Side by side
Ambassador vs RefRef
Both stand on customer-to-customer (c2c) community marketing software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Paid APIWeb
Ambassador brings referral, advocacy, loyalty, and related programs into one platform with APIs, integrations, and reporting options. Review engine selection, contact requirements, onboarding fees, and the platform’s stated scope before committing.
Visit Ambassador
Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb
RefRef offers both hosted and self-hosted referral program options, with multiple attribution models and reward types. Its alpha status and infrastructure requirements are important considerations, particularly for self-hosting.
Visit RefRefThe facts
| Ambassador | RefRef | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Web | API, Self-hosted, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Predictive/Recommendation Engine: $100 a month | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 11 | 3 |
| Maker | Ambassador | Not published |
| Website | getambassador.com | refref.ai |
| On customer-to-customer (c2c) community marketing software | #6 of 20 | #2 of 20 |
Ambassador: what it does well
- Nine engines cover lifecycle program functions
- Public REST API and signed webhooks
- Integrates with major business systems
- Fraud controls and referral links
- Multiple reward payout types
What to know first
- No free plan or free trial
- Pricing is scoped to program goals and size
- Does not source creators or affiliates
- Some plans require one-time onboarding fees
RefRef: what it does well
- Free cloud and self-hosted plans
- Unlimited programs and participants
- First-, last-, and multi-touch attribution
- REST API and webhook events
- Supports multiple reward types
What to know first
- Project is still in alpha
- Self-hosting has specific server requirements
- Open Source plan support is community-based
Alternatives to Ambassador Alternatives to RefRef The whole list