Running a Shopify store means you have to search the Shopify app store for the best Shopify apps to do functions that Shopify can’t natively.

If you’ve landed here, then you’re already set on creating a referral program for your business–So you need the best referral apps for Shopify at your disposal. What better way to reward loyal customers and grow your revenue than incentivize word-of-mouth referrals on social media?

For store owners, finding the right app that can reward customers for being brand advocates, track referral links, embed signup forms on a landing page, send notifications to affiliates, and drive referral sales is important.

We’ve scoured the internet for lists of the best referral apps on the Shopify app store. These are the apps to look at to run a successful referral program for your ecommerce store.

Here are the best Shopify referral apps to pay attention to this year (both paid plans and free).

Ps. If you’re looking for the best affiliate marketing apps look here, and if you’re looking for how to start an affiliate marketing program look here.

The 5 best referral apps for Shopify

1. Social Snowball

Social Snowball is the word-of-mouth marketing platform for ecommerce. 1,000+ top brands use the platform to power customer referrals, and power the management of their influencer marketing programs. You can turn customers into referral program members through the checkout process in Shopify–by the time someone hits the thank you page, they’ll be a member of your referral program.

According to Commerce Caffeine, the Social Snowball affiliate marketing Shopify app boosts your affiliate marketing game with word of mouth marketing built into the system. The referral program app automates affiliate account creation for new customers and offers them options to make money promoting products. The app features a sleek design, powerful payment tools, and one of the simplest affiliate link creation portals on the market.

Key Features

• Easy automation for referral marketing and social sharing
• More incentives for customers like cash, store credit, discount codes, gift cards, free products and more
• Customizable programs where you can offer codes, links, and more
• Easy affiliate and influencer onboarding features
• Easy payouts to affiliates and influencers in two-clicks (no back-and-forth) with paypal, venmo, visa, and 700+ payout options.

• Integrations with email marketing and SMS marketing apps including templates for your program

Price

Starting at $99/mo with 3% of affiliate revenue generated, or $499/mo with no commission added. The max you’ll ever pay is $499 per month.

2. Refersion

Drive ecommerce growth from influencer and affiliate marketing programs for Amazon Marketplace and Shopify powered DTC channels. Easily onboard unlimited affiliates and manage their performance with built-in reporting for all campaigns across your brand ambassador, influencer and affiliate programs. Custom commissions with automated, direct and multiple payment options to build trust with your affiliates. Streamlined tax management included. Easily connect your ecommerce platform, Amazon Marketplace and popular marketing apps. Integrate your store’s product feed, get webhooks, developer APIs and our certified Shopify Plus features for larger programs.

Refersion is great for enterprise brands who sell through sales channels like Amazon marketplace or are on non-Shopify ecommerce platforms.

Key Features

• Custom commissions
• Tax management
• Amazon marketplace and various ecommerce platform integrations

Price

Starting at $99/mo with premium plans requiring a demo.

3. Referral Candy

ReferralCandy helps Shopify and Shopify Plus stores attract new customers, increase sales and grow their brand through word of mouth. A referral program is the best way to retain customers and reward them when they refer new paying customers to the store. We provide customers with a personal reward link that they can share with their friends to promote the brand. Referral programs are proven to perform well across various industries: fashion, nutrition, electronics, home, pets and many more.

Key Features

• Enable post-purchase popups & emails to enroll customers in referral programs
• Automate customer rewards

• Customize your referral program with your logo, images and brand colors
• Integrations with Klaviyo and Mailchimp

Price

Starting at $59/month + 3.5% commission on affiliate generated sales.

4. Smile.io

‍

‍

With over 10 years of experience in loyalty, referrals, and VIP, Smile.io powers reward programs that help increase sales and repeat purchases, save on acquisition costs, and boost brand loyalty. Creating a program with Smile takes minutes—no coding required! Launching and running Smile is effortless, but if you need help, you’re supported 24/7 by a team of experts who can answer any questions you may have—from technical questions to rewards and loyalty best practices for your business.

Smile focuses mostly on customer loyalty with their loyalty program that places a widget on the front-end of the website and lets customers interact with their loyalty program account. If you’re looking for a more comprehensive marketing campaign that’s focused on loyalty and retention, then Smile is a great option for you.

Key Features

• Loyalty program focus with referral functionality
• Create a loyalty points based reward program that encourages referrals
• Integrations with marketing apps to run your program
• Praised customer support in Shopify reviews

Price

Free plan available

5. UPromote

UpPromote is the only affiliate system small businesses ever need to easily build, recruit and manage affiliates. There are four steps required to launch an affiliate program, our built-in tooltips and responsive support team will help you navigate the app effortlessly. With our powerful functions, you can build growth loops and improve the sales funnel around affiliate partners, influencers, brand ambassadors, and current customers. Our pricing accommodates the needs and expansion of any business.

Key Features

• Have their own marketplace functionality
• Track referral traffic generated orders through affiliate links or coupon codes
• Customize the forms, links/codes, affiliate portal
• Reward with a bonus, auto-tier, store credit, or multi-level marketing.

Price

Free plan available

Did this not suffice? More apps to checkout

If this list of the best referral apps for shopify isn’t enough, check out a few other referral apps on Shopify such as Growave, Conjured Referrals or Rise.ai. With a little searching, you’ll find the right app for you.

FAQ about Shopify Apps

Does Shopify have a referral program?

Shopify does have their own referral program called Shopify Affiliates. You can signup for their affiliate program to refer other entrepreneurs to Shopify and collect commissions.

How do I create a referral program on Shopify?

You can create a referral program on Shopify easily using any of the referral apps on the Shopify app store and follow a guide on how to start a referral program. For example, start a free trial with Social Snowball and create your branded program in under 30 minutes.

What is the referral app for Shopify?

Social Snowball is the #1 referral app for Shopify, as listed by Commerce Caffeine. According to Commerce Caffeine, the Social Snowball affiliate marketing Shopify app boosts your affiliate marketing game with word of mouth marketing built into the system. Brands have seen crazy results like Outway Socks who saw over 9% of revenue generated at a 5x ROI through their referral program.

‍