Typeform operates a two-sided referral program that offers rewards to both the user who refers and the user who is referred. Typeform, a standout SaaS company known for its elegant mobile surveys and forms, has become the top choice in its field. Their refer-a-friend program extends a generous 10% reward to both referrers and referred users, with a focus on their Pro customer base.

Dropbox

The success of Dropbox referral program serves as a prime illustration of the effectiveness of such initiatives for businesses. Dropbox consistently enhances their remarkable referral program, maintaining a sleek design that aligns with the company distinctive branding. Their well-known viral case study highlighted the successful growth strategies involving referral rewards, along with the impactful beta launch video. The Dropbox team remains committed to identifying opportunities for boosting retention and referral performance through in-app storage rewards.

Box

Box takes an interesting approach to their referral program where they have a fairly robust application process. This could be a barrier for some.

Box referral program has an experience that asks more from the user than some of the consumer-focused referral program examples we profile below. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing – in B2B having detailed fields in your signup process can help your sales team qualify and prioritize their time on the opportunities with a higher likelihood of closing.

SugarSync

SugarSync, a rival in the file storage industry, presents a structured referral program featuring dual-sided incentives of 500MB and 10GB. This approach promotes customers to invite proficient users, ensuring they receive the most lucrative rewards.

Evernote

If you are seeking an excellent example of a referral program for Consumer Apps, take a look at Evernote two-sided referral program.

Evernote, a well-known note-taking software, operates a two-sided refer-a-friend initiative to incentivize users to invite their friends. This program offers points to users when they successfully refer new user sign-ups and premium subscriptions. These earned points can be used to obtain additional storage space or enjoy free months of premium usage.

LastPass

LastPass offers a one-sided referral program, which means it rewards the user who has been referred, rather than the user who made the referral. LastPass, a prominent SaaS password storage provider, has established a referral system where successful referrals earn the referred user one month of their Premium plan. You can find information about the LastPass referral program within their web application, featuring a subtle call to action CTA on their dashboard. For additional details on their program, you can read more here.

HubStaff

Get 5x more engagement with your referral program by hosting it in app

Hubstaff, a strong SaaS time tracking provider, rewards user referrals with a double-sided 10% discount. Their team is constantly experimenting with ways to promote their referral program. Hubstaff’s refer-a-friend program is promoted across their website, web app and FAQ pages. The Hubstaff team is always looking to improve the customer journey and encourage referrals when customers are thinking about the value of their product.

Uber

Uber Chatbot Refer-a-Friend Illustration

Uber remains a frontrunner in the world of transportation apps, offering a robust mobile experience and enticing customer referral incentives. In their pursuit of staying ahead, Uber has taken their referral initiatives to the next level, incorporating tailored push notifications and chatbot capabilities.

GetAround

GetAround is a North American ride-sharing startup that has gained recognition in specific cities. Their user-friendly single-sign-on feature, linked to Facebook, enhances the onboarding process. They provide customers with a $20 referral bonus and extend a generous $200 reward for driver recruitment. GetAround may consider creating unique marketing materials for their driver referral campaign to simplify messaging, ensuring that the two campaigns have clear distinctions.

Airbnb

Airbnb, the renowned international travel platform, employs an enticing in-app referral incentive strategy to fuel consistent expansion in various cities. In a manner akin to Uber's referral initiative, Airbnb offers different reward tiers based on the user's location, making it a favored strategy for global brands seeking to grow their customer base city by city.

Digital Retailers:

EventBrite

Eventbrite Referral Program Example on the Web: This widely-used event hosting platform features a $10 single-sided referral program. Eventbrite users are provided with affiliate-style incentives to invite their friends and earn some extra cash. However, it's important to note that such one-sided referral programs often do not yield as strong results as their two-sided counterparts. The dynamic of sharing changes when one friend benefits financially at the expense of the other, and this approach may not be appealing to many consumers who prefer not to profit from their friendships.

Gilt

The online retailer Gilt offers a $25 one-sided referral bonus to its customers. This marks the debut of a pioneering program featuring an oversized QR code as a call to action. On Gilt's website, there are also smaller buttons that allow users to easily share referral invitations through email, Facebook, or Twitter.

BusBud

This prominent bus travel platform employs a versatile referral program to appreciate and incentivize its loyal customers for their positive recommendations. BusBud has seamlessly integrated its referral program into both its web and mobile applications. In particular, their mobile app utilizes SaSquatch deep-linking functionality to provide a personalized onboarding experience for newly referred users.

Julep

Julep, a prominent beauty subscription box company, hosts a referral program that grants customers a $15 credit as a reward. Their "refer-a-friend" interface is designed to seamlessly blend with the Julep brand's aesthetics, featuring lighthearted language to create the impression of a casual conversation between friends. The primary call to action is an email containing a pre-composed message that assists customers in articulating the benefits of Julep's beauty subscription box to their friends.

Financial Services

PayPal

The PayPal "refer-a-friend" initiative played a pivotal role in driving the early-stage company's growth. This program stands out as an exceptional illustration of customer referral programs, initially conceptualized by co-founder Elon Musk as a viral marketing campaign. The program's triumph can be largely attributed to its dual-sided reward system, offering $10 incentives to both new users, and its proactive promotion through various customer engagement channels..

Robinhood

Robinhood, a player in the stock trading software sector, employs a refer-a-friend initiative to enable users to access their platform ahead of others. This referral incentive system leverages the allure of scarcity and immediate satisfaction to boost user registrations. The strategy of creating a referral waiting list can significantly accelerate the expansion of your brand before its official launch, as demonstrated in the case study of Harry's refer-a-friend program. However, it's important to exercise caution when incentivizing non-paid actions, as there is a risk of users attempting to manipulate your system, necessitating the implementation of fraud protection measures.

Company Signup BonusReferral Reward

Typeform 10% off your first year 10% off your first year for each referral

Dropbox 2GB of free storage 500MB of free storage for each referral

Box 10GB of free storage 500MB of free storage for each referral

SugarSync 5GB of free storage 500MB of free storage for each referral

Evernote Premium subscription for 3 months 1 month of Premium for each referral

LastPass Premium subscription for 1 month 1 month of Premium for each referral

Hubstaff 14-day free trial 10% off your first month for each referral

Uber $20 off your first ride $20 off their first ride for each referral

GetAround $20 driving credit $20 driving credit for each referral

Airbnb $40 travel credit $25 travel credit for each referral

Eventbrite 10% off your next event 10% off their next event for each referral

Gilt $25 welcome credit $20 welcome credit for each referral

BusBud 10% off your next bus ticket 10% off their next bus ticket for each referral

Julep Free mystery box Free mystery box for each referral

PayPal $20 for signing up $10 for each referral

Robinhood Free stock Free stock for each referral

Signup bonuses and referral rewards are a great way to save money and get the most out of the products and services you use. By signing up for a new account or referring your friends, you can earn valuable rewards such as free storage, discounts, and even cash.

The companies listed in this article offer a variety of signup bonuses and referral rewards. Whether you're looking for a new cloud storage provider, ride-sharing app, or travel booking site, there's sure to be a company that offers a reward that's right for you.

To take advantage of these bonuses and rewards, simply visit the company's website and sign up for an account. Once you are signed up, you can usually start referring to your friends right away. Be sure to check the company's terms and conditions for specific details on how to earn and redeem your rewards.

FAQs:

Q: What is a referral program?

A: A referral program is a marketing strategy that rewards customers for referring their friends and family to a business. Referral programs can be used to increase brand awareness, generate leads, and drive sales.

Q: What are the benefits of referral programs?

A: Referral programs offer a number of benefits to businesses, including:

Increased brand awareness: Referral programs can help to increase brand awareness by exposing your business to a new audience.
Generated leads: Referral programs can help to generate leads by encouraging your customers to promote your business to their friends and family.
Driven sales: Referral programs can help to drive sales by offering customers incentives to refer their friends and family.

Q: Which are the best referral programs of 2023?

A: The best referral programs of 2023 vary depending on the industry and target audience. However, some popular referral programs include:

Dropbox: Dropbox offers 500 MB to 1 GB of free storage space for each referral.
Hostinger: Hostinger offers a 20% commission on all referrals.
Fiverr: Fiverr offers a 10% commission on the referral's first order.
Swagbucks: Swagbucks offers a 10% commission on the referral's earnings.
SoFi: SoFi offers $20 in reward points per referral.
Google Workspace: Google Workspace offers $8 to $23 per user referral.

Q: How do I create a referral program for my business?

A: To create a referral program for your business, you will need to:

Set your goals: What do you want to achieve with your referral program? Do you want to increase brand awareness, generate leads, or drive sales?
Choose your rewards: What kind of rewards will you offer your customers for referring to their friends and family? Discounts, credits, and free products are all popular options.
Make it easy to refer: Make it easy for your customers to refer their friends and family by providing them with a unique referral link or code.
Promote your program: Promote your referral program to your customers through your website, social media, and email marketing campaigns.
Track your results: Track the results of your referral program so that you can see what is working and what is not.

Q: How do I promote my referral program?

A: There are a number of ways to promote your referral program, including:

Add a referral link to your website: Add a referral link to your website and make it easy for customers to find.
Promote your program on social media: Share information about your referral program on your social media channels.
Run email marketing campaigns: Run email marketing campaigns to promote your referral program to your existing customers.
Offer incentives for referrals: Offer your customers incentives for referring their friends and family, such as discounts, credits, or free products.

Q: How do I track the success of my referral program?

A: There are a number of ways to track the success of your referral program, including:

Number of referrals: Track the number of referrals that you receive each month.
Conversion rate: Track the conversion rate of referrals into customers or leads.
Revenue generated: Track the revenue that is generated from referrals.