Refer Your Friends and Earn Money with Referral Links

If you’re looking for the best referral programs, keep reading; we have a huge list of ways to make extra money and earn freebies.

It’s incredible how much the web evolves and changes every day. Remember when we used to clip coupons from the Sunday newspaper and look for recommendations in Consumer Reports Magazine? Now we check our inboxes for daily deals, grab coupons from our smartphones, and search online for recommendations.

With all these technological advances, companies are looking for new ways to introduce consumers to their products and services. One such way that they are doing this is through referral links and programs.

Instead of paying money for traditional advertising, brands offer freebies and cash incentives to consumers who spread the word about their products and services.

The cool thing about making money with referral links is you don’t need a website to spread the word. You can do it via your social media profiles, text messages, and email accounts.

How Do You Get Started with Referral Programs? 

The first thing you need to do is get an account with the referral company. Once you set up your account, they’ll provide you with a unique referral link that tracks when friends and family members sign up through your tracking link.

You then share your links via email, text, online, and social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, and when a friend signs up and does the necessary action, you’ll be credited with cash, points, credits, or the like.

Are you ready to earn free swag and make money with referral links?

Top Ways to Earn Rewards and Money With Referral Links

1. Dabbl

Dabbl is a smartphone application individuals can use to earn points by watching videos and taking surveys. It takes 5,000 points to earn a $5.00 gift card, and retailers include stores like Amazon, Starbucks, Target, and Walmart. Another way to earn points with Dabbl is by referring people to the app. For each person you refer to the app and who earns 1,000 points — you’ll earn 2,000 referral points, which is equivalent to $2.00!

2. Mobee

Mobee is a smartphone app where you can earn points for completing small mystery shopping missions. These missions usually consist of going to a store, taking multiple photos of a product display, and then answering a few questions on the app. For each mission you complete, you’ll earn points that can be used to purchase gift cards from companies like Amazon, Starbucks, Visa, and more. And when you refer your friends to the app and they complete their first mission, you’ll both earn 300 points which equals $3.00 in gift card value. If you’d like to test the Mobee app, use my referral code J2KN to get 300 points when you complete your first mission!

3. Dosh

Dosh is a smartphone app that gives you cash back at participating retailers. Just download the app, connect your credit card, and when you shop at a participating store or restaurant — you’ll earn a percentage back on your purchase. You can also earn $10 for each friend you refer to Dosh (when they link their credit card). The thing I love about this app is it’s totally passive since it’s directly connected to your credit card. You can request payment once your account reaches the $25 threshold, and you’ll earn $5.00 for connecting your credit card to the app.

4. Drop

Drop is a smartphone application that rewards you for shopping. All you have to do is download the app and connect your credit card via their secure (256-bit encryption) application, and each time you make a purchase at a participating retailer, you’ll earn points. You can also earn points for referring your friends! With your referral link, you can give friends 1,000 Drop points ($1), and you’ll earn 1,000 points ($1) when your friend joins and links their card. Points can be redeemed for gift cards from Starbucks, Aerie, American Eagle, iTunes, Gap, Old Navy, Nordstrom, and many more!

5. Rakuten

If you like getting discounts in the form of cashback, this next one is for you! Formerly Ebates, Rakuten is an online shopping and cashback website. Just create an account, click on the retailer you want to shop with, and you’ll earn a cashback percentage on your purchase. As a new member, you’ll receive an additional $10 cashback bonus when you make your first $25 purchase within 90 days. Refer your friends and watch your earnings really add up! For each person you refer to the platform (that joins and spends $25), you’ll earn a $25 referral bonus — which means you can earn unlimited cashback referrals! I’ve been using Rakuten since 2013, and during that time, I’ve made over $2,600 from online shopping and referral bonuses! For more cashback sites, check out this blog post.

6. Hungryroot

I recently started using the meal planning subscription box, Hunryroot. The thing I like about Hungryroot is the recipes are healthy and yummy, and the meat is already cooked and the veggies already chopped, which saves me a ton of time! They also have a wide variety of recipes so it will work with any dietary restrictions you may have. When you sign up with my referral link, you’ll get $40 off your first purchase! Then once you’re signed up, you can refer your friends and family, giving them a $40 coupon, and you’ll get a $40 credit too!

BTW, their chickpea chocolate chip cookie dough is amazing! My whole family loved it and didn’t question the ingredients! 

7. Ibotta

Ibotta is a smartphone app you can use to earn money when you go shopping. Before you head out on a shopping trip, complete the tasks related to your favorite brands and companies. Go shopping, scan the barcodes of the items you purchased, and snap a photo of your receipt, and you’ll earn cashback rewards. You can also earn money by referring your friends to the application. Generally, you earn $5 per friend you refer when they redeem an offer, but, some months they have special initiatives going on so you can earn even more. I’ve been using Ibotta for a few years now, and I’ve earned over $1,900 using this app for coupons and referrals.

8. InboxDollars

With InboxDollars, you can earn cash for surveys, reading emails, playing games, redeeming coupons, searching the web, shopping online, and referring friends. Membership is free, and you’ll receive a $5.00 bonus just for signing up. With their referral program, you’ll earn 10 percent of your referrals’ qualified earnings — which could mean a handsome payout just for referrals! You do need to earn $30 before you can request a payout, and payouts are made via check or Visa card. InboxDollars has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

9. Instacart

Instacart is a service that will shop and deliver your groceries to you. I was hesitant to use this service because I’m picky about my fruits and veggies, but it’s been great! It saves me so much time, plus I hate grocery shopping! With Instacart, you can refer your friends to the platform, and when they sign-up and place their first order, they’ll receive $10 off their delivery, and you’ll earn $10 in Instacart credit too. The only downside is they only allow you to earn $50 total in credit.

10. Lyft

If you’re a Lyft user, you can earn $15 Lyft credits by referring your friends and family to the app. When you’re in the app, click on rewards and scroll down to free rides. When you click on free rides, you can invite friends and family with your referral link. With this program, your friend gets $15 to use on the app, and you’ll get a $15 Lyft credit too. Users must be new to the platform; established users are not eligible for the credit.

11. DoorDash

If you’re looking to have a date night in, check out DoorDash! They deliver food from participating restaurants, alcoholic beverages from liquor stores, and even coffee and desserts from your favorite establishments! It’s been especially nice during COVID when we didn’t feel comfortable going out to eat but still wanted to have a special treat. Once you have the app downloaded, click on the person icon, and scroll down to refer friends. For each friend that downloads the app and makes a qualifying purchase, they’ll get $30 ($10 off each of their first three orders) and you’ll get a $20 DoorDash credit!

12. FetchRewards

FetchRewards is a smartphone app that rewards individuals for scanning their receipts to the platform. They only accept big box store and grocery receipts, but for each qualified receipt that you upload, you’ll earn points. With these points, you can purchase gift cards from a wide variety of retailers, or you can donate them to charity, or enter sweepstakes. It currently takes 5,000 points to earn a $5 gift card. Another way you can earn points is by referring people to the app. For each person you refer and who uploads a receipt, you’ll each earn 2,000 points! 

13. Respondent 

Respondent is a qualitative research group that recruits participants for a variety of research studies. With Respondent, you can earn money by participating in surveys and research studies, or you can make money by referring your friends, family, and colleagues. You can refer people to specific projects, or you can refer them to the site in general. With project referrals, you’ll earn $50 when a referral completes a particular study, or you’ll earn $20 for each participant that completes a study through your general referral link. Payments are made via PayPal. Be sure to check out our full Respondent review here.

14. Shopkick

Shopkick is a smartphone app that rewards you with kicks (points) for shopping, walking into stores, scanning barcodes on products, making purchases, and referring your friends to the platform. Invite your friends via text, email, or Facebook, and each of you will earn 250 kicks when they accept your invite and get their first walk-in or scan within seven days of joining. Kicks can be traded in for gift cards from Walmart, Target, Starbucks, Amazon, eBay, Lowes, Tiffany, and many more! Since I’ve been using Shopkick, I’ve earned over 129,000 kicks — which is a lot of FREE Starbucks coffee (500 kicks equals $2).

15. Stitch Fix

If you hate shopping (like I do), then you’ll love this one! Stitch Fix is a personal shopping service that will hand-select five items (clothing, shoes, handbags, or accessories) based on your personal style profile. The styling fee is $20 and can be applied to any items you decide to purchase. Any clothing you don’t like — you just send back to them in a pre-addressed shipping bag. And when you refer your friends to Stitch Fix, and they schedule a fix (order a subscription box), you’ll earn a $25 Stitch Fix credit. This video talks about StitchFix and their work-from-home styling job — but it also gives you a good look at what comes in a box.

16. Swagbucks

Swagbucks is a digital earning platform where you can earn points, called Swagbucks (SB), for searching the web, taking surveys, watching videos, shopping online, clipping coupons, and yes, referring your friends! Sign-up for a new account, and you’ll earn $5 right off the bat! All you have to do is share your referral link with your friends and family (you can do this via email, social media, or your blog). Once your referral signs up and earns 300 SB, you’ll receive 300 SB too! Plus, you’ll also get 10 percent of their earnings for life. Swagbucks can be traded in for cash via PayPal or for gift cards from Starbucks, Walmart, Target, and more. Swagbucks has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

17. Branded Surveys

Branded Surveys recruits survey takers from the US, Canada, and the UK. For each survey that you participate in, you’ll earn points that can be redeemed for gift cards from major retailers and cash via PayPal. New users get 100 points just for creating an account, and you’ll earn 50 points for each friend that you refer that creates a new account. Once your account reaches 1,000 points you can redeem it for $10 in cash or a gift card.

18. thredUP 

thredUP is a site where you can sell and buy used and new clothing. I’ve been using thredUP since 2015 to sell all my daughter’s outgrown clothing and shoes. Whatever ever money we earn, we turn around and use it to buy new-to-me stuff. They also have a great referral program where if you refer a friend and they make a purchase, they’ll receive a $10 credit, and you’ll earn a $10 thredUP credit. Credits must be used within 30-days, and the maximum number of credits you can receive in a calendar year is $580.00. Everything I’ve ever bought off of thredUP has been like new, and we’ve been able to new brands for little to nothing!

19. Receipt Hog

Receipt Hog is a smartphone app that rewards you for uploading your receipts to their platform for market research. Each receipt is worth a certain number of coins, and coins can be redeemed for cash via PayPal or Visa, or Amazon gift cards. They also have a virtual slot machine that awards even more coins! When you refer people to the app with your referral link, Receipt Hog will give your friend five free slot spins, and you’ll receive ten free slot spins — which could mean more coins in your pocket! It takes 1,000 coins to get $5, 2,900 coins to $15, and 6,500 coins to $40! If you’re interested in joining Receipt Hog, my referral code is jen59328.

20. Affiliate Networks

If you want to take your referral earnings to the next level, join some affiliate marketing programs.

Affiliate marketing works in the same manner as referral links, where you’ll post about products and services and then earn a referral fee or commission for each action a person takes. Some affiliate programs will require you to have a blog or substantial social media following; others are more lenient with their requirements. In either case, the FTC requires you to disclose your affiliate relationship. You’ll also need to read each social media site’s terms before adding affiliate links to make sure it’s allowed.

Some bloggers, like Michelle of Making Sense of Cents, earn over $50,000 a month through referral marketing programs. If there is a product or service that you’re using and loving, why not share it with others and get rewarded at the same time?!

Conclusion

By no means is this list extensive, there are lots of ways to get free swag and make money with referral links. You can generally find referral programs with companies and brands that you’re already using. For instance, my bank and Chase credit card both have referral programs for new customers — and these programs pay handsomely, like $100 per referral that creates a new account.

You can also find out if the services, brands, and companies you’re already using have a referral program just by asking. I know many cable and cell phone providers like Verizon offer referral programs. There are also investing platforms that will give you free stock, cryptocurrency, or cash just for joining, and then you can refer your friends and make even more. With those, be sure to read the terms carefully, as many come with monthly service fees.

There are also many retailers who will give your store credits for referring people to their shops. Referral programs are everywhere, so be on the lookout for them when shopping on the internet.

Have you used referral programs? If so, drop us a note; we’d love to know about your experience.

Originally published May 6, 2012. Content updated July 2022.