The Newsletter Referral Program That (Still) Pays Big in 2025

You should try it 100%

Mar 19, 2025

If you’re running a newsletter and not using this tool*, you’re leaving money on the table.

This referral program isn’t just a nice bonus —it’s a no-brainer for newsletter creators.

By recommending other newsletters through a simple widget that appears after someone subscribes to yours, you can earn good money with very little effort.

Here’s how you can do it.

SparkLoop

The tool is called SparkLoop*. It is a referral tool designed specifically for newsletter creators. It helps you grow your email list and earn money by incentivizing subscribers to refer others.

Key features include:

Custom referral links — Your own branded referral links that match your style.
Trackable referral traffic— See exactly where your subscribers come from.
Reward system— Offer perks like exclusive content, discounts, or cash rewards
In-depth analytics — Measure the impact of your referral program with detailed stats.
Upscribe widget— A powerful add-on that suggests newsletters for new subscribers to join.

We’re especially interested in Upscribe. More on that in a moment. But the general affiliate program is also a great asset to have, and the one I am currently making money with.

Why Newsletters Need SparkLoop

At first glance, SparkLoop might seem complex, but it’s pretty user-friendly.

The setup is simple, support is great, and you can start earning right away — even on the free plan.

I’ve been using the free version for years and have already made hundreds of dollars — without spending a dime. Not kidding. Free is all you need.

Here’s why it’s a must-have

1. Newsletters Are Bigger Than Ever

The newsletter industry keeps growing. I can’t believe it either.

And SparkLoop is a no-brainer for most of them.

2. No Downsides, Only Gains

SparkLoop is free to use, and its Upscribe widget is where the magic happens.

When someone subscribes to your newsletter, Upscribe pops up and recommends other newsletters they might like. If they sign up for one of the paid recommendations, *you get paid*.

SparkLoop integrates seamlessly with major email service providers (ESPs), including:

To use it, your ESP just needs API access and embeddable signup forms.

3. It Feels Like Free Money

Seriously, once you set it up, SparkLoop runs in the background, passively earning you money while you focus on your content.

You can include free recommendations if you just want to share great newsletters with your audience. Or you promote paid ones. Or both.

4. Your Earnings Keep Growing

Even small newsletters can rack good money for little work fairly quickly.

And as SparkLoop keeps expanding, so do the earnings.

How Much Can You Earn?

You can feature up to 5 recommendations in the Upscribe widget.
Each paid referral averages $2–3 per subscriber.
If someone subscribes to all 5, that’s **$15 per person.

Now, it is not that simple. SparkLoop does monitor signups to make sure people don’t just sign up and then unsubscribe.

You make money from the people who stay subscribed and, as we all know, that is not the same number as signups.

Nevertheless, you earn money. More than you would without this… which would be nothing.

How to Get Started With SparkLoop

It’s not complicated, and SparkLoop’s support team is lightning-fast if you ever need help.

Here’s a quick-start guide:

1. Sign up for SparkLoop *— Create an account.
2. Connect your ESP— SparkLoop works with most major email platforms.
3. Enable Upscribe — Activate the widget to recommend newsletters to your subscribers.
4. Choose your recommendations — Select paid newsletters (to earn money) or free ones.
5. Activate your widget — Just add a simple script to your signup form.
6. Track your results — Use SparkLoop’s analytics to optimize your earnings.

Here’s what the Upscribe widget looks like when live:

(Screenshot of Upscribe widget by author)

The Bottom Line

With the newsletter boom in full swing, SparkLoop* is a must-have for most email lists.

The only downside with SparkLoop is that there’s no way to use it with ESPs that don’t offer API access or directly integrate with SparkLoop. And one of those is unfortunately Substack, which is also one of the biggest newsletter platforms in 2025.

If you use Substack, you can still utilize SparkLoop in different ways, like link recommendations and affiliate links like I do (because I use Substack).

If you use other platforms like Kit (ConvertKit), MailerLite, etc., you should without a doubt sign up for SparkLoop* and give it a go.

There is no downside. Just upside.