Best ReferralCandy Alternatives for Shopify 2025 (No Hidden Fees!)

According to Harvard Business Review, people are 4 times more likely to buy when referred by a friend, and referral customers have a 37% higher retention rate compared to other customer acquisition channels. Shopify store owners looking to leverage this power often turn to ReferralCandy, a popular referral marketing app. 

However, ReferralCandy isn’t the perfect fit for everyone. If you’re looking for ReferralCandy alternatives that provide better pricing, additional features, or more customization, this article is for you. Let’s explore the best Shopify referral marketing apps that can help you boost word-of-mouth sales.

What is ReferralCandy on Shopify?

ReferralCandy is a popular referral marketing app designed to help Shopify merchants increase sales through word-of-mouth marketing. It automates the process of rewarding customers who refer their friends, making it easier for businesses to encourage customer-driven sales.

With ReferralCandy affiliate program, merchants can:

• Set up a referral program where customers earn cash, discounts, or custom rewards for bringing in new buyers.
• Track referrals and payouts seamlessly with its automated system.
• Integrate with Shopify, email platforms, and other marketing tools.

ReferralCandy offers three pricing plans, all providing the same core features. However, what differentiates them is the commission structure:

• Premium ($59/month) + 3.5% commission on referral-driven revenue.
• Plus ($299/month) + 1.5% commission on referral-driven revenue.
• Enterprise ($24,000/ year): No commission fees.

To determine the most cost-effective plan, let’s break it down based on monthly referral revenue:

• If your referral-driven revenue is below $12,000/month → The Premium plan ($59/month) is the most affordable option.
• If your referral-driven revenue is between $12,000 – $113,400/month → The Plus plan ($299/month) helps you save on commission fees.
• If your referral-driven revenue exceeds $113,400/month → The Enterprise plan is the best choice to avoid commission-based costs.

While ReferralCandy is a solid option for referral marketing, its commission-based model can make it expensive for businesses with high sales volume. If you’re looking for a more affordable or feature-rich alternative, keep reading as we compare the best ReferralCandy alternatives for Shopify.

Best ReferralCandy alternatives for Shopify

If ReferralCandy’s pricing or features don’t fully meet your needs, several great alternatives might be a better fit. Below, we compare some of the top ReferralCandy alternatives based on their features, pricing, and best use cases.

1. BixGrow – Best overall alternative

BixGrow is a comprehensive affiliate and referral marketing platform that offers Shopify merchants an affordable and flexible alternative to ReferralCandy. Unlike ReferralCandy, which solely focuses on referral programs, BixGrow combines both referral and affiliate marketing in a single dashboard. This means businesses can leverage both customer referrals and influencer-driven sales to grow their revenue.

Another major advantage is that BixGrow does not take a commission on referred sales. ReferralCandy charges up to 3.5% commission on referral-driven revenue, which can significantly cut into your profits – especially for high-volume stores. With BixGrow, you get a flat, predictable monthly fee, making it a cost-effective solution for businesses of all sizes.

BixGrow key features:

• Affiliate & referral marketing in one platform: Run both customer referral and influencer-driven programs with ease.
• No commission fees: Unlike ReferralCandy, BixGrow does not take a cut from your referral sales.
• Flexible reward options: Cash, store credit, discounts, etc
• Automated tracking & payouts: Easily manage commissions and rewards with automated payment processing.
•  Multi-level marketing (MLM) support: Set up tiered commission structures to incentivize growth. One of the best option on the current Shopify App Store.
• Customizable branding: White-label options to match your store’s identity.
• Robust analytics & reporting: Track performance in real-time and optimize your referral strategy.

Pricing & Best Plan: $29.99/month – No hidden fees or commission cuts. 

While ReferralCandy is great for pure referral marketing, BixGrow offers more flexibility with affiliate and referral program management – all at a lower cost. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly, full-featured alternative, BixGrow is the top choice.

2. Growave – Best for customer loyalty & engagement

Growave is more than just a referral marketing tool, it’s a customer engagement platform that combines loyalty programs, referrals, reviews, and wishlists to help brands boost customer retention. 

If you want to build long-term customer loyalty, Growave is an excellent choice. However, it doesn’t support affiliate partnerships, so it’s not a true alternative if you need both referral and affiliate marketing.

Growave key features:

• The referral program focused on repeat buyers
• Integrated loyalty and rewards system
• Wishlist feature to increase conversions
• Social proof tools like reviews and UGC

Pricing 

• Entry: $49/month – includes 500 monthly orders. $15 for every 100 additional orders
• Growth: $149/month – includes 1500 monthly orders. $15 for every 100 additional orders
• Plus: $399/month – includes 3000 monthly orders. $10 for every 100 additional orders

Growave is best suited for brands that prioritize customer retention rather than acquiring new customers.

3. Enlistly – Simple & budget-friendly

Enlistly is a lightweight and easy-to-use affiliate and referral marketing app designed for small businesses looking for an affordable solution. Enlistly is a great budget-friendly option for Shopify brands that don’t need advanced features but want a simple way to run referral and affiliate programs. However, it lacks customization and advanced reward options compared to ReferralCandy.

Enlistly key features:

• Supports both referral and affiliate programs
• Simple and intuitive interface
• Flat, fixed pricing (no commissions)
• Easy Shopify integration

Pricing

• Squad: $14/month
• Company: $39/month
• Battalion: $99/month

Enlistly is best for small businesses that need a basic but effective solution.

4. ReferrLy Affiliate Marketing – Affordable and user-friendly tool

ReferrLy is an easy-to-use referral and affiliate marketing app designed for small to medium-sized Shopify brands. It provides a cost-effective way to run both referral and affiliate programs without a complex setup. 

While ReferrLy offers a budget-friendly solution, it lacks advanced reward structures and customization found in platforms like ReferralCandy or BixGrow. If you need more flexibility, consider a more feature-rich alternative.

Key features:

• Works for both affiliate and referral marketing
• Lower, fixed pricing
• Simple dashboard and easy tracking
• Automatically creates referral links & coupon codes for affiliates

Pricing:

• Starter: $5/month
• Pro: $9/month
• Premium: $15/month

Referrly is ideal for small Shopify stores that need a simple and affordable referral program.

Which Referral Candy alternative is right for you?

Tools	Best for	Referral or affiliate?	Pricing
BixGrow	Best overall alternative with referral + affiliate marketing	Both	$14.99 – $24.99/mo (no commissions)
Growave	Best for loyalty programs & retention	Referrals only	$149 – $399/mo
Enlistly	Simple and easy-to-use referral tool	Both	$39-99/mo
ReferrLy	Best for small businesses on a budget	Both	$5-15/mo

If you’re looking for the most cost-effective and flexible option for Referral Candy, BixGrow is the best alternative to ReferralCandy, offering both referral and affiliate marketing at a flat monthly rate with no commission cuts.

FAQs

Conclusion

Choosing the right referral marketing platform for your Shopify store depends on your budget, business model, and long-term goals. While ReferralCandy is a well-known solution with a solid reputation, its commission-based pricing might not be ideal for every business. If you’re looking for a cost-effective, all-in-one affiliate and referral marketing platform, BixGrow is a strong contender with no hidden fees or commission cuts. For brands focusing on loyalty and retention, Growave is a great alternative, while options like Enlistly and ReferrLy provide simple, budget-friendly solutions for small businesses.