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Software · head to head

UpPromote vs GrowSurf

UpPromote logo

UpPromote

Software

Top-rated Shopify affiliate marketing app

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
GrowSurf logo

GrowSurf

Software

Referral software for tech companies

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: UpPromote shopify-exclusive platform with no support for WooCommerce, BigCommerce, or other e-commerce platforms; GrowSurf startup tier limited to 1 referral program
  • They diverge on capability: UpPromote covers Affiliate recruitment, GrowSurf covers Referral tracking.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which UpPromote and GrowSurf actually diverge.

Attributes where UpPromote and GrowSurf differ
AttributeUpPromoteGrowSurf
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWeb, ShopifyWeb
Founded20192017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 UpPromote

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

Only in GrowSurf

  • Referral tracking
  • Automated rewards
  • Fraud detection
  • Custom branding
  • Developer API
  • HubSpot
  • Salesforce
  • Intercom

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

UpPromote

  • affiliate marketing managementnot GrowSurf
  • Workflow automationnot GrowSurf
  • Reportingnot GrowSurf

GrowSurf

  • Launching customer referral programs without engineering overheadnot UpPromote
  • White-label referral systems matching brand appearancenot UpPromote
  • AI-powered reward suggestions and promotional copy generationnot UpPromote
  • Integrations with Zapier, Stripe, HubSpot, Slack, PayPal, Salesforcenot UpPromote

Where each one falls short

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

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

GrowSurf

  • Startup tier limited to 1 referral program
  • Startup and Business tiers include only email support, not real-time
  • Requires upgrade to Business tier for custom referral portal domain
  • Custom tier requires 25,000+ participants and quote-based pricing

Pricing, plan by plan

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

GrowSurf

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the GrowSurf review.

Which should you pick?

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

Choose GrowSurf if

  • You need referral tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want automated rewards.
GrowSurf review

Questions people ask

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

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
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
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

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