Affiliate marketing gets most of the attention, but referral programs are an easy extra income stream for bloggers. Instead of selling a product, you often earn a reward or credit simply when someone you refer signs up and becomes an active user.
Many referral programs from the original version of this post (2017) have since closed, including Chitika, Grammarly’s referral program, SponsoredReviews, Media Temple, and Trello Gold. This updated list for 2026 only includes programs we confirmed are still running, and it explains the real conditions so you know what to expect.
Referral vs Affiliate Programs
- Referral programs usually reward you (and often your friend) with a one-time bonus, account credit, or a share of revenue when the referred person signs up and uses the service. They are usually open to any customer.
- Affiliate programs pay commissions on sales, often recurring, and are built for publishers with an audience. They usually pay more but require approval.
Many companies offer both. If you have traffic, the affiliate program is usually the better choice; see the best affiliate networks.
Referral Programs at a Glance
| Program | Type | Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Google Workspace | Business apps | Cash per new paid user (amount depends on plan and country) |
| Infolinks | Ad network | 10% of referrals\’ revenue for 12 months |
| Skimlinks | Affiliate links | 35% of Skimlinks\’ commission share for the first year |
| DigitalOcean | Cloud hosting | $25 credit per paying referral |
| Dropbox | Cloud storage | Extra storage per referral |
| Payoneer | Payments | Reward for both after the referral reaches a high payment threshold |
1. Google Workspace
Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) pays a one-time cash reward for each new paid user you refer, with the amount depending on the plan and your country, and you can share discount codes with the businesses you refer. Rewards are capped (for example, up to 100 users per referred business and 200 per year). If your audience includes small businesses, freelancers, or new site owners setting up professional email, it is a natural fit.
2. Infolinks
Infolinks is an ad network known for in-text and in-frame ads. Its referral program pays you 10% of your referred publishers\’ revenue (or advertisers\’ spend) for their first 12 months. It works well if you write about blogging and monetization. Read our Infolinks referral guide.
3. Skimlinks
Skimlinks automatically turns product links into affiliate links. Its referral program pays you 35% of the commission Skimlinks earns from each publisher you refer during their first year. Best for blogs with an audience of fellow publishers.
4. DigitalOcean
DigitalOcean is a cloud hosting platform popular with developers. Every account has a referral link; the person you refer gets sign-up credit, and you get $25 in credit once they spend $25. Credit cannot be cashed out, but it pays for your own servers, which is useful if you run sites on DigitalOcean.
5. Dropbox
Dropbox rewards you with extra storage instead of cash. On the free Basic plan, each friend who signs up and installs the desktop app earns both of you bonus space, up to a maximum. It is a handy way to grow free storage for your blog backups.
6. Payoneer
Payoneer is popular with bloggers and freelancers in countries where PayPal is limited, and it lets you receive payments from many affiliate networks. Its refer-a-friend program rewards both you and your friend, but the conditions have become strict: you must already have received a set amount through Payoneer, and your referral must receive a high payment volume within a limited time. It suits referrals of active businesses more than casual users. Learn more in our Payoneer guide.
Affiliate Programs Worth Joining Instead
Several companies from the original list now focus on affiliate programs rather than referral rewards. If you have a blog audience, these usually pay more:
- Web hosting: Bluehost, HostGator, and other hosts pay some of the highest one-time commissions in blogging.
- Email marketing: GetResponse and similar tools pay commissions for customers you refer. See our GetResponse guide.
- SEO and writing tools: many offer affiliate programs through networks such as Impact or Awin.
Compare more options in our list of AdSense alternatives and learn how to monetize your blog with affiliate marketing.
Tips to Earn More From Referral Programs
- Promote only what you use. Your honest experience converts far better than a banner.
- Write helpful content around the product, such as tutorials, reviews, and comparisons, and include your link naturally.
- Disclose your referral links clearly, as required by the FTC and similar rules.
- Read the terms. Many programs forbid self-referrals, paid ads on brand terms, or posting links on coupon sites.
- Check programs yearly. Referral programs change and close often, so update your posts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you really make money with referral programs?
Yes, but most referral rewards are small or paid as credit. They work best as an extra income stream alongside affiliate marketing and ads.
Do I need a blog to join referral programs?
Usually not; any customer can share their link. A blog simply gives you an audience to share it with.
Are referral links allowed in blog posts?
Generally yes, as long as you follow each program’s rules and disclose the relationship to your readers.
Do you use a referral program that pays well? Share it in the comments.
Leave a Reply