How to Earn Passive Income with Referral Codes in 2026
Referral codes are one of the simplest ways to earn passive income. Here's exactly how to set up a referral income stream using tools you already use every day.
How to Earn Passive Income with Referral Codes in 2026
Referral codes are the simplest form of passive income available to anyone — no product to create, no inventory to manage, no customer service. You share a link. Someone signs up. You earn.
Here's exactly how to build a sustainable referral income stream in 2026.
Step 1: Start With Tools You Already Use
The most authentic (and highest-converting) referrals come from tools you genuinely use and love. Make a list of:
- Apps you use daily (productivity tools, banking apps, communication tools)
- Services you pay for (VPNs, cloud storage, project management)
- AI tools you're experimenting with
For each one, check whether they have a referral program. Most modern SaaS companies do — and they often pay generously because referred customers have lower acquisition costs.
Step 2: Understand the Numbers
Before promoting anything, understand what you'll earn:
Recurring vs one-time commissions: A 20% recurring commission is almost always better than a 50% one-time commission. Example:
- 50% one-time on a $20/month subscription = $10 once
- 20% recurring on a $20/month subscription = $4/month ($48/year from one customer)
Cookie duration: This is how long after clicking your link the sale counts as yours. 30 days is standard; 90+ days is excellent.
Minimum payout: Most programs pay out at $50-100 minimum. Factor this into how many referrals you need before seeing money.
Step 3: Choose Your Distribution Channel
Where you share matters enormously:
Blog/website: The most sustainable channel. An article that ranks on Google can generate referrals for years with zero ongoing effort.
YouTube: How-to videos generate massive intent. "How I use [tool]" or "[tool A] vs [tool B]" videos have long lifespans and high conversion.
Newsletter: If you have an email list, even 1,000 engaged subscribers can generate significant referral revenue.
Social media: Works for awareness but conversions are lower than intent-based channels (search, YouTube).
Partner.bz: Submit your referral codes here — thousands of people search for referral codes every day.
Step 4: Create Honest Content
The #1 mistake new affiliates make: writing fake reviews or generic "this tool is amazing" content.
What actually converts:
- Honest pros and cons
- Real screenshots of your results
- Specific use cases and who the tool is for (and who it's NOT for)
- Comparisons with alternatives
Readers can tell when a review is authentic vs when it's written just to earn a commission. Authentic content builds trust — and trust converts.
Step 5: Track and Optimize
Keep a simple spreadsheet:
- Which referral codes are you sharing?
- How many clicks are each getting?
- What's your conversion rate?
- Which channels are generating the most earnings?
Double down on what works, cut what doesn't.
Realistic Earnings Expectations
Month 1-3: €0-50. You're building your foundation.
Month 3-6: €50-200/month. Content starts ranking, referrals trickle in.
Month 6-12: €200-1,000+/month. Compounding effect kicks in.
Year 2+: €1,000-5,000+/month. Sustainable passive income.
The key is consistency. Most people give up in months 1-2. Those who persist reach the compounding phase.
Start Today
1. Browse all partner programs on Partner.bz
2. Find programs in categories you know: AI Tools, Fintech, SaaS
3. Sign up for the programs, get your referral codes
4. Submit your codes to Partner.bz — our community earns clicks every day
The best time to start was a year ago. The second best time is today.