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Best Refersion Alternatives on Shopify: Flexible & Better Price

Refersion is one of the most well-known affiliate marketing apps for Shopify, offering robust tracking, automated commissions, and seamless integrations. However, with a starting price of $99/month and the Enterprise plan costing $599/month, it may not be the best fit for small to mid-sized businesses.

If you’re looking for the best Refersion alternatives on Shopify – this article has all the answers. 

What is Refersion on Shopify?

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Refersion is a powerful affiliate marketing platform designed to help Shopify merchants track, manage, and grow their affiliate programs. Refersion integration with Shopify is seamless, allowing businesses to recruit affiliates, automate commissions, and gain valuable insights into their referral traffic.

One of Refersion’s biggest strengths is its advanced tracking system, which includes coupon codes, referral links, and email tracking. This allows brands to monitor affiliate performance across multiple touchpoints. Additionally, Refersion app automated payouts and customizable commission structures make it a popular choice for businesses looking to scale their affiliate marketing efforts.

Refersion affiliate program has earned a strong reputation among mid-sized and large businesses, with many users praising its detailed reporting, easy affiliate management, and Shopify-native integration. However, some merchants have noted that the platform feels too complex for beginners and that its pricing is steep compared to competitors.

Refersion pricing structure is built for businesses of different sizes, but it is significantly higher than many other Shopify affiliate apps:

  • Starter: $99/ month
  • Professional: $119/ month
  • Business: $299/ month
  • Enterprise: $599/ month

For many small businesses, these pricing tiers may be too expensive, especially when compared to other cost-effective alternatives. 

Best Refersion alternatives on Shopify

If Refersion’s pricing or feature set doesn’t align with your business needs, there are several powerful alternatives to consider. These Refersion competitors offer affordable pricing, flexible commission structures, and seamless Shopify integration, making them excellent choices for businesses of all sizes.

1. BixGrow

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BixGrow is one of the best-value alternatives to Refersion, offering both affiliate and referral marketing features at a fraction of the cost. Despite its affordability, BixGrow supports complex affiliate programs with essential tools such as multi-tier commissions, automated payouts, UTM tracking, and detailed analytics. This makes it a compelling option for Shopify merchants who need a robust solution without the high price tag.

One of BixGrow’s standout features is its cost-effectiveness. Unlike Refersion, which takes a percentage of affiliate sales on lower-tier plans, BixGrow offers flat, predictable pricing without any hidden commission cuts. 

Key features of BixGrow

  • Affiliate & referral marketing in one platform
  • Flat pricing with no commission cuts
  • Multi-tier commissions to encourage team-based promotion
  • UTM tracking for accurate traffic analysis
  • Automated commission payouts via PayPal, store credit, or custom methods
  • Custom branding options for a professional-looking affiliate program
  • Recurring commission support for subscription-based businesses

Another major advantage is its flexible commission structures. BixGrow supports one-time and recurring commissions, enabling brands to incentivize affiliates effectively. Additionally, it offers multi-tier commissions, allowing businesses to set up a pyramid-like incentive system where affiliates can earn rewards not just from their direct referrals but also from the referrals made by those they recruit.

Businesses can brand their affiliate program with custom logos, color schemes, and domains, creating a seamless experience for affiliates. The platform also integrates smoothly with Shopify, ensuring that tracking and commission calculations are automated and accurate.

Pricing and best package

  • Starter: Free
  • Scale: $14.99/ month
  • Pro: $24.99/ month

Best package: $14.99/month. For just $15 per month, businesses can unlock all the essential features needed to run a successful affiliate program.

BixGrow is ideal for Shopify merchants who are looking for a budget-friendly yet feature-rich affiliate platform. It’s particularly well-suited for small and medium-sized businesses that don’t want to lose a percentage of their revenue to commission-based pricing. Additionally, brands that need both referral and affiliate marketing in one tool will find BixGrow to be a perfect fit.

While BixGrow is a strong alternative to Refersion, it does have some limitations. It offers fewer reward types than Refersion, lacking some advanced performance-based bonuses. Additionally, its affiliate marketplace is still developing, so it doesn’t yet provide the same extensive Refersion affiliate marketplace. 

See more: How to create affiliate program

2. Snowball

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Snowball is a referral and affiliate marketing app designed to turn customers into brand ambassadors. Unlike Refersion, which primarily focuses on traditional affiliate marketing, Snowball takes a customer-centric approach, encouraging satisfied buyers to promote products through word-of-mouth and personal recommendations. 

The platform allows merchants to automatically enroll customers into a referral program after they make a purchase. Customers can then share personalized referral links with their friends, earning commissions or rewards when someone makes a purchase using their link.

Key features of Snowball

  • Automated customer-to-customer referrals
  • Seamless Shopify integration
  • Personalized referral links for customers
  • Cashback, store credit, and custom reward options
  • Influencer partnership features
  • Simple setup with automated enrollments

Pricing and best package:

  • Snow Day: $199/ month + 3% of revenue generated by Social Snowball
  • Blizzard: $599/ month

Snowball is ideal for brands that prioritize customer loyalty and organic word-of-mouth marketing. It works especially well for Shopify businesses in the DTC, fashion, beauty, and wellness industries, where customers are naturally inclined to share recommendations with friends and family.

While Snowball excels at customer-driven referrals, it lacks the robust affiliate tracking and commission models that Refersion offers. This means it may not be the best fit for brands looking to manage a large affiliate network with complex commission structures.

3. Affiliatly

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Affiliatly is a straightforward and cost-effective affiliate tracking solution for Shopify merchants looking for a no-frills alternative to Refersion. Unlike platforms with complex commission models and influencer-focused features, Affiliatly is designed for businesses that want an easy-to-use system to manage and track affiliates with minimal setup time.

Affiliatly stands out for its simplicity and affordability. While Refersion is geared toward enterprise-level brands, Affiliatly caters to small and mid-sized businesses that need essential affiliate tracking features without the steep price tag.

Key features of Affiliatly

  • Easy-to-use dashboard with minimal learning curve
  • Multiple commission models (PPS, PPC, PPL)
  • Supports link tracking, coupon codes, and QR codes
  • Customizable affiliate sign-up and approval process
  • Integration with Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and more
  • Affordable pricing compared to Refersion

With Affiliatly, brands can easily generate affiliate links, track commissions, and customize payout structures. The software is highly configurable, allowing merchants to offer various commission types, including pay-per-sale, pay-per-click, and pay-per-lead models.

One of its biggest advantages is its lightweight design, it doesn’t come with excessive features that can overwhelm smaller businesses. Instead, it provides a clean and simple interface that lets users focus on running their affiliate program efficiently.

Pricing and best package:

  • Starter: $16/ month
  • Advanced: $24/ month
  • Pro 1000: $59/ month
  • Pro Unlimited: $129/ month

Affiliatly offers a tiered pricing structure starting at $16/month, making it one of the most budget-friendly alternatives to Refersion. It is ideal for small businesses that want to test an affiliate program without committing to high monthly fees.

While Affiliatly is great for basic affiliate tracking, it lacks some advanced features that larger businesses may need. Unlike Refersion, it doesn’t have an extensive affiliate marketplace, meaning brands must recruit affiliates on their own. 

Affiliatly is best suited for:

  • Small to mid-sized Shopify stores that need a cost-effective affiliate program.
  • Brands that focus on link-based tracking rather than marketplaces or influencer collaborations.
  • Businesses that prefer a simple, no-fuss affiliate system over feature-heavy platforms like Refersion.

4. ReferalCandy

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ReferralCandy is a referral marketing powerhouse that helps Shopify merchants turn their customers into brand advocates. While it is not a direct competitor to Refersion’s affiliate marketing focus, it is a solid alternative for businesses looking to leverage word-of-mouth marketing rather than traditional affiliate partnerships.

ReferralCandy is designed for brands that want to encourage repeat customers and incentivize referrals. Unlike Refersion, which focuses on affiliates, influencers, and marketers, ReferralCandy helps businesses create automated referral programs that reward existing customers for bringing in new buyers.

Key features of ReferralCandy

  • Automated referral tracking and payouts
  • Customizable reward structures (cash, discounts, or store credits)
  • Email and popup templates for easy promotion
  • Seamless integration with Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce
  • Detailed analytics to track referral performance

The platform supports cash, discounts, or custom rewards, allowing brands to incentivize customers in ways that align with their business model. Additionally, its seamless Shopify integration and automated referral tracking make it easy for store owners to set up and manage a referral program without much manual effort.

Pricing and best package:

  • 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.

ReferralCandy’s pricing starts at $59/month, but the best value package is $299/month, offering premium features like advanced analytics and API access. While this is cheaper than Refersion’s enterprise plan, it is still on the pricier side for businesses just starting with referral marketing.

ReferralCandy is ideal for brands that prioritize customer referrals over traditional affiliates; E-commerce businesses with a loyal customer base looking to increase repeat purchases; and merchants that prefer automated referral tracking and payouts.

5. Leadyno

LeadDyno is an affiliate marketing platform that combines automation with multi-level marketing (MLM) support, making it a compelling alternative to Refersion. It stands out for its built-in email automation, allowing brands to easily engage and motivate their affiliates. With a simple UI, solid tracking features, and flexible commission structures, LeadDyno is ideal for brands looking for a hands-off approach to affiliate marketing.

One of LeadDyno’s biggest strengths is its automation tools. Unlike Refersion, which focuses primarily on affiliate tracking and commission management, LeadDyno includes email automation, social sharing tools, and multi-level marketing capabilities. This makes it a great choice for businesses that want to increase engagement without manual effort.

Key features of LeadDyno

  • Built-in email automation to engage affiliates effortlessly
  • Multi-level marketing (MLM) support for brands that want tiered commissions
  • Simple UI with an easy-to-use dashboard for both merchants and affiliates
  • Seamless Shopify integration with real-time tracking
  • Automated commission payouts via PayPal, Stripe, or other methods

While LeadDyno is a powerful tool, it does have some downsides. It lacks the marketplace exposure that Refersion offers, meaning brands need to find affiliates on their own. If your business relies on automation and email engagement, LeadDyno is an excellent Refersion alternative. However, if you need a more advanced marketplace, API integrations, or influencer-driven campaigns, BixGrow or Snowball might be better options.

LeadDyno is a great choice for:

  • E-commerce businesses that want automated affiliate marketing
  • Brands that need multi-level marketing (MLM) support
  • Merchants who prefer an intuitive platform with built-in email engagement.

FAQs

Choosing the right affiliate marketing platform for your Shopify store can be challenging. Below, we address some of the most common questions about Refersion and its alternatives to help you make an informed decision.

What is the best Refersion alternative on Shopify?

The best alternative depends on your business needs. However, BixGrow stands out as a top choice due to its affordable pricing, advanced tracking options, and flexibility. If you’re looking for built-in automation, LeadDyno is a great pick. For brands prioritizing referral-based marketing, ReferralCandy may be the better option. 

Is Refersion legit?

Yes, Refersion is a well-established affiliate marketing platform used by thousands of Shopify stores. It is known for its robust tracking, marketplace of affiliates, and commission management tools. However, its high pricing may not be ideal for small and medium-sized businesses.

Does Refersion offer an API?

Yes, Refersion provides an API that allows for custom integrations and automation. Refersion API is particularly useful for large businesses that need custom affiliate workflows or integrations with external tools.

Is Refersion worth it?

For large brands with high budgets, Refersion is a solid investment due to its marketplace exposure, strong tracking, and commission flexibility. Refersion review is 4.7 from 1015 rating. However, if you’re a small or medium-sized business, more affordable alternatives like BixGrow or Affiliatly can provide similar features at a fraction of the cost.

Is Refersion available for WooCommerce?

Yes, Refersion is compatible with WooCommerce. However, it is primarily optimized for Shopify users, so WooCommerce store owners may find other affiliate plugins like AffiliateWP or Post Affiliate Pro to be better suited for their needs.

Conclusion

Finding the right Refersion alternative for your Shopify store depends on your business size, budget, and marketing goals. While Refersion is a powerful platform, its high price point may not be ideal for smaller businesses. Thankfully, there are affordable and feature-rich alternatives that cater to different needs.

If you’re looking for the best value for money, BixGrow stands out with its low-cost pricing, advanced tracking, and flexible commission structures. For brands prioritizing customer referrals, ReferralCandy offers a solid referral-focused solution. LeadDyno, on the other hand, is ideal for businesses needing built-in email automation alongside their affiliate program.

By choosing the right platform, you can maximize your affiliate program’s success and grow your Shopify store efficiently.

I have been working in marketing for four years, passionate about creative writing and copy writing. Love to be alone at watersides, sip coffee, play games or read anything that is thought provoking.