BL External Links Button vs Referral Program ‑ Shopjarfor Shopify (2026)
BL External Links Button and Referral Program ‑ Shopjar both operate within the Shopify affiliate programs category, but serve fundamentally different purposes and target distinct merchant needs. BL External Links Button, with a perfect 5/5 rating, appears to be a specialized tool, likely focusing on easily adding external links to a Shopify store. Given the low number of reviews (9), it probably caters to a niche market segment or is a relatively new app. Referral Program ‑ Shopjar, on the other hand, is a comprehensive referral program solution designed to incentivize customer referrals and grow sales. Its higher number of reviews (86) and slightly lower rating of 4.9/5 suggest broader adoption and a wider range of features geared towards managing and optimizing referral campaigns.
At a Glance
BL External Links Button
9 reviews
Referral Program ‑ Shopjar
86 reviews
Detailed Overview
Feature Comparison
| Rating | 5/5 | 4.9/5 |
Rating BL External Links Button5/5 Referral Program ‑ Shopjar4.9/5 | ||
| Reviews | 9 | 86 |
Reviews BL External Links Button9 Referral Program ‑ Shopjar86 | ||
| Primary Function | Adding External Links | Referral Program Management |
Primary Function BL External Links ButtonAdding External Links Referral Program ‑ ShopjarReferral Program Management | ||
| Target Merchant | Merchants needing simple external link integration | Merchants seeking customer acquisition through referrals |
Target Merchant BL External Links ButtonMerchants needing simple external link integration Referral Program ‑ ShopjarMerchants seeking customer acquisition through referrals | ||
| Complexity | Likely Simple | Likely More Complex |
Complexity BL External Links ButtonLikely Simple Referral Program ‑ ShopjarLikely More Complex | ||
| Customer Acquisition Focus | Indirect (via external links) | Direct (via referrals) |
Customer Acquisition Focus BL External Links ButtonIndirect (via external links) Referral Program ‑ ShopjarDirect (via referrals) | ||
| Marketing Budget Suitability | Suitable for any budget, potentially free. | May require a marketing budget to incentivize referrals. |
Marketing Budget Suitability BL External Links ButtonSuitable for any budget, potentially free. Referral Program ‑ ShopjarMay require a marketing budget to incentivize referrals. | ||
| Maturity of App | Newer or more niche | More established |
Maturity of App BL External Links ButtonNewer or more niche Referral Program ‑ ShopjarMore established | ||
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Conversion Audit
Our Verdict
For Shopify merchants looking for a straightforward solution to add external links to their store, perhaps for affiliate product promotions or linking to partner sites, BL External Links Button is likely the better choice. The perfect rating, while based on a smaller sample size, suggests a well-executed and focused application. Conversely, merchants aiming to significantly expand their customer base through incentivized word-of-mouth marketing and needing a comprehensive referral program management system should opt for Referral Program ‑ Shopjar. The larger number of reviews provides greater confidence in the app's capabilities and support, despite the slightly lower rating, indicating the broader functionality may come with a few minor issues.
Common Questions
Which app is easier to set up and use?
Based on the descriptions, BL External Links Button is likely simpler to set up since it performs a more basic function. Referral Program ‑ Shopjar, with its wider feature set, probably involves a more complex setup process.
Which app is more focused on direct sales?
Referral Program ‑ Shopjar is explicitly designed to drive sales through customer referrals. BL External Links Button may indirectly contribute to sales if the external links lead to affiliate products or partnerships.
Which app is more suitable for a new store?
BL External Links Button could be beneficial even for a new store needing to point to external resources. Referral Program - Shopjar is usually more effective when there is an existing customer base for referrals to occur.
Do either of these apps offer a free plan?
The information provided doesn't specify whether either app offers a free plan. Further research on the Shopify App Store would be needed to determine their pricing models.
Does a higher rating always mean the app is better?
Not necessarily. A higher rating based on a small number of reviews (like BL External Links Button) may not be as reliable as a slightly lower rating with a significantly larger number of reviews (like Referral Program ‑ Shopjar).
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