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Influencer Marketing · head to head

Dovetale vs ReferralCandy

Dovetale logo

Dovetale

Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing made simple for Shopify

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
ReferralCandy logo

ReferralCandy

Affiliate Marketing

Customer referral program for e-commerce

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Dovetale before its acquisition by Shopify (now sold as Shopify Collabs), Dovetale's Starter plan was $99 USD per month for only 3 users, and jumping to 10 users required the Pro plan at $499 USD per month, a five-fold price increase for roughly triple the seats (archived pricing page, 7 August 2020); ReferralCandy limited transparency on pricing tiers without account registration
  • They diverge on capability: Dovetale covers Creator discovery, ReferralCandy covers Automated referral tracking.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Dovetale and ReferralCandy actually diverge.

Attributes where Dovetale and ReferralCandy differ
AttributeDovetaleReferralCandy
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWebWeb, Shopify
CategoryInfluencer MarketingAffiliate Marketing
Founded20062009

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Dovetale

  • Creator discovery
  • Application management
  • Gift tracking
  • Affiliate links
  • Commission tracking
  • Performance analytics
  • Direct messaging
  • Shopify integration

Only in ReferralCandy

  • Automated referral tracking
  • Customizable rewards
  • Email campaigns
  • Fraud detection
  • A/B testing
  • WooCommerce
  • BigCommerce
  • Magento

Both cover

  • Shopify
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Dovetale

  • Creator partnershipsnot ReferralCandy
  • Product giftingnot ReferralCandy
  • Affiliate programsnot ReferralCandy
  • Ambassador programsnot ReferralCandy

ReferralCandy

  • affiliate marketing managementnot Dovetale
  • Workflow automationnot Dovetale
  • Reportingnot Dovetale

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Dovetale

  • Before its acquisition by Shopify (now sold as Shopify Collabs), Dovetale's Starter plan was $99 USD per month for only 3 users, and jumping to 10 users required the Pro plan at $499 USD per month, a five-fold price increase for roughly triple the seats (archived pricing page, 7 August 2020)

ReferralCandy

  • Limited transparency on pricing tiers without account registration
  • Primary focus on Shopify integration limits effectiveness for non-Shopify platforms
  • Email CC/BCC limitations for looping in stakeholders

Pricing, plan by plan

Dovetale

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Creator discovery
    • Application forms
    • Basic analytics
  • Premium$99/month
    • Advanced search
    • Affiliate management
    • Commission tracking

ReferralCandy

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the ReferralCandy review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Dovetale if

  • You need creator discovery.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want application management.
Dovetale review

Choose ReferralCandy if

  • You need automated referral tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Shopify.
  • You also want customizable rewards.
ReferralCandy review

Questions people ask

Is Dovetale or ReferralCandy better?
Neither clearly leads. Dovetale starts at Free and ReferralCandy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Dovetale or ReferralCandy?
Dovetale starts at Free and ReferralCandy at Free.
Does Dovetale or ReferralCandy run on more platforms?
Dovetale runs on Web. ReferralCandy runs on Web, Shopify.
Can I use Dovetale for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Dovetale best used for?
Dovetale is most often used for creator partnerships, product gifting, affiliate programs, ambassador programs. Of those, creator partnerships and product gifting are not what ReferralCandy is typically brought in for.
What can Dovetale do that ReferralCandy cannot?
Dovetale covers Creator discovery, Application management, Gift tracking, Affiliate links. ReferralCandy covers Automated referral tracking, Customizable rewards, Email campaigns, Fraud detection. Both handle Shopify, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Dovetale: What is Shopify Collabs and what does it cost?

Shopify Collabs is described as 'an influencer application for collaborating with brands' that offers 'affiliate app that can keep up.' No pricing tiers, costs, trial details, or feature-based limitations are detailed on the landing page.

Source
ReferralCandy: Does ReferralCandy work with Shopify?

Yes, ReferralCandy integrates natively with Shopify with one-click installation, making it easy to set up referral programs on Shopify stores.

Source
Dovetale: How do I access Shopify Collabs pricing information?

Visitors are directed to log in at collabs.shopify.com or contact Shopify directly for details about available options and costs.

Source
ReferralCandy: What types of rewards can I offer?

ReferralCandy supports multiple reward types including store credit, discount coupons, PayPal cash transfers, gift cards, and free products.

Source
Dovetale: Who is Shopify Collabs designed for?

Shopify Collabs is an affiliate tool for influencers and content creators collaborating with brands. The landing page emphasizes helping content business owners earn more money through affiliate partnerships, though specific payment structures and commission rates are not published.

Source
ReferralCandy: Does ReferralCandy include fraud detection?

Yes, ReferralCandy includes built-in fraud detection to catch self-referrals and leaked coupon codes before payouts are processed.

Source
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