Side-by-side comparison · 24 data points
Referral program software that builds brand trust, increases brand advocators and generates revenue.
| AfterShip Referral & Affiliate | BL External Links Button | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | ||
| Description | ||
| Screenshots | images | images |
| Languages | ||
| Platforms | ||
| Developer | ||
| Listed |
Add external link buttons. Create custom affiliate links for Amazon, eBay, AliExpress, and more.
| Metric | AfterShip Referral & Affiliate | BL External Links Button |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9 ★ | ★ 5.0 ★ |
| Total reviews | ★ 962 | 19 |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing | Free | Free plan available |
| Built for Shopify | — | ★ Yes |
| Pricing tiers | — | 3 tiers |
| Listed features | 5 | 5 |
| Languages | 1 supported | 9 supported |
| Listed since | Jun 2021 | Oct 2024 |
AfterShip Referral & Affiliate and BL External Links Button are evenly matched on rating (4.9★ vs 5.0★) — the differentiator comes down to pricing fit, feature breadth, and which app's interaction pattern suits your team's workflow. Pricing entry tiers: AfterShip Referral & Affiliate at Free, BL External Links Button at Free plan available. Check each app's tier structure for the capacity limits you actually need before deciding — the headline number is the same shape, but the gating shape per tier (apps, orders, integrations) varies. AfterShip Referral & Affiliate has the larger user base (962 reviews vs 19), which usually maps to broader integration coverage, faster bug-fix cadence, and a deeper bench of community workflow patterns. BL External Links Button's smaller cohort can be an advantage for niche workflows where the bigger app has accumulated bloat. Recommended evaluation path: install both apps' free tiers (where available) and run them in parallel on a small cohort of orders for 7-14 days before committing. The data tables below show the per-feature breakdown — for most merchants the deciding factor will be a single integration or workflow detail that's hard to compare from listing pages alone. This verdict is generated from the live marketplace data on this page — rating, review count, pricing tier, and category position all refresh from the canonical Shopify App Store listing every 24 hours. AppRanks does not accept payment to influence comparison outcomes; the methodology is documented on the About page and applies identically to every pair on the site.
Read each app's audit: AfterShip Referral & Affiliate audit • BL External Links Button audit
| Last updated | — | — |
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| Keyword | AfterShip Referral & Affiliate | BL External Links Button |
|---|---|---|
| affiliate program | #14 | #24 |
| affiliate programs | #20 | #19 |
| affiliate | #14 | Not ranked |
| affiliate links | Not ranked | #14 |
No tracked changes.
Both AfterShip Referral & Affiliate and BL External Links Button offer paid plans only. AfterShip Referral & Affiliate starts at Free; BL External Links Button starts at Free plan available. Compare the per-tier features in the Pricing section above before committing.
AfterShip Referral & Affiliate (4.9★, 962 reviews) and BL External Links Button (5.0★, 19 reviews) are essentially tied on rating. Look at review velocity and individual reviewer quotes — both visible on each app's detail page — to differentiate.
It depends on what you're optimizing for. AfterShip Referral & Affiliate fits better if you prioritize broader integrations; BL External Links Button is the call if you need the higher-rated option. Read both apps' detail pages on AppRanks for the full feature breakdown, install counts, and recent listing changes.
Both apps are one-click installs from the Shopify App Store marketplace. AfterShip Referral & Affiliate has more onboarding documentation maturity (962 reviews vs 19), which usually translates to better-tested setup wizards and quicker time-to-value. AppRanks doesn't measure setup time directly — read the recent reviews on each app's detail page for merchant-reported install experience.
AfterShip Referral & Affiliate typically suits early-stage and growth-mode stores based on its review-base composition (962 reviews). BL External Links Button aligns more with early-stage and growth-mode stores (19 reviews). Larger review bases generally mean the app has been load-tested at scale — relevant if you're processing high order volume or handling enterprise compliance requirements.
Migration support varies by app and category. AfterShip Referral & Affiliate and BL External Links Button both publish their export options on their marketplace listing pages (or in their support docs); some apps offer one-click import from competitors, others require CSV. The fastest check: search "import from BL External Links Button" in each app's help center. AppRanks does not track migration tooling directly — this is a category-specific capability worth verifying before commitment.
