RefRef
RefRef: A flexible referral stack with attribution, rewards, portals, fraud rules, and payout automation. Ranked #15 of 36 in Referral Management Software by our editors (7.3/10); pricing: Free plan; best for teams wanting open-source referral infrastructure.
At a glance
- Editor score7.3 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forTeams wanting open-source referral infrastructure
- Free planYes
- Referral typesMulti-type
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Supports first-, last-, and multi-touch attribution
- Offers custom rewards, fraud rules, portals, APIs, and webhooks
- Provides open-source, cloud-hosted, and enterprise deployment options
Where it doesn't
- Open Source includes community support rather than priority assistance
- Custom branding, integration services, and custom development require Enterprise
- Cloud and Enterprise costs require a pricing conversation
Our verdict on RefRef
RefRef is an open-source referral marketing platform for businesses running customer, affiliate, and partner programs. It supports referral and affiliate templates, referral links, personalized landing pages, participant management, referral portals, reward tracking, analytics, and automated commissions. Its use cases include B2B SaaS, ecommerce, subscriptions, financial services, and education. Teams can choose web access, API connectivity, or deployment options that include self-hosted infrastructure.
The plan structure separates control, hosting, and support. Open Source includes unlimited programs and participants, reward automation, affiliate management, and community support. Cloud adds cloud hosting and email support while retaining unlimited programs and participants, reward automation, and affiliate management. Enterprise adds cloud-hosted or self-hosted deployment, managed infrastructure, integration services, custom development, custom branding, and priority chat and Zoom support. This makes Open Source a practical starting point for teams comfortable managing their own environment, while Cloud suits teams that prefer hosted delivery. Enterprise is aimed at organizations needing implementation help, tailored development, or higher-touch support.
RefRef’s strongest functional area is the breadth of its referral operations. It handles first-touch, last-touch, and multi-touch attribution; supports cash, credits, discounts, gift cards, and custom rewards; and includes fraud monitoring rules, conversion reporting, REST APIs, webhook events, and automated payouts. Integrations with Stripe, Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, and Chargebee support payment-related workflows. Choose RefRef when open-source access, flexible reward models, and control over deployment matter. Teams seeking a narrowly focused referral tool or a fully managed experience without Enterprise-level services may prefer a simpler alternative.
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RefRef pricing
All 3 RefRef plans and prices →
RefRef fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Not verified |
| Referral types | Multi-type |
| Programs included | Not verified |
| Capture methods | Link |
| Reward types | Custom |
| Fraud controls | Yes |
| API or webhooks | Yes |
| Payout management | Yes |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Email, Live chat, Community |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 4 integrations: Stripe, Paddle, LemonSqueezy, Chargebee |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | refref.ai |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
RefRef integrations
RefRef lists 4 integrations on its own site.
- Stripe
- Paddle
- LemonSqueezy
- Chargebee
Alternatives to RefRef
- ReferralCandyA mature referral platform with broad ecommerce integrations and usage-based costs.8.7
- ExtoleA broad referral platform for complex consumer programs across web and mobile.8.6
- Mention MeA broad referral platform for brands that want advocacy analytics and campaign control.8.5
Also Ranked In
RefRef is ranked in 3 of our directories.
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Featured on iTechGuides
RefRef is listed in our Referral Management Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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