RefRef vs PromoteKit
Grow past 3 free referrals, $10,000 a month, and Stripe.
PromoteKit is a quick way to start a Stripe affiliate program, and RefRef is the open-source platform to grow it. PromoteKit's free plan stops at 3 referrals, Pro caps affiliate revenue at $10,000 a month, and one-click payouts add 5% to 8%; 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 PromoteKit.
Feature scorecard
RefRef
12/12
PromoteKit
0/12
+8 partly
- YesOpen sourcePromoteKit: Proprietary; terms say PromoteKit owns the Service and its software.
- YesNo vendor lock-inPromoteKit: API and webhooks on Pro; not on Free.
- YesPricing that doesn't tax your growthPromoteKit: Pro caps at $10,000/month affiliate revenue; one-click payouts add 5-8%.
- YesReferral, affiliate, and loyaltyPromoteKit: Affiliate programs; no customer referral or loyalty program listed.
RefRef vs PromoteKit: feature comparison
| Feature | RefRef | PromoteKit |
|---|---|---|
| Open source | YesAGPLv3 on GitHub. Use RefRef Cloud or run it yourself. | NoProprietary; terms say PromoteKit owns the Service and its software. |
| No vendor lock-in | YesFull data export, REST API, and webhooks. | PartlyAPI and webhooks on Pro; not on Free. |
| Pricing that doesn't tax your growth | YesPriced by active participants. No share of referred revenue, no fee on your own payout rail. | NoPro caps at $10,000/month affiliate revenue; one-click payouts add 5-8%. |
| Referral, affiliate, and loyalty | YesAll three program types on one integration. | PartlyAffiliate programs; no customer referral or loyalty program listed. |
| AI assistant and MCP | YesSet up and run programs from the in-app assistant, Claude, Cursor, or Codex. | Not listedNo AI assistant or MCP server listed on its site or docs. |
| Cash payouts with tax forms | YesPayPal payouts in 98 countries. W-9 and W-8BEN collected. | PartlyOne-click payouts with 1099s on Pro, 5% bank or 8% card fee. |
| Rewards inside your billing | YesAccount credit, discounts, and plan upgrades in Stripe, Paddle, Polar, Dodo Payments, and RevenueCat. | PartlyStripe promo codes per affiliate; no account credit listed. |
| Shopify and WooCommerce | YesNative Shopify app and WooCommerce plugin. | NoRequires Stripe; no Shopify or WooCommerce integration listed. |
| Signup attribution for your auth stack | YesBetter Auth plugin and recipes for Clerk, Supabase, Auth0, WorkOS, and Auth.js. | PartlyLink tracking script; no auth-provider integrations listed. |
| Embeddable widget and join pages | YesBranded referral widget and public partner join pages. | PartlyHosted affiliate portal; no embeddable widget listed. |
| Custom link domains | YesShare links on your own domain. | PartlyCustom portal domain on Pro; not on Free. |
| Free plan | YesFree up to 1,000 active participants. | PartlyFree plan limited to 3 referrals and 1 campaign. |
PromoteKit facts checked on October 20, 2026 against its official pages. See sources
Switch from PromoteKit to an open-source platform, free to start.
Start freeWhy teams choose RefRef over PromoteKit
A free plan you can run a program on
PromoteKit's free plan covers your first 3 referrals. RefRef is free up to 1,000 active participants, with no cap on the revenue they bring in.
Payouts at 2%, not 5% to 8%
PromoteKit adds 5% for bank and 8% for card on one-click payouts. RefRef managed PayPal payouts in 98 countries cost 2%, with W-9 and W-8BEN collected, and your own rail costs nothing.
Beyond Stripe and beyond affiliates
RefRef connects to Stripe, Paddle, Polar, Dodo Payments, RevenueCat, Shopify, and WooCommerce, and runs referral, affiliate, and loyalty programs on one open-source integration.
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.
PromoteKit pricing vs RefRef pricing
Your software bill at the same program size.
Example: $10,000 referred revenue and $2,000 commissions per month. Software and platform fees shown below; reward delivery costs are extra.
RefRef
Free · own payout rail
$0/mo
PromoteKit
Subscription + no fee on your own payouts
$29/mo
Within the 1,000 active-participant allowance.
Higher customer value alone does not change the RefRef bill.
Known monthly subtotal including $2,000 commissions: RefRef $2,000 vs PromoteKit $2,029. Add operating costs to both.
PromoteKit Pro · monthly: $10,000 affiliate revenue fits Pro. No fee when you pay through PayPal or Wise yourself. One-click payouts would add 5%, or $100. The $2,000 of commissions is the same in both.
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%.
PromoteKit
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 3 referrals, 1 campaign, PayPal and Wise payouts |
| Pro | $29/month | Up to $10,000/month in affiliate revenue, API, webhooks, custom domain |
| Enterprise | Custom | Above $10,000/month in affiliate revenue |
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 PromoteKit in three steps.
Your partners and customers keep what they earned. We help you move.
Export affiliates, links, promo codes, and amounts owed from PromoteKit. Keep your published affiliate links live during the move.
Create a RefRef affiliate program, import affiliates and balances, and connect Stripe so new payments keep earning commission.
Send affiliates their RefRef links and join page, then test a payment and a refund before you remove the PromoteKit script.
01Does PromoteKit have a free plan?
02How much does PromoteKit cost?
03What are PromoteKit's payout fees?
04Does PromoteKit work without Stripe?
05Does PromoteKit have an MCP server?
When PromoteKit fits
Choose PromoteKit if you sell only through Stripe, need a small affiliate program running in minutes, and expect to stay under $10,000 a month in affiliate revenue.
Sources, checked October 20, 2026
Written by the RefRef team. PromoteKit 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 PromoteKit?
Start free. Your first 1,000 active participants cost nothing.