Alternatives · Affiliate Software
ReferralHero alternatives
As of Nov 12, 2026, the highest-graded ReferralHero alternative is GrowSurf (2.6 GPA). It's also the best free one.
ReferralHero compared with 5 alternatives: GrowSurf, Referral Rock, Friendbuy, ReferralCandy and Prefinery.
ReferralHero is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $249 per month. 1 of the 5 alternatives is free or has a free plan. 3 more offer a free trial.
Listings checked up to Nov 12, 2026 · Where the facts come from
Black Friday: is there a ReferralHero sale?
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReferralHeroThis tool | Free trial · from $249/mo | Trial only | Web |
| GrowSurf | Free plan · from $125/mo | Yes | Web |
| Referral Rock | Free trial · from $250/mo | Trial only | Web |
| Friendbuy | Paid | No | Web |
| ReferralCandy | Free trial · from $39/mo | Trial only | Web |
| Prefinery | Free trial · from $39/mo | Trial only | Web |
Price against what you get
ReferralHero starts at $249 a month and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 2 of the 4 alternatives on this chart score higher and start lower: GrowSurf and ReferralCandy.
Prefinery starts lower without scoring higher.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from ReferralHero
GrowSurf
Referral and affiliate program software with developer SDKs
- GrowSurf starts at $125 per month, billed yearly ($179 billed monthly).
- GrowSurf has a free plan, which ReferralHero lacks.
- GrowSurf also covers marketing automation.
- GrowSurf does not cover reports, which ReferralHero does.
Suits: SaaS, consumer and health companies rewarding customer referrals
Referral Rock
Referral program software for businesses with sales and support teams
- Referral Rock starts at $250 per month, billed monthly.
- Referral Rock also covers workflow automation.
Suits: Service businesses and B2B companies whose staff earn referrals
Friendbuy
Referral, loyalty and influencer programs for consumer brands
- Friendbuy does not cover reports, which ReferralHero does.
Suits: Consumer brands running referral, loyalty and creator programs together
ReferralCandy
Customer referral and affiliate programs for online stores
- ReferralCandy starts at $39 per month.
- ReferralCandy does not cover reports, which ReferralHero does.
Suits: Shopify stores that want customers to refer friends for a reward
Prefinery
Viral waitlist and referral software for product launches
- Prefinery starts at $39 per month, billed every 6 months.
- Prefinery also covers marketing automation, forms and email campaigns.
- Prefinery does not cover reports, affiliate tracking and partner payouts, which ReferralHero does.
Suits: Startups building a waitlist before a launch
Limits worth knowing in ReferralHero
- Subscriber count is capped at 1,000 on Basic, which also allows only one self-serve campaign.
- Emails over 25,000 a month cost $1.50 per 1,000; SMS is pay-as-you-go by country.
- Reward payouts carry processing fees from 2.5% + $0.50 per payout.
- Mobile SDK access and 10,000 mobile attribution subscribers require an annual plan.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to ReferralHero?
The alternatives to ReferralHero in this directory are GrowSurf, Referral Rock, Friendbuy, ReferralCandy and Prefinery. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with ReferralHero.
Is there a free alternative to ReferralHero?
Yes. GrowSurf has a free plan alongside paid ones.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 18, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.