Referral marketing is one of the most cost-effective strategies for acquiring new customers in the eCommerce space. For WooCommerce store owners, leveraging referral systems can boost visibility, increase customer loyalty, and drive conversions without overspending on paid ads or aggressive promotions. The key is to integrate the right referral plugin tailored to WooCommerce.
WooCommerce referral plugins are specialized tools designed to help you automate and manage customer referral programs. These plugins make it easy for store owners to reward customers for bringing in new business, whether through direct links, email invites, or social media shares. They track referral behavior, offer customizable incentives, and often include analytics dashboards for performance monitoring.
In this blog, we will explore the top 10 WooCommerce referral plugins that can streamline your referral campaigns and align with your overall marketing goals. You will learn what these plugins do, how they work, the types available, and the advantages they bring to your online store. We will also look at individual plugin reviews, including their features, pricing, pros, and limitations, giving you all the insights needed to make an informed decision.
If you are looking to boost your store’s growth and customer base, WooCommerce referral plugins are a must-have tool. They help you leverage your existing customer network by offering incentives to share your products with friends and family. This type of organic growth reduces marketing costs and builds trust, which is essential for long-term success.
Why Do You Need WooCommerce Referral Plugins?
Referral marketing is one of the most effective ways to acquire new customers. Research shows that referred customers are more likely to make a purchase and have a higher lifetime value. WooCommerce referral plugins help you tap into this potential by automating the referral process and making it easy for customers to share your store with their networks. These plugins also include built-in tracking tools to monitor campaign performance and ensure customers are rewarded accurately.
Key Features to Look for in WooCommerce Referral Plugins
When choosing WooCommerce referral plugins, there are several key features to consider to ensure the plugin meets your store’s needs:
- Easy Integration: The plugin should integrate seamlessly with WooCommerce and other essential tools such as email marketing platforms.
- Referral Tracking: A reliable plugin provides detailed analytics to track referrals, identify referrers, and measure their impact on sales.
- Customizable Rewards: Choose plugins that allow you to customize rewards such as discounts or store credits based on referral value or customer actions.
- User-Friendly Interface: A clean and intuitive dashboard simplifies referral program management.
- Automated Notifications: The plugin should automatically notify customers when referrals are successful or rewards are earned.
What Are WooCommerce Referral Plugins?
WooCommerce referral plugins are WordPress extensions developed to manage referral marketing within WooCommerce-powered online stores. These plugins enable merchants to implement structured referral programs that encourage customers to invite friends, family, or colleagues in exchange for incentives such as discounts, store credit, or free products.
In simple terms, a WooCommerce referral plugin automates the entire referral workflow, including generating unique referral links, tracking referrals, and issuing rewards. This removes the need for manual tracking and allows businesses to run scalable word of mouth marketing campaigns directly within their eCommerce system.
Most referral plugins integrate smoothly with the WooCommerce backend and work with existing checkout, cart, and customer account systems. Some also offer advanced features such as referral popups, social sharing tools, multi-level referral structures, and integrations with email marketing platforms. These features allow store owners to launch, manage, and optimize referral campaigns without advanced technical knowledge.
Whether you are a small business owner seeking organic growth or a large eCommerce store focused on improving customer retention, WooCommerce referral plugins provide a structured and performance-driven solution.
Top 10 WooCommerce Referral Plugins You Should Try
1. YITH WooCommerce Affiliates Plugin
The YITH WooCommerce Affiliates plugin is a dedicated affiliate marketing solution designed to turn customers or influencers into brand advocates. It allows store owners to create an affiliate program where users earn commissions for referring new customers. Although primarily an affiliate tool, it also works effectively for referral campaigns by tracking and rewarding successful conversions.
Key Features:
- Affiliate Dashboard: Each affiliate receives a personal dashboard to track clicks, commissions, and conversions.
- Custom Commission Rules: Set global or product-specific commission rates using fixed or percentage-based values.
- Referral Link Generation: Affiliates can create unique tracking links to share across different platforms.
- Automatic Commission Assignment: Commissions are assigned automatically when a referred customer completes a purchase.
- Manual and Auto Approval: Administrators can approve affiliates manually or enable automatic approval.
- Cookie Duration Control: Define how long referral cookies remain active, such as 30 or 60 days.
- Payout Management: Track pending and completed affiliate payouts directly from the WooCommerce dashboard.
- Shortcodes for Pages: Display affiliate registration forms, login areas, and statistics using shortcodes.
- Multilingual and RTL Ready: Compatible with WPML and right-to-left languages for global stores.
Pricing:
- Free Version: Available on WordPress.org with limited features.
- Premium Version: Starts at €99.99 per year on the YITH website.
Pros:
- Increases sales and brand exposure through affiliate marketing.
- Flexible commission settings for different promotional strategies.
- Accurate tracking with automated commission handling.
Cons:
- Advanced features are available only in the premium version.
- Initial setup and configuration may take some time.
Why It Stands Out: YITH WooCommerce Affiliates is known for its ease of use and powerful tracking capabilities. It allows WooCommerce store owners to manage affiliate programs efficiently while leveraging external promoters to increase traffic and sales.
Also Read: 10 Best WordPress Car Dealership Themes
2. WooCommerce Reward Points
WooCommerce Reward Points is a loyalty and referral plugin that allows store owners to reward customers with points for actions such as purchases, signups, reviews, referrals, and more. Customers can redeem these points for discounts on future purchases, encouraging repeat sales and organic word-of-mouth promotion. This plugin is ideal for WooCommerce stores looking to gamify the shopping experience and increase customer lifetime value.
Key Features:
- Points for Purchases: Assign reward points based on product price, product type, or user roles.
- Referral Points System: Reward customers when referred users register or complete a purchase.
- Signup and Activity Rewards: Grant points for actions such as account creation, reviews, or newsletter subscriptions.
- Flexible Redemption Options: Convert points into fixed or percentage discounts at checkout.
- Expiry and Minimum Threshold Settings: Define point expiration dates and minimum redemption limits.
- Custom Point Labels: Rename points to match your branding, such as coins or credits.
- Tiered Loyalty Levels: Create multiple loyalty levels based on spending or earned points.
- Transaction History: View a complete log of earned, redeemed, expired, and refunded points.
- Admin Panel Control: Apply global rules or customize settings for products, categories, or user roles.
- Multilingual Support: WPML compatible and translation ready.
Pricing:
- Free Version: Available with basic purchase-based rewards only.
- Premium Version: Starts at $129 per year via WooCommerce.com.
Pros:
- Seamless integration with WooCommerce checkout and My Account pages.
- Boosts repeat purchases and referral-driven sales.
- Highly customizable reward and redemption rules.
- Detailed customer activity and points dashboard.
- Scalable loyalty system for growing stores.
Cons:
- The free version offers limited functionality.
- Lacks advanced gamification features such as badges or challenges.
- No built-in email automation without third-party integrations.
3. Extend – Referral System for WooCommerce
Extend – Referral System for WooCommerce is a referral program plugin designed to integrate smoothly with WooCommerce and drive organic sales through customer advocacy. It enables store owners to reward customers for referring friends or family, increasing engagement and repeat purchases while reducing dependence on paid advertising.
Key Features:
- Two-Way Rewards System: Both referrers and referees receive rewards such as fixed discounts, percentage coupons, or store credits.
- Automatic Coupon Generation: Unique coupons are generated automatically when referrals succeed.
- Referral Link Tracking: Each customer receives a personal referral link for sharing.
- Customizable Referral Rules: Set minimum spend requirements, reward limits, conditions, and expiry dates.
- WooCommerce Integration: Built exclusively for WooCommerce with native compatibility.
- Anti-Fraud Protections: Prevents self-referrals, duplicate referrals, and abuse using cookies, IP checks, and email validation.
- Dashboard Management: Simple admin dashboard to track referrals, coupons, and performance.
- Email Notifications: Sends automated emails when referrals are completed and rewards are issued.
- Shortcodes and Widget Support: Display referral links anywhere using shortcodes or widgets.
- Translation Ready: Compatible with WPML and multilingual setups.
Pricing:
- Free Version: Not available.
- Premium Version: Starts at $29 per year for a single-site license.
Pros:
- Lightweight and optimized for performance.
- Supports both fixed and percentage-based rewards.
- Easy-to-use interface for admins and customers.
- No dependency on third-party platforms.
- Affordable pricing with simple setup.
Cons:
- No free version for testing the plugin before purchase.
- Advanced referral tree or MLM-style tracking is not supported.
- Limited analytics compared to SaaS tools like ReferralCandy or ReferralRock.
4. RewardsWP – Refer-a-Friend Plugin for WooCommerce
WPLoyalty is a WooCommerce plugin designed to build customer loyalty and encourage word-of-mouth marketing through referrals. It allows store owners to create point-based reward systems and referral incentives, suitable for improving retention and organic growth.
Key Features:
- Refer-a-Friend Program: Reward both referrers and referred customers with customizable incentives.
- Flexible Rewards: Offer fixed discounts, percentage discounts, free shipping, or loyalty points.
- Automated Sharing: Referral links generated automatically for email or social sharing.
- Points and Rewards Integration: Combine referrals with rewards for purchases, signups, and reviews.
- Custom Rules: Set limits, expiration dates, minimum purchase values, and eligible user roles.
- Real-Time Analytics: Monitor referrals, rewards, and ROI from a central dashboard.
Pricing:
- Free Version: Available on WordPress.org with basic features.
- Pro Version: Starts at $99/year for a single-site license.
- Multi-Site Plans: Tiered pricing available for multiple sites.
Pros:
- Fully WooCommerce native and easy to integrate.
- Combines loyalty rewards and referral programs in one solution.
- Highly customizable reward logic and design.
- Includes email automation to encourage sharing.
- Provides real-time referral and earnings tracking.
Cons:
- Advanced referral rules and design customization require the paid version.
- May require time to configure complex campaigns.
- No built-in SMS sharing without third-party add-ons.
7. Social Referrals by Smile.io
Social Referrals by Smile.io is a referral marketing module built around loyalty rewards and social media sharing. While popular for Shopify and BigCommerce, it currently does not fully support WooCommerce merchants.
Key Features:
- Referral link generation and tracking through social sharing.
- Configurable rewards for both referrer and referred customer.
- Integration with Smile.io’s loyalty and points system for tiered engagement.
- Real-time reporting and campaign performance metrics.
- User-friendly referral interface for social campaigns.
Pricing:
- Free tier available for basic functionality.
- Paid plans start at $49/month, scaling with features and usage.
Pros:
- Effective for leveraging social media channels for referrals.
- Easy to use and quick to set up.
- Supports multiple reward types.
Cons:
- Focus on social sharing may not suit all business models.
- Limited customization in the free plan.
Why It Stands Out:
Well suited for businesses with an active social media presence that want to drive referrals via engagement and loyalty rewards.
8. WooCommerce Refer A Friend
7. Social Referrals by Smile.io
Social Referrals by Smile.io is a referral marketing module focused on loyalty rewards and social media sharing. While widely used for Shopify and BigCommerce, it currently has limited WooCommerce compatibility.
Key Features:
- Generate and track referral links through social sharing.
- Configurable rewards for both referrers and referred customers.
- Integration with Smile.io’s loyalty points system for tiered engagement.
- Real-time reporting and campaign performance metrics.
- User-friendly interface for social referral campaigns.
Pricing:
- Free tier available with basic features.
- Paid plans start at $49/month and scale with features and usage.
Pros:
- Effective for leveraging social media for referrals.
- Easy setup and user-friendly interface.
- Supports multiple reward types.
Cons:
- Strong focus on social sharing may not suit all business models.
- Limited customization in the free plan.
8. WooCommerce Refer A Friend
Developed by Addify, WooCommerce Refer A Friend allows store owners to create simple referral programs where customers earn rewards for inviting friends. It automates coupon creation and referral tracking directly within WooCommerce.
Key Features:
- Generate unique referral coupons or links.
- Reward referrers and optionally referred users.
- Trigger rewards on registration, first purchase, or both.
- Fixed or percentage-based coupons with expiry and prefix options.
- Restrict rewards by category, order value, or user role.
- Display referral info, coupons, and share buttons on My Account page.
- Use shortcodes to embed referral widgets anywhere.
Pricing:
- 1-Year License: $49/year for a single site
- 2-Year Plan: $78.40 (~20% savings)
Pros:
- Simple, quick setup ideal for small businesses.
- Minimal configuration required.
Cons:
- No commission-based or affiliate-style rewards.
- Limited reporting and analytics.
9. ReferralRock
ReferralRock is a cloud-based referral platform that integrates with WooCommerce to automate tracking and rewards. It is a full-featured solution for B2C and B2B referral programs, supporting advanced campaigns without custom development.
Key Features:
- Seamless referral tracking using SDKs and automation tools.
- Customizable reward workflows with referral codes, links, emails, and campaigns.
- Multi-currency and multilingual support.
- Built-in fraud detection and invalid referral filtering.
- Real-time dashboards and analytics.
- Post-checkout referral prompts for higher participation.
- Integrates with Zapier, Integrately, and Zoho Flow for advanced automation.
Pricing:
- Free trial available for testing features.
- Subscription-based pricing, scaling with features and referral volume.
Pros:
- Highly customizable and scalable workflows.
- Supports multiple reward types and campaign structures.
- Advanced reporting and analytics.
Cons:
- Complex for beginners.
- Can be costly for small businesses.
10. ReferralCandy for WooCommerce
ReferralCandy integrates with WooCommerce to help store owners launch customizable referral programs, rewarding customers for bringing new buyers. It is ideal for stores looking to drive sales via word-of-mouth marketing.
Key Features:
- Automated referral tracking and reward distribution.
- Customizable emails, referral links, and widgets.
- Seamless WooCommerce integration.
- Multi-currency and multilingual support.
- Built-in fraud detection.
- Real-time analytics dashboard.
Pricing:
- 14-day free trial.
- Monthly subscription starting at $47/month, including performance-based commissions for higher tiers.
Pros:
- Easy to set up and manage.
- High conversion rates.
- Excellent customer support.
Cons:
- Expensive for small businesses.
- Limited trial period.
7. Social Referrals by Smile.io
Social Referrals by Smile.io is a referral marketing module built around loyalty rewards and social media sharing. While Smile.io is well known for its referral and points system across platforms such as Shopify and BigCommerce, it does not currently support WooCommerce merchants. As a result, full WooCommerce compatibility is not available at this time.
Key Features:
- Referral link generation and tracking through social sharing.
- Configurable rewards for both the referrer and the referred customer.
- Integration with Smile.io’s loyalty and points system for tiered engagement.
- Real-time reporting and campaign performance metrics.
- User-friendly referral interface designed for social campaigns.
Pricing:
Smile.io offers a free tier for basic functionality and testing loyalty and referral features. Paid plans start at $49 per month and scale based on feature requirements and usage volume.
Pros:
- Effective for leveraging social media channels for referrals.
- Easy to use and quick to set up.
- Supports multiple reward types.
Cons:
- Strong focus on social sharing may not suit all business models.
- Limited customization options in the free plan.
Why It Stands Out:
Smile.io is well suited for businesses with an active social media presence that want to drive referrals through social engagement and loyalty rewards.
8. WooCommerce Refer A Friend
8. WooCommerce Refer A Friend
WooCommerce Refer A Friend, developed by Addify and available on the WooCommerce marketplace, allows store owners to create a referral program where customers earn rewards for inviting friends. The plugin simplifies referral marketing by automating coupon creation and referral tracking directly within the WooCommerce admin panel.
Key Features:
- Generate unique referral coupons or links that customers can share.
- Reward referrers and optionally referred customers.
- Trigger rewards on user registration, first purchase, or both.
- Create fixed or percentage-based coupons with expiry and prefix settings.
- Restrict referral rewards by product category, order value, or user role.
- Display referral details, coupons, and share buttons on the My Account page.
- Use shortcodes to embed referral widgets on landing pages or other areas.
Pricing:
- 1-Year License: $49 per year for a single site.
- 2-Year Plan: $78.40 with approximately 20 percent savings.
Pros:
- Simple and quick to set up.
- Well suited for small businesses.
- Requires minimal configuration.
Cons:
- Does not support commission-based or affiliate-style rewards.
- Limited reporting and analytics features.
Why It Stands Out:
WooCommerce Refer A Friend is ideal for store owners who want a straightforward referral program that is easy to configure and does not require technical expertise.
9. ReferralRock
9. ReferralRock
ReferralRock is a cloud-based referral marketing platform that integrates with WooCommerce to automate referral tracking and reward management. It is a full-featured solution designed for both B2C and B2B referral programs, allowing store owners to run advanced campaigns without building custom systems. Using integrations such as Zapier or Integrately, WooCommerce stores can connect ReferralRock seamlessly into their existing workflows.
Key Features:
- Seamless referral tracking integrated with WooCommerce using SDKs and automation tools.
- Create customizable reward workflows with referral codes, emails, sharing links, and campaigns.
- Multi-currency and multilingual support for global referral programs.
- Built-in fraud detection and invalid referral filtering.
- Real-time dashboards and analytics to monitor referral performance.
- Post-checkout referral prompts to increase customer participation.
- Integrations with Zapier, Integrately, and Zoho Flow for advanced triggers and automation.
Pricing:
- Free trial available to test features and set up referral campaigns.
- Subscription based pricing (monthly or annual) that scales based on referral volume, feature access, and support level.
- WooCommerce integration is included with all ReferralRock plans.
Pros:
- Highly customizable referral workflows.
- Supports multiple reward types and campaign structures.
- Advanced reporting and analytics tools.
Cons:
- May feel complex for beginners.
- Pricing can be high for small businesses.
Why It Stands Out:
ReferralRock is ideal for businesses that need a fully customizable and scalable referral program with enterprise-level tracking and reporting capabilities.
10. ReferralCandy for WooCommerce
ReferralCandy is a widely adopted referral marketing solution that integrates smoothly with WooCommerce. It enables store owners to launch a customizable referral program that rewards customers for bringing in new buyers. This plugin is ideal for stores looking to create brand advocates and boost sales through word-of-mouth marketing.
Key Features:
- Automated referral tracking and reward distribution.
- Fully customizable emails, referral links, and widgets.
- Seamless WooCommerce integration.
- Multi-currency and multilingual support.
- Built-in fraud detection.
- Real-time analytics dashboard.
Pricing:
ReferralCandy offers a 14-day free trial. After the trial, it follows a monthly subscription model starting at $47/month, including performance-based commissions for higher-tier services.
Pros:
- Simple setup process.
- High conversion rates.
- Excellent customer support.
Cons:
- Can be expensive for small businesses.
- Limited free trial period.
Why It Stands Out:
ReferralCandy is known for its simplicity and effectiveness, making it an excellent choice for store owners looking for an easy-to-manage referral program.
| Name of Tool | Best For | Standout Feature | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReferralCandy for WooCommerce | Automated referral programs with rewards | Customizable reward options and advanced referral tracking | Paid (pricing based on plan) |
| YITH WooCommerce Affiliates | Affiliate marketing with a commission structure | Commission-based referral system with customizable rates | Paid (pricing based on plan) |
| WooCommerce Referral Program by StoreYa | Fully automated referral programs | Intuitive dashboard and customizable rewards | Paid (pricing based on plan) |
| WooCommerce Points and Rewards | Reward points for referrals | Flexible reward system with in-depth performance reports | Paid (pricing based on plan) |
| AffiliateWP | Comprehensive affiliate marketing program | Real-time reporting and analytics with customizable commissions | Paid (pricing based on plan) |
| Referred | Simple and affordable referral programs | Automated referral program setup with customizable rewards | Paid (pricing based on plan) |
| Social Referrals by Smile.io | Social media-driven referral programs | Incentivizes social sharing for referrals | Free (with premium options) |
| WooCommerce Refer A Friend | Simple referral programs with discount rewards | No-fuss, easy-to-set-up referral program | Free (with paid options) |
| ReferralRock | Comprehensive, customizable referral systems | Multiple reward options with advanced reporting | Paid (pricing based on plan) |
| WooCommerce Reward Points | Points-based reward system for referrals | Easy-to-use points-based rewards | Paid (pricing based on plan) |
Choose the Right WooCommerce Referral Plugin to Boost Customer Acquisition
Referral marketing isn’t just a trend, it’s one of the most effective, cost-efficient, and trust-building strategies for modern eCommerce businesses. With WooCommerce’s vast plugin ecosystem, store owners can easily set up robust referral programs tailored to their brand goals.
The plugins we’ve reviewed, like ReferralCandy, Social Referrals by Smile.io, AffiliateWP, and YITH WooCommerce Affiliates, offer a wide variety of referral models, from friend-invite systems to full-scale affiliate networks. Whether you’re looking for simple one-click sharing tools or complex multi-level commission structures, there’s a WooCommerce referral plugin built for your needs.
To choose the right plugin:
- Define your goals: Do you want to increase first-time purchases, reward loyal users, or partner with influencers?
- Evaluate features: Look for features like link tracking, social sharing, email integration, and analytics.
- Consider scalability: Choose a plugin that can grow with your store as traffic and customer volume increase.
- Check integration compatibility: Ensure the plugin works smoothly with your current theme, checkout system, and CRM tools.
Ultimately, investing in a high-quality WooCommerce referral plugin can drive long-term customer acquisition, improve brand loyalty, and boost revenue, all while letting your happy customers do the marketing for you.
Ready to turn your shoppers into ambassadors? Pick the plugin that fits your store’s style and start building a referral engine today.
