Freedom251 › Employee Referral Software
Open Referral
What Open Referral is
Open Referral is a paid B2B platform for automating employee referral programs at companies with 50 to 3,000 employees. Employees browse open roles and submit referrals through a web form, including from a mobile browser without installing an app. The service checks eligibility, tracks candidates in an ATS, manages referral rules and follow-ups, and calculates bonuses after a hire. It states that it supports 64 ATS integrations; CSV import is an interim option when an ATS is unsupported. Direct payroll integration is not yet available, but the platform creates structured exports compatible with Silae, ADP, Sage, and PayFit. Its optional Copilot connects to Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Mistral, or another MCP-compatible assistant. That read-only connector shares limited candidate identity details and does not expose email addresses or phone numbers. Plans start at €99 a month, billed Sans engagement. The Scale plan costs €399 a month, billed Sans engagement, and adds an autonomous AI agent, SSO, advanced permissions, multiple workspaces, and HR training and onboarding.
Who it suits
Open Referral suits companies with 50 to 3,000 employees that still manage referrals manually. It may also fit HR teams seeking ATS-linked tracking and automated bonus management.
What it does well
- Supports 64 ATS integrations.
- Mobile browser referrals need no app installation.
- Automates eligibility checks and bonus calculations.
- Read-only AI connector omits candidate emails and phone numbers.
What to know first
- No free plan or free trial.
- Direct payroll integration is not yet available.
- Unsupported ATSs require interim CSV import.
Limits
The Essentiel plan costs €99 a month and includes the core referral product. The Scale plan costs €399 a month and adds an autonomous AI agent, SSO, advanced permissions, multiple workspaces, and training and onboarding.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Scale | Sans engagement · Everything in Essentiel · Autonomous AI agent · SSO and advanced permissions · Multiple workspaces · 1 hour of HR team training and onboarding | €399 a month |
| Essentiel | Sans engagement · Full product · AI Copilot connected to your assistant · Employee portal and ATS connection · Referral rules, candidate tracking, notifications, reporting, bonus management | €99 a month |
As openreferral.io lists them, read 30 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the Open Referral website
- Choose the Essentiel or Scale plan
- Connect the employee portal and ATS
- Set referral rules, notifications and bonus management
- Invite employees to submit referrals through the web form
Verdict
Open Referral brings referral submissions, ATS tracking, and bonus management into one workflow. Consider the lack of direct payroll integration and the paid plans when assessing fit.
Questions
How much does Open Referral cost?
Essentiel is €99 a month, billed without commitment. Scale is €399 a month, also billed without commitment.
Is there a free plan or trial?
No. Open Referral is paid and has neither a free plan nor a free trial.
Which platforms are supported?
The service is available through an API and web interfaces. Employees can also use a mobile browser without installing an app.
What ATS systems can it connect to?
Open Referral states that it supports 64 ATS integrations, including Lever, Greenhouse, Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Ashby, Teamtailor, SmartRecruiters, Recruitee, Personio, BambooHR and Workable.
Does it connect directly to payroll?
Direct payroll integration is on the roadmap. Structured exports are compatible with Silae, ADP, Sage and PayFit.
What does the AI connector share?
The optional MCP connector is read-only, minimizes identity to a first name and one initial, and does not expose candidate email addresses or phone numbers.
Facts from Open Referral's own pages
- AI connector
- The Copilot connects to Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Mistral, or another MCP-compatible assistant through a URL and user-authorized key. · openreferral.io, 30 Sept 2026
- AI data access
- The optional MCP connector is read-only, minimizes candidate identity to first name and one initial, and does not expose candidate email addresses or phone numbers to the assistant. · openreferral.io, 30 Sept 2026
- ATS integrations
- Open Referral states it supports 64 ATS integrations, including Lever, Greenhouse, Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Ashby, Teamtailor, SmartRecruiters, Recruitee, Personio, BambooHR, and Workable. · openreferral.io, 30 Sept 2026
- Data residency
- The FAQ says data is hosted only in Europe with no transfers outside the EU, while the privacy policy says some service providers may be outside the EU with GDPR safeguards. · openreferral.io, 30 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Paris, France · openreferral.io, 28 Sept 2026
- Limits
- If an ATS is unsupported, CSV import is available as an interim option; a direct payroll integration is not yet available. · openreferral.io, 30 Sept 2026
- Maker
- The service is operated by Open Referral SAS, registered in Paris, France; its about page identifies Amandine as co-founder and CEO and Michel as co-founder and CTO. · openreferral.io, 30 Sept 2026
- Mobile use
- Employees can submit referrals in a mobile browser without installing a mobile app. · openreferral.io, 30 Sept 2026
- Payroll
- Direct payroll integration is on the roadmap; meanwhile the product generates structured exports compatible with Silae, ADP, Sage, and PayFit. · openreferral.io, 30 Sept 2026
- Product
- Open Referral is a B2B platform that automates employee referral programs, including eligibility checks, bonus calculations, payroll exports, and follow-ups. · openreferral.io, 30 Sept 2026
- Referral workflow
- Employees browse open roles and submit referrals through a browser, while the service tracks candidates in the ATS and calculates bonuses when they are hired. · openreferral.io, 30 Sept 2026
- Security
- The privacy policy lists encryption in transit and at rest, strong authentication and access controls, security monitoring, regular backups, and staff data-protection training. · openreferral.io, 30 Sept 2026
- Support
- Support is available through in-app chat or email, with a stated response within the day; optional onboarding is available. · openreferral.io, 30 Sept 2026
- Target users
- The product is designed for companies with 50 to 3,000 employees that still manage referral programs manually. · openreferral.io, 30 Sept 2026
Where Open Referral stands on Freedom251
- Employee Referral Software#20 of 28