Online referral applications produce win-win outcomes for corporations and constant prospects alike. Businesses acquire new prospects whereas a referring buyer earns money, credit, and reductions for a profitable referral. However, not all referral applications are created equally or supply fascinating rewards.
In this publish, we’ll clarify the distinction between referral advertising and marketing and internet affiliate marketing and discover a few of the greatest referral applications in the market.
Table Of Contents
What is referral advertising and marketing?
Referral advertising and marketing is a technique of selling services by means of present prospects and customers. Companies present distinctive hyperlinks to prospects to ship to others. Referral applications usually supply reductions and account credit as referral incentives. For occasion, Joe sends his referral hyperlink to Suzy to save $10 on her first buy. Referral applications go by totally different names, together with:
- Advocate program
- Customer reward program
- Invite-a-friend
- Loyalty program
- Refer-a-friend (RAF)
- Rewards program
Referral advertising and marketing vs. internet affiliate marketing
Referral and internet affiliate marketing do overlap beneath the umbrella of efficiency advertising and marketing, however they’re totally different. Affiliate advertising and marketing is the promotion of services on-line by affiliate entrepreneurs, who’re often full-time content material creators, bloggers, and YouTubers. Companies pay associates to generate leads and gross sales. For instance, the email advertising and marketing firm GetResponse has two affiliate applications that pay recurring and bounty commissions for brand spanking new gross sales.
The desk under highlights the variations between referral and internet affiliate marketing:
Referral Program | Affiliate Program | |
---|---|---|
Target customers | Existing prospects, model ambassadors, and constant followers | Content creators, bloggers, YouTubers, and companies |
Who they aim | Family, mates, acquaintances, and colleagues | Anyone |
Used or tried the product/service | Likely | Not probably |
Compensation | Credits, rewards, and reductions | Cash |
Can make a full-time dwelling | No | Possible |
Reporting | Basic | Advanced |
Many program insurance policies/guidelines | No | Yes |
Disclosure necessities | No | Yes |
Given the variations between referral and internet affiliate marketing, which one must you select?
Promote referral presents if you’d like to often share offers with your folks and other people however don’t need to concentrate on creating content material. Go with internet affiliate marketing if you’d like to create content material, part- or full-time, to passively make extra cash.
20 profitable referral program examples
Let’s assessment one of the best on-line referral applications from corporations which have proven steady referral program success. If an organization presents their very own referral program, it’s going to probably be seen in their web site footer menu, and also you may obtain particulars about it in the corporate’s email or publication.
- GetResponse – $30 account credit score per referral
- Hostinger – 20% fee
- Dropbox – Up to 32 GB per referral
- Fiverr – Up to $100 per referral
- Chase Bank – $50 per referral
- SoFi – between $50 and $500 per referral
- TurboTax – $25 per referral
- Wise – $50 per three referrals
- Acorns – $5 per referral
- Charles Schwab – Up to $1,000 per referral
- Robinhood – A reward inventory per referral
- Wealthfront – $5,000 managed free of charge per referral
- Sam’s Club – $10 present card per referral
- T-Mobile – $50 per referral
- Casper – $75 present card per referral
- Coursera – Pay $1 for the primary month
- Purple – $25 present card per referral
- Smile Direct Club – $200 per referral
- Spanx – $20 off your buy
- Tesla – Credits per referral
Marketing & on-line providers
Let’s go a bit extra in-depth with the referral program examples we’ve simply talked about above, and look into what their referral course of is and offer you extra info to determine which buyer referral program you is perhaps in.
1. GetResponse

GetResponse is a number one email advertising and marketing and advertising and marketing automation software program that gives multichannel options by way of its web site builder, touchdown pages, ecommerce advertising and marketing, conversion funnels, webinars, dwell chats, and extra. GetResponse helps companies of all sizes to get leads, gross sales, and new prospects.
GetResponse prospects and advocates of the product have plenty of methods to refer their mates and associates.
The GetResponse referral program is designed for purchasers who need to refer a buddy or an affiliate. It is an easy-to-use program that’s accessible in the GetResponse app. The buyer and their referrals each obtain a $30 credit score.
For larger rewards, GetResponse additionally presents affiliate applications. The applications are designed for purchasers and non-customers who would love to develop an ongoing revenue by recommending the platform. There are two affiliate applications to select from, a 33% recurring program or a one-time $100 upfront fee paid on new gross sales.
GetResponse additionally has a program for Marketing Agencies which have shoppers who can profit from the GetResponse product. See our internet affiliate marketing and advertising and marketing company program pages for extra particulars.
Referral price/reward: $30 account credit score
Website: GetResponse referral program
2. Hostinger

Hostinger is a well-liked website hosting supplier utilized by prospects world wide. Hostinger’s prospects can earn up to 20% fee for his or her referrals, with this system accessible by means of the Hostinger buyer panel. In this referral program, the referring buyer earns a fee when the brand new buyer purchases a 12-month+ website hosting plan.
The referred buyer additionally receives a 20% low cost at checkout, triggered by the distinctive referral hyperlink. If the brand new buyer retains their plan energetic for at the least 45 days, the referring buyer will obtain the fee.
Referral price/reward: 20% fee and 20% low cost
Website: Hostinger referral program
3. Dropbox

Dropbox permits you to collaborate, retailer, sync, and share your information from a central and safe cloud platform. Therefore, you possibly can maintain your loved ones organized, streamline distant work, enhance productiveness, simplify digital signatures, and extra.
Earn further area by inviting your folks to strive Dropbox. Dropbox Basic customers get 500 MB per referral and up to 16 GB. Dropbox Plus and Professional customers get 1 GB per referral and up to 32 GB.
Referral price/reward: Up to 32 GB
Website: Dropbox referral program
4. Fiverr

Fiverr is a web-based market that connects companies with on-demand freelance expertise. It presents digital providers in greater than 400 classes throughout 9 verticals, together with graphic design, digital advertising and marketing, programming, writing, translation, animation, and extra.
Your referrals will get a ten% low cost on their first buy (up to $100). After that, you’ll obtain Fiverr Credits (capped at $100 Fiverr Credits per qualifying buy). In complete, you possibly can earn up to $500 in Fiverr Credits.
Referral price/reward: Up to $100 Fiverr Credits
Website: Fiverr referral program
Banking & monetary
5. Chase Bank

Chase presents a broad vary of economic providers, together with private banking, bank cards, mortgages, auto financing, funding recommendation, small enterprise loans, and fee processing. Chase is part of the JPMorgan Chase monetary providers firm.
You can earn $50 for every buddy (up to $500 yearly) who opens a Chase checking account. In addition, your referral will get a reward, which varies on the kind of account they open.
Referral price/reward: $50 per referral
Website: Chase Bank referral program
6. SoFi

SoFi creates monetary merchandise to assist folks borrow, save, spend, make investments, and shield their cash in order that they will obtain monetary independence and understand their targets.
SoFi presents six referral applications, the place you possibly can earn between $50 and $500 for a profitable referral:
- App referral program
- Loan referral program
- Invest referral program
- Credit card referral program
- Checking & financial savings referral program
- Bank referral program
Referral price/reward: between $50 and $500
Website: SoFi referral program
7. TurboTax

TurboTax is a user-friendly and uncomplicated tax software program that helps taxpayers maintain extra of their hard-earned cash. It presents the comfort of making ready and e-filing your tax return from just about any laptop or cell gadget with web entry.
Invite your folks to file with TurboTax, and you’ll get a $25 present card for every referral up to $250. Furthermore, your referrals stand up to 20% off on-line federal merchandise.
Referral price/reward: $25
Website: TurboTax referral program
8. Wise

Wise is a worldwide cash switch providers firm serving to folks save, maintain, and spend a number of currencies effectively and affordably. It presents clear cash switch and fee providers for private and enterprise prospects.
Every buddy that you just invite to Wise will get a reduction on their first switch. There are many various rewards. For instance, with one program in the UK, you’ll get £50 as soon as three invited mates make a qualifying switch of at the least £200 every.
Referral price/reward: £50
Website: Wise referral program
Investing & buying and selling
9. Acorns

Acorns was the primary firm to supply micro-investing to the world. It can robotically make investments your spare change and allows you to make investments as little as $5 or often make investments right into a portfolio of ETFs. It presents banking and ecommerce financial savings too.
When your referrals make investments at the least $5 in their new Acorns Invest accounts, they’ll obtain a $5 welcome bonus. In addition, Acorns will even offer you a $5 thanks reward.
Referral price/reward: $5
Website: Acorns referral program
10. Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab gives a full vary of brokerage, banking, and monetary advisory providers, together with buying and selling, funding administration/merchandise, monetary planning, analysis, and extra.
Every referral who turns into a Schwab consumer and makes a qualifying deposit of money or securities will get you up to $1,000.
Referral price/reward: Up to $1,000
Website: Charles Schwab referral program
11. Robinhood

Robinhood is a inventory brokerage that permits prospects to purchase and promote shares, choices, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies commission-free.
As quickly as your referrals join and hyperlink their financial institution accounts, Robinhood will credit score every of your accounts with a bonus inventory. You can obtain up to $1,500 in reward shares every calendar yr.
Referral price/reward: Up to $1,500 in present inventory
Website: Robinhood referral program
12. Wealthfront

Wealthfront helps you construct wealth by allocating your cash to low-cost exchange-traded funds and utilizing tax-loss harvesting. It makes it simple to maximize your returns, decrease your taxes, and develop your cash.
When a referral funds an funding or money account, you’ll each get $5,000 managed free of charge.
Referral price/reward: $5,000 managed free of charge
Website: Wealthfront referral program
Retail
13. Sam’s Club

Sam’s Club is a membership-only warehouse chain promoting varied bulk grocery gadgets, electronics, and residential items. Walmart owns and operates Sam’s Club, based in 1983 and named after Walmart founder Sam Walton.
For each buddy who joins, you’ll get a $10 eGift card, and your referral will get a $20 eGift card. You have to be a Sam’s Club member with a registered account on SamsClub.com to redeem your present.
Referral price/reward: $10
Website: Sam’s referral program
Telecoms
14. T-Mobile

T-Mobile is a number one supplier of telephones and telecommunication providers. You’ll obtain a $50 pay as you go digital MasterCard card for every new qualifying account you refer (up to $500 in a calendar yr). Additionally, your referrals will obtain reductions on plans and providers.
Referral price/reward: $50
Website: T-Mobile referral programs
Other referral applications
15. Casper

Casper sells mattresses direct-to-consumer, eliminating commission-driven, inflated costs. It additionally sells pillows, mattress frames, bedding, and equipment.
Get a $75 Amazon present card when a buddy purchases their first Casper mattress. Your referrals will get 25% off their mattress orders.
Referral price/reward: $75 present card per profitable referral
Website: Casper referral program
16. Coursera

Coursera companions with 200+ main universities to deliver versatile, inexpensive, and job-ready e-learning to college students worldwide. It presents on-line programs, specializations, skilled certificates, levels, and extra.
When your folks make their first buy, you’ll each pay $1 for the primary month with entry to over 7,000 programs
Referral price/reward: Customer and referral pay $1 for the primary month
Website: Coursera referral program
17. Purple

Purple is a comfort-first firm and sells mattresses, pillows, seat cushions, bedding, pet beds, and extra. Customers can purchase on-line and in totally different retailers throughout the United States.
Purple’s refer a buddy program permits you to give your buddy an extra 5% off their first buy at Purple. Once your buddy makes a purchase order, you’ll get a present a $25 Amazon present card. Of course, the extra mates you invite, the extra you’ll earn.
Referral price/reward: $25 present card per referral
Website: Purple referral program
18. SPANX

SPANX presents slimming intimates, physique shapers, hosiery, attire, and the newest improvements in shapewear for men and women. From the United States to Singapore, SPANX is accessible worldwide in greater than 50 nations.
Give your buddy 15% off their buy, and in the event that they purchase, you’ll get $20 off yours.
Referral price/reward: $20 off your buy
Website: SPANX referral program
19. Smile Direct Club

Smile Direct Club helps extra folks understand the life-changing potential of their smiles. They state that they’re revolutionizing the oral care business with progressive and inexpensive merchandise and therapies. Give $200 to your referrals and get $200 for his or her aligner purchases.
Referral price/reward: $200 per referral
Website: Smile Direct Club referral program
20. Tesla

Tesla needs to speed up the world’s transition to sustainable power by means of more and more inexpensive electrical autos in addition to renewable power technology and storage. It’s dedicated to creating best-in-class in security, efficiency, and reliability requirements.
Through Tesla’s referral program, orders for his or her vehicles and photo voltaic merchandise are eligible for referral rewards.
Cars – You and anybody utilizing your referral hyperlink can every earn 1,000 miles of free Supercharging with the acquisition of a brand new Tesla automotive.
Solar – Anyone utilizing your referral hyperlink can earn a $100 award after activating their new photo voltaic power system or Solar Roof whereas lowering reliance on the grid and producing clear photo voltaic power. You’ll earn $400 for every photo voltaic referral. Additionally, you’ll earn one Powerwall whenever you refer 10 photo voltaic prospects, restricted to one award.
Referral price/reward: varied
Website: Tesla referral program
How to select referral applications
Beyond our listing, we advocate referring respected and established corporations with rewards and presents that you really want to earn. Moreover, concentrate on recommending services that you just genuinely love to get others excited.
How to promote your referral hyperlink
It’s simple to promote referral presents to your folks and community. The commonest methods are emails, a web site, social media, and chat apps.
Emails
Depending on how typically you intend to ship emails containing your referral code or hyperlink, you could use a free email service (Google, Yahoo, Outlook, and so on.) or an email advertising and marketing service similar to GetResponse. Your email wants partially rely in your supposed viewers, for instance, folks versus strangers. For the latter, email advertising and marketing and spam legal guidelines concentrate on person/recipient rights, together with consent, privateness, and knowledge.
For occasion, suppose you’ll ship month-to-month emails to a small group of highschool mates – a free email service would suffice. By distinction, suppose you personal a public Facebook group and get members to join your month-to-month publication. In that case, it is best to think about using an email advertising and marketing service. You can begin with GetResponse fully free.
Website
While loads of free third-party web sites and weblog platforms exist (Medium, Blogger, and so on.), there’s nothing like having a web site that you just totally management. GetResponse’s free web site builder permits you to develop a web-based presence rapidly. It makes use of synthetic intelligence (AI) to create eye-catching web sites in a really quick time. You may also construct a web site from scratch with fashionable templates and a visible drag-and-drop editor. Best of all, you don’t want to know the way to code, making for a hassle-free expertise.
With a web site, you possibly can create a web page about your favourite corporations and add your referral code or hyperlink. Whether on social media or by means of emails, you possibly can direct your folks to that web page. Add photographs and calls to motion to your web page for further pop and extra clicks.
Start constructing with GetResponse’s free web site builder.
Social Media
Grab your referral hyperlink and publish it on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Facebook presents many alternatives, together with your profile, pages, and teams. Also, add some textual content for what your publish is about to entice folks to click on in your hyperlink. A hyperlink by itself received’t be very interesting and should even seem spammy.
If you often add movies to YouTube, add your hyperlink to your descriptions. Consider the place you possibly can publish your hyperlink on Instagram, Pinterest, and Tik Tok.
Chat Apps
Send your hyperlink to your contacts by means of in style chat and immediate messaging apps, together with WhatsApp, Messenger, iMessage, Viber, and Signal.
Ready to refer?
Now that you’ve got the information and insights to go ahead amassing referral rewards by means of these profitable referral applications, contemplate which is your favourite referral program? If it looks like you’d like the prospect to earn a little bit one thing further for referring new prospects, suggesting services or products you really use and imagine in, and even reaching out to encourage others exterior your community to strive them out, now you’re prepared to refer and earn.
If you have an interest in internet affiliate marketing, go forward and go away a remark and tell us. Better but, companion up with us and be part of the GetResponse internet affiliate marketing program!