We discuss the 27 best apps and referral programs that pay you to refer friends.
There are many ways to go about making money online. One easy option that requires no investment, experience, or heavy lifting is to refer friends and family to a product or service you are already using.
Many apps, websites, and services on the internet have a refer-a-friend program that pays you money every time someone signs up or makes a purchase using your unique referral link.
How To Earn Money With Referral Links in 2024
Lots of businesses and sites now use juicy referral programs to attract customers. If you are already signed up with their service, you receive access to the affiliate program and can earn a referral bonus when you refer friends, family members, or even strangers.
To make money, simply invite others using the referral link or referral code provided to you through your account.
Bloggers use their blogs to reach hundreds or even thousands of people, and they use referral links to monetize their blog content.
Even if you do not own a blog, you can still make real money by promoting your referral links using social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest) and through Word of Mouth advertising.
The referral programs in this post pay you cash through PayPal, Check (cheque), gift cards, and merchandise.
Thinking about starting your own blog? Check out my easy 6-step guide to a profitable blog.
Sites and Apps That Pay You For Referring Friends
If you are already using an app and find it useful and rewarding, it makes sense to refer friends and family so they can be a part of the fun.
The services listed below pay you up to $1,000 per referral. Not only that, but many of them also offer sign-up bonuses, which are additional incentives for your referrals.
Cash Back Shopping Apps Referral Programs
These cash back sites pay you to do your regular shopping.
1. Neo Money (Unlimited Referral Bonus)
Available in Canada.
The free Neo Financial app and reloadable Mastercard prepaid reward you with up to 5% cash back on purchases.
Refer friends to the app and get up to $50 for each friend that signs up. There is no limit to the referral bonuses you can earn.
Join Neo Money here and get a $20 bonus after making your first purchase.
2. Simplii Financial ($400)
Available in Canada.
Simplii Financial offers one of the best no-fee chequing accounts in Canada. There are no monthly fees, and you get unlimited debit transactions, bill payments, and Interac e-Transfers.
For each friend you refer, you get a $125 bonus and can refer unlimited friends. You also get a $400 bonus when you open a new account and set up a direct deposit.
Read my Simplii Financial review.
3. Rakuten (Up to $30)
Available in Canada and the United States.
Ebates, now re-branded as Rakuten, is my go-to site to earn cash back when I shop online at Amazon, eBay, The Home Depot, Hudson’s Bay, and 3,000 other popular retailers.
Rakuten pays $30 per friend that signs up after they have made their first purchase of $30 or more. They also get a $30 bonus.
There is no limit to how many friends you can refer.
4. Caddle ($1)
Available only in Canada.
Caddle is a cash back app similar to Checkout 51. It is great for earning cash back on your grocery shopping and also pays you to answer surveys and watch ads.
Sign up for Caddle and get a $1 bonus. For each friend who uses your referral code, you both get a $1 bonus.
Here’s a detailed Caddle review.
5. TransferWise ($115)
If you receive money from abroad or send money transfers, TransferWise can help you save on foreign exchange fees.
Refer friends to Transferwise and earn up to $115 per three friends who transfer at least $300 each.
Learn about how TransferWise works.
Investment Apps and Services That Pay You To Refer a Friend
These automatic investment apps and services not only cut your investment fees but also reward you with bonuses when you refer a friend.
6. Questrade ($70)
Available in Canada and the United States.
Questrade is a popular discount brokerage that offers rock-bottom fees and commission-free ETF trading.
It pays up to $70 for every friend you refer, and your friend gets $50 in free trades. For the bonus to apply, you must fund your investment account with at least $1,000.
Sign up here and fund with $1,000 to get $50 in free trades.
7. Wealthsimple ($25)
Available in Canada and the United States.
Wealthsimple is one of the world’s most popular automatic investing apps (robo-advisor). They use low-cost ETFs to minimize your investment costs and grow your portfolio.
When you open an account, you receive a $25 cash bonus, and when you refer a friend to Wealthsimple, you get $10,000 managed for free for 1 year.
8. Moka ($5 to $1,000)
Available in Canada (formerly known as Mylo).
Moka is the ultimate app to automatically invest and save small sums of money to build wealth even when you are on a tight budget.
For every friend you refer to Moka, you both get a $5 bonus. During its occasional referral program bonus events, Moka offers up to a $1,000 bonus when you refer 10 friends or more.
Read our detailed Moka review.
9. Acorns ($5)
Available in the United States.
Acorns is a spare change investing app similar to Moka. Also known as a micro-investing app, Acorns pays you $5 for every referral.
10. Blooom ($10)
Available in the United States.
Blooom makes investing your 401(k) super easy and at a lower cost. The company estimates it has saved clients over $1 billion in lifetime investment fees.
You receive a $10 Amazon gift card for each referral.
11. Paymi App ($5)
Available only in Canada.
Paymi is a cash back app that rewards you when you shop at any of its partner store or brand, including Lowes, Burger King, Leons, Gap, and several others.
It pays you $5 for every friend you refer using your referral code. Read our Paymi review.
12. TopCashback ($10)
Available in the United States and Canada.
This cash back app is one of the most popular in the U.S. and is linked to more than 4,000 stores.
Invite a friend, and you will receive a $10 bonus after they have earned their first $10 in cash back.
Get more details in this TopCashback review.
Referral Programs for Rewards and Paid Survey Sites
Survey sites do not pay a ton of money but are one of many ways to make extra money in your spare time.
13. Swagbucks ($5 to $10)
Available in Canada and the United States.
Swagbucks is the ultimate side hustle site. It pays members to answer surveys, play games, watch videos, browse the internet and shop online.
Swagbucks has paid its members over $811 million and holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Earn $5 to $10 when you join Swagbucks and $3 for every friend who joins using your referral link.
14. Survey Junkie ($1)
Available in Canada and the United States.
As the name suggests, Survey Junkie takes the top spot for paid online survey sites. They pay you $1 for every referral.
15. PrizeRebel (30%)
Available in Canada, the United States, and many other countries.
PrizeRebel awards members points they can redeem for gift cards and cash. As of 2019, they have given out over $18 million.
When friends sign up using your referral link, you receive up to 30% of their earnings. Read PrizeRebel review.
16. Daily Rewards ($5 and 10%)
Available in Canada.
This is another rewards site that pays members when they take surveys, watch videos, read emails, and more. Refer a friend, and you earn 10% of their earnings.
Join Daily Rewards for a $5 bonus.
17. Inbox Dollars ($1 to $5)
Available in the United States.
Inbox Dollars is similar to Swagbucks and pays members to complete simple tasks. You earn $1 for every referral, and after 5 referrals, you earn 30% of your referral’s earnings.
Join Inbox Dollars and get a $5 signup bonus.
Side Hustle Apps With Referral Programs
These side hustle apps are great for earning passive income. They also pay you to refer friends.
18. Rover ($50)
Available in Canada and the United States.
Want to earn extra money walking dogs or pet-sitting? The Rover app makes it easy to do.
Refer friends to Rover and earn a $50 bonus. Learn more in this review.
19. Instacart (up to $1,000)
Available in Canada and the United States.
Instacart is an on-demand grocery delivery service that pays side hustlers to work as in-store and full-service shoppers. Essentially, you get paid to shop for groceries for others.
When you refer new drivers and shoppers to Instacart using your referral code, and they are active, you can make up to $1,000 per referral.
20. Lyft (up to $500)
Available in the United States and Canada.
Join the ride-sharing business and use your car to transport people within your city. Refer new passengers to Lyft using your referral code and earn a $10 bonus, or refer new Lyft drivers and you get up to $500.
21. BlueHost ($85)
Available in Canada and the United States.
BlueHost is one of the most popular web hosts for bloggers. Using their service, you can start your own blog for $3 per month.
When you refer others to sign up with BlueHost, you receive $85 USD per referral.
22. Turo ($25)
Available in Canada and the United States.
Turo is the Airbnb for cars. The service makes it easy for you to rent out your car when it’s not in use. They also provide a $2 million liability insurance coverage.
Join Turo and get a $25 bonus. You also earn every time you refer a friend to the service.
23. Airbnb ($25)
Available in the United States and Canada.
If you have an empty room in your home, use Airbnb to list it for rent. Invite your friends to use Airbnb and get $25 for every referral who completes a qualifying stay. Your friends also receive up to $62 off their first trip.
Here is how Airbnb works.
24. Tailwind ($15)
Available in Canada and the U.S.
Tailwind makes pinning on Pinterest a breeze. If you want to promote your blog or products and services on Pinterest, you can use Tailwind to automate the process.
Refer friends to use Tailwind, and they pay you a 15% commission on all sales. Your friend also receives a $15 free credit.
25. Decluttr ($5)
Available in the U.S. and Canada.
Decluttr makes it easy to sell your unused/unwanted CDs, DVDs, games, cell phone, and books. They help you ship your stuff to the buyer for free, and you get paid within a day.
Refer friends to Decluttr using your unique code and earn $5 per referral.
26. Flex Offers (50%)
Available in Canada and the United States.
Flex Offers is an affiliate network with thousands of affiliate programs you can promote to make money. You also earn up to 50% of all profits made by your referrals on the platform.
27. Payoneer ($25)
Available worldwide.
Use Payoneer to organize and receive your affiliate payments from all over the world and in different currencies.
Refer a friend to Payoneer, and you both receive a $25 USD bonus after they receive a total of $1,000 through their account.
Are there any other referral programs you are aware of that pay you to refer-a-friend? Leave them in the comments.
I want the one available in my country Nigeria
Is they no one the works for Nigeria? Pls let’s know thanks