Increasing a Shopify store’s sales is tempting, but imagine achieving along with customer loyalty and increased lifetime value.
Referral marketing can help you achieve this, while a dedicated Shopify referral app can make it easy.
After spending enough time testing some of the best Shopify referral apps, I’ve put together this comprehensive guide.
I’ve personally worked with each app, so you don’t have to spend your time on it. You can easily choose the perfect referral solution for your business.
Get more referrals, higher conversions, and increased trust with Afflr.
What’s the need for a Referral Program App in Shopify
Honestly, managing word-of-mouth marketing in Shopify manually can be a nightmare. It involves numerous spreadsheets, endless follow-ups, and tiring calculations.
This is why I feel the first thing an e-commerce owner should finalize is using a Shopify referral app to automate their marketing efforts.
Here’s more reason to solidify this take on referral marketing apps:
- Customer acquisition costs can be reduced within months
- Existing customers become active brand advocates
- Sales from referrals will bring 2x higher average order value
More benefits I’ve seen using Shopify Referral Apps
- Automated Reward Distribution: You don’t have to manually track referrals or send rewards. Using a referral program app can handle everything automatically. This can save 15 hours per week on average.
- Better Customer Retention: Setting up a Shopify referral program using apps can increase customer retention because of the ease of the referral system and consistent communication.
- Increased Brand Trust: Referred customers will show higher trust levels compared to customers from other marketing methods.
How to Choose the Best Shopify Referral App
Before diving into the reviews, let me share what I’ve learned about selecting the right Shopify referral app for your store.
These are some of the features you can’t compromise on when running your referral program campaign in Shopify.
1. Seamless Integration
Your referral program must work effortlessly with your existing Shopify setup like your theme, checkout process, and other apps.
2. Customizable Rewards
You can’t be offering the same rewards for all referral programs and referral partners. Different types of commission models have to be adopted to bring about better results. A referral app in Shopify must support it.
3. Automated Tracking
Reliable tracking of referrals, conversions, and reward distribution should happen without manual intervention to prevent errors and save time.
4. User-friendly Dashboard
The least learning curve should be required to assess and understand your referral marketing insights. Your dashboard should provide a clear idea of the referral program performance with easy-to-understand metrics and insights.
5. Flexible Payment Options
Payment of rewards can’t always be cash. Multiple reward payout methods should be available to suit different customer preferences and geographical requirements.
Turn every happy customer into a powerful marketer! Join thousands succeeding with Afflr.
10 Best Shopify Referral Apps: My In-Depth Experience
The best Shopify referral apps are:
- Afflr Affiliate Marketing
- Referral Candy & Affiliate
- UpPromote Affiliate Marketing
- BON: Loyalty Rewards Referrals
- Rise.ai: Gift Cards & Loyalty
- Smile: Loyalty & Rewards
- Referral Program – Shopjar
- BLOOP Referral Program, Reward
- Stamped Product Reviews & UGC
- LoyaltyLion Rewards & Referral
1. Afflr Affiliate Marketing
Afflr is a referral marketing solution best for small businesses and startups. My personal experience with Afflr was seamless. The user-friendly setup allowed me to launch a referral program within minutes.
The standout feature of this referral app is its ability to create a dedicated referral sign-up page and thank you form at the checkout page. This makes it easy to turn customers into brand advocates.
Each referral partner will receive a unique referral link for active participation. I also found its Shopify referral tracking precise and reliable. I was able to monitor program performance effectively.
What Makes It Special: Afflr’s customization options are impressive. I could create branded referral signup forms and embed them with the Shopify store without any coding knowledge.
Best for: Small businesses and startups
Why I Recommend It:
- Precise tracking to monitor program performance
- Customizable sign-up forms without coding
- Unbeatable pricing starting at $0/month
Pricing
- Free
- Starter – $9
Rating: 5/5
2. Referral Candy & Affiliate
ReferralCandy & Affiliate simplifies referral marketing with its automated features. Setting up the referral program was quick.
I appreciated the flexibility in customizing referral codes and rewards to match the brand’s identity.
What stood out in this referral app in Shopify is its integration capabilities with tools like ReCharge and Skio. It made managing referral marketing in Shopify more efficient.
Additionally, their fraud detection feature safeguards against misuse of referral codes.
What Makes It Special: While $59/month seems high, the ROI justifies the cost.
Why I Recommend It:
- Customizable rewards for brand consistency
- Seamless integration with tools like ReCharge
Pricing
- Premium – $59/month
- Plus – $299/month
- Enterprise – $24000/year
Rating: 4.9/5
3. UpPromote Affiliate Marketing
UpPromote helps in managing both affiliate and referral marketing. I was impressed by its strong analytics and multi-store support.
They provide a dedicated account manager with personalized assistance. This will make the onboarding process smooth for all types of Shopify owners.
One feature I loved about this referral marketing app is the ability to list referral programs in the UpPromote marketplace. This can help reach a wider audience. Thus, this app is a go-to for businesses of all sizes.
What Makes It Special: UpPromote supports MLM. This means that when your referral partners bring more referral partners, the former will get a commission for the latter’s successful sales as well.
Why I Recommend It:
- Multi-store support for scalability
- Dedicated account manager for personalized assistance
Pricing
- Free Plan
- Growth – $29.99/month
- Professional – $89.99/month
- Enterprise – $199.99/month
Rating: 4.9/5
4. BON: Loyalty Rewards Referrals
BON offers a customizable approach to referral marketing. Suitable for businesses that value branding. From personalized widgets to email templates, BON ensures your referral program reflects your brand’s identity.
Migrating from other apps to this referral program app is easy. They have a 24/7 support team that is always ready to assist. The multi-language support can be particularly helpful for reaching a global audience.
What Makes It Special: You can cover many touch points like homepage, product pages, and checkout using widgets to encourage referral program integration.
Why I Recommend It:
- Easy migration from other apps
- Comprehensive widget placement options
Pricing
- Free
- Basic: $25/month
- Growth: $99/month
- Professional: $349/month
Rating: 4.9/5
5. Rise.ai: Gift Cards & Loyalty
Rise.ai specializes in loyalty and referral programs. You can focus on bulk campaigns using this referral Shopify app. I found its gift card scheduling feature useful for boosting customer engagement. Gifts are any day more attractive than cash rewards.
The ability to issue gift cards during refunds will also contribute to streamlining operations. This referral app in Shopify will also help enhance customer satisfaction. Rise.ai also supports multi-store credits, making it ideal for larger businesses.
What Makes It Special: Bulk gift card distribution saved hours during holiday campaigns. Automated refund-to-gift-card conversion reduced customer service workload.
Why I Recommend It:
- Gift card scheduling for peak seasons
- Multi-store credits for centralized management
Pricing
- Starter – $19.99/month
- Small Business – $59.99/month
- Pro – $199.99/month
- Premium – $599.99/month
Rating: 4.8/5
6. Smile: Loyalty & Rewards
Smile.io makes referral marketing accessible with no coding skills required. I particularly appreciated their reporting capabilities, which provided insights into affiliate sales attribution and financial metrics.
Their dedicated support team was a lifesaver. They promptly resolve any technical queries. The automated email reminders helped keep my customers engaged. This Shopify app also integrates with 25+ which helps streamline the workflow of Shopify referral programs.
What Makes It Special: Zero coding is needed for the setup. Providing comprehensive reporting that helped optimize the program.
Why I Recommend It:
- Quick setup with no technical skills required
- Strong analytics to optimize campaigns
Pricing
- Free
- Starter – $49 /month
- Growth – $199 /month
- Plus – $999 /month
Rating: 4.8/5
7. Referral Program – Shopjar
Shopjar combines simplicity with necessary features for referral marketing in Shopify. It has a dashboard that is easy to navigate, and I was particularly impressed with its real-time tracking capabilities.
Setting up multi-tier referral rewards allows us to incentivize customers at various levels of engagement.
The integration with email marketing tools further streamlined communication with customers. This referral app Shopify can help increase program participation.
What Makes It Special: What made Shopjar stand out during our three-month test is a tiered rewards system that drove higher engagement. WhatsApp integration with OTP guest login increased referral participation.
Why I Recommend It:
- Perfect for businesses exploring referral programs
- Low-cost entry plans
Pricing
- Essential – $7/month
- Starter – $12/month
- Growth – $29/month
Rating: 5/5
8. BLOOP Referral Program, Reward
BLOOP gives a gamified approach to peer recommendation marketing. I found the gamification features highly effective in engaging customers and increasing participation rates.
The ability to customize reward tiers and milestones made the experience even more exciting for users.
Their drag-and-drop editor simplified the process of creating branded widgets. The integration with Shopify POS extends the referral app’s functionality beyond online stores.
What Makes It Special: Testing BLOOP on a multi-language store revealed that auto-language detection worked perfectly. Performance tracking was intuitive and accurate.
Why I Recommend It:
- Multi-language support with auto-detection
- Intuitive performance tracking
Pricing
- Free
- Launch – $12.90/month
- Scale – $24.90/month
Rating: 4.9/5
9. Stamped Product Reviews & UGC
Stamped.io combines product reviews with referral marketing to create a round customer engagement platform. The seamless integration with Shopify made it easy to set up.
I like the detailed analytics that helped me measure campaign performance.
The UGC (User-Generated Content) integration allowed me to use customer reviews and photos in my referral program campaigns. This Shopify app helps add authenticity and trustworthiness.
What Makes It Special: The VIP program increased high-value customer retention. Social proof integration boosted conversion rates. Point expiration reminders drove consistent engagement.
Why I Recommend It:
- UGC adds credibility to referral programs
- VIP programs for retaining high-value customers
Pricing
- Free
- Basic – $23/month
- Premium – $59/month
- Business – $149/month
Rating: 4.8/5
10. LoyaltyLion Rewards & Referral
LoyaltyLion is a feature-rich referral app in Shopify. It supports loyalty and referrals. I found its integration with email marketing tools particularly useful for targeting customers with personalized messages.
The advanced segmentation options allowed me to create tailored rewards for different customer groups. This maximizes program effectiveness. LoyaltyLion’s analytics provided actionable insights, helping me refine campaigns for better results.
What Makes It Special: Send loyalty notifications through emails to increase the participation of the customers.
Why I Recommend It:
- Ideal for targeting diverse customer segments
- Actionable insights for campaign optimization
Pricing
- Free
- Paid Plan from $199/month
Rating: 4.7/5
Quick Comparison of Best Shopify Referral Apps
Here’s a TLDR version of the referral apps in Shopify comparison for anyone who needs a quick summary.
Setting Up Your First Shopify Referral Program
Let me walk you through the process I use when setting up a new Shopify referral program:
- Choose Your Shopify Referral App
- Start with a free trial
- Test basic features
- Check integration compatibility
- Design Your Rewards Structure Based on my testing, these reward structures worked best:
- First purchase: 10% – 15% as commission with 10% discount for referrals
- Repeat customers: Recurring commission or tier-based commission
- Launch and Monitor Key metrics I track:
- Referral conversion rate
- Cost per acquisition
- Average order value from referrals
Pitfalls to Avoid While Using the Shopify Referral App
Overcomplicating the Reward System
- Complex rewards confuse customers. Stick to straightforward incentives like a flat discount or store credit.
Ignoring Mobile Optimization
- Since many use mobile to do online shopping, ensure your referral program works seamlessly on all devices.
Not Testing Before Launch
- Skipping tests can lead to bugs or broken workflows. Test with a small group to refine the experience.
Lack of Promotion
- Your referral program won’t work if customers don’t know about it. Promote it via email, social media, and in-store banners.
Neglecting Analytics
- Failing to monitor referral conversions and ROI leaves you guessing. Use your Shopify referral app’s analytics to track success and optimize.
Poor Customer Support Readiness
- Be prepared to assist customers with referral-related queries to maintain trust and participation.
Afflr helps you grow smarter: automate rewards, track referrals seamlessly, and boost sales effortlessly.
Conclusion
Choosing the right referral app in Shopify depends on your needs. Apps like Afflr offer cost-effective solutions for beginners, while ReferralCandy and UpPromote cater to more advanced needs.
Start with a free trial, test thoroughly, and tailor the program to your audience.
Further Reading
- 10 Best Shopify Affiliate Marketing Apps
- 8 Best Shopify Discount Apps
- 9 Best Upsell Apps for Shopify Store
- 7 Top Order Management Apps in Shopify
Yes, most Shopify referral apps allow customization of rewards. This lets you offer discounts, gift cards, or other incentives based on your business strategy.
Referral apps track referrals through unique referral links or codes assigned to customers. This can help monitor clicks, sign-ups, and conversions to ensure accurate reward distribution.
Many Shopify referral apps integrate seamlessly with other marketing tools to build automated workflow. You can use it with email marketing platforms, social media, and CRM systems, and enhance your overall marketing efforts.
Yes, some referral apps offer free plans with basic features. Some free Shopify referral apps are Afflr, UpPromote, Smile, Bloop, etc.
