7 best Shopify apps to build a robust referral program

Referral marketing is one of the most popular marketing models. In fact, it is uncommon to see any large company without it. Dropbox’s referral program, for example, helps the company gain 60% in signups and has a viral growth effect.

So, are you looking for referral marketing for your Shopify store? Well, there are several referral apps that can help you build and manage an effective reward system to incentivize customers to refer their network with discounts, gift cards, or free products.  

This article contains all the information you need to know:  

• What is a referral marketing? 
• What can Shopify referral program apps do for your business? 
• Our shortlist of best referral apps for your marketing strategy

 Let’s dive in!

1. What is a referral program?

A referral program is an effective marketing method to encourage current customers to refer new ones for business. In this strategy, your satisfied customers become the referrers who promote your products to their friends and peers in exchange for attractive discounts, rewards, and other offers. 

Here are some reasons you should have a referral program in your business:

• Cost-effective: By using a refer-a-friend Shopify app, you will have a lower cost per acquisition than traditional marketing methods because it is mostly based on the trust and credibility of existing customers. A study by Harvard Business Review found that referred customers have a 16% higher customer lifetime value (CLV). This higher value offsets the cost of the referral rewards.
• Conversion rates: Referred by a trusted source is always more likely to convert into paying customers because it taps into their network, someone that you know personally. This trust can help the referees make their decisions quicker and become new customers at your store. On average, referral marketing leads to conversion rates around 3-5 times higher than any other channel.
• Customer retention: When customers participate in the program and are rewarded, they tend to become more loyal and keep buying from your store. According to a study by the Journal of Marketing, referred customers have a 37% higher retention rate.

2. How do Shopify referral program apps help? 

Referral programs for Shopify stores may help businesses in several key ways. Here are 05 common aspects the referral program apps on Shopify will help you improve:

• Turn customers into brand advocates: Post-purchase invitations, including pop-ups, automated emails, and thank-you page messages invite customers to join your referral program. In-package inserts with referral codes encourage immediate sharing, turning customers into active brand advocates.
• Rewards brand advocates in diverse ways: There are diverse rewards such as store credit, gift cards, discount coupons, and cash rewards. This flexibility ensures merchants have more choices in launching their marketing program.
• Build referral program structure: A tiered rewards system where customers earn higher rewards for more referrals. For example, offer increasing discounts or larger gift cards as the number of referrals grows, encouraging continued engagement.
• Track referral: Generate unique referral links and coupon codes for each customer. These tools allow easy sharing and accurate tracking of referral performance & data will be presented in an analytic dashboard.
• Prevent fraud: The app uses automated fraud detection to monitor for duplicate accounts and unusual activity. You can conduct manual reviews anytime!

3. Shortlist of Shopify referral apps 

If you are planning to run a referral program, here are some popular Shopify referral apps that you should look for:  

3.1. BixGrow – Affiliate & referral marketing

BixGrow is an affiliate marketing & referral marketing app offering a comprehensive solution for managing referral programs on Shopify. It helps businesses simplify the process of incentivizing customers to refer new business.  

User feedback on BixGrow

• Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars 
• Total Reviews: 1000+ reviews 

BixGrow Pros

• User-friendly interface – set up and manage the referral programs without technical background required.
• Simply priced affordably ($15 for pro-plan) while performing at the same level as other apps of its kind.  
• Customizable rewards features to align with the business budget and goals include discounts, credit, etc.
• Real-time tracking activities that allow users to monitor and adjust their performance and strategies.
• Robust analytics that offer insights into referral campaign performance and customer behavior.

BixGrow Cons

• BixGrow may lack some functionalities for a more comprehensive solution.

This one is simply a solid choice for a basic referral program, ideal for businesses with straightforward referral needs. To be more specific, BixGrow offers a different approach to generating referral sales. Merchants using BixGrow can leverage referrals from affiliates, influencers, and brand ambassadors rather than focusing solely on their existing customer community. This broader approach can help businesses tap into new audiences and expand their brand reach more effectively. 

3.2. Rise.ai: Gift Cards & Loyalty – offers flexible usages of gift cards & store credits 

Rise.ai is a platform specializing in gift cards and store credit rewards for Shopify stores. It helps customers deliver customized digital gift cards to others on special days such as Xmas, Valentine’s Day, New Year, etc. 

User feedback on Rise.ai  

• Overall Rating: 4.8 out of 5.0
• Total Reviews: 1000+ reviews

Rise.ai Pros

• Bring a great experience to customers when using a special gift card.
• Integrate affiliate and referral programs for customers referring to their network.
• Allow businesses to prompt customers to share your brand while bringing in influencers and bloggers.
• Reasonable price of $19.99/month.
• The support team is simply fantastic 

Rise.ai Cons

• No free plan. 
• Too much packed into it if you just want to activate referrals.
• Limited store credit to give as a reward.

Raise.ai might seem overpriced to the merchant’s basic demands ($20 for the starter pack, limited to 100 orders). But, honestly speaking, if your business doesn’t rely a lot on loyalty or referral marketing, it seems unnecessary. Conversely, this app can be super useful when your business often works with repeat customers, such as fashion or health & wellness products. 

3.3. ReferralCandy

ReferralCandy is one of Shopify’s referral apps that focuses on referral services. This app helps businesses reward customers for inviting their friends more easily, with no human work. 

User feedback on ReferralCandy

• Overall Rating: 4.9 out of 5.0
• Total Reviews: 2000+ reviews

ReferralCandy Pros

• Automate the process of managing referral programs. 
• Customize referral rewards to suit specific business goals and budgets, whether it’s discounts, cash rewards, or store credit.
• Integrate with third-party marketing apps, allowing businesses to leverage their existing email lists.
• Support JS and API integration.
• Detect active referral services automatically.

ReferralCandy Cons

• Expensive for smaller businesses or those with limited marketing budgets.
• No free plan.
• Limited customization options.

Actually, this app is very well designed. Most stores can typically create a comprehensive referral program using their lower pricing plans. However, the most important factor to consider is that they charge based on revenue. For example, if you use their premium plan ($59 per month), you will be charged 3.5% of your referral revenue, or $350 for every $10,000 you earn.

If you decide to use ReferralCandy, it will take some effort to re-calculate product pricing.    

3.4. LoyaltyLion Rewards & Referral

If you want to create a long-term customer engagement plan, LoyaltyLion Rewards & Referral is the best Shopify referral app for you. It provides you with a loyalty system to reward customers for leaving reviews and referring their friends to your store.

User feedback on LoyaltyLion Rewards & Referral

• Overall Rating: 4.6 out of 5.0
• Total Reviews: 500+ reviews

LoyaltyLion Rewards & Referral Pros

• Comprehensive loyalty and referral program features, allow businesses to create tailored strategies.
• Customizable rewards and incentives to suit their unique goals and customer preferences.
• Advanced analytics and reporting features to provide valuable insights.
• Integrates with various marketing and e-commerce tools.
• Support VIP tiers and exclusive rewards.

LoyaltyLion Rewards & Referral Cons

• Complex systems require time and effort to fully understand how they work.
• Expensive for smaller businesses with a plan from $159/month to $729/month.

Overall, despite being slightly more expensive than its competitors, the app’s intuitive design sets it apart, making it notably user-friendly. Numerous Shopify merchants have noted a considerable uptick in conversion rates following their adoption of the app.

3.5. BLOOP: Referrals & Loyalty

BLOOP stands as a fast-growing referral market that offers mainly referral and affiliate marketing features. When customers make their first like or share on social media, the system will automatically reward them via email.

User feedback on BLOOP: Referrals & Loyalty 

• Overall Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0
• Total Reviews: 90+ reviews

BLOOP: Referrals & Loyalty Pros

• Support the on-brand referral program with the referral page and pop-up.
• Customize referral-sharing on social media and WhatsApp.
• Set up reward rules as store owners wish. 
• Smart tracking and analysis of referral program performance 
• 24/7 technical support

BLOOP: Referrals & Loyalty Cons

• Lack of some advanced functionalities compared to more comprehensive solutions.
• Customization options are limited compared to more flexible or customizable solutions.

BLOOP is a simple app. It is more likely to focus on the user-friendly aspects. This app has indeed been delivering a seamless and enjoyable experience to users. 

3.6. SC Conjured Referrals

SC Conjured Referrals is an automatic tool for business owners to choose their rewards and create a new campaign. Besides, your customers are also assisted in sharing a referral link through different channels, such as email, SMS, Twitter, Facebook, or WhatsApp, to get a unique coupon. 

User feedback on SC Conjured Referrals

• Overall Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0
• Total Reviews: 200+ reviews

SC Conjured Referrals pros

• Automated delivery discounts, prizes, and gift cards. 
• Handle referral services from the Shopify dashboard.
• Customized campaigns to complement the brand’s goal and look.
• Unique link for each referral.
• No commission costs.

SC Conjured Referrals Cons

• Options are basic or limited.
• Lack of advanced features and functionalities compared to more comprehensive solutions.

This app uses a unique pricing model based on the referred revenue generated by the app (+$10 USD for an additional 25 referred orders – Starter plan). This means you have to pay more if the app is successful in driving sales through referrals.

Besides, they also have quite impressive integrations with various tools like email platforms (Klaviyo, Mailchimp) or subscription services (Recharge, Bold Recurring).

3.7. Yotpo: Loyalty & Rewards

Yotpo is a favored Shopify referral app that allows users to build a tailored referral program to attract new customers. You can create a full package with configurable point-earning campaigns, tiered VIP perks, and personalized bonus opportunities. 

User feedback on Yotpo: Loyalty & Rewards

• Overall Rating: 4.7 out of 5.0
• Total Reviews: 2000+ reviews

Yotpo: Loyalty & Rewards Pros

• Easy and user-friendly referral marketing UI.
• Gain new clients with a simple and user-friendly referral marketing interface.
• Understand how clients interact with the app and how you can improve it using precise data.
• Provide a versatile incentive structure (you can reward referrals in a variety of ways, including points, things, store credit, and discounts).
• Multiple networks are supported, allowing you to encourage your clients to make referrals via multiple means.

Yotpo: Loyalty & Rewards Cons

• A complex setup for users new to referral and loyalty programs.
• Yotpo’s premium features and comprehensive service offerings come at a higher price.

Yotpo presents a strong overall option. Nevertheless, its pricing plans may lack flexibility, offering only a free trial or a $199 monthly subscription. This rigidity could pose challenges for small and mid-sized businesses looking to initiate a long-term referral program and fully explore its benefits. 

See more app lists

• Top 07 Shopify Store Credit Apps
• SEO Apps for Shopify
• Loyalty & Rewards Apps for Shopify
• 10+ Essential Shopify Apps For Your Fashion Business

Wrap it up 

In short, referral apps are an effective way to increase traffic for your online Shopify store. Knowing the power of word-of-mouth marketing, you can see massive growth in customers. If you are ready to take your Shopify store to the next level, try using BixGrow to launch a referral program!

Using a referral program can be a game-changer for your business if you choose the right solutions. Thus, test carefully first to find out the best Shopify referral apps that help your online business grow.