The best mystery shopping companies and apps in the UK for 2026 are Market Force, ESA Retail, BeMyEye, Retail Maxim, Tern, GBW, Assosia, Ipsos, Mystery Dining and Serve Legal.
Mystery shopping (sometimes called secret shopping) pays you to visit shops or restaurants and report back on the experience. Most of these agencies charge no sign-up fees and have no lengthy interview process, and several let you pick up jobs straight from an app. It works well as a flexible, low-commitment side hustle for fast cash.
Mystery shopping could be the perfect side hustle if you like to shop around or eat out. There are no sign-up fees and no drawn-out interview, you simply get paid to visit a shop or restaurant and report back on what it was like.
Here is my pick of the top ten mystery shopping companies in the UK:
- Market Force
- ESA Retail
- BeMyEye
- Retail Maxim
- Tern
- GBW
- Assosia
- Ipsos
- Mystery Dining
- Serve Legal
Table of Contents
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Our Top 10 Mystery Shopping Companies, Ranked
1. Market Force
Market Force is often thought to be the leading mystery shopping company in the UK.
Why does it take the top spot as the best mystery shopping company on our list?
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.
This platform also has some of the most interesting tasks available, like checking social media or going to local casinos.
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.
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!
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.
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.
What sets this platform apart, however, is that it can pay upwards of £40 when shoppers complete more complex jobs!
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
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6. GBW
Another company that offers more extensive jobs for better pay is GBW.
This platform offers around £35 for larger tasks and works with well-known global companies like McDonald’s.
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.
If this sounds like you (but you still want to work as a secret shopper), don’t worry!
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.
With a user-friendly app that allows you to fill in your evaluation from A to Z, Ipsos makes mystery shopping quick and easy.
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?
Mystery Dining doesn’t usually pay their shoppers in cash, but compensates them with a free meal.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- Stack earnings: You can double up by doing mystery shopping and earning money from cashback apps.
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.
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.
Typically, mystery shopping apps offer from £5 – £50 per task.
Best Mystery Shopping Apps in the UK
Not every mystery shopping job needs a laptop. Several of the companies above run entirely through an app, so you can find work, accept it and file your report straight from your phone.
If you would rather shop and earn on the go, these are the apps worth downloading first:
- BeMyEye: almost every job is done in-app, which makes it one of the easiest to use while you are out and about.
- Ipsos UK: the app walks you through each evaluation step by step, then pays out once you submit.
- Market Force: its Eyes:On app lists shops and restaurants to visit across the UK.
It is worth signing up to two or three apps at once. More apps means more jobs to choose from, which is the quickest way to keep a steady bit of extra cash coming in.
Other Ways to Earn Money From Shopping
Mystery shopping is not the only way to get paid for something you already do. Pairing it with cashback is where it gets interesting: you earn for completing the shop and again on the money you spend.
- Cashback apps: these pay you a percentage back on everyday purchases. Our guide to the best cashback apps in the UK shows which ones are worth it.
- Cut the cost of what you already buy: small switches add up fast. Here is how to save on what you are already spending.
- Track it all in one place: the Gains App pulls your spending, saving and side-hustle income together so you know exactly what you are making.
Stack a couple of these with mystery shopping and you can squeeze noticeably more out of every shopping trip.
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
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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!
How To Smash Your Mystery Shopping Assignments
If you want to stand out and get picked for the best paid gigs, you’ve got to nail the basics.
Here’s what you need to focus on to become a top mystery shopper:
Make Your Notes Count
Don’t rely on remembering stuff – your memory will play tricks on you. Use your Notes app to jot down key details right after leaving the store. Things like the exact time you were served, staff names, and any specific phrases they used. This stops you scrambling later when writing your report.
Deadlines Are Non-Negotiable
Most companies want your report within 24 hours. Miss it and you’ll likely not get picked for jobs again. Set a reminder as soon as you accept a task. The companies paying good money expect reliability – simple as that.
Writing Reports That Get You Rehired
Your report needs to tell a story but keep it factual. Break down exactly what happened, when it happened, and how it made you feel as a customer. Don’t waffle or add fluff – be specific and stick to what you observed.
Master Your Time
Getting this right is crucial. Show up too early and staff might spot you hanging around. Roll in late and you could mess up the whole assignment. Scout locations on Google Maps first and give yourself a 15-minute buffer for the unexpected.
Keep Your Cover
The second staff know you’re a mystery shopper, the data becomes useless. Never use your phone while being served, don’t take notes during the visit, and definitely don’t tell your mates about assignments in your area. One slip and you could be blacklisted.
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.
