By MacAdam Stafford · Plasma donor & referral researcher · Updated July 2, 2026
A real, donor-tested breakdown of pay rates, new donor bonuses, and referral mechanics - including the one referral that actually works when you sign up online.
I've donated plasma at both Grifols (Biomat USA) and Octapharma, so let me skip the fluff: their per-visit pay is very close. In July 2026, both pay roughly $50–$75 per donation for regular donors, and both run new donor promotions in the same ballpark — Grifols around $700–$900 your first month, Octapharma advertising up to $500–$1,000 depending on the center and current promotion. Anyone claiming one pays dramatically more than the other is usually cherry-picking a promo.
Where they genuinely split is the referral program. Both technically have one — but they work very differently. Grifols pays $100 per valid referral through a personal DonorHub code you enter during online SelfRegister, and it works at any Grifols center nationwide. Octapharma's refer-a-friend is worth about $50 total ($25 to each of you) but is same-center-only — your friend has to sign up and donate at the exact center you donate at, and there's no online auto-fill code. For anyone signing up online, that makes Grifols the only referral that actually works.
Here's the full head-to-head for 2026. Exact pay varies by location, your weight, and which promotions are running, so treat these as realistic ranges rather than guarantees:
| Feature | Grifols | Octapharma |
|---|---|---|
| Regular pay / visit | $50–$75 | $50–$75 |
| New donor (1st month) | $700–$900 | $500–$1,000 |
| Referral program | $100 · nationwide, any center | ~$50 · same-center-only |
| Online referral code | Yes — DonorHub auto-fill | No online code |
| 2nd visit of week pays more | Yes — significant split | Moderate |
| Loyalty program | Kedrewards (select) | OctaRewards (tiers) |
| Payment method | Prepaid debit card | Prepaid debit card |
| US locations | 300+ | 190+ |
For the full per-tier breakdown at each company, see our Grifols pay chart and Octapharma pay chart.
Both Grifols and Octapharma 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 | Octapharma / Visit |
|---|---|---|
| 110–149 lbs | $40–$55 | $40–$50 |
| 150–174 lbs | $45–$65 | $45–$60 |
| 175+ lbs | $50–$75 | $50–$70 |
The numbers are close enough that location matters more than brand. One real structural difference: Grifols front-loads the second donation of the week harder, so your second weekly visit can pay 20–40% more than your first. Octapharma's biggest strength on the regular-donor side is OctaRewards, a tier program that lifts your per-visit pay the longer you stay consistent. If you're a long-haul donor, OctaRewards is genuinely good; if you're optimizing the first month, the story is about bonuses and referrals.
This is where most people make their money, and it's roughly a tie — both offer an elevated rate across your first several donations:
| Stage | Grifols | Octapharma |
|---|---|---|
| New donor 1st month | $700–$900 | $500–$1,000 |
| Referral on top | +$100 (nationwide code) | ~$25 (same-center-only) |
| Loyalty upside | Kedrewards (select centers) | OctaRewards tiers |
This is the part most comparison pages get wrong. Both centers have a referral program, but they are not equivalent:
Personal DonorHub code entered during online SelfRegister · works at any Grifols center · $100 per valid referral
$25 + $25 refer-a-friend · friend must sign up and donate at your exact center · no online code
The practical takeaway: if you want a referral that actually works when you sign up online, Grifols is the one. You (or your friend) enter the Grifols DonorHub code during SelfRegister, book at any Grifols center, and the $100 is released after two donations within 180 days. Octapharma's referral can be worthwhile if you and your friend already both go to the same physical center — but it can't be used by someone registering online for a center you don't attend, and there's no code to enter.
💰 THE REFERRAL THAT WORKS ONLINE — GRIFOLS
Octapharma's referral is same-center-only, so it doesn't help most online signups. Grifols pays $100 through a DonorHub code you can enter during online SelfRegister — nationwide, any center.
Works at any Grifols (Biomat USA / Talecris) center · See full Grifols referral code guide →
Grifols runs 300+ centers; Octapharma runs 190+. For most donors it comes down to which has a center closer to you:
Strong in the South, Southwest & West Coast (Biomat USA, Talecris)
190+ centers nationwide · strong OctaRewards loyalty 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. Octapharma's OctaRewards interface clearly shows your tier progress, while Grifols leans more on individual center Facebook pages for promotions — so you have to do a little more legwork to catch Grifols "power week" bonuses.
New to donating entirely? Read our first-time donor guide so you don't get deferred on visit one.
On base pay and new donor bonuses, it's close to a coin flip — both pay $50–$75 a visit and land in the $500–$1,000 first-month range depending on the promo. Octapharma's edge is OctaRewards for long-term donors; Grifols' edge is a harder second-visit split and, crucially, a referral that works online.
So the practical recommendation: if you're signing up online and want to use a referral, go Grifols and enter code TwelveVerbal8736 during DonorHub SelfRegister for the $100 referral bonus at any center. If you already donate at a specific Octapharma center with a friend and love the OctaRewards climb, Octapharma is a fine home base — just know its referral won't help someone signing up online. Either way, you can donate at both over time for two separate new donor cycles.
⚕️ 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.