How we compare

CardLinks vs. the alternatives

Most small businesses are tracking referrals the same way they did in 1995. Here's how the options stack up.

Capability	"Mention our name"	Generic QR	Link-in-bio	Loyalty app	CardLinks
Referrer → referred attribution	❌	❌	❌	⚠️ App required	✅
No app for customers	✅	✅	✅	❌	✅
Conversion tracking	❌	❌	⚠️ Limited	⚠️ Limited	✅
Automatic reward triggers	❌	❌	❌	✅	✅
NFC tap support	❌	❌	❌	❌	✅
CRM / booking sync	❌	❌	❌	❌	✅
Multi-location attribution	❌	❌	❌	⚠️ Limited	✅
Set up in <10 minutes	✅	✅	✅	❌	✅
ROI dashboard	❌	❌	⚠️ Click data only	⚠️ Limited	✅

What you're choosing between

🗣️ "Ask them to mention your name"

The original referral program. You tell happy customers to recommend you, and hope new customers mention who sent them. No tracking. No reward automation. No proof.

The problem: You can't reward your best referrers, optimize what's working, or prove referral ROI — because none of it is tracked.

📷 Generic QR code generator

Tools like QR Code Monkey, Beaconstac, or your POS system's built-in QR. Gives you a scannable code but no referral flow, no attribution, no conversion tracking, no rewards.

The problem: A QR code is just a URL shortener. It tells you someone scanned — not who referred who or what happened next.

🔗 Link-in-bio tools

Linktree, Beacons, etc. Useful for sharing multiple links from a social profile. Not designed for referral attribution — there's no concept of "this person referred that person."

The problem: Click data only. No referrer identity, no conversion event, no reward trigger, no CRM sync.

📱 Loyalty app (Fivestars, Stamp Me, etc.)

Customer loyalty apps that can include referral features. Usually requires both you and your customers to download and manage an app. Setup is complex and customer adoption is often low.

The problem: Customers don't want another app. App-required referral programs have 5–10x lower participation than app-free alternatives.

See CardLinks in 20 minutes

Book a demo and we'll show you the full referral flow — from tap to tracked attribution — for your business type.

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