit, product upgrades, or pretty much anything else.

If you want, you can implement tier-based rewards and multi-objective programs to incentivize more than one action. And you can even gamify the experience with things like leaderboards and reward exchanges. 

Impact also lets you design all the emails, widgets, microsites, dashboards, and other assets for your referral campaigns, and customize them to fit your brand. 

The software automatically tracks referrals and issues payouts. And your referrers, affiliates, and brand partners get their own personalized dashboards where they can keep track of everything.

Another thing I like about Impact is that it’s one of the few referral platforms that comes with its own built-in partner marketplace. This will make it much easier to discover and recruit affiliates and influencers to your program. 

Key features

• Referral programs. Build and manage custom referral programs with customizable rules and rewards. 
• Partnership programs. Create and manage other types of partnership programs including influencer campaigns and affiliate programs.
• Asset builder. Design emails, widgets, and microsites for your referral program. Plus, place your referral program at any point in the customer journey.
• Referral dashboards. Your referrers get access to their own dashboards where they can track referral activity and payments, grab personalized share links and codes, etc. 
• Gamification. Gamify your referral program with leaderboards, reward exchanges, and multi-objective programs.
• Program automation. Automate everything—messages, reward payouts, tracking, etc.
• Contract management. Build and manage partnership contracts
• Analytics & reporting. Measure your program and partner performance with metrics like revenue, converted referrals, action cost, total cost, conversion rate, clicks, etc.
• Partner discovery & recruitment. Browse the built-in partner marketplace to discover and recruit creators to your program.

Pros and cons

#2 – PartnerStack

PartnerStack is an all-in-one referral software and partnership platform built for B2B and the best choice for SaaS businesses.

Like Impact, one of PartnerStack’s biggest strengths is its Partner Marketplace. You can list your referral program there to reach thousands of industry-expert creators, publishers, influencers, and resellers in the SaaS space, making it easy to recruit new partners.

And you can activate those partners with PartnerStack’s best-in-class enablement tools. Automate onboarding and training processes to give your referral partners all the information they need to be effective.

You can set up your own custom reward/commission structures, and the software will track all partner activities to ensure they get credited accurately for the sales they refer. It automatically calculates what each partner is owed so you don’t have to, and lets you pay everyone at once from a single invoice.

Another cool feature I really like about PartnerStack is that it lets you set up monthly challenges. So in addition to your standard reward/commission structure, you can run one-off campaigns in which you offer additional rewards to partners who reach certain milestones.

For example, ‘Refer 10 sales this quarter and earn a bonus of $500 on completion’ or ‘Write a blog post about your experience as a partner and submit the link to earn a $50 bonus’. You get the idea. 

Key features

• Recruitment. Attract and retain high-quality referral partners including vendors, publishers, and influencers through PartnerStack’s Partner Marketplace.
• Activation. Enable your partners to refer effectively through automated onboarding, training, and self-serve resources.
• Referral tracking software. Monitor every partner-sourced lead and track where deals are in your pipeline.
• Rewards. Offer custom rewards and commission structures, and automatically pay partners what they’re owed.
• Optimization. Use in-depth reports and analytics to measure your performance and optimize your referral marketing campaigns.

Pros and cons

#3 – Rewardful

Rewardful is another solid choice for SaaS and tech businesses. It’s a very user-friendly affiliate and referral software solution that offers good value for money.

My favorite thing about Rewardful is how easy it is to use. The UI and UX are fantastic. A lot of other referral platforms feel sluggish and clunky, but Rewardful feels sleek and modern.

It took me roughly half the time to set up a referral campaign on Rewardful as it did with most other tools I’ve tried. You just connect a payment processor (e.g. Stripe or PayPal), configure your settings, and install Rewardful on your website. The whole process was done in less than 10 minutes.

When configuring your settings, you get to set your commission structure. For example, you can choose between recurring or one-time payments and fixed or percentage-based commission rates. You can set minimum and maximum thresholds, set the duration of your cookie window, and choose how you want to accredit affiliates (e.g. last-touch accreditation) 

One feature I found really cool is Rewardful’s double-sided incentives. This lets you offer incentives to both your referrers and the customers they refer at the same time. For example, the customer gets 10% off when they use their referral code, and the referrer gets a 10% commission. 

Offering the customer an incentive when they use a referral code in this way will no doubt help your affiliate partners to be more effective.

Key features

• Customizable commissions. Set your own commission and reward structure, customize cookie windows and attribution settings, and more.
• Double-sided incentives. Offer double-sided incentives to reward both referrers and customers when they use referral links.
• Conversion tracking. Track every conversion accurately and attribute the sale to the right affiliate partner.
• Mass payouts. Save time by paying referrer partners in bulk via PayPal or Wise rather than individually.
• Self-service portals. Affiliates/referrers can log in to their portal to access links and coupon codes, view their stats, and track the status of their referrals.
• Flexible API. Build a fully white-label referral program with a flexible API and robust documentation.

Pros and cons

#4 – Reditus

Reditus is a referral marketing platform purely for B2B SaaS businesses that helps you set up and manage your own affiliate program.

The best thing about Reditus is its affiliate marketplace. It’s one of the best of any referral platform I’ve tried as it only includes vetted affiliates that are a good fit for SaaS businesses. You can recruit bloggers, influencers, agencies, and publishers to your referral program through the marketplace.

I really like that you can see exactly how much revenue each affiliate has already generated for other SaaS brands in the network. 

You can also see other data like their website or social insights (e.g. how many followers a given influencer has), their industries of interest, examples of their content, etc. All of this comes in useful for validating affiliates and deciding whether or not to accept them into your program.

Another thing I like about Reditus is that it lets you set up multiple commission tiers to keep your affiliates motivated to reach targets.

For example, you might offer 10% commissions for those new to your referral program, but increase that to 25% once they’ve made 15+ paid referrals, and again to 40% for those that reach 50+ paid referrals.

The main downside to Reditus is that it takes a while to get everything set up. You have to have an initial introduction call first. Then after that, it takes a few hours for installation, data preparation, etc. before you’re ready to go. 

Key features

• Affiliate marketplace. Discover and recruit vetted affiliates specializing in SaaS to your referral program in the built-in marketplace.
• Affiliate statistics. Validate potential affiliates by viewing data on tier social followers, website traffic, content, interests, etc.
• Tiered commissions. Set up multiple commission tiers to incentivize affiliates to reach higher targets.
• Analytics. View high-level and granular insights to measure the performance of your referrers and referral campaigns. 

Pros and cons

#5 – FirstPromoter

FirstPromoter is a powerful referral platform built for subscription-based companies. Because it’s built for subscriptions, I find that it handles recurring billing/commissions better than most.

Unlike more basic referral program software, FirstPromoter can automatically track recurring sales, upgrades, cancellations, refunds, etc., and adjust commissions accordingly. 

This allows you to pay recurring commissions to your referral partners in sync with customer subscriptions without any of the usual headaches.

Another way FirstPromoter stands out from other referral marketing software is that it’s one of the few referral platforms that comes with native email features. So, you can automatically send out broadcasts and trigger-based emails without relying on third-party email marketing software.

For example, you can automatically send welcome emails to new promoters when they join your customer referral program to provide them with login details, and share links & instructions to help them get started.

I also like FirstPromoter’s dashboard a lot. It’s a customizable screen that shows you useful data about your referral campaigns. For example, visualizations show you at a glance how much revenue and referrals you’ve generated and how that’s changed over time, who your top promoters are, etc. 

And the affiliate portals look great too. Your referral partners can view their stats and rewards, grab referral links and assets, etc. You have full control over what affiliates can see in their portal and you can customize it with your logos, background, border, colors, etc.  Plus, you can even use your domain and embed them in your own application.

Key features

• SEO-friendly referral links. Share referral links with your affiliates in 8 different SEO-optimized formats. 
• Automated tracking & attribution. Automatically track every click, conversion, and sale and attribute referrals to the correct affiliate.
• Native email. Send out broadcasts and trigger-based emails like welcome emails without the need for 3rd-party software.
• Customizable dashboard. View metrics and KPIs to measure your referral campaigns in your own customizable dashboard.
• Affiliate portals. Let your referral partners self-serve by giving them access to their own login portals complete with share links, brand assets, etc.
• Individual rewards & bonuses. Personalize your commission scheme for each individual affiliate in your referral program.
• Assets. Empower your referrers by giving them branded assets to use to promote your products, like banners, images, videos, docs, etc. 
• Reports. Load pre-built reports with all the metrics you need to analyze your referral campaigns, or build your own custom reports from scratch

Pros and cons

#6 – Tapfiliate

Tapfiliate is another powerful, easy-to-use referral software solution with a few neat features that I really like.

For example, it’s one of the only solutions I’ve tried that lets you set up multi-level marketing programs in which affiliates that sign-up for your referral marketing program can recruit sub-affiliates, and earn extra commission on their commissions. 

It also allows you to implement a bonus system whereby affiliates can earn extra bonus rewards for their performance on top of your standard commission rates.

Aside from that, it has all the other features you’d expect from an AIO referral software solution, including affiliate portals, asset management, analytics and reports, automated referral tracking and attribution, commission calculations and payouts, etc.

My one gripe with Tapfiliate is that it automatically charges you for overages. Depending on the plan you sign up for, the number of clicks and conversions you can generate through referrals per month will be capped. 

And if you go over that limit, you’ll be billed at a rate of $1.50 per 1,000 clicks or $15 per 1,000 conversions.

Key features

• Referral program management. Automated tracking and attribution, affiliate portals, asset management, commission calculations and payouts, etc.
• MLM programs. Create multi-level marketing programs in which affiliates are rewarded for recruiting sub-affiliates. 
• Bonus rewards. Offer bonus rewards in addition to regular commissions when affiliates reach set milestones.
• Recruitment. Automatically invite customers to your referral program, or add affiliates individually or in bulk via forms and CSV imports.
• In-platform communication. Communicate with your affiliates through in-app announcements and messages. Two-way communication allows affiliates to ask questions and offer feedback.

Pros and cons

#7 – Referral Rock

Referral Rock is a good choice if you’re looking for a ‘done for you’ solution. They offer concierge onboarding and a dedicated program advisor who will help create a tailored program specifically designed for your businesses.

That includes reward recommendations based on your audience and technical help implementing your referral program within your existing app or website. 

One of my favorite things about Referral Rock is that it lets you create rewards based on buyer stages. 

So instead of offering a flat commission or reward when a customer makes a purchase, you can offer rewards when leads reach different stages in the buying journey, e.g. when they receive a quote or sign up for a free trial. 

Referral Rock also allows you to embed one-click sharing moments in your checkout pages, emails, and other in-app experiences. 

This removes barriers to onboarding referrers/affiliates—instead of having to apply for your program by filling out a lengthy form, your existing customers can just grab a code and share it with their friends in a couple of clicks.

Key features

• Concierge onboarding. Get help setting up a personalized referral program tailored for your business with reward recommendations and more.
• Rewards & commissions. Create your own custom reward system; offer fixed or percentages-based commissions, discounts, etc.
• Buyer stages. Reward referrers when customers reach different buyer stages, e.g. signed up, scheduled a call, etc.
• One-click sharing moments. Embed your referral links across your emails, checkout pages, and other in-app experiences so referrers can grab them in one click, without having to fill out sign-up forms.
• Automated messaging. Keep your referrers in the loop with automated emails, nudge reminders, and activity notifications.

Pros and cons

#8 – ReferralCandy

ReferralCandy is one of the oldest referral software tools on the market, and it’s still one of the best. You can use it to build both word-of-mouth referral programs and affiliate programs, but it’s particularly good for online stores thanks to its focus on ecommerce.

My favorite thing about ReferralCandy is how beginner-friendly it is. It’s super quick to set up—no developers necessary. Just use their native plugins or one-click connection options to install it in your chosen ecommerce platform (e.g. Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, etc.) and you’re good to go.

From there, setup is easy. You choose what rewards you want to offer—these can be things like percentage- or fixed-amount discounts off your next purchase, gifts, cash payouts, etc.—and where you want to display your referral widget.

For example, you could have it pop up in the corner of your ecommerce website, embed a signup form during the customer checkout process, or invite them to refer a friend with a post-purchase pop-up. 

ReferralCandy will track all referrals and issue rewards automatically. And it does a good job of detecting fraud so you don’t have to worry about customers exploiting your program. 

Key features

• Ecommerce integrations. Connect ReferralCandy to your ecommerce platform in a couple of clicks via native integrations.
• Customizable reward options. Offer referrers cash rewards, store discounts, gifts, or anything else.
• Flexible publishing. Embed your referral sign-up forms and share links on your site via pop-ups and widgets.
• Analytics. View referrer campaign data and a list of your top referrers in your analytics dashboard.

Pros and cons

#9 – Ambassador

Ambassador has a higher starting price than some of the other referral software we’ve looked at, but you get a lot for your money.

It’s an end-to-end solution that lets you build and manage referral, affiliate, and customer loyalty from one platform, with everything you need to turn your customers into brand ambassadors.

You can embed a refer-a-friend widget in your online store and provide customers with unique share links and QR codes that they can use to promote your business in exchange for rewards like points, badges, cash offers, discounts, and experiences. The platform handles tracking and attribution automatically.

I like that you can offer customers rewards for other things besides referring their friends with task-based campaigns. For example, you can set up your program so that ambassadors earn extra points for sharing a social post, completing a questionnaire, leaving a review, etc.

I also like that you can create your own ‘asset library’ full of videos, images, audio clips, and other brand assets for your ambassadors to use. This allows you to keep tight control of your brand messaging while empowering ambassadors to promote your business.

Key features

• Referral and affiliate programs. Create and manage refer-a-friend programs as well as affiliate programs.
• Customer loyalty programs. Set up a loyalty program in which customers are rewarded with points and badges for completing tasks and making repeat purchases.
• Share links & QR codes. Make it easy for referrers to promote your business with personalized share links and QR codes.
• Asset library. Control your brand messaging by uploading referral campaign assets like images, videos, and audio clips to a shared library. 

Pros and cons

#10 – Referral Factory

Referral Factory is another simple but powerful ‘plug-and-play solution. It’s easy to integrate with your CMS and CRM, and it comes with lots of done-for-you referral program templates to help you get started quickly.

In total, there are over 100+ pre-built templates designed by marketing experts to choose from. All of them can be customized in the drag-and-drop builder, or alternatively, you can create your referral program from scratch. 

Once you’ve built your referral program, you can promote it through website pop-ups and widgets, join links, etc. Plus, sync it up with your CRM to automatically generate referral links for all your CRM contacts.

You can add custom rewards, and the software can automatically track and attribute sales to the right referrer. Referrers can track their progress on their own personalized login pages and view their stats, rewards due and issued, conversion rate, and more for complete transparency.

Key features

• Template library. Start by choosing a referral program template from the huge template library.
• Drag-and-drop builder. Build and customize your referral program widgets and landing pages in the intuitive drag-and-drop builder.
• Publishing options. Promote your program on your site via pop-ups, widgets, and more.
• Rewards. Choose your rewards and commissions, and let Referral Factory automatically track referrals and distribute your rewards.

Pros and cons

#11 – Viral Loops 

Viral Loops takes a very different approach than the other referral platforms we’ve looked at. It uses a template-based system that makes it incredibly easy to use, but a little less flexible than its competitors.

With Viral Loops, you start by choosing a referral program template. They’re all based on successful programs from the world’s biggest brands (like Airbnb, Dropbox, etc.).

Available templates include the ‘Newsletter Referral’ (optimized for email campaigns), the ‘Milestone Referral’ (offer different prizes to referrers when they refer more friends and reach milestones), and the ‘Shopify Referral’ (quickly implement refer-a-friend discounts and rewards in your Shopify store).

There are a few really unique templates that I haven’t seen elsewhere too, like the ‘Leaderboard Referral’ which gamifies your referral program, and the ‘Online to Offline’ template that lets you offer customers discounts when they show you their referral code physically in your store/venue.

Once you choose a template, the Campaign Wizard walks you through the steps to set up your program. Everything is laid out for you step by step to make it easy for beginners. 

You’ll be prompted to choose a reward (or add reward milestones), determine how you want users to enter your program (e.g. automatically send everyone referral links or let them sign up via a form), decide how you want to distribute rewards (e.g. send gift cards with Tremendous or coupons/credit through Stripe), and so on.

Key features

• Referral program templates. Choose a template based on successful referral campaigns from big-name brands and customize it to fit your needs.
• Campaign Wizard. Get step-by-step instructions that walk you through the whole process of setting up your referral program.
• Landing pages. Use the built-in landing page builder to create the pages for your referral program.
• Integrations. Connect Viral Loops to your email marketing software, CRM, and more via native integrations and webhooks.
• Real-time dashboard. Keep an eye on your referral campaign with real-time insights and analytics.

Pros and cons

Final thoughts

Not sure which one of these platforms to choose? 

The best referral software for you will depend on lots of factors, like the kind of referral program you want to manage (e.g. customer referral programs, affiliate programs, etc.) the type of business you run (e.g. ecommerce, SaaS, B2B, etc.), the features and integrations you need, and your budget. You’ll have to weigh all of that up to make your decision.

While you’re here, you might want to check out some of our other posts. 

Read our list of the top ecommerce metrics you need to track here. 

And if you plan to sell digital downloads, check out our roundups of the best platforms to sell digital products and videos online.