Share to Earn: Best Referral Programs for Free Cash, Crypto, and Other Rewards

Let’s face it – even in the age of sophisticated and highly scalable digital marketing culture, when it comes to organic and sustainable growth, nothing beats word-of-mouth advertising. Who among us hasn’t been compelled to check out an app or platform because a friend kept raving about it? If you’re keen on returning the favor and earning some passive income on the side, I’ve curated this list of the best referral programs for you!

The most popular and successful platforms have not only streamlined the process but also made sure their proactive customers are getting something back in return. Companies like Binance and Kraken have taken referral programs to the next level – they’re simply too good to pass up!

Whether you’re looking for a Web3 quest buddy or some perks and discounts on your favorite service, this article will teach you all about how to choose the best referral program for your needs.

Here's the list of platforms whose referral systems I'll cover in this article:

• BitDegree
• Binance
• Bybit
• Hiver
• MEXC
• Dropbox
• KuCoin
• PayPal
• Uber
• Airbnb

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Top 10 Best Referral Programs

Here it comes - your ultimate guide to the most lucrative, innovative, or otherwise attractive referral programs. I'll do my best to describe all the features of the referral program in question, including the types of rewards available, the conditions your referee has to meet, and the limits you should be aware of. Time to dig in!

BitDegree

Who said learning has to be a serious business all the time? The concept of gamification has been picking up speed for the past few years, with BitDegree leading the way in Web3 education with its interactive play-to-earn platform.

It offers dozens of Web3 challenges, called “missions,” which you can complete and earn points (Bits) in return. The missions cover a wide range of Web3-related skills, including tutorials on how to use top-rated exchanges like Binance, Kraken, and Coinbase.

The number of Bits you've collected determines your degree level; the higher your degree, the more opportunities you unlock to win various rewards, such as fiat currency, NFTs, or discounts. What's more, currently, there's a Season 7 Airdrop event happening with a $30,000 prize pool, and your Bits directly increases your stake at the prize.

When it comes to games, the more is always the merrier – and the company has devised a generous incentives package to attract more users. BitDegree undoubtedly deserves the number one spot on this list of the best crypto referral programs. Here’s what the program looks like:

• 1,200 Bits for Each Referee who Signs up. That’s right – unlike most other platforms, BitDegree doesn’t have any additional conditions for the referee to prove their commitment. It’s the thought that counts!
• 200 Bits for Secondary Referrals. Every time your referee gets somebody else on board, you gain a residual reward – consider it like building your own referee network!
• Monthly Bonus Tier. You have an unlimited amount of referrals to earn awards from, with an option to earn an additional 2,000-10,000 Bits every month, depending on the total number of your referrals.
• 30-Day Time Window. Your referral link will stay valid for an entire month, so even if your friend is too busy to sign up right now, they can do it on their own time with no risk of the referral expiring too soon.

If you’re already part of the BitDegree community, you can get started with handing out referrals right away – it only takes four clicks! Here’s how to do it:

Here you go! And remember – the BitDegree referral program is analogous to an affiliate program, meaning that there are no limits or restrictions to how many people you can get on board. If you have your own website or a large social media following, feel free to post the links there so that all of your fans can benefit, too.

📚 Read More: How to Get Started With BitDegree Missions

Binance

Founded in 2017, Binance is currently the largest global centralized exchange, boasting over 260 million users in 180+ countries. It offers a wide selection of different trading types (spot, margin, futures, options, and P2P trading) with more than 400 cryptocurrencies. More experienced traders and crypto enthusiasts will enjoy the platform’s flexible staking program and other services like the self-custodial Web3 Wallet.

As impressive as Binance’s functionality and track record are, it goes without saying that the company didn’t get where it is today without its fans shouting about it from the metaphorical rooftops. This CEX really has referrals down to a science. You can choose one of the two available referral program modes.

Here’s how the system works:

• Referral Mode (One-Off Reward). Both you and the referee receive a $100 trading fee rebate voucher as a one-time reward.
• Referral Pro Mode (Commission). You’ll receive a 20% share of your referee’s spot trading fees and 10% of their futures trading fees. If you hold at least 500 BNB tokens or more, the commission rate rises to 40%.
• Referee Reward. You can choose to share 5% or 10% of your commission with your friend.
• Conditions. For the referral to be considered eligible, the referee has to complete KYC verification and make a deposit of at least $50 within 14 days after registration. Both fiat and crypto deposits count.
• Limits. You can create up to 20 Referral Pro codes, but regular referrals are unlimited.

Compared to most other platforms on this list of the best referral programs, Binance’s system might sound a bit complicated, but this comes with the perk of flexibility. Here’s how to use it:

This is it! The one-off reward will drop into your account within 48 hours after the referee makes their first deposit (and stays valid for 14 days after redeeming it), while the commission is calculated and paid on an hourly basis.

📚 Check Out: Binance Referral Code Deals

Bybit

This centralized exchange is another long-time favorite of many crypto enthusiasts. With more than 10 million users worldwide, a selection of 1,600+ cryptocurrencies, and numerous trading options, Bybit is an excellent choice for those who value flexibility and competitive fees. This platform supports margin trading with up to 200x leverage, futures trading with USDC and USDT perpetual contracts, and copy trading.

Bybit features a multi-faceted referral program whose rewards aren’t limited to just a single one-off rebate or a commission.

Here’s what the whole package looks like:

• Earn up to 1,717 USDT. When your friend signs up, you get a crypto reward if they complete these tasks: make a deposit of at least $100 (10 USDT bonus), trade at least $500 (15 USDT bonus), trade $10,000 (up to 1,000 USDT bonus), or open a copy trading account (665 USDT bonus).
• Earn a Commission. Alongside the one-off reward, you can earn a 20% to 30% commission on the referee’s trading fees, based on how many people you have referred (reaching 5 referrals unlocks a 25% commission rate, while inviting 100 or more people bumps it up to 30%).
• Bybit Card Referral Program. If your friend gets a Bybit Card using your referral code, you get a 20 USDT reward and they receive 10 USDT.
• Conditions. In order to qualify, the referee has to make a cumulative deposit of at least 100 USDT or equivalent within 7 days after signing up and reach a trading volume of at least 500 USDT within the first 30 days.
• Limits. While there’s no limit on how many people you can refer, the rewards are distributed on a first-come-first-served basis, with a monthly rewards pool of 500,000 USDT.

As you can see, this setup is definitely among the best friend referral programs for sizeable crypto rewards! Now that you know what you’re in for, you can try it out yourself:

All done! The rewards will be transferred to your account within 10 days of fulfilling the criteria.

📚 Check Out: Bybit Referral Code Deals

Hiver

Hiver is an AI-powered customer service platform that lets businesses manage all of their communication channels in one place. It offers advanced collaboration and analytics capabilities and the option to set up your own custom workflows with multiple integrations. All of these features come packaged in a seamless and intuitive interface.

Hiver has one of the most creative referral programs for ambitious users, with substantial cash rewards and other attractive prizes:

• $100 Reward for Qualified Referrals. Unlike most other platforms, Hiver won’t ask your friends to commit before handing out the reward: all the referee needs to do is sign up for the free trial and meet Hiver’s BANT (Budget, Authority, Need, Timeline) criteria.
• $250 Reward for New Customers. In addition to the preliminary reward, you’ll get another one if your referee signs up for Hiver services.
• Milestone Rewards. Hiver’s tiered system includes additional bonuses if you refer multiple friends. 3 referrals will earn you a free Kindle, and once you pass the 10-referral threshold, you get an iPhone!
• Conditions. You’ll have to sign up for the referral program separately; in this regard, Hiver’s rewards program functions more like an affiliate program.
• Limits. There are no limits on how many people you can refer and no cap on the rewards.

There are no other hoops to jump through – once Hiver verifies your referral and confirms its eligibility, you’ll receive the reward within 2 days.

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MEXC

Founded in 2018, MEXC has gone on to become a prominent player in the industry. With over 7 million active users in 70+ countries, it boasts robust security, affordable trading fees, and a massive selection of 2,800+ cryptocurrencies. You’ll also find other features like P2P trading and staking (both locked and flexible).

MEXC offers a pretty generous referral system that consists of a commission and a few other additional rewards:

• One-Off Reward. Get a 100 USDT bonus for inviting a friend.
• Up to 50% Commission. Earn a 40% to 50% share of your referee’s trading fees (depending on your region).
• Other Rewards. Invitees get exclusive access to competitions and giveaways with a total prize share of 500,000 USDT.
• Conditions. To redeem the rewards, your referee has to reach the deposit volume of at least 100 USDT and complete at least one futures trade within 7 days after signing up.
• Limits. There’s no limit on how many people you can invite, but a commission for a single referee is only valid for 1,080 days, counting from your friend’s sign-up date.

You can see for yourself and give it a try right now with just a few simple steps:

Once your friend gets on board and starts trading, the commission will be calculated and transferred to your account on a daily basis, in the same asset your referee used to settle their trading fees.

📚 Check Out: MEXC Referral Code Deals

Dropbox

Best known for its cloud storage and file-sharing features, Dropbox has since grown into a successful ecosystem that includes a task manager, document signing platform, and other services. It offers multiple pricing plans aimed at both individuals and business teams, while the enterprise version comes with additional security and scalable file management functionality.

Dropbox stands out among other best referral programs by focusing on in-app rewards instead of monetary prizes:

• 500 MB Storage for Basic Users. If you’re on the free Basic version, referring a friend gives you an additional 500 MB for your file storage – which is more substantial than it seems at first glance since Basic users only have 2 GB storage, so you’d stand to increase it by a whole quarter!
• 1 GB Storage for Plus Users. If you’re a paid user on the Plus pricing plan, you’ll get an extra 1 GB of storage.
• Referral Links. Dropbox lets you copy the referral link and paste it to the social media app of your choice or send an automated email with the link included.
• Conditions. To be considered eligible, the referee has to sign up, verify their email, and download the Dropbox desktop app.
• Limits. Basic users can earn up to 16 GB of free storage space from referrals, while the limit for Plus users is 32 GB.

Once the referral comes through, your storage space stats will update immediately (if they don’t, just refresh the page).

KuCoin

Another prominent player in the CEX category, KuCoin, is known for its user-friendly interface and stringent security measures. It supports margin trading with up to 3x leverage and three types of futures trading contracts (USDC, USDT, and coin-margined), as well as pre-market trading. Fans of earning some passive income from their crypto can choose between several lending and staking programs.

KuCoin stands out with its gamified referral program. Here’s the list of its key features:

• Star-Based Reward System. You can earn stars for specific tasks your referee completes after signing up: for instance, making a deposit of 100 USDT or more gives you 10 stars, while reaching a spot or futures trading volume of at least 100 USDT is worth 30 stars.
• Mystery Boxes. You can exchange 10 stars for a Mystery Box. Prizes include crypto, futures trial funds, trading fee rebate coupons, and other perks.
• Crypto Prizes. 40 stars will buy you a 2 USDT reward. For 400 stars, you can redeem 20 USDT, while the highest available prize, 1,000 USDT, costs 20,000 stars.
• Up to 20% Commission. Instead of one-off reward referrals, you can opt for commission-based referrals that let you earn a 20% share of your friend’s trading fees (or less if you want to transfer some percentage of your rebate to them).
• Limits. One-off reward referrals are unlimited, but each user can hand out up to 10 commission-based referrals. In addition, this type of referral is unavailable to users with VIP Tier 3 or higher.

Don’t just take my word for it, though – your rewards are just a few clicks away with this easy tutorial:

You’ll see all your referral codes in the main commission referrals section.

The other type of referral doesn’t come with any bells or whistles – there’s nothing to customize, so just click the copy icon next to the code if you want to copy it and paste it into the social media app of your choice. You can also generate a QR code.

This is it! The commission is paid on a weekly basis, while the stars and the rewards bought with them can take up to 1 business day to be credited to your account.

📚 Check Out: KuCoin Referral Code Deals

PayPal

A pioneer of online payment systems, PayPal hardly needs an introduction – most of us have probably used it at one point or another. After being acquired by eBay in 2002, PayPal practically became synonymous with e-shopping. Today, it offers a lot more features and services, including the PayPal Debit Card and a fully-featured money transfer app.

PayPal is often featured on the lists of the best app referral programs thanks to its generous rewards and flexibility:

• Point-Based System. Inviting a friend gives both of you a 1,000-point bonus, which you can exchange for a $10 cash back.
• Flexible Payout. You can also transfer the reward to your PayPal Balance.
• Regional Availability. The referral program is only available to PayPal users from the U.S.
• Conditions. Your referral is only counted as valid if your friend spends at least $5 in a single payment within 30 days of signing up.
• Limits. You can refer up to 10 people per year.

Once you complete a referral, it can take up to 14 days for the points to show up on your account – and once they do, they stay locked in for 90 days before you’re allowed to redeem them, so you’ll have to be patient!

Uber

Another instantly recognizable brand on this list, Uber, now has over 150 million monthly active users and 6 million drivers and couriers across 70+ countries. Founded in 2009 as an alternative to expensive cabs, Uber has become not only a taxi replacement but also a food delivery service.

It’s no surprise that this company has come up with one of the best referral programs to incentivize loyal users to get their friends on board. Here’s how it works:

• Riders’ Referrals. Uber’s customers can refer their friends to the app and earn a discount on their next trip. The size of the reward varies depending on location.
• Drivers’ Referrals. Uber drivers can invite their friends directly from their contact list.
• User-Friendly Tracking System. The drivers can track their referees’ sign-up and referral qualification process and even help them out directly from the app.
• Conditions. To be eligible, the referee has to complete their first trip using the referral code (it needs to be applied before booking the ride, not after).
• Limits. As of writing this, there are no limits on the number of people you can refer.

Keep in mind that promo codes can’t be compounded – a single reward can only be applied to one trip. In addition, don’t forget to check the code’s expiration date!

Airbnb

Founded in 2008, Airbnb is now a household name in the holiday accommodation industry. Originally lauded as a cheaper alternative to hotels and BnBs, it didn’t take long to achieve global success. This platform offers an incredibly varied selection of pretty much any type of short-term vacation housing you can think of – from regular apartments to luxury villas, themed houses, and even boat rentals.

If you’re an avid tourist searching for the best referral programs to take advantage of, Airbnb has got you covered! Here’s what the system looks like:

• Up to 15% Discount. An invitee who signs up with your referral link gets up to a 15% discount on their next booking, while you receive Airbnb travel credits you can later redeem into a discount.
• Regional Availability. Airbnb referral program is only available in five countries: China, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Mexico.
• Expiration Date. The referral links expire within 72 hours, while the discount and travel credits are valid for 1 year.
• Conditions. To qualify as a complete referral, your invitee has to pass the Airbnb identity verification and make at least one booking within 180 days of signing up.
• Limits. You can refer an unlimited number of people but will only earn rewards from up to 10 referrals per year.

Once your friend receives the discount code, it will automatically be applied to their next booking.

Comparison of the Best Referral Programs

That’s quite a lot of platforms, you might say – it’s probably unrealistic to try them out all at once. Well, not with that attitude! But in case you’d prefer to be more selective for now, I’ve gone out of my way to summarize the key features of these best friend referral programs:

Table: Comparison of the best referral programs

Have a look at this overview table and decide for yourself which of these online referral programs would offer the most bang for your buck (or the other way around).

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How to Choose the Best Referral Program?

If you’re already using some of these platforms, there are zero drawbacks to trying their referral programs – after all, they’re completely free, so you’d have nothing to lose, only to gain!

With that in mind, I’ve prepared a checklist with key considerations for choosing a good referral program:

• Attractive Rewards. How big and varied are the rewards? Is there only one type of reward or several? Cash-based rewards are optimal if you’re hoping to make money off the referrals.
• Fair Requirements. Ideally, the platform shouldn’t have overly complicated or disingenuous conditions for qualifying for the referral; a sign-up and making a reasonable deposit or booking should be enough.
• Scalability and Limits. Is there a limit on the number of referrals you can earn rewards from? Does the platform offer a tiered referral system and extra bonuses for more referrals? Are there rewards for secondary referrals?
• User-Friendliness. Does the platform make it easy to create and share referral links and track your referrals? Is there an FAQ section explaining the terms and conditions of the referral program?
• Payout Schedule. The best online referral programs won’t keep your rewards hostage for too long; look for a program that lets you redeem your rewards within a few days at most.
• Adequate Customer Support. Does the platform offer reliable support in case of any issues with the referral program?

In a nutshell, make sure to read through the referral program description carefully and take note of all the small-print details! Some platforms lay everything out on their Referral Program page, while with others, you’ll have to comb through the FAQ page to get the full picture.

Best Referral Programs for Crypto & Web3

If you’re a hardcore Web3 fan, you’re in luck – most centralized exchanges and other crypto-related platforms offer generous referral rewards to take advantage of the viral community culture surrounding the crypto scene! Here are the best crypto referral programs:

• BitDegree. A top-rated Web3 missions platform with a tiered referral reward system.
• Binance. This largest global CEX offers both one-off rewards and a commission.
• Bybit. Earn up to 1,717 USDT or a commission of your referee’s trading fees.

While BitDegree is, hands down, the number one choice for the fans of play-to-earn educational platforms (especially if you love the long game of earning points towards major prizes, like airdrops), Binance and Bybit are excellent alternatives to save money on trading fees or earn extra crypto and referral rewards.

Best Referral Programs for Tech Services

There’s a myriad of apps and platforms in the category of tech services, but only a few have stood the test of time and come out on top with their creative referral programs. Check out these winners:

• Hiver. This invaluable customer service tool for businesses gives out both generous cash rewards and electronic gifts in exchange for referring new customers.
• Dropbox. Get free storage on one of the most popular file-sharing platforms by referring your friends.
• PayPal. A household name in the online payments industry, PayPal offers up to $100 referral rewards in cash back.

If you don’t have enough fellow crypto fans among your friends and family members, it might be easier to entice them into trying out these tech services instead!

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Best Referral Programs for Other Services

Last but not least, let’s take a look at these best app referral programs created by some of the most widely used platforms in their respective categories:

• Uber. Refer your friends as an Uber customer or a driver and earn discounts for your next ride.
• Airbnb. Get promo discount codes for inviting people to make a booking on this global holiday rental marketplace.

Both of these platforms feature user-friendly mobile apps that make the referral process even more convenient, especially when you’re on the go.

How Do Referral Programs Work?

Now that you know what the best referral programs are, let me tell you a bit more about how they work in general.

Referral programs (often called loyalty programs or simply rewards programs) are a popular marketing incentive companies use to expand their customer base. Unlike traditional advertising, which is costly and impersonal, referral programs rely on using your own customers to spread the word to their social circles^[1].

This type of word-of-mouth advertising often has a much higher success rate^[2] despite being less scalable. It goes without saying that many people would much rather trust a recommendation from a friend than some random ad they see on the internet.

Thanks to automation, the referral workflow on most platforms is pretty easy. In most cases, all you need to do is go to the platform’s referral section, and you’ll find a link or code you can copy and paste wherever you want.

Once you send a link to your friend and they click it to sign up, they’re usually expected to complete some tasks to prove their commitment to actually using the platform. That's how companies avoid spam accounts created for the sole purpose of gaming the rewards system.

Depending on the company, you’ll find various types of rewards. Cash prizes are a popular choice, but many platforms also offer discount vouchers for their services, cashback, a lottery wheel spin for other prizes, or even tangible gifts like electronics.

Like other advertising strategies, referral programs have been evolving to meet the current landscape of customer expectations. Some of the most forward-thinking companies, like BitDegree, have come up with creative tiered referral systems to motivate their users to up their referral-sharing game. Meanwhile, other companies are using AI to offer personalized referral rewards based on user behavior and spending habits.

Referral VS Affiliate Programs: What’s the Difference?

If the previous section explained what referral programs are, let me now clarify what they are not. You’ve probably heard the term “affiliate program” thrown around synonymously with “referral program”. While the two have some similarities, they’re still completely different types of incentives:

Table: Comparison of referral vs affiliate programs

As you can see, referral programs are basically just a more convenient tool for recommending your favorite platform to friends. They’re easy to enter, but the reward prospects are typically low. In contrast, affiliate programs are specifically aimed at users with a large following and consist of more sophisticated systems with a much higher earning potential.

📚 Check Out: Best Crypto Affiliate Programs

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Conclusions

You know what they say – why do something for free when you can get paid for it? This certainly holds true when it comes to referrals, at least. All of the best referral programs on the list will give you considerable rewards just for taking a few minutes of your time to send a code to a friend.

Feel free to check out these platforms and compare their referral systems. Which ones would suit you best ultimately depends on what you’re hoping to get out of it.

Just to drive home the key advice I mentioned earlier – make sure to check the terms and conditions and find out exactly what you’re getting! Not all referral programs are as valuable as the company website makes them out to be.

The content published on this website is not aimed to give any kind of financial, investment, trading, or any other form of advice. BitDegree.org does not endorse or suggest you to buy, sell or hold any kind of cryptocurrency. Before making financial investment decisions, do consult your financial advisor.

Scientific References

1. Xu M., Yu Z., Tu Y.: 'I Will Get a Reward, Too: When Disclosing the Referrer Reward Increases Referring';

2. Gershon R., Jiang Z.: 'Referral Contagion: Downstream Benefits of Customer Referrals'.