Research Tribe Reviews: Is Research Tribe Legit or a Scam?
If you’re looking to make some extra money online, Research Tribe might look appealing at first glance. It promises paid surveys, mystery shopping, product testing, and focus groups — all delivered straight to your inbox.
This Research Tribe review is based on actually joining, waiting, and seeing what happens. Spoiler: nothing did.
Research Tribe review
Although Research Tribe claims to send unique earning opportunities, I never received a single direct one after several months as a member. Instead, every email pushed me towards other survey and mystery shopping sites so Research Tribe could earn a commission. You’re better off doing the research yourself.
- Quick to sign up
- Lack of earning opportunities
- Just refers you to other survey sites
- Not much to the website
Is Research Tribe worth it?
No.
Research Tribe doesn’t provide paid work directly. Instead, it sends emails linking you to other survey and mystery shopping sites so it can earn referral commission.
After more than three years as a member, I earned exactly £0.
That’s the short version.
Here’s what actually happens when you join.
What is Research Tribe?
Research Tribe is a website that claims to connect users with opportunities to earn money online.
According to its website, members may receive invitations for things like:
• Paid surveys
• Mystery shopping
• Product testing
• Online focus groups
The company says it originally started as a mystery shopping provider over ten years ago before expanding into other areas of market research.
On the surface, that sounds like a useful platform.
The problem is that Research Tribe doesn’t actually provide those opportunities itself.
How Research Tribe really works
Once you sign up, you provide your personal details and join their mailing list.
You might expect invitations to paid surveys or research studies.
Instead, the emails you receive usually contain links encouraging you to join other survey and mystery shopping websites.
If you sign up to those sites through their links, Research Tribe earns a referral commission.
That’s the entire model.
Research Tribe doesn’t run surveys.
It doesn’t organise focus groups.
And it doesn’t provide product testing opportunities.
It simply sends marketing emails directing users to other platforms.
My experience after three years
When I first joined Research Tribe, I assumed it might take a few weeks before opportunities started arriving.
After a month, nothing had appeared.
After a few months, the only emails I had received were links encouraging me to join other survey websites.
Fast forward more than three years, and the situation hasn’t changed.
Every email I’ve ever received from Research Tribe has simply promoted another platform that pays them a referral fee if I sign up.
Not once have I been invited to:
• a paid survey
• a mystery shop
• a product test
• a focus group
At that point, it stopped feeling like a research platform and started looking more like a marketing list for survey companies.
Is Research Tribe legit?
Technically, yes — Research Tribe is a legitimate company.
It has been operating since around 2011 and doesn’t charge users anything to join.
However, that doesn’t necessarily make it useful.
The issue is that the website gives the impression you’ll receive paid research opportunities directly, when in reality most emails simply promote other platforms.
Because Research Tribe only recommends sites that pay referral commissions, you’re unlikely to be shown the best-paying research platforms.
For example, Prolific, one of the highest-paying research study websites available, doesn’t run an affiliate programme. Unsurprisingly, Research Tribe never mentions it.
That tells you a lot about how the platform works.
Research Tribe Trustpilot reviews
If you look at Research Tribe Trustpilot reviews, you’ll see a mixed picture.
Some users say they occasionally receive survey invitations, while many others report the same experience I had — emails that simply promote other survey websites.
A common complaint in Research Tribe reviews is that the platform rarely provides direct earning opportunities, which leaves many members wondering what the point of joining actually is.
Is Research Tribe a scam?
Research Tribe isn’t technically a scam.
It doesn’t charge users to join and it doesn’t steal money or personal information.
However, many people feel misled because the site suggests you’ll receive paid research opportunities, when in reality most emails simply promote other websites.
That’s why you’ll often see people searching for terms like “Research Tribe scam or legit”.
The reality sits somewhere in the middle.
It’s a real company — but it’s mostly just a referral funnel.
Research Tribe vs joining survey sites directly
Here’s the biggest reason Research Tribe doesn’t make much sense.
You can simply join the survey sites yourself.
Typical earnings from legitimate research platforms include:
• Paid surveys: £6–£12 per hour when available
• Online focus groups: £30–£100+ per session
• Product testing: free products or £10–£50 payments
None of that comes from Research Tribe itself.
It comes from the third-party platforms they redirect you to.
Some Research Tribe emails also promote mystery shopping companies, which explains why some people search for Research Tribe mystery shopper reviews.
But again, those opportunities come from the actual mystery shopping companies — not Research Tribe.
Better alternatives to Research Tribe
If you want to make money online, go direct. I’ve personally tested and written guides on all of the following:
- How to become a product tester
- Best paid survey sites
- Online focus groups and interviews for money
- The best mystery shopping companies
These give you much clearer information about what you’ll earn and how each platform actually works.
Final verdict: is Research Tribe legit?
Research Tribe isn’t a scam, but it’s also not particularly useful.
After more than two years on the mailing list, I never received a single direct earning opportunity.
Instead, every email simply promoted other websites that pay Research Tribe a referral commission.
If you want to make money from surveys, mystery shopping or focus groups, you’re much better off joining legitimate platforms directly.
Research Tribe doesn’t add anything to the process — it just adds another layer in the middle.
And when it comes to making money online, unnecessary middlemen are usually best avoided.
FAQ
Is Research Tribe legit?
Yes, Research Tribe is a legitimate company that has been operating since around 2011. However, it mainly promotes other survey websites rather than providing paid opportunities directly.
Is Research Tribe a scam?
Research Tribe is not technically a scam because it doesn’t charge users to join. However, many people feel misled because it rarely provides direct earning opportunities.
How much money can you make with Research Tribe?
Research Tribe itself doesn’t pay users. Any money earned will come from the third-party survey or research sites it recommends.
Does Research Tribe offer mystery shopping jobs?
Research Tribe claims to provide mystery shopping opportunities, but most emails simply direct users to other mystery shopping websites.
