35 Saas Referral Programs To Be Inspired By In 2023

Referral programs are a great way to gain new customers without relying on third-party affiliates by tapping into one of the most powerful sources, your existing user database. 

Below are examples of elaborated referral programs from some of the most successful SaaS businesses in 2023. 

Advantages of Having An Referral Program For Your Saas

Even though referral programs don’t rely on cash incentives to attract new users as affiliate programs do, they still are extremely effective due to the following advantages: 

• Save on user acquisition costs. Unlike affiliate programs that offer monetary incentives or share revenue with affiliates for attracting new users, SaaS referral programs typically provide non-monetary incentives to their existing users (bonuses, coupons, subscription upgrades) to encourage them to refer services within their inner circle.
  
• More loyal audience. Referral programs often urge existing users to invite people from their immediate circle (“Invite three friends and gain 3 months of free subscription”). Subsequently, users provide recommendations to their friends and family. Such recommendations from close friends facilitate much higher retention levels than recommendations from strangers. 

That said, referral programs have a few disadvantages when compared to affiliate programs:

• Less access to new audiences. As referral programs are typically targeted toward existing users, they rarely attract audiences from new and unexplored markets.
  
• Harder to set up. Referral program incentives are often attached to SaaS product features or specific perks within that unique product, so they require a custom-developed solution in every case. Affiliate programs, on the other hand, are always attached to monetary payout, so there are dozens of affiliate tools to quickly set up an affiliate program for your service. 

1. Geekbot

Partner program link: https://geekbot.com/affiliates

Commission: 20% recurring commission for every month of the first year

Cookie duration: 90 days

Target audience: remote teams that communicate in Slack or MS Teams

Even though our program offers monetary commissions for every user you recommend to use Geekbot, we have two major reasons to put it on this list. 

For starters, our partner program is currently one of the most profitable and fastest growing in the SaaS space.

Second, Geekbot’s program kinda qualifies as a referral program because our users are entire teams and even if you refer only one user, you will be paid as if you referred an entire team.

So, what does Geekbot do, and why it’s worth recommending?

Put simply, Geekbot is a bot for conducting asynchronous standups and meetings directly in Slack and MS Teams. But that’s just on the surface. Through real-time analytics, templates fine-tuned over the years, and A.I., Geekbot helps remote teams to replace long-winded and unproductive meetings with short and extremely productive asynchronous reports while consistently giving you all the info about the team’s well-being and progress. 

Here’s an example of how Geekbot lets the team run standups in Slack and MS Teams.

Via a direct chat message, the bot asks each team member to share their progress. Rather than waiting for their turn on a shared call, team members can provide answers whenever they are available. After that, Geekbot gathers all replies into a single channel, where team members can follow up with each other.

Gitlab, Zapier, and Netflix are among the thousands of remote teams that, using Geekbot, have already saved countless hours per week on unnecessary meetings.

Advantages of the Geekbot partner program include:

• Recurring 20% payments. You receive 20% of the entire team’s monthly payment. Since Geekbot pricing is $2.5 per month per team member, Geekbot’s affiliate program is currently one of the most profitable in the SaaS space.
• High retention rates and 24/7 support. All users of Geekbot have access to a dedicated support team, making it easy to onboard new paying users and reduce cancellations.
• Rapidly growing market. The number and size of remote teams have dashingly increased over the past few years, which means you can take advantage of a market that will continue to grow for years to come.

You can sign up for Geekbot’s affiliate program and start earning recurring commissions here. 

2. Clickback  

Referral program link: https://clickback.com/about/referral-program/   

Bonus for a referral: $100 Amazon gift card for every successful referral

Clickback, founded in 2002, is a business-to-business (B2B) email lead generation tool. The software helps companies scale as targeted and cold B2B contacts are converted into warm and opted-in leads.

When you join the Clickback referral program, you can easily track your rewards and there’s no cap on how much you can earn. Every gift card will be delivered by email. 

3. Dropbox  

Referral program link: https://help.dropbox.com/storage-space/earn-space-referring-friends  

Bonus for a referral: Up to 32 GB free cloud storage space

Established in 2008, Dropbox is a cloud-based file-hosting service that allows companies to store and share files in one place. Files are easily accessible through your phone, tablet, or computer.

You’ll be rewarded with free extra storage (500 MB up to 16 GB for Dropbox Basic and 1 GB up to 32 GB for Dropbox Plus) per referral when partnering with Dropbox.

4. SoFi  

Referral program link: https://www.sofi.com/referral-program/

Bonus for a referral: Up to $500

SoFi was launched in 2011 and provides various financial products such as mortgages, personal loans, and auto loan refinancing. The platform uses a mobile app as well as desktop interfaces. 

Click on the “Refer a Friend” link in your SoFi profile on the app. You’ll be able to send a unique link to family or friends via email, text message, or social media. Earn you and your referrals $100 when they are applying for a private student loan. You get $100 when your referral applies for credit card services.

5. Fiverr  

Referral program link: https://www.fiverr.com/referral_program  

Bonus for a referral: Up to $100 Fiverr credits to spend on the platform

Fiverr was created in 2010 and is a freelance service platform that assists companies with freelance talent in the digital field. Fiverr focuses on the online marketplace, small business, freelance, and logo design.

Join the Fiverr referral program and share your link via email, social media, or word of mouth. Earn up to 10% ($100) of your referral’s first order amount, and your friend will get 10% off their first purchase.

6. Mailchimp

Referral program link: https://mailchimp.com/referral-program/  

Bonus for a referral: $30 credits (redeemed on a paid plan)

Small businesses and entrepreneurs use Mailchimp’s all-in-one marketing tools to grow their businesses with inspiring content, support, and intelligent marketing technology. Joining Mailchimp’s referral program allows you to put your personal Mailchimp badge on emails and signup forms. 

Redeem your $30 credits (as a paid plan member) and use them for your next monthly fee. If you’d like to earn more, join Moosend’s affiliate program for commission starting at 30%.

7. Mintmobile 

Referral program link: https://www.mintmobile.com/refer-a-friend/  

Bonus for a referral: Up to $90 in credit

Established in 2016, MintMobile is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) that provides companies and individuals with access to T-Mobile’s cellular network (superior 5G speeds and coverage).

Depending on the chosen referral plan, you can earn between $45 and $90 in credit per referral. Your friend can use your link or cellphone number to receive their $15 credit when they checkout. You’ll receive your credits when your friend activates their chosen plan.

8. BambooHR  

Referral program link: https://www.bamboohr.com/rewards/ 

Bonus for a referral: Up to $100 in Amazon gift cards 

BambooHR, founded in 2008, is a human resources software tool that helps your business save time by using applicant tracking tools to ensure the hiring process runs smoothly, from vacancy postings to job offer letters.

The BambooHR referral program gives you and your referrals up to $100 in Amazon gift cards. Share your unique link with friends and family to claim your rewards. 

9. Bench  

Referral program link: https://bench.co/refer-a-friend/

Bonus for a referral: $150 Visa gift card, plus a free month of bookkeeping

Bench is a cloud-based bookkeeping solution created in 2012 that helps businesses organize their business transactions, automate their bookkeeping, and prepare financial statements at the end of each month.

The Bench referral program allows you to send your unique link to friends and family via email, text message, or social media. When your referral becomes a Bench client, you’ll receive a $150 Visa gift card and a free month of bookkeeping. 

10. Gusto 

Referral program link: https://support.gusto.com/article/106622339100000/Refer-a-friend-to-gusto-earn-a-sign-up-bonus

Bonus for a referral: $300 in gift cards

Established in 2011, Gusto is a cloud-based payroll and human resources management software tool for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Improve your company with Gusto’s easy-to-use features, such as next-day direct deposits, time tracking, and dedicated support.

Using your unique Gusto referral link, you’ll earn up to $300 worth of gift cards for yourself and a $100 gift card for your referral.  

11. Google Workspace

Referral program link: https://workspace.google.com/referral-program/ 

Bonus for a referral: Up to $23

Established in 2006, Google Workspace is a cloud-based productivity and computing collaboration tool developed by Google. Google Workspace helps you interact with customers via Meet, Calendar, Gmail, and Drive. 

You’ll be rewarded with up to $23 per referral that signs up to the Business Plan. By joining Google Workspace’s referral program, you can earn a bonus for up to 200 new users per year. If you want to earn more, join Google Workspace’s affiliate program and earn up to $27 per customer.

12. Airtable  

Referral program link: https://refer.codes/airtable/

Bonus for a referral: $10 in credit to be used towards a premium plan

Established in 2012, Airtable is a cloud-collaboration tool that helps businesses customize and collaborate their workflow by creating visual interfaces that meet their needs.

By sharing your link with friends, the Airtable referral program rewards you with $10 in Airtable credit, which can be used toward their premium plans. 

13. Canopy

Referral program link: https://www.getcanopy.com/referral-how-to 

Bonus for a referral: $25 for every referral that completes a demo, and $300 for every referral that signs up

Canopy helps your company with its easy-to-use cloud-based accounting and practice management software. Use the client portal app to organize workflow, billing, and payments. 

When you join the Canopy referral program, navigate to your profile and click on the “Make a referral” option. Share the referral link with friends and family. When your friends start signing up, you’ll begin earning rewards from $25 to $300. 

14. Moo 

Referral program link: https://www.moo.com/us/refer 

Bonus for a referral: 10% off the first transaction

Moo, launched in 2006, is an online design and technology print platform that helps businesses design various business cards, flyers, planners, postcards, and other printed options.

When you join Moo’s referral program, you’ll get a $20 gift card for every referral that places an order. Your referral will also receive 25% off their first order when using your unique link. 

When you refer a business that subscribes to a business package, you’ll receive $150.

15. GetResponse

Referral program link: https://www.getresponse.com/referral-program 

Bonus for a referral: Free digital marketing certification course and $30 credit

GetResponse was established in 1998 and is a marketing automation platform that assists businesses by boosting their online sales with its all-in-one software and customizable marketing tools. 

GetResponse’s referral program will allow you to put your unique link on your website or blog. When a referral clicks on your link and buys a GetResponse account, you’ll both receive a $30 credit. Once you’ve referred three friends, you’ll get access to a free digital marketing certification course.  

16. Milanote 

Referral program link: https://help.milanote.com/en/articles/2079954-how-do-referrals-work

Bonus for a referral: Up to 100 bonus cards for extra storage space

Milanote helps your business organize projects and ideas with its easy-to-use tools. Make use of images, links, and notes for visual organization. 

Click on the “Refer a Friend” link in your Milanote profile and share the link with your friends on Facebook and Twitter. You’ll receive 20 bonus cards whenever a friend signs up for Milanote.

17. WordPress  

Referral program link: https://wordpress.com/support/refer-a-friend-youll-both-earn-credits/ 

Bonus for a referral: $25 promotional credit 

WordPress was created in 2003 and is an open-source content management tool that businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals can use to create a website or eCommerce store, build a blog, set up a domain name, and host their site. 

When you refer WordPress, you and your referral will earn $255 in promotional credit on WordPress. Recommending WordPress is easy: simply share the unique referral link with your family, friends, colleagues, and website visitors. 

18. Zoho  

Referral program link: https://www.zoho.com/r/refer-a-friend.html 

Bonus for a referral: 15% in Zoho wallet credits

Zoho is a web-based business tool that helps businesses create software to ensure their business runs smoothly. The easy-to-use online office suite is another helpful tool. 

Joining the Zoho referral program allows you to share your link with friends and family. Once your referral has been a paying customer for 90 days, you’ll receive a 15% commission as wallet credits for one year. Use your credits to renew your subscription or purchase add-ons.

19. A2 Hosting

Referral program link: https://www.a2hosting.com/about/refer-a-friend  

Bonus for a referral: $50 hosting credit per referral (after 45 days of valid subscription by referral)

Started in 2001, A2 Hosting is a hosting service that facilitates a variety of internet users by hosting their blogs and sites, and they also provide SSL certificates (to name a few of their hosting services). Choose from email hosting, private server hosting, eCommerce hosting, and more. 

When you are a client, you can refer friends and family to the service by using a custom link, earning a $50 credit on the site per referral that subscribes to the service (using your link). Advertise via email, your website, and social media. 

20. Teampay  

Referral program link: https://www.teampay.co/partner-referral-program   

Bonus for a referral: Discount in joining fee and revenue share

Launched in 2016, Teampay’s distributed purchasing platform helps you automate approvals and the spending process. When joining the Teampay partner referral program, you need to commit to a program level. You can choose between the Copper, Silver, and Platinum programs, with each level offering more perks.

You’ll be rewarded with a fee discount, extra incentives, personal support during the first year, and an opportunity to share in the company’s revenue when you continue partnering with them.      

21. Shoeboxed

Referral program link: http://support.shoeboxed.com/knowledgebase/articles/115468-how-do-i-refer-a-friend-to-shoeboxed 

Bonus for a referral: 10% off your and your referral’s annual subscription

Shoeboxed was launched in 2006 and is a receipt scanner app that digitizes your business receipts for expense reporting, bookkeeping, accounting, and tax purposes.

When you join Shoeboxed, click on the “Your Account Could Be Free” link. A pop-up widget will allow you to refer contacts via social media, email, or your custom link. Get yourself and your referral 10% off the annual subscription, and when 10 of your referrals join the Premium Plan, your Shoeboxed subscription is free for a year.   

22. Jobber 

Referral program link: https://help.getjobber.com/hc/en-us/articles/115009616267-Referrals  

Bonus for a referral: Two months’ subscription for free or a $100 Visa gift card 

Jobber is a customer relationship management (CRM) tool for service businesses. It helps you create estimates and quotes, schedule and dispatch your team to jobs, send invoices, and get paid.  

The Jobber referral program helps you and other small businesses. When you are an account owner, you and a successful referral receive VIP treatment and two months of Jobber. But purchasing a Jobber subscription to a mobile app gives you and your referral a $100 Visa gift card.  

As an employee or admin, you get a $100 Visa gift card and the referral gets two months of free access to Jobber.

23. Postcron

Referral program link: https://postcron.com/en/blog/referral-program/ 

Bonus for a referral: Free one-month subscription 

Postcron helps your business save time by bulk scheduling and posting your social media content. Plus, you can automatically add a watermark to your images. 

The Postcron referral program gives you a month’s free access to the app per referral.

If you want to earn some money, consider joining the Tailwind affiliate program. You’ll earn between 15-25% recurring commission and a minimum of $250 per content bonus.

24. Officevibe 

Referral program link: https://help.officevibe.com/hc/en-us/articles/360058713532-Referral-Program-FAQ 

Bonus for a referral: $200 Amazon gift card 

Officevibe was created in 2014 and is a cloud-based tool that companies can use to promote a happier workplace environment. With polls, pulse surveys, scheduling, and reporting, your HR team can identify employee and work culture strengths and weaknesses. 

Only Essential, Pro, and Business Officevibe members are eligible to join the referral program. Share your unique referral link, and get a $200 Amazon gift card for every successful referral.  

25. FreeAgent  

Referral program link: https://support.freeagent.com/hc/en-us/articles/115001218770-The-FreeAgent-referral-scheme 

Bonus for a referral: 10% subscription discount 

Small businesses, accountants, and solopreneurs use FreeAgent to manage their invoices, expenses, projects, and sales tax. Joining the FreeAgent referral program allows you to share your referral link with your friends and on your website and social media.

If you want to earn more, join the Quickbooks affiliate program for a 10% commission for every successful signup. 

26. Cognito Forms 

Referral program link: https://www.cognitoforms.com/support/160/account-organizations/plans-billing/referral-program 

Bonus for a referral: 20% of the referral’s monthly subscription 

Cognito Forms is an online form building platform. Use Cognito Forms’ drag-and-drop interface to create surveys, registration forms, order forms, and more. 

You can refer Cognito Forms to your friends, clients, and colleagues with a unique link via social media or email. Once the referrals subscribe, they get a month’s free trial for their selected plan and you’ll receive 20% of their subscription plan for a year after the initial sign-up.   

27. Hubstaff  

Referral program link: https://support.hubstaff.com/referral-program-work/ 

Bonus for a referral: 10% off your yearly Hubstaff bill for each successful referral 

Hubstaff launched in 2012 and is an all-in-one workforce management tool, offering remote talent finder, project management, payroll management, proof of work, and time-tracking features.  

The main benefit of referring Hubstaff is that you can get your annual Hubstaff subscription for free. You and your referral get 10% off on the subscription, and when you have 10 successful referrals, your annual plan is free.

28. Siteground 

Referral program link: https://www.siteground.com/kb/if_i_refer_a_friend_to_siteground_would_i_be_rewarded/ 

Bonus for a referral: 3 months free hosting for every successful referral 

Established in 2004, Siteground is a web hosting platform that offers shared hosting, email hosting, cloud hosting, domain registration, and enterprise solutions.  

When you join the Siteground referral program, you are rewarded with free hosting for every successful referral. You can earn up to 12 month’s free hosting for each hosting plan you’re signed up for, as well as 150 days free for your cloud plans. 

29. Coda  

Referral program link: https://coda.io/affiliate-program 

Bonus for a referral: $10 in credit (for signups) and 20% commission on first-year revenue

Coda is a document collaboration tool that you can customize to fit your team. The platform ensures the documents are updated in real-time. 

To refer Coda, simply share a published doc or use the unique referral link. For every successful referral, you and your referral get $10 in Coda credit. With six successful referrals, your annual Coda plan is free. If your referral upgrades to a paid Coda plan, you get a 20% commission. 

30. Square 

Referral program link: https://squareup.com/help/us/en/article/6366-square-payroll-referral-program 

Bonus for a referral: $100 Amazon gift card 

Square (previously SquareUp) was founded in 2009 and is a point-of-sale (POS) platform that helps sellers to accept payments, scale their business, and build customer relationships.  

The Square Payroll Referral Program allows you to refer employers via your referral link via email and social media. There’s no cap on how many people you can refer to Square. A successful referral gets you a $100 Amazon gift card and your referral gets a month’s subscription on Square for free.

31. Leapsome 

Referral program link: https://www.leapsome.com/refer-a-friend 

Bonus for a referral: Up to 10% off your Leapsome subscription or a $200 Amazon gift card 

Leapsome is a people management tool that helps companies and HR teams improve employee engagement, manage performance, and create personalized learning, performance reviews, and engagement surveys.

Referring to Leapsome as an existing customer gets you up to 10% off your subscription, and if you aren’t a Leapsom customer, you’ll receive a $200 Amazon gift card.  

32. Pipedrive

Referral program link: https://support.pipedrive.com/en/article/pipedrive-referral-program 

Bonus for a referral: Pipedrive-branded notebook or coffee mug, $10 Pipedrive credit, or $100 reward 

Pipedrive, created in 2010, is a sales-focused pipeline and CRM management solution. When businesses use Pipeline, they can create a sales funnel, add or import deals, track progress, and automate growth.  

You’re rewarded with a Pipedrive-branded mug or notebook when you share five links. When three referrals sign up, you get $10 in Pipedrive credit, and when a referral subscribes, you get $100 in an Amazon gift card, as a prepaid debit card, or via PayPal. 

33. Dropbox DocSend

Referral program link: https://help.docsend.com/hc/en-us/articles/360017768894-DocSend-Referral-Program 

Bonus for a referral: $15 in DocSend credit 

Dropbox DocSend is a secure document-sending tool that businesses can use to safely share documents in real-time and access watermarking, analytics, and eSignature features.   

The Dropbox DocSend referral program allows you to track your referrals, send reminders to the referred users, and invite referrals via email or social media. You and your referral get $15 in credits when they upload their first document, create a DocSend link, and get a visit.  

34. PayPal

Referral program link: https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/invite/terms 

Bonus for a referral: $10-$100 on PayPal

PayPal is an online payment tool that businesses and individuals use to send and receive money or make online payments.  

When you join the PayPal refer-a-friend program and your referrals sign up and spend more than $5, you both get $10 on your PayPal wallet. The referral program is capped at 10 successful referrals, so you can earn $100 in total.  

35. SugarSync  

Referral program link: https://www1.sugarsync.com/support/referral-program/ 

Bonus for a referral: 500 MB to 10 GB of cloud storage space 

SugarSync is an online file sharing, syncing, and backup tool. You can also view, edit, and share your files across your devices. 

The SugarSync referral program allows you to share your referral link via email, instant message, your website, or social media. When your referral opens a 60+ GB SugarSync account, you and your friend get 10 GB of space. And when you share a folder and your colleague or friends join SugarSync, you get an extra 500 MB of cloud space.