Shop In Secret: The Best Mystery Shopping Apps That Pay In The UK
What if I told you you could earn extra cash from your pocket? And no, this isn’t something that involves OnlyFans. Mystery shopping apps are simple to use, quick to complete, and a decent little earner. Let’s take a look at some of the best available.
Secret shopper apps
I have been mystery shopping for over six years now. It’s actually earned me some decent money and helped me to pay for a holiday, but there is one small downside that I found. As somebody who’s always on the go, it can be a little difficult to find the time to complete the jobs.
But this is where mystery shopping apps step in. Most of the tasks you’ll find listed on your phone are quite short and can be completed within around 15 minutes. They also don’t require you to write long reports once you’ve finished.
So, here are the best mystery shopper apps that pay.
BeMyEye
Pros
- Easy to use app
- Payment is made quite quickly
- Pick up and put down when you like
Cons
- A limited number of tasks
- Better-paying apps out there
- Some tasks require a fair amount of effort
Now, this is an app that focuses just on mystery shopping. And with over 3 million users across 21 countries, you can be assured that it’s very popular.
Becoming a member takes just a few minutes and once you’re registered, it’s a case of finding any ‘missions’ on the app that appeal to you. Just click on the reserve button and off you go. You may be asked to order food from a local restaurant or takeaway, visit your local pet shop or buy a certain product from the supermarket.
The pay for each mission is usually in the region of £2-£10, but they won’t take you long at all. And you’ll usually find several jobs within a short distance of each other, so you could possibly earn over £30 within an hour.
If you sign up, please use my BeMyEye referral code: wvq9p3. We both receive £1.
Shepper
Shepper summary
Pros
- Quick to start earning
- Decent rates of pay
Cons
- The number of mystery shops is severely limited in some areas
- If your work isn’t good enough you can lose your account
- There is a small fee if you withdraw less than £20
This is an app that’s very easy to get started with – the training will take just a couple of minutes. Then, it’s simply a case of finding available tasks in your area and reserving one before someone else does.
Most jobs are quite simple and require you to take photos of shop shelves and upload them through the app. In some cases, you may be asked to buy an item and report on your experience. If you do, you’ll receive the cost of the item back, along with a small fee for your time.
Some of the stranger tasks include visiting buildings and reporting whether they are used or not, which can feel a bit odd but are usually quick and surprisingly easy to complete.
Roamler
Pros
- A good number of jobs available
- Varied types of work
- Payment is usually confirmed quickly
Cons
- Doesn’t pay vast amounts per task
- Some tasks require a lot of photos
Roamler works in a very similar way to BeMyEye. When you join, you’ll need to do a little bit of training and a short test, but this is all fairly simple.
Then, it’s on to earn. You can complete mystery shopping tasks in-store or you can complete online reviews. These are a little simpler as it means preserving a product, usually from a major store like Amazon, and then sharing what you think. However, online reviews don’t pay quite as much as usual mystery shopping jobs.
As you complete more tasks and training, you’ll be rewarded with XP which opens up more opportunities to earn.
You’ll be paid through PayPal and your money should hit your account within an hour of your withdrawal.
Also worth reading
Why not check out these awesome money-making apps if you want to make even more money.
Field Agent
Pros
- A good rate of pay
- Quick to start earning
- Tasks are usually quite short
- A decent refer a friend scheme
Cons
- Fewer mystery shops compared to rival apps
- You may need to complete surveys before you’re given a task
Our 5th app works in almost exactly the same way as all the others on the list. You choose one of the tasks listed on the app, which may involve conducting a store audit, taking photos, trying food and drink, or simply checking the prices of certain products on the shelves.
Most tasks are straightforward and don’t take long to complete, making them easy to fit around your normal shopping trips. In many cases, you’re already in the shop anyway, so it feels more like a quick detour than a proper job. Some assignments also reimburse the cost of a purchase, which helps reduce your everyday spending.
Any money you earn from Field Agent can be paid directly into your bank account or withdrawn via PayPal, usually once you’ve reached the minimum cashout threshold.
dScout
Pros
- Excellent rates of pay when you qualify
- Some missions pay £30–£100+ for relatively short tasks
- Interesting, varied studies rather than repetitive surveys
- Payment made via PayPal
Cons
- You’ll be rejected from most missions you apply for
- Applications can be time-consuming to record and submit
- Fewer opportunities than traditional mystery shopping apps
- Some tasks require speaking on camera, which won’t suit everyone
dScout is another mystery shopping app that focuses on quick, no-nonsense tasks. It’s designed for people who are already out shopping and want to earn a bit extra without going out of their way.
Most jobs involve checking product availability, prices, promotions, or shelf placement in supermarkets and high street stores. You’re usually asked to take a few photos and answer a handful of questions. There’s no need to speak to staff, which is a big plus if you prefer to keep your head down.
Payments tend to be on the lower side compared to apps like Roamler or Field Agent, often ranging from a few pounds per task. That said, the jobs are genuinely quick, and many users treat Scout as a “while I’m here anyway” earner rather than a main income source.
Tips for earning more
Download as many of the apps as you can. That way, you’ll have more jobs available to you. But make sure you check them regularly. Nearly all tasks have limited availability and if someone gets there before you, you’ll miss out.
With the likes of Roamler and BeMyEye, the more jobs you complete, the better your rating becomes. That means more jobs become available and your potential earnings increase.
And keep an eye out for referral codes. These apps will give you a small bonus if your friends join using your unique code. This is a simple way to make a bit extra with little effort.
Anything to be careful of?
The one downside to all of these apps is that the number of tasks you can receive really depends on where you live. If you’re close to a major town or city, then there should be plenty of opportunities to earn.
But if you live somewhere a little more sleepy, then you may struggle to earn much. Although, at least you won’t have much competition from others to complete the jobs!
Why do you get paid for mystery shopping?
Companies are keen to know how the public rate their service and their products. And what better way to do this than to pay somebody for their honest opinion? But rather than find reviewers themselves, these companies use mystery shopping sites and apps to do it instead. The mystery shopping company will get paid a certain amount and pass a percentage on to you.
Further reading
Why not take a look at my guide on the best mystery shopping sites?
