11 Referral Marketing Software to Boost Sales (for Marketers)

Referral marketing is highly effective! 

It’s what got PayPal and Dropbox to where they’re at now.

As you can imagine, keeping track of the progress of your referral marketing program manually is nearly impossible.

That’s why, in this article, we’re gonna look at some of the best referral marketing tools available on today’s market. 

We’ll give you an overview of 11 referral marketing software tools and tips on how to choose the right fit for your business needs and budget.

So, without waiting any more, let’s get started.

Referral Marketing Software Comparison Table

Before getting into the nitty-gritty of each tool, have a look at the table below. It will help you get an idea of what we’ll discuss.

Scroll down further to get a better understanding of each of these software solutions, their best features, and pricing. 

Not sure what to look for? Let’s go over the basics of how to choose the right software for your business.

How to Choose the Right Referral Marketing Software

If you’re new to the world of referral marketing solutions, all the research involved in choosing the right one might be overwhelming. 

We’re here to help you out. 

Here are some of the most important things you should consider before you choose the right referral program. 

Pricing

Of course, if we lived in a perfect world, money wouldn’t be a problem. 

But, we live in the real world, where setting a budget and sticking to it is the first thing to do when running a profitable business. 

So, on the one hand, you want to get the best referral tool available, and on the other hand, you don’t want to go over your set budget. 

As luck would have it, there are so many options that’ll give you a solid solution with powerful features, all at an affordable price. 

If you have budget constraints, make sure you check out the pricing plan for all vendors and look into the features that they’re offering for the set price. Ideally, you’ll choose the tool that offers you the best bang for your buck.

 Customer service

So, here’s a fun fact for you: A lot of unexpected things can happen when you transition to referral marketing tools. 

For example, you could:

  • Hit roadblocks with your integrations
  • Struggle with customizing referral programs that fit your branding
  • Go through complexities when integrating your system with other tools that are crucial for your business. 

This is why you need to choose software vendors that offer you remarkable customer support. Support teams should be accessible and responsive around the clock to give you the solutions that you’re looking for. 

To understand your potential vendor’s customer support, get in touch with them with a small issue. 

See how responsive they are when it comes to giving you the right solution. You can  also look at different online reviews and see what other customers are saying about the vendor you’re interested in. 

Analytics and insights

If you want to optimize your partner program and maximize your overall marketing spend and customer success, you’ll need a lot of detailed reporting. 

The referral marketing software that you choose should allow you and your entire team to collect, compile, and compare all the data that you collect to offer you optimum insights. 

You can analyze those insights and work better on meeting your marketing goals.

It is through analytics that you can:

  • View how your campaign performs
  • Get more insights into your conversion rates 
  • Get an understanding of how effective your referral marketing strategies are
  • See who your top referrers are and keep track of referred customers
  • View how your referral strategies are competing against industry standards
  • Track the best traffic sources for your brand 

Templates and automations 

To have a smooth workflow and avoid disparate data silos, you’ll want to choose a referral marketing tool that plays nicely with your existing tech stack. 

Look closely at the integrations each vendor offers and go for the tool that can ensure a smooth flow of data between itself and the other solutions your team uses.

While you’re at it, check for supported automations as well. After all, this is the main reason you’re investing in such tech — to automate dull, repetitive tasks, right? 

Here are some examples of useful automations to look for:

  • Add referral program details to your newsletters
  • Campaign promotions
  • Sending emails to new participants with unique codes and links
  • Sending out monthly reminder emails through previously set-up templates

And more! 

Different referral marketing softwares come with different features. Let’s explore 11 of them closely.

Software #1: Viral Loops

Getting started with our take on the best referral marketing software, Viral Loops. Our platform has made it simple and easy for everyone to acquire new customers. 

Referral marketing software example

Viral Loops helps businesses launch referral programs, competitions, sweepstakes, and pre-launch campaigns. 

Viral Loops’ functionalities are catered to businesses looking forward to affordable, lead-generation solutions and better customer retention. 

The software is actually pretty easy to use, wherein you can simply launch an entire, full-blown campaign in just a few clicks.  

The premade program templates, inspired by some of the top global brands like Dropbox, Amazon, and Airbnb, also make it easy to set up your campaign in a few minutes.

With Viral Loops, you can:

  • Create a landing page
  • Integrate your system with tools that you’re familiar with (i.e., Mailchimp, WordPress, Google Analytics, Shopify, etc.)
  • Track and analyze the performance metrics of your campaign

And more! 

Features:

  • Fully-customizable templates
  • Easy to build landing pages
  • Real-time dashboard 
  • Easy to track referrals
  • Rewards and payout management 
  • Third-party integrations 

Viral Loops is suitable for all kinds of businesses who want a simple, time-saving, and effective solution. It's convenient for anyone who doesn’t want to extend their budget to hire and onboard marketing experts to run their campaigns.

Viral Loops offers three different pricing plans, as follows:

  • Start-up: $35 a month for up to 1,000 participants 
  • Growing: $159 a month for everything from the start-up plan, plus Custom Domain & CSS, Hubspot Integration, Conversion tracking, and additional 10,000 participants
  • Power: $279 a month including everything from the Growing plan, plus Priority Customer Support, No Viral Loops Branding, full API access, Concierge Implementation and up to 25,000 participants.
  • Enterprise: including everything from the Power plan, plus infinite participants, Account Management, Concierge company onboarding and APIs tailored to your needs. Talk to Sales fore more information!

Viral Loops also offers a 14-day free trial, so you can test the waters before you dive in. 😃

Software #2: Referral Factory

Referral Factory is formulated to help businesses create referral marketing programs easily. It provides more than a thousand customizable templates for quick access and launch. 

Referral marketing software example

Image Source: Referral Factory

While its templates are easy to begin working on, some more things might be needed to properly set up your program according to your requirements. The customizations, too, might need some time to master.

Features:

  • A dashboard with real-time data monitoring 
  • Reward options like discount coupons, codes, cashback, etc. 
  • CSV exporting 
  • Automated process to send referrals, invites, and rewards 
  • Third-party integrations with HubSpot, Intercom, and Salesforce

Referral Factory is meant for businesses looking forward to beginning their loyalty programs quickly. 

Their pricing starts at $95 a month for 2500 users. A free 15-day free trial is offered. 

Software #3: ReferralCandy

ReferralCandy is one of the oldest influencer marketing tools available for referral marketing for online businesses to boost sales. In actuality, it’s an eCommerce plugin that enhances word-of-mouth marketing. 

 

Referral marketing software example

Image Source: ReferralCandy

Marketers can easily set up their programs and customize the rewards without relying on IT management. Some Shopify stores even use ReferralCandy as their plugin to increase traffic as well as revenues successfully. 

Features:

  • Fully-optimized email templates and landing pages for mobile
  • Fully customizable reward options for discounts, cashbacks, and reward gifts
  • Single-click integrations for marketing and eCommerce platforms like Google Analytics, Mailchimp, Shopify, and WooCommerce 
  • Live chat support 
  • Analytics dashboard
  • Customized developer integrations - API integrations
  • Subscription support for PayWhirl, Bold and ReCharge 

ReferralCandy is well-suited for small businesses. Its prices start at $49 a month with tiered commission rates. You can even get a free 30-day trial.

Software #4: InviteReferrals

InviteReferrals is an easy-to-use software allowing users to acquire new referrals and customers within their set budget. 

Referral marketing software example

Image Source: InviteReferrals

It provides good solutions for different online businesses that aren’t able to afford expenses on major paid advertising to attract their audiences. 

Features:

  • Enables users to track the clicks, shares, and conversions 
  • Allows you to gain referrals through SMS and WhatsApp 
  • Allows you to import your emails from all providers 
  • Fully automated referral and rewards tracking
  • Integrates easily with WordPress, WooCommerce and BigCommerce 

InviteReferrals is useful for businesses who’re looking to develop their referral network on social media and through referral events. Prices start at $79 a month with a 14-days free trial.

Software #5: ReferralRock

ReferralRock allows users to fully automate their referral marketing program. They can do this through personalized campaigns, social media referral sharing, dual-sided rewards, and more. 

Referral marketing software example

Image Source: ReferralRock

ReferralRock provides users with various automation features, with which they can design easy-to-use, incentive-based programs to target and capture more leads. It even allows them to issue automatic rewards. 

Features:

  • Autopilot reward options like gift cards, coupons, cashback, and more
  • Dual-sided, time-based, and tiered rewards
  • Automated email campaigns, notifications, and promotional messages
  • Dedicated customer support
  • Integrations with Stripe, Salesforce, Zapier, etc. 

ReferralRock is a suitable option for all kinds of businesses looking for flexibility and ease of use. Their prices start at $200 a month for 500 members and one program.

Software #6: Friendbuy

Friendbuy facilitates businesses to optimize their customer loyalty and referral campaigns.

Referral marketing software example

Image Source: Friendbuy

In just a few hours, you can create a refer-a-friend program with the help of its vast template library. 

Features:

  • Easy A/B testing for offers and messaging components
  • Customized reward options 
  • Fully-automatic reward fulfillment system
  • Real-time referral tracking 
  • Performance analysis tool 
  • Integration library including Chargebee, Shopify Plus, and Attribution

Friendbuy is a suitable option for software as a service (SaaS) companies and online stores. Its Starter pricing plan is available at $249 a month, offering you an unlimited number of campaigns. If a business needs API access, prices start at $749 a month.

Software #7: SaaSquatch

SaaSquatch is a marketer-driven referral marketing platform catered mainly to Fortune 500 and SaaS companies. It allows these businesses to design and integrate their programs to fit across different marketing channels.

Referral marketing software example

Image Source: SaaSquatch

With SaaSquatch, businesses can also customize their programs to fit their brand image and engage with their customers to encourage them to share their referral links/codes. 

Features:

  • Interesting designs and templates 
  • Multi-tier programs and campaigns 
  • Pre-set growth programs 
  • Dynamic rewards and segmentation system 
  • End-user reward portal 

SaaSquatch is suitable for large-scale businesses who’re looking to build massive referral programs around subscription services they offer. Their pricing starts at $1750 a month for as many as 200k participants.

Software #8: Talon.One

An all-in-one API-first platform, Talon.One helps enterprises to create, manage, and carry out different types of referral marketing campaigns through a scalable system. 

Referral marketing software example

Image Source: Talon.One

Their referral program software helps enterprises build user-friendly, flexible programs from scratch. 

Features:

  • Personalized referrals, including tier-based, multi-criteria, etc. 
  • Fully-customizable referral incentives with the ability to reduce incentive value over time 
  • Good customer service for campaign creation and optimization
  • Integrations with different third-party marketing tools

Talon.One is suitable for small, medium, and large-scale enterprises due to its flexibility. The pricing information is only available upon request.

Software #9: UpViral

Another referral marketing software, UpViral, allows its users to create viral referral marketing campaigns that help boost their brand awareness. It can be used to  create reward systems, waiting lists, and more. 

Referral marketing software example

Image Source: UpViral

Campaigns created through UpViral help create viral loops where upon clicking a referral link, more people get to sign up and share campaigns further with their social circle, thereby helping the customer referral program grow further.

Features:

  • Facilitates waitlist features in product launches
  • Point-based social sharing 
  • Comes with a built-in Facebook newsfeed 
  • Allows users to automatically select reward winners randomly or through points
  • Facilitates fully-automated campaign scheduling
  • Allows email personalization
  • Provides integration features for customer relationship management (CRM) tools and email marketing software

UpViral’s pricing ranges from $79 to $299 per month. $1 14-day trials are available with each plan. 

Software #10: Affise

Affise is another referral marketing software that helps brands manage their referrals, track their results, and optimize word-of-mouth marketing.

Referral marketing software example

Image Source: Affise

Features:

  • Budget tracking and management 
  • Easy referral tracking
  • Round-the-clock customer support with a personal accounts manager for businesses
  • Integrations with billing tools, CRM, and business intelligence (BI) services
  • AI tools that automate workflows and referral processes 
  • Fraud prevention

Affise provides two different development plans for businesses, depending on their needs:

  • Affise Performance: suitable for networks and agencies. Pricing starts at $500 per month. 
  • Affise Reach: suitable for brands who want to discover more partners and do their own networking. Pricing for this program starts at $800 per month.

Software #11: GrowSurf

GrowSurf’s referral marketing software caters to tech companies who are looking to launch and run their own referral programs. 

Referral marketing software example

Image Source: Growsurf

Features:

  • Automated emails 
  • Form detection
  • Rewards management 
  • Insights and analytics
  • Fraud detection
  • Participant activity tracker

The GrowSurf referral marketing tool is suitable for tech companies and businesses of all sizes. Their paid plans start at $775 a month for up to 10,000 participants.

Choose the Right Referral Marketing Software

That’s all, folks!

Hopefully, by now, you have a clear idea of what your ideal referral marketing software should look like.

If you’re still undecided, we’ve got something to help you take a pick. 

Viral Loops will help you transform your loyal customer base into brand ambassadors.

With our platform, it’ll be easier for you to have a win-win relationship with your customers, a tremendous ROI, and a lower cost per customer acquisition. 

So, what’re you waiting for? You’re one click away from booking a demo with Viral Loops.

Written by:

Nikitas Filosofof

Nikitas is responsible for growth at Viral Loops and also helps customers on 1-on-1 basis to reach success with their referral campaigns. Let's connect on LinkedIn