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ReferralCandy vs UpPromote

ReferralCandy logo

ReferralCandy

Software

Customer referral program for e-commerce

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
UpPromote logo

UpPromote

Software

Top-rated Shopify affiliate marketing app

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ReferralCandy limited transparency on pricing tiers without account registration; UpPromote shopify-exclusive platform with no support for WooCommerce, BigCommerce, or other e-commerce platforms
  • They diverge on capability: ReferralCandy covers Automated referral tracking, UpPromote covers Affiliate recruitment.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ReferralCandy and UpPromote actually diverge.

Attributes where ReferralCandy and UpPromote differ
AttributeReferralCandyUpPromote
Founded20092019

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Unknown), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Shopify), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 ReferralCandy

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

Only in UpPromote

  • Affiliate recruitment
  • Multi-level marketing
  • Custom commission structures
  • Auto-tier commission
  • PayPal mass payment
  • PayPal
  • Klaviyo
  • Shopify Flow

Both cover

  • Shopify
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

ReferralCandy

  • affiliate marketing management
  • Workflow automation
  • Reporting

UpPromote

  • affiliate marketing management
  • Workflow automation
  • Reporting

Both are used for affiliate marketing management, workflow automation, reporting, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

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

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

UpPromote

  • Shopify-exclusive platform with no support for WooCommerce, BigCommerce, or other e-commerce platforms
  • Free plan limited to 200 affiliate orders per month
  • Dual pricing model combines fixed monthly fees with percentage-based performance fees on approved sales
  • Free plan lacks in-app messaging system for direct communication with affiliates

Pricing, plan by plan

ReferralCandy

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the ReferralCandy review.

UpPromote

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic affiliate management
    • Limited to 200 affiliate orders/month
    • No in-app messaging
  • Growth$24.99/month
    • Unlimited programs
    • Auto-generated coupons
    • Email automation

Which should you pick?

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

Choose UpPromote if

  • You need affiliate recruitment.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Shopify.
  • You also want multi-level marketing.
UpPromote review

Questions people ask

Is ReferralCandy or UpPromote better?
Neither clearly leads. ReferralCandy starts at Free and UpPromote at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ReferralCandy or UpPromote?
ReferralCandy starts at Free and UpPromote at Free.
Does ReferralCandy or UpPromote run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Shopify, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use ReferralCandy for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is ReferralCandy best used for?
ReferralCandy is most often used for affiliate marketing management, workflow automation, reporting.
What can ReferralCandy do that UpPromote cannot?
ReferralCandy covers Automated referral tracking, Customizable rewards, Email campaigns, Fraud detection. UpPromote covers Affiliate recruitment, Multi-level marketing, Custom commission structures, Auto-tier commission. Both handle Shopify, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
UpPromote: What does UpPromote cost?

UpPromote offers a free plan, Growth plan at $24.99/month, Professional plan at $74.99/month, and Enterprise plan at $166.66/month. Paid plans also charge a performance fee on approved referral sales (approximately 2% on Growth, 1.5% on Professional, 1% on Enterprise).

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
UpPromote: Is UpPromote only for Shopify?

Yes. UpPromote is exclusively built for Shopify and does not support WooCommerce, BigCommerce, or other e-commerce platforms, making it limited to Shopify merchants.

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
UpPromote: What does the free plan include?

The free plan includes basic affiliate program management, limited to 200 affiliate orders per month, and lacks advanced features like in-app affiliate messaging, approval/denial of individual referral orders, and multi-level commissions.

Source
UpPromote: What integrations does UpPromote have?

UpPromote integrates with email marketing platforms, page builders, subscription apps, payment processors (PayPal, Store Credit), and offers API/Webhook access for custom integrations.

Source
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Related pages

More on ReferralCandy

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