Let’s talk mystery shopping. I used to have a lot of fun doing mystery shopping back in the day, so I thought I’d put it out here too.
First things first, what actually is mystery shopping? I know it sounds like such a weird and almost too good-to-be-true kind of side hustle because you’re getting paid to shop. But there are a couple of things that actually go into it. As the name suggests, you are secretly shopping in either a store, on a website, calling them, or experiencing a different service. You’ll get given a brief for the job, and there’ll be a bunch of questions on a report that you’ll need to fill out based on whatever they’re looking to evaluate, like their level of service, the product, and so on.
Companies just want to make sure their standards are actually being met. And honestly, it’s a lot cheaper for them to pay someone to go out for lunch or test a service than to send someone from the head office around the country. So yes, you’re getting paid, but you’re also being hired to do a job, and you do need to take it seriously. That’s why they ask for ID or details, because they’re trusting you with their brand. Also, the size of the city you live in is going to dictate how much money you make, since larger cities will have more opportunities. In major cities, you can pretty much work every day.
Legts get into the list.
1. MarketForce
Marketforce is a super beginner-friendly mystery shopping site. The app is called Eyes on Global, and it shows available gigs on a map, which is great if you don’t want to drive too far. You can filter by distance and pick things nearby. Their tasks primarily involve food, movies, wellness, and retail, and you are paid via direct deposit once a month. Most of the gigs I saw were in the $5 to $30 range. you can also wait for pay to go higher, don’t take jobs at the base. I only do bonus shops for them. Never had a job rejected, always got paid. Marketforce works in North America and Canada.
2. Field Agent
Field Agent is not as high-paying as other mystery shopping companies, but they have so many jobs that you can do at places you’re already going to anyway (grocery stores, electronics stores, etc). It’s usually under $20 per task. Most I’ve seen/completed are between $3–$10. Most tasks usually take 15 mins or less, and the app will walk you through step by step as you’re doing the assignment. Field Agent pays on the same day, but you still have to transfer the money to your bank account, which is usually pretty quick. Field Agent works in Australia, Canada, Ecuador, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
3. iShopForIpsos
iShopForIpsos is another mystery shopping site you can try, with an app available for both Android and iOS. ou get paid to visit stores, sometimes shop or take photos, and submit a report. Most tasks pay between $10–$30, depending on the type and location. They pay through PayPal with no minimum payout. Just like the rest, you’ll have to apply for tasks, sometimes take a short quiz, and wait for approval. iShopForIpsos is available in United States, Canada, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Hungary, Switzerland, Austria, UAE, Jordan, Kuwait, Thailand, India, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
4. Shepper & Roamler
For those of you in the UK and Europe, there is Shepper, it’s a mystery shopping app or shop inspection, and they have an app. Shepper has a regular live broadcast where they tell you what jobs are coming and on what day. There is also Roamler, which has more consistent jobs, but you need an invite code to join Roamler, and since I am not from the Europe, I don’t use Roamler, but you might be able to find invite on code on subreddits like beermoneyuk or you can ask someone on the subreddit for it. Shepper works in the UK and Ireland, and Roamler works in the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Poland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
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5. Smart Spotter
For my Aussie readers, there are a few mystery shopping apps that are definitely worth checking out. Smart Spotter and Snooper are two of the most popular ones, and they’re pretty similar. Both offer quick, little tasks like taking photos of product displays, checking stock levels, or confirming whether certain promotions are set up properly in stores. You usually don’t have to buy anything, and most tasks pay around $10 to $15. They’re super easy to do while you’re already out shopping, and payments are usually processed fast within 24 hours, but they have a minimum cashout amount. Another good one is Field Agent, which also works in Australia.
6. Bestmark
If you’re looking for variety, Bestmark is a solid pick. They’ve been doing this for 35+ years and offer three kinds of tasks: traditional mystery shopping, short customer interviews, and compliance checks (like checking if signage and prices are correct). You can get paid via check or direct deposit, depending on your region, and I saw offers ranging from $10 to $25 per assignment, sometimes more in big cities. It’s also one of those apps where experience helps you unlock better tasks over time. Bestmark works in the US and Canada.
7. Intouch Insight
InTouch Insight is a Canadian mystery shopping company, and they’ve been around for over 40 years, with big brands like 7-Eleven. They have a site (and app too) where you can sign up as a shopper and get assignments mostly across Canada and the U.S. Most jobs involve visiting stores, interacting with staff, or using hidden cameras, while others are as simple as making a phone call or filling out a survey from home. Pay is usually between $10–$20 per assignment. They pay twice a month and only pay via PayPal.
8. Coyle
Coyle is high paying, but compared to the rest, they nitpick like crazy, and they are very strict about it. It is not the company you want to start with. They are very persnickety and demanding, and have mostly high-value reimbursements. If you mess up one thing, you won’t get paid. Also, Coyle has some good shops, but they are outrageous with their requirements for reviewing reports. Expect to get emails on clarification, further explanation, etc. Coyle works in almost every country.
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9. Sinclair Customer Metrics
Next up is Sinclair mystery shopping. What I liked most about Sinclair is that it doesn’t pressure you. You can accept or ignore gigs without worrying about being penalized. They have a cool mix of in-person, phone, and even video mystery shopping (they send you a little hidden camera setup if you qualify). Most jobs pay between $10 and $20, sometimes more for video ones. Payments come by check once a month. It’s perfect if you want to pick things up only when it fits your schedule. Intelli Shop is available only in the US and Canada.
10. Intelli Shop
IntelliShop is another mystery shopping site I looked into, and it’s actually been around for over 20 years, which is a good sign. They offer tasks like visiting retail stores, calling customer service centers, or even checking out websites. Basically, you act like a regular customer and then report back on things like how helpful the staff were, or how easy it was to find what you needed. Sometimes you’re asked to take photos or fill out a short survey afterward. The pay rate is usually between $15 and $25 per task. They pay through PayPal on the 20th of each month, but only after your report is reviewed and approved. Intelli Shop is available only in the US and Canada.
Bonus Site
Product Tube
ProducTube isn’t exactly a mystery shopping site, but similar. It is an app that asks you to make short videos on how you select certain products. The videos can be done at home or in store, depending on the job. I made around $30 earlier this year for taking videos of myself drinking a Coca-Cola in a shop. It’s relatively easy to do as long as you follow every step of their instructions they give you for each task. ProductTube is available in 32 countries
Final Thoughts
Mystery shopping is not going to make you rich, but it can cover a few bills or buy you a fancy coffee. There are so many different types available, whether it’s in-person, over the phone, or even just submitting a form online. And you can do multiple in one day if you plan ahead.
My biggest tip is to sign up for as many legit platforms as you can and see which ones work for your area and schedule. Mystery shopping can be flexible, fun, and surprisingly rewarding if you stay consistent. I hope this helps. Thanks for reading!!
