What is a referral code? How it works
A referral code, also called an invite code, is a short code you enter when you sign up: platforms use it to control who can register or to record who recommended you. An invite link usually carries the code already.
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What is a referral code?
A referral code is a code you enter when you sign up, and it is used in two common ways:
- Registration control: only people who received an invitation can sign up. It can cap the number of members, keep out mass sign-ups, or let a few people try a service before it opens. These codes are usually issued by administrators and are often single-use (see the references at the end).
- Referral: the code records who recommended you, and the platform then rewards the referrer, the new member or both under its own rules.
On most platforms "invite code" and "referral code" mean the same thing. An invite link is a web address that usually already carries the code, so the sign-up page often fills it in; when a link carries no code, you type or paste it yourself.
How does a referral code work?
A code is usually tied to your account when you register: you enter it, or you open the sign-up page from an invite link, and the platform records the referrer. Whether you can add one later depends on the platform.
Rewards usually come with conditions, such as identity verification, qualifying spending, a time limit and region. Two examples this site checked against the official pages on October 25, 2026:
- ShopBack: when conditions are met, both the referrer and the new member get a reward. The terms require the new member, within 180 days of registering, to complete qualifying orders through ShopBack and have the cash back turn "Confirmed"; the invitation counts only when every condition is met.
- ether.fi: the official referral scheme is an affiliate program. Its terms require signing up through the link, activating the card and making a qualifying purchase; no reward specific to the invited person is stated.
Actual conditions and amounts follow each platform's announcements.
What should I check before using a referral code?
Check the link domain, update date, region limits and the platform's terms before you use a code:
- Link domain: the sign-up address should be one of the platform's official domains. Every entry on this site lists its "Link domain"; compare it before you register.
- Update date: codes and campaigns can change or end at any time. Entries not updated for more than 180 days are marked "May be out of date".
- Region and regulatory notices: some platforms serve only certain regions or carry a regulator's warning. For example, this site's Pionex page keeps a warning from Taiwan's Securities and Futures Bureau (listed on an association website): not registered under the Company Act, so it may not serve or solicit in Taiwan.
- Platform terms: self-referral, multiple accounts and some ways of promoting a link are often banned; the terms of ShopBack and ether.fi both prohibit self-referral.
- Safety: never pay for a code, and never hand your password or verification codes to anyone.
How does this site list referral codes?
This site gathers each platform's referral code and sign-up link in one place. Every entry shows its "Link domain" and its "Updated" date so you can compare before you register.
"Sign up" opens the link the platform provides in a new tab, and the site does not rewrite it. When a platform's code is not part of its link, the site copies the code first so you can paste it on the sign-up page.
This site contains referral links and may earn a reward when you sign up; the details of rewards and offers are set by each platform's own terms. See "About and disclosure" in the footer.
Frequently asked questions
Platform rules differ. These are common practices, so check the platform's terms.
Can I enter my own referral code?
Usually not: the platform may withhold the reward or cancel eligibility. The terms of ShopBack and ether.fi both prohibit self-referral.
Do referral codes expire?
They can. A code may have a time limit, and it may stop working when a campaign ends or the platform changes its rules.
Can I add or correct a code after signing up?
Not always. Some platforms only recognize the referrer attached at registration, so check that the code field is filled in or pasted before you register.
Can a referral code be used only once?
Not necessarily. A code that works as an entry pass is often one person per code; a code for recommending the platform can usually be used by several friends, though some platforms limit the number of people or the time.
References
Wikipedia article on invitation codes(opens in a new tab) (in Chinese); ShopBack invite-a-friend terms(opens in a new tab) (official, in Chinese).