By MacAdam Stafford · Plasma donor & referral researcher · Updated June 14, 2026
A real, donor-tested breakdown of pay rates, new donor bonuses, payment cards, and ease - with the one honest tie-breaker most sites won't tell you.
I've donated plasma at both Grifols (Biomat USA) and CSL Plasma, so let me skip the fluff: they pay almost the same. Anyone telling you one center pays dramatically more than the other is usually trying to sell you something. In June 2026, both Grifols and CSL Plasma pay roughly $50–$75 per donation for regular donors, and both run new donor promotions worth $700–$900 in your first month.
So if base pay and new donor bonuses are basically a tie, what actually breaks the tie? The referral code. CSL Plasma has a public referral code you can enter at signup (U2M3CEACL4) that stacks roughly $50–$100 extra on top of the new donor bonus. Grifols has no public referral code at all. That single difference is why, for most first-time donors, CSL ends up paying more in month one - even when the per-visit numbers look identical.
Here's the full head-to-head for 2026. Remember that exact pay varies by location, your weight, and which promotions are running, so treat these as realistic ranges rather than guarantees:
| Feature | Grifols | CSL Plasma |
|---|---|---|
| Regular pay / visit | $50–$75 | $50–$75 |
| New donor (1st month) | $700–$900 | $700–$900 |
| Public referral code | None | Yes — U2M3CEACL4 (+$50) |
| 2nd visit of week pays more | Yes — significant split | Moderate |
| Payment method | Prepaid debit card | Prepaid debit card |
| Mobile app | Basic | Best in class (iGive Rewards) |
| US locations | 300+ | 300+ |
| Loyalty program | Kedrewards (select) | iGive Rewards |
| Lapsed donor reset | 6+ months | Varies |
For the full per-tier breakdown at each company, see our Grifols pay chart and CSL Plasma pay chart.
Both Grifols and CSL Plasma pay on a weight-tier system, because heavier donors can safely give more plasma per visit. Here's the realistic per-donation pay for regular (post-bonus) donors at each:
| Weight Range | Grifols / Visit | CSL / Visit |
|---|---|---|
| 110–149 lbs | $40–$55 | $40–$55 |
| 150–174 lbs | $45–$65 | $45–$65 |
| 175+ lbs | $50–$75 | $50–$75 |
The one real structural difference: Grifols front-loads the second donation of the week harder than CSL does. At Grifols, your second weekly visit can pay 20–40% more than your first, which rewards twice-weekly donors. CSL also pays more for the second visit, but the gap is smaller. If you can reliably donate twice a week, Grifols' split-pay structure is slightly more generous on the regular-donor side.
This is where most people make their money, and it's nearly a tie. Both companies offer an elevated rate across your first 8 donations:
| Stage | Grifols | CSL Plasma |
|---|---|---|
| New donor 1st month | $700–$900 | $700–$900 |
| Referral code on top | $0 (no code) | +$50–$100 (U2M3CEACL4) |
| Realistic 1st-month total | $700–$900 | $750–$1,000 |
Both Grifols and CSL Plasma pay onto a prepaid debit card immediately after each donation - usually before you even leave the chair. There's no waiting for a check, and you can spend or withdraw the same day. A few practical notes from donating at both:
Both run 300+ centers across the US, so for most donors it comes down to which has a center closer to you. Geographically:
Strong in the South, Southwest & West Coast (Biomat USA, Talecris)
Broad national coverage · strongest app & rewards program
If you're lucky enough to have both nearby, you can play them against each other - and even claim two separate new donor bonuses over time (more on that below).
The donation experience is genuinely similar. Your first visit at either takes 2–3 hours for the physical, health screening, and first donation. Return visits run 45–90 minutes. Where CSL has a small edge is the app: scheduling, bonus tracking, and balance checks all live in one place. Grifols leans more on individual center Facebook pages for promotions, which means you have to do a little more legwork to catch "power week" bonuses.
New to donating entirely? Read our first-time donor guide so you don't get deferred on visit one.
If you only care about base pay, it's a coin flip - both pay $50–$75 a visit and $700–$900 your first month. But "a tie on pay, plus a $50 referral bonus you can claim right now" isn't really a tie. CSL Plasma is the only one of the two where you can enter a code at signup and walk away with extra money for the exact same donation.
So the practical recommendation: start at CSL Plasma, use referral code U2M3CEACL4, claim the new donor bonus plus the referral bonus, then consider Grifols later for a second new donor cycle once your CSL pay drops.
💰 GRIFOLS HAS NO REFERRAL CODE — CSL DOES
Both pay about the same per visit, but only CSL Plasma lets you stack an extra $50 on top of the new donor bonus with a referral code at signup.
Works at all 300+ CSL Plasma locations · See full CSL bonus breakdown →
⚕️ Not medical advice. Plasma donation is a medical procedure, and pay varies by location, weight, and eligibility. Consult your plasma center's staff about eligibility and any health concerns before donating.