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GrowSurf vs ReferralCandy

GrowSurf and ReferralCandy are both affiliate & referral programs tools. GrowSurf is aimed at small businesses and developers, while ReferralCandy is aimed at E-commerce. ReferralCandy costs less, from $39/mo versus $179/mo for GrowSurf. Only GrowSurf has a free plan.

GrowSurf

Referral and affiliate program software for SaaS and tech startups

ReferralCandy

Customer referral programs for online stores

PricingFreemium · $179Paid · $39
Starting price$179/mo$39/mo
Free planYesNo
Free trial14 days7 days
Built forSmall businesses, DevelopersE-commerce
Platformswebweb
CountryUSSG · 2009
Rating——

Choose GrowSurf if

SaaS and tech startups that want an in-product customer referral program with fraud checks and automated rewards.

  • Fast to launch inside a SaaS product without custom code
  • Free affiliate plan charges only when referrals generate revenue
  • Handles tax forms and payouts, not just tracking

Look elsewhere if: Shopify stores (ReferralCandy), viral pre-launch campaigns on a small budget (Viral Loops) or cheap Stripe-only affiliate tracking (Rewardful).

Choose ReferralCandy if

E-commerce stores wanting referral programs.

  • Easy for stores
  • Automated
  • Proven growth tactic

Look elsewhere if: SaaS (Rewardful).

GrowSurf vs ReferralCandy pricing

GrowSurf

  • Affiliate Free$0Affiliate programs only; 3% success fee on referral revenue
  • Startup$179/mo$125/mo billed yearly; up to 2,500 participants, 2 programs
  • Business$449/mo$314/mo billed yearly; up to 10,000 participants, 5 programs
  • CustomCustom150,000+ participants, onboarding and volume discounts

ReferralCandy

  • Basic$39/mo+ 10.5% success fee on referred sales (first 3 orders)
  • Grow$79/mo+ 3.5% success fee
  • Scale$249/mo+ 1.5% success fee
  • Enterprise$799/mo+ 0.25% success fee; dedicated account manager

GrowSurf · Key features

  • Automatic referral link for every user via one code snippet
  • White-labeled referral portal with custom domain on Business
  • Qualification rules on signup, first purchase or custom events
  • Automatic rewards as gift cards, cash payouts or account credits
  • Fraud protection with manual reward approval options
  • Affiliate programs with Stripe, PayPal and Wise payouts

Cons

  • Referral plans start at $179 a month, steep for early startups
  • Pricing scales with participants, so large user bases get expensive
  • Startup plan limits you to two team members and two programs

ReferralCandy · Key features

  • Post-purchase referral invitations
  • Friend discounts and referrer rewards
  • Widgets and emails
  • Fraud detection
  • Analytics
  • E-commerce integrations

Cons

  • Commission on referral sales
  • Limited to e-commerce
  • Basic customization

GrowSurf vs ReferralCandy: FAQ

Which is cheaper, GrowSurf or ReferralCandy?

ReferralCandy starts at $39/mo and GrowSurf at $179/mo. Both prices are checked on the vendors' own pricing pages.

Do GrowSurf and ReferralCandy have a free plan?

GrowSurf has a free plan. ReferralCandy has no free plan, a 7-day free trial.

Which is better for small businesses, GrowSurf or ReferralCandy?

GrowSurf lists small businesses as a core audience, while ReferralCandy is aimed more at E-commerce.

Not sure yet?