Sammie Ellard-King
I’m Sammie, a money expert and business owner passionate about helping you take control of your wallet. My mission with Up the Gains is to create a safe space to help improve your finances, cut your costs and make you feel good while doing it.
Quickfire Roundup:
This listicle on the best mystery shopping companies in the UK offers a quick and easy way to make money.
The top ten companies include Market Force, ESA Retail, BeMyEye, Retail Maxim, Tern, GBW, Assosia, Ipsos, Mystery Dining, and Serve Legal.
Mystery shopping is an ideal side hustle for anyone who wants to make fast cash, as it requires no sign-up fees or long-winded interview processes. Shoppers can earn from £3 – £40 per task, depending on the complexity of the job.
And that includes things like the job options available to you, employment and tax rules, and how to apply for a job.
Are you looking to earn quick money? Do you love to shop around or eat out? Then mystery shopper jobs could be the perfect side hustle for you!
Mystery shopping is straightforward: there aren’t sign-up fees or a stringent interview process to get hired.Â
So, if you want to get started with the best mystery shopping companies in the UK today, take a look at my top ten list.
My pick of the top ten mystery shopping companies are:
- Market Force
- ESA Retail
- BeMyEye
- Retail Maxim
- Tern
- GBW
- Assosia
- Ipsos
- Mystery Dining
- Serve Legal
Table of Contents
10 Best Mystery Shopping Companies
1. Market Force
Market Force is often thought to be the leading mystery shopping company in the UK.Â
Why does it take the top spot as the best mystery shopping company on our list?Â
Its variety of available jobs is second to none.
It’s important to note that while Market Force has plenty of job opportunities, it pays around £3 – £15 for tasks, which is slightly lower than many other companies.
Link: Market Force
2. ESA Retail
ESA Retail is another one of the UK platforms that has a large selection of jobs available for shoppers.Â
This platform also has some of the most interesting tasks available, like checking social media or going to local casinos.Â
Anyone can sign up to be a shopper, with most tasks averaging around £10.
Link: ESA Retail
3. BeMyEye
Of the mystery shopping companies listed, BeMyEye is arguably the biggest company in the UK.Â
With over three million shoppers, this platform has taken flight in the last few years.
Working with BeMyEye is also super easy because most (if not all) jobs can be done on their app!Â
Pay may be slightly lower than other companies, though, at around £3 – £6, depending on the task.
Link: BeMyEye
4. Retail Maxim
Retail Maxim is easy to get started with, and offers shoppers the chance to make £5 – £12 per task.Â
In some cases, you may be required to do fieldwork, including asking customers of retail locations to fill in satisfaction surveys.
There is a wide range of jobs available, so if talking to existing customers isn’t for you, you can always pretend to be one yourself!
Link: Retail Maxim
5. Tern
Tern is a mystery shopping company that offers around £5 for simple tasks.Â
What sets this platform apart, however, is that it can pay upwards of £40 when shoppers complete more complex jobs!Â
When there are regular jobs available, mystery shoppers can earn quite a bit of cash by doing easy (and fun) tasks, so keep an eye out when these jobs pop up!
Link: Tern
6. GBW
Another company that offers more extensive jobs for better pay is GBW.Â
This platform offers around £35 for larger tasks and works with well-known global companies like McDonald’s.Â
So if you’re hankering for a Big Mac and want to make some money while you’re chomping down on their world-famous fries, then GBW may be the company for you!
Link: GBW
7. Assosia
We can’t all be good at keeping secrets. In fact, I don’t think I could help myself from telling staff that I was a mystery shopper in disguise.Â
If this sounds like you (but you still want to work as a secret shopper), don’t worry!Â
Working for Assosia involves surveying staff members and disclosing your status as a mystery shopper, with the pay for most jobs averaging £10.
Link: Assosia
8. Ipsos UK
Ipsos is largely known for being the biggest market research company in the biz.Â
With a user-friendly app that allows you to fill in your evaluation from A to Z, Ipsos makes mystery shopping quick and easy.Â
So once you’ve completed your task, simply log in to the app and earn some fast cash!
Link: Ipsos UK
9. Mystery Dining
Do you love to eat? I know I do. So why not lend a hand to a mystery shopping company in exchange for some free and delicious food?Â
Mystery Dining doesn’t usually pay their shoppers in cash, but compensates them with a free meal.Â
If you like testing new restaurants but you don’t always want to cover the bill, let Mystery Dining do it for you.
Link: Mystery Dining
10. Serve Legal
Serve Legal is as easy as it comes. For these jobs, you’ll need to try and purchase age-restricted products like alcohol and report whether or not the staff asked to see your ID.Â
This simple job can pay up to £40 per store you complete, which can add up quickly if you score enough jobs.
Link: Serve Legal
What Is Mystery Shopping?
Mystery shopping is the process of evaluating a company’s standards and the overall quality of its services.Â
Generally, mystery shoppers are hired to test the standards of the business’s products, the performance of their employees, and the company’s customer service.
But why is it called mystery shopping?
A secret shopper needs to keep a low profile and should not be recognised by staff or managers.Â
When mystery shoppers use a service or buy a product, they need to be treated like any other customer. This will help companies get an accurate idea of how customers experience the business.
After all, if the staff knew they were interacting with someone who was critiquing their customer service, they may act differently. This can lead to false results being sent back to the market research company.
Why Is Mystery Shopping A Good Side Hustle?
Mystery shopping is a great side hustle for anyone looking to earn money in an easy and fun way.Â
It’s a quick way to make cash and, if you sign up with more than one company, net a tidy profit.
What can you expect?
When you work mystery shopping jobs, you can expect:
- Flexibility: If you work as a mystery shopper, you’ll be able to work flexible hours that fit into your schedule. Unlike the standard 9 to 5 job, you have the freedom to take jobs when you have the time, and whenever you want to earn some extra cash.
- Easy work, easy pay: Mystery shopping is a great side hustle for anyone who fits the criteria. You don’t need any special skills or knowledge, which means that people of all skill levels and backgrounds can make money quickly.
- Extra income: While taking on mystery shopping tasks may not be one of the best-paying jobs, it’s a good way to supplement your income. If you’re a student looking for some spare cash, working as a mystery shopper can keep your bank account healthy.
- It’s fun: Mystery shopping jobs are just all-around fun. It gives you a fantastic opportunity to visit new places, try new products, and meet new people.
- Free products or services: Most mystery shoppers are entitled to free food, products, or services (depending on what task they’re performing and the company). It’s important to remember that not all mystery shopper companies offer free products to employees.
How Much Does Mystery Shopping Pay?
If you want to get a job mystery shopping for companies in the UK, you need to understand that it’s not a full-time gig.Â
Rather, it’s a good way to make some extra money as a side hustle when you’re in a pinch. Still, it can be a great job for students, busy parents, or anyone with a demanding schedule.
Some mystery shopping sites offer fluctuating fees to secret shoppers, depending on the task. If the task will take a long time to complete or is more complicated than usual, these companies will usually pay more.Â
Typically, mystery shopping apps offer from £5 – £50 per task.
Pros And Cons Of Mystery Shopping
Pros
- Most mystery shopping companies are easy to sign-up with
- Get paid to shop, dine, or try new services
- A mystery shopping job is flexible
- No two jobs are ever the same
- It’s easy to find jobs
- Most tasks take less than an hour to complete
Cons
- Irregular hours
- You may need to sign up with other mystery shopping companies to have more work opportunities
- There are a few mystery shopping scams floating around
- You may need to cover your own travel expenses
FAQs
Is mystery shopping worth it in the UK?
Mystery shopping may be worthwhile as a part-time job for students, or as a side hustle to earn some extra cash.
While mystery shopping can be a lucrative job for young adults, however, most businesses don’t offer enough compensation to make a liveable wage.
How do I become a mystery shopper?
You can become a mystery or secret shopper by filling out an online application with any local company. If you use the above list of the biggest mystery shopping companies, you can potentially earn more money than other services.
When you are applying for mystery shopping jobs, make sure you’re signing up with a reputable company!
Final Thoughts
Becoming a mystery shopper isn’t a “get rich quick” opportunity, but it is an enjoyable way to earn some cash on the side.
Whether you’re a student, busy parent, or looking to supplement your income, you can find a suitable gig at one of these best mystery shopping companies.
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Disclaimer: Content on this page is for informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research before making a financially related decision.
