Is Cello built more for in-product referrals than classic affiliate programs?

Often, yes—Cello emphasizes embedded referral components and product-led referral flows, while Referello is designed to keep SaaS affiliate tracking and attribution simple and Stripe-first.

Does Cello track referrals in Stripe without relying only on cookies?

Cello describes a Stripe integration that uses webhooks and metadata to persist attribution to Stripe customer records, which is generally more durable than cookie-only setups.

Does Cello charge transaction fees?

Cello notes a payment transaction fee can apply for the Partner Referral product, which is one reason some teams prefer Referello's flat-rate pricing approach.

Will my existing referral links and historical attribution migrate automatically?

Typically not—most platforms can import affiliates and program settings, but historical attribution identifiers and old cookies usually don't transfer cleanly, so you should plan for tracking to restart on new clicks.

Can I migrate my affiliates from Cello to Referello with a CSV?

In most cases, yes—export your partner list from Cello, import to Referello, then re-invite affiliates so they can access the new portal and fresh referral links.

Can I run Cello and Referello in parallel during migration?

Yes—many teams run a short overlap window while they validate tracking, verify Stripe attribution, and ensure partner-facing assets (portal, links, payouts) are working as expected.

How much engineering work should I expect when switching?

It depends on your current implementation, but most migrations involve swapping tracking snippets, confirming Stripe connectivity, and validating events end-to-end with a few test conversions.

Updated January 17, 2026

The Stripe-First Alternative to Cello

Cello is a strong user-led growth platform with Stripe-based attribution and managed payouts, but its tiered limits and revenue-aligned pricing can feel expensive as you scale. Referello is the simpler Cello alternative: flat $29/mo, unlimited affiliates, and Stripe-first tracking.

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Pricing Drift

Because Cello packaging is tiered around referral performance and can include caps on partners or partner campaigns depending on plan, the total monthly cost can climb quickly once the channel works and you need more scale.

Plan Limits

Teams can run into constraints like capped partner counts or capped partner campaign counts on lower tiers, which can force an upgrade earlier than expected when you expand partnerships and experiments.

Setup Overhead

Cello’s SDK plus Stripe metadata/webhook flow is powerful but typically requires coordinating frontend capture, backend logic, and event wiring, which can add engineering overhead compared with a simpler Stripe-first affiliate tracker.

If you’re searching for a Cello alternative (or comparing Cello vs Referello) for a SaaS affiliate program, you’re likely trying to solve one core problem: reliably attributing referrals to real subscription revenue inside Stripe. Cello positions itself as a referral platform for user referrals and partner programs, with an in-product experience powered by an SDK and a Stripe integration that uses webhooks + metadata to connect signups and payments back to the right referrer. This makes Cello appealing for product-led growth teams that want referral sharing embedded in the product and automated payouts. Where many SaaS teams start to hesitate is the operational side of scaling: pricing and limits. Cello’s pricing and packaging are designed around tiers (including caps like partner counts and partner campaign counts on some plans), and their pricing model is often framed as “success-based” or revenue-aligned—which can be great when you’re experimenting, but can also increase spend once the channel starts working. If your priority is a straightforward affiliate tracking software setup for Stripe (with predictable cost, unlimited affiliates, and clean last-touch attribution), those tier boundaries and add-on dynamics can become friction over time. That’s why Referello is a go-to alternative to Cello for SaaS founders who want a modern, Stripe-first affiliate tracker without the complexity tax. Referello focuses on the essentials that make affiliate programs scale: fast setup, reliable attribution, unlimited revenue tracking, unlimited affiliates, a branded affiliate portal, and clear reporting—bundled into a flat monthly price so you can grow partner volume without constantly re-evaluating plan limits.

Feature Breakdown

Core Features	Cello	Referello
Flat monthly pricing Costs scale with tiers and referral performance.	Missing
Instant Stripe referral tracking Server-side Stripe webhooks attribute revenue instantly.	Included
Reliable last-touch attribution Locks referral on Stripe customer metadata.	Deterministic
Unlimited revenue tracking User referral ARR caps; upgrades needed to scale.	Tiered
Drop-in tracking script JS SDK snippet added to your site header.	Included
Auto-generate referral codes Personal referral links auto-created for each partner.	Included
Real-time conversion feed Real-time analytics and referral performance dashboards.	Included
0% revenue share Partner product may add a transaction fee.	5% fee
Unlimited affiliates Partner counts scale by tier; not always unlimited.	Tiered
Easy setup effort More moving parts: SDK, backend, and webhooks.	Medium
No campaign limits Partner campaign limits vary by plan tier.	Tiered
No team member limits Team-seat limits aren't clearly surfaced on pricing.	Not stated
Branded affiliate portal Partners get a branded portal for links and stats.	Included
Custom domain Branding included; custom domain not explicitly listed.	Not stated
Coupon code tracking Supports Stripe coupons for referral discounts.	Stripe coupons
Automatic payouts Automated payouts with PayPal/Venmo options.	Included
Self-referral abuse prevention Refund clawbacks and verification reduce self-referral abuse.	Included

Which tool is right for you?

Choose Cello if you want a heavier in-product referral platform and you’re comfortable scaling within tiered partner/campaign limits. Choose Referello if you want the best-value Cello alternative with flat-rate pricing, unlimited affiliates, and straightforward Stripe-first affiliate tracking.

The Referello Difference

Built specifically for Stripe SaaS Founders.

We focus on one thing: Making affiliate tracking seamless for Stripe. No clunky integrations, no enterprise bloat.

2-Minute Setup
Automatic Commissions
Simple Flat Pricing ($29/mo)

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No credit card required · 14-day free trial

"I switched from Cello because I was tired of paying monthly fees for features I didn't use. Referello is exactly what I needed."

SaaS Founder

Verified User

Final Verdict

Cello is a solid choice if your top priority is an in-product, PLG-style referral experience with a deeper SDK workflow and managed payout rails. But if you’re evaluating a Cello alternative because you want the simplest path to scalable affiliate revenue—predictable pricing, fewer tier surprises, and unlimited growth without constantly watching partner/campaign caps—Referello is the better fit. With Referello, you get Stripe-first tracking, clean attribution, and an affiliate platform built to grow with you for a flat monthly price.

Migration Steps

Audit your current Cello setup (campaign rules, reward logic, partner tiers, and payout settings) and export partner lists and any internal mappings you rely on for reporting.
Connect Referello to Stripe, recreate your key commission structures, and mirror your program rules at a high level (rates, eligibility, and any guardrails) without copying plan-specific constraints.
Import or invite affiliates into Referello, then regenerate referral links/codes as needed and re-issue partner invitations so everyone can access the new branded portal.
Swap tracking by removing or disabling the Cello SDK where applicable and adding the Referello tracking snippet, then ensure your Stripe connection is live so new signups and payments attribute correctly.
Run a short validation period with test clicks, test subscriptions, and payout simulations, then monitor early conversions to confirm attribution, reporting, and partner experiences look right before fully sunsetting Cello.

Historical attribution and existing client-side identifiers typically do not transfer; run a brief overlap period and expect new clicks to start fresh.