Side-by-side comparison · 24 data points
Easily reach millions of new consumers and grow your business with Microsoft Advertising.
| Microsoft Channel | Referral Candy & Affiliate | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | ||
| Description | ||
| Screenshots | images | images |
| Languages | ||
| Platforms | ||
| Developer | ||
| Listed | ||
| Last updated | — | — |
Your all-in-one affiliate & referral marketing solution.
| Metric | Microsoft Channel | Referral Candy & Affiliate |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 3.2 ★ | ★ 4.9 ★ |
| Total reviews | 317 | ★ 1.5k |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing | Free to install | Free plan available |
| Built for Shopify | — | ★ Yes |
| Pricing tiers | 1 tier | ★ 4 tiers |
| Listed features | 3 | ★ 5 |
| Featured placements | 1 | — |
| Languages | 1 supported | 1 supported |
| Listed since | Sep 2019 | Sep 2010 |
Based on the data on this page, Referral Candy & Affiliate is the stronger choice for most Shopify App Store merchants — 4.9★ vs Microsoft Channel's 3.2★ is a meaningful gap that usually reflects real product or support quality differences across the user base. Pricing entry tiers: Microsoft Channel at Free to install, Referral Candy & Affiliate 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. Referral Candy & Affiliate has the larger user base (1,451 reviews vs 317), which usually maps to broader integration coverage, faster bug-fix cadence, and a deeper bench of community workflow patterns. Microsoft Channel's smaller cohort can be an advantage for niche workflows where the bigger app has accumulated bloat. Recommended by store size: small/early-stage merchants who need fast install and low risk should default to Referral Candy & Affiliate; mid-market and enterprise merchants with specific feature requirements should evaluate both — Microsoft Channel's 317-review base may include the workflow context that matches your specific use case better than Referral Candy & Affiliate's broader-but-shallower coverage. 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: Microsoft Channel audit • Referral Candy & Affiliate audit
| Keyword | Microsoft Channel | Referral Candy & Affiliate |
|---|---|---|
| chat channels | #5 | Not ranked |
| network | #5 | Not ranked |
| affiliate | Not ranked | #5 |
| affiliate program | Not ranked | #6 |
| affiliate programs | Not ranked | #8 |
Not featured in any section recently.
Both Microsoft Channel and Referral Candy & Affiliate offer paid plans only. Microsoft Channel starts at Free to install; Referral Candy & Affiliate starts at Free plan available. Compare the per-tier features in the Pricing section above before committing.
Referral Candy & Affiliate has the higher average rating (4.9★ from 1,451 reviews) compared to Microsoft Channel (3.2★ from 317 reviews). Both are tracked daily by AppRanks, so the figures here update each refresh cycle.
It depends on what you're optimizing for. Microsoft Channel fits better if you prioritize broader integrations; Referral Candy & Affiliate 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. Referral Candy & Affiliate has more onboarding documentation maturity (1,451 reviews vs 317), 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.
Microsoft Channel typically suits early-stage and growth-mode stores based on its review-base composition (317 reviews). Referral Candy & Affiliate aligns more with early-stage and growth-mode stores (1,451 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. Microsoft Channel and Referral Candy & Affiliate 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 Microsoft Channel" in each app's help center. AppRanks does not track migration tooling directly — this is a category-specific capability worth verifying before commitment.
