RefRef vs Partnero
Start free and pay 2% for managed payouts, not 7%.
Partnero is a broad affiliate and referral platform with newsletter programs, and RefRef adds loyalty to that mix on an open-source engine. Partnero has no free plan, starts at $59/month, and charges 7% for managed payouts; RefRef is free up to 1,000 active participants and manages PayPal payouts for 2%.
Open sourceFree up to 1,000 active participantsNo share of your revenue
Updated October 20, 2026, checked against the official pages of Partnero.
Feature scorecard
RefRef
12/12
Partnero
6/12
+4 partly
- YesOpen sourcePartnero: Proprietary; terms bar reverse engineering or modifying the Service.
- YesPricing that doesn't tax your growthPartnero: Flat plans without revenue limits; managed payouts carry a 7% fee.
- YesReferral, affiliate, and loyaltyPartnero: Affiliate, referral, and newsletter programs; no loyalty program type.
- YesRewards inside your billingPartnero: Coupons and account credit; plan upgrades not listed.
RefRef vs Partnero: feature comparison
| Feature | RefRef | Partnero |
|---|---|---|
| Open source | YesAGPLv3 on GitHub. Use RefRef Cloud or run it yourself. | NoProprietary; terms bar reverse engineering or modifying the Service. |
| No vendor lock-in | YesFull data export, REST API, and webhooks. | YesREST API and webhooks. |
| Pricing that doesn't tax your growth | YesPriced by active participants. No share of referred revenue, no fee on your own payout rail. | PartlyFlat plans without revenue limits; managed payouts carry a 7% fee. |
| Referral, affiliate, and loyalty | YesAll three program types on one integration. | PartlyAffiliate, referral, and newsletter programs; no loyalty program type. |
| AI assistant and MCP | YesSet up and run programs from the in-app assistant, Claude, Cursor, or Codex. | YesAI assistant, and an MCP server on every plan. |
| Cash payouts with tax forms | YesPayPal payouts in 98 countries. W-9 and W-8BEN collected. | YesPayPal and Wise payouts; W-9 and W-8BEN collected in the portal. |
| Rewards inside your billing | YesAccount credit, discounts, and plan upgrades in Stripe, Paddle, Polar, Dodo Payments, and RevenueCat. | PartlyCoupons and account credit; plan upgrades not listed. |
| Shopify and WooCommerce | YesNative Shopify app and WooCommerce plugin. | YesShopify and WooCommerce integrations. |
| Signup attribution for your auth stack | YesBetter Auth plugin and recipes for Clerk, Supabase, Auth0, WorkOS, and Auth.js. | PartlySignup tracking guides for Stripe and Paddle; no auth-provider plugins. |
| Embeddable widget and join pages | YesBranded referral widget and public partner join pages. | YesIn-site referral widget and white-label partner portal. |
| Custom link domains | YesShare links on your own domain. | YesCustom tracking and portal domains. |
| Free plan | YesFree up to 1,000 active participants. | No30-day trial; plans start at $59/month. |
Partnero facts checked on October 20, 2026 against its official pages. See sources
Switch from Partnero to an open-source platform, free to start.
Start freeWhy teams choose RefRef over Partnero
Code you are allowed to modify
Partnero's terms bar you from modifying or reverse engineering the service. RefRef is AGPLv3 on GitHub: read the code, extend it, or run it on your own infrastructure, with full data export.
Start free, pay less to pay partners
Partnero starts at $59/month and charges 7% when it runs payouts for you. RefRef is free up to 1,000 active participants, and its managed PayPal payouts cost 2%.
Loyalty and auth on the same integration
Run referral, affiliate, and loyalty programs together, and attribute signups with the Better Auth plugin or recipes for Clerk, Supabase, Auth0, WorkOS, and Auth.js.
Everything you need, from the first click to the payout.
Referral, affiliate, and loyalty in one place
Run customer referrals, a partner program, and a loyalty program side by side, each with its own rewards and results.
Rewards inside your billing
Give account credit, discounts, or plan upgrades straight in Stripe, Paddle, Polar, Dodo Payments, or RevenueCat.
Partners, invitations, and applications
Invite partners, approve applications, and give each one a branded join page and link.
Cash payouts, done for you
RefRef pays partners through PayPal in 98 countries, collects W-9 and W-8BEN forms, and shows every statement.
Partnero pricing vs RefRef pricing
RefRef
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 1,000 active participants |
| Starter | $49/month | 5,000 active participants ($29 billed annually) |
| Pro | From $119/month | 10,000 to 50,000 active participants, custom domains |
No overage, no share of referred revenue. Managed PayPal payouts cost 2%.
Partnero
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $59/month ($49 billed annually) | 1 program, 1 team member, unlimited partners and revenue |
| Partner | $199/month ($159 billed annually) | 3 programs, 3 team members, advanced commission rules |
| Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited programs and team members, advanced data exports |
Plugs into the stack you already run.
Native billing, commerce, and auth integrations, plus an open API, webhooks, and MCP for AI agents. The ecosystem grows every month.
- Billing
- StripePaddlePolarDodo PaymentsRevenueCat
- Commerce
- ShopifyWooCommerce
- Auth
- Better AuthClerkSupabaseAuth0WorkOSAuth.js
- Payouts
- PayPalW-9 and W-8BEN forms
- Automation and AI
- REST APIWebhooksMCPZapierMakeActivepiecesClaudeCursorCodex
Switch from Partnero in three steps.
Your partners and customers keep what they earned. We help you move.
Export partners, customers, referral links, and unpaid commissions from Partnero through its API.
Create RefRef affiliate and referral programs, import partners and balances, and connect your billing or store so new purchases keep earning rewards.
Send partners their RefRef links and join page, then test a signup, a purchase, and a refund before you remove the Partnero script.
01How much does Partnero cost?
02What does Partnero charge for managed payouts?
03Does Partnero have a free plan?
04Does Partnero support loyalty programs?
05Is Partnero open source?
When Partnero fits
Choose Partnero if you run a newsletter referral program on MailerLite, Mailchimp, or a similar email tool, or need BigCommerce and Chargebee tracking out of the box.
Sources, checked October 20, 2026
Written by the RefRef team. Partnero is a trademark of its owner; RefRef is not affiliated with it. Plans change, so check the official pages before you buy. Spot an error? Tell us and we correct it.
Ready to switch from Partnero?
Start free. Your first 1,000 active participants cost nothing.