How to Earn Money With Referral Programs

One of the easiest ways to make money online is to refer your friends to products that you already use. To do so you need to learn how to earn money with referral programs. Many bloggers make a nice income using these referrals on their blogs and social accounts. And although you need your own site (learn how to start a blog here) to join “official” affiliate programs, there are many programs that offer a referral bonus to anyone.

Here are 100+ of these referral programs that pay a commission for every friend you refer!

Earn Money with Referral Programs

Disclosure – This post contains affiliate links. 

From cashback shopping portals, survey sites, job placement services, etc. Every item on this list will pay you to refer friends. Paying anywhere from $0.10 to $5,000! Of course, the programs that pay $5-10 per referral require much less effort on your part than the programs that offer $500+. But if you know the right people, a $500 commission can be very easy to make.

There are literally hundreds of ways to make money online these days. Some are easy, some take a little more work.

Although they won’t make you a millionaire, many of these services offer a sign-up bonus as well! You can make money today – just by signing up for each of the free services offered on this site. Then, you can earn more money for each friend that you get to join these sites. If you know the right people, your earnings are unlimited.

A Few of My Favorites

Ebates (cashback shopping): Give $30, Get $30.
Acorns (investing): Get $5 after investing $5, and receive $5 for every referral
BeFrugal (cashback shopping): Give $10, Get $10
TopCashBack (cashback shopping): Bonus changes all the time.

Now, onto the list.

100+ websites that pay a referral bonus

For ease of filtering, I’ve divided this list into multiple categories. Cashback shopping, travel, investing, and business services are just a few of the referral categories listed below. Plus, because many of these websites provide a signup bonus, they’re easy to refer to friends!

Finally, if you realize that I’ve missed any sites – let me know in the comments section below and I’ll join it through your link!

Earn Cash Back When Shopping Online or Offline

Whether you make a purchase from Amazon, Target, Walmart, BestBuy, Expedia, or nearly any other site – if you start from one of these shopping portals, you will immediately receive 1%-10%+ back on every purchase. Not only that, but most of these sites offer a sign-up bonus and they all pay you when you refer your friends! Start sharing these sites with your friends to help them save 5-10% on every purchase they make.

Plus, there are apps for saving on gas. YES, I said GAS!

Here are some of the most common cashback websites – along with what they offer for referring a friend.

Time to Earn Money With Referral Programs

1. 1. Ebates – Probably the most popular cashback portals. Ebates offers Give $30, Get $30. Applies after your friend makes a $25+ purchase through the portal.
   2. Be Frugal – Be Frugal has the highest bounty for referring a friend. Give $10, Get $10. This applies after your friend makes a $25+ purchase through the portal.
   3. TopCashback – Another great cashback portal. TopCashback changes their offers often. Check the site to see what they are offering now.
   4. GivingAssistant – Personally, I really like Giving Assistant because they provide a meal to a US citizen ever time you make a purchase through one of their links! Plus, they offer $5 for you and $5 for your friend after making a $25+ purchase through the portal.
   5. ExtraBux – A great site to get your friends to use on a regular basis, although a bit of an older looking site, ExtraBux offers $5 + 5% of friend’s earnings for life! Your friend also receives $5 after making a qualified purchase through the site.
   6. Mr Rebates – Although not offering a direct sign-up bonus, Mr Rebates offers excellent cashback rates and gives you 20% of your friend’s earnings for life – in addition to providing a $5 sign up bonus for your friend.
   7. Ibotta – Ibotta is an awesome coupon app that allows you to get cash back for your regular purchases in the store – such as $0.50 for buying bread or a $1.00 for trying a new brand of chips. Savings build up fast and you also earn $10 for every referral while giving your friend $10 when they join through your link. To receive both bonuses, it is essential that you install the app through a referral link (I would love it if you use mine here to start).

Don’t Stop, there’s More Cashback Sites to Join

1. Fetch – A shopping app where you upload all your receipts. Earn for each receipt off line and online. Get 3000 points and give 2000 points.
2. Coinout – An app where you upload receipts and earn cashback. They offer different sign up bonuses. 
3. Split.co – Split is an awesome app that allows you to split commissions between you and your friends every time you recommend a product to them. You can earn $2 for referring a friend and $5 just for signing up.
4. Checkout51 – An app that allows you to make money by simply scanning your receipt after every shopping trip. A simple app that can easily add a few dollars into your bank account. Currently no bonuses but they roll them out from time to time.
5. Dosh – A cashback app where you enter your credit card info and every time you use that card at select locations you earn cash back. Invite friends and earn $10.
6. Shopkick – Neat app where you earn “kicks” that you can use to buy gift cards and stuff. Invite friends and Get 250 kicks, Give 250 kicks.
7. GetUpside – Everyone needs gas and this is an app to help you save on your gas station stops. Earn .01 per gallon each time your friend buys gas. Share your link and you get .15/gal cash back the first time they use the app. And, they get a one time .15 /per gallon bonus. Also good as some restaurants and grocery stores.
8. Miles – An app to track how many miles you travel and reward you for it. Earn $5 and 5k mi per referral, up to 4. Earn $100 = 100k miles for referring 5 people and up.

Discount Gift Card Sites with Referral Bonuses

If you aren’t already buying discount gift cards through these sites, then you’re missing out!

Every year people receives millions of dollars in gift cards that they don’t want. Rather than let them go to waste, they sell them for a discounted rate to these websites. The websites then sell them to you and me for a great price.

From gas cards, to Target gift cards, to gift cards for your favorite restaurants, you can save as much as 30% when you buy your gift cards through these sites.

All three of these sites are virtually the same, but the rates vary depending on the card. Plus, because they each offer a $5 signup bonus and $5 refer a friend bonus, it’s worth joining all of them!

1. CardCash – Earn $5 when you refer a friend and they receive $5 for signing up.
2. Gift Card Granny – Earn $5 when you refer a friend .
3. Raise – Earn $5 when you refer a friend (they must make a purchase within 30 days) and they receive $5 for signing up.

Survey sites with referral programs

There are a lot of people who make an extra $300-1000 a month by simply filling out surveys! So survey sites are worth exploring in the first place if you need some extra money.

But some of these survey sites will also pay you to refer friends. So, not only can you get paid to take surveys, but you can also get paid to help your friends get paid to take surveys. Confused yet? In short, you get paid for helping your friends make money.

Check out these survey sites if you want to make some extra money – and then refer your friends to earn even more.

1. SurveySavvy – SurveySavvy is first on this list for a reason. Not only do they seem to offer the most surveys, but they pay up to $15 per referral AND up to $6 for 2nd tier referrals (the referrals your referrals make).
2. PaidViewpoint – This is the only site that offers a signup bonus ($1), but they also provide a decent number of surveys and you earn 20% of your referral’s earnings up to $25.

Rewards sites with referral bonuse

Rewards sites pay users for completing a variety of tasks. Sometimes they are similar to cashback shopping portals and survey sites – but they usually pay you for opening emails, testing products, writing reviews, etc..

Like the cashback sites, many of these sites provide a signup bonus as well – so you can make money just be joining! And then, of course, more when you refer others.

Reward Sites to Earn Money with Referral Programs

1. 1. Swagbucks – Swagbucks is probably the most popular rewards site and you can make money through a plethora of unique tasks and activities. You cash those points out once you reach a $25 minimum (doesn’t take long). You and your referral get a 300 SB Bonus when your referral earns 300 SB within their first 30 days.
      PLUS, you’ll also earn 10% of their SB earnings for the life of their account
   2. Upromise – This site targets people wanting to save money for college. But anyone can use and cashout the rewards on Upromise. In addition to cashback shopping, you can even connect your credit card at receives extra cashback and specific restaurants. You can earn $5.29 now by signing up and another $25 when you link a 529 plan.
   3. InboxDollars – Recommend your friend to this service that pays them to read emails and review projects, and you will earn 10% of their lifetime earnings while they get a $5 sign up bonus.
   4. MyPoints – This is another fantastic rewards/cashback site that gives an impressive $10 and 10% lifetime earnings for any referral if they spend $20 within 30 days. Plus, your friend gets a $10 bonus for signing up!
   5. InstaGC – A slightly lower paying site, InstaGC offers $0.10 + 10% of your friend’s lifetime earnings and gives a $0.10 sign up bonus.
   6. FusionCash – This site can pay out pretty well as you receive $1 if your friend joins, $2 after they complete their first task, and $5 for every payout they receive! Plus, your friend gets $5 just for joining.

YES, There is MORE!

1. Bank Roll Bucks – This rewards site offers 25% of your friend’s lifetime earnings.
2. Treasure Trooper – Receive 20% of your friends earnings and 5% for 2nd tier referrals. Your friend also receives $1 for joining.
3. ClixSense – This site provides a variety of unique ways to earn cash through clicking on ads and reviewing sponsor products. They offer $2 + 10% for every referral who earns at least $5.
4. GrabPoints – Grab points is an app that pays you for a variety of tasks. They also offer a $5 referral bonus and a $5 bonus when you sign up if you use a referral code (mine is QVE2LY).
5. SliceThePie – Another rewards site, Slice The Pie offers 10% of your friend’s earnings.
6. Qmee – This is a unique shopping app that you install on Chrome. It then offers you coupons and discounts when looking for specific products. They provide a $1 referral bonus after your friend’s first cash-out.
7. Points2Shop – A rewards and shopping portal, this site offers some a decent referral bonus of $1 plus 15% and gives you a bonus for 2nd and 3rd tier referrals as well.
8. UniqueRewards – This rewards portal pays a great referral bonus of $6 plus 10%.
9. PrizeRebel – This rewards site provides you with 15% of your referral’s earnings.

More Ways to Earn Money With Referral Programs

The following shopping sites provide a bonus to users who refer friends. Sometimes the bonus is cash, other times it comes in the form of store credit. Either way, I made an effort to find programs that would benefit a wide range of users.

So, whether you already use these sites or not, consider referring your friends here to make a few extra bucks.

1. 1. Walmart Grocery – Order your groceries online at Walmart and all you have to do is stop by the store to pick them up! Walmart currently offers $10 off your first order to give it a try – and you can make $10 for every friend you refer.
   2. Boxed.com – This is essentially the online version of Costco. Discounted bulk products shipped straight to your door. Currently you can receive a $15 credit off your first order and also earn $15 for every person you refer.
   3. Groupon – The famous deals site will provide you with a $10 Groupon gift card if you refer a friend who purchases a Groupon within 72 hours. It’s a tight window, but $10 on Groupon goes a long ways.
   4. Vimbly –  Vimbly is like Groupon, but focused more on dating and experiences. They currently offer new users a $10 credit and you can earn an extra $10 credit for every friend you refer who makes a purchase.
   5. Delivery.com – Delivery.com allows you to order pick up and delivery from thousands of restaurants around the US. Whether you want a pizza or Chinese food, Delivery.com has you covered. They also offer a $7 credit when you sign up and a $7 credit per referral that makes a purchase.

Don’t Stop… There’s More!

1. SpringRewards – Only available in select cities, SpringRewards is a loyalty rewards program that is connected to your credit card. Rather than showing a unique store card when you enter a store, simply connect your credit card ahead of time and you’ll receie all of the current deals and bonuses. You also receive a $20 credit for joining and $20 credit for each person you refer.
2. Verizon Wireless – Refer a friend to Verizon’s phone service and they will receive a $50 visa gift card and you will also earn a $25 visa gift card. Of course you need to be a Verizon user already.
3. BestMark – BestMark is a mystery shopping service that pays you to review the service provided by restaurants, hotels, stores, car dealerships, and other retail outlets. Not only can you make money shopping, but you also earn $5-20 per referral.
4. ThredUp – ThredUp is an online thrift store (primarily for women – so not much good for me) with great deals on a variety of name-brand products. Another give $10 get $10 program, receive a $10 credit for signing up and $10 when you refer a friend.

Money sites that offer a referral bonus

The sites on this list are either savings accounts, money transfer sites (think PayPal), or loan sites. Whether apps or websites, these tools will pay you a great little referral bonus when you encourage your friends to give them a shot.

After reading through this list, check out the following section on investment tool referral programs to start earn some serious cash.

Ways to Make Serious Cash

1. 1. Digit.co – Digit is an app that makes saving easy. Simply connect it to your bank account and they will intelligently transfer a few dollars every couple of days from your checking account to your savings account. Easily track and transfer funds at anytime through the app or a text message. This savings account is taking the US by storm and they currently offer $5 for referring a friend.
   2. Payoneer – Payoneer is very similar to PayPal – but with better exchange rates. So, if you live outside of the US or travel frequently, this is a great tool to have. They also offer a $25 signup bonus if you join through a link (like mine here) and they pay a $25 referral bonus after your referral receives their first $100.
   3. Chase Credit Cards – If you have a Chase credit card, follow this link to see if you are eligible for a referral bonus. If you don’t have a Chase card, you can explore some of the most popular cards by clicking on the “Recommended Travel Cards” at the top of this website. Earn anywhere from $25-$50 per friend that you refer who signs up for a credit card.
   4. Coinbase – Coinbase is a site that makes it easy to buy and sell Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. When the economy is struggling, Bitcoin seems to do well – so it’s not a bad idea to have some saved up just in case. Get a $10 bonus after purchasing $100 of Bitcoin through my referral link, and earn $10 when someone you refer buys $100 worth of Bitcoin.

Are We Having Fun Yet?

1. LendKey – Student loans are not fun – or cheap. LendKey helps college graduates refinances their student loans and save thousands in interest payments. If you create an account and refer a friend, you will earn $50 when they are approved for a loan and $200 if they decide to take it out.
2. SoFi Student Loan – Another student loan refinancing tool, SoFi will give you $100 if you refinance your loans through their site and give you $100 for every person you refer who refinances their student loans.
3. SoFi Personal Loan – Do you know someone who needs to take out a personal loan for some reason? SoFi offers some of the best rates on the market and they offer a $100 bonus to both you and your friend when you refer someone to SoFi.

Investment tools and services that have referral programs

Investing is one of the most important steps to growing your wealth and saving for retirement. Whether you have millions or just a few bucks, investing it today results in being worth far more in the future.

While there are many great investment tools, there are a few that actually pay you when you refer your friends. So, if you know people who love to invest (or need to invest), consider referring them to one of these sites and make a few dollars when they sign up!

1. Acorns – If you don’t have much to invest, Acorns is an easy-to-use app that invests your change. In other words, you can start saving for retirement with just a few bucks every month. The service charges a $1/month fee that is waved if you join with a .edu email address and they offer $5 to you and $5 to your referral. To receive (and earn) the bonus – make sure you download the app and sign up through a link (like mine here).
2. Robinhood – Possibly earn up to $200 in stock for every referral. Refer and you get a stock and your friend gets a stock.
3. OptionsHouse – OptionsHouse is another great and affordable investing site. They currently offer a $150 Amazon gift card per referral who invests $1,000. Your friend receives 30 free trades if they invest $5,000
4. Firstrade – Firstrade, another common stock trading tool, provides a $50 bonus to you and your friend if they deposit $5,000.
5. Venmo – Just like using Paypal this is an app used to pay or receive fund. Earn $10 for every friend invited.

Travel services that give referral bonuses

Travel is certainly fun, but it’s not cheap. However, you can make it a bit cheaper by referring your friends, family, and others to these websites. Then, if they book a stay or trip, you earn a substantial bonus – which can easily turn into free vacations.

1. 1. AirBnB – Airbnb has become the go-to place for travel lodging. While many people are already on the site, if you have a friend who hasn’t yet joined, you can earn up to $100 in credit for referring them, while giving them a $35 credit for their first stay.
   2. Turo – A car sharing site similar to Airbnb, Turo allows users to rent their vehicle to other members when they aren’t driving. The site offers a $25 sign up bonus to try it out and gives you up to $100 in credit for every friend you refer.
   3. Lyft – Lyft is one of two leading apps that allows anyone to become a taxi driver and provide rides around town. The app offers $10 off your first ride and a $10 credit per friend that you refer.
   4. Uber – The leading car sharing app, Uber provides a $20 credit to test the app and a $20 credit per referral. You can also make money driving for Uber.

If you Live to Travel, You Will Love These!

1. TheClymb – A Groupon-type site for travel and travel related gear, TheClymb offers $10 in credit to you and your friend after they spend $50.
2. BoatSetter – Do you know anyone with a boat they may want to rent out? Refer them to BoatSetter and you can earn a percentage of every sale they make. The site suggests this could be $50+ per rental.
3. Marriott Rewards Program – Marriott allows you to build up points for free hotel stays. If you join Marriott you can earn 2,000 points ($20) for each hotel stay you make in the first year. Meanwhile, if you refer your friends and they stay in a Marriott, you earn 10,000 points ($100).
4. IHG – Similar to Marriott, IHG offers points for stays, join and refer points.
5. Vantage Travel Tours – A travel tour company, Vantage allows you to give your friend a $100 credit and then pays you $200 once they take a trip.
6. Pavlus – Another travel company, Pavlus offers $250 per referral that goes on a vacation with them.
7. OATTravel – OAT provides a $100 credit to anyone you refer to one of their travel packages and offers you $100+ per referral.

Career and Job Referral Programs

Businesses often struggle to find the right candidate for the job. If you can help these companies find new hires, you can earn big! Many of these companies pay $500-$5,000 per new hire!

1. Fastaff – A travel nursing agency, Fastaff will pay you $500-$5,000 to refer nurses for travel job positions.
2. Jackson Nurse Professionals – Another travel agency, Jackson offers $500 when you refer a nurse who accepts a 13 week assignment with Jackson.
3. Jackson Therapy – In addition to nurses, Jackson pays $500 per referral for a therapist (PT, OT, PTA, OTA, SP) position.
4. TierPM AV/IT Temp – Do you know an AV or IT expert who is looking for a job? This company offers $250-$1,000 per referral who accepts a temp position.

Business Products and Services that Pay for Referrals

From freelancers and bloggers, to large corporations, here are a few services and products that offer a referral bonus when you connect them with customers or users. Showing how easy it is to earn money with referral programs.

1. 1. iPage – This is the website host. If you are a current customer of iPage (which costs $24 for your first year) you can earn a $35 credit per referral. It doesn’t take much for your hosting to become completely free!
   2. HubPages – HubPages is a free service that allows you to write articles on anything and get a share of the advertising dollars they earn. I’ve probably made $1,000+ from HubPages – plus you can earn 10% of what anyone you refer makes.
   3. SEOClerk – This site allows you to buy and sell small gigs or tasks for anywhere from $1 to $1000. If you refer someone to SEOClerk you earn a 10% commission on anything they spend.
   4. Fiverr – Another task website that offers services starting at $5, by referring a friend you each receive a $5 credit. See how else you can make money on Fiverr.
   5. ShareASale – This is an affiliate platform with hundreds of affiliate programs that bloggers can use to make money. They even have their own referral program – paying $1 for every blogger who joins through your link and $200 for every business!
   6. FlexOffers – Another great affiliate network with hundreds of programs, FlexOffers gives you 5-50% of your referral’s lifetime earnings depending on how much they make.

How Much Money Have You Made So Far?

1. Cooperatize – This service connects bloggers with potential sponsors. Refer your blogger friends and earn a $20 bonus after they accept their first campaign.
2. TeeSpring – This company allows anyone to make and sell t-shirts. If you refer someone who creates and sells a shirt, you make $0.50 per shirt they sell – up to $2,500 per referral.
3. Kabbage – Businesses often need short-term loans to grow their business to the next level. Kabbage offers business loans and pays you $200 for referring someone who takes out a loan.
4. GetAmbassador – Do you know a business looking to start its own referral program? GetAmbassador is a referral software for stores and businesses that gives $25 per demo and $400 per new customer that you refer.
5. BookInABox – This service helps thought leaders, retirees, and anyone else create a book. For $25,000 they interview, write, and market a book under the author’s name. If you know someone who may be interested in buying a book, you can earn $2,000 per referral (and a Tesla if you refer enough people).
6. WeFunder – Equity crowdfunding is a new activity that means any business can now raise money from the public. If you know a company looking to raise capital from the public, refer them to WeFunder and earn up to $2,500 per referred business.

Final Thoughts on Ways to Earn Money with Referral Programs

There you have it! From small cashback sites to loan and travel companies. There are a plethora of businesses that will pay you. Earn anywhere from a few pennies to $5,000+ to refer your friends.

Did we miss any sites? Feel free to share additional items in the comments section and I’ll add them to the article. Meanwhile, don’t hesitate to sign up for a few items on this list and begin referring your own friends. It won’t take long before your next shopping trip (or even vacation) is entirely covered! It’s easy to earn money with referral programs.

 

About This Article

*This article was updated and republished with permission from the original author at Money Nomad. Post has been updated to reflect current offerings. All offers are subject to change. Companies are always coming and going and changing things. If you find something wrong above, let me know.

There are so many ways to earn money with referral programs and we love hearing of new ones. Comment and give us your favorites.