If you’re deciding between Cello and Rewardful for referrals, this page gives a practical comparison to help you choose. You’ll find a concise overview of what you need to build for each option, the trade‑offs around attribution reliability, in‑app UX, notifications, campaigns, and payouts, and practical pros/cons to inform your architecture.
Cello offers an embedded referral UI, built‑in journeys, and server‑first attribution that can reduce time‑to‑value; Rewardful provides a lightweight tracking layer suited to teams that plan to build out user experience and messaging orchestration themselves.
Overview
- In‑product referral UI: Cello embeds a panel directly in your application so users can copy links, view progress, and manage rewards without leaving your app.
- Snippet‑based tracking: Rewardful centers on a JavaScript snippet and REST API. You implement the user‑facing UI yourself or link out to an external portal.
Integration and UX embedding
| Topic | Cello | Rewardful |
|---|
| Referral UI embedding | Cello’s referral component embeds in your UI. Use a floating action button or a custom launcher to open an in‑app panel with a user’s referral link, status, and rewards. | Implements a JS snippet that exposes a browser API (rewardful function) to track conversions. No pre‑built in‑app referral panel; you build the user‑facing experience or use their portal. |
| Custom launcher / placement | Cello supports a custom launcher: attach any element (button, menu item, etc.) to open the referral panel; you may hide the default floating button. | No native embedded launcher. Teams wire up their own UI to call methods like rewardful('ready', ...) and rewardful('convert', {...}). |
Example
Cello Referral Component opens from a custom launcher in your product menu. This keeps the experience in‑app and aligned with your UI.
Rewardful does not provide a pre‑built in‑app referral panel; you build the user‑facing experience or use their portal.
Notifications and engagement
Cello includes an in‑app and email notification system for referral programs:
- In‑product alerts and badges: e.g., an alert under a “Rewards” tab with a badge on the launcher when a reward is earned.
- Announcements (callouts): anchored prompts for next actions (e.g., add payout details after earning a reward). Dismissible.
- Email notifications: lifecycle emails at moments such as welcome, first share, reward earned, and unclaimed reminders.
- Journey logic: timing based on behavior (e.g., alert now, follow‑up announcement after 7 days if no action; recurring reminders only for recently active users).
Example
Cello in‑app “new reward” notification prompts a user to add payout details in the referral component.
Rewardful does not include a native in‑app notification framework; Instead Rewardful exposes webhooks for events (e.g., referral created, converted, payout due). Teams typically connect these to their email/in‑app systems, requiring additional development effort.
Attribution: client vs server flow
| Topic | Cello | Rewardful |
|---|
| Client dependency | Backend‑centric attribution. Attribution runs on backend events (e.g., Stripe webhooks). SDK initialization can pass productUserDetails for identification and fraud checks (docs.cello.so). | Client‑side default. Requires snippet load and rewardful('convert', { email }) on a confirmation page. Referrals are linked via email lookup in Stripe (~24 h) (developers.rewardful.com). |
| Stripe / metadata | Server‑side, metadata‑based. Add cello_ucc and new_user_id to Stripe Customer / Checkout Session. Webhooks link and reward automatically — no client conversion call required (docs.cello.so). | Client‑dependent linking. Uses Stripe client_reference_id and a ~24 h email‑match window. Can be hardened with custom server logic (help.rewardful.com). |
In environments with strict CSP, script blockers, mobile apps, or server‑rendered checkouts, a server‑first pattern reduces dependency on client events. Rewardful can be configured server‑side but requires additional work.
Campaigns, rewards, and payouts
Campaign design and reward rules
| Aspect | Cello | Rewardful |
|---|
| Campaign flexibility | Multiple payout rules within one campaign: % commissions, fixed bonuses, reward caps, and new‑user discounts. | One reward type/rate per campaign. |
| Reward types | Combine % of revenue, fixed bonuses (e.g., signup or first purchase), and new‑user discounts in a single flow. | Choose either % commission or fixed amount per conversion. |
| Example setup | 50% of payments up to 100,plus5 signup bonus, and 50% discount for 6 months — in one configuration. | Set a % or fixed reward per conversion. |
| Double‑sided incentives | New‑user discounts integrated into campaign logic. | Possible via Stripe coupons (plan‑dependent). |
| Configuration | Managed in‑app or via API. | Configurable via REST API. |
Payout management
| Aspect | Cello | Rewardful |
|---|
| Fulfillment | Automated reward registration and payout initiation. | Tracks payout data; execution handled externally. |
| User experience | End‑users choose payout method (e.g., PayPal, Venmo) inside your app. | No native end‑user payout UI. |
| Workflow | Rules calculate rewards, trigger notifications, and mark payouts ready. | Commissions accumulate; payouts marked paid via dashboard/API. |
| Integration depth | In‑app payout management via hosted component. | Developer‑level API integration. |
Recurring rewards and multi‑month commissions
| Aspect | Cello | Rewardful |
|---|
| Recurring commissions | Native support for recurring and capped rewards (e.g., 50% for first 6 months). | Recurring commissions via Stripe renewals. |
| Granular controls | Explicit time bounds and reward caps in campaign setup. | Time‑bound rewards often require custom logic. |
| Common use cases | Multi‑month or capped rewards configured directly. | Lifetime or one‑off bounties are typical. |
| Implementation | Defined in campaign configuration. | Tracked via Stripe events. |
Summary: key differences
- In‑app referral UI vs snippet‑only: Cello includes an embedded panel; Rewardful provides tracking APIs.
- Notifications: Cello includes in‑app and email journeys; Rewardful relies on webhooks to power your own stack.
- Attribution: Cello is server‑first via Stripe metadata; Rewardful defaults to client conversion calls (server hardening is possible).
- Campaigns: Cello supports multiple reward rules per campaign; Rewardful focuses on a single reward type/rate.
- Payouts: Cello provides in‑app payout flows; Rewardful tracks balances and leaves payout UX external.
Select the option that best aligns with your integration model (in‑app vs external), attribution requirements (server‑side vs client‑side), and operational preferences (built‑in journeys vs custom tooling). 
