A fully custom in-app referral program buit in days, not months. A Growth Case Study.

Snitcher is a B2B SaaS platform that identifies website visitors to any business website, they recently launched a creative in-app referral program inside their product. By leveraging the Reditus referral platform, Snitcher built a fully customized, in-app referral page where each user can get their unique referral URL and earn points for every successful referral. Those points unlock exciting swag rewards (from branded gift boxes to AirPods and even iPads) instead of the usual cash or credit incentives. This case study explores how Snitcher implemented their referral program, why it’s noteworthy, and what other SaaS product teams can learn from it about driving growth through in-app referrals.

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What Is an In‑App Referral Program for SaaS?

In simple terms, an in-app referral program lets your existing users refer others directly from within your SaaS product interface. Each user gets a unique referral link (typically via our embed), but it can also be accessible in the app’s settings or profile page, which the users can share. When someone new signs up (and perhaps becomes a paying customer) via that link, the referral is tracked and both parties can be rewarded. It’s a proven growth tactic, essentially a digital, scalable and automated form of word-of-mouth marketing.

Unlike traditional affiliate programs which usually only reward the referrer (often with monetary commission), in-app referral programs typically use two-way incentives so that both the advocate and the friend they invite get something in return. For example, the referrer might receive credit or a reward, while the new user could get an extended trial or discount. This mutual benefit encourages more sharing because it creates a win-win for everyone.

For SaaS companies, referrals can be especially powerful. Research shows that a personal recommendation from someone you know is up to 50× more likely to trigger a purchase than a low-impact marketing touch. Referred customers also tend to stick around longer, as they are 18% more likely to stay and have about 16% higher lifetime value than non-referred users. In a subscription-driven business, these stats mean a well-crafted referral program can significantly lower customer acquisition cost and increase retention.

See here how to implement an in-app referral program for free using Reditus.

Why Snitcher Wanted an In‑App Referral Program

As a fast growing SaaS startup and being a leader in the website visitor identification space, Snitcher relies on reaching the right customers (marketing and sales teams who need more leads from their current website traffic). Much of their early growth came from product quality and happy customer recommendations. The Snitcher team recognized an opportunity to accelerate word-of-mouth by making it systematic; hence the push for an in-app referral program to create a “viral loop” of new signups within their own application.

Snitcher is already running their affiliate program via Reditus, but this is more focused on agencies, bloggers, and other people outside their application. The benefits here are more focused on money, and as the affiliate program requires a sign up, it has some friction for users to refer them. As they want to reward their users with monetary benefits, and the tracking for the affiliate program and the referral program is the same, it become a a no-brainer for them to set up an in-app referral program via Reditus as well.

Key goals for Snitcher included:

• Turning User Loyalty into Revenue: They wanted to empower their enthusiastic users to easily recommend Snitcher to peers, and in return reward those advocates. This aligns with Reditus’s core promise of transforming user loyalty into a growth engine. As they are a leader within the website identification space and have lots of great companies and reviews, they will have a big pool of users to activate.
• Embedded, Frictionless Sharing: As mentioned the affiliate program requires a sign up and is guiding users away from their app, Snitcher needed a frictionless in-app experience where users could refer others without leaving the product. Having the referral mechanism built inside the Snitcher app ensures maximum visibility and ease-of-use, which is crucial for adoption. They took it one step further than normal here, fully implementing it into their app by leveraging the Referral program API.
• Low Maintenance, High Automation: As a lean startup, Snitcher’s team didn’t want to build a complex referral system from scratch or manage payouts manually. They sought a solution that offers automated tracking and rewards so referrals run on autopilot. They are leveraging the webhooks from Reditus to awards points & rewards where needed. The idea that fraud detection is always taken care off, it gives peace of mind to the team.
• Cost-Effective Growth Channel: Traditional marketing channels can be expensive or saturated quickly. A referral program is a pay-for-performance channel, you only spend (in rewards) when a new customer actually converts. Even though Snitcher has already great CAC and growth rate, over time this can help them to lower CAC and create a sustainable acquisition channel over time.

See below some of the results Snitcher has been able to achieve for their clients;

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Implementing the In‑App Referral Solution with Reditus

As Snitcher already has the affiliate program running, it was only a matter of adding the widget or fully embedding the referral program in their app as the tracking was already in place. Reditus provides the backend infrastructure and tracking for affiliate & referral programs, while allowing SaaS teams to integrate it natively into their product UI if you want (or use our embed).

For Snitcher, using Reditus meant they could generate unique referral links for all their users with minimal development effort. However the did go the extra mile, as they built a fully custom Referral Program page in the user settings area of the Snitcher app. This page displays each user’s personal invite link (powered by Reditus on the back-end) and details about the rewards on offer. Snitcher took advantage of Reditus’s API and webhook options to ensure the referral workflow feels fully branded and seamless within their app, rather than a generic third-party portal or embed.

Several implementation highlights:

• Opt-In & Eligibility: Upon visiting the Referral Program page, Snitcher users can opt in to become advocates. (This step is important for GDPR/privacy and also ensures users want to participate, making their referrals more genuine.)
• Unique Referral URL: With one click, a user can copy their referral link or share it. Reditus automatically generated these unique URLs for each Snitcher user, so no two links are the same. The links track signups and attribute them to the referring user.
• Real-Time Tracking: Snitcher’s integration shows the advocate how many referrals they’ve made, and how many points and rewards they’ve earned, all updated in real-time. Reditus takes care of tracking every referred signup or conversion behind the scenes, sparing Snitcher from building that logic. This automated tracking and dashboard keeps users engaged, as they can see their progress anytime.
• Fraud Prevention: Referral programs can be abused, by running paid ads using the referral link. Reditus includes fraud detection features to protect Snitcher’s program integrity, so the team could confidently launch without fear of people gaming the sytem.
• Flexible Integration: Snitcher did everything custom; from the UI design of the referral page to defining custom reward rules, using Reditus as the engine. This showcases the flexibility of the platform. Their product managers has tailored the in-app look and feel, while the growth marketer could set the reward logic that fits Snitcher’s business model (points, swag & physical rewards in this case).

Snitcher managed to roll out this entire in-app referral system quickly with minimal engineering time; a huge win for a small team. By not reinventing the wheel, they avoided weeks or months of development.

A Unique Rewards Strategy: Points for Swag, Not Cash

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Snitcher’s referral program is its rewards structure. Instead of standard SaaS referral incentives like account credits, discount coupons, or recurring commission, Snitcher went with a points-based system that leads to physical swag items. Every time an advocate refers a new paying customer to Snitcher, they earn a certain number of points. As points accumulate, the user can redeem them for tiered prizes:

• Gift Voucher: At a low point threshold, referrers can get a voucher of their choice. Allowing the user to buy something themselves they like.
• Snitcher swag box: When referring more customers, they would receive a Snitcher gift box which is really clever. As people referred multiple people, they love the product, so most likely will wear + post about the swag box received; giving them even more visibility.
• Premium Gadgets (AirPods): At higher point levels, more premium rewards kick in. At the moment for tier the advocate would receive a pair of Apple AirPods.
• Grand Reward (iPad): At the top tier, a super advocate who brings in many new customers could receive an iPad or similar high-end gadget as a thank you.

This gamified, non-monetary reward approach is refreshingly creative for a B2B SaaS. It turns the referral program into a mini loyalty program, where users aspire to collect points and claim prizes.

Why does this work?

• Broader Appeal: Not all users are motivated by cash or credits. Some might value exclusive swag or cool gadgets more. In fact, giving advocates a choice of rewards or a range of options can boost engagement, since different people find different rewards appealing. Snitcher’s program implicitly does this by offering various tiers; a casual referrer might be happy with a swag box, while a highly motivated one can aim for the iPad.
• Brand Affinity: Swag rewards (especially those with Snitcher’s branding) turn your advocates into even bigger fans. When they use a Snitcher-branded hoodie or mug, it reinforces their connection to the product. It’s free advertising too, they might spark conversations with colleagues about the swag, leading to more organic referrals.
• Experiential Value: Receiving a physical gift feels tangible and personal. It can create a stronger positive emotional response than, say, a $50 credit on one’s account. This positive experience can encourage advocates to continue referring friends to “collect them all” or reach the next tier.
• Avoiding Discounting Traps: Some SaaS companies worry that giving too many credits or discounts as referral rewards might devalue the product or attract deal-seekers. Snitcher’s approach avoids that by keeping the core product pricing intact and rewarding advocates outside of the subscription model (with separate goodies).

“Choose the rewards that appeal to your audience, make it easy for people to refer, and promote the program regularly”

Tips for Building Your Own In‑App Referral Program

For product managers, marketers, or founders inspired by Snitcher’s in-app referral, here are a few takeaways and best practices to consider:

• Make It Native: Integrate the referral flow into your app’s UI/UX. Users should find their referral link in your app easily (e.g. in their account menu) and be able to refer friends without being redirected elsewhere. Leveraging our in-app referral widget or by creating an embedded page (like Snitcher’s) ensures maximum visibility and participation.
• Choose Incentives Wisely: Tailor rewards to what your users value. Whether it’s swag, feature upgrades, account credit, or cash, ensure the incentive aligns with user motivations and your brand. You can even offer a menu of reward options or tiers. Remember that appealing rewards (that don’t all have to be monetary) can dramatically increase engagement.
• Offer Two-Way Rewards: Whenever possible, reward both the referrer and the referred friend. For example, give the new customer a discount or bonus for using a friend’s link. This not only encourages more referrals but also improves conversion rate of those invites (since the friend has an added reason to try your service).
• Automate Tracking and Payouts: Use a reliable referral platform (like Reditus) or software to handle the nitty-gritty of tracking signups, attributing referrals, and issuing rewards. Manual tracking is error-prone and doesn’t scale. Automation ensures that every referred lead is properly tracked and rewarded automatically, saving you headaches and building trust with your advocates.
• Promote and Remind: “Build it and they will come” doesn’t apply if users don’t know about your referral program. Announce it via email, tooltips, or in-app notifications. Keep the momentum by periodically highlighting the program,for instance, after a user gives you a high NPS rating or achieves success with your product (these are great moments to ask for referrals). Consider featuring top referrers on a leaderboard or showcasing when someone earns a big reward (social proof that the program is active).
• Monitor and Optimize: Track key metrics, number of referral links shared, conversion rate of referred signups, top referrers, etc. Analyze what’s working and where drop-offs happen. For instance, if lots of links are shared but few conversions, maybe the referral incentive for the friend needs to be sweeter. Treat your referral program like a mini customer acquisition funnel that can be tweaked for better results.

Conclusion: Harnessing Referral Power – The Snitcher Way

Snitcher’s in-app referral program demonstrates the art of the possible for SaaS companies looking to boost growth through their own user base. As they are already a leader in their space, have a superior product and lots of happy customers they can quickly get results from it. By partnering with Reditus and thinking creatively, Snitcher launched a fully custom referral system that resonates with their users and reinforces their brand. It’s friendly, gamified, and integrated; lowering the barrier for users to become ambassadors.

For growth marketers and product leaders in SaaS, this case study is a reminder that referral programs can be a game-changing growth lever. When done right, they create a virtuous cycle of happy customers bringing in more customers, all at a fraction of the cost of traditional marketing. In Snitcher’s case, they’ve effectively turned their users into a volunteer salesforce, advocates who are excited to spread the word, not just for a commission, but for the fun and recognition of earning cool swag.

Is your SaaS product ready to tap into referral-based growth? Take inspiration from Snitcher’s case study. You don’t need a huge budget or a big team; just the right approach and tools.

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Ready to turn your users into advocates and accelerate your SaaS growth? Sign up for Reditus for free and launch your own in-app referral program. Who knows – your case study could be next, showcasing record signups and a vibrant army of happy referrers! 🚀