For most of us, heading to the store means spending money. Whether you’re grocery shopping or heading to the mall, unless you’re just window shopping, expect to open up your wallet.
However, you might be surprised that some shoppers actually get paid to shop and investigate customer service quality and product offerings in stores throughout their city. These shoppers are mystery shoppers, and there are thousands of them across the U.S. and the rest of the world.
If you’re looking for a new side gig and want to make money the next time you head to the store, becoming a mystery shopper is for you. As long as you understand the job requirements and find the right mystery shopping company to work for, there’s no reason why you can’t boost your income with some undercover shopping work.
What Is Mystery Shopping?
Businesses want to understand how their stores perform in terms of customer service. They also want to ensure that products are easy to find for shoppers. Therefore, businesses pay for feedback from mystery shoppers and use it to improve customer service, product availability, and overall store management.
Because the identity of a mystery shopper is secret, mystery shopping lets stores and restaurants know what customer experience is like when treatment is unbiased. Plus, businesses hope that customer service will improve overall if employees know any given customer is a mystery shopper.
Mystery shopping jobs are dynamic because businesses want to test different aspects of store operations. However, there are several common types of mystery shopping tasks, including:
- Asking a store associate a question
- Looking for a specific product
- Ordering food if it’s a restaurant and rating the quality
- Taking photos and videos of in-store displays and aisles
- Testing store protocols, such as trying to buy alcohol without identification
Mystery shopping is sometimes referred to as shadow shopping or secret shopping. A mystery shopper is generally paid for their time, reimbursed for a certain amount of their purchase, or both.
Assignments range from the extremely simple (purchasing an item from a deli and noting the quality of service received) to the detailed and complex (noting the timing, flavor, temperature, and presentation of every item in a three-course dinner).
How Much Do Mystery Shoppers Make?
Task difficulty and the company you’re working for have the greatest influence on your earnings as a mystery shopper. Additionally, the availability of shopping gigs varies based on your location and how many other mystery shoppers are competing for jobs.
However, if you can find a mystery shopping job, it’s not a bad side hustle.
Here are examples of the assignments I’ve completed in my area:
- Dining for two people at a mid-range sit-down restaurant: $35 reimbursement
- Buying a beer at a gas station to see if they card: $8 payment, $2 reimbursement
- Dining in at a fast-casual sub shop: $20 payment, no reimbursement
- Shopping at a grocery store to buy a deli item and a beer to check for carding: $15 reimbursement, $15 pay
- Evaluating gas station cleanliness and customer service: $7 pay, $1 gas reimbursement, $1 candy reimbursement
- Visiting an upscale home furnishings store: $30 reimbursement, $5 pay
- Taking pictures of beer billboards in daylight and at night: $20 payment
- Opening a new bank account: $50 payment
Clearly, tasks vary quite substantially, as does the pay. However, when you break down the hourly wage for secret shopping, many tasks are quite lucrative. Additionally, mystery shopping is a great way to eat for free or score significant discounts on purchases you would make anyway.
Just note that it’s unrealistic to turn mystery shopping into a full-time job because you probably won’t have enough gigs to fill an entire work week. Ultimately, mystery shopping is a fun side hustle for avid shoppers. If you’re looking for more substantial income, consider part-time jobs that pay well or various gig economy jobs.
Who Can Become a Mystery Shopper?
Mystery shopping jobs require you to be 18 years or older. Additionally, although companies like Intouch Insight operate in several countries, North America has the most opportunity. Living in a populous city with large retailers also increases earning potential because large companies are typically the main clients that partner with mystery shopping companies.
To maximize your earnings, you probably need to own a car. Most mystery shopping tasks won’t be within walking distance, so if you decide to drive, remember to factor in gas costs and vehicle depreciation into your earnings.
Aside from these basics, mystery shoppers also need a high level of attention to detail and the ability to follow instructions carefully. If you don’t meet task requirements, you don’t get paid, so it’s important to closely follow instructions and provide insightful feedback.
The Best Mystery Shopping Companies
Mystery shopper jobs have changed significantly over the past decade. Mobile apps and the gig economy have made it easier to make extra money as a mystery shopper. Additionally, you can use multiple money-making apps to ensure you have more work opportunities. The single best thing you can do to maximize your income is sign up with several companies at once. The more platforms you’re registered with, the more assignments you’ll have access to and the more consistently you’ll find work. Here are the best mystery shopping companies worth signing up for.
1. Intouch Insight
Intouch Insight is one of the most active mystery shopping companies in North America and a strong starting point for anyone new to the industry. The company posts between 30,000 and 50,000 mystery shopping jobs every month across three major platforms, iSecretShop, Sassie, and Shopmetrics, which means signing up gives you access to three job boards at once.
Founded in 1992, Intouch Insight has earned MSPA Elite Member status for 2026, which is the highest level of accreditation available from the Mystery Shopping Providers Association. The company works with some of the largest brands in quick service restaurants, grocery, petro-convenience, big box retail, financial services, and automotive, so there is a wide variety of assignment types available depending on your location.
Pay ranges from $10 to $200 per shop, which is a wider and higher ceiling than most companies in this space. Intouch also pays every two weeks, which is faster than the majority of mystery shopping companies. Signing up is free, and once you create an account you can browse available shops and apply for assignments that match your schedule and location.
2. Ipsos / iShopForIpsos
iShopForIpsos is the shopper-facing platform of Ipsos, the largest mystery shopping company in the world. Ipsos operates in more than 180 countries with a network of over one million mystery shoppers, and has won the MSPA Shopper’s Choice award six consecutive years, which is the clearest signal in the industry that shoppers genuinely enjoy working with the company.
To get started, you download the iShopForIpsos NEXT app for Android or iOS and create a free account. The app includes guided tutorials that walk new shoppers through their first assignments, making it one of the more beginner-friendly platforms available. You can also complete phone and online shops from home, which is a useful option for shoppers without a car.
Ipsos pays through PayPal within 7 to 10 days of your shop being approved, which is faster than most mystery shopping companies. The pay and reimbursement amount for every shop is visible before you accept it, so there are no surprises. Shops are available across retail, restaurants, gas stations, financial services, healthcare, and more.
3. Market Force
Market Force is another leading mystery shopping network with a strong track record, having begun in 2005. It was named the number one mystery shopping company by TopConsumerReviews.com in 2026. Currently, Market Force works with more than 200 clients, including numerous Fortune 500 companies, processing over 100,000 mystery shopping tasks per month.
Signing up for Market Force is free. To work as a mystery shopper, you download the Eyes On Global app (formerly called Eyes:On) for Android or iOS. This app displays mystery shopping gigs in your area, requirements, and pay. Jobs also list several available dates, so you can set your schedule to complete tasks.
Market Force jobs pay with cash or free meals. Fast-food and other restaurant jobs are common, so this is an ideal mystery shopping network for foodies. Most shops are self-assign, meaning you don’t have to wait for approval before getting started. Being able to schedule tasks in advance also makes Market Force more flexible than some apps that require you to complete a task within two hours of claiming it.
4. IntelliShop
Another reputable company that connects mystery shoppers with different companies to improve their customer experiences is IntelliShop.
IntelliShop began in 1999 and covers more than 18,000 cities across the U.S. and Canada with a shopper network of over one million. The company has won the MSPA Shoppers Choice award eleven times and holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. It also offers something rare in this industry: a dedicated support phone line for shoppers, so you can actually reach someone if you run into a problem.
Becoming a mystery shopper for IntelliShop takes several steps. After submitting an online application, IntelliShop might invite you to complete a short screening to gauge how detail-oriented you are, which is an important mystery shopper skill.
If you pass the test, you can apply to IntelliShop tasks. These tasks are different mystery shopping gigs, and IntelliShop assigns gigs to shoppers depending on their previous performance and location.
Examples of IntelliShop gigs include:
- Calling a call center
- Shopping in-store for a specific product
- Visiting a website
- Evaluating hotels (higher-rated shoppers unlock premium assignments)
IntelliShop scores your submissions. Higher scores mean you’re more likely to receive better-paying and more interesting future assignments, so it’s important to follow instructions carefully and to submit quality evaluations. IntelliShop pays shoppers on the 20th of every month through PayPal for the previous month of gigs, with no minimum payment requirement.
5. Field Agent
Field Agent is one of the most popular mystery shopping apps and has over one million shoppers across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. If you want to find mystery shopping jobs near you right from your smartphone without any complicated signup process, this is the app for you.
Signing up for Field Agent is free. Once you create an account, you answer a short questionnaire about your demographic profile to help Field Agent understand more about you. Once you complete the questionnaire, you can start working as a mystery shopper right away.
Field Agent displays local mystery shopping jobs under a “jobs” tab and on the in-app map of your city. Jobs display their pay, the tasks required, the distance of the store, and any other rules you need to follow. Most jobs provide two hours for completion, so Field Agent is a useful app to have on the go when you’re already out shopping.
There are several types of Field Agent tasks:
- Mystery Shopping. Requires visiting specific stores and completing tasks like finding a product or rating customer service quality.
- Audits. Involves taking photos or videos of store displays and shelving.
- Buy and Try. Field Agent sometimes pays shoppers for purchasing a product or food item to provide feedback.
After completing a task, Field Agent reviews your submission to ensure you met the requirements. After verification, cash appears in your Field Agent account. There’s no minimum cash-out amount, and Field Agent pays you through direct deposit.
Ultimately, not every task is worth the time. However, you can be selective with the jobs you claim. If you’re already out and about, Field Agent is a way to get paid to walk and explore different stores in your city.
6. BestMark
BestMark began in 1986 and is one of the oldest and largest mystery shopping networks in operation, with over 600,000 shoppers across the U.S. and Canada. Mystery shoppers are known as “field representatives” on BestMark, and this title encompasses several roles:
- Mystery Shopper. Evaluate customer service, purchase specific products, and complete typical mystery shopper tasks to get paid.
- Intercept Interviewers. Ask customers to complete a survey as they exit a store to provide retailers with valuable feedback.
- Compliance Auditors. Check that stores are complying with product pricing guidelines, product placement, employee procedures, and other rules the retailer has in place.
- Panelists. An easy way to make money from focus groups and product testing.
BestMark states candidates must be at least 18 and have strong written communication skills and full internet access. You have to apply online to become a mystery shopper. If BestMark approves your application, you can apply for local jobs and begin making money in the different BestMark roles.
One thing worth knowing before you sign up: BestMark has merged with Second to None under a parent company called CX Group, and jobs are in the process of migrating to the CX Group ShopperHub, which is the best place for new shoppers to register today. Some shoppers reported payment delays during the transition in 2024 and 2025, so track your completed assignments and follow up if payment doesn’t arrive on time.
7. Mobee
If you want an easy-to-use mystery shopping app that lets you earn free gift cards, Mobee is worth considering. Mobee pays out more than $60,000 per month to shoppers and has a 4.2-star rating on both the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Once you download Mobee for Android or iOS, you can start work immediately. On Mobee, mystery shopping takes three steps:
- Find a Mission. Mobee’s app highlights local businesses that need a mystery shopper.
- Complete Task. Missions include common mystery shopping jobs like taking photos of stores, asking for customer service help, and answering surveys about your experience. When you complete a task, you earn Mobee points.
- Redeem. You can redeem Mobee points for free gift cards to companies like Amazon, Starbucks, Target, and more. The minimum redemption is $5. Mobee sends gift cards electronically within 48 hours.
Like other mystery shopping apps, Mobee jobs usually pay a few dollars per task. You can also earn bonus points if the task is farther from your home and if the Mobee validation team thinks your submission is high quality. Note that Mobee does not operate in the state of Nevada. Mobee won’t make you rich, but it’s an easy way to earn free gift cards when on the go.
8. Premise
Premise is a data analytics company that began in 2012. Although Premise isn’t your traditional mystery shopping gig, it’s an excellent way to earn free PayPal cash and Bitcoin by completing short tasks in your area.
To become a Premise contributor, you download its free app for Android or iOS. From there, you earn cash for completing short gigs in your area that involve collecting and sharing data.
Examples of Premise tasks you might find in your area include:
- Answering short surveys about your city and consumer preferences
- Confirming whether an area of your city is under construction
- Confirming real estate prices
- Going to the grocery store and recording the price of different cereal brands
- Taking photos of certain businesses or parks
Most tasks pay under $1 or a few dollars, though more involved exploration tasks can pay up to $20. You redeem your earnings through PayPal, Payoneer, or for Bitcoin with no minimum payout requirement, and most payments arrive within 30 minutes of cashing out. Task availability varies significantly by location, so shoppers in larger cities tend to find much more work than those in smaller markets.
Premise is currently available in over 128 countries, so it’s one of the more globally accessible mystery shopping platforms. And if you want to earn cryptocurrency for your mystery shopping assignments, this is the best company to work with.
Other Legitimate Mystery Shopping Companies
There are dozens of mystery shopping companies out there. Whether you’re a new shopper or have years of experience, applying for several mystery shopping gigs is the best way to maximize how much work you land and how much money you make.
Other leading mystery shopping companies worth applying to include:
- AboutFace: A long-standing mystery shopping company with an A+ BBB rating and MSPA accreditation. You’ll need to create a free account to access available jobs. The company states it pays around 15% above the industry standard, though some shoppers have reported inconsistent job availability in recent years.
- A Closer Look: Complete assignments for industries like hotels, multifamily real estate, restaurants, and senior living. A Closer Look also launched a companion app called FotoPay in February 2025 that simplifies the format considerably, with every gig requiring just one photo and paying $2. Payment for traditional shops is by check once a month.
- Amusement Advantage: Get paid to evaluate attractions like amusement parks, theme parks, water parks, zoos, aquariums, museums, bowling alleys, and movie theaters. Since shops typically include reimbursement for you and your guests, this is one of the more enjoyable niches in mystery shopping. Pays via PayPal within 21 to 28 days.
- Sonata GBW: A global mystery shopping company (formerly known as GAPbuster Worldwide) that partners with businesses in over 100 countries and has been operating for over 25 years. Pays via direct bank transfer. A number of shoppers have reported slow or disputed payments, so track your submissions carefully and follow up if payment is overdue.
- Perception Strategies: This company specializes in healthcare mystery shopping, including calling to schedule appointments, evaluating phone customer service at medical offices, and in-person visits to healthcare facilities. Has completed over 300,000 healthcare mystery shopping assignments since 1998 and is actively accepting new shoppers.
- Pinnacle Financial Strategies: Get paid to evaluate financial institutions like banks and credit unions. Shops typically pay $4 to $100 depending on complexity. Pinnacle is MSPA-accredited, holds an A+ BBB rating, and has a consistent track record of on-time payment.
- Second to None / CX Group: Second to None has merged with BestMark under the CX Group umbrella. See the BestMark entry above for full details, and register through the CX Group ShopperHub to access assignments from both companies.
If you land mystery shopper roles with several companies, you increase the chances you get regular assignments and consistently make money.
Just remember: mystery shoppers work as independent contractors. This means you need to accurately track and report any additional income when filing your taxes.
Watch Out For Mystery Shopper Scams
Always be wary of mystery shopping scams. Reputable companies like those listed here typically have MSPA certification and positive reviews on websites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
As a general rule, never pay for mystery shopping information. You don’t need to purchase a mystery shopping guide or pay to be a mystery shopper. If a company requests payment to join their network, it’s most likely a scam.
You should also be extremely suspicious of any companies that promise assignments that allow you to work from home or entirely online. These are almost always work-from-home scams that either fish for upfront payment or send you a fraudulent check as a fake form of reimbursement for a signup fee.
Furthermore, if a company promises that you can earn $50 to $100 per hour or more by working as a mystery shopper, be skeptical. Most tasks only pay a few dollars, making mystery shopping a humble side hustle, not a full-time income source.
One more thing worth keeping in mind: always redeem your earnings promptly rather than letting your balance accumulate. In March 2026, Shopkick, once one of the most popular shopping rewards apps in the country, shut down without any notice to users. Any points that hadn’t been redeemed were simply gone. The same risk exists with mystery shopping apps. No matter how established a platform seems, cashing out regularly protects your earnings.
Final Word
If you never heard of mystery shopping before, the idea of making money while shopping might surprise you. However, in terms of hobbies that make money, mystery shopping has been a reliable option to boost your income for more than a decade.
No mystery shopping job will replace your regular income. However, if you enjoy the thrill of undercover shopping and like giving feedback about your shopping experiences, this is a perfect side gig to try. Signing up with several companies at once gives you access to more assignments and increases your chances of finding regular work. If you apply some mystery shopper tips and work efficiently, your monthly earnings might surprise you.
Editorial & Advertiser Disclosure: The editorial content on this website is not provided, commissioned, reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser. Opinions expressed are ours alone, not those of any advertiser. The offers that appear are from companies from which we may receive compensation. However, this compensation does not impact where and how these companies are mentioned on the site. We do not include all companies or all available offers in the marketplace.
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