Best Shopify Apps Referral for Merchants

in apps · 6 min read

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A practical roundup of top Shopify apps for referrals and affiliate programs, including ratings, reviews, pricing, and screenshots to help merchants

This roundup covers the top Shopify apps for running referral and affiliate programs. It compares ratings, reviews, pricing, and shows icons and screenshots so merchants can quickly evaluate options.

Who this is for: Shopify store owners looking to add referrals, affiliates, or combined loyalty/referral programs to increase acquisition and retention.

RankAppBest ForRatingReviewsPricingNotable
1!App Icon Referral Candy & AffiliateReferral-first affiliate campaigns⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.9/5)1470Plan 1: $29/mo, Plan 2: $29/mo, Plan 3: $29, Plan 4: $79/moAutomate rewards; integrates with Klaviyo, Recharge
2!App Icon Trustoo Loyalty & ReferralsCombined loyalty and referrals⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.9/5)698Plan 1: $29/mo, Plan 2: $29, Plan 3: $299, Plan 4: $20Points, referrals, VIP tiers, popups
3!App Icon Affiliate Marketing ReferrLyLow-cost affiliate starter⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5.0/5)792Plan 1: $5/mo, Plan 2: $5, Plan 3: $9/mo, Plan 4: $9Affordable pricing for new programs
4!App Icon UpPromote Affiliate MarketingAdvanced affiliate network management⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.9/5)2707Plan 1: $29.99/mo, Plan 2: $29.99, Plan 3: $299.90, Plan 4: $89.99/moLarge install base; robust features
5!App Icon Smile: Loyalty Rewards ProgramPoints + referral programs for retention⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.9/5)4031Plan 1: $49/mo, Plan 2: $49, Plan 3: $199/mo, Plan 4: $199Points, referrals, VIP tiers
6!App Icon BLP Referral Program AffiliateSimple referral and affiliate tools⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.9/5)192Plan 1: $19.90/mo, Plan 2: $19.90, Plan 3: $29.90/mo, Plan 4: $29.90Lightweight, easy setup
7!App Icon LoyaltyLion Rewards & ReferralData-driven loyalty and referrals⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.7/5)490Plan 1: $199/mo, Plan 2: $199, Plan 3: $1500Enterprise-grade loyalty features
8!App Icon AfterShip Referral & AffiliateReferral + affiliate with broader automation⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.8/5)1082Plan 1: $249/moIntegrates with shipping and automation tools
9!App Icon Essent Loyalty Program RewardsFree-start loyalty and referral option⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5.0/5)289Free plan availableCustomizable loyalty with free tier
10!App Icon Loox - Visual Product ReviewsReviews plus referral/social proof⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.9/5)6984Plan 1: $12.99/mo, Plan 4: $39.99/moVisual reviews, referral features
11!App Icon BixGrow Affiliate MarketingFlexible tracking and affiliate tools⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5.0/5)1135Plan 1: $14.99/mo, Plan 3: $162, Plan 4: $24.99/moFlexible tracking methods

1) Referral Candy & Affiliate

Referral Candy & Affiliate

Effortlessly run referral & affiliate campaigns with ReferralCandy. Automate rewards, track performance, and integrate with Klaviyo, Recharge, and more apps.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.9/5) Reviews: 1470 Pricing: Plan 1: $29/mo, Plan 2: $29/mo, Plan 3: $29, Plan 4: $79/mo

Short verdict: Solid, integration-friendly referral app that automates reward delivery and tracking for growth-oriented stores.

2) Trustoo Loyalty & Referrals

Trustoo Loyalty & Referrals

!Trustoo Loyalty & Referrals Screenshot

Drive repeat sales, reduce acquisition costs, and maximize customer lifetime value with Loloyal’s complete loyalty solution: points, referrals, VIP tiers, Popup

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.9/5) Reviews: 698 Pricing: Plan 1: $29/mo, Plan 2: $29, Plan 3: $299, Plan 4: $20

Short verdict: Feature-rich loyalty suite that bundles referrals with points and VIP features at competitive entry pricing.

3) Affiliate Marketing Referrly

Affiliate Marketing ReferrLy

!Affiliate Marketing ReferrLy Screenshot

Set up referral and affiliate marketing programs to increase sales, attract new customers, and reward advocates with easy tracking and automation

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5.0/5) Reviews: 792 Pricing: Plan 1: $5/mo, Plan 2: $5, Plan 3: $9/mo, Plan 4: $9

Short verdict: Extremely affordable starter option for merchants who want basic affiliate/referral functionality without high cost.

4) Uppromote Affiliate Marketing

UpPromote Affiliate Marketing

Build. Manage.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.9/5) Reviews: 2707 Pricing: Plan 1: $29.99/mo, Plan 2: $29.99, Plan 3: $299.90, Plan 4: $89.99/mo

Short verdict: Robust affiliate management with many features and a large user base, suitable for scaling programs.

5) Smile:

Loyalty Rewards Program

Smile: Loyalty Rewards Program

!Smile: Loyalty Rewards Program Screenshot

Increase sales and repeat purchases, save on acquisition costs, and boost customer lifetime value with a points, referral, and VIP program from Smile.io

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.9/5) Reviews: 4031 Pricing: Plan 1: $49/mo, Plan 2: $49, Plan 3: $199/mo, Plan 4: $199

Short verdict: Trusted loyalty platform that pairs well with referral incentives for long-term retention.

6) BLP Referral Program Affiliate

BLP Referral Program Affiliate

!BLP Referral Program Affiliate Screenshot

BLOOP Referral & Affiliate Marketing empowers merchants with easy-to-use tools to reward referrals and affiliates, boosting sales and customer loyalty.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.9/5) Reviews: 192 Pricing: Plan 1: $19.90/mo, Plan 2: $19.90, Plan 3: $29.90/mo, Plan 4: $29.90

Short verdict: Straightforward app for merchants who want quick referral setup with predictable pricing.

7) Loyaltylion Rewards & Referral

LoyaltyLion Rewards & Referral

!LoyaltyLion Rewards & Referral Screenshot

Create a data-driven loyalty program that goes beyond points and rewards with LoyaltyLion. Drive sustainable growth with tailored customer experiences.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.7/5) Reviews: 490 Pricing: Plan 1: $199/mo, Plan 2: $199, Plan 3: $1500

Short verdict: Powerful, analytics-focused loyalty platform but comes at a higher price point.

8) Aftership Referral & Affiliate

AfterShip Referral & Affiliate

!AfterShip Referral & Affiliate Screenshot

Drive new sales by turning customers into brand advocates. Leverage word-of-mouth marketing by setting up referral and affiliate campaigns.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.8/5) Reviews: 1082 Pricing: Plan 1: $249/mo

Short verdict: Good when you need referrals tied to broader automation and post-purchase flows.

9) Essent Loyalty Program Rewards

Essent Loyalty Program Rewards

!Essent Loyalty Program Rewards Screenshot

Boost customer loyalty with Essnetial customizable loyalty programs, rewards, referrals, and VIP tiers. Increase retention and drive sales effortlessly.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5.0/5) Reviews: 289 Pricing: Free plan available

Short verdict: Attractive free option for stores starting their loyalty/referral journey.

10) Loox - Visual Product Reviews

Loox - Visual Product Reviews

Turn customer love into sales.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.9/5) Reviews: 6984 Pricing: Plan 1: $12.99/mo, Plan 2: $12.99/mo, Plan 3: $12.99, Plan 4: $39.99/mo

Short verdict: Excellent for social proof-led referral strategies; widely used and feature-rich.

11) Bixgrow Affiliate Marketing

BixGrow Affiliate Marketing

!BixGrow Affiliate Marketing Screenshot

Boost referral sales with BixGrow!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5.0/5) Reviews: 1135 Pricing: Plan 1: $14.99/mo, Plan 2: $14.99, Plan 3: $162, Plan 4: $24.99/mo

Short verdict: Versatile affiliate tool with multiple pricing tiers suited to growing programs.

How to Choose

  • Budget: Choose a free or low-cost plan (Essent, ReferrLy, BixGrow entry tiers) to test referrals before scaling.
  • Feature set: If you need points + referrals, pick a loyalty-first app (Trustoo, Smile, LoyaltyLion).
  • Integrations: For email/subscription integrations, use apps that list integrations (Referral Candy).
  • Scale: For large affiliate networks and advanced tracking, prefer UpPromote or LoyaltyLion.
  • Ease of setup: Look for apps with higher ease-of-use reviews and simple pricing tiers (BLP, ReferrLy).

Common Mistakes

  • Picking features over fit: Choosing a complex enterprise app when you only need simple referral links raises costs.
  • Ignoring integrations: Not verifying email, subscription, or analytics integrations can break flows.
  • Overcomplicating rewards: Hard-to-earn rewards reduce referrals; keep incentives clear and simple.
  • Skipping tracking validation: Not testing tracking and conversions can lead to unpaid or missed referrals.

FAQ

What is the Difference Between Referral and Affiliate Apps?

Referral programs typically reward existing customers for referring friends, focusing on peer-to-peer word of mouth. Affiliate apps often support external partners and publishers with tracking, payouts, and deeper commission rules.

How Much Should I Offer as a Referral Reward?

Start with modest rewards that align with your margins, such as store credit or a percentage discount. Test performance and adjust - higher incentives can increase participation but may reduce margin.

Do I Need a Loyalty Program to Run Referrals?

No. Many apps focus solely on referrals or affiliates. However, combining loyalty and referrals can improve retention and repeat purchase rates if you want both functions.

Can Referral Apps Integrate with Email and Subscription Apps?

Yes. Several apps in this list mention integrations (for example, ReferralCandy integrates with Klaviyo and Recharge). Always confirm current integration coverage before installing.

Is There a Free Option to Test Referrals?

Essent Loyalty Program Rewards lists a “Free plan available,” and some low-cost apps like Affiliate Marketing ReferrLy offer very inexpensive starter tiers for initial testing.

Sources & Citations

  • Referral Candy & Affiliate
  • Trustoo Loyalty & Referrals
  • Affiliate Marketing ReferrLy
  • UpPromote Affiliate Marketing
  • Smile: Loyalty Rewards Program
  • BLP Referral Program Affiliate
  • LoyaltyLion Rewards & Referral
  • AfterShip Referral & Affiliate
  • Essent Loyalty Program Rewards
  • Loox - Visual Product Reviews
  • BixGrow Affiliate Marketing

Further Reading

Sources & Citations

Tags: referral affiliate loyalty shopify
Jamie

About the author

Jamie — Founder, Profit Calc (website)

Jamie helps Shopify merchants build profitable stores through data-driven strategies and proven tools for tracking revenue, costs, and margins.

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