The Pour Over upgraded from Growsurf to SparkLoop.
Here’s their unfiltered opinion...
SparkLoop is the essential suite of tools for newsletter growth, trusted by thousands of leading media brands and newsletters.
Growsurf is a generic referral tool designed for software entrepreneurs. Ideal if you're building an app or SaaS product.
SparkLoop has a true, 2-click integration (and excellent relationships) with 15+ of the most popular email platforms. Plus the option to extend via our API and Zapier.
As a generic referral tool, Growsurf has only basic import and export functionality with a few email platforms. For a reliable integration, you'll need to invest weeks of developer resources.
With SparkLoop it's easy to run milestone referral programs, giveaways, or both. You can include a beautiful referral widget (including the subscriber's referral link) inside any email, or on any website.
Growsurf has milestone referral program functionality but no giveaways. Due to the lack of direct ESP integrations, it isn't possible to reliably include a personalised referral link inside of your emails.
SparkLoop makes fulfilling any kind of referral reward easy and fully automated. Including unique coupon codes, Zapier, digital goods and even merch/swag via our Printful integration.
Growsurf has some basic options for reward fulfilment, including coupon codes and digital rewards. Fulfilling any kind of physical reward, like branded merch, will be an expensive and manual process.
SparkLoop has industry-leading, fully customisable anti-fraud protection, built specifically for newsletters. It is the only solution proven to work at scale — even with huge giveaways and millions of subscribers.
Growsurf has in-built anti-fraud functionality. As a generic referral tool, their anti-fraud isn't optimised for how newsletter subscribers cheat — so you'll need to supplement with ongoing manual work.
SparkLoop is the solution of choice for seven of the world's ten biggest newsletter referral programs. Our security, scalability and extensibility are industry-leading. With designated account managers and fully customisable white-labelling.
As Growsurf is really designed for smaller software businesses, we couldn't find any information about their high-volume capabilities. It appears that certain elements of the platform can be white-labelled.
SparkLoop has tiered support from our team of newsletter growth experts. Including email, chat, and phone support. We also offer a concierge onboarding package for strategy support.
According to their website, Growsurf offers standard and priority support. This doesn't include phone-support or strategy support from someone with experience in newsletter growth.
As well as the core referral software, SparkLoop includes a suite of other tools to boost your audience growth. Including our one-click subscribe tool, Upscribe widget, Partner Network and more.
As a generic referral platform, Growsurf has great flexibility across all kinds of referral programs. From SaaS, to ecommerce, to one-off waitlists. Ideal if you aren't yet sure what your goals are.
There's a SparkLoop plan suitable for every newsletter operator. Starting at $16/month (paid annually) for up to 5'000 subscribers.
Growsurf plans start at $200/month for up to 10'000 subscribers. On average, operators who upgrade to SparkLoop find that Growsurf was costing them 3.7x more per referral.