Buffer's Refer a Friend Program

:::warning We're rolling out Refer a Friend to Buffer accounts in stages, so it may not be available for your account menu yet.

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The Buffer Refer a Friend feature allows Buffer customers to earn when they refer new paying customers to Buffer. When an eligible friend signs up on Buffer.com through your referral link, they get a 30-day trial of a paid Buffer plan. After their first payment, your organization gets $15 in Buffer credit. Your organization can earn credit for up to three friends, so $45 in total.

Getting your referral link

Your referral link and any credit it earns belong to your organization, not to one person. That's why only people who can manage billing for your organization can get the link.

1. In Buffer, open your account menu.
2. On the Refer a friend page, copy your link.

If you don't manage billing, you'll still see how the program works on the Refer a friend page, but not the link. Ask a teammate who handles billing to share it with you.

Sharing your link

Share your link with people you know, on your own channels like your social profiles, website, or blog, or in online communities whose rules allow it. Don't post it where people swap referral codes, coupons, or deals.

To keep the program fair for everyone:

• No spam. Don't send bulk or unsolicited messages, or share your link with contact lists you've bought or scraped.
• No paid ads. Don't promote your link with paid ads, including ads on searches for Buffer and ads that lead to a page with your link on it.
• Say you get credit. When you share your link publicly, or with anyone who may not know you'll get credit, mention it. Something like "I get Buffer credit if you subscribe through my link" works.

What your friend gets

Your friend gets a 30-day trial of a paid Buffer plan, instead of our standard 14 days, when they sign up on Buffer.com through your link.

A few things to know:

• New accounts only. They need to create a new Buffer account on Buffer.com, in a web browser, through your link. If they already have a Buffer account, or they sign up in the Buffer mobile app, the offer won't apply.
• One referral trial per person. Each person can get a Refer a Friend trial only once, even with a different email address or a new organization.
• Past paid plans don't qualify. If they've been a paying Buffer customer before, the trial won't apply.
• The last link counts. If they click more than one referral link, the last one they clicked within 30 days before signing up counts. A Buffer Partner's link always takes priority, even if they clicked yours later.

When you get your credit

Your organization earns $15 in credit after your friend's first payment on Buffer.com clears a validation window. It's the same length as our refund window:

• Monthly plans: 7 days
• Annual plans: 30 days

A $0 invoice, or one paid entirely with account credit, doesn't count as that first payment. If your friend gets a refund or disputes the charge during the window, the credit is canceled. If their subscription is still in a trial or has an overdue payment when the window ends, we may hold the credit for review.

You'll see the status on your Refer a friend page.

Credit is in US dollars. It goes to your organization's account balance and comes off future Buffer.com invoices billed in US dollars. It doesn't apply to subscriptions billed through the Apple App Store or Google Play.

FAQ

Can I earn credit on the Free plan?

Yes. Once your friend's payment clears the validation window, we add the $15 to your organization's account balance. It's used automatically when you start a paid subscription on Buffer.com, and you'll see your balance when you choose a plan.

What happens after I've referred three friends?

You can keep sharing your link after your third rewarded referral. Eligible friends still get the 30-day trial unless we've paused the offer, but no more credit is added. The limit is per organization, not per person.

Can I refer myself or another account I own?

No. Your link is for bringing someone new to Buffer. Using it to create another account for yourself, or another organization you own or control, doesn't count. Neither does referring someone who's already a member of your organization. Your friend also needs to pay with their own payment method, not yours. If we find credit was earned this way, we may remove it, and we'll let you know.

I referred friends before. Do I get credit?

No. Credit only applies to friends who sign up through your new link on or after October 28, 2026.

I shared an older referral link. Does it still work?

Yes, but older Buffer referral links only give your friend the Free plan, and they don't earn credit. To give your friend the 30-day trial and earn credit, share the new link from your Refer a friend page.

My friend signed up. Why isn't the referral showing?

For a referral to count, your friend needs to click your link, then create their new account on Buffer.com, in a web browser, within 30 days. We can't add a referral after someone has signed up.

Here's why a referral might not show up:

• They haven't paid yet. A referral shows up on your Refer a friend page after your friend's first payment, not when they sign up.
• They signed up in the mobile app. Only signups on Buffer.com count.
• They switched devices or browsers, or cleared their cookies. For example, they clicked your link on their phone and signed up later on a laptop.
• They used another link. They clicked someone else's referral link after yours, or they also used a Buffer Partner's link. A Partner link always takes priority.
• They're not new to Buffer. They already had a Buffer account, they've paid for Buffer before, or they've had a Refer a Friend trial.

What happens if Buffer changes the program?

We might update or pause the program from time to time. Changes to the offer, the credit, or who qualifies only apply to friends who sign up after the change. If we make a significant change, we’ll let you know by email.

Referring to an audience instead?

If you're a creator, educator, or agency and want to recommend Buffer to your audience, the Buffer Partner Program is a better fit.

:::info Have questions about our Refer a Friend Program? Email our team at hello@buffer.com and our Customer Advocates will be standing by to help.

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