RefRef
What it is
RefRef is an open source platform for creating referral programs, affiliate networks, and partner programs. It can run on a user’s own infrastructure or through managed cloud hosting. Referral attribution can use first-touch, last-touch, or multi-touch models, and rewards can be fixed amounts, percentages, cash, credits, discounts, or other types. An embeddable widget lets participants access referral links, share them through social media or email, and track performance and rewards. Documented integrations include Stripe, Paddle, LemonSqueezy, Chargebee, PayPal, and Tango Card. The platform also provides a REST API, webhook events, JWT authentication, organization-scoped data isolation, and custom qualifying events and reward rules. Its attribution script keeps a referral code in a cookie for 90 days. Both Cloud and Open Source plans are free and list unlimited programs and participants; support differs, with email on Cloud and community support for Open Source. The project repository warns that RefRef is in alpha and may have bugs or breaking changes. Self-hosting requires specified server resources and software, and the guide recommends security precautions.
For and against
For
- Supports first-touch, last-touch, and multi-touch attribution.
- Offers both cloud hosting and self-hosting.
- Integrates with Stripe, PayPal, and other listed services.
- Free plans include unlimited programs and participants.
- Provides a REST API and webhook events.
Against
- The project is still in alpha and may break.
- Self-hosting requires specified server resources and software.
- Support differs by plan.
The verdict
RefRef offers referral attribution, reward rules, participant tools, and integrations in either cloud or self-hosted form. Its alpha status and self-hosting requirements are important considerations before choosing a deployment.
Who it suits
RefRef suits teams that want to build referral or affiliate programs and choose between managed cloud hosting and self-hosting. Self-hosting is aimed at users able to meet its listed server and software requirements.
Plans and prices
Cloud
Cloud-hosted · Unlimited Programs · Unlimited Participants · Reward automation
Read 1 Oct 2026 · refref.ai
Open Source
Self-hosted · Unlimited Programs · Unlimited Participants · Reward automation
Read 1 Oct 2026 · refref.ai
Enterprise
Cloud-hosted or Self-hosted · Managed infrastructure · We do the integration · Custom development
Read 1 Oct 2026 · refref.ai
On the record
- Architecture
- RefRef provides a REST API, webhook events, JWT authentication, organization-scoped data isolation, and custom qualifying events and reward rules.refref.ai · read 1 Oct 2026
- Attribution
- The platform supports first-touch, last-touch, and multi-touch referral attribution models.refref.ai · read 1 Oct 2026
- Attribution cookie
- The attribution script stores a referral code in a refref-refcode cookie for 90 days.refref.ai · read 1 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- RefRef supports self-hosting on your own infrastructure and managed cloud hosting.refref.ai · read 1 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Documented integrations include Stripe, Paddle, LemonSqueezy, Chargebee, PayPal, and Tango Card.refref.ai · read 1 Oct 2026
- License
- The RefRef repository is released under the AGPLv3 license.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Product purpose
- RefRef is an open source referral marketing platform for building referral programs, affiliate networks, and partner programs.refref.ai · read 1 Oct 2026
- Project maturity
- The project repository warns that RefRef is still in alpha and may have bugs and breaking changes.github.com · read 1 Oct 2026
- Referral widget
- The embeddable widget lets participants view referral links, share through social media or email, and track referral performance and rewards.refref.ai · read 1 Oct 2026
- Rewards
- RefRef supports fixed amounts, percentages, cash, credits, discounts, and other reward types.refref.ai · read 1 Oct 2026
- Security guidance
- The self-hosting guide recommends SSL/TLS behind a reverse proxy, network segmentation, strong database credentials, security updates, backups, and considering a web application firewall.refref.ai · read 1 Oct 2026
- Self-hosting requirements
- The documented minimum self-hosting requirements are 2 CPU cores, 4GB RAM, 20GB SSD, PostgreSQL 13 or newer, Redis, Node.js 16 or newer, and Docker 20.10 or newer when containerized.refref.ai · read 1 Oct 2026
- Support
- Support varies by plan from community support or email support to priority chat and Zoom support for Enterprise.refref.ai · read 1 Oct 2026
- Supported industries
- RefRef documents use cases for B2B SaaS, ecommerce, B2C subscriptions, financial services, and education.refref.ai · read 1 Oct 2026
